Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Postseason

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January 1st

… CU in a few minutes …

Lovo: “I know nobody has higher expectations than (Sanders), and that’s my job to support that”

From the Daily Camera … As Fernanco Lovo begins his new job, there is plenty to do, including generating more revenue for the athletic program. Getting the football program going is a high priority, though.

“Obviously we have high expectations,” Lovo said. “I know nobody has higher expectations than (Sanders), and that’s my job to support that and help us chase championships. Just look at a year ago: nine wins, in the national conversation, Fox Big Noon, Heisman Trophy winner, that whole deal. The power of that is really impactful. I know that’s where we’re going to get back to, and I’m going to do everything in my power to support that.”

Lovo had a chance to talk with Sanders during the process of becoming CU’s new athletic director, but said he’s eager to get to Boulder and work with Sanders.

“When I get there, we’re going to dive in, and I’m going to be fully supportive of whatever’s needed to continue to elevate the program,” Lovo said. “So it’s been great getting to connect with him, and it was awesome to speak with him during the process, and I’m really looking forward to getting to work.

“When we get to the season, I have full confidence that we’re gonna have a great year. We’re going to be extremely competitive, and we’re going to put a good product on the field for our fans, and they’re going to love it. I’m looking forward to that.”

In addition to Sanders, CU has several other coaches who are entrenched in their positions. Tad Boyle (men’s basketball), JR Payne (women’s basketball), Danny Sanchez (women’s soccer), Jesse Mahoney (women’s volleyball), Roy Edwards (men’s golf) and Ann Elliott Whidden (women’s lacrosse) have all been at CU for at least 10 seasons.

Lovo hired four coaches in his one year at New Mexico – in football, men’s basketball, soccer and volleyball – and said having so many veteran coaches at CU allows him to focus on other important aspects of the job.

“It’s a big advantage,” he said. “It’s something I’m excited about. Credit to (outgoing AD Rick George) and his team for hiring great coaches and being able to keep them there. …  It’s good for us to be able to dive in with them, as well, and see in the midst of how we’re trying to generate more revenue and do different things, how we help them, how we help their programs.”

While some athletic directors like to have coaches they hired, Lovo said he’s eager to work with the coaches already in place at CU.

“I’m a firm believer that it’s a job of an administrator to just pour in to the coaches that are on your team and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” he said. “I was able to connect with almost all of them over the phone (this week), and it just reinforced what I thought I knew when I was exploring this opportunity, that there’s great coaches here, and I’m just so excited to work with them and really see how I can help elevate their programs.”

… Read full story here …

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December 31st

… CU in a few minutes … 

AD Fernando Lovo on fundraising at CU: “We don’t have time to waste”

From the Daily Camera … In general, it will take a bit of time for new athletic director Fernando Lovo to learn more about the landscape, because generating revenue at CU will be different than it was at New Mexico.

“I’m really excited to get there and really dive in,” he said. “Going into it, the one thing that’s 100% certain is the power of our brand and our institution. That’s a huge selling point. And then you look at our location. Obviously, Boulder is a great place; Denver being right there, that’s a really powerful market.”

Taking advantage of having one of the most recognizable football coaches in the country is important, too, he said.

“The visibility that (Sanders) brings to our institution and to our state is amazing,” he said. “We have to leverage that.”

Overall, Lovo sees a tremendous amount of revenue potential at CU and he’s eager to help the Buffs reach a new level of financial success.

“I think it creates a really compelling narrative for us to be able to go out, market our brand and sell it, when it comes to sponsorship opportunities,” he said. “Obviously we need butts in seats as well, and so we’ve got to be competitive, and we need to make sure that our attendance numbers are where they need to be.”

Lovo credited for George for “developing a great culture” at CU. Like George, Lovo said the student-athletes will be the No. 1 priority.

“Everything for us is going to be student first, student-athlete centric,” he said. “In the midst of all of that going on and making sure we’re staying competitive and really increasing our revenue, we’ve got to keep our focus on what our why is and that’s graduating our student-athletes. That’s providing all the resources they need from a student success standpoint, from a mental well-being standpoint, sports science, sports medicine, all of those things. Those things still matter.”

As Lovo begins his new job, he knows this is a critical time in college athletics.

