Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily

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July 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Summer conditioning officially comes to an end; Fall Camp opens Thursday

From CUBuffs.com … Start the clock. The Colorado Buffaloes’ looonnggg offseason has finally come to an end.

The Buffs wrapped up their summer strength and conditioning session Monday. Tuesday is photo day. Wednesday, all players are scheduled to report for their first meetings of training camp.

Then comes the first practice, a Thursday morning workout that will signal the official opening of Mel Tucker‘s first fall as Colorado’s head coach. Tucker and the Buffs will have 25 practices spread over 29 days before they kick off their season under the Friday night lights in Denver on Aug. 30 against Colorado State (8 p.m., ESPN).

How long an offseason has it been for the Buffs? Since a 33-21 loss at Cal ended their 2018 season with their seventh straight defeat, the Buffs have:

— Undergone a coaching change that saw Tucker, most recently the defensive coordinator at Georgia, take the reins in his first college head coaching job;

— Taken part in a nine-week winter strength and conditioning program, nearly twice as long as their previous winter/spring sessions;

— Participated in an intense spring ball session during which Tucker and his new staff begin installing not only new offensive and defensive schemes, but also a new culture that places a new emphasis on discipline, fundamentals and work ethic;

— Engaged in a summer strength/conditioning session that upped the ante in every area. Tucker’s emphasis since his arrival has been on winning the fourth quarter, and he is determined to make it an integral thread of the team’s fabric.

… Continue reading story here …

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Steven Montez: “It’s kind of weird knowing this is my last year”

From the Daily Camera … This summer, Colorado quarterback Steven Montez had the opportunity to attend the Manning Passing Academy for the second year in a row.

While dealing with intense heat at the Nicholls State campus in Thibodaux, La., Montez’s primary focus was on the lessons being taught by two of the camps main hosts, Eli and Peyton Manning.

“Those are two probably Hall of Fame quarterbacks,” Montez said. “Seeing the work that they do and put in and hearing their words – telling us things we need to do to be great. You want to take as many notes as you possibly can. Just make sure you write down everything that they tell you. Those words are like gold.”

Throughout his career at CU, Montez has tried to soak up everything he’s been taught – and he’s heard a lot of voices.

Leading up to fall camp, which starts Thursday, Buffzone.com is previewing each position group for the Buffs. In this final installment, the focus is on the quarterbacks, which are being guided this season by offensive coordinator Jay Johnson.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Pat Rooney also on board with early morning kickoffs

From the Daily Camera … Picture daybreak on a warm autumn morn. The red veil of the sun begins peeking over the eastern horizon, and before long it’s reflecting brilliantly off the Flatirons looming over Folsom Field.

Against this backdrop, bleary-eyed Buffs fans soon start filling the parking lots, the tailgate grillers perhaps trading burgers and brats for bacon and eggs. Football kickoffs at 10 a.m.? It might happen sooner than CU fans think.

In an idea first offered publicly by Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News months ago, Pac-12 Conference commissioner Larry Scott revealed to reporters this past week at the Pac-12 football media day that league officials indeed are examining the feasibility of 9 a.m. PT kickoffs.

From this corner, adding one 10 a.m. kickoff at Folsom, preferably early in the season, feels like a good idea.

First and foremost, if adding flexibility to the front end of Game Day means fewer home kickoffs as late as 9 p.m., that alone would make the experiment worthwhile. Games that end past midnight locally and in the middle of the night along the east coast not only reduces the appeal of the product, but it severely limits the number of eyeballs nationally that can be trained upon said product.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mustafa Johnson “excited” to step into leadership role

From the Daily Camera … A year ago, Mustafa Johnson was the new guy trying to get to know everybody.

This year, he’s the old guy trying to get to know everybody.

Leading up to fall camp, which starts Thursday, BuffZone.com is previewing each position group for the Buffs. In this installment, the focus is on the defensive line, which has had heavy turnover in the offseason, leaving Johnson as the most experienced in the group.

“I’m excited to step into that role and help my teammates,” Johnson said.

For first-year head coach Mel Tucker and defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, Johnson isn’t a bad player to build around.

One of the most disruptive linemen in the Pac-12 a year ago, Johnson had 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He earned preseason first-team all-conference recognition earlier this week in a media vote.

As good as he was last year, Johnson believes he can be even better, as he felt he missed some opportunities for big plays a year ago. Johnson will certainly get more attention from the opposition this year, especially with the unknowns around him.

… Continue reading story here …

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How good is the O-Line? Coach Kap: “That’s a tough question”

From the Daily Camera … With all the firepower on offense this season, the Colorado football team could be explosive.

The Buffaloes feature one of the best players in the country in receiver Laviska Shenault; a senior, third-year starting quarterback in Steven Montez; an exceptional amount of talent at receiver behind Shenault; and a stable of young running backs short on experience, but not talent.

For the offense to reach its potential, however, the Buffs will lean on their offensive line. Leading up to fall camp, which starts Aug. 1, BuffZone.com is previewing each position group for the Buffs. In this installment, the focus is on the offensive line.

How good is this group?

“That’s a tough question,” first-year Buffs line coach Chris Kapilovic said. “You’re looking for consistency and we didn’t show that yet (in spring). I thought there were some positives signs. It’s hard for me to answer that question. Hopefully I’ll know more halfway through camp where we’re at.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 25th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Neill Woelk: Storylines for the opening of Fall Camp

From CUBuffs.com … With the opening of fall camp now inside a week away, it’s safe to say the list of things head coach Mel Tucker wants/needs to accomplish in his first training camp in Boulder is a long one.

Give Tucker his druthers, and he would no doubt like to have more than the 25 allotted practices before the Buffaloes open their season Aug. 30 against Colorado State in Denver  (8 p.m., ESPN).

But nobody is changing the calendar. The Buffs are scheduled to report on Wednesday, hit the field Thursday for their first fall practice of the Tucker Era — and ready or not, the Rams will be waiting when the Friday night lights go on Aug. 30.

Here are just a few storylines that will unfold as camp progresses:

1. Continuing to establish the program’s new culture. This is not something that is quantifiable. You can’t measure how quickly a team adapts to a new structure.

But it might be the most important overall continuous development for Tucker.

