Following an opening game loss on the road to #20 Baylor, the Colorado Buffaloes basketball team has taken four straight games at home to bring their record to 4-1. Colorado defeated Arkansas State 93-70 at the Coors Events Center Monday night. The Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara visit Boulder this Thursday.
Coach Tad Boyle knew he had a talented but young team coming into the season, and after five games he has four players averaging double figures in scoring. Sophomore Josh Scott leads the team at 14.6 points per game, followed by Spencer Dinwiddie (Jr.) at 12.4, Xavier Johnson (So.) at 11.0, and Askia Booker (Jr.) at 10.4 points per contest. Just below double figures is redshirt freshman Wesley Gordon at 9.4 ppg.
The 93 points scored by the Buffaloes against Arkansas State represented the third time in four games that CU has scored more than 90 points in a game. During the entire 2012-13 season, the Buffs scored more than 90 points only one time. For the season, the Buffs are averaging 80.2 points per game while only giving up 67. The 80.2 points per game represents an almost 13 point increase from last year.
The Buffaloes have collectively made up for the loss of Andre Roberson, one of the top rebounders in the country the last several years. A first round NBA draft pick, Roberson left Colorado following his junior year. The Buffs are averaging 39.6 boards this season, which is an additional 2.4 rebounds per game over last year.
Showing posts with label CU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CU. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Colorado Special Teams Coach Toby Neinas Continues Turn Around for Buffs after Rough Start to Season
During the two big wins to open the season, the most glaring problem on Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffs team was the returns given up by the special teams units. When Mac came aboard to become head coach at CU, he brought with him Toby Neinas as Special Teams Coordinator.
Most Buff fans were very excited to have a coach devoted solely to special teams, since Colorado's special teams were not very special over the last several years. Two games into the season, many of the Buff faithful were loudly questioning the hire. That included this writer.
In the first game against Colorado State, the Buffs gave up an average of 38.4 yards on five kickoffs. Included in that was a touchdown return. On punt returns, Colorado allowed the Rams to average 23 yards on 4 returns. The punt return team also gave up a touchdown.
The numbers put up by the CU returners were much more pedestrian. They had 19 yards on one kickoff return (for an average less than half of CSU), and averaged only 8.5 on four punt returns (barely more than a third as many as CSU).
In game two against Central Arkansas, the kickoff return numbers continued to be bad. The Bears averaged 32 yards per on 4 returns. The Buffs, on the other hand, averaged barely more than half that at 17.3 on 3 returns. The Bears had only 1 punt return for 10 yards and CU had no punt returns.
After two games, the yards given up on returns by the Buffs were among the worst in the country. Everyone questioned whether the Buffs could return to respectability if their special teams were so bad.
Then came the floods and the extended break before Pac-12 play. After three straight lopsided defeats, the focus on what problems the Buffs were having were directed elsewhere. One of the reasons was that the CU special teams were starting to put up respectable numbers.
First came Oregon State. The Beavers had one kickoff return for 27 yards while the Buffs averaged 24.2 on 4 returns. The Buffs gave up only 8 total yards on 2 punt returns.
During the Oregon game, the Ducks only averaged 2 yards each on 2 kickoff returns, while the Buffs averaged 26.9 on 7 returns. Oregon lost 3 yards on their only punt return, while CU got 5 on their only punt return.
At Tempe, the Buffs faced an Arizona State team that was one of the best in country on returns. The Buffs stood up to the challenge. The Sun Devils only averaged 17.5 yards on 2 kickoff returns, and 10.3 yards on 3 punt returns. The Buffs averaged 19.4 on 5 kickoff returns, and had no punts returned.
Against Charleston-Southern, the Buffs averaged 26 yards on 2 kickoff returns compared to only 14.5 on two returns for the Bucs. In the punting game, CU had 2 returns for 4 yards a CS had no punt returns.
Six games into the season and the Buffs have become respectable on their special teams. After the first two games, the Buffs were giving up more than 35 yards per kickoff return, while averaging about half that for themselves.
After 6 games, however, the numbers are much more presentable. The average for CU opponents for kickoff returns is down to an average of 25.9 yards, the Buffs average has jumped up to 23 yards per return. A difference of 17.5 yards per return has now been reduced to less than 3.
Punt returns by Buff opponents has dropped from 23 in the first game to 12.5 for the season. The Buffs still only average half that at 6.2 per punt return, but it is a lot better than it was early in the season.
The CU running game finally got itself unleashed in the last game and scored 5 touchdowns and more had 218 yards rushing. If the special teams can continue to improve like they have over the last 3-4 weeks, it is only a matter of time before a Buff returner breaks a big one. As of right now, the Buffs special teams continue to become more special and Toby Neinas can hold his head high.
Most Buff fans were very excited to have a coach devoted solely to special teams, since Colorado's special teams were not very special over the last several years. Two games into the season, many of the Buff faithful were loudly questioning the hire. That included this writer.
In the first game against Colorado State, the Buffs gave up an average of 38.4 yards on five kickoffs. Included in that was a touchdown return. On punt returns, Colorado allowed the Rams to average 23 yards on 4 returns. The punt return team also gave up a touchdown.
The numbers put up by the CU returners were much more pedestrian. They had 19 yards on one kickoff return (for an average less than half of CSU), and averaged only 8.5 on four punt returns (barely more than a third as many as CSU).
In game two against Central Arkansas, the kickoff return numbers continued to be bad. The Bears averaged 32 yards per on 4 returns. The Buffs, on the other hand, averaged barely more than half that at 17.3 on 3 returns. The Bears had only 1 punt return for 10 yards and CU had no punt returns.
After two games, the yards given up on returns by the Buffs were among the worst in the country. Everyone questioned whether the Buffs could return to respectability if their special teams were so bad.
Then came the floods and the extended break before Pac-12 play. After three straight lopsided defeats, the focus on what problems the Buffs were having were directed elsewhere. One of the reasons was that the CU special teams were starting to put up respectable numbers.
First came Oregon State. The Beavers had one kickoff return for 27 yards while the Buffs averaged 24.2 on 4 returns. The Buffs gave up only 8 total yards on 2 punt returns.
During the Oregon game, the Ducks only averaged 2 yards each on 2 kickoff returns, while the Buffs averaged 26.9 on 7 returns. Oregon lost 3 yards on their only punt return, while CU got 5 on their only punt return.
At Tempe, the Buffs faced an Arizona State team that was one of the best in country on returns. The Buffs stood up to the challenge. The Sun Devils only averaged 17.5 yards on 2 kickoff returns, and 10.3 yards on 3 punt returns. The Buffs averaged 19.4 on 5 kickoff returns, and had no punts returned.
Against Charleston-Southern, the Buffs averaged 26 yards on 2 kickoff returns compared to only 14.5 on two returns for the Bucs. In the punting game, CU had 2 returns for 4 yards a CS had no punt returns.
Six games into the season and the Buffs have become respectable on their special teams. After the first two games, the Buffs were giving up more than 35 yards per kickoff return, while averaging about half that for themselves.
After 6 games, however, the numbers are much more presentable. The average for CU opponents for kickoff returns is down to an average of 25.9 yards, the Buffs average has jumped up to 23 yards per return. A difference of 17.5 yards per return has now been reduced to less than 3.
Punt returns by Buff opponents has dropped from 23 in the first game to 12.5 for the season. The Buffs still only average half that at 6.2 per punt return, but it is a lot better than it was early in the season.
The CU running game finally got itself unleashed in the last game and scored 5 touchdowns and more had 218 yards rushing. If the special teams can continue to improve like they have over the last 3-4 weeks, it is only a matter of time before a Buff returner breaks a big one. As of right now, the Buffs special teams continue to become more special and Toby Neinas can hold his head high.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
CU Buffs Hope to Slow Down All-American Carey and the Arizona Wildcats
Six games into the 2013 season, and the Colorado Buffaloes football team is 3-3. Back in the glory days, a .500 record halfway through the season would be cause for alarm. Following the 2012 team which went 1-11 (and generally regarded as the worst team in Colorado history), most serious Buff fans are convinced that the football program is heading in the right direction under new head coach Mike MacIntyre.
Unlike last year, the Buffs are finally winning the games that they are "supposed" to win. After three conference losses by wide margins this year (and 8 games last year), the next thing on the agenda of both coaches and players is to be competitive within the conference. The Buffs have lost their last 11 conference games by an average of more than 35 points (as in FIVE touchdowns).
To be fair, the Buffs only lost at home to Utah last year by 7 points, but that just goes to show how bad the other losses were. Two of the losses this year were by 41 points, and the other by "only" 28.
There is a bright side however. The Buffs have played the Pac-12's three strongest offensive teams to start conference play. And the shocking numbers put up on the Buffs during those games have been quite similar to the numbers put up by those teams against teams other than Colorado.
Oregon is averaging 55 points a game in conference play. Oregon State is averaging 48 points. And Arizona State is averaging 49, which includes scoring 62 against USC.
The Buffs next opponent is the University of Arizona. They bring a conference record of 1-2 to Boulder on Saturday. They average just over 26 points per game within the Pac-12. Their passing game ranks only 111th in the country, but their offense does feature All-American running back Ka'Deem Carey. Last season, Carey ran for 1926 yards and 23 touchdowns (including a Pac-12 record of 366 yards and five touchdowns against Colorado).
After last year's 56-31 thrashing in Tucson, the Buffs will look to shut down (or at least contain) Carey and earn their first conference win of the season. To do so, the Buffs will have to force Arizona QB B.J. Denker to do the damage instead of Carey.
On offense, the Buffs must continue on the pace set by new quarterback Sefo Liufau. To win, Liufau must continue to complete nearly 70% of his passes and convert 50% of CU's third downs. Overall, for the Buffs to have a chance they must also win the turnover game, limit dumb penalties, and not be done in by "home run" touchdowns by the Wildcats.
To become a bigger threat on offense, the Buffs and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren must become much less predictable when passing the football. As will be detailed in the next post, the Buff's passing game has made it very easy for opposing defensive coordinators by focusing the vast majority of their passes into two nine yard wide pockets on either side of the field, and leaving the middle 35 yards of the field relatively free of flying footballs.
If the Buffs can play some good run defense and throw the pigskin somewhere besides the sidelines, Colorado has a chance to rack up their first conference win of the season. If they cannot stop the run, and continue to throw in the same manner, another big conference loss is on the horizon.
Unlike last year, the Buffs are finally winning the games that they are "supposed" to win. After three conference losses by wide margins this year (and 8 games last year), the next thing on the agenda of both coaches and players is to be competitive within the conference. The Buffs have lost their last 11 conference games by an average of more than 35 points (as in FIVE touchdowns).
To be fair, the Buffs only lost at home to Utah last year by 7 points, but that just goes to show how bad the other losses were. Two of the losses this year were by 41 points, and the other by "only" 28.
There is a bright side however. The Buffs have played the Pac-12's three strongest offensive teams to start conference play. And the shocking numbers put up on the Buffs during those games have been quite similar to the numbers put up by those teams against teams other than Colorado.
Oregon is averaging 55 points a game in conference play. Oregon State is averaging 48 points. And Arizona State is averaging 49, which includes scoring 62 against USC.
The Buffs next opponent is the University of Arizona. They bring a conference record of 1-2 to Boulder on Saturday. They average just over 26 points per game within the Pac-12. Their passing game ranks only 111th in the country, but their offense does feature All-American running back Ka'Deem Carey. Last season, Carey ran for 1926 yards and 23 touchdowns (including a Pac-12 record of 366 yards and five touchdowns against Colorado).
After last year's 56-31 thrashing in Tucson, the Buffs will look to shut down (or at least contain) Carey and earn their first conference win of the season. To do so, the Buffs will have to force Arizona QB B.J. Denker to do the damage instead of Carey.
On offense, the Buffs must continue on the pace set by new quarterback Sefo Liufau. To win, Liufau must continue to complete nearly 70% of his passes and convert 50% of CU's third downs. Overall, for the Buffs to have a chance they must also win the turnover game, limit dumb penalties, and not be done in by "home run" touchdowns by the Wildcats.
To become a bigger threat on offense, the Buffs and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren must become much less predictable when passing the football. As will be detailed in the next post, the Buff's passing game has made it very easy for opposing defensive coordinators by focusing the vast majority of their passes into two nine yard wide pockets on either side of the field, and leaving the middle 35 yards of the field relatively free of flying footballs.
