Colorado University Athletics

Press Conference Quotes

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Athletic Director Mike Bohn

 

GENERAL--“This is really a special day for us to announce an extension with Nike for the next 10 years which commences next season. It was really an interesting experience for me, because it was a tremendous team-building experience to be able to engage with our coaches, our chancellor (Phil DiStefano) and the rest of campus to talk about how we work a project like this and how we work with a great partner like Nike. I can honestly say I never had the opportunity or privilege to work with Nike in 22 years in intercollegiate athletics. I couldn’t have been happier with their professionalism, with their vision about college athletics, the quality of their products with their interest in really being a great partner with the University of Colorado. I believe that all of you and all of our coaches need to really take great stock in that Nike really feels good about working with us. Their commitment to our student-athletes and to our coaches is really evident. The confidence that Nike has in not only the institution, but all of our coaches and our student-athletes was exemplary. We’re also excited about the opportunity to engage with the chancellor, Rick Borrica and other people on campus to look for ways for Nike to be a contributor to the overall residential experience for students on campus as well, involving recreation activities, our club teams and our intramurals. We’re looking for opportunities to enhance support for the marching band and products for them and our spirit squads. That entire vision of a Nike campus presentation was really appealing to us as well. I really salute Nike for allowing the University of Colorado to help be one of the product programs to put that together. It was a team enterprise and a team support to put this together.”

 

ON SPECIFICS OF SUPPORT FOR OTHER AREAS OF CAMPUS--“Currently the intramural teams and club programs don’t really have access to the buying power associated with the intercollegiate athletic program. They are not involved in apparel. To be able to open up the Nike partnership with those types of initiatives will be important to them and allow them to have the great quality apparel that we have. I think it’s really exciting to know that when Gary Barnett goes out with his football team on Saturday and it’s going to be warm that we have the finest technology to keep our student-athletes cool. And why wouldn’t we want to share that same technology and quality that Nike brings?which we believe to be the finest in the world?to our other students on campus too? Because those are some great athletes and also some people that are very important to us.”

 

ON NEGOTATIONS WITH OTHER APPAREL ENTITIES-- This is a competitive environment, as is virtually all of the areas involving intercollegiate athletics. But when we sat down with Nike and talked about our long-term vision and what they brought to the table with their exemplary products that we believe are second to none, it was really clear that we were thrilled to be with Nike all along. And I believe our head coaches and student-athletes would agree. All the professionalism and passion that Nike had, clearly showed that that’s where we needed to stay. Their willingness to increase the value of the agreement was significant as well.”

 

 

Chancellor Phil DiStephano

 

“I want to begin by giving credit where credit is do, and that is to Mike Bohn. Mike has been here for a very short time?five months. But in those five months he has really turned around this athletic department. He negotiated this wonderful deal with Nike. It’s a 10-year commitment and I think what Nike is saying is that they are committed to the University of Colorado?Boulder, and that they have faith in the University and the athletic department. And I think much of the praise should go to Mike for having those negotiations. As Mike said, the whole campus is going to benefit from this Nike contract. We talked a year ago about integrating athletics more into the campus community and that’s exactly what is going on with this Nike contract. I’m very pleased with Nike and their commitment. One thing that we should note is that the amount of money?$20 million over 10 years?is very significant. It is comparable to many of our peer institutions’ athletic departments which have more (varsity) sports that we do. So we’re taking a similar amount of money and it’s going to be divided among our 17 sports and also with some other members of the campus community. So we’re very pleased with the negotiations that took place. We’re very pleased with the contract. It was a team effort by Mike, his staff, the campus and Nike. I really salute Nike for making this long-term commitment and I thank them for doing so.

 

 

Other Notes:

 

Bohn announced that approximately 25 volunteers associated with the Red Cross will be visible at  the CU-CSU football game on Saturday taking collections in support of the tragedy associated with Hurricane Katrina. He also announced that as of 11:00 this morning, only 400 tickets remain for the game.