Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily

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May 12th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Darrin Chiaverini: “Brendon Lewis is dynamic. He’s got a really, really high ceiling”

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s offense is loaded with potential weapons for next season, and Brendon Lewis is doing what he can to be the guy getting the ball in their hands.

After a strong spring, the freshman quarterback said he’s eager to take his game up another notch this summer.

“I’m going to continue to work on my accuracy and I’m going to continue to get bigger, faster and stronger because I know that will benefit my game greatly,” Lewis said after the Buffs’ spring showcase on April 30. “Mainly my accuracy, footwork, lower body. I’m going to just keep in the offense every day so when we come back like I said, it’s time to work, it’s time to win some games.”

… He made his collegiate debut in relief of Noyer during the 55-23 loss to Texas. Despite the lopsided score, Lewis played 38 snaps, threw for 95 yards, and ran for 73 and a touchdown. He led CU to all three touchdown drives.

Lewis rode that confidence into the spring. With Lytle competing at UMass and Noyer on the sidelines with an injury, Lewis split first-team reps with Tennessee transfer JT Shrout.

“In every position, you need confidence to play this game but especially the quarterback position because you handle the ball every single snap,” offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said during a CU-produced spring showcase preview last month. “He’s showing a lot more confidence this spring, even from last fall after getting that taste of having some success in the bowl game. I think you’ve seen him kind of take the next step, and it’s going to be a fun, fun thing to watch this fall camp.”

A big factor in Lewis’ confidence is his comfort with the playbook.

… Continue reading story here …

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William Sherman signs his rookie contract with New England

From patspulpit.com … The process of getting the 2021 draft class under contract has begun for the New England Patriots.

Former Colorado offensive tackle William Sherman and former Central Florida wide receiver Tre Nixon signed their four-year rookie deals on Tuesday, according to the NFL transaction wire. Sherman’s deal is for $3.65 million, covering four years.

Sherman, 21, arrived in the sixth round at No. 197 overall as the calendar turned to May. Nixon, 23, followed in the seventh round at No. 242 overall.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Sherman appeared in 30 games and made 27 starts at Colorado, earning honorable mention All-Pac 12 recognition as a redshirt freshman and second-team All-Pac 12 honors as a redshirt junior. His Buffaloes career spanned over 2,000 offensive snaps between left and right tackle.

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May 11th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

“Did CU’s 2001 upset of Nebraska start the dismantling of the Huskers dynasty? ‘It all went downhill from there’ “

... This is a must read for all CU fans. If you have been on the fence about subscribing to The Athletic, now is the time to pull the trigger. If you don’t want to subscribe, but still need your 62-36 fix, the CU at the Game Archives is here for you. Click here … 

From The Athletic … It wasn’t the 62 points, more than any opponent had scored against Nebraska in 11 decades of playing football.

It wasn’t the 380 rushing yards, either, that Colorado accumulated, more than four times the average figure surrendered by Nebraska’s stout defense.

No, it was the method by which Colorado beat the Cornhuskers on a cool Boulder Black Friday afternoon that sent shockwaves radiating back to Lincoln, in every direction, really, and through the sport’s power structure, ultimately contributing to the changing of the postseason formula.

The 15th-ranked Buffaloes pummeled BCS No. 1 Nebraska with simple misdirection and sheer power, winning 62-36 on Nov. 23, 2001, to claim the Big 12 North crown and end 10 years of frustration against their more successful rival.

“I think I was in shock for a long time — weeks, months, years,” said Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch, the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner and Sports Illustrated cover subject the week of the Colorado game. “I’ll never not be in shock about that one. We were a better team than Colorado. They were a better team that day. But we let that one go. It was a complete upset.”

Colorado won in a display reminiscent of the poundings delivered so often by Nebraska over the 30 years prior. The Buffs leaned on senior quarterback Bobby Pesavento, inserted midseason for injured Craig Ochs, All-America tight end Daniel Graham and a pair of sophomore running backs, Chris Brown and Bobby Purify.

Brown, an overlooked Northwestern transfer who in 2004 led the NFL in yards per carry with the Tennessee Titans, rushed for 198 yards and a school-record six touchdowns. His yardage total, at that point, was the fourth-highest ever recorded against Nebraska. And Purify, who replaced injured starter Cortlen Johnson on the Buffs’ opening drive, gained 154 yards, the 11th-highest rushing output surrendered by the Huskers.

“They took us for granted,” Brown said after the game. “They thought they could just come in and manhandle us like they do every year.”

… DeMoine Adams (Nebraska junior defensive end) … What I can remember, they kept running the same play up the middle, I mean, for yards and yards. It was just hard to believe. It was literally the same play — simple, very basic. We just could not stop it.

Bobby Pesavento: It was one of those moments where everyone clicked and everything was right. We had four really special backs. I think Chris (Brown) was third or fourth on the depth chart going into that game. It was a combination of those guys being hard, tough runners and the guys up front being really good. That wasn’t anything we put in that week special for Nebraska; just a great combination of using some misdirection and then play-action off it. We had them on their heels. They didn’t know in that first half where it was coming from and who it was going to.

Tracey Wistrom (Nebraska senior tight end and third-team All-American): It was out of control. As an offense, we were on the sideline, prepping on the next series. You’re not too focused on what’s happening defensively. But I will say I do remember looking up and thinking, “Wow, we’re not touching them till 8, 9 yards down the field.”

Daniel Graham: I was fortunate to play in two Super Bowls and win two Super Bowls. But that Colorado-Nebraska game sits No. 1 on my all-time list. Just to beat them the way we did, it’s still talked about 20 years later. It brings back great memories. Two, three years ago, right before we played Nebraska again, they replayed it on TV. I have that game recorded on my DVR, and I won’t delete it. I watched it with my wife, because my wife married into the CU family. She didn’t know anything about it. As we were getting ready to go to the game here in Boulder (in 2019), I said, “You have to watch this game to understand what people are saying.” I think she got up and walked away at halftime. She was like, “This wasn’t a game. Y’all kicked their butts.”

… Read full story here (especially good are the comments from the Nebraska players on the issue of whether the game ended the Nebraska dynasty, and then the reader comments) …

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Here is the YouTube video of the game … 

… Or, if you just want the 13-minute highlight package … 

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May 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Dorrell high on receiver corps: “I think that group has some talent. It just needs to continue to come forward”

From the Daily Camera … “I really don’t see them as leaders yet,” Dorrell said of La’Vontae Shenault and Dimitri Stanley as the Buffs wrapped up spring practices last month. “That’s what they want … but they’re not there yet. They need to start taking care of themselves and still being consistent and performing and being dependable. Those are things that I think that really lend in to part of the leadership process. Guys look up to you in your positions when you’re the guy that is consistently making plays.”

Shenault and Stanley are on their way to doing that.

Including the Alamo Bowl (which CU doesn’t count in season/career records), Stanley caught a team-high 20 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown last season, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

Shenault was suspended twice — for the opener and the bowl game — but caught 17 passes for 193 yards, ranking second on the team in both categories.

This spring, both played well and Shenault took significant strides in rebounding from a tough 2020 off the field.

“I love the way La’Vontae attacks the group, keeps them accountable,” CU offensive coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini said during a CU-produced virtual show last month. “Dimitri Stanley is a veteran that’s played a lot of football and is very savvy.”

Shenault and Stanley are the top two returners, but it is a position that is once again loaded with talent.

Brenden Rice flashed his potential last year, with six catches for 120 yards and a team-high two touchdowns. Maurice Bell had some big moments, as well, finishing with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. And, Jaylon Jackson is a veteran slot receiver who has big-play potential.