If the Buffs can play some good run defense and throw the pigskin somewhere besides the sidelines, Colorado has a chance to rack up their first conference win of the season. If they cannot stop the run, and continue to throw in the same manner, another big conference loss is on the horizon.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Could Jordan Webb be the Key to Third Downs for the Colorado Buffaloes?
Colorado Buff Connor Wood's passing is an absolute beast to contend with... as long as it's first down. Not quite so much on second down. But the real problem surfaces on third downs, where the problem is that it's either move the chains or get rid of the ball (punt, FG attempt, or go for it on 4th down).
During the first two games of the season, the CU Buffs were clicking along by converting 40% of their 3rd downs into first down. The result? Two wins. The last two games have been quite different. The Buffs have converted only two out of thirty (6-7%) of their third downs, and the Buffs have been blown out twice.
Those still clinging to the idea that the Buffs might make it to a bowl game at the end of THIS year should consider that Jordan Webb is now healthy again and is now likely the backup to Connor Wood (mostly to save the redshirt for Sefo Liufau), according to head coach Mike MacIntyre.
What does Jordan Webb offer? Mostly this: He has started or played major minutes in 31 college games at the FBS level. He has seen a lot of third downs, a lot of different defenses, and he's a gamer. He gives it his all every snap from the beginning to the end of each game. And he's seen just about everything that defenses from the Big 12 and Pac-12 have to offer.
Many Buff fans are horrified by the idea of Webb taking any more snaps at Colorado. Why? Because he was unfortunate enough to be the starting quarterback under the worst coaching staff in the country the last two years. It was not Webb's fault that the Buff D under Brown and Embree was the worst in the country. And it was not Webb's fault that OC Eric Bieniemy was a horrible play caller who had trouble even getting plays into his team with more than 6-7 seconds left on the clock.
But many so-called Buff fans continue to blame Jordan Webb for the lack of prowess by his coaches. Give him a break. Under the right play calling and a hurry up offense, Webb gives CU a much tougher scheme to defend, especially on third down. He is quicker than Wood if running becomes necessary, but more importantly, he has a softer touch on his short to medium passes. And this will allow the Buffs to move the chains.
No one is suggesting that Connor Wood be replaced as the starter, but it seems that using Webb on occasion for third and short (5 yards or less) would give opposing defenses fits because he is such a different type of player than Wood. If Connor and the rest of team are committed to winning above all (and I think they are) then strategic use of Jordan Webb would give Colorado their best chance at winning six games and making themselves bowl eligible this year.
Maybe I'm alone, but it seems the Buffs should use whatever assets are at their disposal in order to win. Using Jordan Webb on third downs once in a while (or more often if it works well) gives the Buffs a better chance to win than simply sticking with a young QB with only 4 real games under his belt.
Connor's arm makes him a threat to hit the long ball, for sure, but his greatest success by far has been on first down. Allow him to grow and learn from someone with lots and lots of experience. And allow him to learn in a winning environment. It's a lot easier to learn and remember your lessons after you get to sing your fight song in victory after the game.
Go Buffs!
During the first two games of the season, the CU Buffs were clicking along by converting 40% of their 3rd downs into first down. The result? Two wins. The last two games have been quite different. The Buffs have converted only two out of thirty (6-7%) of their third downs, and the Buffs have been blown out twice.
Those still clinging to the idea that the Buffs might make it to a bowl game at the end of THIS year should consider that Jordan Webb is now healthy again and is now likely the backup to Connor Wood (mostly to save the redshirt for Sefo Liufau), according to head coach Mike MacIntyre.
What does Jordan Webb offer? Mostly this: He has started or played major minutes in 31 college games at the FBS level. He has seen a lot of third downs, a lot of different defenses, and he's a gamer. He gives it his all every snap from the beginning to the end of each game. And he's seen just about everything that defenses from the Big 12 and Pac-12 have to offer.
Many Buff fans are horrified by the idea of Webb taking any more snaps at Colorado. Why? Because he was unfortunate enough to be the starting quarterback under the worst coaching staff in the country the last two years. It was not Webb's fault that the Buff D under Brown and Embree was the worst in the country. And it was not Webb's fault that OC Eric Bieniemy was a horrible play caller who had trouble even getting plays into his team with more than 6-7 seconds left on the clock.
But many so-called Buff fans continue to blame Jordan Webb for the lack of prowess by his coaches. Give him a break. Under the right play calling and a hurry up offense, Webb gives CU a much tougher scheme to defend, especially on third down. He is quicker than Wood if running becomes necessary, but more importantly, he has a softer touch on his short to medium passes. And this will allow the Buffs to move the chains.
No one is suggesting that Connor Wood be replaced as the starter, but it seems that using Webb on occasion for third and short (5 yards or less) would give opposing defenses fits because he is such a different type of player than Wood. If Connor and the rest of team are committed to winning above all (and I think they are) then strategic use of Jordan Webb would give Colorado their best chance at winning six games and making themselves bowl eligible this year.
Maybe I'm alone, but it seems the Buffs should use whatever assets are at their disposal in order to win. Using Jordan Webb on third downs once in a while (or more often if it works well) gives the Buffs a better chance to win than simply sticking with a young QB with only 4 real games under his belt.
Connor's arm makes him a threat to hit the long ball, for sure, but his greatest success by far has been on first down. Allow him to grow and learn from someone with lots and lots of experience. And allow him to learn in a winning environment. It's a lot easier to learn and remember your lessons after you get to sing your fight song in victory after the game.
Go Buffs!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Lessons From Boulder for Mark Helfrich, Marcus Mariota, and the Oregon Ducks
This is an open letter to Mark Helfrich and the Oregon Ducks.
Dear Mark and your Oregon Ducks,
It was wonderful to see you in Boulder against our Colorado Buffaloes this past Saturday. Half of the teams that play each Saturday have one thing in common, a loss. Most Buff fans knew going in that the chance of a Buff victory was small. We all knew, however, that we would get to see one of the very best teams in the nation play here in Boulder. That was a thrill. It gives us something to aspire to.
Your team, especially quarterback Marcus Mariota, lived up to the wonderful billing. Your team speed is phenomenal. Your Ducks truly have the opportunity to score on darn near every play. The excitement of watching how the Ducks play is revolutionizing the game of college football. Nearly halfway through the season, Mariota must be considered the most feared player in the country and the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
That's what all the pundits are saying, so it must be true. Right?
The advice here is to try not to get caught up in the hype and focus on some problems that most followers are blissfully unaware of or choose to ignore. Right now, watching Oregon play football is like being exposed to the lights of Las Vegas for the very first time. It is stunning and spectacular, for sure, but the fact is that the spectacle only masks some problems. And good coaches down the line will make sure to unmask those problems unless you address them soon.
Before moving into the issues, I want to make it perfectly clear that I would LOVE it if Oregon or any other Pac-12 school would run the table and stake claim to the national championship. For that to happen, though, these issues must be addressed before you take on a defense of the caliber of say, Alabama or Stanford.
Issue One:
Methinks that David Shaw and Nick Saban and any other coaches of top defensive teams will make sure to harp on the fact that many of the so-called "late pitches" toward the sidelines executed by Oregon QB's are in fact illegal forward passes. They "look great" but a quick look at the video shows that the ball is often moving forward. That's certainly OK when the move is done from behind the line of scrimmage... but it becomes an illegal forward pass when done after the QB crosses that scrimmage line. Once opposing coaches start harping on this tendency by Oregon, the refs will start looking for it.
Issue Two:
Mariota has seemed remarkably poised when in the pocket. He should have been, because so far he has known that his receivers were much faster than their defenders and that invariably they would break into a wide open space into which he could throw. The problem is that Mariota has come to depend on the "idea" that his guy will break into the open and not be covered. He is so sure of this happening that he tends to focus on only one receiver and stares at them until they break clear. He does not move his focus from target to target. He does not even bounce. He tends to stand perfectly still watching one guy and waiting for him to become open before throwing the ball. That works great when your team is clearly stronger, but does not work well when playing a team of similar skill. If Oregon wants to win a national championship, Helfrich better have Mariota work on his skills of cycling through his receivers, or savvy safeties with great speed will be putting some serious hits on Duck wideouts, or worse yet, get to the ball before the Ducks do.
Compared to the issues faced by most teams, these two things seem trivial by comparison. However, they CAN and WILL make a difference if Oregon wants to take the national title back home to Eugene. They really do have to be addressed, and it is certainly easier to work on these issues when you have the talent overwhelm your opponent. If you wait until a game is on the line to address them, you run the risk of failing to achieve your objective.
And if Marcus Mariota wants to take his performance and skills to an NFL championship level in the future, it would be better to work on these things now. Just look at Tim Tebow. He won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy, but that did not make his skills good enough to succeed at the professional level.
Like Tebow at Florida, Mariota is surrounded with exceptional talent. It may or may not be enough to win the the NCAA's biggest prizes. But winning those prizes does not make one a sure fire NFL star. And it is not just Tebow, because a lot of QB's have won the Heisman over the last 20 years or so and then went on to mediocre or non-existent NFL careers. Look 'em up.
Dear Mark and your Oregon Ducks,
It was wonderful to see you in Boulder against our Colorado Buffaloes this past Saturday. Half of the teams that play each Saturday have one thing in common, a loss. Most Buff fans knew going in that the chance of a Buff victory was small. We all knew, however, that we would get to see one of the very best teams in the nation play here in Boulder. That was a thrill. It gives us something to aspire to.
Your team, especially quarterback Marcus Mariota, lived up to the wonderful billing. Your team speed is phenomenal. Your Ducks truly have the opportunity to score on darn near every play. The excitement of watching how the Ducks play is revolutionizing the game of college football. Nearly halfway through the season, Mariota must be considered the most feared player in the country and the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
That's what all the pundits are saying, so it must be true. Right?
The advice here is to try not to get caught up in the hype and focus on some problems that most followers are blissfully unaware of or choose to ignore. Right now, watching Oregon play football is like being exposed to the lights of Las Vegas for the very first time. It is stunning and spectacular, for sure, but the fact is that the spectacle only masks some problems. And good coaches down the line will make sure to unmask those problems unless you address them soon.
Before moving into the issues, I want to make it perfectly clear that I would LOVE it if Oregon or any other Pac-12 school would run the table and stake claim to the national championship. For that to happen, though, these issues must be addressed before you take on a defense of the caliber of say, Alabama or Stanford.
Issue One:
Methinks that David Shaw and Nick Saban and any other coaches of top defensive teams will make sure to harp on the fact that many of the so-called "late pitches" toward the sidelines executed by Oregon QB's are in fact illegal forward passes. They "look great" but a quick look at the video shows that the ball is often moving forward. That's certainly OK when the move is done from behind the line of scrimmage... but it becomes an illegal forward pass when done after the QB crosses that scrimmage line. Once opposing coaches start harping on this tendency by Oregon, the refs will start looking for it.
Issue Two:
Mariota has seemed remarkably poised when in the pocket. He should have been, because so far he has known that his receivers were much faster than their defenders and that invariably they would break into a wide open space into which he could throw. The problem is that Mariota has come to depend on the "idea" that his guy will break into the open and not be covered. He is so sure of this happening that he tends to focus on only one receiver and stares at them until they break clear. He does not move his focus from target to target. He does not even bounce. He tends to stand perfectly still watching one guy and waiting for him to become open before throwing the ball. That works great when your team is clearly stronger, but does not work well when playing a team of similar skill. If Oregon wants to win a national championship, Helfrich better have Mariota work on his skills of cycling through his receivers, or savvy safeties with great speed will be putting some serious hits on Duck wideouts, or worse yet, get to the ball before the Ducks do.
Compared to the issues faced by most teams, these two things seem trivial by comparison. However, they CAN and WILL make a difference if Oregon wants to take the national title back home to Eugene. They really do have to be addressed, and it is certainly easier to work on these issues when you have the talent overwhelm your opponent. If you wait until a game is on the line to address them, you run the risk of failing to achieve your objective.
And if Marcus Mariota wants to take his performance and skills to an NFL championship level in the future, it would be better to work on these things now. Just look at Tim Tebow. He won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy, but that did not make his skills good enough to succeed at the professional level.