Since the day he arrived, Tucker has stressed that he wants a physical, tough team. He made the strength and conditioning sessions more intense, he significantly ramped up the pace of spring ball, then followed it up with what every player agrees is the most strenuous summer conditioning session they have endured in Boulder.

Tucker’s style is clearly no-nonsense. Call it throwback, vintage, old school — whatever you’d like — but the bottom line is he is clearly all business. He made that evident when he eliminated music in practice in spring ball, and continued to emphasize that attitude with a never-stop, always-on-the-move atmosphere in every practice.

… Continue reading story here …

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Plati-Tudes From Pac-12 Media Day 

From CUBuffs.com … Plati-‘Tudes No. 110 … This is now the ninth Pac-12 Football Media Day the Buffaloes have participated in; finished last in the summer poll in the South Division 35 voters; 46 points: 11 fifth place votes, 24 sixth-place).  Okay, experts, we will surprise some folks this year, I am convinced … It’s the 150th anniversary of the first college football game (1869; Princeton-Rutgers); the final score was Rutgers Queensmen 6, New Jersey Tigers 4 (yes, Princeton was known as the College of New Jersey back then) …  Pac-12 schools added to its record count of NCAA Championships, claiming 14 titles in 2018-19, including CU’s women’s cross country title.  

A potpourri of what was covered/discussed here:

Vegas Here We Come.  Commissioner Larry Scott announced that the Pac-12 Championship game will move to the new home of the Oakland Raiders – Las Vegas Stadium – for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.  A more centrally location, but if we still kickoff at 5 p.m. PST, negotiating I-15 won’t be much fun (drove by it on the way here, it’s monstrous), but if you know Vegas, rush hour is a challenge (though much better than the Bay Area).  Looks like there will be plenty of parking, though.

L.A., too.  The Pac-12 will have a revamped bowl schedule starting in 2020.  First, the Las Vegas Bowl will have a Pac-12 school pitted against either a Big Ten or SEC team in rotating years in the new stadium.  And in Los Angeles’ new stadium, the new Los Angeles Bowl will be a Pac-12 versus Mountain West affair.

Mel’s Top Quotes of the Day:

“I’ve taken a little bit of something from every place that I’ve coached. At the end of the day, I have to be myself, and the team is going to be a reflection of me and how I believe the game of football should be played.”

“The experiences I’ve had have been a tremendous asset for me moving forward.  There are going to be some things from Bama, from Georgia, from Ohio State that I’ve learned and that I’m going to install in Boulder.”

“I’ve been blessed. I’ve been around a lot of great coaches that have invested in me and that have really poured into me what they know, and that’s a big part of who I am today, is the guys that I’ve been around, the coaches I worked for and worked with.”

… Read full story here (including notes on Darrin Chiaverini’s promotion, officiating changes, and CU’s history with its 2019 non-conference rivals) …

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July 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mel Tucker at Pac-12 Media Day: “We have high expectations right now”

From CUBuffs.com … More than anything else, Colorado coach Mel Tucker‘s first meeting with the Pac-12 media was a reaffirmation of the foundational principles he has tried to set forth since taking the CU job last December.

Tucker, who made his first appearance at the annual Pac-12 Media Day on Wednesday, did provide some news when he announced that he had promoted wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini to assistant head coach.

But the prevailing theme from Tucker was one that he has hammered home since he took the program reins: the Buffs will play tough, physical football, the coaching staff will recruit relentlessly, and there will be no “break-in” period when it comes to expectations.

“We have high expectations right now,” Tucker said. “Our goal is to be the best football team we can be, and we started that process from day one. My first day was December 5th, and we laid out to the players what type of program that we need to have to compete for championships. And it’s a daily process, and we’re working on it every single day.”

But those high expectations don’t appear to be traveling much outside the state of Colorado. The annual media poll placed the Buffs at the bottom of the Pac-12 South, as CU finished with just 46 points in the poll — ahead of only Oregon State (38), picked to finish last in the North.

“The conference is very strong,” Tucker allowed. “We have a tough schedule week in and week out. It’s going to be a challenge for us. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be about what we do and how we compete and how we prepare, our attention to detail, our physicality, our discipline.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Darrin Chiaverini named assistant head coach

Press release from CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado head football coach Mel Tucker announced today at the annual Pac-12 Media Day that he has named Darrin Chiaverini as assistant head coach.

Chiaverini, 41, is in his fourth year on the CU staff, as he returned to his alma mater as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach in 2016 under then-head coach Mike MacIntyre.  When MacIntyre was relieved of his duties last November and Tucker hired on December 5, Chiaverini was one of three assistant coaches that Tucker retained on his first Colorado staff, keeping him on as receivers coach.

“Darrin has done a really good job recruiting; he’s relentless,” Tucker said.  “He has a really good feel for the University of Colorado and its history.  And he’s really stepped up and has been really helpful in our effort to create the football culture that we want to have here.”

His receiving corps in Boulder have enjoyed the three most productive seasons in school history, as they have combined for 653 receptions for 8,208 yards and 49 touchdowns.  The group has included Bryce Bobo, Shay Fields, Jay MacIntyre, Devin Ross and Juwann Winfree, and most recently, CU junior All-America candidate Laviska Shenault and All-Pac-12 candidate K.D. Nixon.  And his accomplishments as a recruiter have been recognized nationally, as Rivals.com named him one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation for 2018.

“It’s a huge honor for me,” Chiaverini said.  “I have a ton of respect for Coach Tuck and what he’s done for me, giving me the opportunity to stay at Colorado – it shows that he really believes in me.  I’m looking forward to helping him build the Colorado program back to among the elite in college football.”

Chiaverini joins a short but prestigious list of those who have held the title of assistant head coach.  Serving previously in the role were John Mason(1931-36, for Bunnie Oakes); John Polonchek (1959-61, for Sonny Grandelius); Rudy Feldman (1963-67, for Eddie Crowder); Jerry Claiborne (1971, for Crowder); Doug Dickey (1979, for Chuck Fairbanks); Ron Dickerson (1982-84; for Bill McCartney); Lou Tepper (1986-87, for McCartney); Bob Simmons(1993-94, for McCartney); Chris Strausser (2006, for Dan Hawkins); Jeff Grimes (2007-08, for Hawkins); Brian Cabral (2009-10, for Hawkins); Rip Scherer (2011-12, for Jon Embree);

Chiaverini, a native of Orange, Calif., graduated from Corona High School where he was a USA Today honorable mention All-American receiver.  During his collegiate career at CU, he caught 97 passes for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns, playing for the coach who recruiting him, Rick Neuheisel.  He went on to play four seasons in the NFL with Cleveland, the team that drafted him, Dallas and Atlanta.

