Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily

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October 12th

… CU in a few minutes …

No down time for Buff coaching staff

While it was a bye week for the Buffs, it has not been a week off for the coaches and players.

The players had Friday and Saturday off, and will return to practice on Sunday afternoon. The coaching staff, meanwhile, spent the weekend attending to a number of odds and ends – including recruiting.

“I’ll be working on USC, I’ll get with the family a little bit, then we’ll have practice Sunday afternoon,” MacIntyre said.  “So, there will be barely any time off. I’ll be watching recruiting film and doing recruiting. All of our coaches are out recruiting so it’s busy for the coaches. It’s a little bit more of a down period for the players to let them refresh.”

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October 11th

… CU in a few minutes …

CU defensive line: “We’re going to be a group to reckon with”

The Daily Camera has an article on the progress of the CU defensive line. Most Buff fans would agree with the opening:

In separate conversations, sophomore Jimmie Gilbert and freshman Derek McCartney were asked if they were pleased with how Colorado’s young defensive ends are playing this season.

Both gave the exact same answer.

“Yes and no,” they said …

…. “I think we’ve been really good as a group so far,” Derek McCartney said. “People were a little iffy at first because we’re so young, but we knew we were talented and we know we can make plays. We came in ready to go and we’re not that surprised. But, we’re still working. We’re not happy with where we’re at.”

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October 9th

… CU in a few minutes …

MIA: Defensive back Akhello Witherspoon and offensive lineman Shane Callahan

In August, there were two names who were not on the field for the Buffs in 2013 who were being counted upon for instant production in 2014.

Akhello Witherspoon, the transfer defensive back, was the defensive star of the 2014 Spring Game. In the team’s four featured scrimmages (including the spring game), he batted away eight balls, made 11 tackles (3 solo) and one interception.

Shane Callahan, meanwhile, was the much heralded transfer from Auburn, was seen as a savior for thin offensive line. The former four-star recruit was penciled in as a starter by many before he ever donned a black-and-gold uniform.

So what happened? Witherspoon has seen action in only two games, while Callahan has yet to see a snap in action along the offensive line.

Two stories to tell …

– At cubuffs.com, B.G. Brooks has an article on Akhello Witherspoon, detailing the lower back injury suffered by Witherspoon which has kept him from playing as much as hoped:

Witherspoon participated in a dozen plays against UMass but didn’t play in the following three games (Arizona State, Hawai’i, California). He returned to the field against Oregon State, logging 25 plays. His two-game totals: five tackles (one solo), one third-down stop and one pass broken up.

MacIntyre pinned Witherspoon’s lack of playing time on “making sure he was completely healthy and ready to go. He’s a good player and if he stays healthy he’ll be playing the rest of the year in the nickel package.”

In that scheme, which puts an extra defensive back in the lineup, starting corner Greg Henderson shifts to the nickel back position and Witherspoon replaces Henderson at corner.

Henderson called Witherspoon a very capable cornerback: “He did a very good job (last weekend) playing some talented Pac-12 receivers. He did his thing. He’s definitely comfortable at corner; he has great size, great length, good speed and he can cover. You can put him in press, leave him on an island, pressing man-to-man and he’s going to do his job. He wants to compete at the highest level and make plays.”

– At the Daily Camera, Kyle Ringo has posted a story on Shane Callahan, explaining that Callahan is trying to be patient as he learns the guard position (after playing tackle in high school and at Auburn):

Callahan said he trusts CU coaches to put him where they believe he can best help the team. He said he has learned the CU offense and is ready to play when called on.

“Once fall camp was finished I was very confident,” Callahan said. “It’s very similar scheme-wise to what I did last year at Auburn. So it was just learning the terms and that was pretty simple. I feel really confident now.

“I’m just focused on learning the opponent’s defense and executing now.”

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October 8th

… CU in a few minutes …

Rashaan Salaam to be the Grand Marshall at CU’s 100th homecoming celebration

Press release from cubuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes will celebrate their 100th homecoming on October 25, with a weekend of events all leading up to that Saturday’s football game with the UCLA Bruins. An annual highlight of the Back To Boulder Homcoming Weekend usually surrounds that year’s grand marshal and this year’s honor goes to CU legendary running back Rashaan Salaam.

On the 20th anniversary of his winning the 1994 Heisman trophy, Salaam will help the university commemorate the milestone by serving as a special guest at Pearl Street Stampede the night before the game, being featured at the homecoming parade on the hill on the morning of the game and finally, being recognized during halftime of the game.

This year’s parade theme is “Moments, Milestones & Miracles: 100 Years of Homecoming” and a number of other anniversaries from the 1994 season will be honored including both the “Miracle at Michigan” and Salaam’s historic season that year during which, he rushed for over 2,000 yards and ultimately, took home college football’s biggest honor.

The appointing of the year’s Grand Marshal is considered a very high honor as past honorees have included CU Olympians (Jenny Simpson, Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp), football greats (Kordell Stewart, Alfred Williams and Jeremy Bloom) and even the winner of the fifth season of the reality show Top Chef (CU graduate Hosea Rosenberg).

The distinction adds to what will already be a big month for Salaam as he will celebrate his 40th birthday with a special event at the famed Elway’s Steakhouse in Cherry Creek on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The event, which will double as a fundraiser for the Rashaan Salaam SPIN Foundation, will take place that night from 6:30-10 p.m.

A number of former Buff greats will also be in attendance to help Salaam celebrate and to raise money for an honorable cause.

The Rashaan Salaam SPIN Foundation has worked diligently since 2011 to instill values, ethics and to create a path towards success for children in need throughout the state of Colorado. The event will cost $65 to attend with all proceeds benefitting the foundation.

The gathering will include appetizers from Elway’s kitchen, cocktails and music. Those in attendance will also be afforded the opportunity to take a birthday photo with both Salaam and the Heisman trophy.

For tickets, log on to blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp and enter event code: Salaam. Those who are unable to attend are urged to make a donation at salaamfoundation.org.

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October 7th

… CU in a few minutes …

Tuesday press conference notes and quotes

From B.G. Brooks at cubuffs.com … From their past experiences of being beaten down early, late and at most stops in between, older Colorado Buffaloes like Tyler McCulloch see the improvement. As for first-year Buffs like Ahkello Witherspoon, they feel it.

Last weekend, the Buffs reached the midway point of their 2014 football season – and lost again. They’ve lost four of their first six games and all three of this season’s Pac-12 Conference games.

But if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed it’s not the same old losing story.

CU’s loss to Oregon State followed scripts similar to the previous weeks’ Pac-12 defeats. It’s not the theme they want, but nevertheless it’s the one running through all of the Buffs’ four losses this season, and it’s even traceable to last year’s season-ending loss at Utah.

The Buffs appear to be done with their early rollovers. They’re now pushing games into the fourth quarter. The next step is to keep on pushing and finally punch through.

“For guys who have been here, this is the most fun we’ve had,” said McCulloch, a senior receiver. “You want to compete in every game; that’s what football is all about – competing the whole game. We’re not getting drubbed in the second half and just trying to get out of there.”

Entering the fourth quarter of their four losses, the Buffs led Colorado State 17-14 (a 31-17 loss), trailed Arizona State 38-17 (a 38-24 loss), were tied with Cal 35-35 (a 59-56 double OT loss), and trailed Oregon State 23-21 (a 36-31 loss).

“It’s been a lot of fun being able to compete, but obviously we haven’t gotten the results we’ve wanted so far,” McCulloch said. “But there’s a whole other attitude with this team when we can compete late in games. Ask any older guy and you can tell the difference in this team . . . there’s a whole different vibe about this team that I’ve just noticed since the summer.”

… The rest of the article can be found here …

Notes … This week’s bye comes at a good time, said MacIntyre, in regard to allowing linebacker Addison Gillam and tailback Christian Powell extra time to heal from concussions. He said both players’ concussions symptoms “are way down. Hopefully they’ll be back at full speed next week.” . . . . A point of emphasis this week remains improvement in short-yardage and goal-line situations. “I thought we did better down there last week in short yardage,” MacIntyre noted, adding that the focus is “finding a way to shore up some individual fundamental things we’re doing.” . . . . He said another benefit of the bye week is getting an extended look at some of the younger players who haven’t seen action and remain ticketed for red shirts. “That’s a lot of fun . . . getting some scrimmage time with the younger guys is a good deal.” . . . . Cornerback Kenneth Crawley was the recipient of a critical and controversial pass interference call last weekend. While MacIntyre expects a balance to be drawn between being aggressive and avoiding penalties, he wants his defensive backs to remain aggressive: “If you don’t play aggressive you have no chance,” he said. “It’s a tough game. You’ve got such good quarterbacks and such good receivers it makes it hard on the DBs. I truly believe more aggressive, playing harder, is better than playing passive. We’ve got to keep working at it and he’ll keep getting better.” . . . . The Buffs will practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week, then take Friday and Saturday off before resuming their preparations for USC next Sunday afternoon.

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“Running with Ralphie: The Most Exhilarating Experience in College Sports”

Hard to go wrong with a story headline like that, right?

At Yahoo.com, Graham Watson has published an article with just that headline. The story contains numerous pictures, along with a video. It’s worth six minutes of  your day, and can be found in its entirety here.

The opening:

It’s impossible to explain the feeling of running alongside a buffalo.

Most of the 17 men and women who are lucky enough to be “Ralphie Handlers” at the University of Colorado, grapple for just the right word to describe running next to — attached to — a 1,200-pound wild animal.

But all can agree on one thing: it’s a rush that cannot be replicated.

“It’s literally the coolest thing that I’ve ever been a part of,” senior handler Blake Gouin said. “Making the team was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”

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Coach MacIntyre fined for reaction to officials during Oregon State game

A press release from the Pac-12 … The Pac-12 Conference has reprimanded University of Colorado head football coach Mike MacIntyre and issued a fine of $10,000 for his inappropriate conduct towards the officiating crew at the conclusion of Colorado’s game with Oregon State on Saturday, October 4, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

Following the conclusion of the contest, MacIntyre chased down the officiating crew as it exited the field and vehemently voiced his displeasure before security officials turned him away.

“The public postgame conduct by Colorado head football coach Mike MacIntyre was completely unacceptable,” said Scott. “Such misconduct violates Conference policy and this behavior will not be tolerated.

“The Conference assigns a high priority for administrators, coaches and student-athletes to support its officiating program,” added Scott. “Chasing and confronting an official or officiating crew after the contest fails to meet these high standards”.

Proceeds of the fine will go towards the Pac-12 student-athlete scholarship fund.

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October 6th

… CU in a few minutes …

Colorado at USC set for 4:00 p.m. (MT)

The Buffs next opportunity to win a Pac-12 game will come next Saturday, October 18th, at 4:00 p.m. (MT), and will be aired by the Pac-12 Networks.

The rest of the Pac-12 schedule:

Utah at Oregon State – 8:00 p.m., (MT) Fox (Thursday night)

UCLA at Cal – 1:30 p.m., (MT), ABC/ESPN2

Washington at Oregon – 6:00 p.m., (MT), Fox

Stanford at Arizona State – 8:30 p.m., (MT), ESPN

– Idle – Washington State, Arizona

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Here is the schedule for this weekend (10/10 – 10/11):

Washington State at Stanford – 7:00 p.m., (MT), ESPN (Friday night)

Oregon at UCLA – 1:30 p.m., (MT), Fox

Washington at Cal – 4:00 p.m., (MT), Pac-12 Networks

USC at Arizona – 8:30 p.m., (MT), ESPN2

– Idle – Colorado, Oregon State, Utah, Arizona State

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– Neill Woelk has posted his column for the Oregon State game at the Daily Camera. Entitled, “Buffs must figure out a way to finish”, Neill (as usual) puts to words what many Buff fans are thinking: “The Buffs are close. They have narrowed the gap. But close is no longer good enough — not if this program is indeed going to turn the corner this year”.

– CU head coach Mike MacIntyre is likely to get a call (and perhaps a reprimand) from the Pac-12 offices this week after taking off after the officials at the conclusion of the Oregon State game, according to this article in the Daily Camera. While MacIntyre was animated after the game, he knew any verbal comments to the press would only make this worse … “MacIntyre refused to discuss why he chased down officials after the game and screamed at several of them as they stood in the north end zone of Folsom Field. ‘I can’t comment on officials,’ MacIntyre said. He was asked if chasing down the officials and berating them was a good way to represent himself, his team or CU. ‘I’m not going to comment on officials. I’m not going to comment on that,’ he said. ‘Thank you very much.’