“We’ve got a powerful brand with a ton of upside across all of our sports,” he said. “I think CU is uniquely positioned to be able to respond to those challenges, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s how we respond. We’ll be aggressive, we have disciplined decision making, and we keep our student-athletes first, and that’s what we’re going to do.

“We don’t have time to waste. Now’s the time we’ve got to go and it’s critically important that we sell our brand, we market our brand, and we start to find new avenues to generate revenue to help us be competitive.”

… Read full story here …

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December 30th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

What the Transfer Portal costs this year (QBs: $750K to $3.5M)

From CBS Sports … The college football transfer portal will officially open Jan. 2 and with it should come a flurry of activity, big-money deals and roster transformations.

There is more pressure than ever this time around with the spring portal period disbanded in favor of a sole winter period that runs from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16. It’s why this year’s winter portal could resemble what we see with NFL free agency with many of the best options coming off the board quickly for big money deals.

“People are going to spend out of the gate — like immediately — your top guys, your best guys, are going to go quick,” said a Big Ten general manager. “Then it’s the rest of them that are asking for money, but at some point they’re going to come down a little bit because the money has already been spent.”

There was a belief a year ago that with the passing of the House settlement and introduction of the College Sports Commission as an enforcement arm that last year may have been the Golden Age for big paydays. With a $20.5 million revenue share cap and a promise for stricter enforcement of NIL deals, the idea was that prices would come down this cycle as teams could no longer double dip between unlimited collective money and the rev share. For a variety of reasons, however, that hasn’t proven to be the case.

In some cases, even, prices have doubled.

“I feel like the average starter this cycle, the sort of line you have to hit, is $600,000,” said one SEC general manager. “I feel like last year starters’ in our conference were $300,000. Now it feels like starters are more like $600,000.”

What does that look like for the entire market? CBS Sports talked to dozens of sources from agents to general managers to collective leaders to put together value ranges for each position ahead of this window’s official opening.

Quarterback

High End: > $3.5 million
Average: $1.5 million to $2.5 million
Low End: $750,000 to $1 million

Just like in the NFL where the top quarterbacks account for around 20% of a team’s cap, the best portal quarterbacks this cycle are expected to command a hefty chunk of the pie.

Top-ranked arms like Brendan Sorsby (from Cincinnati), Josh Hoover (from TCU) and Sam Leavitt (from Arizona State) are expected to reach — and possibly pass — the $3.5 million mark.

It’s well-documented last cycle’s double dip (teams spending freely before rev-share caps were put into place over the summer) allowed teams to go gangbusters in transfer portal spending, including at QB where Duke made the little-known Darian Mensah famous for a $4 million annual salary. General managers thought there would be a downturn in spending at the position this cycle because of rev-share caps, but that sentiment has changed in recent weeks.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 29th

… CU in a few minutes …

New CU AD Fernando Love: “My motto is if they’re keeping score, I want to win” 

From the Daily Camera … Fernando Lovo was announced as CU’s new AD on Monday after less than 13 months on the job at New Mexico. It was an eventful and successful tenure with the Lobos, however, that included success in football, and record-breaking success in fund raising and academics.

“I’m incredibly proud of my team and the work we did at New Mexico,” Lovo said.

There were challenges, too, including having football coach Bronco Mendenhall leave the Lobos for Utah State just five days after Lovo was hired.

“I had been there for five days and they said, ‘You have to hire a football coach,’” Lovo said. “It was a challenge, but one we met.”

Just eight days later, Lovo hired Jason Eck, who led New Mexico to a 9-4 record and a trip to the Rate Bowl this season. It was New Mexico’s first winning season and bowl appearance since 2016.

Lovo will face challenges at CU, too. The athletic department has a projected deficit of nearly $27 million for the 2026 fiscal year, and the Buffaloes’ football program is still striving for consistent success it hasn’t found in two decades. Under the direction of head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffs went 9-4 in 2024, but slipped to 3-9 this year.

Lovo said he’s striving for success in all areas, including on the field, academically and in fund raising.

“My motto is if they’re keeping score, I want to win,” he said.

… Continue reading story here …

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**CU Press Release: New Mexico athletic director Fernando Love hired to replace Rick George**

From CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado Boulder has selected Fernando Lovo to lead its premier athletic department, CU Chancellor Justin Schwartz announced today.  Lovo, who comes to Boulder from the University of New Mexico, was approved by unanimous vote of the CU Board of Regents and will succeed Rick George, who will transition to an AD Emeritus role.  Lovo will officially start on January 1, 2026.

