Connor Wood Becomes Latest QB to leave Colorado Football Program

What a difference a year makes. A quick look at the Colorado roster in 2012 showed a very crowded depth chart behind center. There were SIX quarterbacks on the roster, and not a senior among them. To revive everyone's memory, here's how the roster looked in 2012.

• Shane Dillon
• Stevie Joe Dorman
• Nick Hirschman
• John Schrock
• Jordan Webb
• Connor Wood

Mike MacIntyre's first recruiting class this past spring brought in two more quarterbacks.

• Sefo Liufau
• Jordan Gehrke

Lots of quarterbacks THEN are now down to TWO. Where did they all go?

1. Jordan Webb tore his ACL in April, and missed his entire "senior" season. He has already graduated, but is applying to the NCAA for another year of eligibility.
2. Nick Hirschman lost the starting QB competition to Connor Wood in spring practices, and transferred to Akron in May.
3. Shane Dillon decided to give up football for basketball and transferred to the University of San Diego in July.
4. Also in July, John Schrock decided to focus on his pre-med studies and left the CU football program. He still attends Colorado.
5. Stevie Joe Dorman transferred to West Texas A&M in December.
6. Connor Wood announced a couple days ago that he was giving up football. He is scheduled to graduate this spring.

That leaves only two quarterbacks on the roster for Spring 2014 practices. Sefo Liufau earned the starting quarterback position halfway through his freshman season, and JC transfer Jordan Gerhke has yet to see the field for the Buffs.

The Buffs do have a QB recruit in Cade Aspay, a slinger from Canyon Country, California. He committed to the Buffs in June and is considered solid on the Buffs.  National Letter of Intent Day is February 5th. Until that LOI is signed and delivered to Colorado, nothing is etched in stone.

The bigger problem right now facing coach MacIntyre is that the high number of repetitions he likes to run during practices will be nearly impossible with only two quarterbacks. He has a few options to ease his pain, but the pain will most certainly be felt.

Bringing in another JC transfer means someone new to the system. Even if Aspay signs on to play for the Buffs, he won't be here until summer.

It's possible that Webb will be granted an extra year and give Mac a third QB, but CU and the NCAA do not have a history that leans that way. Anyone remember how the NCAA treated Olympian Jeremy Bloom?

It's possible that the Buffs have someone (anyone?) on the current roster who played QB in high school, and might be willing to move back to the position for the spring and maybe longer. The Buffs have two defensive backs on their roster who played QB in high school: Isaac Archuleta (6'2 205) and Richard Yates II (6'2 190).

Lastly, Mac could convince (make that beg) John Schrock to help out during spring practices and consider rejoining the team. He took part in spring practices last year and is familiar with how Mac and his coaching staff like to do things.

Time is ticking. CU fans are wondering if Mac can pull off a big surprise. We will see. Mac has a reputation for moving players to different positions to help the team. The team definitely needs some help at QB right now.

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!

Opinion: MAYBE Alex Lewis Belongs in Jail

Alex Lewis Mugshot from the Boulder County Sheriff's office.

Maybe Alex Lewis, former offensive lineman for the University of Colorado, belongs in jail.

These are the FACTS and they are not under dispute:

-- Friday Day May 10th: CU offensive lineman Alexander Lewis announced to the national media that he was leaving Colorado for the Cornholers at the University of Nebraska.

-- Friday Night May 10th: Lewis went out drinking. By his own admission, he consumed 22 alcoholic beverages. That's right, 22, as in six glasses of wine, ten beers, and six shots. Even for a very large man, that amount of alcohol would make him VERY intoxicated.

-- Early Saturday Morning: While walking on The Hill shortly after 3 a.m., Lewis got into an altercation with a cadet from the Air Force Academy. The altercation left the cadet hospitalized and led to the arrest of Lewis for 2nd Degree Assault and two counts of Harassment.

-- According to the CU depth chart, Alex Lewis is 6'6" tall and weighs 285 pounds.

-- Cadet Lee Bussey is 5'11" tall and weighs 185 pounds.

-- That means that Lewis is 7 inches taller and 100 pounds heavier than the Air Force cadet.

-- Also arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Assault was Colorado QB Jordan Webb.

-- Donald Brenner is the lawyer for Alex Lewis.

-- CU and Nebraska were rivals in the same conference from 1948-2010. The are no longer in the same conference.