– Michael Adkins, whose 79 yards against Oregon State were more than his totals for the first five games combined, says he is now ready to be productive the rest of the season, according to this interview with the Daily Camera. “My mom gave me a little bit of encouragement from my pastor back home,” Adkins said. “He basically said to shake it off and step it up, and that’s how I’ve been going about this process. It’s definitely encouraging to get some results … Now I’m ready to go physically and mentally. I’m ready to go and attack the rest of the season.”

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September 30th

Coverage of Tuesday’s press conference

Complete transcript of Mike MacIntyre’s press conference, from cubuffs.com …

General
“That game Saturday was a ….. If you were not a defensive coordinator on either team, or you weren’t on the losing team, it was a heck of a game for fans to watch. It was definitely a tough loss for us, one that, a play here or there could’ve definitely won the football game. So, now we’re getting ready for our next one and we have a heck of a team coming in here in Oregon State. I think they’re very, very good. Their quarterback, (Sean) Mannion, can make every throw. (He’s) big, he’s made a lot of plays throughout his career. He has some excellent receivers. I’m very impressed with Storm Woods and (Terron) Ward, their running backs. They’re very, very good football players and I think they’re running the ball a lot better to me or at least they’re trying to attempt to run the ball a lot better. Their (offensive) line is huge. Defensively, they’re very, very active. They do a lot of good things on defense and have played well. And of course, (Oregon State head coach) Mike Riley, he has done a great job for a long time and is very well respected in our business.”

On Whether He Expects Safety Tedric Thompson To Return This Week
“Yes, I do.”

On His Team’s Belief That They Can Win Every Game And How That Has Changed From Last Year To This Year
 “I don’t think they would have said it but, I could tell by the way we kept playing. Sometimes, we just never came back from anything. Now, this team may not get the result we want, but we’re going to be right there fighting for it I believe all the time. I really do.”

On Whether His Team Truly Hates Losing
“Yeah, I think so. I think it goes in steps. You can’t jump from one to 10 overnight. You wish you could, but you can’t. I think it’s a building process with our team and I definitely think that they’re taking steps in the right direction. We just want to be on the other end of the score more often than we are.”

On Quarterback Sefo Liufau’s Performance Against Cal
 “I thought he played really well. I thought he made a lot of good plays. I thought that he handled pressure well. They threw some different things at him. Brian (Lindgren) did a good job of preparing with him throughout the week. I thought that he made a lot of good plays and did a lot of good things in the football game.”

On Whether His Team Might Have To Lose Games Like At Cal In Order To Finally Overcome The Losing Stigma
“You don’t want to have to. I wish we didn’t have to suffer any setbacks. I wish we won every game there was. I do think though that they do understand where we’ve come from and where we’re going. We all want to have been there yesterday, or the day before that, or the day before that. So, the thing is, you can’t lose hope, and they haven’t, you’ve got to endure and you’ve got to have passion. If you have those three things …… You have hope, you have endurance, and you have to have passion, then you can accomplish things. You have to have all three. The hardest one of those is the endurance factor of it because a lot of people give up right when they’re near the top of the mountain and they don’t know that they’re there. So, you just have to keep pushing and one day, you’ll break through. So, hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”

On Whether Fullback/Linebacker George Frazier Might Stick Strictly To The Offensive Side Of The Ball In the Future
“No, not with the situation we’ve had at defensive end. There might be a time but ….. He’s done some really good things at defensive end that you, quote, might not notice as much. He’s had some hurries, he’s had some big plays inside, he’s had some tackles. But, I think with the way we’re utilizing him, he’s not getting tired out, he’s not screwing up on either side of the ball. We’re not over-using him both ways so to speak. I think that he can still keep doing the role that he’s been doing. We’ll keep suing him the way the we’re using him.”

On When Defensive End Markeis Reed Might Return
“This week, he started to go full speed and we’ll see how that goes.”

On Whether Wide Receiver Nelson Spruce Deserves Some Heisman Consideration
“Wow, that’s a big conversation. I definitely think he needs to be in the Biletnikoff conversation. I definitely think that. There’s no doubt about that. I think he’s a heck of a football player for us. Everybody giggled under their breath at me when I said ‘He’s a first-team All-Pac 12 receiver.’ I said it all fall, I said it all pre-season, I said it in the spring. That’s what he is. I think he definitely needs to be in the Biletnikoff talk for sure.”

On The First Moment When He Knew Spruce Was Going To Be Something Special
“My first spring here. I thought he had a knack for making plays, he has strong hands. I like to say he’s always open. He’s just able to separate and catch and do some things. He can jump over you and get it. I think people underrate him athletically, I think that’s what they do. I hope they keep underrating him athletically. Then, he’ll just keep making plays.”

On The Team’s Struggles In Running The Ball In Goal Line And Short Yardage Situations
“Well, we got in a couple times and of course we didn’t get in the last time down there. That’s something that we’re working on. We’re finding ways to be more successful in that area.”

On Struggles Of Running Back Michael Adkins
“He played a little bit better Saturday. His ankle was bothering him the other games a little bit. He was feeling better last week and he did a couple good things Saturday. Hopefully, he’ll do well this Saturday.”

On An Apparent Fumble And Return For A Potential Touchdown Against Cal That Was Inadvertently Blown Dead By The Officials
“I can’t comment on any of that. I can’t comment about the referees. So, I’m not going to comment.”

On Whether There Has Been A Catch That Nelson Spruce Has Made That Has Really Stood Out To Him
“Well, I think two catches are similar to me. The catch that he made against USC last year going into (the south end zone) with about four minutes to go where he jumped into the guy and caught it was the same catch he made in the end zone in overtime (against Cal last Saturday). I think they were spectacular catches. They kind of epitomized the kind of plays that he makes.”

On The Biggest Difference In Spruce’s Play From Last Year To This Year
“I think last year he started, I don’t know if started is the right word, but the last half of the year, he started to make a ton of plays. I think he’s just doing what he did the last half of the year after he kind of got into the swing of everything and we realized the best ways to utilize him and the different things he can do. So, I think that the last half of the year and on, he’s kind of been doing that. I think in the Cal game last year he caught nine or 10 passes and had a really good game. So, I think he just kind of kept going.”

On Freshman Defensive Back Evan White
“He did some good things. He did some good things. He’s a big, good athlete. We played him on special teams and he made some big plays on special teams Saturday. He’s getting better and better in that role and he’ll also play some more on defense and keep going from there. I thought he did a very good job and I think he’s going to be a very good football player in this league.”

On Whether White Has Picked Up Things Quickly
“Yeah, he has. He’s picked things up pretty well. It’s hard back there, that and quarterback are the hardest places to pick things up. About now, he’s got his feet wet and he understands it and he’s doing well.”

On The Loss Of Tedric Thompson In The Second Half On Saturday And How That Might Have Affected The Defense
“Yeah, Tedric has made a lot of big plays and made some really good tackles. There were a few plays here and there in the game that I think he would have been able to make but, everybody else has got to keep stepping up and keep going and keep going from there. I think that he’s a good football player for us.”

On Whether Oregon State Quarterback Sean Mannion Is A Bit Underrated
“I think he has a different style. I  think that’s where the …… In today’s college football, the (Brett) Hundleys and the (Marcus) Mariotas that can run around, they’re really good quarterbacks but, they have a little more flash so to speak maybe because of their ability to run and kind of wow you with their feet. Mannion does not wow you with his feet. No, he’s a, I don’t want to say he’s a throwback but ……. If he would have been playing in the early 90s, late 80s you’d been going …… the other guys might not even be playing because they wouldn’t be running those types of offenses and he’d be throwing it all over the place. I think that he has that ….. I don’t want to stereotype him but, Hundley and Mariota and those types of guys are more dual threats and he’s a drop back, can make every throw, stands tall in the pocket …… He is tall but, he stands tall in the pocket. He can throw it from this hash to over there on that sideline for 25 yards on a dart, he can take it and, at the last second, launch it 60 yards. So, he has that type of passing mentality. So, he doesn’t have the dual threat stats but, he does have the passing stats. So, I think that’s where maybe the difference is in today’s college football for him. But, I think he’s very good.”

On Whether His Team Has Been Able To Quickly Put The Loss Behind Them
“Yeah, I think they’ve focused, I think they’ve come out ready to practice, they’re doing everything we ask. We just have to keep working hard. So, I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen, yes.”

On Whether The Passing Duo of Liufau And Spruce Is Comparable To Some Of The Other Top Duos He Has Coached In His Career
“Wow. I think as they keep going, they’ll keep developing. We had David Fales and Noel Grigsby that broke a lot of records. We also had other guys there too. When I was at Ole Miss, we had (Eli) Manning and (Chris) Collins, who broke a bunch of records at Ole Miss. They’ve been broken since then but, they’re kind of those guys. So, as we go down through it …… But, I would definitely think those two right now, with how they’re connecting and getting the job done in a lot of areas, are exciting to watch and they’ll be …. If they keep doing what they’re doing, they’ll be ones that Colorado people will remember forever. They’ll be in the history books for a long time.”

On The Struggles Of The Oregon State Offense Without Last Year’s Top Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks
“I think they have excellent receivers. Brandin Cooks was, I would say, dynamic. He could go up and get the ball between two people a lot of times. Mannion could trust to throw it up to him and know it’s probably not going to be picked, it’s either going to be batted down or he’ll come up with it. I think (Victor) Bolden, number 6—he can fly. He kind of broke his finger and he was a guy that ….. (Richard Mullaney) is a really good player. He can really jump and catches a lot of fade balls and a lot of things. They’re really good but, I do think they’re trying to run the football more. I think that might be why (Mannion’s) numbers are down a little bit. I think at the end of the year last year, I think they started to run the football more and I think they felt like that might give them more opportunities for play-action and big time shots, which it does. So, I think that’s where they’re trying to balance their attack out a little bit more.”

On Which Areas He Might Want To See Accelerated In Terms Of Quarterback Sefo Liufau’s Development
“He’s really doing a lot of things good. He’s throwing on the run well, he’s got himself in better shape, and he’s running the ball better as you have all noticed. (He needs to) just keep working on being consistent with his accuracy each week, and he has improved that and I think he can keep improving that. I think that’s just getting comfortable in the pocket, and understanding where to go, and how his feet are at different times and he is improving in those areas. But, I think he’s doing a good job.”

On Whether Liufau’s Decision Making Is Coming Along
“Yeah, he’s making good decisions. In our games where we’ve had to throw it and having to do some different things, I thought he made a lot of good decisions. He had one that was a poor decision but, he was being pressured and tried to make a play, that happens sometimes. The quarterback has got to forget about it and go back in on the next series and he did. He forgot about it and came back in on the next series and took us down to score and did a good job there. So, I think being able to put those behind him is showing a lot of maturity.”

On Whether Liufau Being Able To Spread The Ball Around To A Variety Of Receivers Shows Maturity
“It shows you that he is taking his reads, he’s not just looking for one guy all the time. So, he’s done a good job with that. He’s spreading the ball around, getting it to the backs and to Tyler McCulloch, he’s found our tight end some and that type of thing. But, when Spruce is hot, sometimes in your own mind you’re thinking, ‘Well, should I throw to him again?’  But, I think he’s doing a good job in seeing the field and doing what he’s supposed to, reading the right keys, understanding what the defense is giving us. The other thing that he is doing a good job of, and one of the things that is helping him, is understanding our protections better. In today’s college football, people are coming from everywhere. So, he’s understanding where somebody may be coming free from and, if you’ve noticed, he’s been able to move and get it off. We talk about him getting hit—Yeah, he’s going to get hit some but, he’s able to move and not take as abrupt a hit anymore as much. He’s starting to understand it, which I think is another maturity process because it gives him a little bit more time in the pocket, and a little bit more time for somebody to come open. He’s doing a good job of throwing it away when he knows he doesn’t have anything either. He does a very good job of that.”

On Whether Nelson Spruce Is The Cause Of The Heavy Scout Turnout At Practice
“Well, he’s a junior so, they don’t ask me anything about Nelson. I’m pretty sure the whole country knows what he’s doing. (The scouts) just come through on their own. They schedule all that stuff way ahead of time. They come through all the time. We have scouts at basically every practice. They just hit at different times. Sometimes it depends on their cycle and what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. The good thing for us in terms of practicing in the morning, it gives our players more visibility because everybody else practices in the afternoon. So, everybody comes here. They get off the plane and come here and then start going everywhere else. Since we practice in the morning, we usually have more scouts. Because they can get here in the morning and, instead of sleeping in, they can get some work done.”

