Buff Stampede Volume: 10 Issue: 3

VOLUME: 10 • ISSUE: 3

THE BIRTH OF LAX

CU LACROSSE TAKES FLIGHT

PLUS!

BEHIND THE SCENES AT GAMEDAY | RENOVATIONS UPDATE | BUFFS IN THE NFL

LEADING THE STAMPEDE A note from athletic director Rick George

team, and we hope to break ground and begin construction later this spring.

AD Check out our Little Red Wagon, and see how easy it is to become a "CUSTOMER FOR LIFE" at Gebhardt BMW.

Additionally, on Feb. 19, we presented our comprehensive strategic plan to the Board of Regents. The vision of CU Athletics is to be nationally recognized as a premier athletics program. This will be accomplished by providing a world-class and holistic student-athlete experience, operating in a fiscally responsible manner, and consistently competing for and winning championships.

To read our full strategic plan, please visit www.cubuffs.com.

Collaboration and unity. These words have been the guide for every decision I have made and every endeavor we have pursued since I became your Athletic Director last summer.

On Dec. 4, the Board of Regents stood united, unanimously approving our facilities plan – the Sustainable Excellence Initiative.

This initiative will transform the future of CU Athletics, positioning us to be successful for decades to come. We will collaborate with the world-renowned firms of Populous and Mortenson Construction as our design/build

Feb. 22 was a day of firsts here on campus. Students camped outside of Coors Events Center to welcome ESPN’s College GameDay, which was an amazing opportunity to highlight all that CU and Boulder have to offer. At noon, the women’s lacrosse team opened their inaugural season with a victory at Folsom Field, led by Ralphie and her fearless handlers in front of over 800 Buffs fans!

Tad Boyle has led the men’s basketball program to a program to a fourth consecutive 20-plus win season and had earned yet another trip to the postseason. Junior skier Rune Oedegaard successfully defended his NCAA individual championship in the classical race, and freshman Mads Stroem

won the 20K Men’s freestyle race, at the 61st annual NCAA Skiing Championships.

And, the spring football game will be held at Folsom Field at noon on Saturday, April 12.

Most significantly, I am pleased to report that the grade point average for our 342 studentathletes for the fall semester was 2.898, with the cumulative grade point at 2.882. This is our best fall GPA on record (surpassing a 2.889 average in Fall 2012) and the secondhighest term mark ever recorded. Eight programs boasted grade points of 3.0 or better for the semester, with two others between 2.960-2.991; six also sported a cumulative grade point besting the 3.0 mark.

There are exciting things happening in Boulder each and every day, and it is only through collaboration and unity that we will return to prominence. We simply cannot be successful without the loyal support of donors like you. We need your support now more than ever.

Thank you for all that you do for our university and student-athletes! Collaboration and unity!

Rick George Athletic Director

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VOLUME: 10 • ISSUE: 3 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, BUFF CLUB Ted Ledbetter MANAGING EDITOR Doug Ottewill, Haas Rock Publications CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marty Evans Michael Jaycox Natalie Meisler Daniel Mohrmann Alexis Perry Dave Plati

DEPARTMENTS 06 IN FOCUS 12 BUFF NOTES 64 BUFFALO BILL

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Jake Blocker PHOTOGRAPHERS CU Sports Information Chip Bromfield, Pro-Motion, Ltd. Getty Images Jathan Campbell USA Today Sports Photos ADVERTISING SALES Chris Dolge Will McKinlay The Stampede is published and produced in association with: HAAS ROCK PUBLICATIONS, LLC PRESIDENT PUBLISHER PROOFREADER James Merilatt Doug Ottewill Casey Light The Stampede is published four times per year, as a 64-page quarterly.

Buff Club, 369 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 BUFF CLUB 800.621.2833 Subscription rate for The Stampede is a gift for $100 or more per year to the Buff Club.

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THE STAMPEDE IS PROUDLY PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER We want to hear from you! Comments regarding The Stampede can be directed to buffclub@colorado.edu or 303-492-2200.

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38 Q&A: RICK GEORGE

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A PROGRAM IS BORN

Women’s lacrosse takes flight in Boulder

FEATURES

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12 DEEP THREAT

CU wideout Paul Richardson looks to stretch NFL defenses

16 LONG SNAPPER U

The Buffs have a habit of breeding top-notch special teamers

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20 SEHR GUT!

German twins Jeremy and Yannik Paul make an immediate impact on CU golf

24 BEHIND THE SCENES

AT GAMEDAY The crew from ESPN made Boulder home for a very special Saturday

32 DONOR PROFILE

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Endowing our Future George, Boyle and MacIntyre families lead by example

STAMPEDE

MISSIN’ THE MAYOR

Following a big win over Arizona State, big man Josh Scott visits with his injured teammate Spencer Dinwiddie, who appears to be progressing through rehab as planned. .

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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DAWN OF A NEW ERA

Lacrosse is alive and flickin’ in Boulder and the Buffs’ faithful could not be happier. Full story on page 46.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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THE BEST CROWD IN COLLEGE SPORTS

When ESPN GameDay came to town in February, the C-Unit showed, once again, that Boulder is the place to watch college basketball.

Photo provided by Alexis Perry

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DEEP THREAT CU WIDEOUT PAUL RICHARDSON LOOKS TO STRETCH NFL DEFENSES

By Daniel Mohrmann

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journey to the NFL does not come easy.

In between the final game of a college football season and the first night of the NFL Draft, a player spends countless hours training, studying and proving that he is fit to take the field as one of the 53 players on a professional roster.

But for Paul Richardson, all that training, studying and preparing is just another day at the office.

It was on Sept. 10, 2011, that Richardson put himself on the map and convinced everyone that he was capable of playing football on Sundays. He pulled in 11 catches for 284 yards and two touchdowns as the Buffs fell to the Cal Bears in overtime, but the sting of loss was softened by Richardson’s breakout performance.

His future as a Buff was going to be bright and Colorado was going to be able to claim him as their own when he made it in the NFL. But disaster would strike the next spring. Richardson tore his ACL during practice and missed the entire 2012 season.

The team he would fight to return to would look vastly different than the one he left. Head coach Jon Embree had been 12

let go and Mike MacIntyre had been brought in. Still, Richardson wasn’t going to be deterred in his journey back to the Buffs. From the minute he was injured, he knew he was willing to put in the necessary work to get back from the injury and maintain his course to the NFL. “As far as sports-related injuries and surgeries, you can have shoulder surgery and you can have maybe different upper body surgeries or injuries,” Richardson said. “When you really hurt your lower body, that really weighs on you mentally and psychologically. Being able to overcome my ACL injury and my ACL surgery and my rehab and that training and working out definitely did help me through this process because I feel that if I can bounce back from that ACL injury, there’s not much that I would have trouble coming back from.”

“I FEEL THAT IF I CAN BOUNCE BACK FROM THAT ACL INJURY, THERE’S NOT MUCH THAT I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE COMING BACK FROM.”

Paul Richardson

Time was the only factor in telling whether or not Richardson would be able to bounce back from the injury. After missing a year on the field, the wide receiver returned to the Buffs in grand fashion, as he scored the first touchdown of the season on an 82-yard pass from quarterback Connor Wood. He would add a 75-yard score in the fourth quarter as the Buffs beat in-state rival Colorado State. It became the theme for the year, as Richardson continued to score on long touchdown passes.

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The Buffs were a struggling program and they brought in MacIntyre to turn the program around in much the same way he had at San Jose State. MacIntyre walked into the job at CU with two years of eligibility left for Richardson.

For a coach who is trying to rebuild a program, it would be tempting to try and convince the most-explosive player on the roster that the best thing for his future is to finish school.

But according to Richardson, that isn’t exactly MacIntyre’s style.

“Right after the midpoint of the season, he would talk to me from time to time, just giving me some wisdom,” Richardson said. “He would never say it directly, but he would kind of allude to it – me coming out – and he would tell me the highs and the lows of it. He would tell me more and more every week or so. But every time we would have an interaction, he would tell me that we would touch on it more after the season.”

If there was any doubt that Richardson was still NFL-ready even after tearing his ACL, those were erased early in the 2013 season. With the start that Richardson was having, it was even difficult for him not to think about his future and the possibly that he was ready to play at the professional level.

“We got off to a great start and it was the smart decision,” Richardson said.

“Everyone around me knew that it was the smart decision to declare for the draft based on how the season went.”

But there were those who knew even before the season started that Richardson was a special talent and a star in the making. A year ago, Rick Gatewood, who now consults and coaches receivers individually, watched Richardson work out. He was floored by the abilities that this unknown (to Gatewood at the time) receiver possessed and wanted to work with him.

“He already had (maturity) from the jump when I first met him last year and he jumped right in with the NFL guys that I was training,” Gatewood said. “The first day I worked with him, after the first drill I asked, ‘Who is this kid?’ because I didn’t know of him then.”

Once Gatewood began to work with Richardson, it became obvious that

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he was something special. Among the professional receivers that Gatewood works with are Austin Pettis and Chris Givens of the St. Louis Rams and Marvin Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals. He has no problem lumping Richardson in with the likes of those wideouts.

On top of working with those guys, Richardson has sought out council of his own from NFL players with whom he has relationships. Richardson was able to speak with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burelson before he officially made the jump.

“I was just trying to find out and trying to make sure I was doing the right thing,” Richardson said. “Fortunately, I have those guys who are already in the NFL and they met so many people on their journey through high school and college who are going on their second NFL contracts. For them to just give me wisdom and their point of view on what I was going through and how I should approach it; they didn’t make the decision for me, they just advised me and they were honest with me.”

It’s easy to talk to those who are already playing in greener pastures and seeing the appeal and the allure of the pro game.

But there was no one that got to examine Richardson as closely as MacIntyre.

“WHOEVER GETS HIM IS GOING TO GET A STEAL AND THEY’RE GOING TO GET THE NO.1 – AND NO LOWER THAN NO. 2 – BEST RECEIVER IN THE DRAFT.” Rick Gatewood

With the coveted blessing of his coach, Richard decided to turn pro and point his focus toward the NFL. With the NFL Scouting Combine over, he’ll continue to showcase his skills with private workouts as he leads up to the NFL Draft in May. The big question that remains is where will he end up. Mock drafts don’t show him as a first-round pick, but Gatewood maintains that he has first-round talent.