“When we began our national search for a new Director of Athletics, we sought someone of high character, committed to the student-athlete experience who has an innovative approach to revenue generation,” said Schwartz. “Fernando is a dynamic leader who is perfect for these dynamic times and embodies CU’s high standards and values. He has a proven track record of leading student-athletes to success both in competition and in the classroom, and I’m confident that he is the perfect steward to lead CU Athletics into this new era of college athletics. We are thrilled to welcome Fernando, Jordan, Liam and Layla to the Buffalo family.”

After joining New Mexico as Vice President/Director of Athletics in December, 2024, Lovo presided over eight Mountain West titles, tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most of any Mountain West school last year. UNM finished 2024-2025 ranked 49th in the Learfield Director’s Cup, tops among all Group of 5 schools and is off to another strong start this year, finishing the fall ranked 20th, which also leads the G5.  The Lobos also set numerous academic records, including a Mountain West record 231 Scholar-Athlete selections, which goes to student-athletes who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, and 273 conference All-Academic Team members, which recognizes those student-athletes who have cumulative GPA for the academic year of 3.0 or higher.

“I’m honored to join this incredible group of student-athletes, coaches and staff at a tremendous institution that strives for excellence and espouses the right values,” said Lovo. “We are in a time of extraordinary change in college athletics and Colorado should lead the way in shaping what comes next. I look forward to helping our student-athletes succeed in every aspect of their lives while bringing championships to Buff Nation. I am sincerely grateful to the CU Board of Regents, President Saliman, and Chancellor Schwartz for this incredible opportunity to lead this iconic department and its storied programs.  I am also honored to take over leadership of CU Boulder Athletics from Rick George, one of the legendary athletic directors in the country.”

In just his second week on the job at New Mexico, Lovo was tasked with hiring a new football coach and brought in Jason Eck, who promptly led the Lobos to a 9-3 regular season record, their first nine-win season since 2016 and a berth in the Rate Bowl against Minnesota, while earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors. Lovo also hired basketball coach Eric Olen from UC San Diego in what is widely considered one of the best hires of the offseason and who has UNM off to a 10-2 start this year.

Lovo also led the UNM Athletic Department to a record revenue year, growing the overall operating budget of the department by 17.6% from FY25 to FY26, and achieving record marks in ticket sales, multimedia rights, parking, concessions, and trademark and licensing revenue, along with a record year in Lobo Club fundraising.

Prior to becoming Vice President/Director of Athletics for New Mexico, Lovo had two stints at the University of Texas at Austin, during which he served in a number of administrative roles.  Beginning in December 2021, he was Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations before quickly being promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director, Facilities, Capital Projects & Game Operations. His final position with the Longhorns was as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director- Operations, where, in addition to serving as sports coordinator for men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis, he oversaw nearly half a billion dollars in capital projects.

Lovo first joined UT as Chief of Staff for Football from 2016 through early 2021 before taking the position of Chief of Staff with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

A native of New Orleans, Lovo grew up in Miami. He and his wife, Jordan, have two children, Liam and Layla.

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December 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Report: CU targeting New Mexico athletic director Fernando Lovo to replace Rick George

Note … CU Board of Regents set to hold a special board meeting on Monday with just one item on the agenda during the public session at 9:30 am MT: “Action Item: Approval of Athletic Director Contract at CU Boulder” … 

From the Daily Camera … Colorado has apparently targeted its new leader for the athletic department.

CU athletics has zeroed in on New Mexico athletic director Fernando Lovo to succeed Rick George as the Buffaloes’ athletic director, per a report posted Saturday night by Yahoo Sports.

Lovo was hired at New Mexico just one year ago, but he owns a lengthy background in athletics administration.

Prior to New Mexico, Lovo worked two different stints at the University of Texas, including the three years before getting hired at New Mexico. During his second tenure at Texas, Lovo filled several administrative roles, finishing that stint as the Longhorns’ Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director.

Lovo was the Chief of Staff for football at Texas from 2016 through 2021, when he took a Chief of Staff position with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to Texas.

“I think it’s important that somebody that comes in here understands how to run a business,” George told the Daily Camera in November, “because this is a business.”

CU has not made any official announcement regarding the AD position, and any new hire will have to be approved by the school’s board of regents.