On Managing The Psyche Of A Young Team
“I think they’ve stayed steady in understanding that you’ve got to work. That’s been our motto every week. We try to put every game behind us and we try to go 1-0 every week because it’s a whole new week and a whole new game. I look at every game as a season in itself. You have different injuries, you have different things. But, I want our team to enjoy the game, to watch it, to be into it, to be behind each other, to be there for each other and I think that’s extremely important. I think college football is an emotional game and it’s an exciting game. There’s a lot of things that have to do with that and I think that everybody is involved with football. Football is an interesting game, I’ve said it a lot of times but, it always blows my mind that there’s 75 guys standing out there watching and 11 playing. Then, a guy runs in for one play and he’s out. Then, ten minutes later, he runs in for one play and he’s out. So, they have to be involved, they have to be into it. So, if they’re not mentally into it, they’re not emotionally invested in it, we’re not going to get a consistent fight for the entire time and that’s what you have to do. You have to be ready to fight at any drop of the hat and you don’t know when that drop of the hat is going to be. That’s a thing that our older guys and our younger guys are starting to really understand—how intense you have to be, how invested you have to be, how passionate you have to be to try to be successful. It doesn’t just happen. You can’t just turn the switch on, it’s got to be on full-go all the time. It’s a mentality, it definitely is. It’s a mentality and a habit.”

On Whether The Team Has Shored Up The Kickoff Coverage Deficiencies That Plagued Them Earlier In The Season
“Yeah we’ve ironed some out. They got one around the edge the other day on us and we pushed him out of bounds at about the 38-yard line, which isn’t good. But, I feel like we’re doing better. We’ve made some (tackles inside the 20) and we’re doing some good things there. As you have different injuries and different things happen ….. That’s one of the teams that Tedric Thompson is on. He’s a really good open-field tackler, really tough and really fast. You take him out of the mix, now you’ve got another guy in there. So, I think we’re getting more and more guys that can do that and then we can have more and more good athletes out there because it’s a big-time athletic play on that situation.”

On Addison Gillam’s Performance Against Cal
“Addison did well especially with not being able to practice for most of the week and was cleared. I thought he did some good things. He was a little bit rusty at first then, he kind of got his feel to it. Then, Brady Daigh went in there and some and did some good things. We also had Kenneth Olugbode play his spot some and Ryan Severson play. We knew it was hot on that turf. It wasn’t real hot outside but it was real hot on turf, especially the turf that’s not that cool turf that has the black pebbles in it, so it gets a lot hotter. But, I thought he did a good job. I thought he made some plays and did some good things.”

——–

From B.G. Brooks at cubuffs.com …

WHITE STEPPING UP

Until last weekend, freshman safety Evan White had seen more special teams duty than in CU’s secondary. That changed, although he continued to work on “teams” and made a highlight reel contribution on the punt coverage squad.

With a headlong dive into the end zone, White batted a Darragh O’Neill punt back onto the playing field, where it was downed at the Cal 1-yard line. Neinas called White’s play “highlight level . . . really cool. It shows awareness and obviously a very high level of athleticism.”

White, of Aurora (Cherokee Trail HS), plays on three special teams – punt and kickoff coverage and kickoff return – and according to Neinas has “been getting better every week. He had his best game on kickoff return (at Cal) and that’s the one he’s spent the least amount of time on. He’s just getting consistently better.”

At Cal, he also logged his most plays at safety, filling in for Tedric Thompson when the sophomore starter left the game in the first half with a sternum injury. MacIntyre said Thompson, who leads the Buffs in interceptions (three) and was the leading tackler (41, 30 solo) until missing Saturday’s second half, is expected to be back against Oregon State.

Subbing for Thompson, White made three tackles (one solo). In five games he’s been in on 43 snaps at safety, contributing five tackles (three solo) and one quarterback pressure.

MacIntyre called the 6-3, 196-pound White “a big, good, athletic player . . . he’s picked up things well. Playing back there (in the secondary) and playing quarterback are two of the hardest things” in football.

After five games, White said he is adjusting to the speed of the game and learning what’s expected of a safety in the Buffs defense. “I’m definitely picking things up,” he said. “Things have slowed down a little for me. I’m just getting used to the speed and memorizing all these plays . . . but every week I’m feeling better and better.”

White views his special teams work as crucial as his play at safety. “Everything I do on this team is big,” he said. “I’m trying to give 100 percent effort in everything I do.”

LEARNING TO WIN, HATING TO LOSE

The two fit like hand in glove, and MacIntyre says he’s seeing both in his second Buffs team.

Of last season’s 3-8 squad, he said, “Sometimes, we just never came back from anything. Now, this team may not get the result we want, but we’re going to be right there fighting for it I believe all the time. I really do.”

On developing a hatred for losing, he believes “it goes in steps. You can’t jump from one to 10 overnight. You wish you could, but you can’t. I think it’s a building process with our team and I definitely think that they’re taking steps in the right direction. We just want to be on the other end of the score more often than we are.”

Junior receiver Nelson Spruce said when he and the other Buffs captains spoke to the team Tuesday morning, he mentioned “learning to win.” He added that in his four seasons at CU, “I’ve never seen a team play like this . . . I said we’re right on the brink and just have to keep working.”

ONE WAY FOR TWO-WAY FRAZIER?

Not any time soon.

George Frazier continues to play offense (fullback) and defense (end). His most eye-catching stats have been on offense, where he has two receiving TDs and one rushing TD.

But MacIntyre said the 6-3, 260-pound redshirt freshman is contributing at defensive end in ways that might not be so apparent and the long-term plan is still for Frazier to play on both sides of the ball – particularly this season because of injuries at defensive end.

“There might be a time but . . .,” MacIntyre said. “He’s done some really good things at defensive end that you, quote, might not notice as much. He’s had some (QB) hurries, he’s had some big plays inside, he’s had some tackles.

“But, I think with the way we’re utilizing him, he’s not getting tired out, he’s not screwing up on either side of the ball. We’re not over-using him both ways so to speak. I think that he can still keep doing the role that he’s been doing. We’ll keep using him the way the we’re using him.”

NOTABLE

Call him “Deuce Spruce.” Nelson Spruce is averaging two TD receptions a game and is the FBS leader in receiving yards (697) and receptions per game (11.2). His 10 TDs top the Pac-12 and he’s tied for the conference lead in scoring. Asked Tuesday if Spruce belongs in Heisman Trophy conversations, MacIntyre paused briefly and said Spruce certainly belongs in Biletnikoff Award conversations. “People underrate him athletically,” MacIntyre said. “I hope they continue to and he’ll keep making plays.” . . . . Redshirt freshman defensive end Markeis Reed, who had preseason surgery on a sports hernia, is dressing out and should begin actively practicing this week. MacIntyre said Reed “is doing more things” but has not projected a time for him to see playing time . . . . Michael Adkins II, last season’s leading rusher, is averaging six carries a game and 2.57 yards a carry. He’s slowly coming back from an early ankle injury, said MacIntyre: “He played a little bit better Saturday. His ankle was bothering him the other games a little bit. He was feeling better last week and he did a couple good things Saturday. Hopefully, he’ll do well this Saturday.” Adkins had six carries for 5 yards last weekend, with a long run of 6 yards.

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September 19th

Updated information on GameDay at Folsom Field

From cubuffs.com … The Universtiy of Colorado athletic department would like to thank you for your patience as we rolled out some new features at our game against Arizona State. We are constantly evaluating ways we can improve your experience at Folsom Field.

We have made a few modifications for this week’s game that you need to be aware of if you’re headed to Boulder on Saturday for our game with Hawai’i (12 p.m. kickoff).

• Due to the kickoff time of 12 p.m., the parking lots will open at 8 a.m. for this game.
• We have changed access at the north end of the stadium.
  • The in-stadium footprint will now extend from the rec center, headed east down Stadium Drive to the eastern end of Dal Ward. The scan-in points for customers entering from the path or Stadium Drive for the Touchdown Club and other northwest entrance points will not have to scan in and out of gates at Dal Ward and the Rec Center. That entire area will now be part of the in-stadium footprint.
  • There will be scanning points at the top of the trail from lot 169 and the Boulder Creek Path, but only two scanners will be at that entrance point so we strongly recommend you come up Stadium Drive and enter the stadium near Dal Ward.

The radio broadcast of the game will air on 760 AM KKZN tomorrow with pregame starting at 10 a.m. there and at 10:35 a.m. across the Colorado Football Radio Network.  The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.  Find it on our channel guide, or log in to www.pac-12.com/now or via the Pac-12 Now App.

Speaking of Apps, make sure to get the CU Buffs Gameday App, now available on both iTunes and Google Play for free.  Listen to game audio, keep up with live game stats and get all the info you need with our GamedayGuide, plus much more.

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September 16th

CU finalizes 2015 schedule; Pac-12 home opener against Oregon

From cubuffs.com … The University of Colorado and the Pac-12 Conference released the conference game portions of the 2015 football schedules Tuesday evening, with the Buffaloes to host four schools, two from inside their South Division, as well as travel to five schools in as many states.

Colorado will open the conference slate at home on October 3 against Oregon, the second time in three years the Buffaloes will open opposite the Ducks.  Arizona then will visit Boulder two weeks later (October 17), with Stanford visiting three weeks after that (November 7).

The home finale is against Southern California, and that game will be nationally televised as it is scheduled for a Friday night, November 13.

The Buffaloes travel to Arizona State (October 10), and then will have two sets of back-to-back games away from home: Oregon State and UCLA (October 24-31) and Washington State and Utah to close the regular season (November 21-28).

Previously announced were CU’s non-conference schedules through 2019; by announcing the 2015 conference games now, the Pac-12 broke from previous years in waiting until January to do so.  The schedules:

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Nelson Spruce added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list

Record-setting wide receiver Nelson Spruce was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, according to a press release from the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, who hands out the award. A total of 12 receivers were added, with Isiah Myers of Washington State the only other receiver from the Pac-12 added to the list.

The Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top wide receiver, has been around since 1994. The 2014 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 11, 2014, by college and pro football hall of famer Fred Biletnikoff on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on ESPN.

Nelson Spruce leads the Buffs with 24 catches for 346 yards and six touchdowns. His three-game streak of two-touchdown reception games is a school record, and he just missed out this past weekend on becoming the first CU receiver with three straight 100-yard receiving games since 1993 (Spruce had seven catches for 97 yards against Arizona State).

No Buff has ever won the Biletnikoff Award. As close as any CU player has come was in 1996, when Rae Carruth was one of three finalists.

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September 15th

Men’s basketball schedule set

From cubuffs.com … The full story about the schedule (every game will be televised!) can be found here.

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2014-15 COLORADO MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DATE – OPPONENT – Time (MST) – TV

Fri. Nov. 14 DREXEL 6:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Mon. Nov. 17 #AUBURN 11:00 p.m. ESPN2

Sat. Nov. 22 %at Wyoming TBA ESPN3

Tue. Nov. 25 AIR FORCE 7:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Sun. Nov. 30 LIPSCOMB Noon Pac‐12 Networks

Wed. Dec. 3 SAN FRANCISCO 8:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Sun. Dec. 7 at Georgia 10:00 a.m. SEC Network

Wed. Dec. 10 COLORADO STATE 7:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Sat. Dec. 13 NORTHERN COLORADO 4:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Mon. Dec. 22 ^vs. DePaul 2:30 p.m. ESPNU

Tue. Dec. 23 ^vs. George Washington or Ohio 2:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. ESPNU

Thu. Dec. 25 ^vs. Hawai’i/Loyola Marymount/ 11:30 a.m./2 p.m./ ESPNU/ESPN2/ESPN3

Nebraska/Wichita State 4:30 p.m./6:30 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 2 *UCLA 8:00 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Sun. Jan. 4 *USC Noon Pac‐12 Networks

Wed. Jan. 7 *at Utah 7:00 p.m. ESPN2

Thu. Jan. 15 *at Arizona 7:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2

Sat. Jan. 17 *at Arizona State 2:30 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Thu. Jan. 22 *WASHINGTON 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Sat. Jan. 24 *WASHINGTON STATE 6:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Thu. Jan. 29 *at USC 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Sat. Jan. 31 *at UCLA 8:30 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Sat. Feb. 7 *UTAH 8:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Thu. Feb. 12 *CALIFORNIA 7:00 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Sun. Feb. 15 *STANFORD 2:00 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Wed. Feb. 18 *at Oregon 9:00 p.m. ESPNU

Sat. Feb. 21 *at Oregon State 9:00 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Thu. Feb. 26 *ARIZONA 7:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2

Sun. Mar. 1 *ARIZONA STATE 6:30 p.m. ESPNU

Thu. Mar. 5 *at Washington 7:00 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Sat. Mar. 7 *at Washington State 4:30 p.m. Pac‐12 Networks

Wed.‐ Mar. 11‐14 **Pac‐12 Tournament TBD Pac‐12 Networks/ESPN

Home Games in CAPS

#‐ESPN 24‐hour College Hoops Tip‐Off Marathon; ^‐Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu, Hawai’i)

*‐Pac‐12 Conference Game; **‐MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Dates are subject to change; All times are Mountain; %‐Wyoming is hosting Boise State in football that day; kickoff will be established 12 days out, then a basketball time will be determined.