“I think he’s the best,” he says without hesitation. “That’s just from seeing him and seeing a lot of receivers and what they are able to do. His talent level is way up there and he has the most upside of a lot of the guys. In my opinion, he’s a firstround pick. Whoever gets him is going to get a steal and they’re going to get the No.1 – and no lower than No. 2 – best receiver in the draft.”

All indications from those around Richardson are that he is indeed ready to take this step in his football career.

With the confidence from his coaches and friends there is little doubt in his own mind that he is ready to make the leap.

Even with another year of eligibility available with the Buffs, Richardson is confident he making the right move.

“I am 100 percent sure I made the right decision,” he said.

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LONG SNAPPER U THE BUFFS HAVE A HISTORY OF BREEDING TOP-NOTCH SPECIAL TEAMERS

By Daniel Mohrmann

When thinking of the most important positions in football, it’s easy to focus on the “sexy” ones. Ask most fans and they’ll say that it starts and ends with a top-line quarterback. From there, other skill positions – like running back or wide receiver – are often highlighted as the most important on the field.

But there’s one position that is rarely discussed, yet in some ways is just as important – if not more so – than any skill position on the field: Long snapper. These fellows have a tendency to fly under the radar, but are a vital component of the special teams unit on the football field. And some of the best over the years have been found in Boulder.

Dating back to the team’s 1990 national championship year, the Buffs have found talented long snappers who have made their way through the college level by playing all four years and getting good looks, if nothing else, from the NFL. That trend has continued up to this year, as Ryan Iverson figures to get a solid look from pro teams needing to bolster their special teams unit.

The success of CU long snappers begins with Chris O’Donnell, who started each of his four years from 1987-90. By the time O’Donnell finished his career with the Buffs, he had become the first player in school history to letter all four years at the position. He was able to snap for players such as Tom Rouen and Mitch Berger, an accomplishment he remains proud of to this day.

“I certainly take pride in take pride in calling those guys teammates.”

O’Donnell said. “On the same note, there were a lot of guys through injury 16

and everything else. There’s been – even in my day – John Boman was snapping with us, and, in my senior year, Jay Leeuwenburg was taking snaps. But I do have pride that I was one of the first to walk on and letter all four years as a long snapper.”

After O’Donnell paved the way for long snappers of the future, CU had trouble finding consistency at the position – a drought that would last nearly 20 years. It wasn’t that they couldn’t find the talent, but over the years, long snappers – like so many other positions in professional sports – have become more specialized.

It took time for that process to play out.

It was in the early 2000s that specialized position camps starting popping up like Starbucks. By the time Greg Pace was a senior in high school, he had a chance to attend a camp designed specifically for long snappers. Thinking it was his best chance to get on the field in college and have a shot at the pro ranks, Pace made long snapping his everyday job.

That approach would pay off for Pace, who would become the first Buff since O’Donnell to start all four years as the team’s long snapper.

North championships in his four years.

He got plenty of looks from NFL scouts, but would only get as far as being invited to an official tryout with the Chicago Bears in 2006.

Even though he never made the roster, Pace knows that the work he put in as a dedicated long snapper was what gave him even an opportunity to demonstrate his craft for a professional team. And much the same way that O’Donnell paved the way for him, Pace knows that his time playing the game created opportunities for those following him.

“They’re awarding scholarships to long snappers now right out of high school,” Pace said. “I didn’t get one, but Justin Drescher, he was the wave of the first kids being recruited out of high school just to be a long snapper. Now, it’s commonplace where guys are getting awarded scholarships to be long snappers at major Division-I schools. It’s become a position where it’s not just, ‘Let’s just find someone who can long snap on the first day of camp.’ They’re finding someone to fix the problem and move forward.”

“Everyone (was) trying to look for an edge to become a D-1 football player,” Pace said. “It’s probably the most coveted position or spot to be in when you’re a high school athlete. Football is one of the greatest sports ever played; I did what I had to do to go to college and I was willing to do anything to get a position on the field – and long snapping was it.”

When Pace graduated from CU and moved on from football, the Buffs were left without a consistent presence on their special teams. They turned to a true freshman who, as Pace pointed out, was one of the first long snappers to receive a scholarship right out of high school.

Drescher stepped right into the spot that Pace vacated and didn’t skip a beat. He, like Pace and O’Donnell before him, played all four years of his college career as a starter for the Buffs.

Pace was snapping for the Buffs during the team’s most successful stretch in the 2000s, which included three Big 12

Once his college career came to a close, he was able to get over that hump and win a coveted roster spot on an NFL team.

Ryan Iverson 17

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Justin Drescher

Greg Pace He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons after being undrafted in 2010, but was cut prior to training camp.

But Lady Luck smiled on him when he was called by the New Orleans Saints in November of that same year. The Saints had waived their long snapper, Jake Ingram, after a botched snap and signed Drescher to fill the hole for the rest of the season. He has been on the Saints roster since then.

“In the NFL, you only have 32 long snappers; it’s very minimal,” Drescher said.

“If you don’t make it on your first attempt, you have to set a timetable for yourself of how long you’re going to try and make it in the NFL.”

“WE’RE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS ON THE FIELD...IT DOES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE GAME EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE ONLY ON THE FIELD FOR 10 OR 12 PLAYS.”

Justin Drescher 18

Those are the very words that he is now trying to convey to the man who replaced him four years ago – Ryan Iverson. Iverson became the third consecutive Buff to start all four years as the team’s long snapper and is now in the process of showing NFL teams what he is capable of doing.

Where Iverson has a unique edge is that he and Drescher remain close and talk often about the transition from the college to the professional level. Drescher – who didn’t have anyone in a position to guide him like he is doing for Iverson – is finding that he can continue a mentorship of Iverson that started when Iverson was visiting Boulder as a recruit.

“We have a great relationship; I met him when he first came up to CU and he’s done an excellent job up there,” Drescher said.

“We’ve spoken probably four or five times the last couple of months about different things that the NFL involves, whether it’s agents, how to be scouted or what the best approach is to certain drills.”

When Iverson arrived at CU, there was already a legacy at the long snapper position. The two guys who had previously played the position were consistent over the course of their entire careers.

It’s difficult for a player taking over at any position to live up to those expectations, but because of the success of long snappers in Boulder, Iverson had to match the performances of the previous two players.

“When I was coming into Colorado, I definitely didn’t want to disappoint,” Iverson said. “I just wanted to keep under the radar because that’s what snappers do; they don’t want a lot of attention. I wanted to continue those guys’ legacy and do my best to play up to how they performed.”

There’s no arguing that the long snapper position has become much more specialized now than when O’Donnell was snapping for the Buffs in the late ’80s, but the importance of a long snapper has also grown quite a bit. With the glitz of a superstar quarterback or an immovable

defense, it’s easy to forget that special teams are still one-third of the game.

A long snapper is the one consistent element of a special teams unit and can have a significant influence in the outcome of a game. A game-tying field goal or field position-altering punt begin with a good snap of the football.

That’s a big reason that long snappers have evolved from a “walk-on who just happens to be okay” to one of the most specialized positions on the football field.

“We’re not the most important players on the field because we have such a small impact,” Drescher said. “But the impact we have is significant on special teams.

I’ve talked to a lot of snappers around the league and we don’t want the attention.

The significance we have we view as minimal, but when you add in the kickers, punters, scoring and field position, it does have a significant role in the game even though you’re only on the field for nine, 10 or 12 snaps.”

But if the last nine years have shown Buffs fans anything, it’s that the special teams aspect of their game has been consistent – at least from its starting point. Although what lies at the position beyond Iverson’s time is unclear, a standard does exist for the Buffs. And now there are enough veterans to provide the experience and advice to keep the lineage intact.

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SEHR GUT! GERMAN TWINS JEREMY AND YANNIK PAUL MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON CU GOLF

By Natalie Meisler

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f only recruiting could always be this easy. Pick ‘em up and drop ‘em back at the airport.

Colorado’s picturesque campus and Boulder’s atmosphere naturally casts a spell over prospects in every sport. Unlimited academic possibilities help close the deal.

“IT’S WHY WE CHOSE TO COME TO AMERICA - TO HAVE BETTER COMPETITION, TOP PLAYERS IN REALLY GOOD TOURNAMENT FIELDS.”

Yes, that’s CU’s standard, timehonored, all-sport recruiting pitch.

Men’s golf coach Roy Edwards didn’t even have to reach for a rescue club. Twin brothers Jeremy and Yannik Paul, who by the end of February led the Buffs in stroke average, for all practical purposes, recruited themselves.

They called Edwards to commit while they were still at Denver International Airport waiting to catch the flight back home to Germany.

Yannik Paul

Jeremy recalled their recruiting trip.

Yannik Paul 20

“We didn’t plan any other trips,” he admitted. “We liked it here and decided to go pretty fast. You see the mountains, the campus, it is awesome.”

Picking Colorado was easy. Deciding on a future in the NCAA ranks was automatic.

“It’s why we chose to come to America to have better competition, top players in really good tournament fields,” said Yannik.

There are no athletic scholarships for inercollegiate competition. in Germany, where the highest level of athletic competition functions on a club basis outside the academic framework.

Jeremy echoed: “You have the opportunity to come here to study and play golf.”

It was better than they dared to imagine.

The spring semester competition opened when the Buffs thawed out the first week in February with some practice in Arizona.

Then, it was off to the 24th annual HawaiiHilo Invitational including eight Pac-12 members.

The twins were left with a sense of awe by travel possibilities within the country. Every new observation, even as trifling as playing on Bermuda grass for the first time, was met with wonder.

The whole freshman experience came down to the oft-quoted line: “Is this a great country, or what?”

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The telling round was a masterpiece for both: Jeremy opened UTEP with a 65 and Yannik was just a stroke behind. Yannik pulled ahead the next two days.

Jeremy added his name to the record when he opened the spring season with a 207 in Hawaii.

Paul took his team honors in the following opportunity, tying for fifth overall in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, Calif., while the Buffs finished second in overall honors.

If this carries all the hallmarks of an intensive sibling rivalry, guess again.