Like Tebow at Florida, Mariota is surrounded with exceptional talent. It may or may not be enough to win the the NCAA's biggest prizes. But winning those prizes does not make one a sure fire NFL star. And it is not just Tebow, because a lot of QB's have won the Heisman over the last 20 years or so and then went on to mediocre or non-existent NFL careers. Look 'em up.
- Gino Torretta
- Charlie Ward
- Danny Wuerffel
- Chris Weinke
- Eric Crouch
- Jason White
- Troy Smith
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Flooding in Boulder Threatens Football Game Against Fresno State
It's just a game. That is quickly becoming the mantra regarding the University of Colorado Buffaloes football game scheduled for Saturday against the Fresno State Bulldogs. CU is closed today while officials evaluate damage to the campus that has affected nearly every building. There has been flooding in dorms and some 500 people living in family housing on campus have been evacuated. The City and County of Boulder are on Emergency Alert.
Sometimes it takes the wrath of Mother Nature to remind us that the things we do for entertainment pale in comparison to real world issues, especially when they slap us in the face. More than 10 inches of rain have fallen on Boulder and the University of Colorado over the last several days, including an estimated 6-8 inches overnight. On top of that, the rain continues and is expected to drop several more inches today and tomorrow.
The damage inflicted by the massive storm has not been limited to Boulder. Much of Eastern Colorado has felt its wrath. Lyons to the North of Boulder is effectively an island, with every road in and out closed by floodwaters, debris and washed out roads. In the mountain towns just west of Boulder, waters have washed away buildings and homes. So far, at least two deaths have been attributed to the 100 year-storm. With the light of day, the true extent of the damage is becoming evident.
The CU Buffs football team is 2-0 for the first time in 5 years, and after the nightmare 2012 season in which they went 1-11, the players have been fired up to play a Bulldog team which completely destroyed them last season by a score of 69-14. This CU team has improved greatly since last year, and the team has been anxious to show that improvement against a FSU team which is ranked #27 in the country.
All the desires and plans for the game by the players and head coach Mike MacIntyre and his staff might have to redirected toward helping CU and Boulder recover from the worst rains Boulder has ever experienced. The amount of precipitation Boulder and CU have received in the last 72 hours is roughly the same as they would normally get in an entire year (around 16 inches). Forecasts call for several more inches in the next 48 hours. It could be less than that, but it could also be much more.
There have been no official statements from CU about the status of the game that is scheduled for kickoff shortly after noon on Saturday. This does not mean that the officials do not think it is important, it just means they have more important things to worry about right now. Not just the condition of the buildings on campus, but more importantly, the safety of the students and staff at the state's flagship university.
More and more, even the question about whether to play is met with incredulous stares. This is just as it should be. After all, it IS just a game.
Sometimes it takes the wrath of Mother Nature to remind us that the things we do for entertainment pale in comparison to real world issues, especially when they slap us in the face. More than 10 inches of rain have fallen on Boulder and the University of Colorado over the last several days, including an estimated 6-8 inches overnight. On top of that, the rain continues and is expected to drop several more inches today and tomorrow.
The damage inflicted by the massive storm has not been limited to Boulder. Much of Eastern Colorado has felt its wrath. Lyons to the North of Boulder is effectively an island, with every road in and out closed by floodwaters, debris and washed out roads. In the mountain towns just west of Boulder, waters have washed away buildings and homes. So far, at least two deaths have been attributed to the 100 year-storm. With the light of day, the true extent of the damage is becoming evident.
The CU Buffs football team is 2-0 for the first time in 5 years, and after the nightmare 2012 season in which they went 1-11, the players have been fired up to play a Bulldog team which completely destroyed them last season by a score of 69-14. This CU team has improved greatly since last year, and the team has been anxious to show that improvement against a FSU team which is ranked #27 in the country.
All the desires and plans for the game by the players and head coach Mike MacIntyre and his staff might have to redirected toward helping CU and Boulder recover from the worst rains Boulder has ever experienced. The amount of precipitation Boulder and CU have received in the last 72 hours is roughly the same as they would normally get in an entire year (around 16 inches). Forecasts call for several more inches in the next 48 hours. It could be less than that, but it could also be much more.
There have been no official statements from CU about the status of the game that is scheduled for kickoff shortly after noon on Saturday. This does not mean that the officials do not think it is important, it just means they have more important things to worry about right now. Not just the condition of the buildings on campus, but more importantly, the safety of the students and staff at the state's flagship university.
More and more, even the question about whether to play is met with incredulous stares. This is just as it should be. After all, it IS just a game.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Pac-12 Football: Colorado's Road to Respectability a Combination of Autobahn Speeds and Road Contruction Woes
After suffering through the worst year ever for Colorado Buffaloes football in 2012, perhaps it is still a bit too early to hope for an easy win. Easy or not, though, Mike MacIntyre's Buffs improved their season record to 2-0 after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to come back from a 7 point deficit to Central Arkansas. The final score at Folsom Field was 38-24.
Just about everyone conceded that the road to rebuilding Colorado Football by Mac and staff would have a fair share of bumps and detours. Two games in, that is certainly the case. The difference this year from prior years is that the Buffaloes do not fold when the going gets tough. On the contrary, to borrow a boxing term, when these Buffs get knocked to the canvas they get right back up and start swinging.
In both games, late heroics were enough to pull out victories. Colorado scored 18 points in the fourth quarter in game one against CSU, and bettered that with the 21 points in the final stanza against Central Arkansas. The 39 points scored by CU in the last quarter this year is near the top of the NCAA rankings. Last year, the Buffs scored an average of 17.8 points per GAME. This year, the Buffs are beating that by nearly two points in just the fourth QUARTER!
Overall, the Buffs are averaging 39 points per game. That puts CU at 33rd in the country in scoring. Last year, they were 120th! Paul Richardson is the #1 receiver in the country with 417 yards, 4 touchdown and 21 catches. Connor Wood is 7th in the country in passing, while last year the Buffs finished 99th in that category. While the Buffaloes are still looking for a breakout game on the ground, the passing game has more than made up for it so far this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the difference has been just as dramatic. Last year, the Buffs had just three interceptions the entire year. That was bad enough to have them ranked 122nd in the country. This year, they equaled that total in one game against Central Arkansas. Moreover, they returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns. After two games, the Buffs are tied for #2 in the country. Add the fumble recovery for a touchdown by Greg Henderson in game one, and the Buffs Defense is averaging 1.5 TD's per game.
Does that mean everything is going smoothly for the Buffs in 2013? Not by a long shot. The kickoff return coverage is so bad that Buffs are by far the worst in the country. Right now it is so bad that kicking the ball out of bounds on purpose to let the opponent start their series on the 35 yard line would be a significant improvement. As for punting, only the mad skills of All-American candidate Darragh O'Neill has kept the punt return stats from being as bad as the kickoff returns.
Strangely enough, other than on kick and punt returns, the overall tackling of these Buffs has been light years better than last year. Coach Mac and special teams coach Toby Neinas are working feverishly to rectify the situation. Neinas is no newbie in the profession, with more than 15 years on his resume. Chances are that some fine tuning on proper lane coverage will eventually lead CU back to respectability. If not that, Buff fans can hope that the team at least gets to the point the every kick does not lead to serious hand wringing.
Through two games in 2013, the Buffs road to respectability has been a combination of Autobahn speeds and road construction woes. So far, the improvements in offense and defense have allowed CU to win despite the setbacks on special teams and rushing. They are working hard, but they knew it wouldn't be clear sailing the entire way, not this early in the process.
This week the Buffs face a Fresno State team which decimated them last year by a score of a score of 69-14. It is obviously a major step up in competition. These Buffs are a drastic improvement over last year, most notably in their hearts and dedication. They may not beat this FS team which is close to joining the Top 25, but their hearts will be in it to the very end. They may take some damaging shots, and even find themselves on the canvas, but they will land some haymakers of their own. Indeed, count on them to start earning back the respect that disappeared last year in Fresno.
Just about everyone conceded that the road to rebuilding Colorado Football by Mac and staff would have a fair share of bumps and detours. Two games in, that is certainly the case. The difference this year from prior years is that the Buffaloes do not fold when the going gets tough. On the contrary, to borrow a boxing term, when these Buffs get knocked to the canvas they get right back up and start swinging.
In both games, late heroics were enough to pull out victories. Colorado scored 18 points in the fourth quarter in game one against CSU, and bettered that with the 21 points in the final stanza against Central Arkansas. The 39 points scored by CU in the last quarter this year is near the top of the NCAA rankings. Last year, the Buffs scored an average of 17.8 points per GAME. This year, the Buffs are beating that by nearly two points in just the fourth QUARTER!
Overall, the Buffs are averaging 39 points per game. That puts CU at 33rd in the country in scoring. Last year, they were 120th! Paul Richardson is the #1 receiver in the country with 417 yards, 4 touchdown and 21 catches. Connor Wood is 7th in the country in passing, while last year the Buffs finished 99th in that category. While the Buffaloes are still looking for a breakout game on the ground, the passing game has more than made up for it so far this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the difference has been just as dramatic. Last year, the Buffs had just three interceptions the entire year. That was bad enough to have them ranked 122nd in the country. This year, they equaled that total in one game against Central Arkansas. Moreover, they returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns. After two games, the Buffs are tied for #2 in the country. Add the fumble recovery for a touchdown by Greg Henderson in game one, and the Buffs Defense is averaging 1.5 TD's per game.
Does that mean everything is going smoothly for the Buffs in 2013? Not by a long shot. The kickoff return coverage is so bad that Buffs are by far the worst in the country. Right now it is so bad that kicking the ball out of bounds on purpose to let the opponent start their series on the 35 yard line would be a significant improvement. As for punting, only the mad skills of All-American candidate Darragh O'Neill has kept the punt return stats from being as bad as the kickoff returns.
Strangely enough, other than on kick and punt returns, the overall tackling of these Buffs has been light years better than last year. Coach Mac and special teams coach Toby Neinas are working feverishly to rectify the situation. Neinas is no newbie in the profession, with more than 15 years on his resume. Chances are that some fine tuning on proper lane coverage will eventually lead CU back to respectability. If not that, Buff fans can hope that the team at least gets to the point the every kick does not lead to serious hand wringing.
Through two games in 2013, the Buffs road to respectability has been a combination of Autobahn speeds and road construction woes. So far, the improvements in offense and defense have allowed CU to win despite the setbacks on special teams and rushing. They are working hard, but they knew it wouldn't be clear sailing the entire way, not this early in the process.
This week the Buffs face a Fresno State team which decimated them last year by a score of a score of 69-14. It is obviously a major step up in competition. These Buffs are a drastic improvement over last year, most notably in their hearts and dedication. They may not beat this FS team which is close to joining the Top 25, but their hearts will be in it to the very end. They may take some damaging shots, and even find themselves on the canvas, but they will land some haymakers of their own. Indeed, count on them to start earning back the respect that disappeared last year in Fresno.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
The Hunt Continues: Colorado Buffaloes Look to go Sugar Bear Hunting against Central Arkansas at Folsom Field
The HUNT for victories continues! Six days after successfully bringing down the CSU Rams in Denver for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, the Colorado Buffaloes and Head Coach Mike MacIntyre open their home season at Folsom Field looking to add a Central Arkansas Sugar Bear head to the wall of their 2013 trophy room. In the process, they want to re-establish that Boulder is a tough place to play for visiting teams.
Mostly because it has been a long time since it was true. 2012 was the first time in the history of Folsom Field that the Buffs went through the entire season without a win at home. The most embarrassing loss among their 0-6 record at Folsom in 2012 was a loss to mediocre FCS team Sacramento State. It was not much better in 2011, as the Buffs won only one game at home against Arizona. That means that Colorado has only won one game at home in the last 11 tries. It is the primary reason that Jon Embree was fired.
One of the main reasons that Mike MacIntyre was hired is that he had already demonstrated the ability to take a down program and rebuild it to respectability in a hurry. That was important because few programs in the FBS were more down than Colorado. Perhaps more important than the rebuilding itself was the fact that Mac did it right. He did not try to make things easier for the players on the field and in the classroom. NO! He raised expectations all across the board. More importantly still, he and his staff hold themselves accountable first.
One of the hallmarks of the last two coaching regimes (three if you count the last couple years of Gary Barnett) was a consistent blaming of the players when things did not go well. One of the reasons that Mac and staff will be successful in Boulder like they were at San Jose State is that they rightfully take the blame for problems their teams have on the field. It is the way it should be. After all, they and not the players are the ones making lots of money.