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Colorado at Cal to kickoff at 2:00 p.m. (MT) next Saturday

The Pac-12 has released its television schedule for next weekend. The Buffs will travel to Berkeley to take on the Cal Bears, with the kickoff set for 1:00 P.M. (PT).

Here’s the full slate:

September 13th

“Black Storm” helmets make their debut in the Arizona State game

Here is a look at the helmets given to CU players for the first time for the Pac-12 home opener. The CU equipment guys are calling these helmets “Black Storm”:

September 11th

… CU in a few minutes …

CU All-Time Quarterbacks

A little Colorado history to remind you of what has been, and what can be …

http://vimeo.com/45980543

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CU GameDay news and notes

The CU athletic department has set out some notes concerning Saturday’s home opener (reprinted below). There is news and notes about parking, construction and gate access, concessions … and two new beer gardens!

It should also be noted that, per an agreement with Comedy Central and copyright laws, no media outlet will be allowed to air the South Park video which will be shown on BuffVision (approximately ten minutes before kickoff). So, if you want to see the South Park creation, you’ll just have to get inside a little earlier …

PARKING LOTS: Parking lots will open six hours before kickoff. In the past they were open for four hours before kickoff. This gives you an extra two hours to enjoy the gameday atmosphere in our parking lots. If you don’t have a season parking pass in a Buff Club lot, you can park on Main Campus for $25 a spot, or park on East Campus and take the shuttle for $10. The East Campus parking area is located off Colorado Avenue at 33rd Street. Check out the gameday map to see all your parking and access options.
CONSTRUCTION ACCESS: The construction footprint has changed access to the north end of the stadium, including but not limited to, Gates 13 through 19 as well as Dal Ward and Stadium Drive. Please review the football gameday map so you are aware of the new routes and access points.
GATES: All gates to Folsom Field will open two hours prior to kickoff. In the past they opened 90 minutes before kickoff. Be reminded that the majority of access points on the north end of the stadium are no longer there due to construction, so we strongly encourage fans to arrive at the gates no later than 30 minutes before kickoff to avoid lines and to get into the building quickly and safely with plenty of time before Ralphie and the Buffaloes take the field.
NEW SEATING AREAS: We debut three new seating areas on Saturday with our Touchdown Loge Boxes, Touchdown Club Seats and Champions Club Seats. The Touchdown Club seats are sold out for this season, but fans interested in upgrading to a Touchdown Loge Box or the Champions Club can do so on a single game basis, or prorated for the rest of the season by calling 303-492-8282.
CONCESSIONS: We have a new concessions partner this season, as we welcome Levy Restaurants to Folsom Field. We hope you will enjoy the new food and beverage options they provide, as well as the traditional football game fare.
BEER GARDENS: We are pleased to announce that we will have two beer gardens open inside the footprint of Folsom Field. The Buffalo Beer Garden presented by Hazel’s will be open near the buffalo statue on the southwest plaza of Folsom Field. The Balch Beer Garden will be open inside Balch Fieldhouse. You must be at least 21 years of age with a valid ID to enter these areas, which will be open beginning two hours before kickoff and close at the end of the 3rd quarter. Beer and wine will not be permitted to leave the beer gardens.
RE-ENTRY POLICY: Re-entry is permitted at all gates by scanning out your ticket upon exit and then re-scanning in with your ticket upon re-entry. You are able to scan out for re-entry up until the beginning of the 3rd quarter. You are able to re-enter the stadium by scanning back in up until the beginning of the 4th quarter.
We understand that all of these enhancements and changes represent a transition for many of our fans, and we will communicate on an ongoing basis if there are changes to access or any other impacts you might experience. We encourage you to visit www.cubuffs.com/gameday before each game to see updated information, as well as download our CU Buffs Gameday app which will have the most updated maps and access points. You will also continue to receive the pregame emails the day before our home games, which will contain information as well as links to more details each game. Our biggest piece of advice will be to make your best effort to enter the stadium as early as possible. Thank you again for your support and Go Buffs! See you Saturday!Rick George Director of Athletics

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September 10th

… CU in a few minutes …

CU GameDay app now available (and it’s cool!)

No Colorado Buffaloes fan truly bleeds black and gold until their smartphone can, too. In partnership with Learfield Sports and Boulder-based company SportsLabs, the Buffs proudly present the all-new and free CU Buffs Gameday app, available on both iTunes and Google Play.

Perfect for fans both at home and at the game, through the app fans can listen to the Colorado Radio Network broadcast of the game, stay up to date with live game stats and engage with a live social media feed while also finding scores from across the nation.

Fans at the game can also find a comprehensive Fan Guide that will include everything from stadium policies to where to find different food options or restrooms, plus an interactive Gameday Map with parking and other details from in and around Folsom Field.

DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW FROM iTUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY.

The app also makes buying tickets and purchasing Colorado Buffaloes gear easier than ever before, and fans can even visit cubuffs.com from within the app.

CU Buffs Gameday’s rollout coincides with Colorado’s home opener against No. 17 Arizona State on September 13 (8 p.m., ESPNU), so Buffs and Sun Devils alike can enjoy every angle of Saturday’s game.

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Good news / bad news for Saturday’s game

First, the bad news … A crowd of only around 36,000 is expected for Saturday night’s game against Arizona State. This would be comparable to the 35,168 on hand for last season’s home opener against Central Arkansas. The last time Colorado had less than 40,000 on hand for the first home conference game of the season was way back in 1985, when 38,604 were on hand to watch the Buffs take down Missouri, 38-7.

Now, the good news … For those who will attend, there is this teaser in this week’s CU Game Notes … Most know that the creators of South Park are CU alums: Trey Parker, Matt Stone and animator Eric Stough. Trey voices Eric Cartman; he teamed with Eric this summer to create a short (roughly 20 seconds) vignette that will debut during this Saturday’s countdown to kickoff prior to the Arizona State game. That’s all we’ll reveal at this time …

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September 9th

… CU in a few minutes …

Letter from Mike MacIntyre

A note from the coach to those who went to the game in Boston. A nice touch …

“On behalf of myself, our coaches and team, I want to personally thank you for joining us in Gillette Stadium for our victory over Massachusetts on Saturday.

The crowd was nearly a 50-50 split of CU fans and those for the home team, and you made a tremendous difference in the outcome of the game; it was great to see that kind of turnout for what was our longest road trip ever in the continental United States. Thank you for enduring the heat and humidity to join us.

We had Buffs fans from twenty one states in the stadium, so whether you live in the Boston area, came in by bus or train from the east coast, or by plane from as far away as Colorado and California, your presence was felt. It sent a great message to everyone in our program, as we were excited to see so much black and gold in the stands.

We look forward to continually earning this kind of support in the future. Go Buffs!

Mike MacIntyre”

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Meltdowns across the nation

So, you think CU fans are upset with how the 2014 season has unfolded so far?

Imagine being the fan of one of the elite teams who has already posted an unexpected “L” or two.

A compilation has been prepared of some of the nastier comments found on various team websites (warning: the language used is often not suitable for children … or rational adults). A few samples (and thanks to diego91 at BuffStampede.com for finding this link):

Michigan (which lost Notre Dame, 31-0) …

– This is why I don’t buy into preseason hype, or a performance against a terrible app state team. Neg me all you want, but Hoke hasn’t shown his teams can win on the road. His best road win is against a terrible NW team. Here’s to another 8-4 season. I’m officially hammered now.

– My life revolves around this god damn team. I live and die with decisions made my 18 year old children. I visit this god damn blog every 3 mins. I want to die when we get this beat. I’m done caring, there’s just more important things in life I can focus on

– Wife: “Why are you still watching?” – I’m… not sure how to respond

Ohio State (which lost to Virginia Tech, 35-21) …

– We’ll start our own playoffs, for the inaugural “we were better than the SEC 100 years ago” Championship.

– Silver lining… OSU plays in the Big Ten.

– i love the buckeye and I want only the best ( win every game) but I do not see things the way most of you do. I do not see us as dominating as YOU ALL PEETEND! Take off your beer goggles and look at the facts! We are not as dominating as you think!

– 56 days until the wrestling season starts…

– Interior of our line is made of wet toilet paper.

Texas (which lost to BYU, 41-7)

– How does an athletic department this bad get its own network?

– I hate my life

– Is Aggy playing? I was hoping to watch an American football game this evening.

– So I guess this means we are officially out of the playoff this year

– we are being realistic there isnt a win left on our schedule

– I’m a raised southern Baptist who goes to church every Sunday and who loves jesus but I need a drink

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September 8th

… CU in a few minutes …

Hawai’i game at Colorado set for noon on September 20th

Colorado’s game against Hawai’i was not picked up by the networks (not a surprise), and will be shown by the Pac-12 Networks at noon on Saturday, September 20th.

Here is the full lineup for the Pac-12 next weekend, which includes two conference games:

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September 5th

… CU in a few minutes …

Buffs looking for an identity – and redemption – in Foxboro

From cubuffs.com … In week two of August camp the Colorado Buffaloes faced “Identity Week,” a grueling stretch in which they sought to forge an ID that would push them into college football’s 2014 regular season and hopefully beyond.

If week one of the regular season didn’t result in an outright identity crisis, it at least turned the Buffs sharply toward introspection. Their second game, September’s first, and the season’s first road trip don’t collectively qualify as a crossroad. But a bitter 31-17 loss last weekend to in-state rival Colorado State makes it imperative for the Buffs to reestablish who they think they are and what they want to be in 2014.

“I wouldn’t say (our identity) took a hit,” senior linebacker Woodson Greer said this week. “But I don’t think we were as focused as we needed to be. Our mindset wasn’t ‘stop the run, stop the run.’ It was more ‘beat CSU, beat CSU.’ But I think we’re grounded now and we understand where we are and what we have to do to make this team better.”

If that’s true, CU will leave Gillette Stadium early Saturday evening having handled a heavy underdog. With CU opening as a 17-point favorite against Massachusetts (1 p.m. MDT, ESPN3), the oddsmakers believe the Buffs should be able to easily reclaim their identity against a Mid-American Conference opponent that is only 2-22 in three seasons of league membership.

Life in the FBS hasn’t been a breeze for the Minutemen. UMass finished last season 1-11 and dropped its 2014 season-opener 30-7 to Boston College. Saturday’s meeting is the first of three for CU and UMass, with games in 2015 and 2021 to be played in Boulder.

Despite his team being a heavy favorite, CU coach Mike MacIntyre contends that role doesn’t shade his view of what the Buffs must do on Saturday in their second game in as many weeks in an NFL stadium. Since the CSU loss, he said he has seen “a hungriness” in his players’ eyes.

“You only get so many games,” MacIntyre said. “And you can’t overlook anybody by any stretch of the imagination.”

One of football’s oldest adages is that teams make their biggest improvement between their first and second games. If that holds true for the Buffs, they’ll show dramatic improvement in run defense. CSU pounded out 266 yards rushing and three touchdowns last weekend.

Despite its success, Greer said the Rams’ ground game offered the Buffs no surprises: “We knew they were going to try (to run), but with the loss of their big tight end (Crockett Gillmore) we didn’t think it was going to be that much of a factor.”

Maybe that in itself was enough of a surprise.

Nonetheless, CU’s vulnerability to the run now becomes a starting point for opponents’ game-planning through November – or until the Buffs show they’ve toughened up that phase of their defense or can make the necessary in-game adjustments. UMass might not be the most accurate measuring stick for that; the Minutemen ran for only 55 yards on opening weekend.

But circumstances might different this week — and they certainly will be for the Buffs. Although there will be plenty of sea-level air for the guys who play at altitude, that air will be hot and humid. Saturday’s temperatures are forecast to be in the mid- to upper-80s. And it won’t be Rocky Mountain dry, which will push MacIntyre and his staff into using considerably more players than they did last weekend in Denver.