Rivalry never enters the picture.

“We support each other,” Jeremy said.

“We don’t compete against each other.

I really like to hear if he is playing good.

Some days, I’m better. Some days, he’s better. It’s who is in the better shape at the moment.”

Jeremy Paul

In a week’s time, they could start in subzero temperature, fly to a desert 70 degrees warmer and hop over a five-hour expanse of the Pacific Ocean without leaving the country.

“Hawaii was phenomenal,” Yannik said.

“We flew to Arizona and there was a 70 degree difference from freezing here.”

Best of all for Jeremy, it was in Hawaii where he unlocked the riddle of the sport.

“Golf is about self-confidence,” Jeremy said. “If you are playing a good round, why shouldn’t you play well the next day? If you have that good feeling about your swing and are feeling self-confident, you have the opportunity to play well every time.”

Any golfer – regardless of skill level – will bemoan consistency is easier said than done.

But Jeremy quickly matured into the model of consistency, spanning a time frame between the last two tournaments of the fall seasons and the first outing of the spring. And all the way, he jockeyed with Yannik for team leadership and the CU team freshman record.

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After struggling in his first three collegiate attempts, culminated by an 18-over-par in New Mexico, Jeremy used a two-week break in the schedule to adjust his game. He reeled off tournaments of 208, 209 and 207 before slipping to 212.

However, he set the school record of eight straight rounds breaking par, making it 13 of 15.

The 207 in Hawaii, with rounds of 6968-70, went for a 9-under effort. Tied for 16th overall, he nonetheless led the field on par-4s, going 8-under par for the 30 holes.

“GOLF IS ABOUT SELF-CONFIDENCE.” Jeremy Paul “For him to come out of our weather and go there is just impressive,” said Edwards.

“Everyone on the team had his moments, but Jeremy was particularly consistent that week.”

Jeremy knows there will be bad days. He knows there will be shots that are off

the mark. The solution is taming the bad shot within range of being able to salvage those holes.

Jeremy and Yannik are products of the European dedication to exhaustive work on the driving range. From there, repetition produces a consistent swing.

The twins, who were recruited as a package deal from the Germany club ranks, might claim they are more similar than identical. By mid-February, they were identical in one critical measure.

Each had his name attached to CU’s team freshman 54-hole record of 207.

Actually the record was traded over a series of three tournaments, as casually as two roommates might swap a shirt. Jeremy had his career breakout tournament in his fourth effort (Cal’s invitational in Sonoma). It was the first time he broke par over three days. He tied for seventh with eight-under 208.

Next time out, Yannik wrapped up the abbreviated fall season by carding a 207 at the UTEP Invitational to seize CU’s freshman record. He clipped his brother by two strokes.

Yannik added: “I know I am as good as my brother. It’s good to see when he is playing really good, so I have to feel that I can do that, too.”

Far from sibling rivalry, Edwards said: “I see more of a very healthy competition.

They are very supportive of each other. If one is not playing as well, I see the other trying to lift the other up. It’s neat to see.

As a father of two boys myself, I just hope they have as good of a relationship.”

The brothers knew all along they wanted to play golf collegiately in the United States. The only question was where.

Edwards solved that by getting a first step on his competitors and offering early.

“Almost every single team in the United States has a European; it’s a very big deal,” Edwards said.

Recruiting in Europe is not inexpensive.

Edwards said, “It costs about twice as much as a normal trip, but you are seeing a lot more players.”

CU’s head coach began focusing more on European recruiting starting in 2009.

It first paid off with current sophomore Philip Juel-Berg of Denmark. German golf has long been synonymous with national icon Bernhard Langer. Only now, 20 years after Langer’s last green jacket victory in Augusta, is the impact evident at the grassroots level.

“What we really noticed was the Germans were really developing their junior team at a really high level,” Edwards said. “They have one of the best junior teams in Europe. We are developing relations with their coaches.”

Not surprising, the Paul brothers said one of their club coaches referred them to Edwards and Colorado.

“I liked them both. They are very similar players. We thought if we could get them both, it would be better for them to go to the same place and better for us,” said Edwards. “What’s been phenomenal about those guys is they have really adjusted well to being here. They are doing well in school.

The entire transition has been great and they have been wonderful.”

They are nearly fluent in English, although Jeremy said their academic course work

is a little more demanding just from the language perspective. They also admit speaking in their native language while together might be more of a hindrance to their progress in English. But they take great pains to converse in English around their teammates as a point of courtesy.

The brothers are business majors, taking many of the same classes together.

Getting a degree is their top priority.

Making a living on the greens is an abstract concept at this juncture.

“I don’t think about that,” Jeremy said.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are as an amateur. It doesn’t mean that you will be a successful professional.”

He could lecture any athlete on the oneand-done gamble regardless of sport.

“If (you leave before graduation) and you don’t make it (in the sport), you end up with nothing. If you do not have that degree you will not be able to fill a job,” Jeremy said.

Besides, they are enjoying the college experience and soaking up a new culture.

They list sitting in the raucous student section at Buffs home basketball games as the most fun experience.

Ever the diplomat, Jeremy said, “I like watching football, but I’m not that into it.”

When soccer is your national pastime, American football is an acquired taste. In due time.

Yannik Paul

The program was an easy sell for Edwards, who had been following them on regular trips to Europe.

“They wanted to see the golf course (Colorado National Golf Course in Erie) and hang out with our guys,” Edwards said. “And they wanted to see the campus.

The guys loved it here.”

“It’s why we chose to come to America to have better competition, to play in really good tournament fields, to compete against the best schools,” said Yannik.

Study any roster in the Pac-12 or top 20 and see an international potpourri of origins encompassing Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Even warm weather schools reach out internationally.

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT GAMEDAY THE CREW FROM ESPN MADE BOULDER HOME FOR A VERY SPECIAL SATURDAY Journal and Photos by Alexis Perry

Stampede Note: Alexis Perry is a CU student and an aspiring sports journalist. Already, she’s worked for reputable sports companies, such as ESPN, the Pac-12 Network and cover32.com. Perry will graduate in May and intends on continuing her work in the field.

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W

hen Colorado joined the Pac-12 conference in 2011, Buffs fans may have been concerned if they’d never enjoy a rivalry as intense as ColoradoNebraska. While it’s only its third season in the prestigious conference, CU has managed to find another rival in red – Arizona.

Unfortunately, it’s so early the baristas in charge of waking people up have yet to wake up. Note to self: Starbucks doesn’t open until 5:00 a.m.

The last time these teams met on the hardwood, the Buffs were beat and the rivalry – really ignited by Sabatino Chen’s buzzer-beating, three-point shot in Tucson last January – deepened yet again.

Six days later, knowing tensions would be high and emotions would be worn, ESPN announced they would visit Colorado for the rematch of the year.

5:00 a.m.

It’s not every day the worldwide leader in sports visits Colorado. it’s never happened before for the hoops team. Hosting College GameDay was a testament to what head coach Tad Boyle has done in almost four full seasons with the Buffs.

The pride and confidence CU fans have in Boyle’s program is immense.

Most hopeful sports broadcasters (that’s me), only dream of the opportunity to work amongst the likes of Rece Davis, Digger Phelps and Jay Williams, three of the most notable sportscasters around.

I’ve worked on numerous ESPN shows before as a “utility” – you know, the one pulling the camera cable across the court.

I knew the College GameDay production would be different; it would be enormous especially in comparison to the other shows I have worked.

Being a young gun, getting on the GameDay crew would be near impossible since they fly their crew of approximately 70 members around the nation for the show every week. However, I would not miss the opportunity to experience the biggest production in Colorado basketball history. Instead, with a camera and journal in hand, I witnessed the production of the decade.

SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2014 4:18 a.m., MST

I arrive at the local coffee shop in hopes someone can serve me a 20-ounce triple shot cinnamon dolce latte with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

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5:28 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

4:30 a.m.

The crew arrives at the Coors Events Center three-and-a-half hours prior to the live show.

I walk out to the court and see the entire set for the show is completely ready to go. Cameras are in their positions and the earpiece and microphones that the talent will use are set up. Because there is no way they could do it all in 30 minutes, I ask when they set up. Apparently, the crew of about 100 spent all day Friday laying hundreds of cables connecting the floor to the truck parked out back. At this point, it’s a waiting game. Show time in t-minus three hours.

5:28 a.m.

Director Rodney Perez holds the early show camera meeting on the set. He tells each cameraman (and woman) what he expects from them throughout the two hours they are live. Hard cameras on the floor were responsible for the isolated shots on the talent. The “slash” camera is responsible for the wide shots that show off how many fans came out. The coolest camera, the jib, will be getting all the wide, moving shots.

“THE FANS WHO WERE FIRST IN LINE TOLD ME THEY HAD BEEN OUTSIDE SINCE EIGHT O’CLOCK ON FRIDAY NIGHT. NOW THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DIEHARD.” 5:55 a.m.

It’s about 30 degrees outside and the line to get into the Coors Events Center wraps around the entire building. Some students are bundled up in blankets, while others are in light jackets. The fans who were first in line told me they had been outside since eight o’clock on

5:00 a.m.

5:28 a.m.

Friday night. Now that’s what it means to be a diehard.

6:00 a.m.

The doors open and the herd floods in.

A few ESPN security guards are at the Southeast entrance checking each and every sign brought in. They confiscate a few inappropriate signs, but all-in-all, the C-Unit came up with some hilarious boards.

6:43 a.m.

The gorgeous sunrise made for some amazing photos in front of the ESPN College GameDay bus.

6:00 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

The stage manager, also known as “The Sheriff,” spends a few minutes rounding up the media members and spirit squads into the press conference room to be a part of the Travelocity promotional piece, which will air later in the show.

7:15 a.m.

Digger Phelps hits the hardwood to pump up the C-Unit with a five-minute speech. He asks students to show their school pride, represent their school well and show why they’re the best student section in the Pac-12.

7:32 a.m.

Rece Davis and Jay Williams take to the desk. They can’t help but snap a few photos of the amazing turn out.

8:00 a.m.

College GameDay is live “rolling from the Rockies for the first time” on ESPNU!

8:13 a.m.