-- Nebraska and the Air Force Academy have never been in the same conference and are not considered rivals.

-- Once again, those are the FACTS and they are not under dispute.
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Once we get past the facts, we get to the CLAIMS, particularly from the lawyers involved. It is important to remember to make sure those claims make sense in light of the known facts. In this case, several of the claims do not seem to hold water.

Of course, many claims by lawyers have to be taken with the grain of salt that comes with "lawyer-speak" -- which is very similar to "journalist-speak." In this type of speech, the use of the words "MAY" or "MAYBE" are bandied about with great frequency because they allow the speaker to say just about anything without making an actual claim that might be identified as an outright lie. Using the words "MAY" or "MAYBE" allows those involved to throw out any unlikely scenario as a possible alibi for actions of the accused. MAYBE.

As a good journalist, let me play the game too. Media reports that quote lawyer Brenner MAY indicate he has done a poor job addressing the press about his client. And I will go out on a limb and say outright that the press HAS done a POOR job in challenging the claims of Brenner.

The first claim by Brenner about his client that should have raised objections from the press is his assertion that his client "MAY" have been accosted for wearing Nebraska gear. The purpose of this use of "MAY" is to bring to light the long rivalry between CU and Nebraska. In response to the "MAY" is the use of the word "WHY" - as in, WHY would an Air Force cadet care about the no longer existent rivalry between CU and Nebraska?

The other claim made by Brenner that should have raised questions from the press was his claim that "My client didn't do anything but shove a fellow." Really? Do folks normally end up in the hospital after being shoved? Were you there Mr. Brenner? Is it possible that your very intoxicated client MAYBE does not remember clearly what happened? Is it possible that MAYBE your client donned Nebraska gear and decided he was in enemy territory and he was looking for a fight? That MAYBE he was trying to impress his new teammates in Lincoln by kicking someone's butt in Boulder? Is it possible? MAYBE.

As an American citizen, Alex Lewis should be considered to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If he is found guilty, however, he should go to jail and pay the price for his actions. 2nd Degree Assault is is FELONY. NO MAYBE about it.

UPDATE May 15th
Both Alex Lewis and Jordan Webb were officially charged today (Wednesday, May 15th) with Second Degree Assault, a felony. Lewis was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of Harassment.

According to an article in the Daily Camera, the attorney Donald Brenner backed off his earlier claims that his client Lewis was accosted for wearing Nebraska gear. He is quoted as saying that Lewis "wasn't dressed in Nebraska gear. I don't know where I got that from. I've been bombarded by the press with so much innuendo. I get confused." Chilling words indeed for Lewis, who faces possible prison time if convicted.

UPDATE June 6th
The preliminary hearing for Alex Lewis and Jordan Webb has been postponed until July 1st. Both men remain free on bond.

CU Quarterback Nick Hirschman Transferring; Connor Wood Now QB to Beat in the Fall

The CU quarterback battle which started the spring with six QB's on scholarship has taken another hit. Nick Hirschman, who is graduating next month, has decided to transfer to another program for his last two years of eligibility. Because he graduating, he can transfer to another school without having to sit out a year (provided that the graduate program he goes into is not offered at Colorado).

After the first half of spring training was completed, Stevie Joe Dorman and John Schrock were dropped from the race to be named the number one QB. That left Hirschman, Jordan Webb, Connor Wood, and Shane Dillon tied atop the depth chart released on April 2nd. Since then, Jordan Webb has injured his knee and will be lost for the 2013 season, Hirschman has announced his departure and Shane Dillon had been dropped down the depth chart. For the time being, this leaves Connor Wood as number one on the depth chart.

There is no word yet on whether any other quarterbacks on the roster plan to transfer, but CU will welcome touted recruit Sefo Liufau for fall camp and may also go after JC transfer Nelson Fishback (Butte College in Oroville, California). With the injury to Webb and the transfer of Hirschman, Shane Dillon may be thrown back into the mix as well. Dillon may very well have the strongest arm of the bunch and is also considered by some to be the most athletic, but his mechanics could use a year of tutelage from QB coach Brian Lindgren.

Head Coach Mike MacIntyre has granted Hirschman a release from his scholarship to any school not in the Pac-12 or on CU's non-conference schedule for 2013 or 2014. MacIntyre wished Hirschman well but also noted the Buffs were losing a good leader going into player-led workouts for the summer.

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.