Colorado Daily – Colorado State
August 31st
Dose of Reality
This just in … CU is very, very young.
From ESPN … Colorado enters this game knowing it might be a rough season. Webb — while not exactly a rookie — is still learning the lay of the land, plus as many as 16 true freshmen could play this year for the Buffs. Of the 77 players Colorado is dressing for this game, 26 are freshmen (16 true, 10 redshirt). Of the 77, 65 percent are underclassmen and 39 percent haven’t played a game beyond high school yet.
That means getting off to a quick start against an opponent they should beat is going to be fairly important for their confidence moving forward. The fact that it’s a rivalry game to start the year adds that much more fuel to the fire.
“You know you have to play them at some point, because we are in different conferences playing them first makes sense — playing them before you get going in your conference,” Embree said. “It doesn’t change anything from that standpoint. It makes the first game a little more exciting, you have a little more bounce in your step, knowing you’re playing them in your first game. You know how important it is, both programs want to get off to a good start. It will be fun.”
Locker room fodder
Sometimes you wonder: Are they serious?
The Coloradoan, in a preview of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, opened with … “While most college quarterbacks use spring to jockey for position, Jordan Webb was frantically completing work on his undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas … Maybe, spring drills are overrated”.
Of course, the writer of the piece, Kelly Lyell, later referred to the former three-year starter at quarterback for Colorado as “Travis Hansen”, so you take his knowledge of the game at face value.
Still, Colorado State players do not seem to be all that concerned about the Buffs’ new starter at quarterback, either.
“(Webb’s) a player the Colorado State University defenders are studying this week, senior linebacker James Skelton said, but not necessarily one that they’ve singled out for extra attention. Safety Trent Matthews, in fact, didn’t even know who Webb was Monday, when he was asked about the CU quarterback during a news conference. ‘No disrespect, but at the end of the day, he’s just another quarterback,’ Skelton said.”
Your serve, Mr. Webb …
College Colors Day!
Are you wearing your black-and-gold today?
Today is national College Colors Day (see August 30th story, below). If you are wearing your colors, snap a photo, send me an email at cuatthegame@gmail.com, and I’ll get it posted!
Here is CU at the Gamer Phil B. wearing the colors outside a mosque in Bahrain:
August 30th
College colors day this Friday
Tired of blue jeans Friday?
How about getting excited for College Colors Day?
From cubuffs.com … Have you ever thought about wearing your game day apparel to class or the office? Could you ever imagine your colleagues chanting your team’s fight song during work hours or classmates arriving to class covered in black and gold body paint? If you are looking for an excuse to support your team not only on game day, look no further than College Colors Day. It’s so easy, anyone can do it.
On Friday, August 31, show your school spirit by wearing anything black and bold – and we mean anything: hats, earrings, T-shirts, ties, watches or something that shows support for your beloved Buffs. Think of College Colors Day as an excuse to throw a preseason tailgate party, have a friendly inter-office competition between rival schools for the upcoming season, or just a reason to support the team that has brought you excitement over the years. No matter what the reason, be sure to celebrate this national holiday with America’s 173 million college football fans and, wear your Buffs colors wherever you are, on Friday, August 31.
For me, it’s a no-brainer. Friday is traveling day … and I always wear my CU colors on my trip down to Denver!!
August 29th
Paul Richardson to red-shirt
Junior wide receiver Paul Richardson has decided to red-shirt this season.
“After talking with the coaches and my family, and my doctors, I have decided that I am going to take the year this season to get healthy, and work on getting back for next season,” Richardson told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “Knowing that I would have to miss the first two or three games of the season, I just didn’t want to start out like that to begin with … The recovery is still going well. It’s still going fast, but, lowering the chance at re-injuring it, and make sure I am ready to play when I do touch the field again, I think that this is just the best decision for me to make right now.”
It’s hard to argue with the decision. Richardson has a red-shirt season available, and will have two years of eligibility remaining. However, as a red-shirt junior, Richardson would be eligible, next January, to declare for the 2013 NFL draft … though a year (or two) of dominating play in the Pac-12 would certainly enhance his chances of being drafted.
Best wishes to Richardson on a continued speedy recovery.
Connor Wood named backup
Sophomore Connor Wood will be the first quarterback in if starter Jordan Webb is injured.
More Notes of Note for the Rocky Mountain Showdown
– Jim McElwain is attempting to become the first Colorado State head coach to win in his debut in over 40 years. The last Ram head coach to win their first game was Jerry Wampfler (no, I did not make that up!), whose Ram team took down New Mexico, 28-9, on September 12, 1970.