Tad Boyle and Spencer Dinwiddie walk out onto the court, and it comes as no surprise when the crowd goes absolutely wild. They adore Coach Boyle and “The Mayor.”

8:15 a.m.

Boyle and Dinwiddie sit down to interview with Davis. Dinwiddie’s torn ACL injury suffered against Washington is the main topic of the seven-minute interview. As Davis wraps up, the crowd begins to chant, “One more year! One more year!” referring to their hope that Dinwiddie will return for the 2014-15 season.

8:50 a.m.

The pre-recorded Gnome press conference promo airs on ESPNU, featuring Ralphie as a special guest.

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10:42 a.m.

10:05 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

7:15 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

9:55 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

College GameDay goes live on ESPN. Phelps says, “This is the moment Colorado has been waiting for.”

9:55 a.m.

Zach Ruebesam has already earned $1,800 just for wearing the red State Farm jersey. He makes his way onto the hardwood attempting to win $18,000 if he makes a shot from behind the half-court line within 18 seconds. What’s the deal with the No. 18? It represents the 18,000 State Farm agents in North America.

Clever, State Farm; very clever. Ruebesam misses his first shot by a mile, however, the rest are rather close. Those 18 seconds fly by in what felt like a millisecond, and not a single State Farm stamped ball graces the bottom of the net. Ruebesam is visibly disappointed with himself, voicing his frustration to CU assistant coach Rodney Billups and fellow team manager C.J. Manning. It’s okay, Zach, you’re still $1,800 richer!

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10:00 a.m.

And just like that, two hours of television gold had been produced for all the folks at home. As Phelps stands up from the desk, he receives a standing ovation and chant from the C-Unit.

“Digger! Digger! Digger!”

He blows the fans three kisses before beelining it off the set.

10:05 a.m.

Davis and Williams stick around to connect with the fans who had just spent two hours cheering and booing on demand. Starting on the east side, the two slowly make their way through the nationally recognized student section.

They stop to pose for pictures, sign autographs and even (for a very brief moment) become members of the C-Unit.

Davis slips on the most highly regarded element of the “Buff Man” costume,

the helmet, and gives the media his best superhero pose. Davis quickly takes the helmet off and complains that the “Buff Man” helmet has an indescribable stench, so I put it on to be the judge. I can confirm that whiff Davis just took inside the helmet is an odd mixture of fiberglass, spray paint and sweat. It wasn’t that bad.

“DAVIS AND WILLIAMS STICK AROUND TO CONNECT WITH THE FANS WHO HAD JUST SPENT TWO HOURS CHEERING AND BOOING ON DEMAND.” 10:08 a.m.

The crew has 45 minutes to break down the hard desk set and clear the floor entirely. Since the A-team

is in town, the floor is clear within 25 minutes.

10:42 a.m.

Williams untucks his button down and loosens his tie. There’s a sparkle in his eye as he sees a stray basketball on the baseline.

No way; I can’t believe this is happening!

Williams picks up the ball and starts shooting around. A few members of the ESPN crew straggle in to join him, and they all look slightly puzzled about what they should play. Three-on-three? Horse? Fullcourt? It’s clear everyone wants to play, but no one wants to sweat too much. Horse it is.

I should add, while Williams hasn’t played in the NBA for more than a decade, the guy hasn’t lost his ability to drain three-point buckets from any spot on the court. I’m impressed.

11:30 a.m.

The crew is losing steam. They’ve already been at work for seven hours, so most

decide it’s naptime. I agree. A few say they’re going to go back to their hotel rooms, others will stay on site. I’m going home, after just two hours of sleep, my bed sounds wonderful right now.

“(WILLIAMS) HASN’T LOST HIS ABILITY TO DRAIN THREEPOINT BUCKETS FROM ANY SPOT ON THE COURT.” 2:45 p.m.

I arrive back to the site and most of the crew is sitting around tables set up inside the delivery area of the CEC. It’s lunchtime; in other words, it’s churro time.

3:03 p.m.

The crew has had their fix of cinnamon, doughy goodness, and they’re back to

work. They head out to the court and attach the College GameDay sign to the front of the desk.

3:40 p.m.

Three camera guys jump on the desk and secure the camera angles they need. The wide three shot, as well as three isolated shots on Davis, Phelps and Williams.

Since the chairs are so comfortable, they stay put for about 20 minutes.

4:00 p.m.

Phelps, Davis and Williams sit at the desk anxiously awaiting the end of the LSU-Kentucky game. The game goes into overtime, so the entire floor crew huddles around the flex desk to watch; simultaneously, Williams and Davis have made some kind of bet on the game.

The wager: $1. They continue passing the dollar back and forth throughout overtime, but I’m unsure if the bet is directly related to the winner or the game or free throw accuracy throughout the 29

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final minutes. Either way, Kentucky wins, Williams keeps his dollar and he also earns the bragging rights.

4:23 p.m.

Since LSU-Kentucky went into overtime, the pregame show from Boulder got cut to just five minutes. The producer had spent most the day perfecting the pregame show rundown, making sure the entire hour could be filled.

They had to remake the rundown within a couple minutes, leaving just enough time for Davis and Company to set up the Colorado-Arizona matchup, and not touch on any other games from throughout the day like originally planned.

Just a couple minutes before going on the air, Phelps asks Davis, “How long are we on the air for?” Davis candidly replies, “Doesn’t matter, just talk.”

Tension? Nah! It’s stressful sitting around unsure of exactly what is about to transpire. Live television is all about making adjustments. While this is a dramatic change in the plan, the team handles the new rundown flawlessly.

After their quick hit, Davis tosses it over to Jay Bilas in Durham, N.C., for the lead into the Duke vs. Syracuse game.

7:04 p.m.

It’s Senior Night! Yes, the final home game of the season is prefaced with introductions of the two graduating seniors. Boulder native Beau Gamble and fan-favorite Ben Mills are recognized and given framed jerseys.

7:06 p.m.

Duke beats “The Orange” 66-60, so ESPN tosses back to Boulder for the tipoff of No. 4 Arizona vs. Colorado.

8:00 p.m.

Davis, 7:11Phelps p.m. and Williams are back

on the desk for the Mazda Halftime Report. They recap the Duke vs.

Syracuse game, as well as college basketball highlights from the day.

Towards the end of the report, the C-Unit breaks out in their version of the well-known “Harlem Shake,” dubbed the “Mills Shake,” in honor of Ben Mills.

“JOSH SCOTT WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO APPROACHED COACH BOYLE AND SAID HE FELT BEN MILLS SHOULD GET THE START.”

9:06 p.m.

Strike begins! Everyone’s least favorite part of the day. The hundreds of cables, numerous cameras and harddesk equipment have to be packed up.

This is not a quick process. The cables are separated by type, XLR and tri-ax cables do not go in the same place. Not a single crewmember has complained about the long day.

8:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 23

12:23 a.m.

The crew leaves and the truck pulls out of Boulder.

Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is what you call “a wrap.”

7:11 p.m.

8:09 p.m.

As if the “Mills Shake” wasn’t enough, the C-Unit starts the “roller coaster” to start the second half. Man, that looks like a good time, and it looks even better on national television.

9:03 p.m.

Ben Mills hits his first three-point shot – not just of the night, but of his career.

9:05 p.m.

The Buffs fall 88-61 to No. 4-ranked Arizona, their biggest loss since the loss of Spencer Dinwiddie. SportsCenter follows the end of the game broadcast.

8:09 p.m.

7:04 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

In honor of his last game with the Buffs, senior Ben Mills gets the start over a usual first-stringer, sophomore Josh Scott. The crowd erupts as Mills walks to center court for the tipoff, stretching and smiling the whole way there. Mills jumps a little late, and Arizona wins the first possession of the game.

7:11 p.m.

Holly Rowe does her first on-camera hit of the night on Ben Mills getting his first start in his 54 career games. She mentions Josh Scott was actually the one who approached Coach Boyle and said he felt Ben Mills should get the start.

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ENDOWING OUR FUTURE LEADING BY EXAMPLE WITHIN THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

By Marty Coffin Evans

P

“

ay it forward” or “Give back” – regardless the direction, these actions matter.

Both capture the values of three CU affiliated, non-alum couples: Rick and Nancy George, Tad and Ann Boyle, Mike and Trisha MacIntyre.

Each couple stepped up to the plate in support of women’s athletics.

“We both felt in coming back to Boulder, we wanted to immediately invest in CU,” Athletic Director Rick George explains. With two daughters, one who played basketball and the other a cheerleader, women’s sports seemed logical. “It’s important to us as a family.”

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“As long as we’re at CU, we will continue to support the program because we believe in it,” says the athletic director. “Providing a scholarship is the right thing to do.

“Someone provided for me when I played. I wouldn’t be here today without that support.”

As a four-year starter at the University of Illinois, his and Nancy’s alma mater, Rick understands personally the impact of such scholarship support. Nancy and Rick believe in paying it forward for CU’s student athletes.

“We get to see the students have a chance of a lifetime,” Nancy reflects about their student support. She also acknowledges that women’s sports are not the “money makers” that others are.

Returning to a university campus with collegiate athletics brings the George family back in contact with many students.

Noting her excitement at being back in Boulder from their 1987-91 time, Nancy describes the city as an “awesome place,” and Colorado, as a “great experience.”

“We love to interact with the students.

Every student-athlete has something to contribute to make the university great,” says Nancy George.

Rick attends as many sporting events as possible, while Nancy looks forward to a more involved time with the university community.

In their case, the Georges endowed a scholarship for the women’s basketball program. Bri Watt from Fresno, Calif., a redshirt freshman is “their” student.

For head basketball coach Tad Boyle, once he learned about the George’s gift, he asked his wife, Ann, why they weren’t doing this, too.

“I mentioned it to Ann and we were both all for it. We followed Rick and Nancy George’s lead,” says Tad. “We thought this was a great idea. As former student-athletes, we think this is such a gift, a way to give back,” Ann explains. “We’re grateful to be here and want to do anything we can to help.”

“This university has been great to us since we’ve been here. This is one small way to give back,” Tad agrees.

Their “small way” translates into an endowed scholarship in the women’s golf program.

Says Ann: “We both wish we were really good golfers. We’re just ‘wannabes.’”

“We like Coach Anne Kelly and her program a lot,” Tad continues.

