WE NEED IT BACK. The current owner of the Colorado Buffaloes, Rick George, has officially announced his decision to sell the team.

WE NEED IT BACK. The current owner of the Colorado Buffaloes, Rick George, has officially announced his decision to sell the team.

Rick George has received recognition from his colleagues following an outstanding 2023–24 athletic year that saw the thrilling start of the Coach Prime era, two trips to the NCAA Tournament, and even a national championship.

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced on Wednesday that Colorado’s athletic director had won the title of athletic director of the year.

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George is one of 28 individuals recognized by NACDA throughout seven categories, from the FBS level to the junior college and community college levels, and one of four honored by the Football Bowl Subdivision.

NACDA CEO Pat Manak stated in a news release, “NACDA is honored to continue the tradition of the Athletics Director of the Year Award and recognize a new class of individuals for 2023–2024.” “As an Association, we are committed to cultivating leaders of tomorrow who are guided by today’s decision-makers, which is why it is highly appropriate that 21 out of the 28 ADOY award winners this year are first-timers.”

Even though CU football’s first season under head coach Deion Sanders ended with a mere 4-8 record, it was still an incredible improvement over the team’s 1-11 record the year before. Notwithstanding the record, George made a wise hire considering the CU football program’s widespread popularity, national TV appearances, and sharp rise in ticket sales.

This past fall, CU’s women’s soccer team and both basketball teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The CU ski team earned its 21st national championship earlier this month—its first since 2015—in the inaugural season after George’s appointment of longstanding assistant and previous CU individual national champion Jana Weinberger as head coach.

A statement from CU states that the requirements for the award are serving as an AD for at least five academic years; proving your dedication to student-athletes and higher education; consistently exhibiting excellence, loyalty, and teamwork; and having the capacity to motivate people to reach new heights. A compliance review by the relevant governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.) is another need for each AD. The school could not have been placed on probation or given a citation for a lack of institutional control while the current AD was in charge.