One of the bigger concerns going into the Oregon game in Eugene was how the Buffs would handle their place kicking duties. Senior Diego Gonzalez ruptured his achilles tendon during the game at Michigan and will miss the rest of the season.
Prior to the injury, Gonzalez had kicked off 19 times and forced a touchback on 16 of those kicks. That was a vast improvement for Colorado from 2015, when the Buffs had 42 out of 69 of their kickoffs returned.
On extra points, Gonzalez had been perfect in his Colorado career, hitting on 51 consecutive tries. He made 18 of 29 field goal attempts in 2015, and was 3 of 4 before his injury.
The Oregon game saw the Buffs using two kickers. Freshman walk-on Davis Price from Evergreen handled the kickoff duties while junior Chris Graham from Burlingame, California replaced Gonzales on field goals.
Graham was the kickoff specialist in 2015, handling all but one of Colorado's 59 kickoffs. So game experience was nothing new to him. He made field goals of 24 and 33 yards in the game. He did, however, have one extra point blocked.
For Price, however, being on the field was a whole new experience. His first time taking the field for the Buffs was to kickoff in Autzen Stadium, one of the loudest venues in all of college football. How did he respond? He boomed it into the end zone for a touchback. It was the only touchback of the day for Price on six kicks, but it did serve to calm the freshman's nerves.
The kickers will be back in the altitude of Folsom Field this week, which should help their distance. They also will have another week of work in practice knowing that they will be handling the kicking duties for the rest of the year.
With a fierce Pac-12 schedule ahead of the Buffs, how Graham and Price handle their kicking duties will be a big part of how far this Buffaloes team goes toward their stated goal of winning the Pac-12 championship.
There was a lot of hand wringing among the Buff faithful last week when most assumed that MacIntyre's "game time" decision about Liufau and his injured ankle was in reality an admission that Sefo would be out for the game. At Oregon.
Flash back to two years ago, when an injured Sefo Liufau was unable to start. Jordan Gehrke was thrown to the wolves against a #3 Oregon team that would go on to play in the national championship game. Oregon, led by Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and Royce Freeman, put almost 600 yards of offense on the Buffs, while holding CU to 240. The final score was 44-10, but the game was not really that close. Oregon took their foot off the pedal, emptied the bench, and did not score in the 4th.
With the Buffs heading off to Autzen Stadium with Sefo injured again, CU fans were feeling deja vu all over again. An ill-prepared Montez had finished the game at Michigan after Liufau's injury with a big zero under the number of completed passes as the Wolverines took over the game in the second half. The young man from El Paso truly got a baptism by fire in Ann Arbor.
Many commenters on sites such as this were ready to concede the game to Oregon and hope for better health from Sefo down the road. But a funny thing happened for Montez with the Big House experience and a week to work with the #1 offense in practice.
Montez stepped up and became "The Man" for Colorado.
In his first college start, against a team that was only 16 games removed from the national championship game, Montez became the first QB in Colorado history to throw for 300 yards while also running for more than 100. Darian Hagan never did it. Neither did Kordell Stewart or Sefo Liufau. Montez is now in the Colorado record books after one start.
Not all the credit goes to Montez however. He got a lot of help. Sefo was there before and after each drive to calm the redshirt freshman and give advice and words of encouragement. Also on the sidelines to help was co-OC Darrin Chiaverini.
But the biggest kudos need to go to the much maligned Brian Lindgen.
Co-OC Lindgren is also the quarterbacks coach. He got Montez ready for the game during practice and was in his ear all during the game. Every time Montez came back to the bench, he was soon on the headset talking to Lindgren up in the booth.
Moving forward in Pac-12 play, the Buffs face 4 teams in the next five weeks that they have never beaten (0-14) since joining the conference. They've been outscored in those games 623-279. Of course, if the win at Oregon proved anything it's that past history does not necessarily predict future performance. Thank goodness.
One can't imagine this Colorado team getting complacent now after finally getting a breakthrough win. If anything, these Buffs will probably work even harder now that they've gotten a taste of a big win over a good team.