Chiaverini said Daniel Arias can’t be overlooked, either.

… Continue reading story here …

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CU President Mark Kennedy stepping down

… Politics aside, President Kennedy at least acknowledged that the athletic department, specifically the football team, was the “front porch” of the University, and needed to be supported. The next President? … 

From the Daily Camera … University of Colorado President Mark Kennedy has begun discussions with the Board of Regents to leave the university system in the coming months, CU announced today.

Kennedy has not resigned, said spokesperson Ken McConnellogue, but is talking with the Board of Regents about separating from the university.

Kennedy has faced several votes of censure from groups on the CU Boulder campus in the last month, including the United Student Government and Boulder Faculty Assembly. The groups claim that Kennedy has failed in his leadership in matters of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Board of Regents will meet soon to discuss next steps, according to a news release. An interim president has not been selected, and the board will conduct a national search for the next permanent president.

“The Board of Regents will move quickly to determine our next steps and will work closely with President Kennedy in the coming months to ensure an orderly transition of the presidency. He has led CU though the pandemic and has been making progress on key initiatives we agreed to, so the university is in good position,” said Board Chair Glen Gallegos and Vice Chair Lesley Smith in a statement. “We appreciate President Kennedy’s  contributions and dedication.”

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May 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Former four-star offensive lineman Max Wray becomes a Buff

It is being widely reported that CU has picked up its seventh transfer, offensive lineman Max Wray.

Wray, from Franklin, Tennessee, was a four-star prospect from the Recruiting Class of 2017. Wray had offers from the likes of Georgia, USC, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, even though he committed early to Ohio State. Wray was rated as the No. 88 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN, and the No. 9 offensive tackle in the nation by 247 Sports.

When Wray entered the portal in April, interest was immediate. Auburn, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida State, Indiana, Baylor and Oklahoma State were all interested. As Wray committed early as a high school junior, he decided to take his time with this commitment, and he decided on the Buffs.

Wray is 6’7″, 308-pounds. Even though this will be Wray’s fourth year in college football, he took a redshirt in 2018 and the 2020 season doesn’t count against an athlete’s eligibility because of CoVID-19. So Wray will have three seasons to play if he chooses to stay in school that long.

Wray will be joining his younger brother Jake, who was also a one-time Ohio State commit, at Colorado. Jake Wray medically retired from football in March due to a back injury, but is still a student at Colorado and is now a filmmaker for the team, per his Twitter bio.

Wray was a backup for most of his Ohio State career. He started at right tackle last season against Michigan State, and earned champion honors for his performance against the Spartans, when both Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere were unavailable due to COVID-19. He played just one offensive snap the rest of the season, however, and was set to remain a backup in 2021 with Munford and Petit-Frere both back for another year. At Colorado, Wray should have the opportunity to compete for a starting job and play more than he would have in Columbus.

Wray is leaving Ohio State with a degree from the university, as he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications during Sunday’s spring commencement.

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Jonathan Van Diest took advantage of spring opportunities: “He’s made huge strides”

From the Daily Camera … Since his days as an all-state player at Cherry Creek High School, Jonathan Van Diest has played a lot of football and enjoyed success on the field.

The Colorado junior is heading into the summer with a level of confidence that he hasn’t experienced in a while, however.

An inside linebacker with the Buffaloes, Van Diest was one of the Buffs’ top players during spring practices, which wrapped up April 30, and has his eyes on a starting role next season.

“The last year I really put in a lot of work to improve my mental game and that came with confidence,” he said. “I really stepped up in getting my mind game right and learning the playbook, being confident in myself and my abilities, digging deeper. Overall, just feel like I’ve gotten better.”

CU used spring football to develop a lot of its young players, but it was an important set of 15 practices for Van Diest, entering his fifth season with the Buffaloes.

“I think he’s made huge strides over the spring and that’s an experienced player that really got a chance because of the depth,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said.

… Continue reading story here …

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May 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Football players excelling on track and field team

… Wide receiver Dimitri Stanley and defensive back Mark Perry showing their speed … 

From CUBuffs.com … The Colorado men’s 4x100m relay team highlighted a day of strong performances for the Buffaloes at the Air Force Twilight Open on Friday.

CU’s relay team of Ian Gilmore, Ronald Sayles, Dimitri Stanley and Mark Perry ran the sixth-fastest time in school history. The team ran the event solo, finishing with a time of 40.11.

Perry and Stanley also earned top spots individually in the 100m. Perry finished atop the event with Air Force’s Wyatt Murphy, both running a 10.71. Stanley was just off the paces, finishing in 10.80. Chris Craig rounded out the CU sprinters in the event, finishing in fourth with a time of 10.99.

… Colorado will now turn its attention to the Pac-12 Championships, in Los Angeles. The meet is set to take place across three days, starting on May 14.

… Continue reading story here …

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May 7th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU adds former four-star recruit, TCU safety Atanza Vongor

From the Daily Camera … Former TCU safety Atanza Vongor is heading to Boulder.

On Friday, Vongor announced on social media that he intends to transfer to Colorado and arrive this summer. He signed with CU on Friday and will be a sophomore with three years to play with the Buffaloes.

Vongor, listed at 6-foot-1, 208 pounds by TCU, brings some much-needed depth and experience to the back end of CU’s defense.

After redshirting in 2018, Vongor played in 16 games over the past two seasons, mostly on special teams. On defense, he played behind LaKendrick Van Zandt, who earned All-Big 12 honorable mention. He put his name in the transfer portal in January.

CU has made several moves at safety this offseason in an attempt to upgrade the position.

Over the winter, Derrion Rakestraw transferred to Tulane to play his final season. The Buffs also added junior college transfer Trustin Oliver and high school recruit Trevor Woods.

In addition, CU moved inside linebacker Ray Robison to safety and gave former walk-on Curtis Appleton a full scholarship.

Junior Isaiah Lewis and sophomore Mark Perry both return after playing significant roles in 2020. Junior Chris Miller is also back and has starter potential when healthy, but he’s battled injuries throughout his career. Returning freshman Toren Pittman is also in the mix at safety.

A four-star recruit coming out of South Grand Prairie (Tex.) High School, Vongor was rated by 247Sports.com as the No. 16 safety recruit nationally in the 2018 class. He had 20 scholarship offers, including from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin.

… Continue reading story here …

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Cornerback D.J. Oats becomes the third player since the Spring Game to leave the Buffs

Tweet from Oats … I just wanna thank everyone who was apart of this program who believed in me… I have brothers here that I will forever stay loyal to…but with that being said I will enter my name into the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left.

Oats, who signed originally with Colorado’s Class of 2019, has entered the transfer portal, per his tweet announcing the decision Friday morning.

A former two-star recruit (Rivals bio) from Arlington (Grace Prep) Texas, Oats was a standout running back in high school, rushing for 1,155 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Oats only had two other scholarship offers, with those coming from Toledo and Trinity International.

Upon joining the Buffs ahead of the 2019 season, he transitioned to defensive back and redshirted that fall, seeing action on Colorado’s scout team during weekly practices.

Following his redshirt season, Oats did not crack the rotation at cornerback or see playing time with the Buffs in the condensed 2020 campaign.

Oats is the third Colorado player to enter the transfer portal following the Buffs’ completion of spring practices last Friday, following offensive linemen Valentin Senn and Nikko Pohahau. All three players were originally two-star recruits …

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CU announces timeline for purchasing tickets to A&M game

From CUBuffs.com … Thank you for renewing your CU Football season tickets. As a football season ticket holder, you will have access to purchase discounted tickets with ticket ordering windows determined based on Buff Club priority point rank as of May 8, 2021.

