When the Buffs and Rams meet at Invesco Field at Mile High on Sept. 9, you can pretty much guarantee there will be no love lost between the two football teams.

But in the stands, the presidents of the University of Colorado and Colorado State University will be enjoying a newfound partnership.

Hank Brown and Larry Penley say preparations for the annual showdown brought their staffs, then the two of them, together in a new spirit of collaboration that's likely to continue long after the game ends.

The two research institutions face many of the same issues, from state funding for high-cost programs to obtaining increasingly competitive federal research grants.

Both Brown and Penley say they've come to the conclusion that their schools could be more successful in those areas - and possibly others - if they work together.

"To some extent, I guess misery loves company," Brown joked.

Penley said he had occasional discussions about common problems with former CU President Betsy Hoffman, but nothing as formal as his recent talks with Brown.

And while the exact nature of the relationship has not yet been defined, both leaders said it could include jointly lobbying lawmakers and members of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, for example.

In the days before the big game, the presidents plan to submit joint opinion columns to area newspapers and will work together to encourage fans to behave on game day.

Coloradans also will begin hearing more about the research projects on which CU and CSU faculty already collaborate, such as atmospheric sciences and a study of how the SARS virus attacks humans.

"None of us has any desire to stop competing because that competition makes us better," Penley said. "We do have a desire to look for ways to benefit the citizens of Colorado better."

burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5343