More Pac-10 expansion likely is on the way, but all we know for sure right now is that Colorado is in, starting in 2012. OK, so let’s look at what the Buffaloes bring to the league in the biggest of sports:

Football

Right now, not much. It’s been two decades since Colorado split the national championship, helped by the infamous fifth-down call near the Missouri goal line. The Buffs finished 11-1-1, finishing first in the AP poll, but the coaches voted for Georgia Tech (11-0-1).

Colorado has had four consecutive losing seasons under Dan Hawkins, who is 16-33 at the school after a successful run at Boise State. He would have been fired after last season — even he said he was “fortunate” to retain his job — but the athletic department wasn’t in a financial position to buy him out of his contract for more $3 million.

That could be a much different story after this season if he doesn’t pull off a huge turnaround … which no one really expects.

Colorado was 3-9 last season — 2-6 in the Big 12.

If the Buffs were in the Pac-10 this season, they’d be ranked ahead of only Washington State.

Last meeting against Arizona: Sept. 27, 1986 — Arizona 24, Colorado 21 (the Buffs hold a 12-1 lead in the series, which dates to 1931.)

Basketball

Not much tradition here. Colorado hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003 and has advanced only twice since 1969.

The Buffs have a new coach — Tad Boyle, who replaces Jeff Bzdelik, who left to take over at Wake Forest. Boyle was a mere 56-66 at Northern Colorado, but he moved up the coaching ladder because of a 25-8 mark with the Bears last season.

Last meeting against Arizona: Nov. 24, 2009 — Arizona 91, Colorado 87 (OT) in Maui

Women’s basketball

Colorado hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003-04 season, when it made its fourth consecutive appearance. Since then, the Buffs have only one season with a winning record.

CU’s home average attendance of 2,407 was 11th in the Big 12, although that attendance mark would have been fifth in the Pac-10, which is largely indifferent to women’s hoops.

Last meeting against Arizona: Nov. 24, 1991 — Colorado 74, Arizona 53

Softball

Nothing to see here. Colorado doesn’t have softball.

Baseball

Nothing to see here. Colorado doesn’t have baseball.

In a conference call with media Thursday, Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said of Colorado, “There is no requirement that they add any sports, but we have discussed that the profile of sports that are offered are compatible. We have discussed adding baseball or softball but there is no contingency.”

TV market

Here’s what the Pac-10 really likes. Colorado delivers the Denver area, the 16th-largest TV market in the nation.

“As we know,” said Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne, “television has a tremendous impact on what takes place with your contracts right now, and that’s an important revenue source for every league out there. …

“To have the Colorado television market as part of that will obviously be great exposure for our league and will be great exposure in our part of the country from a television perspective.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 11:37 pm and is filed under Sports. Tags for this post: Colorado, Greg Byrne, Pac-10. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.