Colorado University Athletics
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Rick George Press Conference Quotes
February 12, 2020 | Football
CU Athletic Director Rick George
Opening Statement
"As you know, Mel Tucker informed us that he is resigning as head football coach. We are obviously disappointed to see him leave; however, we are excited about the upward trajectory of our program. We are already at work identifying our next head coach to lead our program and our young men. I met with our players and coaching staff this morning. We reassured them that we will match their commitment and do everything in our power to hire a great, new head coach that they can all rally behind. We are confident the program is on the verge of competing at the highest level and has the resources and support in place to do so for a long time. I will be naming an interim head coach at some point this afternoon that will be able to keep track of our football team as we head into spring football."
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On The Process Of The Last Few Days
"On Saturday there was a lot of media information out there. Coach Tucker and I both tweeted out a statement on where we thought we were and that he was committed to this program. I spoke to Mel late last night and then I spoke to his agent and I was informed he had taken the Michigan State job."
Â
On If He Gave Permission For Michigan State To Speak With Tucker
"I was asked, formally, for permission to speak to coach. That is a courtesy that we extend to each other. You'd have to ask him if he spoke to them or not, but I am certain that he probably has."
Â
On If Tucker Was Truthful Throughout The Process
"Coach and I have a really strong relationship. We had a conversation on Saturday about his commitment to Colorado. I was comfortable with that. What transpired in the last 24 hours is disappointing. A coach is going to do what is best for him and his family. I support that. He made that decision and my focus now is moving forward with this program and where we are headed."
Â
On How He Got Word About Tucker Taking The MSU Job
"I got word through some different channels that were still conversation. I was out of the office the last two days. Immediately, I called one of my staff and asked to get a hold of Coach Tucker and when he was done that he and I would have a conversation and we had that."
Â
On His Message To Recruits
"My message to the recruits is, 'This is an incredible football program and an incredible institution.' I said 15 months ago when we were going to hire a coach that I understand the importance of hiring the next head coach. I have every indication and belief that our program is in a better position today than it was 14 months ago. We are going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do, that we are going to win a championship and that we can do that at Colorado with the resources we have."
Â
On Potential Candidates For Head Coach
"I am going to be open-minded to candidates that are out there. Certainly, I want somebody that shares my passion for this university. If that is somebody that has been here before that's great. I want somebody that shares that passion about Colorado that I do and knowing that we can win a championship at all levels. I think we can do that at Colorado. We have done that before. We are in a much better position today than we were back then."
Â
On If He Feels Jolted
"I don't feel jolted at all. My biggest concern is our student athletes. This isn't about me at all. My job is to make sure that we hire somebody that has the same expectations that I do for our student athletes and for our program to be successful. Mel made a decision that was best for him and his family. I respect that. I am focused on what is ahead and what is ahead is us hiring a great head football coach that can be a great mentor and leader to our student athletes. That will be my focus over the next few days."
Â
On Potential Constraints On Resources
"I don't see them as constraints. We know what resources we have. The coach that we bring in, just like Mel, knew what resources we had. Again, I am convinced that we can win a championship with the resources we have. Our donors have been incredible. Our alumni have been incredible in supporting our efforts of what we are doing for our student students in the areas of mental health, nutrition, this facility, and strength and conditioning. Â We have five strength coaches just for football. We are doing a lot of really important things for that program because we know how important it is to CU. Â We will keep investing in that to make sure that we get this program back to where it historically has been. We are committed to that and I know our chancellor is committed to that."
Â
On Discussing A Counter Offer For Tucker
"We had discussions about that last night."
Â
On The Process Of Finding A Head Coach
"It's tricky. We want to make sure that before we make a decision on an interim that the coach wants to be here, is going to be here and how that plays out in the future. Having an interim, I think, is great to have in the short term but we are going to go out and find the best coach. It could be on this staff and it could be on a variety of other staffs. This has transpired fairly quickly but we are prepared and ready. We will see where it goes."
Â
On The Program
"I think the way we continue the trajectory that we have going is we have to bring good people in here. We have to give them the resources that they need to be successful. I think we are doing that. I think we have a great program. We have incredible student athletes. This is a destination at Colorado. This is where we think people can lay down their roots. It is an incredible community. It is a great state. We play in a terrific conference. We just have to get the right person in here that is committed to the same things that I am and our staff is."
Â
On If He Feels Pressure
"Any pressure is self-imposed. The only pressure that I feel is what I am putting on myself. I know how important this hire is, just like it was 14 months ago. I'm ready for it. I have a good staff around me that is going to help me in doing that. When you are selling something like we are at Colorado, it is an incredible job and opportunity. We will go out and get the best person. I don't have a timetable on it. I want to be efficient and effective but I also don't want to hurry. I want to take the right steps. We will do that."