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New Mexico bio page … Fernando Lovo joined the Lobo Family as the University’s 14th Vice President and Director of Athletics in December 2024. Lovo came to UNM from the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Operations.

Lovo’s extensive background in collegiate athletics administration includes roles at the University of Texas, Ohio State University, and the University of Houston, as well as a stint with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. His professional portfolio demonstrates a comprehensive approach to athletics administration, creating high-performance environments that support athletic excellence and student-athlete development. He has a proven track record of operational excellence, revenue generation, fundraising, and an unwavering dedication to academic integrity and financial stewardship. He is well-positioned to lead UNM Athletics into a new era of growth and achievement. At UNM, Lovo oversees all aspects of UNM’s NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic programs, aligning athletics with the University’s mission, managing financial operations, ensuring NCAA compliance, and fostering community relationships.

n his first year with New Mexico, Lovo oversaw an athletic program that finished 49th in the final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings — the best finish among Group of Five schools and the highest finish for a Group of Five school in 12 years. UNM won six Mountain West titles, tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most of any Mountain West school that year, and set numerous academic records, including new marks for Mountain West All-Academic and Scholar-Athlete selections. He was tasked with hiring a new football coach in just his second week on the job, bringing in Jason Eck, one of the hottest names in the coaching ranks. He also hired basketball coach Eric Olen from UC San Diego in what was widely considered one of the best hires of the offseason.

Lovo also guided the department to a record revenue year for Lobo Athletics, growing the overall operating budget of the department by [17.6% from FY25 to FY26], and achieving record marks in ticket sales, multimedia rights, parking, concessions, and trademark and licensing revenue — along with a record year in Lobo Club fundraising.

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December 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Jersey patches and field logos could help offset CU’s projected budget deficit

From the Daily Camera … Facing a potential budget deficit of $27 million for the current fiscal year, the University of Colorado athletics department is pushing to bring in more revenue.

CU’s budget includes a projection of $136.7 million in revenue for the fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2026, but also $163.7 million in expenses.

“The added expense created by revenue sharing has definitely posed a significant challenge for CU athletics but it’s one we’ve been preparing for,” athletic director Rick George said in a statement provided to BuffZone. “And I feel confident that by executing our plan of aggressively pursuing additional revenue streams, combined with the support of Buff Nation, we’ll be able to meet these new challenges and continue providing our student-athletes a world-class experience while competing at the highest level.”

CU spokesperson Steve Hurlbert said the department is not cutting staff or reducing salaries, and that student-athlete resources will not be cut.

CU could have opportunities to sell sponsored jersey patches, as well. In October, the NCAA’s Division I Administrative Committee proposed a change that would allow for commercial patches on jerseys. The proposal, which is expected to pass, is up for a vote in January and could go into effect Aug. 1.

Last week, UNLV became the first school to announce a sponsorship deal for jersey patches, a five-year, $11 million deal with Acesso Biologics. UNLV signed the deal in anticipation of the vote passing in January.

If CU were to line up sponsors for jersey patches, some of that revenue could come in during this fiscal year.

“We’re just trying to get our ducks in a row for when that is expected,” Hurlbert said. “There will be jersey patches, field logos, that kind of thing. That’ll give us a lot more latitude to do some of those sponsorship opportunities, which can be huge for us.”

Outside events, such as concerts, are typically big revenue generators for CU, as well. The department is actively seeking to add more events, specifically at Folsom Field, for the spring and summer.

… Read full story here …

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December 13th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Board of Regents unanimously approve Brennan Marion’s $1.5 million contract

From the Daily Camera … Brennan Marion will be the highest-paid offensive coordinator in Colorado football history.

On Friday, the CU Board of Regents unanimously approved a two-year, $3 million contract for Marion, who was hired by CU and head coach Deion Sanders last week.

Marion’s deal, worth $1.5 million per year, runs through Jan. 31, 2028, covering the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The contract includes a $400,000 base salary each year, as well as $1.1 million in supplemental salary for community outreach.

The contract will make Marion the second-highest paid assistant coach in program history. Current defensive coordinator Robert Livingston signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract a year ago. Livingston made $1.5 million for the 2025 season and is set to earn $1.7 million in 2026.

Livingston and Marion are the first two assistants in CU history to reach the $1 million per year mark.