Like Sacramento State, Central Arkansas is a team from the FCS. Unlike Sac. St., the Sugar Bears are a good team. They are ranked #5 in the latest FCS poll, while Sacramento State opened the season in Tempe against Arizona State. The Sun Devils spanked 'em 55-0. Central Arkansas opened their season with a 58-7 win against the University of the Incarnate Word. (It must be true because I certainly could not have made that up!)
Check out the Bring the Buff blog by David Smith to find out lots more about Central Arkansas, their unique cereal sounding name, and their silver and purple football field.
Central Arkansas has some good players, including more than a dozen transfers from FBS schools. They are coached very well by Clint Conque and his staff. And they are led by quarterback Wynrick Smothers, who was the offensive player of the year for his conference in 2012. They are an excellent FCS team who could play on an even keel with a good number of FBS teams. In fact, if this CA team were playing the 2012 Buffs, they would likely have smoked the Buffs.
This is NOT the 2012 Buffaloes, however, and chances are that the excellent coaching of Mac and staff will be enough to give the Buffs all they need to take down the Sugar Bears.
Connor Wood passed for 400 yards last week, and Paul Richardson is the #1 receiver in the country after week one. The defense is much more solid, the punter is one of the elite in the nation, and the place-kicker looks dangerous from 55 yards in.
Due to the offense run by the Sugar Bears, the Buffs will spend a lot of time in nickel and dime packages. Fortunately, the secondary looks much better than it has in years. The Buffs had only three interceptions all of last year. Look for their first and maybe second today against the Sugar Bears as Chidera Uzo-Diribe and his mates on the defensive front put lots of pressure on Smothers.
Central Arkansas will make some good plays, but the depth of CU, a loud and fired up student section, and the altitude of Boulder will be more than enough to carry the Buffaloes to victory. Make a place on the wall for a Sugar Bear head.
Why is that so important?
Mostly because it has been a long time since it was true. 2012 was the first time in the history of Folsom Field that the Buffs went through the entire season without a win at home. The most embarrassing loss among their 0-6 record at Folsom in 2012 was a loss to mediocre FCS team Sacramento State. It was not much better in 2011, as the Buffs won only one game at home against Arizona. That means that Colorado has only won one game at home in the last 11 tries. It is the primary reason that Jon Embree was fired.
New Honcho in Town
One of the main reasons that Mike MacIntyre was hired is that he had already demonstrated the ability to take a down program and rebuild it to respectability in a hurry. That was important because few programs in the FBS were more down than Colorado. Perhaps more important than the rebuilding itself was the fact that Mac did it right. He did not try to make things easier for the players on the field and in the classroom. NO! He raised expectations all across the board. More importantly still, he and his staff hold themselves accountable first.
One of the hallmarks of the last two coaching regimes (three if you count the last couple years of Gary Barnett) was a consistent blaming of the players when things did not go well. One of the reasons that Mac and staff will be successful in Boulder like they were at San Jose State is that they rightfully take the blame for problems their teams have on the field. It is the way it should be. After all, they and not the players are the ones making lots of money.
Central Arkansas Sugar Bears in Town
Like Sacramento State, Central Arkansas is a team from the FCS. Unlike Sac. St., the Sugar Bears are a good team. They are ranked #5 in the latest FCS poll, while Sacramento State opened the season in Tempe against Arizona State. The Sun Devils spanked 'em 55-0. Central Arkansas opened their season with a 58-7 win against the University of the Incarnate Word. (It must be true because I certainly could not have made that up!)
Check out the Bring the Buff blog by David Smith to find out lots more about Central Arkansas, their unique cereal sounding name, and their silver and purple football field.
How the game will turn out:
Central Arkansas has some good players, including more than a dozen transfers from FBS schools. They are coached very well by Clint Conque and his staff. And they are led by quarterback Wynrick Smothers, who was the offensive player of the year for his conference in 2012. They are an excellent FCS team who could play on an even keel with a good number of FBS teams. In fact, if this CA team were playing the 2012 Buffs, they would likely have smoked the Buffs.
This is NOT the 2012 Buffaloes, however, and chances are that the excellent coaching of Mac and staff will be enough to give the Buffs all they need to take down the Sugar Bears.
Connor Wood passed for 400 yards last week, and Paul Richardson is the #1 receiver in the country after week one. The defense is much more solid, the punter is one of the elite in the nation, and the place-kicker looks dangerous from 55 yards in.
Due to the offense run by the Sugar Bears, the Buffs will spend a lot of time in nickel and dime packages. Fortunately, the secondary looks much better than it has in years. The Buffs had only three interceptions all of last year. Look for their first and maybe second today against the Sugar Bears as Chidera Uzo-Diribe and his mates on the defensive front put lots of pressure on Smothers.
Central Arkansas will make some good plays, but the depth of CU, a loud and fired up student section, and the altitude of Boulder will be more than enough to carry the Buffaloes to victory. Make a place on the wall for a Sugar Bear head.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Are Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes Ready to Take the Next Big Step?
It's an old adage in college football that the greatest improvement during the season comes between the first and second games. The first game always comes with the jitters of a new season and playing with new or even freshman guys around one another. For the Colorado Buffs, those concerns were magnified by the fact that Coach Mac's staff was new, along with new schemes on offense, defense and special teams.
The Buffs passed the first test of the season with flying colors when they defeated CSU by a score of 41-27 at the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver. The next big question is whether they can improve upon their overall performance this weekend when they open their home schedule at Folsom Field against FCS powerhouse Central Arkansas.
The Bears are ranked #5 in this week's FCS poll, and last week no less than 8 FCS teams stepped up and defeated FBS schools, including a win by Eastern Washington against a ranked Oregon State team. That being the case, there is no reason for CU to be taking the Bears lightly. The Buffs must also remember that they lost at home last year to another FCS team, Sacramento State. They do not want to face the same embarrassment as last year.
On the other hand, CU could rightly claim that the final winning margin was much smaller than it could have been due to two special teams plays. CSU receiver Joe Hansley returned a punt for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Thomas Coffman returned a kickoff 84 yards to set up CSU's go ahead touchdown. Take those two plays away and maybe Colorado wins by 30.
It doesn't really matter. The RMS is over and the Buffs won. Coach MacIntyre and his team know that football games are often decided by big plays on offense, defense and special teams.
The offensive line did a great job of protecting the quarterback last week but rushing yards from the backs were hard to come by. Colorado knows that was because CSU was rolling the dice that Connor Wood and his fleet of receivers could not beat them. Thanks to the great work by Wood, Richardson, Goodson and the rest of the receiving crew, the gamble by CSU was not successful.
Special teams should show significant improvement this week. Actually, that should be narrowed down. The punter and kicker for CU were outstanding in the first game. What needs to come up to par against Central Arkansas is return coverage. The Buffs know that and have been tweaking it all week. Look for someone on the return coverage units to make a play or two that is worthy of the new Sledgehammer Award won by Parker Orms in week one for his hit that cartwheeled a CSU tight end in the end zone.
On defense, the front line fought a very good CSU line to a standstill, but the lack of pressure they put on the CSU quarterback was only not damaging due to the very poor game passing by the Rams QB. The Central Arkansas quarterback is both a running and passing threat and is likely one of the most athletic quarterbacks that CU will face this season. The secondary and the linebackers must continue their fine work from the first game and the D-line needs to step it up and get pressure on the quarterback.
If the Buffs take the next big step and improve off their first game performance, the opening game at Folsom Field should be a win. If they rest on their laurels and take the Bears for granted, it could be an ugly and embarrassing day. If they play hard and fast and take full advantage of the altitude, the home field, the fans, and their strength and athleticism, the Buffs should walk away with another big win and double their win total from last year.
Go Buffs! FUCK 'EM UP, FUCK 'EM UP, GO CU!
The Buffs passed the first test of the season with flying colors when they defeated CSU by a score of 41-27 at the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver. The next big question is whether they can improve upon their overall performance this weekend when they open their home schedule at Folsom Field against FCS powerhouse Central Arkansas.
The Bears are ranked #5 in this week's FCS poll, and last week no less than 8 FCS teams stepped up and defeated FBS schools, including a win by Eastern Washington against a ranked Oregon State team. That being the case, there is no reason for CU to be taking the Bears lightly. The Buffs must also remember that they lost at home last year to another FCS team, Sacramento State. They do not want to face the same embarrassment as last year.
The 3-play vs. 2-play debate from the RMS
Although CU came away from the RMS with a seemingly comfortable 14 point win, those at CSU could make a reasonable claim that the game turned on just three plays. Those were the two long touchdown throws from Connor Wood to Paul Richardson that were the result of blown coverages by the CSU secondary, and the stripped ball by Chidera Uzo-Diribe that was picked up by Greg Henderson and returned 53 yards for a touchdown. Take those away and CSU could very well have taken the game, it could be argued.On the other hand, CU could rightly claim that the final winning margin was much smaller than it could have been due to two special teams plays. CSU receiver Joe Hansley returned a punt for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Thomas Coffman returned a kickoff 84 yards to set up CSU's go ahead touchdown. Take those two plays away and maybe Colorado wins by 30.
It doesn't really matter. The RMS is over and the Buffs won. Coach MacIntyre and his team know that football games are often decided by big plays on offense, defense and special teams.
The game against Central Arkansas
The trick for the Buffs this week is to continue to improve upon the things they did well in the first game, and to fix any problems they had.The offensive line did a great job of protecting the quarterback last week but rushing yards from the backs were hard to come by. Colorado knows that was because CSU was rolling the dice that Connor Wood and his fleet of receivers could not beat them. Thanks to the great work by Wood, Richardson, Goodson and the rest of the receiving crew, the gamble by CSU was not successful.
Special teams should show significant improvement this week. Actually, that should be narrowed down. The punter and kicker for CU were outstanding in the first game. What needs to come up to par against Central Arkansas is return coverage. The Buffs know that and have been tweaking it all week. Look for someone on the return coverage units to make a play or two that is worthy of the new Sledgehammer Award won by Parker Orms in week one for his hit that cartwheeled a CSU tight end in the end zone.
On defense, the front line fought a very good CSU line to a standstill, but the lack of pressure they put on the CSU quarterback was only not damaging due to the very poor game passing by the Rams QB. The Central Arkansas quarterback is both a running and passing threat and is likely one of the most athletic quarterbacks that CU will face this season. The secondary and the linebackers must continue their fine work from the first game and the D-line needs to step it up and get pressure on the quarterback.
If the Buffs take the next big step and improve off their first game performance, the opening game at Folsom Field should be a win. If they rest on their laurels and take the Bears for granted, it could be an ugly and embarrassing day. If they play hard and fast and take full advantage of the altitude, the home field, the fans, and their strength and athleticism, the Buffs should walk away with another big win and double their win total from last year.
Go Buffs! FUCK 'EM UP, FUCK 'EM UP, GO CU!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
A Cheese-Free Analysis of the Colorado Buffaloes and the Win over CSU
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre warned his players after the enormous 41-27 win over CSU not to "eat the cheese" that would be headed their way following the victory. The point of his comment was that his players should expect lots of accolades being thrown their way and not to buy into the nonsense that CU is a great team. I agree with Coach Mac2, and hereby offer a cheese-free look at the team's win.
Right now, the Buffs are NOT a great team. Heck, they might not even be a very good team. But they are a much better team than they have been in years. But this is only due to their hard work and commitment to themselves, their teammates and their coaches. They were given a plan and they followed it. If they continue their dedication and work ethic, the team has the opportunity to become not only good, but perhaps pretty darn good. If they decide to eat the cheese, they will have a rude awakening very soon.
Due to the emotion that goes along with the old rivalry with CSU, many Buff fans (and many so-called CSU supporters like Kelly Lyell) have been quick to claim that CSU is a very bad team. They are very wrong. The CSU team that lost to the Buffs in the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sunday is a MUCH BETTER team than the one that beat the Buffs last year.
CSU Head Coach Jim McElwain is an outstanding coach. The CSU quarterback had a bad game. But their offensive line did a fine job of neutralizing the Buffs defensive line. The CSU running backs ran hard and with passion. The CSU defense made CU earn every yard running the ball.