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July 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Safeties: Is it possible the starters have yet to have their first practice with the team?

From the Daily Camera … Between Tedric Thompson, Afolabi Laguda, Nick Fisher and Evan Worthington, the back end of Colorado’s defense has been manned by experienced veterans for the past several years.

With that group all long gone, the Buffaloes are rebuilding at safety. Yet, while experience is lacking, competition for playing time should be intense.

“I think there’s a lot of guys that are out to prove themselves,” defensive coordinator/safeties coach Tyson Summers said in the spring. “A lot of guys in that room between the safeties and the Stars that are out to try to improve our defense as a whole and trying to have the ability to play.”

Throughout fall camp, the Buffs will evaluate inexperienced returners and newcomers to figure out who lines up at safety for the Aug. 30 opener against Colorado State in Denver. It’s possible that the two starters have yet to go through a single practice at CU.

… Continue reading story here …

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Details: Buffs to host open practice on August 3rd

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Colorado’s football team will hold an open practice to the public on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Folsom Field. Admission is free.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. with practice starting at approximately 8:50 and going for about two-and-a-half hours. A post-practice autograph/meet-the-team session will take place as well.

Due to construction in Folsom Field, entrances for fans will be at the 50-yard line in Balch Fieldhouse and Gates 7-13 around the stadium.

The team opens practice on Aug. 1 in preparation for new head coach Mel Tucker‘s first season in Boulder.

Pac-12 Media Day is scheduled for tomorrow, July 23, in Hollywood. For more information on Pac-12 Media Day, follow CU football’s social media accounts.

A select-a-seat event will also take place for fans interested in purchasing season tickets. For more information, please contact the ticket office at 303-492-8337.

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With CU’s kicker, punter, long snapper and kickoff specialist back, is this the year that CU kickers make their mark?

From the Daily Camera …Using four different field goal kickers and two punters wasn’t exactly what the Colorado football team had in mind for the 2018 season.

Despite dealing with injuries, the Buffaloes were actually solid in the kicking game a year ago. This year, they could be even better.

“The good thing is, our punter is back, our kicker is back, our kickoff guy is back, our holder is back and our snapper is back,” CU linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Ross Els said. “That really helps.”

Placekicker James Stefanou went into last season banged up, missed four games and was never really healthy until the final two games.

Now a junior, Stefanou comes into this year hoping to regain the form that made him a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2017. In his career, he is 22-for-30 on field goals and a perfect 65-for-65 on extra points. He battled through pain to go 5-for-8 on field goals last year.

… Continue reading story here …

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The Athletic: “Laviska Shenault’s game speaks volumes, and now the Colorado receiver wants his voice heard, too”

From The Athletic … Steven Montez was in El Paso last summer, joining some old high school friends for a meal at a Hawaiian barbecue joint, when the talk inevitably turned to the upcoming college football season.

The Colorado quarterback couldn’t stop talking about the ace up his sleeve, a do-it-all weapon still unknown to most of the country.

“I said to them, ‘Have you heard of Laviska Shenault? He’s going to be the best receiver in the country next year,’” Montez recalled recently from an empty office inside the Champions Center in Boulder. “They were like, ‘No, I haven’t heard his name.’ So I pulled up his clips and their jaws almost hit the table. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing on the tape. ‘How is he that big, that strong and still be able to move that well?’”

As the Buffaloes prepare to take their seat at Pac-12 Media Day in Hollywood on Wednesday, with Shenault scheduled to represent the program alongside linebacker Nate Landman, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound wide receiver won’t be sneaking up on anyone in college football this time around.

His game spoke volumes last season, even as he played through two injuries that required surgery last winter. After a bit role as a true freshman in 2017, Shenault exploded onto the scene by tallying 1,126 total yards and 11 touchdowns (six receiving, five rushing) on the way to earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Oh, and he did all of that in nine games.

No one in the conference is forgetting the name now, one that could very well be called in the first round of the NFL Draft in nine months.

… Continue reading story here (subscription required … Once again – highly recommended) …

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July 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

First time cornerbacks coach  Traveras Tillman: “Everything is new to them and they’re picking it up and they’re doing a good job”

From the Daily Camera … At times, the 2018 season was a tough one for Colorado’s inexperienced cornerbacks.

CU has sent several corners to the National Football League in recent years, but last year, the Buffaloes leaned on newcomers and those still developing.

This offseason was even tougher, as four corners transferred after spring ball.

Nevertheless, the corners that remain on the roster are talented and, under the direction of new coaches, the Buffs believe if they can stay healthy, they should be fine.

“I feel like we’ll be able to get the job done with the guys that we have,” head coach Mel Tucker said.

A long-time defensive backs coach, Tucker will be hands-on with this group, as well as with cornerbacks coach Traveras Tillman, who spent the past three years working with Tucker at Georgia.

Tillman, an all-ACC player at Georgia Tech and eight-year NFL veteran, was a graduate assistant at Georgia for two years before working in quality control last year. He is now in his first full-time college coaching job.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 21st 

… CU in a few minutes …

Steven Montez: “I don’t really mind people talking about me. I know it comes with the job”

From the Daily Camera … In  four years of college football, including two as a starting quarterback, Steven Montez has had a few moments where he scrolls through social media and comes across a nasty comment directed his way.

“I don’t really mind people talking about me. I know it comes with the job,” said Montez, who is entering his third season as Colorado’s starting quarterback. “You have a bad game, people are going to bash you and all of that. I get some (direct messages). But it takes two clicks to block somebody.”

As the Buffs’ quarterback, Montez has been the most scrutinized player on the team for the past two years.