“Basketball, football and volleyball are high-profile sports. Student-athletes in cross country, tennis, track and field (and golf) work just as hard, putting in the effort. They need support.”

Both Ann and Tad realize that in society, sometimes male role models are more prevalent than female.

“Our 13-year-old daughter and two sons are around young men more frequently than the young women. It’s a great thing

“I MENTIONED (THE ENDOWMENT) TO ANN AND WE WERE BOTH ALL FOR IT. WE FOLLOWED RICK AND NANCY GEORGE’S LEAD.” Tad Boyle

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Mike and Trisha MacIntyre

Tad and Ann Boyle for them to see the female student-athletes be successful and go to college,” says Tad. The Boyles’ student-athlete is sophomore golfer Alexis Keating from Elma, Wash.

“WE HOPE WE CAN GET TO THE POINT IN THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENTATHLETE’S SCHOLARSHIP IS ENDOWED.”

Tad Boyle

“We’ve connected with her, met her mother and grandmother, and look forward to spending time with her,” says Ann. “We met at a football game and exchanged emails. Our hope is to watch her play if we can, since they just started their season.”

What happens when Alexis graduates?

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“She’s our student for the duration. After that, we may switch sports. We’ll see at that point,” Tad explains. “We will continue to do this while I’m head coach at the university and beyond.”

“We hope we can get to the point in the Athletics Department where every studentathlete’s scholarship is endowed,” says Tad. With the Boyles following the George’s lead, Tad believes, “There’s no reason we can’t get this done.”

Ann concludes, “Every penny counts!”

When head football coach Mike MacIntyre and his wife, Trisha, joined in with their own endowment, they confirmed the importance of supporting studentathletes. Even with both being Vanderbilt alums, they believed investing in CU was important to them. Mike’s playing time occurred at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, the former of which was where his father worked as head football coach.

For the MacIntyres, Mike is quick to note

that his and Trisha’s family members have always been involved in education.

“Education is a big deal to us; it’s the backbone to everything,” Mike explains, remembering his football coach dad, father-in-law and other family members with university affiliations. “We’ve been around college campuses our entire lives.”

The MacIntyres see an endowment as putting money to good use.

“EDUCATION IS A BIG DEAL TO US; IT’S THE BACKBONE TO EVERYTHING.”

Mike MacIntyre

“We wanted to give a scholarship to future students, and their families, so when they get degrees and move on, the impact is lasting,” he explains.

“Scholarships transform lives. We’ve seen all the things scholarships do for folks and see how their lives have changed.”

During his time at Duke University, where he was defensive coordinator, Mike remembers he liked lacrosse, a somewhat new sport to him in those days. With CU’s women’s lacrosse program opening its first season this year, the MacIntyres wanted to bring awareness to it.

“Our endowment will help to sustain this sport which is growing in popularity,” Mike says.

“It’s always been our passion to watch boys become men through football, and we know firsthand what it takes to build a new program,” stresses Trisha.

“We’ve gotten to know Annie (Elliott) and admire her passion for lacrosse and starting the program from scratch.”

“Our scholarship support ensures that young ladies in the future will have this educational opportunity,” Mike further comments.

Trisha says of Coach Elliott: “It’s a great honor to partner with her and the athletic

“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN OUR PASSION TO WATCH BOYS BECOME MEN THROUGH FOOTBALL, AND WE KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A NEW PROGRAM.”

Trisha MacIntyre

department on this endeavor and, at the same time, give something back to the university.”

“It’s pretty cool,” Rick comments about all three couples investing in women’s sports.

Kurt Gulbrand, Assistant Vice Chancellor – Athletic Development, echoes this sentiment.

“These three families have left an indelible mark on CU,” Gulbrand says.

“They’ve chosen to support our vision and dream even though they are not CU alums.”

Kurt believes Rick and Nancy set the bar.

“They made a commitment to Colorado even before they came to Boulder,” he explains. “Tad and Ann felt they could help and support young people while making a difference in their lives.”

When asked, Mike and Trisha MacIntyre were “all in” too.

“The philanthropy of these families goes on in perpetuity, beyond their tenure at CU,” says Gulbrand. “It’s uncommon for three people from different educational backgrounds within six months to become involved. They’re part of a whole team, all believing in what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s not about the money; it’s about participating in the vision.

“These are family endowments. The spouses are as much of participants as the fellows. It’s not just driven by three guys.”

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Realizing that fundraising would be an important aspect of the AD’s role, Rick knows the importance of what he and his coaches are doing.

“If I ask someone to donate and support the program, we need to take the lead.”

And take the lead they have.

Establishing these three endowments sends a great message to all.

Rick has been impressed with the culture of giving within the athletics department, whether time or financial resources.

From those in leadership positions to the sports teams, investments are being made back to the students.

According to Gulbrand, there has been an overwhelming staff response to philanthropy within the department, furthering their culture.

“Everyone gives and supports studentathletes at some level. Our team cares too and is in it with you. The strength of the Buffalo is in the herd,” Gulbrand points out.

With these three endowments, Gulbrand is hopeful the leadership within the athletic department will inspire others to help – at whatever level – to see the university excel and be part of something special.

“We are grateful for this support,” he says.

Entering the lower level of the Coors Events Center, fans walk by four wall plaques. The first denotes donors to that facility. The next three celebrate donors in various ways – planned giving, endowments and those from the athletics department.

While endowments become legacy gifts of support in perpetuity, those from the

athletics department capture and expand on the message.

“These gifts are empowering studentathletes to achieve their dreams athletically and academically,” Gulbrand says.

Are these three endowment gifts from the Georges, Boyles and MacIntyres ones which Pay it Forward, or are they the variety that Gives Back?

Simply put, they’re unquestionably “both” – helping student-athletes at the University of Colorado reach their dreams on the basketball courts, golf courses or playing fields, as well as in the classroom.

- Joe F.

Gifts such as these touch the future for these young women. They live on in their families for generations to come.

All in?

You bet; just ask them.

Take your kids fishing, and you may find that even if the fish aren't biting, your kids will be hanging on your every word. After all, catching fish isn't what's important here. It's the life lessons your kids will gain along the way. To find fishing tools and tips that will draw you and your kids closer, visit fishingwithyourdad.com 36

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Upon the news that the renovations project was officially underway, a series of conceptual renderings were produced. While these illustrations do not represent exact reflections of what the final product will look like, they do provide an exciting sneak peek.

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Q&A

RENOVATIONS REVIEW Athletic Director Rick George discusses the future of facilities at CU Interview and Foreword by Natalie Meisler

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“WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEST FACILITY THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE THAT ALLOWS US TO TELL THE STORY OF OUR HISTORY AND TRADITION.” Rick George

W 40 40

e caught up with Rick George on Feb. 19, between a Board of Regents meeting in Colorado Springs and the penultimate men’s hoops home game of the season.

It was just another 15-hour marathon day for the AD, who never tires of pressing the flesh.

(61-52 over Arizona State) and fourth straight 20-win campaign overall.

His day opened with unveiling CU’s strategic plan for the Regents.

It neared the end with a media roundtable focusing on the latest developments in the facilities expansion. Finally, he soaked up one more reason to remember the day: The Buffs rang up their 20th win of the season, the first under George’s watch

A major step was the selection of Mortensen Construction, a Denver-based company chaired by CU alum M.A. Mortensen, and Populous (formerly HOK), which encompasses a significant Denver operation among its global network.

The project includes five focus areas spread out among the complete renovation for the Dal Ward Center, redesigns for the northeast and southwest corners and new construction east of the stadium. The most visible change to the Folsom profile comes when the long anticipated permanent indoor practice field (enveloped by a 300-meter indoor track) rises out of the field adjacent to Folsom Avenue.

George expects to see some preliminary renderings of the project forthcoming.

Although athletic facilities nationwide have often been described as an “arms

Since opening his Dal Ward office for business back in the August, George has labored for the day the first shovel could break the dirt to start the $143 million total makeover of the Dal Ward Center and construction of a new facility to the east of the current stadium’s boundary.

“As soon as we get them, we’ll put them up there (on CUBuffs.com).” he said. “We want to share it with people and get them excited about it.”

Design is scheduled to begin immediately.

race” designed to impress recruits, George had a more tangible motivation to get the project rolling.

“It’s for our current student-athletes,” he said. “We have student-athletes who go and condition at six in the morning in the Dal Ward Center and don’t have a place to shower and change. These are needs that we have.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Stampede posed even more questions surrounding the renovations, and George addressed each with unbridled enthusiasm.

Where do you see the $93 million coming from after the $50 million

startup funding (needed to precede the order to build)?

the concept presented to the Regents in December?

That’s just a target that was part of the resolution approved by the board. Once we get to $50 million (currently more than halfway there), we won’t stop. We will continue to fundraise after that.

Then, we bond the rest of it after that.

We are confident that we have revenue streams that we will be able to pay (bond obligations) off and will not add to our deficit long-term. One of the beauties of these facilities are they are going to provide a revenue stream that we don’t currently have.

That’s what I challenged them to do; we want to have the best facility that we can possibly have that allows us to tell the story of our history and tradition.

Now that the design/build team has come aboard, will Mortensen Construction and Populous fine-tune

When you talk about the August 2015 deadline, is that everything soup to nuts?

Yep. That’s a lot. This is a very aggressive schedule that we put in front of them. I believe we need to build as quickly as we can.

We need to do it the right way. It’s doable.

As we talked to the (construction bidders), every one of them said they could do it.

Our goal is to have those facilities up and running by August of 2015 (start of 2015-16 academic year).

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AD we evolve we are looking at opportunities on that. We don’t want to sell something we don’t have (illustrated) at this point.

Once we get those concepts from our design team, we’ll put those out and raise funds that way.

How will the new facilities translate into the 2.95 GPA goal for studentathletes in the department by 2016?

One portion of the project is creating space for conventions and other private business as well as purely social functions. How does it all interact with the Byron R. White Club Level, which has hosted private functions for several years?

It will be totally different because the square footage will be much bigger,

so it will allow us opportunity to host most groups.

Are there naming possibilities?

