A look at Patton and CU basketball from the outside

Gregg Doyel is a national columnist for CBS SportsLine.com and if you read his work you know he doesn't pull punches. He chooses to write in an intelligent, humorous, and yes, pointed style. Maybe not always palatable but educated and honest in his feelings, refusing to sugarcoat his views.

So, you know now I read him, I admire his slant on topics. I knew I wanted his opinion on Ricardo Patton's decision and timing to talk about leaving the University of Colorado.

Remember, Doyel does not live here, work here and is an outsider, so to speak. My desire is to share how Patton and this program are viewed outside of Boulder, the Denver-area media and outside of Colorado.

Here is one different perspective.

Black & Gold Breakdown: Gregg, many knew Ricardo Patton was likely on his last leg at CU, especially with new athletic director Mike Bohn. Throw in the fact that Patton has an extremely young team, and only has Richard Roby as a given, and he is unlikely to get the Buffs to a post-season tournament.

Was the heat too much for Patton, in your opinion, to accept the challenge and try to earn that contract extension in his final year of his contract or was he deserving of being given a new deal now? And how will Patton be viewed amongst ADs around the country now, for his positives or this resignation?

Doyel: Look, I don't know Ricardo Patton from a hole in the ground, but from the outside this looks like a classic case of nose-thumbing at a Colorado administration that has left him hanging. Patton should have been fired last year, and he knows he's going to be fired after this year. So he's sticking it to them before they can stick it to him...which doesn't make Patton look good.

He had all the time in the world to establish something at Colorado and couldn't do it, and now he's announcing his pending resignation before the season begins? If I'm the AD at a smaller school, I'm wondering why I want this guy as my next coach in 2007-2008.

BGB: How does this affect Patton's authority with his players now? If they disagree with him, do they listen?

Doyel: You're assuming they listened before. Patton doesn't control the future but he does control the players' playing time this season. That alone will buy him some cooperation, if not respect, from his players.

BGB: How attractive is the Colorado job, if at all, nationally?

Doyel: This job is hideous. It's a football school that's not even good (right now) at football, and has replaced Baylor as the Big 12's most scandalous athletic department. The basketball program has never been able to sustain success, and with inert leadership that allowed Patton to stay way too long, it looks like the school itself doesn't care about winning. In BCS leagues, this might be the worst job in America. Might not -- but it's on the short list.