Of his team’s week one to week two improvement, MacIntyre said, “We need to shore up some defensive front stuff. We just need to do what we need to do. I did like our fast start (vs. CSU) but we have to finish better.”

… Continued at cubuffs.com …

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September 4th

… CU in a few minutes …

Northeast corner seats on schedule to be ready for next Saturday’s game against Arizona State

The Daily Camera is reporting that Rick George has indicated that the north end zone seats will definitely be in place for next Saturday night’s game against Arizona State, while the northeast corner seats are on schedule for completion as well. “I’m optimistic that it will be done and have every belief that it will be done but something could happen outside of our control,” George said. “But we plan on it being done.”

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CU offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren: “It would have been nice to pound that thing in”

The Daily Camera is quoting CU offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren as being as being as upset as the rest of the Buff Nation in the inability of the CU offense to score touchdowns in the red zone. “You can always look back and say, ‘We should have done that,'” Lindgren said Wednesday. “But I think going into the game that was kind of the plan. We’ve talked about being physical down there and running our plays down there. I think it’s a matter of will. It was a turning point one way or the other, but it would have been nice to have pounded that thing in. I think at the time that would have changed the momentum in our favor. We’ve just got to execute better.”

—

Coach MacIntyre: “We seemed pretty sharp on everything (in practice), including our run game”

From B.G. Brooks at cubuffs.com … One day ahead of a cross-country trip to New England, Colorado was fully focused on restoring all that was lost on Friday night against Colorado State.

A team with which confidence has rarely been an issue did some soul-searching this week and what the Pac-12 Conference’s youngest team found was a renewed brand of resilience that has helped them bounce back quickly as they continue to prepare for the Minutemen of Massachusetts.

“We’ll definitely play better than we did last week,” coach Mike MacIntyre said. “Those young guys just got a little nervous. They kind of got their feet wet. They’ll start to understand everything and keep getting better and better as we go.”

The extra day of preparation this week has given the team the unique opportunity to recover more quickly than they may not have during a normal game week. As a result, the team had the opportunity to address a number of issues thoroughly, chief among them shoring up a running game that struggled to find holes against CSU.

“(Our preparation) is going well,” MacIntyre said. “I think we’re kind of ahead of schedule. I thought we had a good practice today and we seemed pretty sharp on everything including our run game.”

A running game that showed promise throughout camp hit a major bump in the road early in the second quarter Friday night in what became, in retrospect, one of the game’s biggest turning points.

The Buffs led 7-0 at the four-minute mark of the first quarter and then began a drive that would last 14 plays and eat up nearly 7:00 on the clock. The drive eventually led to a 1st-and-goal at the CSU 2-yard line and what seemed like a sure opportunity to take a two touchdown lead and all of the game’s momentum as halftime approached.

Instead, the Buffs came up short on three consecutive handoffs to running backs who tried time and again to pound the ball up the middle. They finally settled for a 23-yard Will Oliver field goal that helped to reenergize a Rams team that had appeared lethargic up until that point.

“Of course we’d like to find a way to get (the ball) into the end zone down there,” MacIntyre said. “(CSU) did a good job but, we also blocked it pretty good one time and they kind of came in late. We’d like to try to find a way to crease it up in there. Sometimes you do and sometimes the guy slips off of you. But we just have to find a way to get in the end zone.”

—

University of Colorado issues $100 million in bonds to complete facilities upgrade project

From Bloomberg.com … The University of Colorado is joining the athletic-facilities arms race with a $155 million football stadium overhaul as it seeks to revive a struggling program and keep pace with conference competitors.

The public university sold a record $304 million of tax-exempt bonds last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It will use $100 million for the stadium on the flagship Boulder campus, and $25 million will go toward a parking garage. The rest will refinance debt and fund projects such as a $49 million student village, bond documents show.

… The university last month raised the cost of the project to $155 million from the $142 million approved in December. The tally includes removing aging bleachers and installing loge boxes and club seats. The work also includes building an indoor practice field, weight-training and locker rooms and new athletics offices. Capacity will fall to about 50,500 after the project, from around 53,600 now, according to the school. Fundraising and corporate sponsors will cover some of the costs.

The project will “maximize the competitiveness and academic performance of student athletes,” the school said in a prospectus for the bond sale. “Planned facilities improvements will create a more efficient and productive department, enhance recruitment, assist in retaining top talent, and foster an environment to support ongoing fundraising for intercollegiate athletics.”

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September 2nd

… CU in a few minutes …

Sefo Liufau: “It comes down to heart and scheme . . . we didn’t execute like we should have”.

From B.G. Brooks at cubuffs.com …  In reality, the wait for the next game pales alongside the length of the road trip. But for Derek McCartney and his University of Colorado defensive teammates, both are agonizingly long.

In the wake of last Friday night’s 31-17 season-opening loss to Colorado State, the Buffaloes as a whole are eager for game two. But a big edge in the eagerness department might go to CU’s defense.

In Friday night’s second half, the Buffs gave up 185 of the Rams’ 266 total rushing yards and allowed 17 decisive fourth-quarter points. McCartney & Co. hope to put their week one disappointment behind them and move on – and it’s quite a move they’ll be making.

Taking its longest road trip ever in the continental U.S., CU plays Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. MDT, ESPN3) in Foxboro, Mass., against the University of Massachusetts. One way, the trip is 1,770 miles, and to acclimate after the roughly five-hour the Buffs traveling party is leaving DIA about noon on Thursday.

But the mileage isn’t on McCartney’s mind nearly as much as overall improvement in game two. “We’re just fired up the (CSU) loss . . . we’re excited to get going and play again,” the redshirt freshman defensive end said.

Starting his first college game, McCartney was in on 44 plays and made three unassisted tackles – one of them a quarterback sack that forced a fumble and snuffed a CSU drive. Nonetheless, he said the Buffs defense “missed a lot of plays up front” and he encountered “a lot of gap control problems . . . a lot of us need to work on technical things.”

UMass lost last weekend’s opener to Boston College 30-7 and managed only 202 yards in total offense (55 rushing, 147 passing). McCartney called the Minutemen schematically similar to the Rams, but CU won’t face the four-legged running attack (Dee Hart, Treyous Jarrells) it saw from CSU.

Hart ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while Jarrells had 121 and one TD. UMass’ leading rusher in its opening loss was J.T. Blyden, with 43 yards on nine carries.

RAMPING UP THE CU RUN GAME

Run defense hasn’t been UMass’ strong suit. After giving up 215.5 yards a game (106th in the FBS) and finishing 1-11 in 2013, the Minutemen allowed BC 338 rushing yards (511 in total offense) in their opener.

CU rushed for 134 yards against CSU, but coach Mike MacIntyre said the Buffs were “on track to get over 200” had his offense not been playing from behind in the fourth quarter and passing more. “I wish we could have run it a few more times. If we’d stayed in the game, we could have run it 20 more times.”

MacIntyre is hopeful the Buffs can exploit the Minutemen’s run defense for a second consecutive week, but he added a qualifier about the Eagles’ success on the ground. BC, he said, routinely used two and three tight ends and showed “a lot more run emphasis in that game . . . we have to have good balance (and) take some pressure off of Sefo (Liufau, quarterback).”

Liufau said CU’s running game “stalled a little bit” against CSU “and that goes on me, too . . . we should be able to run against any team. But I think (against UMass) we want to keep it pretty standard with run/pass, keep it balanced and hit the weak spots. There’s always room for improvement, and we’ll put some new wrinkles in that will help us this week.”

Among the Buffs’ most glaring ground game breakdowns against the Rams was a failure to score a TD on three running plays from the CSU 2-yard line. “It was a different thing (that went wrong) on every play,” Liufau said. “It comes down to heart and scheme . . . we didn’t execute like we should have”.

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August 31st

… CU in a few minutes …

— CU is going to be running a series of stories and videos from the 1994 season, reliving Rashaan Salaam’s run to the Heisman trophy. The video from the 1994 season opener against Northeastern Louisiana has been posted here.

— Neill Woelk, a great columnist for the Daily Camera for many years (now living in Oregon), has penned a special column for the Camera concerning the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The article, entitled, “Loss leaves plenty of questions for CU Buffs“, is definitely worth a few minutes of your time. Neill is not a cheerleader, nor a harsh critic, of the CU program. He merely tells it like it is – which  is all you can ask for.

— The 2014 Rocky Mountain Showdown had the highest attendance – 63,363 – since 2008. With benchmarks for continuing the contract largely in place, the Daily Camera reports that it is highly unlikely that there will be anything but CU/CSU matchups through to the end of the contract in 2020.

— Former Buff Jenny Simpson continues to win races. This Thursday, she won the 1500 meters in Zurich, and with it, the Diamond League overall title in the metric Mile event plus $50,000

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August  27th

CU men’s cross-country unanimous No. 1 in preseason poll

From the Daily Camera … Mark Wetmore’s men’s cross country team is getting the respect you would expect the defending national champions to receive.

In a unanimous vote, the CU men’s team was named No. 1 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Buffs received all 12 first-place votes (360 points) in the poll.

Picking the Buffs No. 1 appears an easy choice as they return all seven athletes from their title team and add senior Jake Hurysz, a 2012 All-American that redshirted in 2013.

Hurysz is joined by fellow All-Americans seniors Morgan Pearson and Blake Theroux, junior Pierce Murphy and sophomore Ben Saarel.

This is the first time since 2009 (Oregon) that the preseason No. 1 team was a unanimous choice. Behind the Buffs this year are Northern Arizona (339) and Oregon (336). Oklahoma State (319) and Stanford (307) round out the top 5.

The CU women’s team was picked eighth to start the season after a seventh-place finish at NCAAs in 2013. Michigan is the preseason No. 1 with 342 points. Pac-12 Conference foes Oregon (330 points, second) and Stanford (314, fourth) are ahead of the Buffs (277 points) in the women’s poll.

Colorado opens the cross country season Saturday with the time trial on CU’s South Campus at the Buffalo Ranch Cross Country Course. The women’s 5.8K race is at 8:30 a.m. and the men’s 8K will follow at 9:15 a.m. Parking and admission are free.

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August 22nd

CU Video posts two new videos!

Emmy-award winning CU Video is at it again, posting two new videos for your enjoyment.

Here is Proving Grounds – Fall Camp, 2014

http://vimeo.com/104228612

The second is “Running behind Ralphie at the Freshman Kickoff“. I don’t know who came up with the idea of bringing the freshman class to Folsom, but I know it’s been going on for several years … and it’s a great idea!

Need more? Go to the cubuffs.com website, where there is a daily countdown of the top ten plays in the CU/CSU rivalry over the past ten years.

A new clip is being posted each day, just to keep you interested … and get you excited about next Friday!

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August 21st

Folsom Field capacity down … but not necessarily potential ticket revenue

From the Daily Camera … The capacity at Folsom Field is shrinking by approximately 3,000 seats this season because of the $156 million renovation and construction project ongoing at the stadium.

The capacity in recent years has been 53,316 but will be approximately 50,300 when new seating areas in the northeast corner and north end zone are completed and put to use for the home opener Sept. 13 against Arizona State, said Matt Biggers, associate athletic director for external affairs.

The capacity could increase some next season when much more of the project is completed including terrace areas in the northeast corner addition. The capacity could also increase again in the future as CU works to fund improvements on the west side of the stadium.

Biggers said the smaller capacity does not mean less revenue for the Buffs when the stadium is sold out. He said in some areas in the north end zone, CU is replacing bleacher seating with loge boxes.

One loge box costs $8,000 this season and will be $10,000 in future seasons when that part of the project is done and all the amenities are available. The cost of one loge box accounts for a lot of the bleacher seats previously offered in the area, Biggers said.

CU already has sold several loge boxes with three-year commitments.

“We’re very comfortable with the size of our stadium,” Biggers said. “The trend in stadiums is not to get larger, it’s smaller with a variety of seating options.”

Biggers and Jon Burianek, a longtime CU athletics administrator who recently returned to the department temporarily as a consultant, said the construction in the northeast corner and north end zone seating areas is on pace to be ready for the home opener in roughly three weeks.

They said fans who have purchased tickets in those sections have been informed that they might have to be relocated to another part of the stadium if any unforeseen delays come up the prevent their seats from being ready by Sept. 13.

Recent renovations and construction at Martin Stadium at Washington State dropped that stadium’s capacity to less than 33,000. It is the smallest stadium in the Pac-12 Conference.

