In remembrance of Cliff Meely

Lost amongst the chaos of the last few days was the news that Cliff Meely, possibly the greatest basketball player in this history of the University of Colorado, died Tuesday evening.  The 65 year old legend, a continuous fixture at games and practices long after his graduation, developed a blood infection, and died unexpectedly.

From: the BDC

Despite playing in an era where freshmen were ineligible to play, he put up three-year numbers that no one before or since has been able to match. Through three years of play in Black and Gold, he averaged a knee-buckling 24/12 (both CU records).

In his sophomore year (1968-69), his first in Boulder, he burst onto the scene, helping to lead the team to the program's last outright league title.

By his senior year, 1970-71, he was shattering scoring records, averaging 28/12 per game.  In Big-8 play alone that season, Meely dropped an astonishing 30.5 points per conference contest, including 47 against Oklahoma on Feb 13th - still the all-time, single game scoring record for a Buffalo.

"I did not really come to Colorado to score points: I came to win games. In the midst of doing that, I did not really think about it breaking records. Now that I look back on it, I think to myself 'Wow. Look what I accomplished during my career.' I just did what the team needed me to do to give us the best chance of winning."  (-link) 

He was named to the All-Big-8 First Team in each year on campus, with his triumphant senior campaign earning him First Team All-America honors.  Meely's coach, Sox Walseth (a legend in his own right), once said fondly of Cliff: "He is the most complete player I have ever coached." Accordingly, his number #20 hangs in the rafters of the CEC. 

"Whatever I did, I did it so our team could win. They retired my uniform, and that was a great honor. I don't decide how good I was compared to others. Somebody else will have to decide that." (-link)

Even to this day his accomplishments resonate with the fans, and it was no surprise that he was named as one of only five members of the AllBuffs.com All-Time Basketball Team last summer.

From: CUBuffs.com

The crime of it all comes in the form of an oft repeated line from the past few hours: "I didn't see him play."  It seems that far too many passed through Boulder without seeing Mr Meely ply his trade on the hardwood, a gift reserved for those lucky thousands who filled Balch Fieldhouse during the late 60s and early 70s.  I only wish I could've joined them.

I think Coach Boyle said it best:

“I thought he was a true gentleman, and you look at the numbers and he was arguably the best player ever to play here . . . what I love is that he came to Boulder from Chicago and stayed there, made this his home. He loved the university; he was a special guy. This is a sad day. He went too early.” - link

Games this winter just wont be the same without his court-side presence.

On Mike Bohn's 'resignation.'

An era of CU Athletics came to a close yesterday when it was announced that Athletic Director Mike Bohn 'resigned' his post, effective June 3rd.

Regardless of your opinion of the man, his impact is unquestioned.  Over his eight year tenure at CU, Mike oversaw many transformative acts, including, but not limited to:

• The move to the Pac-12.
• A nearly decade-long campaign to improve the Coors Events Center, including the new practice facility.
• The start of the Folsom improvements project.
• Long over-due improvements to Potts and Prentup Fields, as well as the signing of Colorado National as a home for the golf teams.
• Hiring Tad Boyle, Linda Lappe, Mike MacIntyre, and others.
• Firing (or not retaining) Dan Hawkins, Jon Embree, Ricardo Patton, Pi'i Aiu, and others.
• The cancellation of men's tennis, and the formation of women's lacrosse.
• A total of four national championships, and 18 conference titles.

He didn't necessarily hit a home run with every one of his efforts, even struck out badly a time or two, but no one is perfect, and he hit enough solid singles and doubles to easily surpass his predecessor, Dick Tharp.

Mike Bohn guided CU into the Pac-12, silencing critics who thought CU should've settled for the MWC.

I've heard some people try to downplay his accomplishments, claim that the Pac-12 was going to take Colorado anyway, or that he got lucky with Coach Boyle.  You want to blame him for Hawk or Embree?  Perfectly fair, but then you also have to give him credit for being out in front of conference realignment, and pumping money into basketball.  The move to the Pac-12 essentially went down on CU's terms, with Mike's leadership being a key reason why, and Coach Boyle isn't here winning without Mike's tireless infusion of money and support into all things hoops.

But, regardless of what I say, there are many who will never allow themselves to admit that Mike did a single thing right.  Whether it was his handling of Gary Barnett or Jon Embree, many of the old-guard football crew have simply shut their minds to Bohn, spitting out his name if pressed.  In some respect, I can't blame them.  He did Gary wrong in '05, and the Embree hiring/firing was poorly handled (to be kind).  But those failings are not the end-all of Mike's tenure in Boulder, and focusing on them does the entire story an injustice.  The totality of the athletic department improved under Mike's reign.  If you can't see that, then I just can't help you.

