CUI Sports mailbag

Will CU ever have a baseball team?

Mike Bohn has made it clear that it won’t happen any time soon. When we entered the Pac-12 this year, a lot of people hoped that baseball would be added as a new sport. However, as was evidenced by women’s lacrosse, we still have some Title IX catching up to do. Our athletic department wants to make our current programs top-caliber teams before adding any new ones. Also, our location puts us at a practicing and recruiting disadvantage. At this time, most teams could already practice on their home turf, but our weather is so unpredictable that it would be hard to play and practice during the heavy-precipitation months of March, April and May — But we can still dream.

(CU Independent Graphic Illustration/Josh Shettler)

With Paul Richardson out, who will step up as wide receiver next season?

We’re keeping an eye out for Keenan Canty and Tyler McCulloch. Both are sophomores and still have room to grow under the new leadership of the team. The 5’9” Canty is 160 pounds, while McCulloch is 6’5” tall and 200 pounds. The 2012 season will be a rebuilding year for the Buffs, who have a new quarterback and a coaching staff — led by second-year head coach Jon Embree — that is still trying to find a rhythm for the team.

Do you think any CU football players will be drafted this year?

Well, at this point, it doesn’t look like we will have any players drafted in the first couple of rounds (unfortunately). We had some great seniors, but the NFL is a whole different ball game. Wide receiver Toney Clemons, tailback Rodney Stewart and offensive lineman Ryan Miller could all be contributors to struggling NFL teams, but if they get drafted, it won’t be until later rounds.

Tell me more about Eli Stalzer.

Stalzer is the latest basketball player to sign a National Letter of Intent to come to CU. He’s a 6’3”, 195-pound point guard who went to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., with fellow Buffs recruit Xavier Johnson. With the Monarchs, he won two California State Division I championships in his junior (32-3, No. 4 national ranking) and senior years (34-2, No. 2 national ranking). Stalzer joins five other incoming freshmen who make up a top-25 2012 recruiting class for the Buffs.

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Contact CU Independent Sports Editors Caryn Maconi and Marlee Horn at [email protected] and [email protected]