Folsom Field is the eighth largest stadium in the Pac-12. Utah, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State all have smaller venues for college football. Stanford Stadium is slightly smaller, by 300 seats.

—–

Buff Chidera Uzo-Diribe waived by New Orleans Saints

From nola.com … The New Orleans Saints waived four players in advance of their preseason game vs. the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, coach Sean Payton announced Thursday.

The Saints waived outside linebacker Chidera Uzo-Diribe, running back Tim Flanders, tight end Je’Ron Hamm and wide receiver Tobais Palmer.

The Saints will carry 86 players on their roster for now, and have not announced any corresponding move. They must cut down to 75 players by Tuesday.

… At Colorado … Uzo-Diribe finished his career tied for sixth in quarterback sacks (20), tied for 17th in tackles for loss (31) and second in forced fumbles (10); his percentage of solo tackles (99) to overall tackles (118), or 83.9 percent, is the highest in CU history.

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August 20th

ESPN profile of CU quarterback Sefo Liufau

ESPN has been running profiles of the Pac-12 quarterbacks, and today is Sefo Liufau’s turn.

“Better Know a Pac-12 Quarterback: Sefo Liufau”, by ESPN’s Kevin Gemmell, can be found here.

Excerpts:

What you need to know about Liufau: When the Buffs saw their nonconference game against Fresno State canceled because of flooding in Boulder last year, it opened up the schedule for another FCS team in Charleston Southern. That’s when head coach Mike MacIntyre shrewdly pulled the trigger and inserted Liufau into the starting lineup — though he’d seen extended action the previous game against ASU. The move gave the freshman a bit of confidence as he went 14-of-20 for 198 yards and a touchdown. The Liufau era was officially underway. Jordan Gehrke played well enough in the spring to keep Liufau on his toes during fall camp — though as the only Buffs quarterback with any game experience, Liufau is the guy unless he plays himself out of the starting spot.

Opposing head coach’s take: “Very athletic. Strong player. He’s got a great future. We have to see what he does without that big No. 6 there as a security blanket (receiver Paul Richardson). If they can put some pieces around him, he could be a strong leader for that program. But he’s still young. He’s got a lot of developing to do.”

What to expect in 2014: Liufau is a work in progress. But there were flashes in 2013 of what he’s capable of. As our opposing head coach said, seeing what he can do without the benefit of Richardson will be interesting. Of Liufau’s 149 completions last season, 52 were made by Richardson. And 5 of his 12 touchdown passes were caught by “big No. 6.” He’s already been voted a season-long team captain by his teammates. So his teammates have faith in him. He’s got three starting offensive linemen returning to protect him and there’s a potentially strong running game behind him. No one is tapping Liufau for all-conference just yet. But the playing experience he gained last season should pay dividends as the Buffs move into a much more difficult schedule (remember, no FCS teams this year). First mental test comes in Week 1 against rival Colorado State. Matching last year’s win total (which included two wins over FCS teams) would be considered a step forward for the program and Liufau could cement himself as the Colorado starter for the next couple of years.

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August 19th

CU offers multi-year sports pass to students for the first time

From cubuffs.com … New for the 2014-15 academic year, the CU Athletic Department has made the CU Sports Pass available on a multi-year basis. CU Students can now purchase their tickets for Colorado Athletic events for the rest of their collegiate careers in one transaction and save $25 a year, up to $100.

The CU Sports Pass gets a student a ticket to seven football games (including the CSU game in Denver), plus access to claim men’s basketball game tickets. Tickets to women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer and lacrosse are free with a Buff OneCard.

Students who are interested in buying a CU Multi-Year Sports Pass or other ticket options can do so by visiting www.cubuffs.com/students and following the prompts to login to their personal account using their student number. Once logged in, students self-select their class year and are able to pick from a few different options:

CU Multi-Year Sports Pass – Save $25 annually

Freshmen, that’s $100 in total savings! Plus you buy just ONE TIME and you never have to worry about it again. You’re set for the next four years! Sophomores and juniors, you too can get in on the action and save $25 per year.

CU Sports Pass – $175

All seven football games, plus access to claim men’s basketball game tickets. Women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer and lacrosse free!

Football Only – $140

All seven football games.

Colorado will open the season against CSU on August 29 in Denver, then will host Arizona State, Hawai’i, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington and Utah in Boulder throughout the season. The complete men’s basketball schedule will not be announced until the summertime.

Football tickets are good for general admission seating in sections 110 through 117. Students will not have to pick up a ticket to games as it is inscribed on their Buff OneCard at Folsom Field.

For men’s basketball games, the student tickets are good for general admission seating in sections 13-17. Basketball tickets are not guaranteed based on space limitations. Online ticket pickup will be required for some games.

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Sales of tickets for Rocky Mountain Showdown continue to decline

From the Daily Camera … The Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado and Colorado State at Sports Authority Field next week is producing lackluster ticket sales once again even with the Rams coming off an eight-win season and bowl victory.

The Buffs and Rams will kick off their season at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29. This will be the 14th game in the series played in Denver.

CSU director of media relations Paul Kirk said the Rams have sold approximately 15,000 tickets as of the Tuesday morning. He said the program is hoping for a surge in student ticket sales in coming days as students return to school.

Colorado reported last week it had sold 21,800 tickets. It expects to be north of 30,000 in ticket sales by game day because student ticket sales are not yet factored into its report. CU generally sells 8,000 or more tickets to students for the game, sports information director Dave Plati said.

The Denver Broncos retain rights to sell a portion of the total tickets to the game and the franchise generally sells between 3,500 and 5,000 seats to the game. The Broncos moved 3,430 tickets last year.

Colorado routinely attracts a higher percentage of the fans attending the game. Last year, CU sold 32,779 tickets compared with CSU moving 23,392. In 2012, the Buffs sold 35,406 and CSU sold 18,169.

The programs haven’t attracted 60,000 fans to the game since 2010. The 2011 crowd of 57,186 was the smallest of the games played in Denver. The teams attracted 58,607 in 2012 and 59,601 last year.

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August 16th

Jered Bell lost for the season

From cubuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes almost made it through preseason camp without a major injury, but almost doesn’t count – certainly not for senior safety Jered Bell and CU’s secondary.

Bell, who missed his true sophomore season with a torn ACL, suffered the same injury to the other knee on Friday and will be lost for the 2014 season. Bell’s injury comes 13 days before CU opens against Colorado State at Denver’s Invesco Field at Mile High.

A 6-1, 195-pounder from Ontario, Calif., Bell was wearing a blue (non-contact) jersey during Friday morning’s practice due to a hyperextended elbow he received earlier in camp. His knee injury, according to coach Mike MacIntyre, occurred when “he ran and stopped and blew his knee out . . . it was a sad night (Friday) night for me, really sad.”

Bell, a veteran playmaker who last season returned an interception and fumble recovery for touchdowns, suffered his knee injury on the next-to-last day of preseason camp. On Saturday, the Buffs wrapped up camp with special teams work and a controlled scrimmage at Folsom Field.

In Bell, the Buffs are faced with replacing a three-year letterman and two-year starter who could play both safety and cornerback. “He gave us a utility guy in case some things happened,” MacIntyre said. “It hurts; it means one of the younger guys is going to have to step up and be ready to play. We have to get one of them ready to go.”

Bell also was counted on for leadership, said senior corner Greg Henderson: “He’s a big part of our defense . . . a good playmaker and a leader. We’re definitely going to miss him. Everybody is going to have to step up. We’re going to have to learn new positions and be able to be versatile and make more plays.”

Bell mostly played the free (field) safety, a position that senior Terrel Smith and several other younger players find themselves battling for in the upcoming week of practice. Smith was hit particularly hard by Bell’s injury.

“He’s my best friend on the team,” Smith said following Saturday’s work. “I actually dropped a tear last night hearing the news and just being with him. It’s tough losing a guy like that. You just have to go with it and get ready for CSU.”

In addition to Smith, who sat out last season after opting for shoulder surgery, junior Marques Mosley and sophomores Chidobe Awuzie and Tedric Thompson will be given looks at Bell’s spot. Awuzie and Mosley have experience as nickel backs and free safeties, while Thompson has played strong (boundary) safety.

“We’ve been moving guys around all day (Saturday),” said Smith, a captain who acknowledged Bell’s absence brings a leadership void. “You definitely need that leadership back there, controlling the defense and getting guys lined up correctly. You definitely need experience back there.”

Smith said Friday night “was hard” for Bell, but on Saturday Bell was “up and about . . . his spirits are always up.” Bell attended the scrimmage but declined interview requests.

With his previous knee injury in August 2011 that forced a redshirt season, Bell likely would be a strong candidate for a sixth year of eligibility should he want it. Smith believes Bell will take a strong look at that option and MacIntyre noted, “I’m not the NCAA but I’m almost positive he would get a sixth year. He missed two full years . . . I would love for him to come back but I would understand if he doesn’t. He’s torn up both knees. We’ll see what happens.”

——

August 15th

CU posters feature six Buff captains

From cubuffs.com … The University of Colorado football team Friday released the 2014 team posters, electing to produce six different versions – one for each team captain – for the second straight season.

Seniors Daniel Munyer, Juda Parker and Terrel Smith, junior Nelson Spruce and sophomores Addison Gillam and Sefo Liufau are each featured on their own poster. Along with the 2014 schedule along the bottom of each, the posters also feature excerpts from the CU Fight Song.

Posters will be available for pick-up at the Fall Camp Scrimmage, Saturday at Folsom Field from 10 a.m. to noon. Posters can also be picked up at the CU Athletic Ticket Office located on the south end of Folsom Field.

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August 14th

CU profiled by Pac-12 Networks

From the Pac-12 … The Colorado Buffaloes travel to the house that John Elway built on Friday, Aug. 29 for their annual meeting with in-state rival Colorado State. When the two teams arrive in Denver, the Rams will see that the Buffs are coming into the 2014 season in phenomenal shape. Not only did head coach Mike MacIntyre lose 55 pounds this offseason, but the Buffs return 15 starters from a 2013 team that showed tremendous improvement and growth on both sides of the ball. If the #BuffDaddies can get off to a good start at the Rocky Mountain Showdown then the Boulder faithful will be feeling that “Rocky Mountain High” Here we #GoBuffs!

The Buffs made significant progress across the board in 2013, improving in 29 major statistical categories while becoming a much more disciplined team. Colorado set a record for the fewest fumbles in a season with just 14 – losing only nine – just one year after losing 15 of their 29 fumbles. The Buffaloes also dramatically cut down on penalties, committing just 52 (19th in penalties per game in FBS), the fewest since 1985 and ending the season with just 10 over the final four games, a 50-year program low for that long of a span.

Colorado has to be excited for the return of seven starters on the offensive side of the ball as well as many other playmakers. Quarterback Sefo Liufau enters his first full season as the starting quarterback after becoming just the sixth true freshman to ever start a game at QB for Colorado and just the third freshman to lead the Buffaloes in single-season passing, joining Craig Ochs (2000, also a true frosh) and Cody Hawkins (2007, a redshirt freshman). Liufau will miss his go-to receiver Paul Richardson, who broke or tied 29 school records while in Boulder. Richardson and his 83 receptions, 1,343 yards, and 10 TDs from 2013 are now in Seattle with the Seahawks so wide receivers Nelson Spruce (55 receptions), D.D. Goodson (22 receptions) and Tyler McCulloch (14 receptions) will have to fill the void in 2014. The Buffs’ running game comes back fully intact with tailbacks Christian Powell (562 yards), Michael Adkins II (535 yards) and Tony Jones (249 yards) carrying the ball behind returning linemen Kaiwi Crabb, Daniel Munyer and Stephane Nembot. This season when people mention the Buffs’ running game, fans won’t think that they’re referring to Ralphie.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Buffs return eight starters, including seven of their top 10 tacklers from a year ago. They’ll have to replace defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, who led the squad in sacks each of the last two years. Luckily for Colorado, it found a tackling machine last year in inside linebacker Addison Gillam. In 2013 Gillam became the first freshman to ever lead CU in tackles since the stat was first tracked in 1964. He set seven school records for a freshman, including most tackles in a season and in a game, with 119 and 18 respectively. To gauge how big an impact Gillam has made in such a short time, how about the fact that he and fellow true sophomore Sefo Liufau were selected by the team to be team captains. This marks the first time in Colorado football history that sophomores have been named team captains.

