Univ. Of Colorado Boosters Design New Athletic Fundraising Plan

Univ. of Colorado (CU) boosters have "designed a stealth-style fundraising campaign, the most ambitious ever for the school's athletic department, to make the Colorado football team nationally relevant again," according to Woody Paige of the DENVER POST. The goal is $50M donated by 50 CU supporters "in an attempt to level the playing field" against other Big 12 schools, "improve the athletic facilities and enable CU to attract top-quality coaches in the future." In return for the "huge investment, the group of Colorado alums/supporters would seek an active advisory role in athletic department decisions." CU AD Mike Bohn acknowledged the $50M proposal is a "positive vision" and "viable." But he "cautioned that the idea 'is in its infancy,' and there haven't been official meetings between CU administrators and boosters." Paige noted the architect of the $50M plan is Cordillera Energy Partners President George Solich, a CU alum. Sources said that Solich has "initiated discussions with a number of well-known, well-heeled Colorado boosters," and the "response has been encouraging" (DENVER POST, 1/24).