Column: Could fates of Rick George and Mike MacIntyre be linked?

Colorado Athletic Director Rick George has had every chance to fire Buffaloes head football coach Mike MacIntyre, yet George has retained his services every time some thought the temperature of MacIntyre’s seat was heating up.  No matter the final record, thus far at least, the two have remained in partnership in Boulder.

Does George’s insistence to stick his neck out for MacIntyre put his own head at risk?

The first chance for a regime change came when there was a change in leadership in the athletic department. When he took over for Mike Bohn as Athletic Director, George could have stated that MacIntyre wasn’t his guy, setting the stage for the second and third chances. After a two-win showing during the 2014 season and a disappointing 2015 season, George had his chances to make a change. But he didn’t.

Could all of this be a signal that George’s fate is intertwined with MacIntyre’s?

Not yet.

Although the MacIntyre’s leash has been long, it has been justified because there has been some progress with talent and recutting. The rebuilding job that was needed when MacIntyre took over was significant, not one to be fixed quickly. But if MacIntyre leads another stinker of a year in the win column, George is justified to make significant changes.

Soon-to-be in his third year on the job, George has garner some momentum in the once-great Buffs football program, but the results have eluded CU, at least at Folsom Field. George has done a great job with the athletic department as a whole. Finances have reportedly been settled. Communication throughout the AD has improved by leaps and bounds. However, football remains king. He has gained enough momentum in the football program behind the building of new facilities to the point that he can endure a turnover in coaches, if needed. The Champions Center, the new home to Colorado football, was spearheaded by George and has put the Buffaloes back on the same playing field as the other Power 5 schools.

To many, George deserves a hefty amount of praise for his job done thus far at Colorado, with the only stain on his resume being the amount of wins racked up by the football squad.

Which is why the question arises of MacIntyre being the downfall of George. Despite swirling rumors every offseason, no change has been made. Despite rumors of his interest in other positions at other universities or outside of college athletics, he’s still in Boulder. He’s still backing his head football coach. With everything, though, one can rightly imagine that there comes a point of diminishing returns with such faith–that point being a place no one in the athletic department hopes to be in following this season.

Whether or not you think MacIntyre has already been kept too long, there is no arguing that most of George’s decisions have ended up being positive ones for the university. Should his own fate be tied to a football coach who was hired by the previous athletic director in one of the most out-of-sync, poorly timed hires in the country, considering which axe came down next and when? No, no it should not.

George has made positive steps forward for the athletic department in nearly every facet of his job description. Should the football team once again struggle and a change of coaches is made, he should have the opportunity to make his selection and see them through.