Next week you will receive detailed ordering information including your date and time to purchase tickets to our game against Texas A&M on September 11th at Empower Field in Denver.

Be on the lookout for your email next week and thank you again for your support!  Go Buffs!

Access Timeline
Texas A&M Ticket Timeline (By Priority Rank)
May 18: 1 – 100
May 19: 101 – 300
May 20: 301 – 500
May 21: 501 – 1,000
May 24: 1,001 – 1,500
May 25: 1,501 – 2,000
May 26: 2,001 – 2,500
May 27: 2,500+

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May 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Sixty-one CU student athletes graduate (including a dozen from football and men’s basketball)

Sixty-one University of Colorado student-athletes received their degrees following the Spring 2021 semester which concluded with commencement on May 6. Listed below are Colorado Athletics Spring 2021 graduates. Click on each name to find out more on their outstanding individual academic accomplishments.

Congratulations to all University of Colorado Spring 2021 graduates.

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6th-year senior Sam Noyer “taking on a coaching role” in quarterbacks’ room

From the Daily Camera … In the fall, Noyer is expected to compete with freshman Brendon Lewis and sophomore JT Shrout, a transfer from Tennessee, for the starting job. Lewis and Shrout split first-team reps this spring with Noyer on the sidelines.

“I think that I’ve tried to kind of take on a coaching role, if you will, in a way,” Noyer said. “I’m a vet now and I’ve been a vet for a couple years now, which is crazy. I’m going on my sixth year, so I have a lot of experience on both sides of the ball.

“I’m trying to help them as much as I can and get them up to speed with the offense. It’s just important for me to do whatever I can to help those guys in any way, whether that be on the field or off the field. I’m going to try and take those guys under my wing and help them as much as I can.”

When Noyer was a true freshman in 2016, senior starter Sefo Liufau and redshirt freshman Steven Montez did the same for him. Opportunities to play were rare, however.

After Liufau graduated as the Buffs’ all-time leading passer after the 2016 season, Montez took over and started every game from 2017-19. Noyer got into a few games in a backup role in 2017 and 2018 while Montez wound up breaking many of Liufau’s passing records.

Noyer moved to safety in August of 2019 under previous head coach Mel Tucker. Then, after going through his transfer options, came back last spring.

… Continue reading story here …

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May 5th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU home game v. Missouri moved from 2025 to 2031

From mutigers.com …  Four games and three rescheduled games have been added to future Mizzou Football schedules, as a pair of home games with Army West Point and an additional home-and-home series with San Diego State have been announced, while games against Louisiana (home), Colorado (away) and BYU (away) have been moved from originally released dates.

In addition, Mizzou’s road trip to Boulder, Colo., originally scheduled for the 2025 season, will now take place on August 30, 2031. It will be the second of a home-and-home series with Mizzou’s old Big Eight/12 foe, as the Tigers host the Buffaloes in Columbia on Sept. 7, 2030. Mizzou leads the all-time series between the two schools, 42-31-3, with the last meeting coming on Oct. 9, 2010, a 26-0 victory for the Tigers in Columbia.

… CU’s future non-conference schedules … 

• 2021 … Northern Colorado … Texas A&M (Denver) … Minnesota
• 2022 … TCU … at Air Force … at Minnesota
• 2023 … at TCU … Nebraska … Colorado State
• 2024 … North Dakota State … at Nebraska … at Colorado State
• 2025 … Georgia Tech … at Houston … Open
• 2026 … at Georgia Tech … Houston … at Northwestern
• 2027 … Colgate … Northwestern … Kansas State
• 2028 … UMass … at Florida … at Kansas State
• 2029 … Florida … at Colorado State … Open
• 2030 … at Missouri … Colorado State … Open
• 2031 … Missouri … Open … Open
• 2032 …
• 2033 … Colorado State
• 2034 … at Colorado State
• 2035 …
• 2036 …
• 2037 … Colorado
• 2038 … at Colorado State

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May 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Dorrell: “We’re going to use (all of the running backs) – the hot man is the one that stays” 

From the Daily Camera … When the Colorado football team opens preseason camp in August, a lot of eyes will be on the quarterback position, and rightfully so.

Incumbent Sam Noyer will look to fend off two talented challengers – freshman Brendon Lewis and sophomore JT Shrout – in what is expected to be an intriguing three-man battle for the starting job.

One of the fiercest competitions might take place behind the quarterback, however. Head coach Karl Dorrell said every one of CU’s running backs ought to show up in August ready to compete.

“I would highly suggest every one of those backs should really have that chip on their shoulder about being the underdog,” Dorrell said as the Buffaloes concluded spring practices on Friday. “We’re going to use them all. … The hot man is the one that stays. It’s going to be that type of situation and I think all of them are very confident in their own abilities. I think it’s a really good situation for us because we’ve got some quality depth there, but it’s going to be a challenge.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Report: CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano added to Commissioner search committee

From the San Jose Mercury News … TurnkeyZRG, the search firm assisting the conference, has lived up to its reputation for secrecy, while the presidents involved in the process are remaining remarkably tight-lipped.

As a result, there have been precious few leaks.

Which presidents are involved? The CEO Group’s executive committee has led the process from the start: Washington’s Ana Mari Cauce, Washington State’s Kirk Schulz and Oregon’s Michael Schill, who is halfway through his two-year term as chair.

According to sources, two other university leaders have been added, forming a five-person search committee: Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano and USC president Carol Folt.

The additions smartly bring geographical diversity to the central decision-making body and lend two important perspectives.

DiStefano served as chair of the CEO Group from 2018-20, when the conference explored options for a media rights deal, and is on the NCAA’s Board of Directors.

Folt’s presence makes sense because, well, the Los Angeles schools should have a voice in the process — USC, in particular.

The Big 12 would never hire a commissioner without Texas being heavily involved.

The Big Ten wouldn’t make a move without first checking with Ohio State.

The Trojans don’t occupy exactly the same role within the Pac-12 as the Longhorns and Buckeyes in their respective conferences, but the situations are roughly comparable.

… Continue reading story here …

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Report: Mustafa Johnson to sign on as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets

Tweet from Jeff Hauser, SB Nation reporter … Former Colorado DT Mustafa Johnson will be working out with New York Jets, per @MusgroveAgency

The All-Pac-12 run-stopper had 107 tackles (23 for loss) and 13 sacks during his two years in Boulder.

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May 3rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Karl Dorrell: “When June hits we’re going to be hitting it hard”

From the Daily Camera … Now that spring practices are in the books, the Colorado football team turns its attention to the equally important final phase of the offseason.

CU wrapped up spring on Friday and will give players about a month off before they return to campus and workouts in June. The summer session will lead them into preseason camp in August and the season opener on Sept. 3 against Northern Colorado at Folsom Field.

“They have a whole month off and I want them to get away, to spend time with family, friends, be home but I also want them to reflect on the work that we need to accomplish this summer,” head coach Karl Dorrell said after the Spring Showcase on Friday. “We talked about that at length before the scrimmage. … There’s some work that we need to get done both as a team, physically and also the mental aspect of sharpening ourselves and sharpening each other, about the challenge that we’ve got set in front of us, in terms of our schedule.”

After going 4-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, the Buffs face a difficult schedule that includes nonconference dates with Texas A&M (a projected top-five team) and Minnesota (a possible top-25 team). The nine-game Pac-12 schedule will include everyone in the South division, along with two of the favorites in the North, Oregon and Washington.

Dorrell has been pleased with the progress so far this offseason, but knows a successful summer will be critical.

“We kind of set the pace of what this May should be until they get back here in June,” he said. “There’s a lot that I want them to digest and think about because when June hits we’re going to be hitting it hard and heavy all the way, really, up until training camp.