Whatever happens over the remainder of the season, Colorado fans can be sure that the Buffs will be in good hands at quarterback. Both Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez are tough as nails and can quarterback the Buffs to lots of yards and enough points to win against anyone in the country.
With the best CU defensive team in a decade, this Colorado team has the chance to not only make a bowl game, but to also contend for a conference title. It bodes well that even right after the big win in Eugene, the players were ready to put the game behind them and get ready to go 1-0 next week too. And the next week, and the next week...
Go Buffs!
The Colorado Buffaloes, behind an amazing debut starting performance from Steven Montez and an interception to seal the game by Ahkello Witherspoon, shocked the Oregon Ducks in Eugene, 41-38.
Early in the 3rd quarter when the CU Buffs had taken a 16 point lead (33-17), it appeared that Colorado was headed for a dominating victory. But great teams like Oregon, with the 3rd most wins in the FBS over the last five years, do not fold for anybody.
Oregon scored three touchdowns in the third quarter (aided by two interceptions) to retake the lead 38-33.
At that point, many Buff fans had flashbacks to games led but then lost over the last 10 years. "Here we go again!" was running through many a mind in Buffland. Thankfully, this year's Buffs have incredible backbone. After appearing to be on their heels defensively, the Buffs stiffened and kept Oregon out of the end zone the rest of the game.
While Montez played one of the best games ever for a CU quarterback in their first start, he was helped immensely by some highlight-reel catches by his receivers.
More to come --- TIME TO CELEBRATE!
The Colorado Buffaloes led the Michigan Wolverines 21-7 at the end of the first quarter. Michigan scored on a blocked punt but had been manhandled by Colorado on offense and defense. The quick paced offense and the attacking defense were doing their jobs, keeping the #4 Michigan team off balance and on their heels.
Then, for some reason, the Buffs decided to slow things down. They continued to line up quickly but started pausing at the line to change plays from the sideline. Instead of forcing Michigan to have 5 seconds or so to get ready for the next play, the Buffs started taking almost the full play clock to get their plays off. Michigan got their wind back, and the Buffs started faltering on offense. Add the faltering offense to a disastrous punt team and the recipe for destruction was complete.
The Buffs watched their 21-7 lead disappear as they fell behind 24-21 at the end of the first half when Mac and Lindgren decided to run out the clock instead of going for more points. The gambit failed. Michigan got the ball back and scored with 10 seconds left before half to take the lead.
In the 2nd half, the Buffs again turned on the offense and scored on a 70 yard pass shortly after beginning the 3rd quarter. They retook the lead 28-24. The Wolverines' Jabril Peppers returned the kickoff 55 yards and Michigan scored 2 plays later to take the lead for good.
QB Sefo Liufau was hurt on the play before he heaved the 70 yard TD. One more series showed that he was done for the day. Buff fans now wait to see if he will be ready for Oregon this week or will be out longer.
Backup QB Steven Montez' first two passes were dropped (one of which would have been a touchdown), and the deflation of the Buff offense was visible to all at Michigan Stadium. Lindgren's play calling packed it in as well, and the Buffs did their best to run out the clock and keep the loss under the betting line.
By then, as well, the defense realized the futility of their task. The offense was no threat to score and the punting team threatened to give up a score every time they came on the field. They watched their 21-7 lead evaporate into a 45-28 loss. Twenty-eight of Michigan's points came off of miscues by the special teams.
The defense under Jim Leavitt is one of the best in the Pac-12. But that fact is being shrouded by conservative play calling on offense and remarkably bad play by the special teams.
What Gives?
The Colorado Buffaloes offense under Mike MacIntyre and Brian Lindgren do not handle unexpected prosperity well. And it is not just this year. It has been going on since they arrived.
2015
In the game against USC, the Buffs built and squandered a 17-3 lead. They did not score again until they were behind 27-17. They lost the game 27-24.
They much prefer to roar back after being down. Against UCLA last year, the Buffs trailed 21-6 and 28-13 before retaking a 31-28 lead before finally losing 35-31.
