{"id":956,"date":"2026-05-29T04:05:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T04:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=956"},"modified":"2026-05-29T04:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T04:05:06","slug":"football-success-a-priority-for-buffs-athletic-director-fernando-lovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=956","title":{"rendered":"Football success a priority for Buffs athletic director Fernando Lovo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With the Colorado football team coming off a 3-9 season in 2025, and with a roster that\u2019s been overhauled once again, there aren\u2019t high outside expectations for this season.<\/p>\n

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At BetMGM.com, CU\u2019s over\/under win total is projected at 4.5, the lowest in the Big 12. Athlon magazine predicts the Buffs to finish 14th in the 16-team Big 12. As other projections roll in this summer, they are likely to be similar.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, exceeding those expectations is up to head coach Deion Sanders, his staff and players. Yet, athletic director Fernando Lovo knows he plays a key role, too, and outgoing athletic director Rick George believes there are pieces in place for a successful 2026 season on the gridiron.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a mentor of mine who once said that players and coaches win games and administrators win championships, and I take that mindset and that approach every day because we have great coaches,\u201d Lovo said in a recent interview with BuffZone. \u201cI\u2019ve got to provide them \u2014 first and foremost, our coaches \u2014 with the resources that they need to be successful and competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s true for all sports, Lovo said, and CU has invested in other sports, including signing three head coaches \u2014 JR Payne (women\u2019s basketball), Danny Sanchez (women\u2019s soccer) and Jana Weinberger (skiing) \u2014 to contract extensions this spring.<\/p>\n

Football, however, is the lifeblood of most athletic departments, and Lovo said the Buffs have to strive for success on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to do that because we need to invest in football, we have invested in football, and without a successful football program, it\u2019s hard for us to advance as a department,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s my commitment there, and coach (Sanders) knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to trying to provide financial resources, Lovo said the fan experience at Folsom Field is a priority going into the fall.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt can\u2019t just be a football game, it\u2019s got to be an event,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s got to be a celebration of what it means to be a Buff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lovo said he and his staff are working on \u201creally exciting\u201d ideas to create a good pre-game and in-game atmosphere, including in-game scripting from the public address announcer.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are fully committed to creating an incredible fan experience, and I will tell you this and I want to echo this every time I can talk about it: Fans, I want to hear from you. If there\u2019s things that we can do better, let me know,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Lovo understands the challenges facing CU and a lot of other programs around the country to compete for top players. There are schools that reportedly have rosters valued at $30-$40 million because of deep pockets in the NIL (name, image and likeness) space. CU isn\u2019t at that level \u2014 the actual value of the roster is unknown \u2014 but Lovo likes where the Buffs are going into 2026.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI will tell you this, that I feel we\u2019re competitive, when we look at our peers in the Big 12 of where we are,\u201d he said. \u201cBut doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re going to put our feet up and say, \u2018We\u2019re good,\u2019 because we\u2019re not. We\u2019ve got to continue to push and provide more resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the absence of rules and some sort of federal intervention that can help that, we\u2019ve got to continue to push forward. I\u2019m comfortable where we are right now, but we\u2019re certainly not resting and saying that we are where we need to be. \u2026 We\u2019re going to continue to try to elevate that because we need to (do that) to be competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

George, meanwhile, believes the Buffs will be competitive on the field this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe staff that we have, I think, is outstanding,\u201d said George, who is transitioning out of his athletic director role but will be involved with football going forward. \u201cI love both of our coordinators (offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and defensive coordinator Chris Marve). I think Deion and both coordinators are really building a good culture and camaraderie with this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

CU lacked leadership and strong culture last year, in part because Sanders missed so much of the offseason with health issues. He\u2019s been heavily involved this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoach has been as engaged as I\u2019ve ever seen him with his football team,\u201d George said. \u201cI think that\u2019s exciting because I think his presence means a lot and I can see it. I can see that we\u2019ve got a really strong culture down there. I think we\u2019ve got a really strong togetherness, which is what you need.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait for the football season. I think it\u2019s going to be great. I\u2019m looking forward to having an incredibly successful year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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