He’s directed some memorable wins, delivered some remarkable passes – in addition to a few great runs – and put himself in position to break a lot of school records. Yet, Montez’s general performance has been the focal point of criticism for some. For others, it’s as simple as looking at his win-loss record: 12-15. Add, for some, there have been questions about his leadership ability.

Montez’s teammates, however speak of a young man who has evolved as a person and a player during his time in Boulder while never losing his desire to lead CU to a bowl game.

“From the day I got here, you can say he’s checked every box to get better, or what you’re supposed to do as a young person becoming older,” said junior receiver Laviska Shenault, whose arrival in Boulder in 2017 coincided with Montez taking over as the starting quarterback. “He’s gotten better at everything.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 20th – Happy Apollo 11 Day!

… CU in a few minutes … 

Pat Rooney: Can CU repeat its 2016 worst-to-first run?

From the Daily Camera … It happens all the time.

A team that typically lands in the basement of its conference predictably gets picked for last place ahead of the following season. That team, perhaps loaded with undervalued experience or inspired by a new coach, turns heads by putting together a season that eventually makes those preseason prognostications the source of a good laugh.

It happened in Boulder as recently as 2016, when the Colorado Buffaloes football team defied its lukewarm preseason expectations with a stirring run to the 2016 Pac-12 Conference championship game. Things haven’t been the same since, with the Buffs adding two more last-place finishes in the Pac-12 South to bring their total to seven last-place finishes in the division in eight seasons in the league.

New head coach Mel Tucker aims to change that. When this year’s Pac-12 preseason poll is released later this week at the league’s football media day, the Buffs are expected to once again reside in the basement of the South. The goal of turning that preseason fate into a postseason joke won’t be easy. The schedule is far more difficult, with the Buffs trading New Hampshire for Air Force in nonconference play while facing Oregon and Stanford in Pac-12 play in lieu of 2018 lightweights Oregon State and Cal, both of which defeated CU.

Certainly there are plenty of the so-called intangibles that must fall into place for CU to climb out of that basement. Avoiding a catastrophic injury on a team boasting questionable depth tops that list, perhaps followed closely with how the Buffs mesh under a fiery, well-decorated coach who nonetheless is taking his first turn as a full-time head coach.

… Continue reading story here …

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CU picks up former four-star outside linebacker as junior college transfer

Former Nebraska linebacker Guy Thomas has sent out a tweet that he has committed to the University of Colorado.

Guy Thomas – LB – Junior College

Just the facts … Committed July 20th … Thomas is a 6’3″, 232-pound outside linebacker from Miami, Florida Rivals 2017 bio 247 Sports bio

What others say about Thomas  ... As a member of the Recruiting Class of 2017, Thomas was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. At Rivals, Parker was considered to be the No. 16 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, and the No. 49 overall player out of the state of Florida. At 247 Sports, Thomas was considered to be the No. 27 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 59 overall player out of the state of Florida, and the No. 452 overall prospect in the country from the Recruiting Class of 2017.

Thomas used his red-shirt year in 2017, then played sparingly for the Cornhuskers in 2018 as a red-shirt freshman. Thomas will play for Coahoma Community College in Mississippi this fall as a redshirt sophomore, then transfer to Colorado in December. Thomas will then be eligible to play in the 2020 season, with two seasons to play two.

Out of high school, Thomas had other offers from … almost two dozen schools. From Power Five schools, Thomas had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and TCU.

So, what happened? How did Thomas go from a Miami recruit with offers from some of the heaviest hitters in the nation?

From the Omaha-World Herald: Thomas played in four games this season as a redshirt freshman. He recorded four tackles, with a season-high three coming against FCS foe Bethune-Cookman.

In his own words … When asked by BuffStampede.com in May what his goals would be for the upcoming season, Thomas exuded confidence:

“I think the record is about 12 and I want to get to 20 sacks this year,” he said. “I switched up from defensive end to outside linebacker when I got to college so over the last couple years I have become more of a student of the game. I understand it a lot more now. And I have improved my work ethic. I learned how to work hard, and I now know what comes from working harder.”

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Steven Montez: “There’s no shortage of talent in our receiving corps”

From the Daily Camera … Colorado fans are excited to see what Laviska Shenault can do this season on the football field, and understandably so. After all, Shenault is one of the best receivers in the country and one of the top all-around players CU has had in a long time.

Shenault, meanwhile, can’t wait to see what his fellow receivers do this year.

“So many weapons,” Shenault said, shaking his head. “We’re all talented and we all can do something special.”

Leading up to fall camp, which starts Aug. 1, Buffzone.com is previewing each position group for the Buffs. In this installment, the focus is on the receivers.

The focus for opposing defenses will be on Shenault after he exploded last season. Despite missing three games because of injury, he had a season that ranks among the best in CU history and his 9.6 catches per game led the country. Not surprisingly, Shenault has been named preseason all-American by several publications and is on the watch list for the Biletnikoff and Maxwell awards.

Even without Shenault, however, the Buffs have explosive talent at receiver.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU media day schedule released (Practice that morning open to the public!) … 

Press release from CUBuffs.com … The 67th Annual University of Colorado Football/Olympic Sports Media Day will be held on Saturday, August 3 in the Arrow Touchdown Club in the Dal Ward Athletic Center in Boulder.  The football team will start practice at 8:30 a.m.; practice that day is open to the general public (the photo window has yet to be determined; it’s also Fan Day, so there will be autographs, selfies, etc. post-practice).  We’ll open with our three Olympic Sports first at 11:00, start serving lunch at 11:30, followed by Mel Tucker previewing his first Buffalo team at 12:15, with player/assistant coach interviews set from 1-2 p.m. or so.  The complete schedule for August 3:

    8:30 a.m.    Football Practice (to 11:15 a.m., lower practice fields; photo/video window 11:15-Noon)

  11:00 a.m.    Fall Olympic Sports Roundtables

                      11:00   Soccer (Coach Danny Sanchez; players TBA)

                     11:25   Volleyball (Asst. Coach Lee Maes, players TBA)

                     11:50   Cross Country (Head Coach Mark Wetmore; tentative, depends on summer amateur events)

  11:30 a.m.    Media Lunch (to 12:45 p.m.)