Against Arizona, the Buffs trailed 17-7 before coming back to take a 24-17 lead. Then they gave up three 4th quarter touchdowns to fall behind by 14. They lost the game 38-31.
2014
In the game against Cal, the Buffs took had leads of 21-7 and 28-14. Cal came back to tie the game at 28. They eventually lost 59-56 in triple overtime.
Against Washington, the Buffs led 10-0 and 20-10 before giving up three touchdowns in the last 21 minutes and losing 38-23
In the Oregon State game, the Buffs came back from a 17-7 deficit to lead 21-20. They lost the game 36-31.
Against UCLA, the Buffs trailed 17-0 and 31-17 before storming back to tie the game at 31 and force overtime. The Buffs lost in triple overtime again, by the score of 40-37.
2013
The Buffs trail Utah 21-0 before finally losing 24-17.
What do the nine games have in common?
The Buffs either squandered big leads or came back from big deficits. And most importantly, the Buffs lost all nine games.
Lest anyone think I am only picking on the games the Buffs lost, remember that the conference record of the Buffs under MacIntyre is 2-25, so there are not a lot of conference wins to point at.
Despite the trials and tribulations, the Buffs need to address that they have shown they can play in the Pac-12, but they need to take the next step and actually win some of the games that are close. If they do not, changes need to be made.
The Buffs fan base called for Lindgren's head last year, and MacIntyre relented to bringing in a co-offensive coordinator in Darrin Chiaverini. It seems to be working out against the lesser opposition, but Mac needs it to work against conference foes if he expects to keep his job.
Some people point out (like this writer has many, many times) that the Buffs are so much closer than they used to be... but the time to win is now. If you win less than 10% of your conference games year after year, does the final score really matter?
Bill McCartney is a Colorado legend and a Buff forever.
All CU Buffs fans acknowledge that Hall of Fame Coach Bill McCartney is and shall remain a Buff forever. McCartney is the most winning coach in the history of the program and led the Buffs to their only football national championship following the 1990 season. All coaches since him have been held up to the standard he created.
What many people in Colorado do not realize is that McCartney was a legend in Michigan before moving to Boulder. Mac was born and raised in Michigan. He coached Dearborn Divine Child High School's football AND basketball teams to state titles in 1973. Shortly thereafter, he became the only high school coach ever hired to coach at the University of Michigan by legendary coach Bo Schembechler. Mac worked for Bo from 1974-1981 and rose to the level of defensive coordinator before being hired at Colorado.
A fine article by Mark Snyder from the Detroit Free Press details the influence that Mac had at Michigan and how closely intertwined he is with current Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his family.
Before the Colorado-Michigan game this past weekend, many of the Wolverine faithful were fired up because former QB Tom Brady was in town to act as honorary captain. What was quite surprising to the Colorado fans in attendance was that the welcome for McCartney was equally as loud and moving as that for Brady.
The crowd showed that like Colorado, Michigan fans remember their roots. Mac grew up as a local boy who made good coaching two different high school sports to championships. He then moved on and up at The Big House in Ann Arbor under Schembechler, before finally moving on to his last coaching gig in Boulder.
Mac's last visit to Ann Arbor as a football coach broke the hearts of Michigan fans when Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook hooked up for one of the most memorable plays in college football history. The Miracle at Michigan is a play that is forever etched in the minds of Colorado fans. And it remains one of the more heart-wrenching endings in Michigan Stadium's storied history (at least to Michigan fans).
All history aside, McCartney was welcomed home as a returned son. To all of the Colorado fans there to see the game, it became quite clear.
Bill McCartney is a Michigan legend and Wolverine forever too.
First of all, a serious thank you to the Colorado Buffaloes and the Michigan Wolverines, their fans, and Ann Arbor.
A thank you to the Buffs for showing up ready to play both offensively and defensively. Until the time of the first punt, watching the Colorado Buffaloes brought back memories of a time long past. Their offense was on point and a threat to whoever they played and the defense was hard-hitting and a threat to score and shut down even very good teams.
