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!
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