It's true that CSU stacked the box to stop the running game, but that was obviously due to the fact that their game plan was predicated on the idea that they were rolling the dice that Connor Wood could not beat them with his arm. It was a reasonable bet, considering how bad the Buffs were last year. Nobody at CSU could have reasonably expected that Connor would put up the gaudy numbers that he did. Or that he would take care of the ball so well and avoid any interceptions.
Take away the two broken coverages that led to Paul Richardson scoring very long touchdowns, and the Rams did a pretty good job of containing the Buffs' passing game. Not everybody would be raving if the Buffs only put up 240 yards passing and 350 yards of total offense.
The Rams have two winnable games ahead of them before they head off to Tuscaloosa, Alabama as the guests of honor at a Ram Roast. That said, the Rams will have had some serious trial by fire before heading into conference play. I look forward to seeing how the Rams do against Boise State this season. The wild Idahoan Broncos were corralled and broken at Washington in the first game of the season. Every team in their conference is looking for some payback. The same goes with Nevada, who was torched by UCLA in their opener. Also, Utah State, who lost to Utah.
The fact that CSU is a much better team than last year is a great sign for the Buffs. It means that CU is also a greatly improved team. But this early in the season, that improvement is precarious at best. They absolutely have to take care of business with a very good Central Arkansas team that is ranked #6 in the FCS. Many of the top FCS teams beat FBS teams in the first week, including a win at #24 Oregon State by Eastern Washington. If CU thinks they have to just show up, they will find themselves beaten like they were last year by Sacramento State.
BUT, Paul needs work on his routes, especially if he is in traffic. He needs to listen to his coach Troy Walters and learn to fight for the ball. He was manhandled by the CSU secondary several times, he needs to work harder to create separation when running routes over the middle. The yards and touchdowns are going to be much harder to come by when teams learn they can disrupt his play by getting physical.
BUT, several time Connor tossed the ball away without getting it out of bounds. Do this too many times and the ball is bound to be picked off. Also, Connor has a very strong arm but needs to make sure he is using his body as well. Arming the ball while back-pedaling is very dangerous. If possible, Connor needs to make sure he steps into his throws whenever possible.
BUT, what the hell, there really is no but here. The young man played a hell of a game and has the talent to become the next great CU linebacker. He knows the cheese is there but he will not take a bite. I look forward to watching this young man for the next several years.
Right now, the Buffs are NOT a great team. Heck, they might not even be a very good team. But they are a much better team than they have been in years. But this is only due to their hard work and commitment to themselves, their teammates and their coaches. They were given a plan and they followed it. If they continue their dedication and work ethic, the team has the opportunity to become not only good, but perhaps pretty darn good. If they decide to eat the cheese, they will have a rude awakening very soon.
Due to the emotion that goes along with the old rivalry with CSU, many Buff fans (and many so-called CSU supporters like Kelly Lyell) have been quick to claim that CSU is a very bad team. They are very wrong. The CSU team that lost to the Buffs in the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sunday is a MUCH BETTER team than the one that beat the Buffs last year.
CSU Head Coach Jim McElwain is an outstanding coach. The CSU quarterback had a bad game. But their offensive line did a fine job of neutralizing the Buffs defensive line. The CSU running backs ran hard and with passion. The CSU defense made CU earn every yard running the ball.
It's true that CSU stacked the box to stop the running game, but that was obviously due to the fact that their game plan was predicated on the idea that they were rolling the dice that Connor Wood could not beat them with his arm. It was a reasonable bet, considering how bad the Buffs were last year. Nobody at CSU could have reasonably expected that Connor would put up the gaudy numbers that he did. Or that he would take care of the ball so well and avoid any interceptions.
Take away the two broken coverages that led to Paul Richardson scoring very long touchdowns, and the Rams did a pretty good job of containing the Buffs' passing game. Not everybody would be raving if the Buffs only put up 240 yards passing and 350 yards of total offense.
The Rams have two winnable games ahead of them before they head off to Tuscaloosa, Alabama as the guests of honor at a Ram Roast. That said, the Rams will have had some serious trial by fire before heading into conference play. I look forward to seeing how the Rams do against Boise State this season. The wild Idahoan Broncos were corralled and broken at Washington in the first game of the season. Every team in their conference is looking for some payback. The same goes with Nevada, who was torched by UCLA in their opener. Also, Utah State, who lost to Utah.
The fact that CSU is a much better team than last year is a great sign for the Buffs. It means that CU is also a greatly improved team. But this early in the season, that improvement is precarious at best. They absolutely have to take care of business with a very good Central Arkansas team that is ranked #6 in the FCS. Many of the top FCS teams beat FBS teams in the first week, including a win at #24 Oregon State by Eastern Washington. If CU thinks they have to just show up, they will find themselves beaten like they were last year by Sacramento State.
Cheese-free player profiles for the stars of the game
Paul Richardson
Paul is very good. He is very fast. Blow your coverage on him and he can make you look very bad.BUT, Paul needs work on his routes, especially if he is in traffic. He needs to listen to his coach Troy Walters and learn to fight for the ball. He was manhandled by the CSU secondary several times, he needs to work harder to create separation when running routes over the middle. The yards and touchdowns are going to be much harder to come by when teams learn they can disrupt his play by getting physical.
Connor Wood
Connor did a great job as the new starting quarterback in the RMS. He did not throw any interceptions and recovered a bad snap. He threw for 400 yards and completed a high percentage of his passes.BUT, several time Connor tossed the ball away without getting it out of bounds. Do this too many times and the ball is bound to be picked off. Also, Connor has a very strong arm but needs to make sure he is using his body as well. Arming the ball while back-pedaling is very dangerous. If possible, Connor needs to make sure he steps into his throws whenever possible.
Addison Gillam
Addison is a true freshman who started the first game at inside linebacker. He was the first to do so at CU since Jordon Dizon, who went on to become an All-American. He finished the RMS with a game-high 14 tackles. He also had a sack and broke up a pass. He seemed to be everywhere.BUT, what the hell, there really is no but here. The young man played a hell of a game and has the talent to become the next great CU linebacker. He knows the cheese is there but he will not take a bite. I look forward to watching this young man for the next several years.
The Cheese Stands Alone!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Mike MacIntyre Era at Colorado Begins with Monster Win over CSU in the Rocky Mountain Showdown
The Colorado Buffaloes took care of business at the Rocky Mountain Showdown and downed the CSU Rams 41-27 at the Broncos' Sponsor of the year at Mile High Stadium. (Yes, I know who the sponsor is. I am not going to give them a plug because everyone knows where I am talking about and I don't think the game should be played in Denver.)
Coach Mike MacIntyre started what (hopefully) will be a long era at CU with a win. Not a big win. Not a very big win. But a monstrously huge and important win. After seven straight losing seasons and coming off the worst season in Colorado football history last season, this win was absolutely needed for the mental well-being of the Buff players.
Colorado had lost eight straight games since their miracle last win against Washington State last year. Some may balk at the "miracle" designation, but with the worst and most disorganized coaching staff in the country last year, winning that one game on the last play after coming from way back in the last half of the fourth quarter had providence written all over it. Mike Leach must be wondering if he is cursed when it comes to CU, because his teams have lost many games to the Buffs that his teams were "supposed" to win.
When MacIntyre was hired as head coach of the Buffs, his biggest challenge was getting inside the heads of his new team. Their confidence was gone. Their game plans were a shambles. In reality, their coaches were in way over their heads and had no idea how to lead a team.
Thus, Mac and staff had to get in and get everyone started from ground zero. They got every player moving in a coordinated effort to improve every aspect of their CU experience. And the coaches only judged them on what they were doing now, this year. And the coaches gave them the opportunity to earn a good place on the depth chart based on the now, and forgetting the past.
MacIntyre and his band of brothers worked hard to rebuild the commitment that each player must have for one another. It was a tough task, and some of the players chose to leave instead of living up to higher expectations. But many of those who decided to stay have been swung over by the enthusiasm and organization that the new coaching staff brought in.
Any holdouts on the team that were still reluctant to buy in whole-heartedly to the new program have now been born again. Seeing the joy on the faces of the young men as they made their way to the student section to sing the CU fight song was a sight to behold.
Seeing the tears in the eyes of MacIntyre as he talked about his father, and the pride and happiness he felt for his players was breathtaking. Mac obviously loves coaching and teaching his team. His commitment is obvious. And his commitment, and that of his staff is contagious and spreading quickly among the players.
After losing a lead due to two long returns, the Buffs had the chance to fold. Last year, it was almost a weekly occurrence due to the lack of leadership. But this year, when their backs were against the wall, they came out swinging and dominated the fourth quarter. We can thank the new coaching staff for instilling the pride again.
I have watched the rise of enthusiasm of the Buff players during fall practice, but that enthusiasm will now be sky high, looming over the flatirons that tower over their practice fields. Those young men now KNOW that they can believe in what their coaches are trying to teach them. Many of them had started to buy in to the new program, and it showed in the win against CSU. But that belief is now becoming FAITH in themselves and each other and their coaches. They have turned the corner to becoming a team in the finest sense of the word.
This team will make the Buff faithful proud. They may not win every game, but their hearts and souls will be committed every step of the way. They will not give up and they will not back down. And every team they play will KNOW they've been in a fight. And every Buff fan should join them, standing shoulder to shoulder, and never giving in, as the Colorado Buffaloes fight for victory.
***********************************
Look for the upcoming post about the players and the game.
Coach Mike MacIntyre started what (hopefully) will be a long era at CU with a win. Not a big win. Not a very big win. But a monstrously huge and important win. After seven straight losing seasons and coming off the worst season in Colorado football history last season, this win was absolutely needed for the mental well-being of the Buff players.
Colorado had lost eight straight games since their miracle last win against Washington State last year. Some may balk at the "miracle" designation, but with the worst and most disorganized coaching staff in the country last year, winning that one game on the last play after coming from way back in the last half of the fourth quarter had providence written all over it. Mike Leach must be wondering if he is cursed when it comes to CU, because his teams have lost many games to the Buffs that his teams were "supposed" to win.
When MacIntyre was hired as head coach of the Buffs, his biggest challenge was getting inside the heads of his new team. Their confidence was gone. Their game plans were a shambles. In reality, their coaches were in way over their heads and had no idea how to lead a team.
Thus, Mac and staff had to get in and get everyone started from ground zero. They got every player moving in a coordinated effort to improve every aspect of their CU experience. And the coaches only judged them on what they were doing now, this year. And the coaches gave them the opportunity to earn a good place on the depth chart based on the now, and forgetting the past.
MacIntyre and his band of brothers worked hard to rebuild the commitment that each player must have for one another. It was a tough task, and some of the players chose to leave instead of living up to higher expectations. But many of those who decided to stay have been swung over by the enthusiasm and organization that the new coaching staff brought in.
Any holdouts on the team that were still reluctant to buy in whole-heartedly to the new program have now been born again. Seeing the joy on the faces of the young men as they made their way to the student section to sing the CU fight song was a sight to behold.
Seeing the tears in the eyes of MacIntyre as he talked about his father, and the pride and happiness he felt for his players was breathtaking. Mac obviously loves coaching and teaching his team. His commitment is obvious. And his commitment, and that of his staff is contagious and spreading quickly among the players.
After losing a lead due to two long returns, the Buffs had the chance to fold. Last year, it was almost a weekly occurrence due to the lack of leadership. But this year, when their backs were against the wall, they came out swinging and dominated the fourth quarter. We can thank the new coaching staff for instilling the pride again.
I have watched the rise of enthusiasm of the Buff players during fall practice, but that enthusiasm will now be sky high, looming over the flatirons that tower over their practice fields. Those young men now KNOW that they can believe in what their coaches are trying to teach them. Many of them had started to buy in to the new program, and it showed in the win against CSU. But that belief is now becoming FAITH in themselves and each other and their coaches. They have turned the corner to becoming a team in the finest sense of the word.
This team will make the Buff faithful proud. They may not win every game, but their hearts and souls will be committed every step of the way. They will not give up and they will not back down. And every team they play will KNOW they've been in a fight. And every Buff fan should join them, standing shoulder to shoulder, and never giving in, as the Colorado Buffaloes fight for victory.
***********************************
Look for the upcoming post about the players and the game.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Colorado Football 2013: Connor Wood Named Starting Quarterback for Rocky Mountain Showdown
Head coach Mike MacIntyre has named Connor Wood the starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes for the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State this Sunday.