Marion, 38, is replacing Pat Shurmur, who is no longer with the program after spending the past two years as the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator. Shurmur made $850,000 this past season.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 12th 

Linebacker Reginald Hughes declares for the NFL Draft

… Hughes joins offensive lineman Zarian McGill and wide receiver Sincere Brown as Buffs who have declared for the NFL Draft. Hughes finished fourth on the team with 58 tackles in 2025 … Hughes started seven games this fall … 

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December 11th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Freshman Ben Gula ready to step in at center in 2026: “I definitely think year one, I’ll be a contributor”

From the Daily Camera … Offensive line might be the toughest position in college football to earn a starting job as a true freshman.

Ben Gula isn’t worried about history, though. He’s coming to Colorado next month with confidence.

“I definitely think year one, I’ll be a contributor,” said Gula, who signed with CU last week. He is set to graduate from Cypress Bay (Florida) High School and enroll at CU in January.

Since freshmen became eligible in 1972, only 16 have made starts at CU on the offensive line. Only three of those were centers, but all three of those have been recent. Van Wells was the first true freshman to start games at center for CU, in 2022 (six starts), while Hank Zilinskas made two starts in 2023 and Cash Cleveland made four starts in 2024.

Gula is hoping to join that group, and he knows there’s a spot open with this year’s starting center, Zarian McGill, graduating. He also knows it won’t be easy to win the job.

“If it’s not in it for me, which I believe it is, I still want to contribute to the guy in front of me, the guy behind me,” he said. “I just want to make everybody better because at the end of the day, I’m a football player at the University of Colorado, not just an individual.”

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Gula was a four-year starter at Cypress Bay, starting 41 games overall and allowing just one sack in over 1,500 pass protection snaps. Mainly a left tackle, Gula has played all over the line and said CU projects him as a center.

“(I’ve been working on) footwork, pad level, just everything I can to ready myself,” he said. “I’m going to have some great coaching this spring here. … I’ve definitely done my best to be as explosive and ready as I can.”

… Continue reading story here …

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December 10th

… CU in few minutes … 

*Video: Brian Howell interview of Darrin Chiaverini – Discussing Coach Prime/Brennan Marion*

From YouTube …

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December 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Offensive lineman Zarian McGill declares for the NFL Draft

McGill started all 12 games at center for the Buffs this season … 

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December 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU wide receiver Sincere Brown declares for the NFL Draft

Career Stats:

• 84 Receptions
• 1,423 Yards
• 14 touchdowns

With Colorado:

• 22 Receptions
• 376 Yards
• 2 touchdowns

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December 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Chancellor Justin Schwartz: “This is the most important athletic director hire in our history”

From the Daily Camera … Colorado chancellor Justin Schwartz wants to be quick, but thorough, with what he believes is a critical hire for the athletics department.

Last month, current athletic director Rick George announced that he will step away after 13 years and transition to a new role. And, it may not be long before CU hires his replacement.

“The current college athletics environment is incredibly dynamic, so it is our goal to have someone in place as quickly as possible to hit the ground running,” Schwartz said in an email interview with BuffZone. “We are also being intentional. First and foremost, we want to bring in the best candidate for CU Boulder, our coaches, and especially our student-athletes.”

College athletics has seen dramatic changes in recent years, with revenue sharing, NIL (name, image and likeness), the transfer portal, conference realignments, and more.

With more changes sure to come, including another round of realignment that many expect in the future, Schwartz said it’s vital to have an athletic director that positions CU for the future.

“This is the most important athletic director hire in our history based simply on the stakes that are involved,” he said. “With so much change and uncertainty in college athletics, it is important that we position ourselves for success now so that we can succeed in the future.

“I have every confidence that we will find a person who can lead our athletic department and who sees the inherent challenges of this new era in college athletics as an opportunity to advance the mission of CU Boulder.”

… Continue reading story here …

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December 5th

… CU in a few minutes … 

*CU Press Release announcing the hiring of Brennan Marion as CU’s new offensive coordinator*

From CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado football team and head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders have named Brennan Marion the Buffaloes’ new offensive coordinator.

Marion comes to Boulder after a season as head coach of Sacramento State, where he inherited a team that went 3-9 and led the Hornets to a 7-5 record in his first year at the helm. Sacramento State averaged 33.8 points per game this season, ranking third in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets were a particular powerhouse on the ground, led by Rodney Hammond Jr, who averaged over 101 yards rushing per game with 13 touchdowns, second most in both categories in the Big Sky.