We haven’t focused any time on that right now. There are naming opportunities within the facilities. (George has also raised the topic of the common practice of donation through bricks or pavers). As

We’re at 2.89 right now. That was our best fall ever and our second-best semester in our history. It’s aspirational, but it’s attainable. The facilities are going to help. Whenever you can triple your space – from 5,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet – and be able to conduct study and tutorial sessions without being interrupted, it will be helpful for our student-athletes.

What does the sector devoted to leadership development look like? People can mentally picture weights, computers or hydrotherapy pools in strength and conditioning areas, study areas or the sports medicine section, but what the about leadership function?

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It is just where we can house the staff to focus on the program and have meetings with different leaders with a smaller group of student-athletes. Right now, we just have them here and there and everywhere.

While on the subject of construction, there are metrics in the strategic plan for maximizing basketball revenue.

Given the current level of success and crowds, isn’t it nearly maximized? Is there any chance to expand seating?

Yes (it’s maximized on a yearly basis from a season ticket standpoint). But, there are a number of games we have a lot of empty seats we might be able to sell. For example, we had Georgia, Oregon, Oregon State (during the Christmas vacation period) and we created the strategy that allowed us to sell them in three-packs. We have to think creatively in those types of opportunities.

(Expanding the current arena area) is something we will look at doing, but I’m not sure enlarging it is the right way. We’ll look at that over the next several weeks and months.

How is RAPID (acronym for Respect, Accountability, Passion, Integrity and Dedication) different 44

from earlier summaries of the department mission?

It’s important that people know who we are, particularly our people who work here.

As we develop our core values, these were areas that we felt were non-negotiable. It’s great that the acronym came up – RAPID – which is a sense of urgency to me. You have to have those things to keep in our department. Everyone is on board with that. When people say, “Who are you?” we are a group that’s RAPID. We’re about Respect. We’re about Accountability.

We’re about Passion for our studentathletes, our jobs, our diversity. (Integrity and Dedication).

Did you say Colorado State is building its proposed stadium with a (company founded by) a CU grad?

If they build it, Mortensen has won their bid. What I was saying was the founder of Mortensen is a CU grad.

The oldest offices in the department have been continuously occupied by David Plati and his outstanding sports information crew and across a hall by track/cross-country coach Mark Wetmore and national championship staff. Do they get new offices?

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WOMEN’S LACROSSE TAKES FLIGHT IN BOULDER

By Michael Jaycox

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“IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE MOVE TO THE PAC-12.”

Julie Manning

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omen’s lacrosse is alive and breathing at the University of Colorado. It may be two-plus years since former athletic director Mike Bohn stepped to the podium and announced the university’s first new athletic program in 16 years, but the wait is finally over.

This year we will get to watch Ann Elliott lead a group of young, yet inspired, women in the inaugural season of women’s lacrosse at CU. It figures to be exciting to see, game after game.

That being said, we can’t forget about the countless hours spent working on the project that have brought us to this point.

Constructing a program from nothing is not an easy task. Women’s lacrosse has been a long time in the making.

Julie Manning, who is now the senior associate athletics director for sport administration at the University of Wyoming, is the real reason that lacrosse is making its debut at CU this spring.

Serving as associate athletic director under Bohn, Manning was the main person that allowed this vision to become a reality. Now, even though she has since left the school, Manning is still intently watching the program she helped create.

It was on Feb. 8, 2012 that the women’s lacrosse program was announced to the public, but its actual conception was two years earlier, when the university began considering a move to the Pac-12.

According to Manning, CU pledged that if they were to join the Pac-12, the school would begin searching for more athletic opportunities for its students.

“It wasn’t a requirement. I mean, it wasn’t part of the deal or anything,” said Manning. “It was just something that we wanted to do with the move to the Pac12. We thought it would be appropriate for us to start to look at opportunities for growth.”

From start to finish, the administration diligently combed through every one of their options. During early rounds of discussion, sports such as rowing,

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gymnastics and swimming were considered, but everything kept leading back to lacrosse.

Before Manning could solidify her decision, she initiated an extensive survey in order to determine whether or not Colorado would receive the sport with open arms. After looking at what sports kids in the state were playing and what the overall interest level was, Manning found that lacrosse was absolutely booming in the Centennial State.

Kids across Colorado are starting to play lacrosse at younger ages and at higher percentages. While lacrosse has been mostly known as an East Coast sport, more and more players from Colorado are leaving high school headed for Division-I programs than ever before. Behind the popularity of Denver’s two professional teams, the Mammoth and Outlaws, Inside Lacrosse Magazine named Denver the best lacrosse city in America in 2009.

With it being abundantly clear that a Division-I lacrosse program would fit in seamlessly at CU, the only thing left to figure out was whether or not the school had the facilities to support it.

Although the program was highly desired, the athletic department did not intend to spend tens-of-millions of dollars in building a new stadium.

Manning already knew that the prospect of using Folsom Field was going to be a tough sell. The field was absolutely perfect, but was too small to support a regulation sized lacrosse field and would require a waiver to be signed by the visiting team in order to play on it. If there was any chance of bringing lacrosse to CU, it seemed like the only other viable option was through Kittredge Field.

Unfortunately, without the facilities of Folsom Field, Kittredge would need some additional upgrades. Thus, Manning had defined her next project.

“We went in (at Kittredge) and replaced the turf, but there are several things that need to be done yet,” Manning said. “We have to replace the scoreboard; we have to increase and enhance the lighting that is there, primarily because of TV, but some safety issues, as well.”

Though Manning and the rest of the department were in favor of making the sizable investment, they didn’t have the final decision. That honor rested with the Regents and Chancellor, who needed to be kept up to date throughout the whole process.

“It’s a significant process,” Manning said of getting approval. “It takes time and

WOMEN’S LACROSSE TIMELINE

6.10.10

The University of Colorado formally announces it will join the Pac-12

7.1.11

The University of Colorado joins the Pac-12

2.8.12

Athletic Director Mike Bohn announces the inception of CU’s women’s lacrosse program

3.26.12

Ann Elliott is hired as CU’s first women’s lacrosse head coach

5.27.12

Elliott wins national championship with Northwestern

5.31.12

Elliott takes Northwestern’s Taylor Thornton to the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, honoring the nation’s top lacrosse players

6.1.12

Elliott returns to Chicago, switches bags, flies to Colorado and begins recruiting

6.14.12

Hannah Nielsen hired as assistant coach

8.21.12

Colleen Magarity hired as assistant coach

8.26.13

First day of school; CU lacrosse official begins work with players, and “fall ball” commences

10.12.13

Navy Fall Lacrosse Invitational

2.22.14

CU’s first home lacrosse game, a win in Folsom running behind Ralphie 51

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educating to make sure people are aware of what we’re doing.”

in? Who do you see out there?’” Manning said of beginning her coaching search.

Once the Chancellor and Regents did review and approve the program, as well as the investments that came with it, it represented a strong level of commitment to the athletic department by the university.

Finding the perfect person to raise a budding program is not an easy task. Your hope is to find someone who will be able to helm the team for years, if not decades, to come. If you happen to choose wrong, a once-promising program may collapse before it ever gets its feet planted. So when given the green light by Bohn, Manning began the hiring process with a strategy in hand: Pick the fruit from the tallest tree.

Much of the funds that were used for the lacrosse program came from those already within the athletic department and university. Now, with a $143 million expansion for Dal Ward and Folsom Field already approved, the potential capabilities for the lacrosse team have only grown. Certainly, some lacrosse games – such as the home opener – will be played at Folsom. Similarly, it allows for the program to expand and integrate itself into the university much sooner than expected.

With the foundation set, the last thing Manning needed to do was find someone to steer the ship.

“We did our research. We certainly talked to a lot of people across the country. You know, ‘Who do you believe

Northwestern had won six of the last seven championships, falling in the title game the other year, when Manning came questioning about a head coaching position. Almost immediately, her eyes happened upon Elliott, who was serving as the associate head coach for the Wildcats. Though the coaching search spanned the whole nation, Manning says, “It was pretty apparent, because she had interest in us and we certainly had interest in her, that Annie Elliott was someone that we had identified and started to target.”

Manning traveled out to California to watch Northwestern’s first game of the

year against Stanford. After the game, she made the decision to bring Elliott back to Boulder for a formal interview, where she was quickly offered the job.

“What we liked in Annie was that she helped develop the Northwestern program while she was there as a student-athlete,” said Manning. “Then she became an assistant coach and then an associate head coach, so we felt that she was rising and was very successful in each of those stops she had in her young career.”

Elliott was hired on Mar. 26, 2012, but didn’t officially join the school until after Northwestern’s season, where they won their seventh championship in eight years. Four days later, Elliott took one of her players to Washington D.C. for the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, honoring the best lacrosse player in the nation each year. The next day, April 1, Elliott flew back to Chicago, switched bags and hopped on a plane to Colorado, thereby officially beginning her career as the head coach of CU’s women’s lacrosse team.

Elliott’s arrival marked a passing of the torch. It was no longer about creating a

lacrosse program, but all about preparing for the team’s first game. While there were nearly two years until that moment would come to pass, every second was needed.

The first order of business was to hire two assistant coaches, and Elliott didn’t have to look too hard to find them. Within a few weeks, Colleen Magarity and Hannah Nielsen, both from Northwestern, were in Boulder and eager to get on the recruiting trail.

Their familiarity with Elliott and her style allowed the three of them to hit the ground running.

“I hit the jackpot,” said Elliott. “I don’t think I could’ve got two better assistants to come out here and build the program.

I think the great thing about us is we share the same underlying values, which makes it easy for us to jump right in and build a culture here, because we all see the foundation in the same way.”

Once on the recruiting trail, Elliott realized that, even with a year head start, they were still lagging behind the other programs in the country.

The recruiting process in lacrosse is year-round, and many recruits commit several years in advance. If the Buffs were going to have any chance of competing in their first year, they needed to hurry and catch up, while still staying true to their values.

“You’d think a year was enough time, but we were probably a year or two behind, even at that point, in terms of recruiting,” said Elliott. “My staff did a great job of getting out there and trying to go to as much as we can and catch up in the recruiting process, while at the same time, not being in a hurry and making sure we get the best studentathletes out here that are going to fit our program and philosophy.”

