Football team earns spot for seventh time this season
University of Colorado football appeal has grown to a national level and claimed one of the Big 12 TV spots for six of its eight games so far this season because of improved play and an upset of the University of Oklahoma.
Each week, four Big 12 games are chosen to fill television spots on Fox Sports Network, ABC, Versus and ESPN. The team has been on ESPN four times this season, and this week, the CU football team will be on ABC for the first time this season in their game against Texas Tech University.
How well a football team is playing and whether the game is a rivalry are the main deciding factors in which games get televised, said David Plati, CU Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director.
The Buffs (4-4, 2-2) led the Big 12 North before falling 47-20 to Kansas State University on Oct. 13.
Athletic Director Mike Bohn said that the improved quality of play is a key feature in the appeal of their games.
“Well, if they play better, obviously there’s more TV exposure – networks are interested in following the top teams,” Bohn said.
The eight guaranteed televised games this season set a school record. In the 1990 national championship season, the Buffs had six games televised, seven including the Orange Bowl.
Bohn said there are a number of benefits to air time, especially being on nationally televised ESPN.
“I think the national exposure, the financial side of it, the energy that ESPN brings to the stadium, all those things are really, really important to us,” Bohn said.
Television time brings in money because the Big 12 conference, and in turn CU, is paid for airtime.
Along with the financial benefits, television time also helps with recruiting. The national exposure that airtime brings puts CU on the radar for athletes that may have previously not thought about attending Colorado.
Senior tailback Hugh Charles said airtime is beneficial for recruiting because of the publicity it gives the university.
“All that TV time speaks for itself, as long as we go out and win those games, it’s going to be great for recruiting,” Charles said.
Head Coach Dan Hawkins said TV time helps recruits visualize themselves playing at Colorado.
“I think the more they can see your team, what you look like, how you operate, I mean the whole deal,” Hawkins said on how television time can help convince a recruit to come to Colorado.
The television time is not only important to future players on the team, but also to the current players. Charles said it lets his friends from his hometown in Texas watch him play and is a joy that his friends who look up to him have the ability to watch the games.
“For me, it’s a blessing to be in the position I’m in,” Charles said. “I’ve always wanted to make a name for myself, and I believe I have.”
In the 2006-2007 football season, the 2-10 CU football team had seven games televised, although none made it to ESPN, and only one to ABC. With the upcoming Texas Tech game televised on ABC, as well as the Nov. 23 game against University of Nebraska on ABC, Colorado has a guaranteed eight televised games already this season. Of the other two games, the one against No. 13 University of Missouri will stand the greatest chance to be televised because of Missouri’s Top 25 status.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Margot Schneider at margot.schneider@thecampuspress.com
