Aug. 30th – Colorado State – “It’s Just the Beginning of our Program”

Colorado was out-gained by Colorado State (505 yards to 475), and had fewer first downs (27-23), but four CSU turnovers (including two interceptions by Buff safety Mikial Onu) doomed the Rams’ chances at an upset, with the Buffs posting a 52-31 victory in Denver.

In the final Rocky Mountain Showdown game to be played in Denver, sophomore running back Alex Fontenot led the Buffs with three touchdowns and 125 yards rushing on 19 carries. Steven Montez had a mediocre start to the 2019 campaign, completing 13-of-20 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, with star wide receiver Laviska Shenault being held to three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown (also contributing 35 yards on three rushes).

The game was a see-saw affair until the Buffs created a two-touchdown lead on the last play of the third quarter on an Alex Fontenot 14-yard run. A 22-yard rushing touchdown by Fontenot and a nine-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson were enough to send new head coach Mel Tucker back to Boulder with a 1-0 record.

“I’m proud of the group, I really am,” said CU head coach Mel Tucker, who became just the third Colorado coach since 1932 to win their opener. “It’s very rewarding to take a group like this, that’s all bought in, players and coaches, and see them go out and perform and have a really good team win.”

Two wins … Three wins … Four wins …

Guesses as to how many wins the Buffs will post in 2019, with a defense giving up 500 yards per game?

No.It’s a list of how many wins the last three CU head coaches have posted in their first seasons.

Apparently, it’s not easy taking over a Power Five conference team with issues, just ask Dan Hawkins (2-10 in 2006), Jon Embree (3-10 in 2011) and Mike MacIntyre (4-8 in 2013).

Lightning, overtime games, and yes, a little tear gas … When a series opens with six games in which the ranked team falls to the unranked team six times, you know you’re in for something different … Here’s a game-by-game look back at the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver …

Grades for each CU unit from the Rocky Mountain Showdown – How would you rate the results of CU’s pass defense against the Rams’ offense? … Plus, the debut of my Pac-12 Power Rankings – Where does CU fit in the conference after Week One? …

GameDay!! … Drew Litton: “Tucker Time” … Mel Tucker: A 1998 game his “most life-changing event” … Mel Tucker on CSU: “It’s going to be a huge challenge for us” … Senior walk-on safety Lucas Cooper awarded a scholarship … CU DC Tyson Summers taking on former boss in Mike Bobo … CU Video: “Relentless: Episode 1” …

Update: CU up to around 36,000 in ticket sales … CU’s all-time record in season openers … Record for CU coaches in their debuts (not pretty) … CU’s record in games played in Denver, and games played in August … A few moments with the 2018 RMS (a 45-13 Buff victory) … Arizona’s issues when losing its first game …

CSU coach Mike Bobo expects to run out to the field with his team … UCLA falls to Cincinnati, 24-14 – LA Times on Chip Kelly: “Where’s the Progress?” … Utah takes care of BYU with second half push …

The Buffs are looking for their fifth-straight win in the series, while Mike Bobo & Co. are looking to find a way to keep their jobs … CSU lost most of its skill position players, and brings to Mile High a defense which was ranked 117th in scoring in 2018 … Can Mel Tucker become just the third CU coach since 1932 to win his debut? …