This season, the women’s lacrosse team will be fielding 21 freshmen and two upperclassmen from across the country.

Practice began the first day of school, starting with individual workouts and drills, and picked up a head of steam after winter break. As the season looms around the corner, Elliott doesn’t have any expectations as far as wins and losses. All she cares about is focusing on getting better and competing every day.

“If we’re better at the end of our season than we were on Aug. 27, then I think

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we’re successful as a program, and the following year, it’s going to be the same.

Our goal is to do better than we did the year before,” says Coach Elliott.

SEIZING THE REINS

Annie Elliott boldly leads the Buffaloes newest varsity sport Some people are simply destined to do what they do. The way they walk, the way they talk, the way they act. The proper qualifications for a profession go a lot further than one’s résumé. After spending only one afternoon with Ann Elliott, one thing is abundantly clear: She was born to coach lacrosse. Luckily for her, and the University of Colorado, that is exactly what she is doing.

Raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Elliott was immersed in sports from a very young age. While her sisters dabbled in athletics, it was Elliott’s brother, Mike, whose footsteps she followed most closely: If he played hockey, she grabbed a puck; if he played baseball, she found a bat; and if he played football, she looked for pads. For her family, friends and teammates, there was no telling Elliott what she couldn’t do. If she wanted to play baseball, Elliott was going to play

baseball, even if she had to play with the boys. Competitiveness is a trait that oozed out of her since she could first dribble a ball or put on an ice skate. At the Elliott household, though it was friendly, there was always a heavy dose of some healthy brother-sister competition.

Smiling, Elliott explains, “We would play outside a lot, whether it was baseball, hockey, basketball or something. He was always a lot bigger and stronger than me, though, so he would probably win most of the time.”

Like her brother, hockey was her first passion. Heading into middle school, Elliott knew she loved the feeling she got when she whizzed across the ice, but she needed more than just one sport to fulfill her competitive desire. In seventh grade, after playing a lot of baseball growing up, she tried out and made the school’s softball team, only to find that she absolutely hated it.

Undeterred, Elliott continued searching and ended up finding the sport that would come to define the rest of her life: Lacrosse.

“I was too late to start playing lacrosse (in seventh grade) because they already 53

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had tryouts, so I had to wait until eighth grade,” says Elliott. “It was just a lot of fun. The pace of it and the vision on the field was a lot more of what I was used to.”

When she entered high school, the idea of going to college for lacrosse had yet to fully develop in Elliott’s mind. Ice hockey had always been the plan. She had been playing it the longest and truly loved it.

Then entering her senior year, things began to change.

“THE PACE OF IT AND THE VISION ON THE FIELD WAS A LOT MORE OF WHAT I WAS USED TO.” Ann Elliott

“I got a little burnt out with ice hockey and lacrosse was newer to me and I really liked it,” says Elliott. “I just felt like I had so much more potential and room to grow in that sport.”

The college process did not come easy for Elliott. Caught between two passions, the idea of choosing one over the other was almost excruciating. It wasn’t until a visit to Northwestern University, where Elliott met women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, that the decision to go to school for lacrosse was truly set in stone.

That was when Elliott knew, “This is definitely what I wanted to do.”

It was important to Elliott that she was going to school in the Midwest, still close to home, and that the campus was beautiful, but it was the lasting impression imposed on Elliott by Hiller that brought her to Illinois.

The passion that exuded from Hiller was exactly what Elliott had been searching for. This wasn’t just an opportunity to compete on a winning program, but a chance for Elliott to truly develop her love for the sport of lacrosse.

“I knew when I left that day that was where I wanted to go, and hopefully the rest of the pieces of the puzzle would work out for me,” explains Elliott.

During the course of the next seven years under Hiller, four as a player and three as 54

an assistant coach, Elliott flourished into one of the best young minds in women’s lacrosse. Every day, Hiller demonstrated that a coach must lead through example, showing that every moment was an opportunity to get better and push one’s self towards her full potential.

Of her mentor, Elliott said, “You develop this mutual respect, which makes it easy to play for her and easy to come in every day and push yourself to that level because you know the person you’re looking up to is doing the same.”

There was a point when Elliott had no real intentions of making lacrosse her career, but after six championships in seven seasons as an integral cog in Hiller’s system, the decision was almost made for her.

“It would be hard to envision all the success we had there (Northwestern) and those opportunities just fell in my lap,” said Elliott.

When she was promoted to the associate head coach at Northwestern, Elliott believed she could end up spending years with the program. The people at Northwestern were not just colleagues; they had become like family.

“I had actually been joking around with Kelly’s husband, Scotty, that I could be there for another 16 years. I loved it there. I had a great relationship with Kelly and her husband,” said Elliot. “My ties and my passion for Northwestern athletics, especially lacrosse, are strong.”

If Elliott had wanted, she could have instilled herself as a lifelong member of the Wildcats. That would have been the easy thing to do. There would have been championships, top-ranked recruits and maybe even a head-coaching job at her alma mater in the distant future.

Instead, the University of Colorado came calling in early 2012, giving Elliott the opportunity of a lifetime.

“I knew that I wanted to face some new challenges myself and see what I can do on my own,” said Elliot. “If the right opportunity came about I was going to take it, and for me the University of Colorado was the right opportunity.”

But before she could make the move to Boulder, Elliott needed to put a bow on her career at Northwestern.

“I wanted to finish out the season and knew we had the ability to compete for a national championship,” Elliott said. “Part of my decision when I took the job was based on the fact that they would let me finish coaching at Northwestern.”

Anyone who knows Elliott wouldn’t be the least bit surprised by this decision. The word “quit” is not in her vocabulary. She invests herself entirely in her endeavors, and once she begins a task, she will finish it. Now, as she sets to raise women’s lacrosse at CU from the ground up, that’s exactly what she will do – finish.

LAX STAR

Meet Marie Moore

For Marie Moore, a midfielder from Brick, N.J., the University of Colorado is all about the Buffs Nation. That’s what brought her to Boulder, and that’s what propelled Moore towards the first women’s lacrosse game in Buffs history.

“The whole family aspect they have here (at CU),” said Moore. “It’s really about being together and being one. The whole Buffs Nation, everyone here, the fans, the alumni – it’s just like one big family.”

Joining an emerging program, one with no upperclassmen leadership, a family environment is exactly what Moore and her teammates have needed in order to make the transition into a college athlete. Though they are young and haven’t even played their first game, every individual on this team knows they can count on each other for support.

“We always have each other’s back, and we always know what each other is going through,” said Moore. “I think by being on the same level, we’ve all come together and meshed. We’ve all become really close because of that.”

Along with her teammates, Moore spent months preparing for the moment that she stepped on field and would participate in the first game in the history of women’s lacrosse at CU. Now, the chance to create a culture and write history is present in everyone’s head.

“It’s absolutely awesome. It’s such a good opportunity for us. We’re just constantly really excited to get out there and be the best we can be,” said Moore.

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Most would love to come in and finish a project that is already near completion, but for Elliott, there is something exciting about starting with a blank canvas.

“When you have an opportunity to build something from the ground up, you have the opportunity to create the culture you want to create,” said Elliott. “For us, everything is new. We are able to start from ground zero and build every single day the type of team, the type of culture that we want.”

“WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING FROM THE GROUND UP, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE CULTURE YOU WANT TO CREATE.”

Ann Elliott

So far, the transition from an assistant coach to a head coach hasn’t fazed Elliott in the slightest. For a program with no history, her name will be the first one in the record books, and she understands the responsibility that comes with that.

Without even playing a game, Elliott has already begun putting her stamp on the team’s culture. Whether it’s what uniforms and sticks they will use or the ideals she is already instilling within her players, she’s making sure that the program – not just the team – is prepared for its inaugural season.

There are no expectations, only a focus to compete and get better every day. If the team is better today than it was yesterday, then the team is succeeding. Elliott may be young, but she’s more than ready to lead the Buffaloes for years to come.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Stepping into the shoes of a CU lacrosse player College is not easy.

No matter how smart or socially fluent you may be, nobody comes out the other end without a scratch. The journey itself is almost a rite of passage in which all graduates can relate.

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Every fall, as thousands of 17- and 18-year-old freshmen take their first steps on campus, it isn’t long before they realize they aren’t prepared. The truth is, you can never adequately prepare for college life; you can only hope to adapt quickly. At some point, whether it be a failed test or a broken friendship, college hits everyone in the side of the head like a brick.

On the other hand, the life of a college athlete is one experience that most of us will never have, let alone understand. To balance academics with a social life is hard enough, but if you add athletics to the equation, now you’re really putting yourself behind the eight ball.

Fortunately, in most cases, incoming freshmen will already have a group of upperclassmen on their team to shepherd them around and teach them the ways of a student-athlete. For the 21 freshmen on the women’s lacrosse team at the University of Colorado, that is not the case.

Being that the lacrosse program is in its first year of existence, it’s no surprise that the team is extremely young. While it could – perhaps should – have a negative impact on their season, so far, the fact that CU lacrosse is “young” has done nothing but bring the team closer together.

“It was definitely a challenge coming in, just figuring out what to do,” said Molly

Rovzar, a defenseman from Newport Beach, Calif. “As a team, I think we really just work together, despite not having older people. There is a lot of leadership around the team that we can look towards.”

The situation has pushed the team to develop quickly into a family, which is showing itself on and off the field. Every day, this group of girls knows that the whole team will be pushing each other to get better than the day before, and that’s what has them working so hard.

Each morning, after a long night of studying, hanging out with teammates, or watching tape, all 23 girls on the team, most of which live in the Kittredge community, will find themselves rolling out of bed at 7:00 a.m. and pressing reset on a day that will keep them busy for the next 12-plus hours.

In small groups, some will venture out of the dorms in search of breakfast, while others, who decided to steal a few more minutes of sleep, will simply head straight across campus to their 8:00 a.m. classes. If they’re really lucky, all they have to do is shuffle down the hallway to their Residential Academic Programs (RAP) class, which is held within the dorm community.

As Maddie Krause, a freshman from Centennial, Colo., says, “Having classes in our dorm is really nice. A bunch of us just wake up, walk downstairs and go

to class. It’s a lot easier than booking it across campus.”

