Ex-Colorado State AD: 'Possible' that school gets into Big 12
Former Colorado State athletic director Jack Graham said while he was at the school the plan was to get the school into the Big 12 Conference and that he thinks the goal is still possible.
Graham spoke to the Fan Morning Show on Friday and discussed former head football coach Jim McElwain’s contract and his rift with the school’s president. McElwain left the school this week after three seasons to become the head coach at the University of Florida.
Graham was fired by the university in August over what school president Tony Frank termed differences over the direction of the athletic program.
Graham was asked by the radio hosts if Colorado State would get into a Power Five Conference.
“We had to get a football team that was delivering consistent results, being consistently ranked in the Top 25 and we were beginning to have that experience this year,” Graham said. “I think the opportunity to move into the Big 12 Conference is absolutely possible and that was the end game.”
Graham said along with that the program was beginning to fill the stadium and trying to get people to tune in when the team played on the road.
Graham was asked why Frank fired him and what happened with the stadium project.
“Tony Frank has made pretty clear that he didn’t like my management style and didn’t want me on his team and that’s why he fired me. We just don’t see the world the same way in many respects, whether it was how the stadium was being run,” Graham said. “I just felt there was a complete lack of leadership on his part and making clear to the public, that yes, we are going to build this stadium…. as opposed to leaving it in a state of limbo for pretty close to three years.”
- Scooby Axson
