Hello,

I am here to try and persuade the University of Colorado Boulder Administration, and to a greater extent the Big 10 Conference, to consider making Colorado a full time member of the Big 10 Conference in the upcoming Conference realignment period that will occur concurrently with changing TV rights deals in 2024. When Colorado joined the PAC-12, it was assumed that they would be joining a conference with similar financial compensation, and rivalry possibilities as they had in the Big 12 and former Big 8. Unfortunately, sheer incompetence at the conference administrative level have hurt the university at both the athletic and overall university levels. I will outline three reasons as to why The PAC-12 Conference has failed both Colorado (and really every other school in the conference as well) and three reasons why the B1G would be wise to consider adding Colorado as a full-time member.

Reason #1 Why The PAC-12 Has Failed Colorado: Money)

The recent departure of coach Mel Tucker (as well as Wazzu coach Mike Leach and UW Coach Chris Peterson) is indicative of the fact that the PAC-12 is falling severely behind with regards to revenue in comparison to other Power 5 Conferences. The unwillingness of the conference to shutter the failing PAC-12 Network and renegotiate for more lucrative primetime TV Deals with major networks shows frank lack of concern from conference commissioner Larry Scott. Also, The mismanaging of the PAC-12's already limited funding is equally egregious. According to Oregonlive.com, the conference pays over 6.9 Million Dollars a year in rent for their HQ in California compared to the BIG 10 and SEC's 1.5 and 1 Million Dollars respectively. With good cheap options available in cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, it is absurd that the conference with the lowest revenue margin is paying far more for meaningless things like a nice administrative HQ. The mismanaging of funding is indicative of the fact that the PAC-12 conference does not care about the financial stability of its member institutions and is one reason why Colorado should leave.

Reason #2: Officiating)

Need I say anymore? This issue also probably goes back to money as well, but the fact that a major American athletic conference is unable to pay for competent sports officials is absurd. PAC-12 referees are shockingly bad and have cost Colorado and many other schools good honest victories (Justice for Sabatino Chen anyone?). I can honestly say I had better referees at high school C-team football than most PAC-12 Schools have seen in nationally televised games.

Reason #3: Rivalries and Culture)

Finally, Colorado should leave the PAC-12 because there is a lack of quality rivals and a lack of integrity amongst many member institutions. For most Colorado fans, none of our engineered conference rivalries are particularly exciting to watch. Since Colorado has joined the PAC-12, the rivalry with Utah has never been very heated, and our most memorable victories have come against former rivals Nebraska (a current B1G member) in football, and former Big 12 Rival Kansas in basketball. Rivalries are one of the things that makes college sports so great, and the lack of conference rivals has made being a PAC-12 member boring for many Colorado fans. Also, the integrity of many other Institutions in the conference is quite frankly appalling. Although Colorado is not completely clean in this regards (worth noting that all violations occurred almost 20 years ago and the university has since installed the most rigorous restrictions regarding recruiting and player conduct in the entire country), the recent actions of USC coach Andy Enfield and Arizona coach Sean Miller highlight how the rules of the NCAA are at best loosely followed by many PAC-12 schools. Colorado currently has seen immense success on the basketball floor with a completely clean and integrity filled program and Colorado football has since revolutionized how coaches can be held accountable for their actions. The indifference to the concept of fair competition in the PAC-12 is yet another reason why Colorado is a terrible fit for the PAC-12 and why they should leave.

Reason #1 Why the B1G Conference would be wise to add Colorado: Money)

Despite recent shortcomings on the football field, Colorado was 2nd overall in terms of % filled at home games for the 2019 season and was 2nd only to eventual Rose Bowl champion Oregon. The B1G Ten would be adding a devoted fanbase that could rival and exceed the likes of many B1G Schools. Also, adding Colorado would enter The B1G into the Denver sports market which is currently the 10th largest in all of America. With Colorado already having massive fan support and a huge revenue base despite recent on-the-field performance woes, imagine what entering this market could mean with the proper investment that joining the B1G would allow. Colorado Basketball is already a powerhouse program and football is a program on the upswing with massive appeal and a beautiful location to boot. Adding Colorado would be an extremely wise financial decision for the B1G Conference.

Reason #2: Rivalries)

It goes without saying that Colorado's largest rival is and always will be the Nebraska Cornhuskers and allowing Colorado to join the B1G, would reinstate one of the most heated and entertaining rivalries in college sports (Nebraska fans might protest this, to which I reply "62-36"). Also, some of College sports' greatest moments have occurred in games with Colorado vs. B1G Schools such as the Miracle at Michigan. Bringing in Colorado would add to the already intense atmosphere of the B1G and greatly benefit fans for all schools involved.

Reason #3: Culture and Performance)

Finally, Colorado is a perfect fit for the B1G from a cultural standpoint, Colorado is a perfect fit. Academically, Colorado would rival or exceed many current B1G members, and Colorado is much more culturally similar to the midwest than the west coast. Although transplants from California would have you believe otherwise, true born-and-raised Coloradans are midwestern at heart with the values and needs that are more in line with the typical Midwesterner than someone living in LA or the Bay Area. Also, from a performance standpoint, Colorado is already miles ahead of many current B1G programs (Rutgers anyone?). By adding Colorado, the B1G would be adding a school immediately ready to compete for conference championships, and a perfect cultural fit.

Look, quite frankly I know this is a long shot, but I'm sick of the PAC-12, I'm sick of Larry Scott, If I could bring back the old Big 8/12 I would in a heartbeat, but I can't. Even if you're not a Colorado fan, please sign this petition to help send a message to Larry Scott and the PAC-12 Conference that they are not doing right by their constituents. 

Thanks,

Also, I spent hours over-researching this petition instead of studying for calculus so please help it get off of the ground.