“They’re in a good headspace right now. I feel like they’ll be ready to go when they get back.”

… Continue reading story here …

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NFL Thursday Night Football moving to Amazon Prime in 2022 (precedent for Pac-12?)

From Sports Illustrated … Thursday Night Football will exclusively be broadcast on Amazon Prime starting in the 2022 season, the NFL announced. The 11-year deal was originally agreed upon in March and had Amazon taking over in 2023.

This will be the NFL’s first-ever all-digital package. Amazon is paying an estimated $1 billion a year for the deal.

“We look forward to bringing Thursday Night Football exclusively to Prime members in 2022, a year earlier than previously announced,” Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video at Amazon, said in a statement. “This expedited deal is an immediate differentiator for us as a service, as it gives Prime members exclusive access to the most popular sport in the United States.”

Amazon Prime will broadcast 15 games a year through the 2032 season while airing one preseason game a year. Additionally, games will be televised for free in the participating team’s home market.

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May 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Post-spring attrition begins: Two CU offensive linemen enter transfer portal

CU will need to pare down its scholarship limit by a half dozen or more (with that number going up by two Friday with scholarships being awarded to tight end Matt Lynch and defensive back Chris Appleton.

Tweet from Valentin Senn … As one door closes, another one opens. my journey with the Buffs has come to an end – far from being done with Football

Tweet from Nikko Pohahau … I’d like to thank all of my teammates, coaches, and mentors at CU for having shaped me into the man I am today. With that being said, I have entered the NCAA transfer portal. I have 4 years of eligibility left

Senn was a two-star prospect from Innsbruck, Austria, from the Recruiting Class of 2019. His only other FBS offers were from Akron and Buffalo.

Pohahau was a two-star prospect from Mountain View, California, from the Recruiting Class of 2019. His only other FBS offers were from Fresno State and San Jose State.

Neither player ever played a down at Colorado …

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Dorrell: Buffs took “a good first step leading into the break”

From the Daily Camera … With a few fans popping up in the sunny bleachers at Folsom Field almost like the revival of a spring blooming, Dorrell capped his first set of spring practices 14 months after he arrived in Boulder. It was a crisp workout, though one played close to the vest with an injury-shortened roster and situational mini-scrimmages.

Nevertheless, the brief glimpse of normalcy meant far more than the efficient performances of quarterbacks Brendon Lewis and JT Shrout.

“It meant a lot to all of us…particularly with our youngest players,” Dorrell said. “Our guys that are first year players or freshmen players. We had some transfers that came in too from the portal and they’re here. It was really an important step for them to kind of get the teaching medium to grow in our systems. That’s what spring has allowed us to do. I think everyone benefitted because I’m a new coach.

“It’s my first spring, so it’s really their first spring. So now it was really a great melding of sorts, for even me as a coach, for knowing my players better a little bit better in this environment. And our players getting a chance to get in touch fundamentally, really without any rush to it, to really emphasize the technique and details of what the position coaches are trying to do.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 30th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Quarterback battle set for August: “It’s going to be a tremendous competition once Sam gets back”

From CUBuffs.com … Friday’s Colorado Spring Showcase at a sun-splashed Folsom Field proved to be a nice microcosm of the Buffaloes’ spring overall: big plays on both sides of the ball, young players stepping up and grabbing a share of the spotlight, and overall improvement evident everywhere.

“I was encouraged by the whole body of work this spring,” said CU head coach Karl Dorrell. “They worked hard. Our young guys have a good feel of what we’re doing on offense and defense. Now, we need a lot of summer work to put all the icing on the cake.”

Friday’s workout was a controlled affair with a strong focus on situational work. While the offense had a chance to extend long drives on a couple of occasions, Dorrell limited each unit’s time on the field because of depth issues on both sides of the ball.

Still, there proved to be plenty of opportunity to see the development of players on both sides, beginning with young quarterbacks Brendon Lewis and J.T. Shrout.

Each had bright moments in Friday’s showcase. Shrout, a sophomore grad transfer, finished 9-for-13 for 77 yards and a touchdown, a 3-yard toss to tight end Alec Pell in red zone work. Lewis, a freshman, was 8-for-9 for 62 yards and also had a 10-yard run.

Also getting snaps were Drew Carter (1-for-1, 15 yards), Grant Ciccarone (3-3, 22) and Jordan Woolverton (1-2, 5).

“We feel like that stable has changed drastically from what it was when I first got here last year,” Dorrell said. “You can see how good ‘B.  Lew’ is playing. He looks more comfortable in the pocket, he’s making some really good positive plays. You can tell his growth is on the upswing. J.T. Shrout, for a guy that just got here in January, I think he’s in the thick of it as well. He’s caught up learning the system and he was able to piece himself together.”

Both should offer a stiff challenge to incumbent starter Sam Noyer, who should be ready to roll by the summer after offseason shoulder surgery, setting the stage for a hotly contested quarterback battle in fall camp.

“It’s going to be a tremendous competition once Sam gets back in the summer,” Dorrell said. “Sam’s going to have to try to hold off two pretty good players that are going to be on his heels. It’s a good situation to have.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

... **Program Note: If you are recording the Spring Showcase Friday morning (Pac-12 Networks: 9:00 a.m., MT,), set it to start recording a little early … the 1994 CU/Michigan game is being replayed as the lead into the Spring Game** … 

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Sam Noyer: “Rehab has gone really well – I’m just itching to get back there”

From CUBuffs.com … Senior quarterback Sam Noyer, who hasn’t been able to take part in spring ball after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, said he’s healing quickly and anticipates being ready for full workouts by the summer.

“Rehab has gone really well,” Noyer said. “I got to start throwing a couple weeks ago, so that’s exciting. Arm feels good, body feels good, I’m just itching to get back there.”

Noyer said watching from the sidelines this spring has been difficult at times. With Noyer out, the majority of the reps have gone to freshman Brendon Lewis and sophomore J.T. Shrout, and both have played well.

Noyer plans on making sure it’s a three-way competition when fall camp arrives.

“As a competitor it’s never easy watching guys compete for a job when you don’t really have the opportunity to do that,” he said. “I’ll be full go here soon and start going with the guys and we’ll go from there.”

Noyer has had the opportunity to watch and learn the changes to the offense, and he said he likes what he’s seen.

“I love it,” he said. “I think Coach Dorrell has done a good job of bringing some of the stuff he’s had in the NFL. All the offensive coaches have done a great job of doing that. It’s going to be a lot cleaner than it was in the fall. We only had a certain amount of time to prepare for the season and were kind of scrambling. I think the new things that we’ve implemented look good so far. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Darian Hagan on having multiple options at running back: “I think it’s a necessity”

From the Daily Camera … Having multiple running backs that are dangerous weapons might be viewed as a luxury, but to truly have one of the top rushing attacks in the country, it’s difficult to ride one star.

Colorado has a history of talented running backs, but it’s been a while since the Buffaloes have had as many at one time as they do right now.

“I think it’s a necessity,” CU running backs coach Darian Hagan said Wednesday after the Buffs completed the 14th of their 15 spring practices.

“Toward the end of the year, Broussard got down to like 178 pounds,” Hagan said. “Playing against Texas and Utah, they were putting the wood to him and he laid the ball on the ground a couple of times. I think that was because he lost a lot of weight. He was a guy that we were really, really comfortable with getting the ball to.”

… Typically, the best running teams are comfortable using multiple backs. CU’s history has included groups such as Chris Brown, Bobby Purify and Cortlen Johnson in 2002; Rashaan Salaam and Herchell Troutman in 1994; Salaam and Lamont Warren in 1993; and Eric Bieniemy and J.J. Flannigan in the late 1980s.

