Colorado regents back move to Pac-10

Jun 11, 2010 - 6:23 PM By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

BOULDER, Colo.(AP) -- University of Colorado regents unanimously voted to join the Pac-10 on Friday, making its bolt from the Big 12 official.

"I've had many tough, agonizing votes in my six years on the Board of Regents. This is not one of them," regent Michael Carrigan said.

The Buffaloes' move may have started the dominoes falling.

Nebraska could be the next team to leave as the school considers a move to the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Missouri's president has renewed the school's support for the Big 12 but isn't ruling out a move to a new conference.

Colorado is tentatively set to become the 11th member of the Pac-10 in 2012.

"We live in an interesting time of college athletics right now and we're at the hub of it," said Tad Boyle, Colorado's new men's basketball coach. "I'm glad we were proactive. It's a great fit for our institution. As a basketball coach it's going to be a great fit for us as well."

Colorado's switch was marked with pageantry at its Boulder campus and beyond.

Gov. Bill Ritter joined the delegation that welcomed Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott at the airport along with university president Bruce Benson and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Alfred Williams.