Patton perceptive

He's right, you know.

When Colorado basketball coach Ricardo Patton, a sensitive type, said his decision to leave the school at the end of this season isn't an indication of him quitting, but instead, knowing when it's time to move on, he is merely being highly perceptive.

The time has come.

Many fans are disappointed in the annual charges towards mediocrity and Patton does not have the trust of new athletic director Mike Bohn. Despite an incoming freshman class lauded as the one of the best of Patton and another one setting up to be solid, a contract extension never came as Bohn wanted proof that the coach could coach, that Patton could make this school a bigger player in the Big 12 and nationally than it's been.

The coach bristled at that, insulted that he had to do more than lift CU from the dregs of college basketball, that Bohn had visions of sugar plums that Patton didn't think was possible.

Patton had winning qualities for this job. He expected much from his players off the court, he didn't have the scandal of the football program and his team's did get to post-season tournaments once in a while. He even scored some of the finest talent in school history in Chauncey Billups, David Harrison and Richard Roby.

Where he came up short, and this was his undoing, was he limited his vision of what the Buffs' program could be. He believed all those obstacles in resources, academics and whatever condemned CU to being fortunate to just field an NCAA team. He accepted all that as excuses.

The next coach will not be allowed to do the same.

Patton has succeeded at CU. A winning record, NCAA tournament berths, better players and high standards expected of them. You can't deny all the good he has done.

The time for change, the time for growth has come. Patton's mark on the program has been made. He will rise again and hopefully CU will go to greater heights now that Patton has laid the foundation.

Now, for the final act.

Look forward to it.