By the end of the first quarter, feelings that had not been felt about the Buffs in more than a decade were raging throughout Buff faithful scattered around The Big House. Even the Michigan fans were impressed, and a whole lot shocked.
One of the wonderful side benefits to playing at Michigan is their fans. They were friendly and open even before the game started (on the walk to the stadium and in the stands). And they were very complimentary of the Buffs when they bolted out to a quick 14-0 lead.
And when the Buffs scored to go up by 14 again after the Wolverines had scored on a blocked punt, their fans around us raved about the play of Sefo Liufau and the Buff defense. "Your quarterback is REALLY good!" they said about Sefo.
As for the Buff defense, Michigan QB Wilton Speight commented about the hit by Chidobe Awuzie by saying that he had never been hit so hard in his life. The hit by Awuzie led to a Speight fumble that was picked up by Derek McCartney and returned for a touchdown.
The days when the Buffs could be counted upon to be easy pickings in every phase of the game are over. The offense and defense showed they were the equal or superior of a top 5 team. And not just any top 5 team either.
Coach Jim Harbaugh is a recruiting master and the Michigan team is filled with the recruits who are the envy of schools across the country. A name often called during the game was Rashan Gary, the #1 recruit in the country earlier this year. In addition to Gary, Harbaugh's Michigan squad hauled in an additional 17 FOUR-star players in this year's class.
Despite Harbaugh's recruiting prowess, the Buffs were up 21-7 at the end of the 1st quarter. Buff fans should applaud that accomplishment. The 21 points the Buffs scored in the opening quarter EQUALED the most ever scored against Michigan at the Big House in their long and storied history.
Hundreds of games against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan State and Notre Dame (and a 1994 Colorado team that may have been among the top 3 CU teams ever), and NO team ever scored more points against Michigan in Ann Arbor in the 1st quarter than Colorado did this past weekend.
Unfortunately for the Buffs, the Wolverines are not only top tier on both offense and defense, they are probably the best team in the country on special teams. It's the one thing that separates a very good Buff team from a top 10 team.
Many Buff fans are up in arms that Colorado did not go on and beat a Top-5 team on the road after being up by 14 to end the first quarter. They are missing the reality that Michigan is truly a threat to win the national championship this year. Like all championship caliber teams, they found the weakness of their opponent and exploited it.
The Buffs were exposed on special teams (specifically punting) as a team that still has work to do. One small part of the game was the difference between winning and losing on the road against a Top-5 team.
It's a hectic week in Boulder as the Buffs prepare to go on the road against Oregon. Listening to radio and reading the papers and blogs, many in Buff nation seem to think this UNRANKED Duck team is the same as the Top 5 teams of years past. That is not the case. This Oregon team is ripe for the taking. They have injuries to several of their star players, and their defense shows little sign of slowing down anyone.
If the Buffs can get their heads around the fact that they were so close to beating one of the best teams in the country on the road, they can go into Eugene and beat Oregon. If they fall back to psychological predispositions, it could be the beginning of a rough stretch of games.
The ball is in the court of Mike MacIntyre and his staff. How the Buffs respond will be played out Saturday.
College football is not a game of manners.
Not anymore. It's a big money, win-or-go-home game. If you want to play with the big boys, there are no moral victories. You either win, or you lose. With overtime now, there is not even the possibility of a tie.
When head coach Mike MacIntyre arrived in Boulder for the 2013 season, Colorado was coming off their most embarrassing season ever. They were arguably the worst college football team in all of Division 1, and by far the worst team in a Power 5 conference.
On top of that, the Buffs were also still brand spanking new to the Pac-12 Conference. And MacIntyre was a newbie to coaching at a Power 5 school and in the Conference of Champions. Both Mac and the Buffs were still acting like the new kid on the block, who just wanted to make a few friends and keep a low profile. They've been wide-eyed and full of wonder.
If the Buffs want to go to a bowl game or be taken seriously as a competitor in the Pac-12, that politeness has to stop NOW!