BACK-UP QUARTERBACK - Sefo Liufau (6'4" - 210 lbs)
True freshman Sefo Liufau has lived up to expectations and moved to 2nd on the depth chart. This gives the Buffs two tall quarterbacks on the two-deep for the first time in years, which should allow them to see over the very tall linemen. It also will help in seeing over the sizable crown on Folsom Field.
Sophomore transfer Jordan Gehrke (6'1" - 190 lbs) and sophomore Stevie Joe Dorman (6'2" - 215 lbs) are listed as tied for third sting.
QUARTERBACK - Connor Wood (6'4" - 225 lbs)
To the surprise of no one, junior Connor Wood extended his fine showing from the spring through summer workouts to fall camp. Under the excellent tutelage of QB Coach / Offensive Coordinator Brian Lindgren, Wood is starting to resemble the player that was one of the most highly sought after QB recruits in the country coming out of high school.BACK-UP QUARTERBACK - Sefo Liufau (6'4" - 210 lbs)
True freshman Sefo Liufau has lived up to expectations and moved to 2nd on the depth chart. This gives the Buffs two tall quarterbacks on the two-deep for the first time in years, which should allow them to see over the very tall linemen. It also will help in seeing over the sizable crown on Folsom Field.
Sophomore transfer Jordan Gehrke (6'1" - 190 lbs) and sophomore Stevie Joe Dorman (6'2" - 215 lbs) are listed as tied for third sting.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Colorado Buffaloes 2013 Opinion: Please Spare us the Musings of Slick Rick Neuheisel
The University of Colorado Buffaloes continued fall camp on Thursday and played host to the Pac-12 Network and their resident weasel "Slick Rick" Neuheisel. As a horrible past head football coach to no less than 25% of the teams in the new Pac-12, the weasely-one now returns as an "analyst" and "media celebrity." This apparently impressed the local media enough to have a plethora of articles written about whatever drivel leached out of his lips about the state of CU football, the University of Colorado, and Boulder.
It is truly an indictment of the local media that they chose to waste space that should have been allocated to Mike MacIntyre's Buffaloes by instead writing about the musings of a man who has been disgraced, fired, and frequently accused of being a liar and lawyer. I digress, of course, and must admit that calling anyone a liar and a lawyer would be redundant. But hey, after all, this is 2013 and fame is more important than anything, especially honesty and integrity.
Unfortunately for NewWeasel and the local media, some of us have been around long enough to remember the first go-round. I worked at the Daily Camera Newspaper when the boy wonder first made his way into Boulder in 1994 to work with the great Bill McCartney.
Mac had won one National Championship during his tenure coaching in Boulder, but more importantly, had come within two bad games of winning two more championships (the NC game against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl following the 1989 season, and the 1994 game against Nebraska in Lincoln). If you had been there to see those games and those seasons, then you know what I am talking about.
McCartney shocked everyone by announcing his retirement following the game in which Rashaan Salaam wrapped up his Heisman Trophy by going over 2000 yards in a season during the season ending game with Iowa State. The 1994 team was so good that NINE Buffs were selected in the NFL Draft the following April, including SEVEN in the first three rounds.
Colorado surprised a great many people by choosing a very young Neuheisel over more experienced coaches with at least coordinator experience to become the next head coach of the Buffs for the 1995 season. I have to admit that I was excited that CU was showing rare foresight (or so I thought then) by hiring a guy who was nearly the same age I was. Judith Albino was wrong to hire Ricky Boy then, and I was wrong in thinking that a guy smart enough to get through law school and pass the bar had the dedication to be a great head coach.
As an aside, I realize that the Wikipedia page dedicated to Rick Neuheisel says he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Buffs in 1994, but that is wrong. The OC during Mac's final year was Elliot Uzelac.
Neuheisel inherited a perennial top-5 team built by Mac, and then got way too much credit when the Buffs won 10 games each of his first two seasons. In hindsight, the Buffs would have won 10 games in '95 and '96 no matter who was the coach because of the depth of the program built by McCartney. Once the program was in the hands of players developed by Neuheisel's staff, however, the wheels started to come off the program.
It was bad enough that the Buffs went from their typical 10 wins in a season to only 5 in 1997, more embarrassing still was that CU had to later forfeit their wins because they used an ineligible player. Also came revelations that there were recruiting improprieties from the very top (the big dog, or, in this case, the big weasel). Those things alone had me and other serious Buff fans calling for Ricky's job.
What really pissed me off about the articles written by the local media is that they really don't know anything about the people they are writing about. Several mentioned their incorrect belief that Buff fans were angry with Neuheisel for leaving CU to go to Washington. Nothing could be further from the truth. I became chat room friends with several people at UW fansites during that time. In a much more civilized era of college sporting discussions, I explained my misgivings about Neuheisel.
Several years later, after the general consensus that Neuheisel had embarrassed their school as well, they thanked me for trying to warn them. Years later, we marveled at the warped mentality that led UCLA to hire a man who had twice run afoul of the NCAA, leading to sanctions of his teams, and then successfully sued the NCAA and Washington for doing their own jobs poorly.
One would think that nowadays that any hiring Rick analysis would come with a comprehensive risk analysis. That is, considering his high pay, profile, and position, what does he offer as a benefit compared to potential risks to the prestige and financial health and wellbeing of the program?
All said, like most lawyers, you have to take anything Rick says with a grain of salt. Better yet, in the case of Neuheisel, you should probably add the wedge of lime and shot of tequila to make anything he says palatable. I am sure the local media, in their obsequious desire to pay homage to fame and/or infamy, believe they are entitled to share the opinions of such a man “who is like any other man, only more so.” (Casablanca). I think I share the opinions of many long time Buff fans who have the image of Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men come to mind when we say we “don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”
Monday, July 29, 2013
The ART of Leadership: A look at Patton, the 1958 Packers and the 2012 Colorado Buffs
One of the greatest misconceptions about college football is that it is an individual player driven sport. Nothing could be further from the truth. Football requires more concerted teamwork by a larger number of players than any other sport. The main orchestrator of this teamwork is the head coach, and it is disseminated to the team through the coaches and the players respected as leaders among them.
Winning in football is generated from the top down more than any other sport. Being a great college football player does not make one a great NFL player. By the same token, being a great high school player does not make one a great college player. At the same time, while it is possible to be a great player on a lousy team, it is virtually impossible for a lousy coach to lead a team to greatness.
On paper, the 1958 Green Bay Packers and the 2012 Colorado Buffs have a lot in common. The Packers ended the season with a record of 1-10-1, while the Buffs ended the season with one victory and 11 losses. Each team had what is generally considered to be the worst season ever for their franchise or school.
Another thing CU and the Pack had in common is that conventional wisdom held that the main reason behind the horrible records in those years was due primarily to a lack of quality players. Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay in 1959 and proved that assumption to be wrong.
Five players on that horrible 1958 Packer team went on to have careers under Lombardi that earned them a place in the NFL Hall of Fame. It's kind of stunning just how much difference that a coaching change made in the the lives and careers of five NFL players who played on the worst team ever for their franchise.
The more one listens to new Colorado Buffalo football coach Mike MacIntyre, the more one hears commitment to the ideals shown by Vince Lombardi. Like the man who is considered to be the greatest football coach ever, CU's new head coach stresses hard work and sacrifice, conditioning and perseverance, dedication and respect, and most of all, a commitment to the success of the TEAM.
Mike MacIntyre respects and realizes these ideals by leading from the top down. He demands it of himself and expects it from his coaches and his players as well. Those who refuse to show commitment to the law, their schoolwork, their teammates, their coaches, and themselves have no place on this TEAM. Anytime someone is not held accountable for their actions or inaction, it is a slap in the face to those who have committed themselves.
In football, the greatest player at any position can be reduced to insignificance by the players around him. Imagine Jerry Rice without Joe Montana or Steve Young to throw him the ball. Imagine John Elway or Barry Sanders without great linemen to block for them. A dominating defensive player can be double or triple teamed if his teammates do not do their jobs. Football is truly a team sport.
Lombardi used to say that "football is only two things -- blocking and tackling." But he also emphasized that TEAM was the only way to make that work. He also knew that fitness and strength, individually and as a team, made it possible to compete in the athletic arena. He stressed this with his famous mantra that "fatigue makes cowards of us all."
It is a belief similar to that held by General George Patton during World War II. He took over a demoralized army that had been ransacked by the Germans in their first battle and built those men into the most dominating force in the war. According to the Academy Award winning film about his life, Patton was reputed to have said about the men when he arrived in North Africa that "they don't look like soldiers, they don't act like soldiers, why should they be expected to fight like soldiers?"
Before Patton's arrival, both the officers and the servicemen had no discipline. And this fact showed on the battlefield. What this same group of men achieved under new leadership showed that a change at the top can bring about a radical and almost immediate change in performance. Lombardi showed how to do it again in 1959, and MacIntyre is poised to do it now with the Buffs like he did at San Jose State.
Leadership takes many forms and styles, of course, but all great leaders who have achieved radical turnabouts have done it with discipline and high expectations of themselves and everyone under their command.
Winning in football is generated from the top down more than any other sport. Being a great college football player does not make one a great NFL player. By the same token, being a great high school player does not make one a great college player. At the same time, while it is possible to be a great player on a lousy team, it is virtually impossible for a lousy coach to lead a team to greatness.
On paper, the 1958 Green Bay Packers and the 2012 Colorado Buffs have a lot in common. The Packers ended the season with a record of 1-10-1, while the Buffs ended the season with one victory and 11 losses. Each team had what is generally considered to be the worst season ever for their franchise or school.
Another thing CU and the Pack had in common is that conventional wisdom held that the main reason behind the horrible records in those years was due primarily to a lack of quality players. Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay in 1959 and proved that assumption to be wrong.
Five players on that horrible 1958 Packer team went on to have careers under Lombardi that earned them a place in the NFL Hall of Fame. It's kind of stunning just how much difference that a coaching change made in the the lives and careers of five NFL players who played on the worst team ever for their franchise.
The more one listens to new Colorado Buffalo football coach Mike MacIntyre, the more one hears commitment to the ideals shown by Vince Lombardi. Like the man who is considered to be the greatest football coach ever, CU's new head coach stresses hard work and sacrifice, conditioning and perseverance, dedication and respect, and most of all, a commitment to the success of the TEAM.
Mike MacIntyre respects and realizes these ideals by leading from the top down. He demands it of himself and expects it from his coaches and his players as well. Those who refuse to show commitment to the law, their schoolwork, their teammates, their coaches, and themselves have no place on this TEAM. Anytime someone is not held accountable for their actions or inaction, it is a slap in the face to those who have committed themselves.
In football, the greatest player at any position can be reduced to insignificance by the players around him. Imagine Jerry Rice without Joe Montana or Steve Young to throw him the ball. Imagine John Elway or Barry Sanders without great linemen to block for them. A dominating defensive player can be double or triple teamed if his teammates do not do their jobs. Football is truly a team sport.
Lombardi used to say that "football is only two things -- blocking and tackling." But he also emphasized that TEAM was the only way to make that work. He also knew that fitness and strength, individually and as a team, made it possible to compete in the athletic arena. He stressed this with his famous mantra that "fatigue makes cowards of us all."
It is a belief similar to that held by General George Patton during World War II. He took over a demoralized army that had been ransacked by the Germans in their first battle and built those men into the most dominating force in the war. According to the Academy Award winning film about his life, Patton was reputed to have said about the men when he arrived in North Africa that "they don't look like soldiers, they don't act like soldiers, why should they be expected to fight like soldiers?"
Before Patton's arrival, both the officers and the servicemen had no discipline. And this fact showed on the battlefield. What this same group of men achieved under new leadership showed that a change at the top can bring about a radical and almost immediate change in performance. Lombardi showed how to do it again in 1959, and MacIntyre is poised to do it now with the Buffs like he did at San Jose State.
Leadership takes many forms and styles, of course, but all great leaders who have achieved radical turnabouts have done it with discipline and high expectations of themselves and everyone under their command.
Monday, June 3, 2013
In Defense of Mike Bohn -- CU's Leadership is Lacking at the Very Top
Like a lot of people, it was easy for me to think that Mike Bohn was doing a horrible job as the Athletic Director for the University of Colorado. After considerable research, I can freely admit that I was wrong. Mike Bohn has been devoted to the university he loves and did as well as could be expected despite the lack of commitment from CU.
