AD Rick George has high hopes for Buffs football

Published Feb. 19, 2014 10:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) University of Colorado athletic director Rick George unveiled a strategic plan Wednesday that includes a goal of having the Buffaloes football team compete in the Pac-12 championship game by 2017.

That is an ambitious aim for a team that went 4-8 last season under first-year coach Mike MacIntyre, who took over a one-win team.

George announced that goal and others during a meeting of the Board of Regents' intercollegiate athletic subcommittee.

He also said Mortenson/Populous was chosen to design and build the $143 million athletic complex expansion project unveiled in December.

George said he wants the project to begin in April so it can be finished by August 2015. First, the department needs to raise about $20 million more in donations to go with the approximately $30 million already raised.