Published: June 24, 2019
Ryan Chreist, Rick George, Mel Tucker and JR Payne during the 2019 Chancellor Summer Tour

The Chancellor鈥檚 State Tour traveled 300 miles over two days last week to visit three Front Range cities and share how the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 academic and athletic successes are tied to their communities.

The tour began on June 18 in Pueblo, where Chancellor Phil DiStefano, Athletic Director Rick George, head football coach Mel Tucker and head basketball coaches Tad Boyle and JR Payne .

George talked about the advancements the Athletic Department has made in recent years, including how the average GPA for student-athletes last semester .

Tucker asked the crowd how many people remembered when the Buffs were the best football team in the country. Dozens of hands went up.听2019 Chancellor Summer Tour at Oskar Blues in Longmont, CO

鈥淚 want you guys to know the players who I鈥檓 recruiting feel like we can get back to that level as well,鈥 . 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e at that level, you鈥檙e not just satisfied with going to a bowl game. Are you happy with just a bowl game? No! The goal is to win championships.鈥

DiStefano met with newspaper editorial boards in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. In an , the Pueblo Chieftain praised 兔子先生传媒文化作品鈥檚 efforts to keep tuition rates flat this year. And the paper called out the campus for its 鈥渟olid academic programs and that make the university an asset to our state.鈥

In Colorado Springs, on June 19 to learn more about local connections to the university. DiStefano talked about Colorado Springs native Serene Singh, the university鈥檚 first female Rhodes Scholar. The chancellor also recognized Sand Creek High School grad for his breakout sophomore season on the CU men鈥檚 basketball team. At the end of the event, Tucker with Colorado Springs TV station KOAA.

The final stop on the tour was at Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids in Longmont, to hear talks from DiStefano and athletics officials. Chip the mascot and the cheer team were on hand to meet fans and sing along with the fight song.

Last week鈥檚 trip marked the second and final leg of the Chancellor鈥檚 State Tour for 2019. In May, the traveling party visited Vail, Carbondale, Grand Junction and Durango.