Dec. 5th – at Arizona – Watershed Moments

Sophomore running back Jarek Broussard had 301 yards rushing, the fourth-highest single game effort in CU history, leading the Buffs to a 24-13 come-from-behind win over Arizona. Broussard had carries going for 75, 72, and 59 yards … but didn’t score. Broussard did, however, become the first Colorado player to open up his career in Boulder with four consecutive 100-yard games (see multiple records set by Broussard in the Game Notes).

Arizona, which jumped out to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter, had two second half drives covering in excess of 80 yards in the second half … but didn’t score on either of them. The Wildcats, who lost for a school-record 11th-straight game, had two 100-yard rushers of their own (Michael Wiley – nine carries for 126 yards; Gary Brightwell: 20 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown). The Buffs went for 499 total yards (dipping below 500 on the game’s final kneel downs), but gave up 422.

The Buffs ran their season record to 4-0, making first-year head coach Karl Dorrell only the second Buff coach since 1905 to open his career at Colorado with four wins (Rick Neuheisel opened with a 5-0 record in 2005 … but he was taking over a team which had gone 11-1 the year before). Dorrell became the sixth CU head coach to open with a 3-0 record in conference play, but the first since Jim Yeager in 1941.

“It just tells me a lot about this team”, Dorrell said about his team rebounding from a two-score deficit. “There wasn’t any panic, there wasn’t any concern that we were in trouble or that look that you get on players faces when they seem to lose confidence or something like that. I didn’t sense that at all. There was more problem solving. Trying to find answers and solutions as we’re on the sidelines making adjustments.”

“Watershed” is a geographical term describing the area from which water sources drain into a single river or a ridge, like that formed by a chain of mountains, which sends water to two different rivers on either side.

From that definition, the term “watershed” has come to mean a turning point or dividing line in life.

There are many examples of watershed moments in American history – The Declaration of Independence; D-Day; 9/11 – days which have defined generations.

In sports, there are watershed moments, but they aren’t always so easily identified. Often, it may take months, or even years (not to mention the benefit of hindsight) to make note of changes in the fortunes of a program.

Occasionally, the watershed moment is clear … but only to those who are prescient.

To someone like say, Bill McCartney.

Pac-12 North in shambles as Oregon falls to winless Cal; Washington loses to Stanford … Pundits unanimous in their picks: Take CU over Arizona (uh-oh!) … Oregon State QB likely out for the season … Rose Bowl (CFP semi-final) will be played without spectators …

Sam Noyer: Team chemistry  and leadership the difference for the 2020 Buffs … Scouting Report: CU at Arizona … Neill Woelk’s Five Keys to the Arizona game … Pac-12 picks – Buffs better on both sides of the ball … Good News! Pac-12 adds a bowl (Armed Forces Bowl v. SEC) …

Why can’t the Buffs beat the Wildcats (when everyone else can)? … Pac-12 issues statement on Game Seven options …. Karl Dorrell one of only three new head coaches (out of 23) to win their first three games in 2020 …

UA has questions at QB, and may have a freshman making his first start … The Wildcats have struggled, while the Buffs are brimming with confidence … Buffs looking to break a three-game losing streak to Wildcats, while UA is looking to break a ten-game overall losing streak …

Glass half full or half empty? A review of the 20-10 win over San Diego State … “T.I.P.S.” for CU at Arizona … Is there a reason the opening line (CU -3.5 points; now up to CU – 7.0) was so low? … What, if anything, about the Arizona roster, should Buff fans be wary of? …