The Buffs might finally have that type of group again. In addition to Broussard, Alex Fontenot is back after missing 2020 with an injury. He led the Buffs in rushing in 2019. They also have Ashaad Clayton, who was a four-star recruit in 2020; Deion Smith returning from a knee injury; and a versatile duo in Joe Davis and Jayle Stacks.

This spring, Hagan has seen the group take a step forward.

… Continue reading story here …

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April 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU to require all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated before the start of the fall semester

… Politics aside, this should help Boulder County to allow more fans in the stands this fall (only allowing 1,000 for Spring Showcase) … 

From the University of Colorado …

Dear Members of the CU Community,

Since the health and safety of our campus communities is among our top priorities, we have determined to require that all University of Colorado students, faculty and staff receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the start of fall semester 2021. We made this decision after consulting state and local health departments, the Governor’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Higher Education, as well as CU scientists, medical experts and COVID advisory committees and task forces on our campuses. We believe the science around COVID vaccines is clear and compelling. As with our established vaccination policies, exemptions can be sought.

This decision is good for public health, not only because it will lower rates of infection on our campuses, but also in the communities they call home. It will also allow students, faculty and staff to benefit from the on-campus experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth. Several other Colorado institutions of higher education are joining us and making the same announcement today.

The individual campuses and system administration will provide more detail specific to their communities in the near future. In the meantime, we have posted an initial FAQ page. It will be updated as we gather more information and as more questions emerge.

We appreciate all you have done to persevere through the challenges of the pandemic. Today’s decision will bring us one step closer to ensuring we continue to deliver a quality CU experience for all.

Sincerely,

Mark Kennedy, President
Philip DiStefano, Chancellor, CU Boulder
Don Elliman, Chancellor, CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Michelle Marks, Chancellor, CU Denver
Venkat Reddy, Chancellor, UCCS

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April 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Limited tickets available for Spring Showcase

Link to ticket office can be found here. I hope to see you there!

CU has been approved for 1,000 fans – about 500 of which will be guests of players/staff. That leaves roughly 500 tickets available to the public.

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April 26th

… CU in a few minutes …

**Video – 2021 CUSPY Awards**

… Staff member of the Year: AD Rick George … Male Career Athletic Achievement: McKinley Wright … Male Athlete of the Year: Jarek Broussard … Spencer Nelson Spirit Award: Evan Battey …

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Jonathan Van Diest earning praise: “I think he has a real good grasp of what we’re trying to do”

From the Daily Camera … Among the veterans taking advantage of the spring is inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest. A junior, he’s started seven games in his career but has been a backup for most of the past year and a half. With Akil Jones graduating and Nate Landman injured this spring, Van Diest has been with the first-team defense.

“I think he has a real good grasp of what we’re trying to do defensively, so he is helping other people get lined up and checking calls and making sure it’s the right calls,” Dorrell said. “I think he’s done a great job in pass coverage too. He’s had his hands on a lot of footballs. He’s doing a really nice job of just reading the quarterback and being around the football.

“He’s got all of these reps and it’s really helping his game. It’s really helping him be confident and also helping to get some of these younger players lined up.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 25th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Former Buff great Mike Davis dies at 65

From the Daily Camera … Mike Davis, the former Raiders defensive back who made one of the most memorable interceptions in team history, has died. He was 65.

The Raiders announced Davis’ death Sunday. The team gave no details on the cause of death.

The former Colorado star was a second-round pick by the Raiders in 1977 and will always be remembered for his interception at the end of a playoff win at Cleveland on Jan. 4, 1981.

With the Raiders protecting a 14-12 lead with less than one minute remaining, the Browns had the ball at the Oakland 13 in position for a potential winning goal.

Kicker Don Cockroft had already missed one extra point and two field goals, and the Browns botched a snap on another extra point on a cold day by Lake Erie.

That led coach Sam Rutigliano to call a pass play called “Red Slot Right, Halfback Stay, 88” on second down to go for a touchdown instead. He instructed quarterback Brian Sipe to throw it away if no one was open.

Sipe threw to Ozzie Newsome in the end zone but Davis cut in front and intercepted the pass to seal the victory that sent the Raiders to the AFC title game.

… Continue reading story here …

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April 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Glass half full or empty? “The body of work this spring has been pretty good”

From the Daily Camera … With a week to go in spring practices, the Colorado Buffaloes’ quarterbacks have received some valuable reps, but there doesn’t appear to be much separation at the position.

On Friday, CU completed its 12th practice of the spring — and its third scrimmage. Head coach Karl Dorrell continued to praise the progress of the entire team, but said of the quarterbacks, “There was mixed results.”

With senior Sam Noyer, who started all six games in 2020, out this spring with a shoulder injury, freshman Brendon Lewis and transfer JT Shrout continue to split reps with the first- and second-team offense. True freshman Drew Carter and walk-on Grant Ciccarone are also competing.

Dorrell said the Buffs ran through about 55-60 plays on Friday, including some last-minute situations, with the offense at its own 35-yard-line with 40 seconds remaining and needing a touchdown to win.

The defense held them out of that situation,” Dorrell said. “So I think the defense was a little bit better and ahead on that, but that’s the first time the offense put in that package. They did some positive moves and some positive plays, but they didn’t get it in.”

For the quarterbacks, Dorrell said the two-minute offense, “Was a little bit of a challenge. We had some dropped passes in that period. But I thought that they did some positive things throughout the day.”

There were a few interceptions thrown, but Dorrell said that wasn’t all on the quarterbacks.

… Continue reading story here …

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April 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Younger players make a statement in third scrimmage

From CUBuffs.com … With 12 practices down and three to go, Colorado coach Karl Dorrell continues to like the progress his Buffaloes have made this spring — particularly his younger players.

Friday, the Buffs conducted their third scrimmage of the spring, running about 65 plays that featured a variety of combinations at a number of position groups.

Most importantly, plenty of younger players — those who will be vying for playing time next fall as well as providing critical depth — got plenty of reps.

“This whole spring process to me, the No. 1 goal is getting our young players reps to get caught up to what we’re doing and also watching how they’re development goes and being able to teach fundamentals and bring those guys along,” Dorrell said. “I know what the older players can do. It’s more seeing what those younger players can do that can add to our depth for the fall.”

On a day when Dorrell said there were “mixed results” from the quarterback position, the defense emerged with the overall edge, particularly in a handful of “last-minute offense” situations near the end of the scrimmage.

Friday was the first day the Buffs have worked on live last-minute situations and the defense kept the offense out of the end zone in the drills.

“In the two-minute, the first time scrimmaging that was a little bit of a challenge,” Dorrell said of quarterbacks Brendon Lewis and J.T. Shrout. “I thought they did some positive things. There were some interceptions today, some of them were tipped interceptions from off a receiver’s hand and the defense was right there to recover. I thought they played OK. But if you asked them, they’ll say they didn’t have a great day because there were some interceptions.”

Among the defenders coming up with interceptions in the scrimmage were freshman cornerback Christian Gonzalez (who also had a nice pass breakup), junior safety Isaiah Lewis and junior linebacker Jonathan Van Diest.

The offense did get into the end zone a couple of times near the end of the scrimmage, including on a nice 15-yard run from Ashaad Clayton. The freshman running back was nearly knocked off his feet near the goal line, but kept his balance with his free hand on the ground to reach the end zone.

“The more reps he gets, he just gets faster and faster and faster and he’s so much more confident,” Dorrell said. “That’s just one example of a freshman who with more reps than he’s ever had, he feels like he has a great feel in our run game. I’d say there’s a number of positions that way.”

