Colorado Votes to Stay in Big 12 : Colleges: Pacific 10 Conference is rebuffed in attempt to expand.

The Pacific 10 Conference’s hopes of expanding to the Rocky Mountains ended quickly Thursday when the University of Colorado rejected an invitation to join the league.

Colorado’s Board of Regents declined the offer with a 6-3 vote during an emergency meeting in Boulder, citing a commitment to the newly formed Big 12 Conference. Big Eight schools including Colorado agreed last February to form the superconference with four Texas refugees of the Southwest Conference.

Colorado’s retired chancellor, Jim Corbridge, and Athletic Director Bill Marolt were instrumental in securing an agreement between the Big Eight and Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M; and Texas Tech. Competition is scheduled to begin in the 1996-97 academic year.

“It would be pretty unfair to change our minds at this hour,” said Norwood Robb, a Colorado regent.

The recent invitation was extended to Colorado after presidents and chancellors of Pac-10 schools decided expansion was necessary to remain competitive on the ever-changing college sports landscape.

“The Pac-10’s intervention at this late stage, I think, raises some ethical questions,” Nebraska Chancellor Graham Spanier told the Associated Press.

Tom Hansen, Pac-10 commissioner, said Colorado’s rejection will not affect the conference but does limit future expansion. Not only does the Pac-10 want schools with strong overall athletic programs but it requires high academic standards, which made the Buffaloes attractive.

Jim Martin, a Colorado regent who supports switching to the Pac-10, blamed Thursday’s outcome on the conference leadership.

“I just wish Mr. Hansen had had the vision to consummate his offer a year ago,” Martin said. “One cannot sit around idle, particularly in a society like ours that is ever-changing.

“His lack of aggressiveness as well as sense of where he wanted to go in the ‘93-’94 time frame put us in the position where we are right now.”

Other regents agreed that had the Pac-10 moved a year ago, Colorado might have switched.

“It was a case of timing,” Martin said. “We have much in common not only with the California schools, but with Oregon, Washington and Arizona.

“Then (the Pac-10) presented us with an offer less than two weeks before the Christmas holiday. That further demonstrated a lack of timing and vision.”

The regents did not want to upset fellow Big 12 schools by leaving them after playing an important role in negotiating a five-year, $100-million contract with ABC and Prime Sports Network to televise the league’s football and basketball games.

Although the Pac-10 offered a slightly better financial package, regents said they had a moral and ethical commitment to stay with the Big 12.

Marolt was relieved to get a quick decision, as the regents voted on the matter two days after the invitation was disclosed. He also was glad they supported his efforts as one of the architects of the Big 12.