Much of Bohn's legacy is grounded upon supporting basketball, and hiring Tad Boyle.

Compared to Tharp, who was the definition of corporate and aloof, Mike was loud, brash, and colloquial.  You didn't have to have a $100 handshake to get his attention, which may, ultimately, have been his downfall.  It was no fluke that the first marketing campaign under his direction was 'Your Team.'  This concept of personal ownership in the on-field product oozed through every bit of his shtick, and was designed to make everyone, whether they paid $5 or $5,000, feel a part of the product.  He was, essentially, an old school salesman, and I loved every minute of his efforts.

Initially, CU tried to pass off his departure as a pure resignation.  Unfortunately for them, the poor media management that often plagued Mike Bohn's tenure quickly made that a mockery.  A combination of Mark Johnson's initial confirmation and Bohn's initial response to CBS 4's Vic Lombardi made it clear what really happened.  No one is 'floored' by their own resignation, and being 'let go' sure sounds like 'fired' to me.  The reality is simple: Bohn was forced to resign, with CU paying the three years remaining on his current five-year contract extension.

Much like his fired football coaches, Mike's about to get paid to go away.

The why behind that force is less clear.  Many have speculated that it's rooted in the powerful donors that have been brought into the fold - many by Mike Bohn himself, mind you - over recent years.  Others, like disavowed CU alum Rick Reilly, chalk it up to a personality conflict with CU President Bruce Benson.  Regardless, whatever ends up being CU's official story must be digested with a healthy dash of salt.

My guess: this was all about the facilities plan.  Fundraising wasn't humming along at levels originally hoped for, which probably lead to the dismissal.  It makes a lot of sense that, with a $170 million facilities plan stuck in neutral, that leadership would start to get nervous.  I get that.

What I don't get, however, is the timing.  Since the end of football season alone, Mike has been entrusted to fire Jon Embree, hire Mike MacIntyre, and launch the heralded facilities plan.  If the idea is to get someone in place who can help spur a football revival in Boulder, then why allow Bohn to take these large, program defining steps?  Why wait until the rebuilding process is seven-plays into the 2-Minute-Drill before bringing in a new quarterback?

If this was about football, as it most assuredly is, then the timing was blown.

CU now has to hire a new athletic director who doesn't get to pick his football coach, doesn't get to create his own renovation plan, has to inherit all of Mike's baggage, and deal with the normal difficulties associated with transition.  You don't need an MBA to realize that's idiotic.

It's just another administerial fuck-up, only this time BuffNation can't take the easy way out, and blame Mike Bohn.  It's clear through this ham-handed approach to management that the lack of direction from Bohn in regards to everything football was a systemic byproduct of the dysfunction that President Benson and Chancellor Phil DiStefano brought to the table.  I don't blame them for wanting better results both on and off the gridiron, I only wonder why they waited til the week after Memorial Day to make their move.  Yes, the AD is in desperate need of new life, and a new direction, but I think that goes as much for Benson and DiStefano as it does for Bohn.

My immediate concern is, of course, centered on the hardwood.  Much of the recent basketball renaissance can be attributed to the man who finally spent money on languishing programs.  Bohn improved facilities, hired competent coaches, massaged emerging fan support, and trusted programs to grow despite of years of losing results.  While Tad and Linda will keep winning, I wonder if the institutional support the programs have enjoyed will whither under new leadership.

In the end, it's time to move on.  As much as I would like to dwell on the impact on basketball, this move will forever be defined by football and the Folsom renovation plan.  Can Mike MacIntyre bring wins back to Boulder?  Can the new AD squeeze $170 million out of an already dry stone to make the renovations a reality.  For Bohn's successor, the answers better be a resounding 'YES,' because the rest doesn't matter.

Tuesday Grab Bag: The Summer of Tad Boyle

I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend.  I was stuck in bed with the flu, which rendered any thoughts of grilled meat, beer, and friends moot.  There's nothing more frustrating than having a 5-day holiday weekend spoiled by a 103 degree fever.  Oh well, I'll just have to get after the 4th doubly hard to make up for it.

Today in the bag, I'm talking yet another scheduling coup, Dwyane Wade continuing to debase himself, and DU falling in the lacrosse Final Four.

Click below for the bag...

Monday Grab Bag: SMAHT KIDS FROM HAHVAHD

I continue to be most excited about the continuing drip, drip, drip of scheduling information for the coming basketball season.  Outside of that, this is a tough time of year to follow a university without a baseball team.  It's a damn shame I didn't win the lottery the other night, otherwise I'd have been anouncing the return of hardball this morning. *sigh*

Today in the bag, I'm talking another solid addition to the out-of-conference basketball schedule, minor recruiting news for both basketball and football, and Andre Roberson at the NBA Draft Combine.