“We brought in a man that has shown he’s creative, innovative, knowledgeable, smart and understands today’s players,” said Coach Prime. “He has made a difference on the field and off everywhere he’s been.”

“Humbled to be sought out by the best to ever do it in football- Coach Prime,” said Marion. “It’s my mission to make sure we put a great product on the field that the entire CU family can be proud of! Sko Buffs!”

Prior to becoming head coach of the Hornets, Marion established himself as one of the most dynamic and exciting offensive minds in the country as architect of the “Go-Go” offense.  He served as offensive coordinator for two seasons at UNLV (2023-24), helping the Rebels to a 19-8 overall record and back-to-back bowl game berths. In 2024, UNLV ranked 14th in the FBS with a school-record setting average of 36.2 points per game. The team’s average of 251.2 rushing yards per game would also be the most for the school in over 45 years.  As a result, Marion was named one of five finalists for the Football Scoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year.

Following the 2023 season, Marion earned Mountain West Wire Coordinator of the Year honors and was a nominee for the prestigious Broyles Award in just his first season at UNLV. During that season, the team scored 40+ points in a school-record six games and had 24 points in a school-record 10 straight games. The Rebels finished sixth in the FBS in third-down conversions (49.3 percent), tied for eighth in red-zone offense (93.1 percent) and 22^nd in scoring (34.4 ppg).

Marion came to UNLV from Texas where he served under head coach Steve Sarkisian during the 2022 season as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Longhorns finished with a top 25 scoring offense (34.5 PPG) while Marion tutored Big 12 Conference receiving touchdowns leader Xavier Worthy, who became the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2021, Marion coached Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison at Pittsburgh as wide receivers coach. The nation’s top wideout was a consensus first team All-American after setting a school single-season record with 100 catches for 1,593 yards and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns. He would become a first round NFL Draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

Prior to his arrival in Pittsburgh, Marion served as wide receivers coach at Hawaii in 2020 and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at William & Mary in 2019.

Marion’s first NCAA Division I coaching opportunity came at Howard, where he posted two exceptional seasons (2017-18) as the Bisons’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Marion also coached the running backs at Oklahoma Baptist in 2016 and spent the 2015 season as an offensive quality control assistant at Arizona State.

A 2009 graduate of Tulsa, Marion was a record-setting receiver for the Golden Hurricane. In two seasons at Tulsa (2007-08), he compiled 2,356 yards on 82 receptions with 19 touchdowns. He was a two-time all-Conference-USA selection and the 2007 C-USA Newcomer of the Year. Marion set NCAA records for yards per catch in both a season (31.9 in 2007) and a career (28.7).

Prior to Tulsa, he was a standout at De Anza JC. In 2006, he led California’s junior colleges with 1,196 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 60 receptions. Following his collegiate playing career, Marion signed free agent contracts with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, as well as the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Marion was a four-year letterman in three different sports (football, basketball and track) at Greensburg Salem HS. Marion has four children, Mariah, Brennan, Melrose and Beverlee.
Per university policy, the University of Colorado Board of Regents must review and approve Marion’s term contract.

MARION’S COACHING FILE
Present                  Colorado – Offensive Coordinator
2025                      Sacramento State – Head Coach
2023-24                 UNLV – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2022                      Texas – Passing Game Coordinator, Wide Receivers
2021                     Pittsburgh – Wide Receivers
2020                      Hawai’i – Wide Receivers
2019                      William & Mary – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2017-18                 Howard – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2016                      Oklahoma Baptist – Running Backs
2015                      Arizona State – Offensive Quality Control Assistant
2014                      Waynesboro Area (PA) HS – Head Coach
2013                      St. Patrick-St. Vincent (CA) HS – Head Coach
2012                      The Harker School (CA) HS – Wide Receivers
2011                      West Valley (CA) CC – Wide Receivers

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December 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Six Buffs receive All-Big 12 honors

From the Daily Camera … A pair of Colorado football players have earned All-Big 12 honors.

On Thursday, the Big 12 announced its all-conference teams and end of season awards for the 2025 season, as voted on by coaches.

CU receiver Omarion Miller and left tackle Jordan Seaton both earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition. Three others – defensive backs Tawfiq Byard and Preston Hodge and punter Damon Greaves – received honorable mention.

