John Weber, the Athletic Director of CSU Rams, discusses topics such as Jay Norvell, football, Deion Sanders, CU Buffs, and the future of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

John Weber must excel in his work. Is it possible for RuPaul to revive the popularity of CSU? Can Parker Schnabel, the renowned star of "Gold Rush," achieve great success in FoCo? The Rams football team has two options to capture the attention, support, and financial backing of influential individuals such as network executives, corporate sponsors, and private equity firms. The first option is for Weber, the newly appointed athletic director, to hire a reality show celebrity as the football team's coach and create a spectacle to rival CU's successful program, which continues to attract funding despite mediocre performance on the field. Alternatively, Weber could rely on Jay Norvell to deliver immediate victories.

“We’re incredibly supportive of the team and culture that Coach Norvell has built here,” Weber told me during a sit-down inside the CSU administrative offices earlier this month. “He has demonstrated what he’s been able to accomplish in the last couple of years. “And headed into this year, he’s got a couple of top recruiting classes that he’s brought in now for a couple of years. And we fully expect that that team is going to compete well this fall. So we are all really excited about where we’re headed.”

The Rams should have played in a bowl game last autumn, correct? CSU's lineup included the most thrilling offensive player in the Mountain West (wide receiver Tory Horton), the most intimidating pass rusher in the conference (Mo Kamara), and an enhanced offensive line. Unfortunately, luck was not on Norvell's side, as four of their seven defeats in a 5-7 season were by a margin of nine points or less. Looking at the bright side, the Rams were competitive with nearly every opponent on their schedule, except for the disappointing Week 1 loss to Washington State. Progress was evident as they went from three victories in '22 to five, indicating a step in the right direction, albeit with some setbacks. Horton and young quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi are back in action, despite rumors of recruitment violations and NIL enticements.

Now, with a potential settlement between the House and NCAA adding to his responsibilities and financial constraints, I inquired with Weber, a CSU graduate who is now Norvell's superior, about what would be a reasonable benchmark for Year 3. Six wins? A bowl game? "I believe that achieving six wins or a bowl game is a realistic expectation for the upcoming season if we aim to progress from our previous performance," he responded.

“It’s what we want to see all the time, is that we want to see improvement. And we are well down that path of seeing that. And we’ll see on game days in the fall just how well that’s going. And we’re honestly really excited about the start of football season.”

The debut of the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Canvas Stadium on September 14 is expected to bring an immense level of excitement. Given the circumstances, it is natural to question whether heightened security measures and logistical considerations are necessary with the presence of CU and Coach Prime. This is particularly relevant in light of the events that unfolded during last year's game involving Travis Hunter and Henry Blackburn.

Weber, the newly appointed athletic director who succeeded Joe Parker in February, acknowledged the significance of hosting the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Fort Collins for the first time since 1996. He emphasized the university's commitment to ensuring an exceptional experience for all fans during home events. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the game on September 14 are well understood, and preparations are underway to ensure a buzzing atmosphere on campus and in Fort Collins throughout the entire weekend. Weber expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts of individuals from the campus, community, and CU in ensuring a safe and enjoyable in-state rivalry game at Canvas Stadium.

Weber's rapid rise in administrative circles, stemming from his previous role as the head of CSU's NIL arm, the Green and Gold Guard Collective, has been noteworthy. He was appointed as the athletic director on a permanent basis in May, securing a five-year contract. Regarding his relationship with CU AD Rick George, who has discussed retirement after his contract with the Buffs concludes in June 2027, Weber expressed his respect for George and his eagerness to collaborate with him in the near future.

And the future of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, which will take a hiatus of five years after 2024, before resuming with games in Fort Collins in '29, '34, and '38, and in Boulder in '30, '33, and '37?

"The entire state of Colorado benefits when our athletic programs compete," Weber responded. "We firmly believe that this historic series is significant and we hope to see it continue annually in all sports. However, I do not have any new information to share at this time."

Currently, one of Weber's main challenges is finding new sources of revenue, especially in a post-House world.

To simplify, Division I football schools may require an additional $20 million to $30 million in revenue each year to account for compensating student-athletes and other factors. A Group of Five program like Rams football needs to reach a similar level of revenue in order to compete for coaches, staff, and recruits. To illustrate the gap between CU, a middle-to-high-middle Power 4 program, and CSU, one of the larger fish in the high-mid-major pond, let's consider the television payouts.

The Buffs are projected to earn approximately $32 million annually in broadcast revenues until 2031 as members of the Big 12. On the other hand, CSU is expected to receive $4 million per year until 2026 from the Mountain West. Experts estimate that if the Big 12 were to sell naming rights to a corporation and become, for example, "The Allstate 12," it could bring an additional $3 million per year to CU. So, what could "CSU Football presented by Cheba Hut" be worth to the Rams?

"We need to be proactive in that regard," Weber stated. "I have also had discussions with numerous individuals in the past few months about being highly innovative... we will need to think outside the box. We must identify revenue streams that have not existed here before.

"We are currently in a building connected to Moby Arena that does not have a name. We also have soccer and softball complexes here that are not named.