Â
On Tucker's Commitment To Colorado
"I believe what Mel told me. I think we had a shared vision of where we wanted this program to go. You'd have to ask him that that question. I am committed to this program. We are going to go out and hire an incredible coach."
Â
On If Coaching Staff Will Follow Tucker To MSU
"This is happening so quickly I don't think they know. Over the course of the next 24-48 hours I think you will probably see more of that. That is not going to slow down our progress and where we are headed."
Â
On If They Will Push Back Spring Ball
"I don't anticipate us pushing spring ball back at all."
Â
On The Mood Of The Team
"I would probably say somber. They enjoyed playing for Coach Tucker. My message to them was, 'We have an incredible opportunity here to do some really significant things. We need them to stick together, have confidence that we know what we are doing and where we are going. We are going to hire someone that they will appreciate, respect and want to play for. We will do that as quickly as we possibly can.'"
Â
On His Conversation With Tucker
"We had a conversation about where he was and what he was contemplating. Beyond that, that is all I want to share."
Â
On His Thoughts On Tucker's Decision
"This isn't about me. It's about our student athletes. I certainly have a lot of respect for Mel. He is a good man. I don't have anything negative to say about our relationship. I think we had a strong relationship. He made a decision that I don't personally like, but I respect. It is time to move on."
Â
On His Message To Parents Of Recruits
"What I would say to them is, 'Our program is in a better position than it was 14 months ago. We are going to hire an incredible coach to lead their sons and coach their sons. Have patience. We are going to move as quickly as we can and are going to get a great football coach at Colorado.'"
Â
On The Potential Of Being Asked For Releases From Recruiting Class
"That is certainly possible. What I would say is, 'Have patience. We are going to move quickly and expeditiously. We are going to hire a great football coach.'"
Â
On If They Can Compete Financially With Other Programs
"We will do what we need to do in that regard. Not everything is about money. I want somebody that wants to be here and shares the same commitment and passion that I do. We will work hard over the next few weeks to find that right person for the job."
Â
On If Tucker Addressed The Colorado Team
"He did not."
Â
On Help With The Coaching Search
"I won't have a committee of people. Lance Carl and I did the last search. He oversees the football program. It will probably be the two of us. I know what I want in a coach and we will go out there and find that coach."
"As you know, Mel Tucker informed us that he is resigning as head football coach. We are obviously disappointed to see him leave; however, we are excited about the upward trajectory of our program. We are already at work identifying our next head coach to lead our program and our young men. I met with our players and coaching staff this morning. We reassured them that we will match their commitment and do everything in our power to hire a great, new head coach that they can all rally behind. We are confident the program is on the verge of competing at the highest level and has the resources and support in place to do so for a long time. I will be naming an interim head coach at some point this afternoon that will be able to keep track of our football team as we head into spring football."
Â
On The Process Of The Last Few Days
"On Saturday there was a lot of media information out there. Coach Tucker and I both tweeted out a statement on where we thought we were and that he was committed to this program. I spoke to Mel late last night and then I spoke to his agent and I was informed he had taken the Michigan State job."
Â
On If He Gave Permission For Michigan State To Speak With Tucker
"I was asked, formally, for permission to speak to coach. That is a courtesy that we extend to each other. You'd have to ask him if he spoke to them or not, but I am certain that he probably has."
Â
On If Tucker Was Truthful Throughout The Process
"Coach and I have a really strong relationship. We had a conversation on Saturday about his commitment to Colorado. I was comfortable with that. What transpired in the last 24 hours is disappointing. A coach is going to do what is best for him and his family. I support that. He made that decision and my focus now is moving forward with this program and where we are headed."
Â
On How He Got Word About Tucker Taking The MSU Job
"I got word through some different channels that were still conversation. I was out of the office the last two days. Immediately, I called one of my staff and asked to get a hold of Coach Tucker and when he was done that he and I would have a conversation and we had that."
Â
On His Message To Recruits
"My message to the recruits is, 'This is an incredible football program and an incredible institution.' I said 15 months ago when we were going to hire a coach that I understand the importance of hiring the next head coach. I have every indication and belief that our program is in a better position today than it was 14 months ago. We are going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do, that we are going to win a championship and that we can do that at Colorado with the resources we have."
Â
On Potential Candidates For Head Coach
"I am going to be open-minded to candidates that are out there. Certainly, I want somebody that shares my passion for this university. If that is somebody that has been here before that's great. I want somebody that shares that passion about Colorado that I do and knowing that we can win a championship at all levels. I think we can do that at Colorado. We have done that before. We are in a much better position today than we were back then."