In addition, defensive end London Merritt received honorable mention for defensive freshman of the year.

Miller, a junior, finished the season leading the Buffs in receptions (45), receiving yards (808) and receiving touchdowns (eight). It’s just the 11th time in CU history that a player posted at least 40 catches, 800 yards and eight touchdowns.

Miller was fifth in the Big 12 in receiving yards and tied for fifth in touchdown receptions.

Seaton was one of the best left tackles in the Big 12. The sophomore missed the last three games of the season with an injury, but had the best pass blocking grade among tackles in the Big 12, per Pro Football Focus.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU athletic department projecting a $27 million deficit for current fiscal year

From USA Today … The University of Colorado’s athletic department is projecting that it will run a $27 million deficit during the current fiscal year ending in June 2026, in addition to needing $11.9 million in institutional support from the university and $2.2 million from student fees, according to budget figures obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Those numbers are not final. The athletic department is hoping to bring that deficit down by the end of June with revenue from donations, sponsorships and concerts at Folsom Field. But it has never reported a deficit that big before, which could potentially leave the athletic department in need of more than $41 million in subsidies from the university, including the institutional support and student fees.

It also comes at a critical time:

• Athletic director Rick George announced recently he’s stepping down at the end of the fiscal year in June.
• Colorado nearly doubled the pay of football coach Deion Sanders in March, giving him a new five-year contract worth more than $10 million annually. His team just finished 3-9 in 2025 as attendance started to wane after selling out his first season in 2023.
• Like other major college sports programs, Colorado is committed to providing players with up to $20.5 million in annual benefits and direct payments under terms of the NCAA-House legal settlement. That cost is new this year, with the $20.5 million cap going up by 4% next year and the year after.

The latter two costs are the biggest reasons for the projected deficit — the $20.5 million for players and the $10 million per year for Sanders. Colorado previously told USA TODAY Sports in September it was “to be determined” how it would come up with the money to pay for those two big new costs.

The projected answer now is that it will run a deficit with the university as the potential backstop for funding.  Asked who would be paying for these expenses if not the university, spokesman Steve Hurlbert said, “The mechanics of that are still to be determined.”

The school said it will “not cut sports nor cut any resources for student-athletes” but will look to cut expenses.

Colorado isn’t the only school facing these challenges. In fiscal 2024, at least 33 athletic departments received at least $30 million in university support, including Colorado ($31.9 million), Houston ($38.4 million), Arizona State ($51.7 million) and South Florida ($63.7 million), according to public records collected by USA TODAY Sports in conjunction with the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database at Syracuse University.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 30th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Postseason Goal No. 1: Retention of CU’s best players

From the Daily Camera … The challenge for Sanders and his staff is to fix the mentality of the team going into 2026 and find strong leaders.

Sanders said it “takes a little more work” to find mentally strong players in recruiting.

The Buffs also have some work to do to keep the current players who have the right mental makeup, such as left tackle Jordan Seaton, who could be heavily pursued by other programs.

Sanders didn’t talk specifically about Seaton, but knows it’ll be a challenge to keep the best players already on the roster.

“You’ve got to understand, when a guy leaves a program that selected him, picked him, or got him out the portal, he leaves for a multitude of reasons,” Sanders said. “The number one reason people leave is money. It’s not a disdain for staff, a disdain for players; it’s money. Let’s just be honest, man. Let’s stop sugarcoating this foolishness.”

Ultimately, however, Sanders said he and the staff have to figure out a way to build a roster that has the right mentality to win in 2026.

“We’ve got to do a better job of getting these guys ready and preparing them and getting them knowledgeable, to understand what’s happening, what’s coming, and physically able to go get it and to stop it,” he said. “I mean, it helps with a bag (money), but it helps with having the right personnel on the sidelines, as well as playing the game.”

Brown played his entire five-year college career for Sanders, first at Jackson State and then at CU, and he has no doubt Sanders can fix the Buffs’ mentality next year.

“They’ll bring the right guys in that want it, like want to win,” Brown said. “He’s gonna bring those guys in with the right mentality. He dealt with a lot this offseason, so he wasn’t able to be as thorough as he usually was with us, and he told us about that. So he knows this offseason, the guys that he brings in are going to be that mentality that he wants.”

… Read full story here …

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This post, about the Postseason game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
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