Believe it or not, in just under six weeks it’s going to be the 20th anniversary of the Miracle at Michigan. On Sept. 24, 1994 Colorado went to “The Big House” in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it trailed the Wolverines 26-21 with six seconds and 64 yards to go. Head coach Bill McCartney and offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel (ever heard of him?) called the play “Rocket Left” and what happened next was one of the greatest plays in football history. It can best be described as in…wait for it…credible.

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Nine of 13 College Football Playoff selection committee members will be recused for their schools

From ESPN … The College Football Playoff selection committee announced its official policy Thursday as nine of 13 committee members have been recused from voting for certain schools.

Mike Gould (Air Force); Jeff Long (Arkansas); Dan Radakovich (Clemson); Archie Manning (Mississippi); Tom Osborne (Nebraska); Pat Haden (USC); Condoleezza Rice (Stanford); Oliver Luck (West Virginia); and Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin) were the members who are recused.

Five of those committee members are sitting athletic directors, including Long (the committee chair), Radakovich, Haden, Luck and Alvarez. Rice is a professor at Stanford, and Gould is the former superintendent of the Air Force Academy.

Tyrone Willingham, a committee member who coached at Washington, Notre Dame and Stanford, was not on the recusal list.

Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFB Playoff, said Willingham was not recused because the playoff’s recusal policy doesn’t require him to be.

“If you look at the recusal policy, he’s not compensated by any school,” Hancock said. “He doesn’t have any relatives who are compensated by a school, nor does he provide professional services to a school.”

Recused committee members are allowed to answer only factual questions about their respective school affiliations, but aren’t allowed in the room during any deliberations regarding that team’s selection or seeding. The committee has the option to add other recusals.

The selection committee will rank 25 teams throughout the season, including the final four teams that will advance to the first College Football Playoff. The group will first choose the teams to be placed in the playoff, and will then select teams for the contract bowls (Rose, Orange and Sugar) before finishing with the Cotton, Fiesta and Peach bowls.

—–

August 13th

Buffs in the NFL

As recently as 2002, Colorado was 10th in the nation in the number of alumni playing in the NFL.

Today, the Buffs are not even in the top ten in the Pac-12.

From ESPN …

– There are 338 players from Pac-12 teams in NFL training camps, which represents about 11.6 percent of the players currently on NFL rosters.

– Total number of players in NFL training camps, by school: USC 55, Oregon 41, California 37, Stanford 36, Utah 30, Arizona State 28, UCLA 27, Oregon State 22, Arizona 20, Washington 18, Colorado 14, Washington State 10

– Teams with least amount of Pac-12 players: Rams 3, Jets 6, Chiefs 6, Ravens 6, Bills 7, Cowboys 7, Falcons 7, Lions 7

– Teams with most Pac-12 Pac-12 players: Eagles 21, Chargers 16, Seahawks 16, Dolphins 15, Panthers 14, Raiders 14

– Three NFL head coaches attended Pac-12 schools: Carolina’s Ron Rivera (Cal); San Diego’s Mike McCoy (Utah) and St. Louis’ Jeff Fisher (USC)

Colorado
Total: 14
Offensive players: 7
Defensive players: 5
K/P/LS: 2
Rookies: 2 — Chidera Uzo-Diribe (Saints); WR Paul Richardson (Seahawks)

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August 12th

Just take a few minutes …

… for what was, and what can be again.

It’s time to get fired up, Buff fans. We’ve got a coach who believes, and players who believe. It’s not all coming back in one game or even one season, but it is coming back!

One of my favorites days as a Colorado Buffalo fan (of course, the photo atop the website is one I took from my seats that wonderful November night!). If you want more, the full write-up in the Archives can be found here.

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August 11th

Rules changes for 2014

Want to be the smart(ass) fan at your tailgate or watch party?

Well, you need to bone up on the rules changes for 2014:

Targeting Fouls: Instant Replay Can Remove the 15-Yard Penalty.

Part of the penalty for targeting fouls is that the player is ejected from the game. In games where instant replay is used, the player is returned to the game if the video review shows conclusively that there was no forcible contact to the head and neck area or with the crown of the helmet. If this happens in 2014, and there is not another personal foul in combination with the targeting foul, then the 15-yard penalty is also erased. Examples of combination personal fouls include roughing the passer and kick or catch interference. In cases where such fouls are accompanied by a targeting call, the 15-yard penalty will still be enforced, even if the player’s ejection is overturned.

Low Hits on the Passer

An extension of the rule for roughing the passer, a new rule in 2014 prohibits the defense from making forcible contact at the knee or below to an opponent who is in a passing posture. It is designed to eliminate knee injuries on plays where the defensive player forcibly drives a shoulder, helmet or forearm into the lower leg of the passer. This rule is not intended to prevent the defense from making a legitimate wrap-up tackle in which the contact is at or below the knee.

Player Numerals Must Contrast with the Jersey

Last year the rules committee clarified the rule requiring that the player’s uniform number must clearly contrast with the jersey itself. During the 2013 season there was an interpretation that introduced a penalty for a team wearing a jersey that does not comply. This interpretation has now been codified as a rule.

Officiating Points of Emphasis

This year college football officials are being asked to pay special attention to two areas of the game that are of concern to the rules committee and to other stakeholders: management of team personnel on the sidelines and the sportsmanlike behavior of players.

Management of the sidelines has emerged as a concern in the past few years, especially with the increase of no-huddle offenses. This style of play means that coaches are much more likely to be on the field right before the snap and then again too quickly after a play is over. Many coaches and players are still unaware of the fact that the six-foot white border around the sideline is no-man’s land. This restricted area must be clear while the ball is alive as well as during the period after the play is over until the action has ceased. Officials will work with teams to keep this area clear but closer attention will be given to enforcing the sideline rules, which will include imposing appropriate penalties when necessary.

Player behavior is also becoming an issue as unsportsmanlike conduct is starting to drift back into the game. Good sportsmanship and respect for the opponent are firmly entrenched characteristics of college football that must be maintained. Spontaneous enthusiasm and positive celebration are encouraged, but when players extend this into self-promotion and taunting of the opponent, officials will be firm about calling unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Some of these acts, such as the “throat slash” or vulgar behavior, are automatic fouls. Actions of this ilk have no place in our game, and officials are instructed to throw the flag when these occur. The game and its image are advanced and strengthened when everyone involved conducts themselves in a manner that embraces good sportsmanship.

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Pac-12 coaches chime in with anonymous comments on Colorado

Athlon has posted an article wherein Pac-12 coaches were granted anonymity in exchange for their views of their conference rivals.

The full article can be found here (and is an interesting read).

Here is what Pac-12 coaches had to say about Colorado (and it’s pretty fair, in my estimation):

… “Very well-coached.”

…“Paul Richardson was a concern, but his departure is a relief for Pac-12 cornerbacks.”

…“It’s a very different team from the year before. They seemed to be disjointed in 2012. No strategic plan on either side of the ball. These coaches know what they’re doing. Kids reflected that. Played with a ton more confidence.”

…“They did a really good job coming in on short notice and getting their system in and they do a good job schematically. They finished up the year pretty strong so signs are positive – but how far they are able to progress is hard to tell. You just never know because it’s hard to gauge their talent level – they’ve been a bit behind since joining the Pac-12 – but the coaching staff is good. Can they recruit enough will be the question?”

…“They had a true freshman middle linebacker, Addison Gillam, who made a ton of plays.”

…“The best player was a defensive end, Chidera Uzo-Diribe, who’s gone. He was strong, one of their best players the last couple of years. Losing him will be big.”

…“They’ve been really young the last few years, so if they can get the right personnel in there, they have a chance. They almost always have good first-half game plans.”

…“It seems quarterback Sefo Liufau is mentally tough and does all the things they want, but I’m not sure how prolific he is. He could turn into that, but do they have a quarterback that can push them to the middle-of-the-pack in the league or better?”

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August 8th

CSU fires athletic director three weeks before the start of the football season …

From the Coloradoan … Jack Graham, the man behind the plan to build an on-campus stadium at CSU, has been fired as the school’s athletic director, university President Tony Frank announced Friday.

“While I am grateful to Jack for the energy he’s brought to CSU in establishing a culture that expects excellence within Ram athletics and his actions in hiring great coaches and staff, there have come to exist some substantial differences in our views,” Frank said in a news release. “Based on our differences, I have chosen to exercise the termination for convenience clause within Jack’s contract to allow the university and the athletic department to move forward building on the successes that Jack brought to our program.”

Graham, 61, will continue to receive his salary and benefits for 90 days under terms of the “termination for convenience clause” in his contract, Colorado State University spokesman Mike Hooker said. He will continue to receive his annual salary of $260,000 in monthly payments, minus any money he might earn through subsequent employment, through the end of his contract, which runs through November 2016. Hooker said those payments will come from private funds.

Graham, a former CSU quarterback, was hired by Frank on Dec. 1, 2011, and was responsible for the hiring of new head coaches in three of the Rams’ four revenue sports and nine head coaches in all. He brought in Jim McElwain to coach the football program, Larry Eustachy to run the men’s basketball program and Ryun Williams to guide the women’s basketball program. He also dropped the school’s women’s water polo program and replaced it with a women’s soccer team.

Graham first pitched the idea of replacing aging Hughes Stadium with an on-campus facility to Frank in the fall of 2011. Frank cited that kind of bold thinking, along with Graham’s business background and ties to CSU as an alum and former athlete, in selecting him as the school’s athletic director.

A two-year deadline to raise at least half of the money needed for construction of the $220 million athletics portion of the proposed $254 million stadium in private donations before moving forward on the project is coming up in October, and Frank said he will give the university’s Board of Governors an updated report on the stadium at its October meeting, and will discuss the leadership change as part of that presentation.

“This decision is in no way connected to the on-campus stadium project,” Frank said in an email to Ram Club members, donors to the school’s athletic department and season-ticket holders. “The stadium project is separate from this personnel action and will continue to move forward as planned, with me providing a recommendation to the Board of Governors in October.”

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Sefo Liufau: “I tried my best to grasp it and not look back”

Mile High Sports magazine has posted a profile and interview with CU quarterback Sefo Liufau.

The full article can be found here. Some excerpts:

No matter how you stack it up, the Colorado football program has been bombarded with an assortment of problems, but there is one tangible thing the team has consistently lacked: a quarterback.

Since Joel Klatt left in 2005 – Colorado’s last winning season – the quarterback position has been a revolving door, especially these last two years. Whether it has been Cody Hawkins, Tyler Hansen, Jordan Webb or someone else, expectations have yet to be met.

Still, the beginning of a new season means that every coach, player and fan can re-inflate their hopes and expectations to their standard, absurdly high levels, only, in the Buffaloes’ case, to have them quickly deflate right back down to reality. But this season is different.

This season, the University of Colorado has a quarterback.

Heading into their fifth game of the year last season, at Arizona State, head coach Mike MacIntyre knew he was going to have to make a change. While Connor Wood had played well in CU’s first two games, he was coming off two blowout losses to Oregon and Oregon State, where he managed to only complete 37 percent of his passes.

Wood was on a very short leash, and it was true freshman Sefo Liufau whom was waiting in the wings.

“They always told me to be ready,” said Liufau. “I was No. 2 on the depth chart. So if they didn’t need to use me, I was going to redshirt, I’m assuming. But I had to come in, and they told me the week of to possibly be ready.

“Once the coaches made the change, I tried my best to grasp it and not look back.”

The move came quickly. As Arizona State jumped out to a 25-0 first-quarter lead, MacIntyre put Liufau into the game with 4:45 left in the first quarter. The 18-year-old quarterback promptly proceeded to guide the Buffaloes on an 11-play drive, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Spruce.

“The thing I noticed most was how calm he was from the first minute,” said Spruce, Colorado’s No. 1 receiver now that Paul Richardson has left for the NFL. “He really didn’t have those nerves you’d expect from a guy getting thrown in in the middle of a Pac-12 game.”

It quickly became apparent that Liufau wasn’t your ordinary freshman. With the flip of a switch, he became the leader of the team, and even the coaching staff took notice.

“I was really surprised,” said Brian Lindgren, Colorado’s offensive coordinator. “He was better than any young guy I’ve ever been around.”

And Liufau’s teammates, who found themselves rotating in and out of quarterbacks for the last few seasons, immediately took to his side.

“I remember this play at UCLA where (Liufau) got hit, and they threw the flag, and our offensive linemen all ran back to help him up,” said Lindgren. “I remember that play vividly. I think that was a sign that the team really respected him.”

Liufau went on to start the rest of the season, breaking nearly every freshman passing record in the process. And while he only won two games the rest of the year, Liufau remained impressive, throwing for 1,779 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions on a 59.4 percent completion.