Click below for the bag...

Quick-Post: A (mostly) tongue-in-cheek proposal

We are all familiar with the Rock Mountain Showdown's continuing attendance issues.  With both CU and CSU putting forth, frankly, pathetic efforts on the gridiron, the prospect of seeing bad football in an out-of-the-way and expensive locale isn't moving the needle like the schools had hoped when they signed the 10-year deal in 2009.  The inflated attendance statistics can't cover up the fact that no one cares anymore.  The game has become a symbol of the withering soul of non-professional football in this state, and has long since entered 'embarrassment' territory.

So, why not replace this sham of a marquee game with an event that not only shows off the best this state has to offer, but one that people would be happy to plunk down money for?  An event that the entire State of Colorado can be proud of. 

Why not replace the football disaster with the Rocky Mountain Hardwood Showdown?

Just think of it.  Boyle vs Eustachy, two rising regional programs that are testaments to their institutions, on a grand stage.  You could still host at Invesco, with the court set up at midfield.  You could even have DU vs Air Force as a local primer before the Buffs and Rams tip-off.  It'd be like Colorado's version of those aircraft carrier games made popular over the last few years.

What's more, I'll bet you that the actual butts-in-seats attendance for my Hardwood Showdown would kick the crap out of what it will actually be come Sept 1st for the football game.

Unfortunately, we're still stuck with that ugly boil of a football matchup. *sigh*

On Lewis, Webb, and their day in court

I don't know how closely everyone has been following the Alex Lewis and Jordan Webb saga, but it's starting to get weird.

At first glance, it seemed pretty straight forward.  Lewis, a former CU offensive lineman who had recently announced his plans to transfer to Nebraska, and injured Buffs QB Webb got into an altercation on the Hill last Friday, which resulted in one man being sent to the hospital. According to the police report, Lewis, who admits he was 22 drinks in the hole, repeatedly shoved an Air Force cadet, Lee Busey, into a brick wall, and later combined with Webb to both shove him to the ground, and punch him.  As a finisher, it's alleged that Lewis picked up Busey by the throat, and hurled him into a parking kiosk, knocking him unconscious.

Lewis and Webb claim a different story, alleging that Busey tried to throw a few punches, and that all Lewis did was push him away.

Both Lewis and Webb were arrested on second degree assault charges, with Lewis facing an additional two counts of harassment.  They were freed on $10,000 bond after their hearing on Wednesday.

I figured they'd plea down, avoid jail time, and probably serve extended suspension times with their respective programs, if not get the boot altogether.  A despicable turn of events for both Lewis and Webb, but nothing particularly exceptional when compared to the myriad of "Fulmer Cup" violations that occur during college football's offseason.

Then, the lawyers got involved.

In support of their version of the story, Lewis' lawyer, Donald Brenner, said that the pair were accosted by the unconscious cadet because Lewis was wearing Nebraska gear.

Brenner claimed Lewis was assaulted by an unconscious man for wearing red.  From: the BDC

Wait, what?

Three things:

1. Why would an Air Force cadet care if you're wearing Nebraska gear?  Zoomies aren't a party to our three decades of hate.
2. Even if that were the case, it does not excuse sending a man to the hospital.
3. This Husker-centric persecution complex is getting old.  I take offense to the presumption that this incident must have had something to do with CU fans being hooligans.  I know everyone likes to play-up the terrible fan stories, but I'm getting tired of this hearsay bullshit defaming student-fan culture in Boulder.  Throw this one in with the invented tales of piss-bombs, the shoving of grandmothers, and lethal marshmallows. 

Of course, it was later revealed that the Lewis was wearing anything but Husker-wear, implying that the lawyer pulled that excuse out of his ass.  In fact, faced with reality, Brenner backtracked yesterday, admitting that he was "confused" by "the press" and "innuendo" into making the false claim.

"Your questions and innuendo frighten and confuse me."

For the record, Brennen, a graduate of KU's law school, has twice had his license to practice law suspended.

So, to summarize, we've got a drunk accused of beating on a Zoomie, who is then defended by a lawyer with a spotty past, who also happens to get confused by press questions... this should be the trial of the century.

Monday Grab Bag: Coach Boyle Stays Hot on the Recruiting Trail

I'm back from vacation in Tampa (... or will be once this damn plane lands).  One of the many reasons for my trip was the opportunity to visit my 17th Major League Baseball stadium - Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.  It's far from the nicest place to watch a game - it's a hateful dome, fer crissakes - but I got to spend Mother's Day with my Mom, and watch Longoria patrol third from less than 50 feet away.  Not too shabby.

Now, safely returned to Colorful Colorado, I'm focusing on a new basketball recruit, honors in track and field, and another Husker running afoul of the law.

Click below for the bag...