  12:15 p.m.    Mel Tucker Previews the 2019 Buffaloes

    1:00 p.m.    Football Player/Assistant Coach Interviews (to 1:45 p.m. or so)

All football players report to CU by July 31 for meetings, dinner, orientation, etc., and the first full team meeting that day ahead of the season, with the first practice the next day (August 1).

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CU rescinds walk-on offer to Santino Marchiol

From the Daily Camera … Just a few weeks ago, Santino Marchiol was viewed as an intriguing walk-on addition to the Colorado football team.

Instead, Marchiol’s third chance in Division I college football has come and gone.

A former high-level linebacker recruit from Cherry Creek High School, Marchiol was arrested on June 24 in Pueblo on “suspicion of assault in a domestic violence case,” according to a report in The Denver Post.

Marchiol was never enrolled at CU, but had received an invitation from head coach Mel Tucker to walk on to the team this fall. Upon learning of the arrest this week, Tucker rescinded the invitation, according to CU sports information director David Plati.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 18th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Nate Landman:  “I think it’s just the mental game that’s the hardest part. When they can get that, I think we’re going to have a great defense”

From the Daily Camera … With two experienced seniors graduating and youth behind him, Nate Landman knew that he’d be required to fill a leadership role at linebacker this season for the Colorado football team.

The junior wasted no time in embracing the challenge.

“Yeah, I love it,” said Landman, who had to become a leader as a junior in high school, as well. “I thrive under that position and I like having that responsibility.

“I had my fair share of responsibility (last year), but now it’s all on me. I love that role I’ve been put into and hopefully I can thrive under that and hopefully I can get our guys going.”

Entering his third year with the Buffaloes, Landman spent his first two seasons learning under fellow inside linebacker Rick Gamboa, a four-year starter and one of the all-time leading tacklers in CU history. He also leaned a bit on Drew Lewis, a two-year starter.

… Continue reading story here …

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Position battles on offense indicate team depth is improving

From CUBuffs.com … There are some things about which we can be fairly certain when it comes to the Colorado Buffaloes’ offense as we look ahead to the 2019 season.

For instance, it is a good bet that junior wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., a preseason All-American and All-Pac-12 selection, will draw double coverage from the time the Buffs begin their pregame warmups. We know quarterback Steven Montez — fourth on CU’s all-time passing list and third in total offense — will quite likely add to those totals, and he has a good chance to move into second on the all-time passing chart.

But what we don’t yet know is who the rest of the difference-makers will be. Those are the players who will step up and take advantage of the void created by the attention Shenault attracts, the players who will tote the rock as CU tries to establish a more balanced offense and — most importantly — the players who will provide the protection and open the holes up front so all those things can occur.

There are, of course, plenty of candidates for those jobs. The Buffs have potential at every position. But to turn that potential into production, those players will have to take their game to the next level and become every-down contributors. Those are the players head coach Mel Tucker and his staff will be looking to identify when fall camp opens with the first practice Aug. 1.

… Continue reading story here …

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OLB coach Brian Michalowski: “Their heads are where they need to be, they have the experience and I’m just looking forward to seeing what we can do”

From the Daily Camera … Getting to the quarterback wasn’t a major problem for the Colorado defense a year ago.

Getting there more often from the outside, however, will be a point of emphasis for the Buffaloes this season.

CU ranked fourth in the Pac-12 with 2.42 sacks per game (29) in 2018 – the team’s second-best per-game average since joining the conference in 2011. Much of that production came from the middle of the field, though, as defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson (8.5 sacks, 16 pressures) and linebacker Nate Landman (4 sacks, 3 pressures) were two of the most productive Buffs.

Of the 29 sacks, only 9.5 came from the outside linebackers. Carson Wells, now a sophomore, had 4.5 sacks, but only one other outsider backer had more than one: Drew Lewis, who has since graduated, with two.

Getting pressure on the quarterback is vital, regardless of where it comes from, but first-year outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski said it’s important for his group to be productive.

“I think it’s really important for us to generate a pass rush because we’re coming from the outside, we’re collapsing the pocket and we’re having that clock in the quarterback’s head tick down,” Michalowski said. “That makes all the difference.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Draft Wire interviews Laviska Shenault 

From DraftWire.com … If you’re looking for the best wide receiver in college football, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault, Jr. can give you a strong case.

One of the top overall prospects eligible for the 2020 NFL draft, Shenault recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about what he’s working to improve heading into the 2019 season, why physicality is a key attribute for a successful receiver, and what fans can expect from him this year.

JM: We’re on the brink of a very important season for you. What have you been working on this off season?

LS: I’m just trying to become a better leader, first and foremost. I’ve been busy working on every aspect of my game. I’m getting better at my craft. I need to check every box. I’ve been getting better at everything.

JM: How would you describe your skill set?

LS: I just feel like I’m a dog. I’m a play maker. I’m a big, shifty guy and I work on improving my skill set every day. I need to get better and better.

JM: You tallied 86 catches last season. That was good for over 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. How can you top that?

LS: It’s possible, as long I as keep working hard. I’m trying to go into this season with an even better mindset than I had last year. I need to play with more heart. I need to be the leader of this receiver room. I’m just putting my best foot forward.

JM: How has the coaching staff at Colorado helped you become a better player? I know that you’re working under a new coaching staff now.

LS: I’ve been blessed to work under some great coaches here at Colorado. They’ve really honed in on my work ethic. They’ve put a lot of focus on improving my work ethic. They’ve always made sure that I’m putting 100 percent effort into every play. They don’t want me to let any opportunities go to waste. I need to capitalize on every chance I get.

JM: How well are you connecting with the new coaching staff?

LS: Very well. They love me and I love them. We’ve enjoyed working together thus far. We’re getting ready for a big season.

… Continue reading story here …

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Other than Landman and Johnson, which Buff defenders could make an NFL roster?

From CUBuffs.com … As the opening of fall camp draws ever nearer for the Colorado Buffaloes (players are scheduled to report two weeks from Wednesday), there are some things of which we can be relatively sure in terms of personnel.

In other words, there are a handful of players on both sides of the ball who will be expected to be productive. They are the veteran, established starters coming off solid seasons. On defense, that list no doubt includes inside linebacker Nate Landman (last season’s tackles leader) and defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson (last year’s sacks leader), both of whom have been named to preseason All-Pac-12 first teams. The only surprise would be if they did not have excellent 2019 campaigns.