The football Buffs have been politely knocking at the door of their new conference opponents for five years now. Their victories have been very few and far between. Mac's teams have won against Pac-12 teams only twice in three years.
That's not to say that the Buffs have not been inching closer. In the last two years in Pac-12 play, the Buffs have been involved in NINE games which were decided by 7 points or less. Unfortunately, their record in those games is 1-8, including two lost in double overtime.
It's time for the Buffs to quit knocking on the door and waiting to be let in. It's time for the Buffs to kick the damn door down!
Mac and his team have been looking for a signature win over a ranked opponent. They've been hoping for a game to announce to the conference and the country that the Colorado Buffaloes are back in the conversation after a decade of irrelevance.
Over the next 6 weeks, the Buffs face a murderer's row of games on the road against teams that always seem to be in the national conversation: Michigan, Oregon, USC and Stanford.
Are the Buffs going to be happy just to play the Big Boys tough? Or are they going to knock 'em down and keep on hitting til the game is over? Are they going to be happy with maybe winning six games this year, or do they want much more than that?
This is the year, and these next six weeks are the time, for the Buffs to step up and make a name for themselves. But they can only do that with wins. Close losses and moral victories will not cut it any longer.
The game at Michigan is the key. The Wolverines and their faithful are not even talking about the Buffs. Check out Buff sites and all anyone is talking about is Michigan. Check out Michigan sites and CU is barely mentioned. Talk about being disrespected!
Best of all, Michigan is rated as a top 5 team. A win at The Big House would not only give Colorado their signature win, but would also announce to the Pac-12 that Colorado is back and they will no longer meekly take their losses and go home.
The Michigan game is a huge opportunity.
The Buffs can get national attention for the best reasons, or they can go in with eyes wide and just happy to be there. How they play will be a statement for good or bad.
The current Buffs (and few teams ever did) do not have the firepower of the 1994 Buffs team that pulled off the Miracle at Michigan. They could not and will not win on a dramatic Hail Mary pass that covers more than 70 yards to end the game.
What the current Buffs do have is a team that can play with anyone in the country. Can they beat Michigan in Ann Arbor? It's a difficult task even for very good teams. But, yes, they can win the game if they play smart, hard-nosed defense and the offense can put enough points on the board to stay in the game.
Neither Michigan nor their fans, however, believe the Buffs have a chance. Most of them aren't even giving CU a second thought. Big 10 games start next week for them, and that's what they are focused on.
Former Buff Coach Bill McCartney will return to Michigan for the game. He is the coach that recruited Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to MU way back when he was the defensive coordinator for Bo Schembechler. It will be a coming home party for Bill Mac.
Colorado will not get a better opportunity to surprise people this year. The question is whether the Buffs will take advantage of that opportunity and hold a party of their own.
Go Buffs!
Dear Rick George, Colorado Athletic Director:
First, I want to congratulate you for the stellar performance you have put in since coming home to Boulder to take the reins as Athletic Director. Colorado Athletics have not been in such good hands since Bill Marolt. The facilities improvements are nothing short of phenomenal and are truly world class.
While most every CU fan has been reveling in the big blowout of Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, I want to point out that there are serious issues simmering below the euphoria.
Head Coach Mike MacIntyre has done a good job of rebuilding a moribund program. Although the number of wins, especially in conference play, have not met expectations, the Buffs have been getting better since Mac took over.
The problem I see, is that Mac is supposed to be looking out for the long term health and growth of the program. That means that every position on the team needs to have competent and well trained backups. It also means that the coaches need to protect the health of their players.
For the most part, the Buffs have done that. The glaring exception is the most important player on the team -- the quarterback. Since senior captain Sefo Liufau became the starter his freshman year, the Buffs and Liufau have steadfastly REFUSED to give any meaningful reps to the backup quarterbacks.
What has been the result? When Sefo has gone down to injury, whoever was thrown into the games was in reality being thrown to the wolves.