– In running up a 61-20-2 all-time record against Colorado State, the Buffs have out-scored the Rams, 1,994-957. With six points Saturday, Colorado will have reached the 2,000-point plateau against an opponent for the first time (next on the list: Iowa State, 1,732).
– Senior defensive lineman Will Pericak has the longest consecutive starting streak amongst the Buffs, with 37. Other players in double digits in consecutive starts are: linebacker Jon Major (13); cornerback Greg Henderson (11); offensive lineman David Bakhtiari (10); offensive lineman Ryan Dannewitz (10); and center Gus Handler (10).
– Colorado’s all-time record is 674-452-36 (.596). Colorado State’s all-time record is 477-536-33 (.472).
– Colorado high school ties … CU’s tight end Scott Fernandez and CSU’s fullback Jake Levin played at Legacy high school in Broomfield … CU linebacker Brady Daigh and CSU kicker Jared Roberts both played at Mullen high in Denver.
– In all, there will be a combined 65 players from the state of Colorado at the game Saturday, with 37 on the CSU sidelines; 28 wearing black and gold. In terms of the two-deep roster, though, Colorado has the edge, 17-14.
– The theme for the Rams this fall is “Bold New Era” …
– Colorado is 76-41-5 all-time in season openers, including a 6-3-1 mark in neutral locations. Colorado is 11-6 all-time against CSU when the Rams have been the season-opening opponent.
– Colorado is 23-1 in its last 24 season openers when the Buffs score first. The lone exception being the game which completely screwed up many a Buff statistic – the 2006 opener against Montana State.
– Several freshmen running backs may take the field in the opener against CSU, including Donta Abron, Terrence Crowder, and fullback Christian Powell. Five times in CU history, a player has taken the field for the first time and rushed for over 100 yards, the last being Marcus Houston, with 100 yards on 18 carries in 2000.
– Colorado is 109-32-3 (.767) all-time against the current members of the Mountain West Conference, holding winning records against every school except Hawai’i (1-2).
– Colorado State is 27-103-3 (.214) all-time against the current members of the Pac-12, and does not hold a winning record against any of the eight Pac-12 teams it has played.
ESPN write-up on Jordan Webb
ESPN is running a “Meet your quarterback” column for each Pac-12 signal caller. The full write-up can be found here, but the pros and cons are re-printed below:
Pros: Experience — way more than any other quarterback on Colorado’s roster. Webb started 19 games when he was at Kansas and that’s a big reason he was able to move into the job right away. With more than 400 career passes, he’s ready to plug in. Aside from his physical assets, you have to admire his determination as well. He graduated early from Kansas so he could make the transfer. He knew he wanted to play and he didn’t let anything stand in his way. Something to be said for that.
Cons: Webb’s entire career has been as a spread quarterback. Now he’s working in a West Coast system and working under center for the first time. The fact that he’s only been on campus for a little more than a month could also work against him — at least early on. He has to build chemistry with his young receiving corps and there might be some pressure early on to show the coaches made the right choice. And if the Buffs struggle, as many expect they will with a very young team this year, he’ll be under the microscope even if he doesn’t deserve to be. Goes with the job.
August 28th
Wallpaper photos from BuffStampede.com
A true and loyal Buff at www.buffstampede.com has posted some great digital CU graphics which can be posted on your wallpaper, ipad, iphone, etc.
Many thanks to 81435 Buff (which, if you are going by zip codes, would be Telluride) for his efforts. (Note: The CU and Ralphie logos are trademarked, so treat this gift accordingly).
CU/CSU Facts of Interest
Stats to keep you going (and impress your Buff friends) …
– Colorado is 6-1 against CSU when a Buff quarterback is making his first career start. The only loss came in 2006, when Bernard Jackson lost to the Rams, 14-10 (also the only game since the series was renewed when CU lost to CSU when the game was not played as a season opener – 8-1). Quarterbacks who did win their in first career start, debuting against the Rams, include: Mark Hatcher; Sal Aunese; Kordell Stewart; Mike Moschetti; Joel Klatt; and Cody Hawkins. Both Stewart and Klatt threw for over 400 yards in their debuts against the Rams.
– Since 1978, only four times have the Buffs played without a senior starter along the offensive line, but 2012 could well be the second time in four years (1982; 1993; 1998; and 2009).
– Junior Jordan Webb is slated to be one of eight quarterbacks to start a 1-A game this fall who previously started a game at another school. Kansas, SMU, Tulsa, San Diego State, Purdue, BYU, and Wisconsin will also be starting “rejects” from another institution this weekend.
– Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain will try Saturday to become the first CSU head coach to win in his first effort against Colorado in their first season … ever! Colorado State has had 12 previous coaches who have faced the Buffs in their first year, and only one – Claude J. Rothgeb – managed as much as a tie against Colorado in their first season (and it was a 0-0 tie in 1906!).
– Cornerback Greg Henderson was just the seventh true freshman to take the field in a season opener. Several Buffs – cornerback Kenneth Crawley, fullback Christian Powell and defensive lineman Josh Tupou the most likely – could join that list against Colorado State.
– CSU head coaches are 0-3 when they start their careers against Colorado. The three before Jim McElwain included two in ancient history (1899 and 1903) and Steve Fairchild, who lost his career opener against the Buffs in 2007 (a 31-28 overtime win for Colorado).
– Check your program! Colorado has eight uniform numbers which are being worn by duplicate players … No. 4 (QB Jordan Webb; LB Kyle Washington); No. 5 (QB Connor Wood; CB Yuri Wright); No. 8 (QB Nick Hirschman; P Darragh O’Neill); No. 15 (TE Vincent Hobbs; P Zach Grossnickle); No. 21 (RB D.D. Goodson; DB Jered Bell); No. 42 (RB Josh Ford; LB K.T. Tu’umalo); No. 55 (C Gus Handler; LB Josh Tupou); and No. 83 (WR Dustin Ebner; DL Will Pericak).
August 27th
CSU depth chart contains a few surprises …
From the Coloradoan … Jim McElwain could have gone strictly with experience and had as many as nine players who started games last season on the CSU football team’s starting defense for Saturday’s season-opener.
The game-week depth chart released Monday by the Rams’ first-year coach, though, has two redshirt freshmen and five sophomores listed at the top of their positions on defense – many in front of players who started last fall for former coach Steve Fairchild.
For instance, redshirt freshman Cory James is listed No. 1 at strong-side linebacker, ahead of senior Davis Burl, who started four games at defensive end last fall. And sophomore Bernard Blake is listed ahead of junior Shaq Bell, a starter in six games last season, at left cornerback.
Sophomore Alex Tucci, a 6-foot-3, 300-pounder, is listed as a starter at defensive tackle ahead of two juniors who started games at that position last year, Te’Jay Brown and Curtis Wilson.
Cory James, a 6-foot, 235-pounder from Los Alamitos, Calif., and strong safety Trent Matthews, a 6-3, 210-pounder from Converse, Texas, are the two redshirt freshmen in the starting lineup. Two of the sophomore starters on defense, left end John Froland and free safety Austin Gray, started last year as redshirt freshmen, and two of the others – Blake and weak-side linebacker Aaron Davis – played well in backup roles.
August 26th
Colorado selling twice as many tickets to RMS
And yet, there is still no discussion about moving the game back to campus sites …
The numbers don’t lie – the Rocky Mountain Showdown has lost its luster.
From the Daily Camera … Attendance at the Rocky Mountain Showdown fell below 60,000 last year for the first time in the 11 games played in the 76,125-seat stadium. Two years ago, the programs attracted just short of 61,000 fans.
The schools provided ticket sales numbers for the game over the past 10 years to the Camera. CSU hasn’t reached 30,000 in ticket sales in any of the past four games played in Denver, and sales for the Rams fell sharply in 2010 when they reported selling approximately 22,400 tickets and 2011 when they dropped to just 17,000. Colorado sold 33,722 in 2010 and 36,897 last year.
There is a clause in the contract with the Denver Metro Sports Commission that would allow the schools out of the contract after the 2014 game is the DMSC does not average $250,000 in net revenues for the sponsorships for the game from 2011-2014. The DMSC can opt out at the same time if the schools are not averaging at least 80 percent capacity.
And yet … Graham said when it comes time to talk about playing the game on campus again, he will insist the Buffs make more frequent visits to Fort Collins than they have in the past. CU is scheduled to play at Hughes Stadium in 2020 for a $1 million guarantee.
“We’re not the least bit interested in the kind of conversations that have existed historically where there would be two games in Boulder and one game in Fort Collins,” Graham said. “We’re not interested in that in any way, shape or form.”
Any help for Buff fans from the CU administration? Nope … “We honor our contracts and we have great respect for them as an institution,” Bohn said when asked if there has been any consideration to moving the game back to campus. “Our collective institutional leaders worked hard to gain the respect and support of leaders throughout the state and we are working hard to build equity in the game in Denver and we recognize we have a way to go.”
Sigh …
One Reply to “Colorado Daily – CSU”
If we can’t sell tickets, why did they stick all season ticket holders in the 5th deck?