But Colorado’s chances of success won’t hinge on those players delivering as expected. Rather, the key will be the up-and-comers, the players who have flashed but not yet hit a steady level of consistency. If those players can take their game up a notch and become every-down contributors, they could be the difference makers in a tight game or two this fall — and thus be the difference between a postseason berth for the Buffs and another holiday season at home.

Today, we’ll take a look at some of the defensive players who might fit into that category.

… Continue reading story here …

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New Director of Football Equipment Operations comes to CU from Stanford

From Unionville Herald-Standard … The 2019-20 college sports season is right around the corner, and a Cal U grad is adding to his impressive resume.

After spending the last three years as the Assistant Athletics Director-Equipment Manager at Stanford University, Chris Dountas has been hired as the Director of Football Equipment Operations for the University of Colorado.

“The University of Colorado is a great place in one of the most beautiful parts of our country,” said Dountas via phone on his commute to Boulder, Colorado, from the Bay Area in California. “They have a strong tradition in football and with a new coaching staff coming in this season, things are exciting there.

“From an equipment management standpoint, CU has one of the best equipment facilities in the country, their relationship with Nike is top notch and they checked all of my boxes.”

Dountas, known to his friends in high school and college as Donut, hesitated before excitement took over his tone.

“Plus, having the Rocky Mountains as the back drop to our home games at Folsom Field isn’t bad either,” he said while laughing.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 16th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU to be “creative in utilizing the tight end in the offense, both in blocking and receiving”

From the Daily Camera … Catching the ball in a college football game isn’t totally new to Jalen Harris. After all, he did haul in two touchdown passes during his career at Auburn.

Like the rest of the Colorado tight ends, however, Harris is expecting to get a little more attention from the quarterback this year.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Mel Tucker and new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, CU vows to use the tight end as a weapon much more than the Buffs have in the recent past. In an effort to get this group up to speed, Tucker hired former NFL tight end Al Pupunu to coach them.

Pupunu had a record-breaking career at Weber State before playing nine seasons in the NFL. He spent the past two years coaching his alma mater.

“He’ll be creative in utilizing the tight end in our offense, both in blocking and receiving,” Tucker said of Pupunu last winter.

… Continue reading story here …

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Steven Montez one of five Pac-12 quarterbacks named to Davey O’Brien Award watch list

… Also from the Pac-12: K.J. Costello (Stanford); J.T. Daniels (USC); Justin Herbert (Oregon); and Kahlil Tate (Arizona) …

From CUBuffs.com … For the second time in as many days, Colorado’s Steven Montez was added to a postseason award watch list.  The senior quarterback from El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, given to the nation’s top quarterback.

On Monday, Montez was one of four Buffs placed on watch lists.  He along with junior WR Laviksa Shenault were named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the national player of the year while junior DE Mustafa Johnson and junior LB Nate Landman were named to the Bednarik Award Watch List for the nation’s top defensive player.

Montez returns as a fifth-year senior and two-year starter who is already in the top five in most passing and total offense categories in CU history.  He ranks third in CU history with 7,648 yards of total offense and fourth in career passing yards with 6,841.  He has 27 starts to his credit and has started the last 22 games.  He has two of the top five seasons in CU history for passing yards and two of the top four for total offense.

Montez holds 34 CU records, including 25 outright.  He’s completed 565-of-907 passes for 6,841 yards with 46 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.  Phil Steele ranks him the No. 12 quarterback in the nation and College Football News ranks him the No. 18 player out of the Pac-12.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 15th

… CU in a few minutes … 

K.D. Nixon: “We’re not stuck on last year. We know what we need to work on”

From CUBuffs.com … After two straight losing seasons, two seasons of the Colorado Buffaloes coming up short in crunch time, CU’s K.D. Nixon is doing everything within his power to make sure 2019 produces a different story line.

Emphasis on “everything.”

“Now I understand,” Nixon said recently, in between summer workouts. “When you are a freshman, you don’t see the big picture. You just want to play football, you just want to get out on the field, so you do what everyone else is doing. But as you get older, you begin to understand what it takes. You understand you have to do more. You learn what’s important and what you have to do to be special.”

That means more than what is simply required. More than just the five-day-a-week workouts on the Buffs’ summer schedule.

It means a 24-7 regimen, a dedicated process that embraces strength, conditioning, recovery, mind and body.

“Me and Viska (roommate and fellow wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.) — we want to be legendary,” Nixon said simply. “Even though Viska had a good year, that’s in the past. People don’t get that. We’re not stuck on last year. We know what we need to work on. We know we have to be better blockers. We know we need to better teammates. We know we have to stay healthy. We know we need to make bigger plays to take this team where we want to go.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Darian Hagan: “My job is to make sure all six of those guys are ready to play at any given time, and they will be”

From the Daily Camera … In taking over Colorado’s starting quarterback position in 1989, Darian Hagan was blessed with plenty of talent.

What he didn’t have was much experience, having played sparingly as a freshman the year before.

“Nothing to prove that I could be a really good player,” he said. “Then, (quarterbacks coach Gary) Barnett took a really good interest in me and got me ready to play.”

Now in his fourth season as the Buffaloes’ running backs coach, Hagan faces the same task as Barnett did 30 years ago. Hagan’s group has talent, but very little experience.

“My job is to make sure all six of those guys are ready to play at any given time, and they will be,” he said.

Leading up to fall camp, which starts Aug. 1, BuffZone.com is previewing each position group for the Buffs. In this first installment, the focus is on the running backs.

During the last three seasons, Hagan and the Buffs have had the luxury of leaning on Phillip Lindsay (1,189 yards in 2016 and 1,474 in 2017) and Travon McMillian (1,009 yards in 2018), who are both now in the NFL.

What’s left at CU is a collection of talented underclassmen with a lot to prove. Sophomore Alex Fontenot is the veteran, but entering his third season in the program, he’s got just 11 career rushing attempts. The only other back with game experience is walk-on Chase Sanders, who has four career attempts.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 14th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mustafa Johnson on last-place projections: “We don’t care about that. We have something to prove”

From the Daily Camera … Flip through most of the national preview magazines and you’ll find the Colorado football team in the same spot: Last place in the Pac-12 South.