In 2014, Jordan Gehrke got to start at #3 Oregon in the penultimate game of the season. As Sefo's primary backup in 2014, he attempted a grand total of 44 passes on the season. In 2015, he attempted 24 passes.
The 2015 main backup, Cade Apsay, attempted 92 passes for the season. All but 9 of those passes were attempted AFTER Liufau went down with a Lisfranc injury against USC. That means the primary backup was thrown to the wolves (Trojans, Cougars and Utes) with only 9 passes under his belt as quarterback. Needless to say, the Buffs lost all three games to end the season.
Early in the season, Liufau went the ENTIRE game against Massachusetts even though the Buffs won handily 48-14. The game was a PERFECT opportunity to play the backup (coming off a redshirt year) to get him some reps so that he would be more comfortable with the speed of the college game.
Mac and Liufau preferred to pad Liufau's stats instead of preparing the Buffs for playing with another quarterback. Against Nicholls State, Apsay got to throw 6 passes in the Buffs 48-0 victory.
Is it any wonder that neither the Gehrke nor Apsay were prepared when their numbers were called?
This year, the Buffs had their biggest winning margin over CSU in 60 years, 44-7. How many passes did backup Steven Montez get? ZERO. Even though Liufau got knocked goofy at the end of the third quarter running and diving (instead of the protected QB slide), Montez only came in with a couple minutes left, where he proceeded to hand-off to true freshman Beau Bisharat four times before time expired.
EVERYBODY knew that Sefo Liufau should have been out of the game (the announcers, the sportswriters, every fan commenting on web sites) but Mac kowtowed once again when Sefo had a tizzy fit on the sideline and threw his helmet when the medical staff wanted to keep him out of the game whose victory had long been determined.
After the game against Idaho State, the Buffs head into a brutal schedule that includes games on the road against Michigan, Oregon, USC and Stanford. These are not the teams you want to play against with a backup QB with NO MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE.
If the Buffs and MacIntyre (and Liufau) hold form against Idaho State, Montez will get a handful of plays in a big win, playing only with the 2nd and 3rd string. They will head into the meat of their schedule with Sefo and no experience behind him.
Does Mac even realize that Sefo graduates this year? Does Sefo care about the Buffs nearly as much as his own stats and insistence on playing every down? If the Buffs make it to a bowl game this year, chances are that a backup QB will be called upon to save their butts if and when Sefo gets dinged up.
If the Buffs don't make it to a bowl game, chances are that MacIntyre will be looking for new employment, and Liufau will go down as the most losing quarterback in Colorado and Pac-12 history. Yes, football is a team sport and the quarterback is just a small part... but it is the most important part.
BUT... with the glory comes the blame when you fail to win when you are a QB or a head coach. Rewriting the record books doesn't mean anything if you can't win enough games.
It seems kind of fitting that many of the records that Liufau (under MacIntyre) has broken were set by Cody Hawkins, the son of former CU coach Dan Hawkins. Cody and Sefo are all over the record books, but no one with any knowledge of CU football history would have either of them anywhere near the top half dozen quarterback since the first Coach Mac (Bill McCartney) roamed the sidelines. And it hasn't been that long (34 years).
Mr. George, it is time that you let MacIntyre know that the best thing for Colorado is to prepare a backup QB so that he is ready when called upon. Even if Sefo stays healthy this year, he is gone after this season.
The Colorado Buffaloes need to prepare for a team without Sefo, and possibly, without Mike MacIntyre. The Buffs will go on without them, but next year (and maybe this year) will look a whole lot more promising with a well-prepared backup.
That is why I would suggest that both MacIntyre and Sefo Liufau sit out the first half against Idaho State. The Pac-12 has a history of eating up QB's who are thrown to the wolves.
As head coach, MacIntyre gets paid a lot of money to watch out for the entire team. As QB and a multi-year captain, Sefo Liufau needs to think about the entire team first instead of his own stats. A good message to both of them would be to have them sit out the first half against Idaho State.