Dorrell also noted the play of freshman cornerback Tyrin Taylor, who had an interception in 7-on-7 drills, his first of the spring, as well as the development of sophomore defensive lineman Na’im Rodman and true freshman linebacker Devin Grant.

… Continue reading story here …

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April 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Joshka Gustav: CU’s “hardest outside linebacker to block”

From the Daily Camera … Most days at practice, Colorado outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski likes to walk around during the stretching period and talk to the tight ends.

“Who is the hardest outside linebacker to block?” he will ask them.

The easy answer would be Carson Wells, a junior who led the country in tackles for loss per game last year. Michalowski is encouraged, however, because Wells hasn’t been the only answer to that question.

“(Joshka Gustav) has garnered a couple of nominations,” Michalowski said.

One of CU’s many tasks this offseason is to develop some outside linebackers to complement Wells. Although shorthanded this spring, the Buffs seem to be making progress, particularly with Gustav, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman.

“Joshka is just that player that has continued to pour into his game,” Michalowski said. “In the offseason, and I said this last year, he was probably one of the guys that took advantage during the idle time in COVID and getting a lot of personal work in. So his want-to is very high. He’s a technician, and I always remind him of that because what really sets him apart as a player is the technique that he plays.”

… Continue reading story here …

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**Video: Rick George Hosts “Increasing Diversity in College Athletics”**

From BuffsTV …

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CU Athletic Department Update from AD Rick George

From CUBuffs.com … We are heading into the home stretch of the academic and athletic year.  I am so proud of all our departments that faced the challenges of the past year head on, which at one time had 14 of our 17 sports competing simultaneously.  Seven are still active as we near the end of April.

Academic Recognition Review
This past Monday, nearly 80 student-athletes, including 65 with perfect 4.00 grade point averages for one or both semesters last year, were honored for a variety of outstanding academic accomplishments in our 29th Annual Student-Athlete Academic Recognition in a virtual on-line YouTube ceremony.

It was a virtual event for the second straight year due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Those presenting submitted videos announcing the recipients of the awards. A replay of the virtual event can be viewed here and the full release is here.

Around The Buffalo Horn
At present, we own a 261-178-6 record against Division I competition (which is a 59.3 winning percentage).

Men’s Basketball. The men finished with their best record, 23-9, since 1968- 69, earning a first round win in the NCAA’s over Georgetown, 96-73, before succumbing to Florida State in the round of 32.  Tad Boyle saw his team earn the highest seeds in program history in both the Pac-12 tournament (No. 3) and the NCAA’s (No. 5; the latter since the field expanded to 48 teams and national seeding began).  McKinley Wright was rewarded with a host of honors, including just the third Buff to be named first-team all-conference three times, and became only the sixth player in NCAA history to record 1,800 points, 600 rebounds and 600 assists in a career.

Women’s Basketball. The women had their third winning season in five years under JR Payne, reaching the WNIT quarterfinals for the second time.  Finishing with a 12-11 record (8-8 in the Pac-12; six games were canceled due to COVID issues, all with opponents), the highlight of the season was a 77-72 overtime win over No. 1 and eventual national champion Stanford in January.  The Buffs also battled national runner-up Arizona to the end before falling, 62-59.

And how about the Pac-12 going a combined 28-10 between the two tournaments, with a national champion in the Stanford women?  The conference earned some much needed national respect in the process.

Cross Country. Mark Wetmore wrapped his 26th season coaching the cross country teams with two more NCAA appearances, as the women finished seventh and the men 14th in Stillwater, Okla., on March 15.  The season barely spanned six weeks, but the women were still ranked sixth and the men eighth in the final USTFCCCA poll.  Wetmore has taken his teams to 50 NCAA meets, and has seen his teams finish first or second 16 times in 20 Pac-12 championships, including 11 wins (seven by the men, four for the women).

Lacrosse. One regular season game remains for Ann Elliott-Whidden’s squad, which has a 7-5 overall record, 4-3 in league action, and has won four in a row.  Three Pac-12 games were canceled (again all due to opponent COVID issues).  A win at Denver in the regular season finale (April 29) and at least one win in the Pac-12 tournament (May 5-8) in Palo Alto would no doubt help the team’s RPI ranking, which was 26th through last Sunday (the same number of teams that qualify for the NCAA’s).

Skiing. The Buffaloes finished as the nation’s runner-up in Richard Rokos’ final season as head coach (see below), but Magnus Boee was crowned the individual champion in the Nordic classical and freestyle races and Cass Gray in the giant slalom.  Those three wins pushed the all-time total for Colorado to an NCAA-best 100 individual titles.

Soccer. Three wins and a tie in the final four games of the regular season and victories over three top 25 teams on the year secured a berth in the NCAA Championships for Danny Sanchez’ young Buffaloes.  With an overall record of 9-5-2 (5-4-2 in Pac-12 play for fifth place in the standings), it will be our 12th appearance in the tournament, the sixth under Sanchez.  CU will play South Alabama in the first round on April 27, with the winner advancing to face No. 19 Oklahoma State three days later.  All games will be in North Carolina, with these first two matches in Greensboro.

Track & Field. Sage Hurta is enjoying quite the spring: first, she ended the indoor season as the NCAA champion in the mile, pulling away from the field with a winning time of 4:30.58; she had the fastest qualifying time in the heats leading up to the race.  Then early in the outdoor season, she set a school record in the 800-meter run (2:00.62), which tied the 10th-fastest in NCAA history. Eduardo Herrera posted the third fastest time in the 5,000-meters over the last four years in the NCAA (13:24.46), and along with Hurta, it was also an Olympic Trials qualifying mark.  Several others early on have already posted top 10 marks in CU history.

Volleyball.  Jesse Mahoney in his fifth season, saw his Buffaloes finish 8-12; all were conference games and CU finished eighth in the standings.  Only two schools played the maximum 22 matches, and the two we did not play were due to COVID issues with the opponent.

Looking Ahead
Three Pac-12 championships will take place over the next six days, beginning with the women’s tennis event in San Diego. The Buffs are seeded eighth and take on ninth-seeded Washington State in the first round Friday morning; the winner goes on to face top-seed UCLA Saturday. Daniele Steinberg’s third CU team is currently 9-11 this season.

The women’s golf title meet begins Friday; Anne Kelly’s team hasn’t enjoyed quite the success it has in recent years, yet is still ranked 60th (out of 256 programs).  Her teams do have a history of doing well in the conference competition, a 54-hole event which runs through Sunday on Stanford’s on-campus golf course.

Men’s golf then takes center stage starting Monday, starting with 36 holes and then two rounds the next two days in Santa Rosa, Calif.  Roy Edwards’ squad has played its best golf of the season the last two times out and needs a good performance to qualify for next month’s NCAA regionals.  CU is ranked 71st (out of 296) is likely on the bubble.

Also on Monday evening, the 21st annual CUSPY’s (CU Sports Performers of the Year) will air at 6:30 p.m. on our CU Buffs YouTube channel. Mostly coordinated by our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), several honors will be announced on the virtual broadcast, including athletes of the year and career awards.

Spring Football Showcase. On April 30, we will have the last of our 15 spring football practices, culminating in what we have named the “Spring Football Showcase.”  Due to several postseason surgeries and the normal bumps, bruises and other injuries that have taken place, the two-hour extravaganza will feature some scrimmaging along with drills and other team events. The Pac-12 Networks will once again broadcast live the entire time (9-11 a.m.); we are finalizing plans for limited attendance with the county and those will be forthcoming.

