Utah is Pac-10's True Catch

For anyone worried about Utah joining the Pac-10/12, next season, there are a couple of things to consider: Washington State and Colorado.

That’s two football programs the Utes should be able to handle, if nothing else.

Washington State hasn’t had a winning season since 2003 and has gone 3-22 the last two years. One of those wins was against I-AA Portland State, an FCS team. This year’s Cougars have already lost 65-17 to Oklahoma State and barely beat FCS school Montana State, 23-22.

Then there’s Colorado, which lost 52-7 to Cal and beat little brother Colorado State 24-3, this year.
Considering the Buffaloes haven’t had a winning season since 2005, you have to wonder: What was the Pac-10 thinking when it invited Colorado?

Oh, right, the Denver market. But does anyone in Denver actually WANT to watch that team?

Funny how perspective changes. Before the Utes were admitted to the Pac-10, last summer, speculation was that the Utes wouldn’t be invited unless Colorado jumped from the Big 12. Now that the football season has started, Utah is good and Colorado is bad – as usual. It appears Utah was a much better catch for the Pac-10 than the Buffs.

Colorado men’s basketball has never been considered a great commodity. The only winning coach in the last 35 years was Ricardo Patton, who went a so-so 184-160 from 1996-2006. To find a significant winner, you’d have to go all the way back to Forrest B. Cox, who went 147-89 from 1936-50.

Colorado has had just one winning season in the last six years and hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2002-03.

Utah basketball wasn’t good last year (14-17), but it tied for first in the conference and went to the NCAA Tournament two years ago. As recently as 2004-05, it had the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Bogut.

If things continue on course, Utah will enter the Pac-10/12 with its head held high, while Colorado will enter hat in hand.