The Buffs are in NO DANGER of losing no matter who plays QB. Therefore, let Montez play with the first string, and get a chance to work on his timing with the fast guys. He'll also be playing against the first string (An FCS first string, for sure, but better than FCS 3rd stringers). And no matter how well Montez plays against Idaho State, the speed at which the Trojans, Duck, Wolverines, and the Palo Alto Trees play will be eye opening if he is forced to play. Sort of like being fed to the wolves
Not much chance Mac and Sefo sitting out will happen, I realize, but I am waiting with bated breath for the other shoe to drop when the Buffs actually need a backup QB to win a game. I am quite sure there are coaches on the CU staff (other than Mac and Lindgren) who think the backup QB's should be prepared.
As always, GO BUFFS!
Mark Rubi
Boulderdevil
You have to go all the way back to October 13, 1956 to find a game between Colorado and Colorado State in which the winning margin was as large as the one the Buffaloes walked away with tonight. By a final score of 44-7, the Buffs hammered the Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown and most likely put the final nails in the coffin of CSU's delusional fantasy of being invited to join the Big 12 conference.
To add insult to injury for the Lambies from Fort Collins, there's nothing quite like being embarrassed on national television by an in-state rival who walked away from the Big 12 for the more exclusive and academically inclined Pac-12. The Rams can be certain that the Big 12 Poobahs were none-too-impressed.
The defense put together by Jim Leavitt and his staff more than lived up to expectations from the outset. The Rams first six possessions all went three and out. By the end of the first quarter, the Rams had run 18 plays for a total of 16 yards, while the Buffs had more points than the Rams had offensive plays.
Long before the first half was over, the Rams knew they were in for their worst loss to Colorado in 60 years. By the third quarter, the coaches and players from the Fort were just hoping to score a point and not be further embarrassed by ending the game with a goose-egg on the scoreboard.
More posts to come as stats and interviews become available.
There are reasons to be very optimistic about the University of Colorado football team this year:
The defense was vastly improved last year even though defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt and Joe Tumpkin did not join the Buffs until right before spring training. With a full year to evaluate talent and gear their defense to take best advantage of the Buffs' skill-set, L+T have put together the Buffs best defensive unit in a decade.
Making the job easier for the defensive gurus is the return of three key components. Man-mountain nose tackle Josh Tupou (6-3, 32 lbs) returns from suspension and will be a force to be reckoned with anchoring the defensive front. At linebacker, the return of Addison Gillam should be a huge factor. Coaches and fans are hoping that Gillam has recovered enough to return to his Freshman All-American form. And in the defensive backfield, tackling machine Ryan Moeller is starting at free safety after missing most of last season due to injuries received in a scary moped accident. Their collective impacts should be immense.
Returning offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren has rightfully taken a lot of heat over the last three years for the Buffs' inability to find an offensive identity other than being wholly predictable in their play calling. But head coach Mike MacIntyre came to the rescue and hired fireball Darrin Chiaverini as co-offensive coordinator. Lindgren's quiet and cerebral yin and Chiaverini's innovative and emotionally fire-charged yang have come together to give the Buffs something that has been missing for many years.
On the strength and conditioning front, Mac made a home-run hire in Drew Wilson following last season. Wilson combines the intellectual knowledge of the old S&C coach, with leadership and motivation that had long been missing from the program. The players rave about Lewis and what he has brought to the Buffs.
And, finally, after months and months of rehab following his devastating Lisfranc foot fracture, QB Sefo Liufau is back in the saddle and ready to go for the season. One of the good things to come out of the rehab was that Liufau's ongoing shoulder injury that had hampered him for more than a year is now also completely healed. He's also lost weight while gaining strength and coaches and players alike rave about how much more zip the QB seems to have on the ball. Playing without pain for the first time in several years, Liufau is looking to lead the Buffs to their first bowl game since 2007.
Yes, there are reasons to be very optimistic about the University of Colorado football team this year. If all goes accordingly, the Buffs should put a beating on Colorado State to open the season in a manner that hasn't been seen since 2001, when the Buffs handed the Rams a 41-14 loss.