Around The Department
For the first time in four decades, we have new head ski coach. Richard Rokos retired after 35 years with the university, the last 31 as head coach.  His successor is Andy LeRoy, who skied for Richie as a student-athlete, won the NCAA giant slalom title and was our Co-Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.  Read all about it here. Richard is staying on as a volunteer to help with the transition; he finishes his CU career as the ninth-longest tenured employee in our athletic history and as the third-longest serving head coach.

Tad Boyle was recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as the recipient of its “Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy.”  Honored for his passion for the stewardship of the game, he has served as the Pac-12’s congressman for the NABC and as the chair of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee.

Giving Day
We had our inaugural CU Athletics Giving Day on April 8, and over 600 supporters on all levels contributed to make it a huge success.  Our original goal of $100,000 was more than doubled, as $214,202 was raised, all from unique donors, many first-time contributors. There were donors from all 50 states, another goal, and the average donation was $210.18, with five gifts of $10,000 or more (the largest being $25,000). All funds will support our student-athletes across our 17 intercollegiate varsity sports.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hire
We have hired DaWon Baker as our first-ever Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).  Coming to us from a similar role at the University of Nebraska, he will begin here on May 1.

I am excited that someone with the qualifications and experience that DaWon has will be leading these efforts for our department.  It is impressive in what he has accomplished in something that has become a growing profession nationally.  He has really invested himself in it and will bring a lot of passion to this role, and I am looking forward to what he will accomplish.  See the full release here.

Sad News
On April 17, we lost a longtime devoted staff member when Jo Jo Christensen passed away at the age of 87.  Jo Jo touched many lives working as a secretary for both athletic directors and basketball coaches over nearly three decades and was very active in the Boulder community.  She moved to Colorado in 1952 and established permanent roots here.  We’ll all miss Jo Jo.

As always, everyone in CU Athletics appreciates your continued support of our programs and student-athletes.

C ollaboration and U nity,

Rick George
Athletic Director

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April 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

LG Kary Kutsch enjoying super senior year: “I feel like another year is great for improvement”

From the Daily Camera … After playing mostly on special teams during his first season at CU in 2018, 6-foot-5, 310-pound Kary Kutsch started all 12 games at left guard in 2019. That’s where Kutsch started against UCLA in the first game of the delayed 2020 season, but an injury to Colby Pursell forced Kutsch to step in at center the next two games. After missing the following two games while dealing with COVID, Kutsch returned to the lineup for the Buffs’ Alamo Bowl loss against Texas at his more familiar left guard spot.

“I think focusing on (left guard) will help a lot,” Kutsch said. “I really only got to play one game fully prepared at left guard. I feel like another year is great for improvement. I’m still trying to practice center too in case anything ever happens, but I am focusing more on left guard.

“I think I’ve made a jump every year, and I think every coach I’ve had has done something new for me every year, taught me something new. The longer I spend here, the more my confidence builds, and that also helps. Every year I just get more confident in my play.”

During a session with reporters on Wednesday, CU offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue noted that it has been difficult to establish continuity along the offensive line this spring. Having a player like Kutsch, a veteran who has logged starts at multiple positions, no doubt is an asset to any offensive line. However, Rodrigue also said that in Kutsch’s case, the chance to focus throughout the spring on his familiar, more natural left guard spot will likely give Kutsch a boost going into his extra season.

… Continue reading story here …

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Injuries hampering offensive line development: “We’ve been having to play musical chairs”

From the Daily Camera … The Colorado football team never found continuity on the offensive line last season, and that has remained a challenge during spring practices.

“This spring has kind of been a continuation of what we faced all year long during the season,” CU offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue said Wednesday after the Buffs’ completed the 11th of their 15 spring practices. “We’ve got so many injuries from last season and then compounded by the injuries that we’ve had in the spring. We’re just really thin.

“We’ve been having to play musical chairs, which is not really good for anyone, because you don’t have any continuity, but we’ve been fighting through it. It’s given us an opportunity to play people at different positions, so that’s been the positive.”

Already without four linemen going into spring, the Buffs lost projected starting left tackle Frank Fillip to a labrum injury recently.

“He tried to push through it, but as a left tackle, when you have a left labrum (tear), it’s not a good situation,” Rodrigue said. “He was unable to punch with his left arm and be as effective as he usually is, but he did get some good work there and he showed us that he can handle the left tackle position. There’s no doubt about it.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 21st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Dorrell: “I’m just really encouraged with what this team’s doing right now”

From CUBuffs.com …  “Develop. Develop. Develop.”

That recent social media message from Colorado Buffaloes coach Karl Dorrell succinctly wrapped up his spring football philosophy.

Develop depth, develop young players for the future, and develop a culture that will create the discipline and accountability necessary to produce sustainable success over the long haul.

So far, Dorrell’s first spring session with the Buffs has been a solid portrayal of that philosophy. While no doubt critical in terms of X’s and O’s — CU coaches are implementing substantial changes on both sides of the ball this spring — these 15 practices may be equally important in terms of Dorrell having the opportunity to truly establish a foundation for the program.

Results to this point are promising. Monday provided the latest evidence, when the Buffs put together a solid start-to-finish workout.

“I’m just really encouraged with what this team’s doing right now,” Dorrell said. “They’re really getting the information down and it’s starting to really look nice and sharp and crisp and precision-like … We’re so much further ahead now than we were at any point last fall. That’s encouraging. We want to continue to stay on that path that will get us to be a really good team at the start of the season.”

Every good practice is a reason for coaches to feel encouraged. But Monday practices in the spring — after players have had a couple days off — are almost always dicey propositions. Just two weeks ago, Dorrell made public his disappointment with his team’s effort in a Monday workout, after he expressed that displeasure with them following the practice.

But since then, the Buffs have attacked Mondays with renewed vigor.

“This team responds to constructive criticism, the constructive work we were talking about at that time,” Dorrell said. “The last two Mondays have almost been steps up coming off a weekend. They’ve had Saturday and Sunday off and they stepped it up.”

No doubt, one practice is barely a snapshot when it comes to the big picture. But within something such as Monday’s snapshot is the assurance that the Buffs are beginning to see the big picture through the lens Dorrell is providing.

“All these players that are here practicing and working on their skill sets and learning our system are all chomping at the bit about getting some meaningful reps,” Dorrell said. “In the fall, it’s hard to get everybody reps. This spring, we’re getting everybody a ton of reps, whether you’re walk-on status or second team or whatever. They’re getting a chance to really showcase what they can do.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 20th

... CU in a few minutes … 

Safety Mark Perry: “I have a chip on my shoulder just to show people I’m not a bust”

From the Daily Camera … Last fall, Mark Perry was on the field for a large majority of the defensive snaps for the Colorado football team.

The sophomore safety wasn’t too pleased with how he performed, however.

“I’m gonna be completely honest about last year,” he said. “I put last year on the back burner. Last year might have been one of my worst years playing football ever, to be honest. That’s how I felt. I feel like I hold myself to a high standard, so last year really bothered me. I wasn’t making a lot of plays. I was leaving a lot of plays on the field.”

Preparing for his third season with the Buffaloes, Perry is still just 19 years old – he turns 20 on May 30 – with plenty of room to grow. He’s intent on making a lot of progress this spring.

“Coming out this spring I already had a chip on my shoulder just to show people that, like, I’m not a bust,” Perry said. “I’ve been here two years, I’ve been in a different position each year, so I’m still learning. This might be my fourth year playing (defensive back) full time, so I’m still learning every day.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Dorrell: Goal to have entire team vaccinated by June

From the Daily Camera … Colorado athletic director Rick George recently said that while it will be strongly encouraged for student-athletes to get a COVID-19 vaccine, it will be an individual choice.