When the Pac-12 releases the preseason media poll next week, the Buffaloes will likely be last there, too.

Frankly, it’s where the Buffs should be slotted.

Nobody has owned last place like the Buffs, who have finished at the bottom seven times in eight years in the conference, including the last two seasons. History suggests the Buffs will finish there again, so it’s an easy pick to throw them at the bottom.

That doesn’t mean the Buffs will wind up at the bottom, of course, but to get respect they’re going to have to earn it on the field.

“Obviously we see it and we see what people are saying, we know what people are thinking, but we don’t care about that,” junior defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson said. “We have something to prove.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 13th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Laviska Shenault: “Everything happens for a reason, so what happened last year, it was meant to happen” 

From the Daily Camera … Shenault has scars on his leg and chest and he has spent this offseason recovering from toe and shoulder surgeries. No, the best football player CU has had in years is not invincible, but he is determined and he hasn’t been fazed by anything that’s left its permanent mark on his body.

“Yeah, I’m a soldier,” he said. “I’m never nervous, regardless of what I’m doing. I go out thinking I’m about to just be me. I don’t think about getting hurt. You think about getting hurt, you get hurt.”

Shenault got hurt last year – the toe and shoulder injuries cut a sensational season short and impacted CU’s overall campaign – but with fall camp set to begin Aug. 1, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound “freak,” as he’s referred to by teammates and coaches, is ready to roll.

“Everything happens for a reason, so what happened last year, it was meant to happen,” said Shenault, who played in only nine games, but caught 86 passes for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns, while also running for five scores. “It was meant to make me stronger, I guess, so I’m going to come back stronger.”

… Continue reading story here ….

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Steven Montez on Manning camp: “You just try and soak up everything you can”

From CUBuffs.com …  Colorado quarterback Steven Montez had the opportunity in late June to attend his second Manning Passing Academy, but this year, the CU senior was joined by another Buff.

Making the trek to Thibodaux, La., with Montez was Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. The two served as camp counselors and also got plenty of instruction at their respective positions at the camp that features Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, as well as their father, Archie Manning.

“There were a lot of things that we went over last year, but there was also a lot of new information,” Montez said. “I took a lot of notes, learned a lot of new things. It’s always good to get out there with guys who are multiple Super Bowl champions. You just try to soak up everything you can.”

Montez, a two-year starter at Colorado, already has his name sprinkled throughout the CU record book. He is currently fourth in Buffs history in passing yards (6,841), and with his 807 career rushing yards, his 7,648 yards is third.

Shenault, a junior, burst onto the scene last year with a breakout season that saw him lead the nation in yards per catch (9.6). Even though he missed three games with injuries, he still finished with 86 receptions for 1,011 yards and 6 touchdowns receiving and he ran the ball 17 times for 115 yards and 5 touchdowns.

“It was no doubt good for him,” Montez said. “He was catching balls from all the quarterbacks from all over the nation. He also got some great advice from guys that are future Hall of Famers that have played in the (NFL). They have a lot of valuable advice. It was good for both of us.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 12th

… CU in a few minutes …

Mustafa Johnson:  “I’m a ball player. My goal is to come out and perform. That’s what I train to do every year”

From the Daily Camera … A year ago, Mustafa Johnson came to Colorado without a lot of hype, but plenty of motivation.

After a sensational debut season with the Buffaloes, the 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman is receiving a lot of attention, but hasn’t lost any of his motivation.

Relatively unknown as a junior college transfer last year, Johnson is now regarded as one of the top defensive linemen in the Pac-12. He’s earned preseason, first-team all-conference honors by just about every major national publication.

“I’ve seen a couple of them here and there, but I like to focus on the grind,” Johnson, now a junior, said of the preseason accolades. “All that stuff doesn’t really mean anything until I do it and make it show that I earned it and things like that. I have to keep going.”

Enjoying the grind is what got Johnson here in the first place.

At Turlock (Calif.) High School, Johnson was a two-time Central California Conference defensive player of the year, but overlooked in recruiting because he was undersized lineman, at only 250 pounds.

… Continue reading story here …

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Brian Cabral: CU will need to bring its “A” game to defeat the Air Force cadets

From CUBuffs.com … It has been 61 years since Colorado, Colorado State and Air Force all played each other in football in the same season.

That round-robin drought comes to an end this year, as the Buffs will face CSU in their Aug. 30 season opener in Denver (8 p.m. kickoff), then host Air Force in an 11 a.m. game Sept. 14 in Boulder. AFA and the Rams will complete the round-robin Nov. 14 in Fort Collins.

Thursday, representatives from all three programs gathered in Colorado Springs for the Colorado Springs Sports Corp.’s annual college football kickoff luncheon. Longtime Buffs assistant Brian Cabral, who recently rejoined the CU staff in an advisory/counselor role, was joined by Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun and CSU defensive coordinator John Jancek, along with CSU-Pueblo defensive coordinator Donnell Leomiti (a former standout Buffs defensive back).

“What a deal — Air Force, Colorado State and CU getting to play at one time,” Cabral said. “I do have to say that in 1974, the last time Air Force played Colorado, I just happened to be there. I was a freshman (at CU). I wanted to know what a cadet looks like — what I did find out is that you’d better bring your ‘A’ game.”

Colorado and Colorado State have played regularly since they resumed their series in 1983 after a 25-year hiatus, and have met every year since 1995. Colorado has won four in a row against the Rams and five of the last six. The current series, however, will come to an end after next season’s game in Fort Collins before resuming with a home-and-home set in 2023-24.

CU’s meeting with the Falcons will be the first since 1974, with the Buffs making the trip to AFA in 2022.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Washington “Dawg Pound” previews 2019 Buffs

From the DawgPound.com … Colorado begins again in 2019. New head coach Mel Tucker, plucked straight out of the Nick Saban family tree, takes over the reigns of the Buffalo program. He inherits some really good players, but also some really significant headaches. Does Tucker’s vision of an SEC style team in the Rockies have merit? Can a first time head coach who brings with him two coordinators that each served as quality control assistants a year ago reestablish a sense of confidence in a program that has seen the highest and lowest of points over the past two years? Is there even enough talent in Boulder to make it all work in the 2019? …

Projecting the Colorado Buffaloes

… I’m not going to lie. I don’t see a lot of success in Colorado’s immediate future. When the two weakest units on your team are the defensive and offensive lines, winning football rarely ensues. I will admit that I think there is the potential for an upset or two to happen. The presence of havoc-creating defenders like Tayor and Johnson along with long-ball producers such as Montez and Shenault imply that Colorado has the potential to get over the top if a game gets close at the end. Unless most of these JUCO transfers become major contributors, Colorado will nevertheless suffer on the “every down” kinds of plays and too often find themselves on the wrong side of the sticks.