When one digs deep enough to find the true power structure behind CU athletics, the facts are that Mike Bohn was the best fundraiser that CU has ever had in the position and that the true bosses at CU (President Bruce Benson and Chancellor Phil DiStefano) want all the benefits of having a top notch athletic program while making none of the investments needed to achieve that goal.
Case in point: Mike Bohn had a salary of $310,000 per year. Some folks might say that 310k is a lot of money. However, those who hire athletic directors at major universities would say that Colorado was trying to get off cheap. Real cheap.
The true bosses at CU have been quoted as of late saying that CU needs someone in the AD position who can help us compete with the BIG BOYS of college athletics. Really? Are they willing to make the financial commitment to hire one of those people? Mike Bohn was the lowest paid athletic director in the Pac 12. And before that he was the lowest paid AD in the Big 12.
The average AD in the Pac-12 at the public schools is $534,000. Stanford and USC most likely pay much more than average, but as private schools they do not have to divulge their AD pay. Compared to CU's old conference, however, the typical Pac-12 school is certainly not among the big boys when it comes to AD pay. CU's old rivals in the Big 12 pay their Athletic Directors an average of $837,000 per year, which is closing in on 3 TIMES the amount that CU invests.
Jon Embree was paid $725,000 a year to be CU's head football coach. Compare that salary with the average Pac-12 rival coach of $2.29 MILLION or the pay enjoyed by Big 12 coaches of $2.76 MILLION. Embree's pay was less than the coaches of nationally renowned football powerhouses like Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Up in Fort Collins, their head coach pulled in almost double what Embree earned.
Not only did CU pay the head of the team for CU's traditionally only revenue generating sport less than a third of what other schools were paying their head coaches, Embree also had to foot the bill for bottled water for his staff. CU's illustrious leaders would not even pay for water? That made CU a much bigger joke around the country than lack of wins on the football field.
It has been said that Benson is a master of getting big donors to give to CU. If that is the case, why the hell is tuition going up at so many times the rate of inflation? Not only that, but CU has a long proud history of treating their students like an unwelcome burden. You guys ought to try being nice to students. Don't you idiots realize that it is the students of today who are the potential donors of tomorrow? If you want dividends in the way of donations in the future, you need to invest in students today. If you want your football program to fund all of your other sports, you need to invest in the program.
Everyone seems to know that the football program lost money this past year. Does that really surprise anyone? It shouldn't. The switch to the Pac-12 cost CU money. They had to pay to get out of the Big 12 and as a new member of the Pac-12 they only got ONE FOURTH of the television money that the other schools got, same as Utah. Next year, that goes up and CU's athletic program will once again be flush with money.
Mike Bohn worked tirelessly to get Colorado into the Pac-12. This was a very good thing, Most of CU's out of state students come from the west. The TV revenue that comes from the new conference is more than double what CU used to make in the Big 12.
Thanks to Mike Bohn and his hiring of Tad Boyle, Colorado now has another revenue generating sport in basketball. Not only do the B-Ball Buffs sell out the Events Center, they also earn big dollars by making it to the NCAA's Big Dance. Based on Boyle's coaching and the quality of his recruits, that will not change anytime soon. Under Bohn, Linda Lappe has rebuilt the Women's Basketball program almost to the point of its former glory under Acting AD Ceal Barry. Stories like this abound in CU athletics. A lot of the thanks for those successes rest with Mike Bohn.
Many forget that Mike Bohn came into his job as AD to rescue CU from a bad situation. The real and fabricated scandals around Gary Barnett were causing CU a great deal of embarrassment. Bohn did his best to mitigate the situation and fired Barnett. It needed to be done. Then, Bohn went out and hired the hottest coaching candidate in the country. When Dan Hawkins was hired away from Boise State, he was considered to be a great hire. His teams as head coach before CU were 93-22. Nobody predicted that Hawkins would go 19-39 at Colorado.
Then came the Embree hire. Following the dismissal of Hawkins, Bohn took the meager funds available to him from the Big Bosses at CU and hired an ex-Buff to revitalize the program. The commitment that CU showed Embree was as small as his pay, and Colorado dropped further and further away from their former glory. Two years in to an untenable position with little support from the university, Mike Bohn was forced to fire Jon Embree. Mike Bohn's handling of the firing of his third head coach gave everybody the impression that Bohn was to blame for all the woes of the football program. And the puppet masters pulling the strings behind the scenes, who also held the purse strings, did nothing to change that view.
Finally, Benson and DiStefano, with Bohn as the fall guy, decided to fire the guy who did more with less money than just about any AD in the country. How delusional are these folks? They sat quietly by and spoke of a "national search" for the new AD. More comically, they mentioned as possible candidates guys who already make significantly more money than Bohn. One guy mentioned makes more in interest on his investments every year than Bohn earned in eight years on the job. As he eloquently stated in letter to the Denver Post, he is NOT a candidate.
Well, the ball is now in the court of two guys who have never shown a commitment to CU athletics. Let's see how much money they are willing to spend on a new AD. One thing is certain, no matter who they hire, they will not have the same love and devotion to the Buffs as Mike Bohn did. At least they had the good sense to let Bohn hire Mike MacIntyre and actually pay him commensurate with his peers.
When one digs deep enough to find the true power structure behind CU athletics, the facts are that Mike Bohn was the best fundraiser that CU has ever had in the position and that the true bosses at CU (President Bruce Benson and Chancellor Phil DiStefano) want all the benefits of having a top notch athletic program while making none of the investments needed to achieve that goal.
Case in point: Mike Bohn had a salary of $310,000 per year. Some folks might say that 310k is a lot of money. However, those who hire athletic directors at major universities would say that Colorado was trying to get off cheap. Real cheap.
The true bosses at CU have been quoted as of late saying that CU needs someone in the AD position who can help us compete with the BIG BOYS of college athletics. Really? Are they willing to make the financial commitment to hire one of those people? Mike Bohn was the lowest paid athletic director in the Pac 12. And before that he was the lowest paid AD in the Big 12.
The average AD in the Pac-12 at the public schools is $534,000. Stanford and USC most likely pay much more than average, but as private schools they do not have to divulge their AD pay. Compared to CU's old conference, however, the typical Pac-12 school is certainly not among the big boys when it comes to AD pay. CU's old rivals in the Big 12 pay their Athletic Directors an average of $837,000 per year, which is closing in on 3 TIMES the amount that CU invests.
Jon Embree was paid $725,000 a year to be CU's head football coach. Compare that salary with the average Pac-12 rival coach of $2.29 MILLION or the pay enjoyed by Big 12 coaches of $2.76 MILLION. Embree's pay was less than the coaches of nationally renowned football powerhouses like Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Up in Fort Collins, their head coach pulled in almost double what Embree earned.
Not only did CU pay the head of the team for CU's traditionally only revenue generating sport less than a third of what other schools were paying their head coaches, Embree also had to foot the bill for bottled water for his staff. CU's illustrious leaders would not even pay for water? That made CU a much bigger joke around the country than lack of wins on the football field.
It has been said that Benson is a master of getting big donors to give to CU. If that is the case, why the hell is tuition going up at so many times the rate of inflation? Not only that, but CU has a long proud history of treating their students like an unwelcome burden. You guys ought to try being nice to students. Don't you idiots realize that it is the students of today who are the potential donors of tomorrow? If you want dividends in the way of donations in the future, you need to invest in students today. If you want your football program to fund all of your other sports, you need to invest in the program.
Everyone seems to know that the football program lost money this past year. Does that really surprise anyone? It shouldn't. The switch to the Pac-12 cost CU money. They had to pay to get out of the Big 12 and as a new member of the Pac-12 they only got ONE FOURTH of the television money that the other schools got, same as Utah. Next year, that goes up and CU's athletic program will once again be flush with money.
Mike Bohn worked tirelessly to get Colorado into the Pac-12. This was a very good thing, Most of CU's out of state students come from the west. The TV revenue that comes from the new conference is more than double what CU used to make in the Big 12.
Thanks to Mike Bohn and his hiring of Tad Boyle, Colorado now has another revenue generating sport in basketball. Not only do the B-Ball Buffs sell out the Events Center, they also earn big dollars by making it to the NCAA's Big Dance. Based on Boyle's coaching and the quality of his recruits, that will not change anytime soon. Under Bohn, Linda Lappe has rebuilt the Women's Basketball program almost to the point of its former glory under Acting AD Ceal Barry. Stories like this abound in CU athletics. A lot of the thanks for those successes rest with Mike Bohn.
Many forget that Mike Bohn came into his job as AD to rescue CU from a bad situation. The real and fabricated scandals around Gary Barnett were causing CU a great deal of embarrassment. Bohn did his best to mitigate the situation and fired Barnett. It needed to be done. Then, Bohn went out and hired the hottest coaching candidate in the country. When Dan Hawkins was hired away from Boise State, he was considered to be a great hire. His teams as head coach before CU were 93-22. Nobody predicted that Hawkins would go 19-39 at Colorado.
Then came the Embree hire. Following the dismissal of Hawkins, Bohn took the meager funds available to him from the Big Bosses at CU and hired an ex-Buff to revitalize the program. The commitment that CU showed Embree was as small as his pay, and Colorado dropped further and further away from their former glory. Two years in to an untenable position with little support from the university, Mike Bohn was forced to fire Jon Embree. Mike Bohn's handling of the firing of his third head coach gave everybody the impression that Bohn was to blame for all the woes of the football program. And the puppet masters pulling the strings behind the scenes, who also held the purse strings, did nothing to change that view.
Finally, Benson and DiStefano, with Bohn as the fall guy, decided to fire the guy who did more with less money than just about any AD in the country. How delusional are these folks? They sat quietly by and spoke of a "national search" for the new AD. More comically, they mentioned as possible candidates guys who already make significantly more money than Bohn. One guy mentioned makes more in interest on his investments every year than Bohn earned in eight years on the job. As he eloquently stated in letter to the Denver Post, he is NOT a candidate.
Well, the ball is now in the court of two guys who have never shown a commitment to CU athletics. Let's see how much money they are willing to spend on a new AD. One thing is certain, no matter who they hire, they will not have the same love and devotion to the Buffs as Mike Bohn did. At least they had the good sense to let Bohn hire Mike MacIntyre and actually pay him commensurate with his peers.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Andre Roberson's Next Challenge the NBA
Colorado basketball star Andre Roberson has decided to forego his senior season in Boulder for the challenge of the NBA. He notified coach Tad Boyle of his decision on Sunday. The 2013 NBA draft is comprised of two rounds and will be held on Thursday, June 27th.
Roberson is generally regarded as a mid 2nd round pick, but that may change as teams get the opportunity to work him out in person over the next two months. Roberson has been one of the top rebounders in the country each of the last two years, and was also named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year this past season. In addition to taking the ball off the glass, steals and blocked shots have also been mainstays of Roberson's game.
He is known as a fierce competitor, and that mindset will make him a valuable addition to most NBA rosters. While his offensive skill set is still developing, his intense defense and nose for the ball will keep Andre in the mix come draft time. On top of that, Andre has shown himself to be a TEAM player who is dedicated to the success of the team much more than personal glory or statistics.
The NBA will offer a great challenge to Roberson, but as the first notable recruit for head coach Tad Boyle, Roberson knows all about challenges. Prior to his arrival in Boulder, Colorado had only been to the NCAA Tournament two times in over 40 years. Since Andre took the court for the Buffs, Colorado has been to March Madness twice and made it to the NIT championship game in the other year. To put it bluntly, Roberson has helped head coach Tad Boyle turn Colorado into a basketball school with some of the most vocal fans in the Pac-12. Indeed, every team in the league knows about the C-Unit.
Colorado is considered to be loaded with talent going into next season, with some prognosticators having the Buffs penciled in as a top 15 team. The loss of Roberson may temper expectations a bit, but he has blazed a trail that other recruits are following to Boulder. I want to join all Colorado fans in thanking Andre for his time and dedication to the university. Although CU has had other players over the last 20 years that moved on to NBA careers, Roberson has arguably done the most to lift his team into the realm of teams that need to be reckoned with on an annual basis when it comes time for the Big Dance.
Thanks for the memories and good luck Andre!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Friday Night CU Buff Musings: Hirschman, Bakhtiari, and Roberson
It's a beautiful late April Friday night/Saturday morning in Boulder...