So far, several football players have made that choice, and head coach Karl Dorrell said there is a goal to get most, if not all, of the team through the first round of the vaccine by the time spring practices come to a close on April 30.

“If we can do that by (April 30), they can get that second shot … wherever they are in May, prior to coming back here in June,” Dorrell said Monday after the Buffs completed the 10th of 15 spring practices. “That’s the goal is to try and get everybody vaccinated by the time we start the June process.”

Dorrell said about 25-30 players have already had their first COVID-19 vaccine shot. The hope, he said, is that by the time the team starts its summer session in June, there will be enough people in the program vaccinated to relax some of the mandates of wearing masks, etc.

“Hopefully it’ll look very similar to what a normal year would look in June,” he said.

… Continue reading story here …

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April 19th

 … CU in a few minutes … 

Jarek Broussard given Clancy A. Herbst, Jr., Student-Athlete Achievement Award

• Libby Geraghty, Sr., Soccer (4.00 GPA, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s in Integrative Physiology & Sociology minor)
• Joey Young, Sr., Alpine Skiing (3.840 GPA, Business—Finance & Accounting majors)
• Liz Constien, Jr., Cross County & Track (3.924 GPA, double majors in Cinema Studies and Spanish; minor in Creative Writing)
• Alisa Meraz-Fishbein, Soph., Cross County & Track (3.979 GPA, Journalism major, Creative Writing minor)

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April 18th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Ray Robinson comfortable at safety: “Just kind of patiently waiting my turn for the past couple of years”

From the Daily Camera … For Ray Robinson, there was some value to getting out of his comfort zone and playing inside linebacker the past two years for the Colorado Buffaloes.

The fourth-year sophomore feels more at home this spring, however.

A 6-foot-2, 220-pound safety from Highlands Ranch High School, Robinson is back to playing the position he started with at CU.

“I definitely feel more comfortable playing a strong safety role,” he said Friday after the Buffs completed the ninth of their 15 spring practices. “It’s kind of good to get back to my roots. I’m definitely starting to feel really comfortable and smooth back at that position.”

A first-team all-conference performer as a junior at Highlands Ranch, Robinson missed his senior year with a torn ACL in his knee. He then redshirted in 2018 and has been one of CU’s better special teams players the past two years. He has yet to play a snap on defense, however.

“It’s absolutely been a humbling experience,” he said. “Just kind of patiently waiting my turn for the past couple of years, but I also think it was good for me to get that experience of just being out on the field and getting a feel for it. … I think it’s all led me to be more comfortable with where I’m at today. I’m grateful for it and I’m grateful for where I’m at now.”

… Continue reading story here …

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April 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU picks up a transfer offensive lineman from Iowa, Noah Fenske

... Related … “CU Buffs to add transfer OL from Iowa” … from the Daily Camera

Just the facts … Committed April 17th … Noah Fenske is a 6’5″, 295-pound offensive tackle from New Hampton, Iowa. He was a part of the Recruiting Class of 2019, and was considered a three-star prospect (Rivals rated Fenske as the No. 9 player out of Iowa, while 247 Sports listed Fenske as the No. 67 offensive guard in the nation, the No. 9 overall prospect out of the state of Iowa, and the No. 1294 overall player from the Class. 247 Sports).

Fenske redshirted his first year with the Hawkeyes and eligibility did not count against college football players in 2020 so he will come to Boulder this summer with four to play four. And because the one-time transfer rule has been passed, Fenske will be allowed to compete for playing time immediately upon his arrival at CU.

“It was just how genuine the coaching staff at Colorado is,” Fenske told BuffStampede.com. “I believe we have the ability to win right away. That was big for me. Not only do I want to come in and help make a big impact on the offensive line, I want to be able to win and I want to be able to play and beat good teams. I want to play for conference titles. Just watching film of those Colorado coaches made me feel like that is where they are headed.”

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April 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Former Buff Chris Mulumba taken in the CFL Draft (11th overall pick)

From americanfootballinternational.com … Chris Mulumba has certainly had a different path to get to the professional football ranks.

The native of Helsinki, Finland grew up studying Judo and is a black belt in the discipline. Mulumba was the Finnish National Judo Champion from 2009-2011 and also served his mandatory year of service in the Army.

When it comes to football, however, saying that Mulumba was a late-comer to the sport would be an understatement. Even if you are a late-comer to sports betting, check out some Mulumba-like tips and tricks. He wasn’t introduced to football until he was 17 years old, and he began playing from there.

“Coming from an individual sport, it was nice to have the teammates and be in a team atmosphere and have the physicality of the game,” Mulumba said. “I just felt like you could do whatever you wanted to within the rules on the field. Those were the things that were interesting to me.”

Mulumba was able to take his experience in judo to the gridiron. He used his hand work, balance, and leverage to win, so in football, he did the exact same thing.

Following a few years playing in Finland, Mulumba knew he had a chance to make a living off of football. So he moved to the States to pursue a career. He was excited to come Stateside, however, he didn’t speak a lot of English, so the language barrier was difficult at the start. But he was able to let his play do the talking when he did make the jump.

He ended up in junior college with Diablo Valley. Following his lone season with the Vikings. He initially signed to join the University of Central Florida but wound up redshirting the 2016 season and going to the University of Colorado in 2017.

Mulumba spent the final two years of his collegiate career with the Buffaloes, finishing with 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss in 23 games.

Despite being able to make the jump from a junior college to a Division 1 program with relative ease, the different in environments was vast for Mulumba.

“In junior college, you’re trying to get a scholarship, money is tight and you just try to make it by,” Mulumba said. “After you get a scholarship to the big school, everything is pretty much taken care of. You can just focus on school and get better every day in your position. So it’s a big difference but there are definitely good memories from both schools and they helped me a lot.”

Since graduating two years ago, Mulumba has been working out, waiting for his next chance to come.

… And that happened this week … From the Hamilton Tiger-Cats twitter page … With the 11th overall pick in the #CFLGlobalDraft, we’ve selected defensive lineman, Chris Mulumba

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CU picks up three preferred walk-on commitments

The Buffs picked up three new preferred walk-on commitments this past week (CU is over its limit of the 88 scholarship athletes it will be allowed to have on campus this fall. Schools can have a roster of up to 120, which in a normal season would mean there can be as many as 35 walk-ons on the team).

The first commitment came from linebacker Mason Midgett, who is a 6’2″, 210-pound linebacker from Grandview high school in Aurora.

Here is a link to Midgett’s Hudl.com highlights.

The second commitment came from Mason Maddox, a 6’3″, 245-pound defensive tackle from Cherokee high school in Aurora. Maddox is listed as a two-star offensive guard prospect by 247 Sports, and was rated as the No. 36 overall prospect out of the state of Colorado from the Class of 2021.

Here is a link to Maddox’s Hudl.com highlights.

Midgett and Maddox are products of Matt McChesney’s 60 Football Academy. After the commitments, McChesney posted the following tweet: #DungeonFamily @mason__maddox@WeiherBlake @MidgettMason  all going to EARN IT @CUBuffsFootball.  makes me damn proud! Mason, Mason & Blake…..or as I call them “The Law Firm” are going to excel under the Coaching of @coach_wilson10 & @CoachMikeCU! WHY WE GRIND! #GoBuffs @k_dorrell.

The third commitment came from Camden Dempsey, a 6’2″, 290-pound offensive lineman from Lakewood high school in Lakewood, Colorado. Dempsey started at center for three years for the Tigers, and was second-team all-conference in 2020.

Here is a link to Dempsey’s Hudl.com highlights.

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This post, about the Spring Practices game, from the 2021 Season, is filed under Article.
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