The Colorado-Air Force basketball series was discontinued last year because Jeff Bzdelik and Jeff Reynolds are good friends.
Huh?
I’m sorry but that’s not a good enough excuse. These two programs need to play on an annual basis. The Buffs’ victory at Clune Arena remains the highlight of CU’s woeful existence outside the Coors Events Center the past two seasons. The fact that Bzdelik left the Academy for Boulder adds emotion and interest to the game, something both Front Range programs could use during non-conference play.
Word around the campfire is CU athletic director Mike Bohn and AFA athletic director Hans Meuh would like to get the game on the 2009-10 schedule. That shouldn’t be a problem – pick a date and tell Bzdelik and Reynolds it’s game on.
CU’s athletic department needs to cut expenses, right? Bohn should mandate to Bzdelik that he play Air Force, Colorado State, Denver and Wyoming every season. These games require a bus ride instead of a charter flight. And instead of paying Arkansas Pine-Bluff or Lafayette to come all the way out to Boulder to play in front of 10,000 empty yellow seats you sell more tickets when the Rams or Cowboys come to town.
Bzdelik has won only 21 games in two seasons at CU. But he’s 2-0 against CSU, 1-0 against Air Force and 1-0 against DU.
The Buffs have posted just three true road victories in Bzdelik’s two seasons. Those triumphs were at Moby Arena, Magness Arena and Clune Arena.
It’s CU’s turn to go to Fort Collins next season. The Buffs need to balance that out by welcoming Air Force back to Boulder.
These friends should be foes once a year.