The schedule isn’t going to be all that helpful. The Buffs have a difficult OOC game with their week 2 home contest against Nebraska and then will get challenged by Air Force in what looks like a classic trap game. The in-conference schedule has just four home games this year, but three of them are against teams (USC, Stanford, and Washington) that Colorado probably isn’t ready to compete with. Thus, bowl eligibility is likely going to require that the Buffs find three wins on the road. I don’t see those wins on this schedule.

I’m going to chalk this one up to a rebuilding year for Mel Tucker and his new staff. Though I know he does not see it that way, the truth is that overhauling the culture and the system in the manner that he wishes to will take some time and an investment in players who may not yet be fully ready to compete at a PAC 12 level. The goal for this team should be getting in a position to compete for the South title in 2020.

… Read full unit-by-unit preview here …

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The Athletic posts its in-depth “State of the Program” for CU 

From The Athletic … There was a point in Boulder during spring practice that first-year coach Mel Tucker looked around at his staff, many of whom didn’t know one another before these jobs, and his players, the large majority of whom had met only him a few months earlier, and had a realization: Everything was happening more smoothly than he had anticipated.

“Everything was really organized and efficient,” Tucker said. “And I thought that we got better pretty much every day we were out there.”

Which was a good sign for Tucker, because his biggest priority this spring was getting the nuances to operate the way he wanted (and that would be nearly impossible if the largest systems weren’t acting efficiently).

“Winning and losing games … it comes down to the little things in terms of being disciplined, and obviously you have to have talent, but also, being conditioned, how hard you play, how smart you play, playing together as a team,” Tucker said. “All of those things are really what make the difference between being able to win the game … or falling short.”

In his past four years — the previous three of which were spent at Georgia, and before that, a season at Alabama — he had seen how important it was to execute in those close games. In those four seasons, he had coached 15 games that were decided by a score or less, and his teams had gone 8-7. (In the other 42 games with Georgia and Alabama, Tucker was 38-4.)

And now, he comes to Colorado, where the Buffs have been far less successful than Tucker’s squads in Athens and Tuscaloosa. Though Colorado had a similar number of close games in the past four seasons (16 games decided by a score or less, going 8-8), in the other 35 games over that span, the Buffaloes went 16-19.

So, Tucker wanted to make sure that his first spring at Colorado was spent emphasizing the big and little things. Because while the big things will help the Buffs get close — which they haven’t done often in recent history — the little things will help them win once they get there.

… Continue reading story here (subscription required – highly recommended) …

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July 9th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN: Colorado has nation’s sixth-most difficult schedule

… Related … ESPN’s Football Power Index …

From The Spun … College football season officially starts next month, and Monday, ESPN finally released its updated FPI rankings heading into the new campaign. One of the most interesting factors for FPI is the strength of schedule.

This year’s “hardest” schedules are dominated by the SEC and the Pac-12. In fact, 11 of the top 20 come from the Southeastern Conference. Seven call the Pac-12 home.

Let’s take a look at the top 10. South Carolina, which has to play both Alabama and Clemson, comes in with the No. 1 ranking.

From the Pac-12 … 

No. 9 UCLA … UCLA has a brutal non-conference schedule that includes a trip to Cincinnati and home games against San Diego State and Oklahoma. The Bruins then also get Washington State, Arizona, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, USC and Cal in Pac-12 play.

No. 8 Oregon State … Oregon State’s non-conference schedule has Oklahoma State, Hawaii and Cal Poly on the docket. They then play Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Cal, Arizona, Washington, Arizona State, Washington State and Oregon in the Pac-12.

No. 6 Colorado … Colorado takes on Colorado State, Nebraska and Air Force to start the season before playing Arizona State, Arizona, Oregon, Washington State, USC, UCLA, Stanford, Washington and Utah in Pac-12 play.

No. 4 Stanford … Stanford takes on Northwestern, UCF and Notre Dame out of conference. The Cardinal also get USC, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, UCLA, Arizona, Colorado, Washington State and Cal.

No. 2 USC … USC has a brutal schedule, which includes Fresno State, BYU and Notre Dame out of conference. The Trojans get Stanford, Utah, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona State, Cal and UCLA in the Pac-12.

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July 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Brian Cabral excited to again be associated with CU athletics 

From CUBuffs.com … Brian Cabral’s legacy is no doubt firmly cemented in Colorado football lore.

A standout player and coach, Cabral has left his mark on the Buffaloes over a span of three decades, a career that will be celebrated with his induction into the CU Sports Hall of Fame this year.

Cabral played for Bill Mallory in the 1970s and had a key role on the 1976 team that won a Big Eight title and earned an Orange Bowl berth. He won a Super Bowl ring with the 1986 Chicago Bears as part of a nine year NFL career, then returned to CU to serve 23 years as a full-time assistant coach — the longest tenure of any assistant coach in any sport in Colorado history.

But Cabral isn’t finished. Now, after a short-lived retirement, he is back working for his sixth Colorado head coach — but not in the capacity he served in previous years. After discussions with CU head coach Mel Tucker and Athletic Director Rick George over the spring, Cabral has joined Tucker’s staff as an adviser/counselor for players and coaches. Instead of teaching linebackers how to tackle on the field, he will help CU student-athletes tackle the ups and downs of everyday life — and prepare for the next step after their playing careers are over.

“My coaching was always about relationships,” Cabral said recently. “Football was an avenue in that regard. To be able to come back and work with these kids was a great opportunity. Helping young people develop has always been a passion of mine. They face so many challenges in their everyday lives and I love the thought of helping them navigate those.”

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Spring/Summer game, from the 2019 Season, is filed under Article.
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