“We wanted to make things easy for him and not have him have think a lot – not put a lot of pressure on him,” said Lindgren. “And as we got going through all those games, we just felt we really didn’t have to hold back. So we called the game like we would normally call a game. He showed us he was able handle it.”

The best thing about having a successful freshman season, though, is that there are still three more to go. And Liufau only expects it to get better from here on out.

“Coming in as a new guy, you’re the butt of all the jokes,” said Liufau. “But now that I have a year under my belt, it’s a lot easier. The guys are easier to talk to. Everything is more of a routine now. It’s not as foreign to me.”

Click here for the remainder of the interview

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August 7th

Colorado taking advantage of new meal plan allowance

From the Daily Camera … University of Connecticut star point guard Shabazz Napier said during the Final Four in April that some nights he went to bed “starving,” unable to buy the food he needed.

Those comments must have hit a nerve in the NCAA offices. Eight days later, the NCAA passed a rule allowing Division I colleges to offer student-athletes additional meals or snacks. Previously, schools were required to provide scholarship athletes three meals a day during the school year, or a stipend of equal value to the meals, as well as snacks such as bagels or nuts. The new rule allows schools to provide more food.

“It’s going to help us a lot,” said Colorado senior cornerback Greg Henderson. “We’ll be able to maintain our weight, or gain weight if we have to. The stipend, it covers a lot, but sometimes toward the end of the month we run out of money, so it’s just better when we have more food to eat so we don’t go hungry.”

CU is the one Front Range school with big plans to take advantage of the rule, which went into effect last week. Athletic director Rick George said the university has budgeted $800,000 to $1 million to both hire a sports dietician and provide extra food to its student-athletes.

“We want to look at the right options for our student-athletes to get the nutrition that they need,” George said. “It’s different by sport and what their needs are and if they’re in season or out of season. There are a lot of factors that go into that, so we’re developing a plan that will benefit all of our student-athletes.”

Most area schools are taking a wait-and-see approach toward making any big changes in how they feed their athletes, but Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain said his players will get what they need.

“We’re going to be able to get these guys some extra meals,” McElwain said. “What happens is, especially in season, they have to hustle over to try to get something to eat and now we’re going to be able to make sure they at least get a snack. It’s almost the convenience part of it, they’re burning a ton of calories and to be able to get them a little extra is huge.”

NCAA associate director of media relations Michelle Hosick said in an e-mail the legislation is intended to replace a meal that might have been missed because of a scheduling conflict, or allow for snacks to fill in gaps during the day.

The rule has led to many colleges reassessing the food they are providing and turning to dieticians for help.

Beth Jauquet, who works for Cherry Creek Nutrition, said there are too many variables to determine how many calories an average athlete burns. She said a student-athlete in a high-intensity sport can’t necessarily meet all their nutritional needs with three meals. Jauquet said with an additional meal or snacks, athletes should recover better, which could help lead to better performances.

But not all colleges in Colorado are ready to shell out more money for food. University of Northern Colorado athletic director Darren Dunn said his budget for the current academic year was set in January, but his department is looking at options to make sure its student-athletes have all they need to eat.

The Air Force Academy will not be affected by the rule. Cadets receive three meals a day and are required to attend breakfast and lunch. There are no student-athletes who live off campus, so the athletic department doesn’t use stipends. Troy Garnhart, associate athletic director for communications, said the school is not planning on supplying additional food.

Colorado State is using this school year as an observation period. John Morris, CSU deputy athletic director, said the school will study what others are doing and build a plan. One of the main goals is to provide additional nutrition for athletes, Morris said.

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August 4th

Colorado Video wins another award

Colorado Video has already won an Emmy for its video, “Seasons”, and now has picked up another award.

“Seasons” has now been named the Football Scoop FBS Video of the Year. The write-up, which can be found here (including the video, if you would like to watch it again) can be found here.

Included in the story … Following a fierce competition, Colorado has been named the winner of the 2014 FootballScoop Video of the Year award for its sensational “Seasons” video. Among the six finalists, Colorado received two-first place votes and one second-place vote from our four-member panel.

“Colorado is the winner and, despite the incredible efforts from the other schools, it ain’t even close,” wrote Bleacher Report lead college football writer Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs). “Every other team gets a silver medal, but the distance to this runner-up award is significant. I don’t even feel right naming a second place when first place is light years ahead.”

Congratulations – again! – CU Video!!

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August 2nd

Cost of facilities improvements goes up by $13 million

From the Daily Camera … The University of Colorado is tacking on an additional $13 million to the cost of the $143 million athletic facilities upgrades on the Boulder campus because of poor soil conditions and high labor costs.

That brings the total anticipated cost of the expansion and renovation project to $156 million.

Campus officials will request approval for the project cost increase at a Wednesday meeting of the Board of Regents. An agenda for that meeting with information about the additional cost was made public today.

According to the agenda, the Boulder campus is requesting that the regents revise the two-year cash list for 2014-2015 because of “unforeseen cost escalation” for the athletic facilities project, which includes an expansion of the Dal Ward Athletic Center, construction of an indoor practice facility and an addition to the stadium’s northeast corner, among other things.

The additional $12,999,075 will come from the athletic department, not the campus, according to the agenda document. That money is needed to help address “unanticipated inflation, discovered poor soil conditions not evident in soil borings and a current premium in the labor market in the Colorado Front Range,” according to the document. The scope of the project has not changed.

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Change Colors Day August 29th / Blackout for Arizona State September 13th

From cubuffs.com … As part of the 10th annual College Colors Day celebration, the University of Colorado is participating in the Spirit Cup competition and is asking for fan support to help win this year’s cup.

College Colors Day will be August 29, the day of the Colorado-Colorado State football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver.  Prizes include a $10,000 donation towards the general scholarship fund as well as a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

It was also announced Friday that the Buffs will host a blackout against Arizona State on Sept. 13.  Fans are encouraged to wear black to Folsom Field when the Buffs and Sun Devils kick off at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Spirit Cup is a points-based rivalry competition that utilizes social media platforms to crown its champion. CU fans can earn points for the Buffs by showcasing their school spirit on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #collegecolors and #GoBuffs. Bonus points can be earned by sharing those posts via the College Colors Day app. The school with the most points at the end of the competition will be crowned the Spirit Cup champion and receive a $10,000 donation towards its general scholarship fund.

Visit the CollegeColorsDay.com website to learn how to earn points, stay up-to-date on the latest the Spirit Cup standings and register to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game. The winner will receive round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, a $500 American Express gift card and two tickets to the national championship game, courtesy of CLC and the CFP.

Fans can earn additional entries in the CFP sweepstakes by supporting CU in the Spirit Cup competition. Once registered for the CFP sweepstakes, each action that a fan takes to support the Buffs in the Spirit Cup competition earns them additional sweepstakes entries and increases their chances of winning. Eligible actions include:

• Sending a tweet using #collegecolors and #GoBuffs
• Posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram using #collegecolors and #GoBuffs
• Sharing a picture on Twitter or Instagram via the College Colors Day app using #collegecolors and #GoBuffs

The Spirit Cup competition kicks off on August 1 and runs through August 28 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winners of both the Spirit Cup competition and the College Football Playoff sweepstakes will be announced on College Colors Day, Friday, August 29, via CollegeColorsDay.com.

In conjunction with the Spirit Cup competition and the CFP sweepstakes, Buffs fans will also have the opportunity to support the CFP’s philanthropic initiative, Extra Yard for Teachers. The program, which supports teachers by providing classroom resources, professional development opportunities and a recognition program, will receive $1 for every click a fan makes on the Extra Yard for Teachers ad within the College Colors Day app.

College Colors Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that embodies the college experience. On that day, fans across the United States are encouraged to wear the apparel of their favorite college or university throughout the day. Now in its 10th year, College Colors Day is celebrated by thousands of organizations, classrooms and millions of individuals who annually don their team colors and share their school spirit with friends and colleagues.

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August 1st

Defensive end commit Leo Jackson won’t join the team until December

Kyle Ringo from the Daily Camera has tweeted that March signee Leo Jackson, who signed with the Buffs in March, will not join the team until January.

For a refresher on Leo Jackson, here is his bio from this spring …

LEO JACKSON III – DL

Just the facts … Signed March 22nd … Jackson is a defensive lineman prospect from Decatur, Georgia. Jackson is 6’4″, 260-pounds  Rivals bio

What others say about Jackson … Jackson was unrated out of high school, and, though a full-qualifier, did not sign with a four-year college out of high school. Instead, Jackson played this past season at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. This past season, for the 2-8 Owls (playing in eight of those games), Jackson had 24 tackles and two sacks.

Jackson will enroll this summer, and will have four years left to play three.

Mike MacIntyre and Foothill College … This is not the first time Mike MacIntyre and Co. have looked to Foothill College for help. In 2011, MacIntyre picked up three players from Foothill College, including offensive lineman John Meyer, who went on to become a three-year starter for San Jose State. Over the past few seasons, players from Foothill College have been signed by a number of schools, including: Oregon State; BYU, Louisiana Tech; Hawai’i; Nevada; Boise State; Utah State; and Indiana.

Here is a link to Jackson’s Hudl highlights from this past season

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July 31st

Six teams from the Pac-12 in preseason coaches poll … Six Pac-12 coaches amongst 62 voters (including Mac)

From the USAToday … Six teams from the Pac-12 were placed in the USA Today/coaches’ preseason poll. Oregon, at No. 4, was the highest rated team from the conference, followed in the top ten by No. 7 UCLA.

Stanford and USC made the top 15, with the Cardinal in at No. 11; the Trojans at No. 15.

The remaining two Pac-12 in the first poll of the season were Arizona State, at No. 18, and Washington, at No. 25.

Two other teams from the conference were mentioned, with Oregon State receiving four votes (T-46) and Arizona one vote (T-50) … (anyone else figure Rich Rodriguez was the one coach who voted Arizona No. 25?) …

Missouri 126; Florida 122; Central Florida 102; Mississippi State 74; Oklahoma State 56; TCU 54; Michigan 53; Iowa 49; Miami (Fla.) 45; Duke 41; Louisville 32; Marshall 27; Brigham Young 18; Boise State 13; Louisiana-Lafayette 12; Virginia Tech 12; Texas Tech 8; Minnesota 6; Cincinnati 6; Northwestern 5; Oregon State 4; Fresno State 4; GeorgiaTech 2; Houston 2; Arkansas 1; Arizona 1; Northern Illinois 1.

The Amway Board of Coaches is made up of 62 head coaches at Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. The board for the 2014 season: Blake Anderson, Arkansas State; Dino Babers, Bowling Green; David Bailiff, Rice; Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech; Todd Berry, Louisiana-Monroe; Bret Bielema, Arkansas; Larry Blakeney, Troy; Bill Blankenship, Tulsa; Craig Bohl, Wyoming; Terry Bowden, Akron; Art Briles, Baylor; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Matt Campbell, Toledo; Rod Carey, Northern Illinois; Norm Chow, Hawaii; Larry Coker, Texas-San Antonio; David Cutcliffe, Duke; Mark Dantonio, Michigan State; Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State; Bob Diaco, Connecticut; Larry Fedora, North Carolina; Jimbo Fisher, Florida State; Dennis Franchione, Texas State; Justin Fuente, Memphis; Al Golden, Miami (Fla.); Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Bobby Hauck, UNLV; Brady Hoke, Michigan; Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech; Brian Kelly, Notre Dame; Jerry Kill, Minnesota; Mike Leach, Washington State; Rocky Long, San Diego State; Mike MacIntyre, Colorado; Dan McCarney, North Texas; Bronco Mendenhall, Brigham Young; Urban Meyer, Ohio State; Les Miles, LSU; Todd Monken, Southern Mississippi; Ken Niumatalolo, Navy; George O’Leary, Central Florida; Gary Patterson, TCU; Bo Pelini, Nebraska; Chris Petersen, Washington; Gary Pinkel, Missouri; Jeff Quinn, Buffalo; Matt Rhule, Temple; Mark Richt, Georgia; Mike Riley, Oregon State; Rich Rodriguez, Arizona; Nick Saban, Alabama; Steve Sarkisian, USC; Frank Solich, Ohio; Steve Spurrier, South Carolina; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Charlie Strong, Texas; Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M; Dabo Swinney, Clemson; Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati; Ron Turner, Florida International; Kevin Wilson, Indiana. AFCA policy bars schools under major NCAA or conference sanctions from receiving votes.

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