Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Recruits 'Blown Away' By Champions Center
January 18, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Over the previous two recruiting cycles, Colorado football coaches could only tell recruits about the new facilities that would soon be in place on the CU campus and ask them to envision what would soon be in place.
But this year, they haven't had to ask recruits to look into the future.
This year, coaches have been able to actually show the new Champions Center to recruits — and the reaction, according to Buffs football recruiting coordinator Darrin Chiaverini, has been nothing short of spectacular.
“Honestly, they're absolutely blown away by it, as I am,” Chiaverini said Monday from the road. “As someone who played at CU, played in the NFL and has coached in college, I've seen a lot of facilities at all levels around the nation. The Champions Center isn't just first class, it's world class. I can safely say that every recruit that has come through has been very, very impressed.”
The Buffs moved into their new digs midway through fall camp. The space includes spacious locker rooms with high-tech lockers (plug-ins for phones and iPads), a players lounge with a theater, state-of-the-art training facilities that include recovery pools, and a weight room that has new strength and conditioning coordinator Drew Wilson drooling at the possibilities.
The next major phase, the indoor practice facility, will be ready for use when the Buffs begin spring drills.
The facilities have drawn rave reviews from everyone who's had the opportunity to tour them.
“First class in every respect,” said Oakland Raiders scout and former Buff Dave McCloughan. “Academic, training, medical, weight room — everything is first class. I've been all over the country, pro and college. I've seen the best that the best places have to offer, and this matches them all.”
Former Buff quarterback Joel Klatt, now the lead college football analyst for Fox Sports, has also had the chance to tour the best facilities in the nation. Colorado, he said, now takes a back seat to no one.
“I see every facility in the country because of my job. I mean every new facility — Alabama, Texas, Oregon, USC, Arizona — you name it,” Klatt said. “I can tell you that CU's facilities are in top 10 in the nation if not the top 5. When it comes to functionality and what it means for athletes, it's definitely in the top five. It has everything — everything — student athletes need.”
CU head coach Mike MacIntyre and his staff hosted a large group of recruits over the weekend. Chiaverini said the reaction was terrific.
“It's definitely a game changer,” Chiaverini said. “At the end of the day, recruiting is still about relationships. But facilities are what get them excited. They see themselves in that locker room, working out in the weight room and practicing in the indoor facility. They can picture themselves in that setting and it's exciting for them.”
With national letter of intent signing day now just a couple of weeks away, CU coaches are busily putting the final wraps on this year's class while also working on 2017.
“When they see our facilities, they know we're serious, that we're committed,” Chiaverini said. “They see that we're ready to make Colorado great again.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