Â
On If He Feels Jolted
"I don't feel jolted at all. My biggest concern is our student athletes. This isn't about me at all. My job is to make sure that we hire somebody that has the same expectations that I do for our student athletes and for our program to be successful. Mel made a decision that was best for him and his family. I respect that. I am focused on what is ahead and what is ahead is us hiring a great head football coach that can be a great mentor and leader to our student athletes. That will be my focus over the next few days."
Â
On Potential Constraints On Resources
"I don't see them as constraints. We know what resources we have. The coach that we bring in, just like Mel, knew what resources we had. Again, I am convinced that we can win a championship with the resources we have. Our donors have been incredible. Our alumni have been incredible in supporting our efforts of what we are doing for our student students in the areas of mental health, nutrition, this facility, and strength and conditioning. Â We have five strength coaches just for football. We are doing a lot of really important things for that program because we know how important it is to CU. Â We will keep investing in that to make sure that we get this program back to where it historically has been. We are committed to that and I know our chancellor is committed to that."
Â
On Discussing A Counter Offer For Tucker
"We had discussions about that last night."
Â
On The Process Of Finding A Head Coach
"It's tricky. We want to make sure that before we make a decision on an interim that the coach wants to be here, is going to be here and how that plays out in the future. Having an interim, I think, is great to have in the short term but we are going to go out and find the best coach. It could be on this staff and it could be on a variety of other staffs. This has transpired fairly quickly but we are prepared and ready. We will see where it goes."
Â
On The Program
"I think the way we continue the trajectory that we have going is we have to bring good people in here. We have to give them the resources that they need to be successful. I think we are doing that. I think we have a great program. We have incredible student athletes. This is a destination at Colorado. This is where we think people can lay down their roots. It is an incredible community. It is a great state. We play in a terrific conference. We just have to get the right person in here that is committed to the same things that I am and our staff is."
Â
On If He Feels Pressure
"Any pressure is self-imposed. The only pressure that I feel is what I am putting on myself. I know how important this hire is, just like it was 14 months ago. I'm ready for it. I have a good staff around me that is going to help me in doing that. When you are selling something like we are at Colorado, it is an incredible job and opportunity. We will go out and get the best person. I don't have a timetable on it. I want to be efficient and effective but I also don't want to hurry. I want to take the right steps. We will do that."
Â
On Tucker's Commitment To Colorado
"I believe what Mel told me. I think we had a shared vision of where we wanted this program to go. You'd have to ask him that that question. I am committed to this program. We are going to go out and hire an incredible coach."
Â
On If Coaching Staff Will Follow Tucker To MSU
"This is happening so quickly I don't think they know. Over the course of the next 24-48 hours I think you will probably see more of that. That is not going to slow down our progress and where we are headed."
Â
On If They Will Push Back Spring Ball
"I don't anticipate us pushing spring ball back at all."
Â
On The Mood Of The Team
"I would probably say somber. They enjoyed playing for Coach Tucker. My message to them was, 'We have an incredible opportunity here to do some really significant things. We need them to stick together, have confidence that we know what we are doing and where we are going. We are going to hire someone that they will appreciate, respect and want to play for. We will do that as quickly as we possibly can.'"
Â
On His Conversation With Tucker
"We had a conversation about where he was and what he was contemplating. Beyond that, that is all I want to share."
Â
On His Thoughts On Tucker's Decision
"This isn't about me. It's about our student athletes. I certainly have a lot of respect for Mel. He is a good man. I don't have anything negative to say about our relationship. I think we had a strong relationship. He made a decision that I don't personally like, but I respect. It is time to move on."
Â
On His Message To Parents Of Recruits
"What I would say to them is, 'Our program is in a better position than it was 14 months ago. We are going to hire an incredible coach to lead their sons and coach their sons. Have patience. We are going to move as quickly as we can and are going to get a great football coach at Colorado.'"
Â
On The Potential Of Being Asked For Releases From Recruiting Class
"That is certainly possible. What I would say is, 'Have patience. We are going to move quickly and expeditiously. We are going to hire a great football coach.'"
Â
On If They Can Compete Financially With Other Programs
"We will do what we need to do in that regard. Not everything is about money. I want somebody that wants to be here and shares the same commitment and passion that I do. We will work hard over the next few weeks to find that right person for the job."
Â
On If Tucker Addressed The Colorado Team
"He did not."
Â
On Help With The Coaching Search
"I won't have a committee of people. Lance Carl and I did the last search. He oversees the football program. It will probably be the two of us. I know what I want in a coach and we will go out there and find that coach."
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