In either case, everyone on the team will be at class until noon, at which point they will attempt to fit in a quick lunch before afternoon practice. Most will then stop by the Dal Ward Athletic Center and get taped

LAX STAR

Meet Maddie Krause

She may be a freshman, but it is easy to tell that Maddie Krause is already very comfortable at the University of Colorado. While the majority of her teammates joined the Boulder community by traveling thousands of miles across the country, Krause only had to travel up Highway 36.

Being a Colorado native, the decision to come to CU was an easy one, and so far, the transition has been seamless. Even the additional responsibilities that come with being a Division-I athlete, ones that can normally drag a young player down, have hardly fazed Krause.

“It’s definitely different coming from high school to college lacrosse. You’re working twice as hard,” said Krause. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though. I love it. It’s awesome.”

It’s clear that Krause is already a leader on the team. She speaks with confidence and truly cares about her teammates. Without older players to look up to, the whole team has had to work harder to establish a culture within the program.

Krause says, “We have each other. We step in when we need to and work together as a team.

If someone isn’t doing something right, then someone will step up and say, ‘This is how we do it.’”

Part of the team’s growth has to be attributed, in part, to the close proximity in which all the players live. Because so many players are freshmen, almost the entire team lives in the Kittredge dorms, which is allowing them to develop into a close-knit family.

The realization that CU lacrosse is now real, especially for a hometown girl who grew up without the sport at the “college next door,” has been rewarding. But it’s also something Krause intends to protect.

“It’s unreal,” said Krause. “We’ve been working so hard for this. We’ve been working every single day. Working as a team, working for each other, working for ourselves, working for our coaches.”

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up or treat some nagging injury before continuing across campus towards Kittredge Field, behind the Coors Events Center.

Practice starts at 1:30 p.m., but the entire team has to be ready to go before that. If they aren’t watching film before practice, the girls have to be on the field by 1:15 or even earlier if they have pre-practice work with their assistant coaches planned.

On the final Friday practice before their first game, every player is dressed and ready to go by 1:10 p.m. There is excitement in the air. Day after day, they’ve been going through the motions and now realize they will be able to put practice into action in less than a week. As they wait for head coach Ann Elliott to reach the field, girls are dancing, laughing and warming up. It’s nearly freezing outside, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by watching the young team.

At precisely 1:30 p.m., Coach Elliott, wearing a CU beanie, a winter coat and a pair of stylish boots, calmly strolls down the hill from the Coors Events Center and steps onto the field. Immediately, without a word from Elliott, assistant coach Hannah Nielsen begins belting out instructions. Within seconds, the whole team is divided into two lines and engaged in a passing drill.

While Elliott is having a conversation with four of her defensive players, Nielsen is still barking at the rest of the team to move faster, soften their grips and use both hands. Balls zip back and forth across the field as each girl adeptly catches one and fires it back at her partner. It seems as if the rhythm might never break when Elliott disbands her small huddle and calls everyone to join her.

The team crowds around their coach, some are standing while others kneel, and she preps them on the day’s practice. Elliott then begins calling off names and sending each girl to one end of the field or the other.

Again, once players sprint off, Nielsen takes over the reins, as Elliott goes back to having individual discussions.

Another passing drill begins; this one has the ball swinging around the goal, but the ball keeps falling to the ground. The sloppier the execution gets, the lower the energy falls.

Finally, Elliott steps in.

“Come on, guys, we need to get back to basics. We’re moving slow and are having trouble with our left hand. I don’t know, either that or we just decided not to use it.”

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Nielsen pipes in, “This needs to be more game-like. If we don’t do it now, we won’t do it then.”

Across the field, each of the girls nods in silent agreement. Retaking their positions, practice resumes and never again loses an

LAX STAR

Meet Molly Rovzar

The University of Colorado was always the perfect place for Molly Rovzar. The real issue came down to timing.

Growing up in Newport Beach, Calif., Rovzar may have lived halfway across the country, but her ties to Boulder were unquestionably strong.

Being that it was her mom’s hometown, Rovzar visited a lot growing up and even more once her brother enrolled at CU. More impressive, one might even consider Rovzar “Boulder royalty,” as her great-grandfather was once the mayor of the city.

All that being said, there was still one problem that needed to be solved.

“I always really loved the school, but they didn’t have Division-I lacrosse and that was the only thing holding me back,” said Rovzar. “It ended up all just coming together when they got a team. It was a perfect fit.”

Still, there is the challenge of coming to a freshly hatched program. Mainly, the team is almost entirely composed of freshmen who have never dealt with the rigors of college athletics. In most cases, there would have been upperclassman to help the newcomers transition into the university, but that was not the case at CU.

Rovzar admitted that the circumstances challenged the young women, but the situation was also able to bring the team closer together.

“I think as a team we really came together and held each other accountable,” said Rovzar. “I don’t think we really let it set us back, but used it to push ourselves to set our own traditions within the team. It was up to us to set the bar.”

The history of CU’s women’s lacrosse program has begun and Rovzar and her teammates will be writing the first chapter. After months of preparation, Rovzar’s anticipation of that first step onto the turf of Folsom Field was almost surreal.

“It’s really exciting. That’s all I can really say. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Now it’s reality,” Rovzar said smiling.

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ounce of intensity. Where you could have heard a pin drop before, the air was now filled with voices as they dodge and weave with the ball.

“I got ball!”

“Watch your back!”

“Nice pass!”

Fifteen minutes pass and the ball hasn’t hit the turf five times. The rest of practice is just as clean and full of excitement as the beginning. For two hours, Elliott puts her team through a multitude of scrimmage situations: Four vs. four, five vs. four and five vs. five.

Every player flies around the field. Each pass is crisp, and the only thing better than the shots on goal are the saves. Shouts of encouragement are mixed in with laughter and singing. Chants like “D-unit!” and “D, there it is!” can be heard from the defense before the start of each scrimmage. Elliott applauds their hustle, yet still spurs them to work harder. If the ball drops, she says, “It’s alright, reset,” and the practice falls right back into motion.

At 4:00 p.m., as snow begins falling down on the field, Elliott calls it quits and brings her girls in for one final talk before sending them off to their lifting session, which they do every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

With freshly adorned hoodies, hats and gloves, the girls trudge across the snow and up towards the Coors Events Center.

Running late, they all jump into action and begin working out in stations, rotating every several minutes. They are clearly tired from

LAX STAR

Meet Sarah Lautman

One of the two non-freshman on the lacrosse team, Sarah Lautman proved her abilities and made her way onto the team after already being at the University of Colorado.

“She played on the club team and tried out,” said Coach Elliott. “She’s a great player for us and works really hard.”

Originally coming from Reading, Mass., Lautman didn’t expect to be playing Division-I lacrosse when she enrolled at CU. Fortunately for her, luck and her own athletic capabilities proved to work in her favor, and she’s now a member of the first women’s lacrosse program at CU. 62

a week of school and practice, but there is still determination in their eyes. Sweat is dripping down their faces and their breath is ragged, but they push through the final hour of lifting.

Even after the workout, nobody’s day is quite over. Some go to study hall to crack down on the homework they’ve compiled during the last week, while others meet with coaches and review film.

“It’s a busy day,” said Krause. “You’re pretty much out from eight o’clock in the morning ‘til nine o’clock at night, but it keeps me busy, and it keeps me going.”

Six days a week, almost year-round, the girls on the lacrosse team are on this schedule.

During the season a couple of practices may be lost due to games, but they will be replaced with travel days. Eventually, everything will pile up. Finals week will come around, a big game will show up on their schedule or something else entirely.

Though, on this team, where there is so much support from each player, the only expectation is to be excellent. There’s no question that this group of young women will make the University of Colorado proud as their very first women’s lacrosse team.

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THOUGHTS,

OBSERVATIONS, NEWS, NOTES AND MUSINGS FROM…

BUFFALO BILL …A BUFF TO THE CORE

Colorado has everything a top exec at ESPN could ever want: A sellout crowd.

An absolutely insane home crowd. And one heckuva basketball program.

CU ATHLETICS GETS A FACELIFT

I was looking over the content of this edition of The Stampede early this month (my editors ask me to give everything the “old double-check”) and something dawned on me: Most of the content in this issue would have been a pipe dream just a decade ago.

Seriously, consider the following major stories…

LACROSSE COMES TO BOULDER

That’s got a great sound to it, doesn’t it!

Furthermore, 10 years ago, this region was just being introduced to this great sport through the early years of the Colorado Mammoth. Now, the state of Colorado is a hotbed for lacrosse. Not only are there two professional teams, but the growth at the youth and high school levels has been exponential. It’s been amazing to watch, but watching these kids who grew up in the early stages of lacrosse in Colorado become Buffaloes will be even better. Make sure to get out to a game; I promise the newest team on campus won’t disappoint.

ESPN GAMEDAY TARGETS CU BASKETBALL

With all due respect to previous eras of CU hoops, what Tad Boyle has got going is nothing short of spectacular. You think 64

ESPN had Boulder on its radar 10 years ago? Five? Not a chance. But the success of Boyle’s program, paired with the fact that CU now plays in the Pac-12 and has a great rival like Arizona, makes the University of Colorado the ideal location to film the four-letter network’s top college basketball show. And what a great experience it was. I watched as the kids in the C-Unit packed the bleachers behind Digger and the Boys, and believe you me – ESPN was impressed. This is a destination that will become a regular stop in years to come.

It’s not unfathomable that improvements on campus pop up from time to time. In fact, that happens all the time. But when I got one look at some of the conceptual renderings presented for the upgrade to the athletic facilities, I was blown away.

I like the vision that Rick George has brought to this project (and I’m not just saying that because he’s the main man in Boulder). It’s a “complete” look at this – not just a building here and there, not just some new weights in a new weightroom. This entire project is very comprehensive. Facilities are just the tip of the iceberg. Obviously, training space was considered, but I like the fact that these plans also included improved study areas and technology geared toward education.

George says big project will be wrapping up prior to the 2016 school year. I, for one, can’t wait. …think about those three headlines for just a moment. Ten years ago, the thought of any of them wouldn’t have entered most of our minds.

And that, my friends, is precisely why nobody calls me “just” Bill – it’s Buffalo Bill, a moniker I’m always proud of.

Fossil Trace