Big day, Miller announces, Patton denounces

What seemed like what would be just another day in Boulder became one of big news.

First, Columbine high school offensive tackle Ryan Miller, a five-star lineman and the object of an intense recruiting battle between Colorado and Notre Dame, announced he was giving a verbal commitment to the Buffaloes.

That was news that had the CU faithful delirious with delight and riding the wave of hope.

Then, the real bombshell dropped.

Basketball coach Ricardo Patton denounced the university and said he will resign at the end of the season. Frustrated at what he perceived was a lack of support, as in a contract extension to allow him to continue coaching the Buffs after his current pact expires July 7, 2007, Patton decided enough was enough.

"I will neither seek or accept an extension of my contract," he said in an Associated Press story.

Patton has gone 177-140 in his 10 years at the school, leading CU to two NCAA tournament berths, a superior mark to his predecessors. Yet, the program never was able to establish the consistent level of success that would have made an extension a lock.

Obviously furious with athletic director Mike Bohn leaving him as a lame duck coach, Patton minced no words.

"I won't coach under any pressure to save my job," he said.

So what does all this mean?

Well, a great start to the day when Miller verbals. He can be a cornerstone recruit.

For Patton to upstage him later in the day was a lack of class. Maybe he decided to announce before Miller did but the fact that Patton didn't hold off when Miller brought welcome, exciting news was extremely disappointing.

Patton accomplished things that were not easy to do in Boulder. His legacy is established. However, the apparent lack of organization on offense discouraged many as did the insufficient defense over the years. The Buffs had maxed out under his leadership, becoming average, which sure beats pitiful, which was the case before he started recruiting.

Patton had a hand in bringing Chauncey Billups, David Harrison and Richard Roby to town but struggled to add talented players around them to become a consistent NCAA-tournament team.

He will land another job but it won't be at a school in a major conference.

He likely was underappreciated for his contribution but CU was not getting better, only maintaining the pattern of being a slight rollercoaster ride from year-to-year-to-year.

This is a fortunate turn of events for the program, allowing Patton to coach for his next coach, his players to compete hard in support of that, and it allows Bohn time to find a capable replacement.

There will be big names mentioned but in the end, look for a second-tier name but big-time success getting the job to replace Patton.