Normally, this time of year is pretty slow on the news for Colorado Buff fans of hoops and pigskin, but 2013 has offered some interesting tidbits. Here are the subjects, the pertinent details, and my humble opinions on each.
Nick Hirschman:
-- Nick entered the spring practices under new coach Mike MacIntyre with five other QB's all starting from scratch.
-- After the first half of the practices, he was one of four named as still competing for number one QB.
-- By the end of spring he had elevated himself to co-starter with Connor Wood after last year's starter Jordan Webb injured his knee and Shane Dillon was moved down the depth chart.
-- He was identified by the coaches as one of the leaders of the team being counted on to help lead the team through summer workouts.
-- Then, he surprised everyone by announcing via Twitter that he would transfer to another school. Since he is graduating next month, he can transfer to another school without having to sit out a year. He has two years of football left before he runs out of eligibility.
-- MacIntyre released him from his scholarship with a few restrictions on where he could transfer.
-- Then, Hirschman gave an interview saying that he left because he was not named the starter at the end of spring.
Opinion:
First, I want to congratulate Nick on his impending graduation and wish him all the luck and success that life has to offer. That said, I think that Nick leaving the Buff football program is probably for the best. As the backup QB for the worst FBS team in the country last year, methinks that Nick was in no position to be demanding as far as a starter position goes this fall. He was offered the opportunity to compete and he was doing well, but then he decided to walk away. This was not the sign of a leader that Colorado needs right now. Fortunately, Connor Wood really seems to be coming into his own at this time, and is showing signs of why he was one of the most highly sought after QB's in the country coming out of high school. It's possible the development of Wood and the impending arrival of Sefo Liufau this summer provided too much of a challenge and Nick wanted to head somewhere that he might be guaranteed a starting spot. Good luck with that.
David Bakhtiari:
-- David was one of the bright spots for the Buff football team the last several years.
-- He opted not to go through another head coaching change at Colorado and decided to enter himself in the NFL Draft.
-- He became the 7th Buff ever to declare for the NFL. The first six were all drafted.
-- Somebody convinced him that he would go in the first or second round of the draft, which would come with a pretty good payday.
-- Someone convinced him that he was the 6th best offensive tackle in the draft.
-- After the first three rounds of the 2013 NFL draft, David has not heard his name called. A total of NINE offensive tackles have already been chosen in the first three rounds.
Opinion:
I really hope that David hears his name called soon when the draft resumes with round four. He is a talented guy who might very well have a NFL future. I commented early on when David declared for the draft that he could use another year of development before he was truly ready. The NFL is a hard club to get into, as David should know. His older brother has been cut something like 14 times trying for a career in the NFL. The best of luck to David, although I really wish he was going to be back in Boulder this fall as the Buffs try to get things turned around.
Andre Roberson:
-- Andre has been one of the stalwarts of the resurgence of Colorado Basketball under Tad Boyle.
-- Over the last two seasons, Andre has been one of the best rebounders in all of college basketball, and is one of the reasons why CU has been to the Big Dance two years in a row.
-- Andre was named the Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year for this past season.
-- Andre is currently deciding on whether to end his Colorado career early and try to get into the NBA. He scheduled a press conference on Friday to announce his decision... and then cancelled the press conference at the last minute.
Opinion:
Like his head coach has stated in interviews, it seems that someone is pressuring Andre to declare for the NBA draft. As good as Andre is on the court, the fact is that his offensive game is not yet at an NBA level. There is a great chance that if Andre declares for the draft that he faces the very real chance of not being drafted. Unlike the NFL, the NBA draft has only TWO rounds. While there a few undrafted free agents doing well in the league, such as Jeremy Lin, the fact is that having his game ready at all levels will help Andre make it to the next level. The Buffs look to be loaded with talent next year and having that kind of support can only help Andre grow his game. If he does decide to leave, I wish him all the luck in the world... which he might need because the next stop if the NBA turns you down is usually Europe. Good luck whatever you decide to do, Andre.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Ominous Tale of Jordan Webb: It's Time for Colorado Football Fans to Show Some Class
As a University of Colorado graduate and die-hard football fan since attending CU in the 1980s, there have been very few times that I was more embarrassed by Buff football than last year's season-long disgraceful display. That changed drastically on Tuesday following the reports that CU quarterback Jordan Webb had torn his ACL and would be lost for the year. It was sad to hear that a young man like Webb would need to devote many months of his time to rehab after surgery. It was sadder still to read some of the comments of so-called Buff fans rejoicing at the injury. To be blunt, it made me sick that fellow supporters of the Buffs could be so classless.
As everyone knows, the Buffs last year were arguably the worst D-1 team in the country, and certainly the worst in Colorado's long and storied football history. The fault for that lies squarely on the noggins of the former paid heads of the program - Head Coach Jon Embree, Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Defensive Coordinator Greg Brown, and also previous head coach Dan Hawkins, who left the program in shambles.
Even though these men all made many hundreds of thousands of Colorado taxpayer dollars, there seems to be small but vocal group of professed fans who would like to blame Jordan Webb for the woes of the football team last year. The idea is asinine. The CU football team is made up around 100 young men who are full time students who are also required to devote hundreds of hours a year devoted to football. None of them, including Jordan Webb, are personally responsible for the woes of the Buffs last year. For that matter, Webb deserves credit for leading the team to their only win last year by scrambling into the end zone for the game winning touchdown as time expired against Washington State.
Buff fans should rejoice that they finally have a head coach in Mike MacIntyre who has proven that he can develop talent and lead a moribund program into national prominence. He has done it before and he will do it again. He and his fellow coaches that he brought with him to Colorado deserve the chance to do their jobs.
By the same token, Jordan Webb and every one of his teammates should be honored for their commitment to the University of Colorado. Only a handful of these young men will go on to play in the NFL. They know this. Most of them do the jobs they do to earn an education and because they love to play football. Their dedication to CU and the very real risk of injury should be applauded and respected. None of them should ever again have to read stupid comments about how the school is better off with a player being injured.
It is interesting to note that some of the same "fans" who delight in the injury to a young man also seem infatuated with the idea that high school kids who are highly rated by recruiting services are the only way for Colorado to become relevant once again on the gridiron. The fact is that none of the recruiting services has the manpower to effectively cover all high schools throughout the country. One of the reason that D1 football coaches are paid so much is their ability to evaluate talent. Another skill is being able to develop high school players into good college football players. We need to let our new coaches do this. Having vocal fans speaking positively about injuries to our own players gives rival coaches yet another chip to add to the pot in the poker game that is college football. We do not want to lose out on the opportunity to get good players to come to CU because rival coaches can point to published reports of Buff fans who talk about how great it is when players they do not like get hurt.
I do not know Jordan Webb personally, but I would like to apologize to him for the lack of class showed by some Colorado football fans. Good luck with your surgery and rehab. And please know that the vast majority of CU fans would never ever cheer an injury by any CU player, or any player we play against either. We support you and the team, but realize that it is just a game after all.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
CU Buffs Depth Chart: The Only Positions that Matter!
The Colorado Buffs have released their first "pencil" depth chart of the team since beginning spring practices. Unfortunately, the general consensus among fan sites devoted to the Buffs and also comments on news stories has been a worried and collective wringing of hands. Seriously? Only halfway though the 2013 Spring Practices, and there seems to be an irrational worry about who is where and why.
RELAX PEOPLE.
There are only ten positions on the Colorado Buffs football team that really matter right now. Fortunately, after the worst season in CU football history, all ten of those positions have changed since last year. Fans should be looking only at these 10 guy right now, because these are the men who will determine how the entire team does this coming season and for the foreseeable future.
Mike MacIntyre -- Head Coach
Kent Baer -- Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
Brian Lindgren -- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Klayton Adams -- Running Backs / Tight Ends
Gary Bernardi -- Offensive Line
Charles Clark -- Safeties
Jim Jeffcoat -- Defensive Line
Andy LaRussa -- Cornerbacks
Toby Neinas -- Special Teams
Troy Walters -- Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator
CU fans need to let these men do their jobs and quit fretting about who will be at QB (or LB, DT, etc.) These men are professionals whose jobs are to evaluate the talent of the players they have available. Unlike the casual fans, these guys are paid to coach, train, and evaluate all the players and utilize them to put the best team on the field when the season begins.
The enthusiasm of the fans writing blogs and commenting on news stories is commendable, but some of them need to calm down. If one looks at the upcoming season as a war with 12 battles, fans need to realize that D-Day is not until August 31st. We are barely into basic training at this point. In time, the captains and leaders and starters will rise to the top. It is up to these 10 commanders to make sure the best players do so and to encourage all the others to improve as well.
Fans should resist the temptation to look at what individual players did prior to this coaching staff arriving in Boulder. The sad fact is that the main reason that CU has had seven straight losing seasons has been the coaching, or more accurately, the lack of coaching.
Winning the battles each week for a football team is made possible by the work of the coaches both before and during the games. That being the case, it was really dumb luck that CU won a single game last year. The blame goes not to the foot soldiers, but should be put on the heads of the officers (coaches). Jon Embree and Eric Bieniemy were great players for CU. Scooter (EB) is one of my favorite Buffs ever. But the sad truth is that neither man had any idea how to do the jobs they were hired to do. So we move on.
Athletic Director Mike Bohn has taken a lot of heat for the last two hires before Mac to lead the Buffs football program. Some of the criticism is undoubtedly deserved, but football fans need to recognize that Bohn is the AD for the entire school. CU won another national championship in skiing this year. The men's basketball program and fan support are at an all-time high. The women's basketball program is starting to look a lot like the dominant days under Ceal Barry. And Bohn was instrumental in getting CU into the much more lucrative Pac-12. So, while deserved criticism needs to be acknowledged, deserved praise needs to be as well.
All said, for the first time in way too long, the football team appears to be in the hands of people who know what they are doing. Good battle plans will allow the Buffs to be competitive, and the winning will follow as the culture is changed. These men have done it before, and they can do it again.
Go Buffs!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
CU's Basket Buffs Lay a Big Fat Egg against Oregon State
After Tad Boyle's team put a whipping on the 19th ranked Oregon Ducks on Thursday, the volume of the music accompanying the Buffs' victory parade to March Madness got turned way up. Someone apparently forgot to tell them there was one more game to play before the end of the regular season. The result of this oversight was the Pac-12's last place Beavers strolled into the Coors Events Center and took down the Buffs 64-58.
Although Tad Boyle has done an excellent job of building the Buffs into a consistent 20 win team, which is a remarkable accomplishment considering that the history of CU basketball is that of a .500 team over the 110 years of the program, the fact remains that Colorado is viewed around the country as primarily a football school. And over the last half dozen years, CU has been looked at as a mediocre football school at best and the worst in the NCAA in football this past season.
What's the point? The point is that Colorado does not yet have a history of basketball excellence to fall back on when they stumble into the end of the season. Last year, the Pac-12 only had TWO representatives out of the 68 teams in March Madness. Colorado earned one of those by winning four games in four days to claim the conference tournament championship. Arizona earned the other one because, quite simply, they have been to the tournament every single year except one since 1984. Those on the NCAA Selection Committee have Arizona penciled in every year because they have been a top tier school for almost 30 years.
Outside of the Pac-12, little thought is given to the Buffs as a basketball school. Most college basketball fans around the country equate the Pac-12 with TWO schools, Arizona and UCLA. The Bruins have 18 Final Four appearances and 11 NCAA championship banners. Arizona has 13 Sweet 16 appearances in the last 25 yeas and one National Championship. By comparison, while Colorado has 3 tournament appearnces in the last 16 years, it was another 28 years, all the way back in 1969, to get to the Buffs' prior appearance. To make the math simple, that's four trips to March Madness in 44 years.
Since joining the Pac-12, Colorado has done a remarkable job against the top teams in the conference. Their downfall is when they follow victory over top 20 programs with losses to teams at the bottom of the standings. Those losses say as much to the tournament selection committee as the big wins. Until Colorado establishes the reputation of being a good basketball program year in and year out, they are going to have to scratch and claw to keep their name in the running when it comes time for the tournament.
These Buffs need to decide what they really want. When it comes time for Spring Break, do they want to hang out on the beach? Or do they want to DANCE? They Pac-12 tournament starts this week in Las Vegas, and the Buffs' first round foe is this very same Oregon State team. Which Buff team will show up for that game? We will see. But one thing is certain, CU fans and the NCAA Selection Committee will all be watching.
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