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Colorado Daily – Arizona Week
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October 16th – Game Day!
... CU in a few minutes …
Now or never: “Either you want it or you don’t. It’s simple”
From the Daily Camera … Following three consecutive blowout losses, the Colorado football team got a break with last week’s bye, giving the Buffaloes an opportunity to step back and re-evaluate everything and at least pause the negative momentum.
With the break over, running back Jarek Broussard and several of his teammates know the importance of Saturday’s matchup with Arizona.
This is a test of the Buffs’ pride.
“One-hundred percent,” Broussard said. “I mean, we’re at a point where you either want it or you don’t. It’s simple. You only take so many punches to the face till you’re like, ‘OK, now it’s time to retaliate.’ When is that going to be? It’s going to be now.
“Guys on the team are tired of getting their (butt) whooped week in and week out. We put in too much work.”
Asked if this is a game that will tell him a lot about his team, Broussard said, “Yes, 100 percent.”
Center Colby Pursell said every week is about pride because “You always want to come out and win. You always want to fight as hard as you can.” But, he also knows this could be a pivotal point of the Buffs’ season.
Two years ago, Arizona came to Boulder with first-place in the Pac-12 South division on the line. This time, the teams are tied for last place. The loser of this game might not leave the basement in 2021.
“Bye weeks are a great time to reset if things aren’t going your way,” Pursell said. “Reset, collect yourself, and get ready for the next big push.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 15th
… CU in a few minutes …
Pat Rooney: Here’s hoping that the “subtle changes” will make the difference
From the Daily Camera … It is “Subtle Changes” week for the Buffaloes, whose best chance at an actual victory against an FBS-level foe this season will unfold on Saturday afternoon against Arizona, owners of a program-record 17-game losing streak. Earlier this week, head coach Karl Dorrell promised “subtle changes” to an offense whose inefficiency has been both expansive and glaring
One of the worst offenses in the nation apparently has looked to some fine-tuning this week instead of any significant changes in order to jump-start an attack, to use that term loosely, that has generated just 34 points in four games against FBS opponents. In the whimsical spirit of those childlike spot-the-difference challenges, I wondered what “subtle changes” will mean for the Buffs
All jokes aside, maybe Dorrell’s “subtle changes” proclamation merely serves a smokescreen for adjustments that will be clear from kickoff. Buffs fans should hope so. There’s a track record that backs the possible deception. During the 2020 preseason Dorrell said the quarterback competition from Sam Noyer and Tyler Lytle was close enough he still planned to get Lytle playing time after Noyer got the job. It turned out Lytle couldn’t even get on the field even after Noyer’s injured shoulder clearly hampered his play.
And maybe quarterback Brendon Lewis has indeed improved since last season, as the coaching staff claimed leading into the season. But we’ve yet to see the player who offered so much promise at the Alamo Bowl.
… Continue reading story here …
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Cornerbacks confident as Pac-12’s second-best wide receiver comes to town
From the Daily Camera … In the moment, Colorado cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin felt every bit of the frustration that his players felt in trying to cover Southern California’s Drake London on Oct. 2.
Despite blanket coverage, London kept making exceptional plays in the Trojans’ 37-14 win against the Buffs.
In reviewing the game, though, Martin had to tip his hat to USC.
“It wasn’t one on one, it was two on one,” Martin said of London and USC quarterback Kedon Slovis. “That quarterback was throwing it on the dimes, throwing into spots and that guy (London), he’s different.”
Despite the disappointment of that day against the Trojans, Martin is pleased with the overall play of CU’s cornerbacks, which will get another challenge against Arizona on Saturday at Folsom Field (1:30 p.m., TV: Pac-12 Network).
After facing the Pac-12’s leading receiver (London), the Buffs will face the Pac-12’s second-leading receiver (Stanley Berryhill III) on Saturday, and Martin is confident that CU’s corners will be up to the challenge.
“I’d be more pleased with more wins obviously but those guys are maturing,” Martin said. “They’re believing in technique. Being that last year was a shortened season we didn’t really get to the nuts and bolts and the nitty gritty of the techniques and stuff like that. Now they’ve been benefiting from doing the technique correctly, so it makes it easier for them to buy in and it’s starting to show in their play.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Neill Woelk’s Five Keys v. Arizona
From CUBuffs.com … There’s no secret sauce required this week for the Colorado Buffaloes to end their losing streak and turn their season back in the right direction.
The Buffaloes (1-4 overall, 0-2 Pac-12) simply need to find a way to put together all the things they’ve done well at different points of the season into one 60-minute package.
If they can do that Saturday against Arizona (0-5, 0-2) in their 1:30 p.m. matchup at Folsom Field, they have a very good chance of ending their four-game skid and giving themselves a chance to still make something good of this season.
CU’s offense, while enduring more than its share of struggles, has moved the ball well on occasion, particularly on the ground. The Buffs’ defense has kept the Buffs within striking range for most of the season. And Colorado’s special teams have been solid, in particular a punting unit that has done its job in flipping field position on a regular basis.
But as for doing all those things consistently over the span of four quarters … that hasn’t happened since an opening win over Northern Colorado.
Now the Buffs need to produce that consistency against an FBS team — and CU couldn’t ask for a better opportunity than against a program that has lost 17 games in a row.
Our weekly Fast Five Keys for Karl Dorrell‘s Buffs:
1. Run the ball early, often and consistently. While it seems like a distant memory, it was just 10 months ago that the Buffaloes unleashed a 407-yard rushing performance on the Wildcats in a 24-13 victory in Tucson.
Jarek Broussard did most of the damage, rushing for 301 yards on a night that saw him pop runs of 79, 72 and 59 yards.
While no one is expecting another 300-yard game from Broussard, the chance for the Buffs to get their run game back on track is there. The Wildcats are giving up nearly 220 yards per game on the ground, with opponents averaging 5.04 yards per attempt. Last week, UCLA rang up 329 yards on the ground in a 34-16 win over the ‘Cats.
Colorado’s offensive line has struggled in recent weeks. Saturday would be a very good time for the unit to regain some of the push and continuity it has displayed at times this season.
… Continue reading story here …
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October 14th
... CU in a few minutes …
Jalen Sami on Arizona: “We can’t expect them to just roll over and just let us win”
From the Daily Camera … Given its recent struggles, the Colorado football team is in no position to overlook any opponent, including one that hasn’t won a game in two years.
The Buffaloes (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) are trying to snap a four-game losing streak, which pales in comparison to the 17-game skid of the Arizona Wildcats (0-5, 0-2). The two teams will meet on Saturday at Folsom Field (1:30 p.m., TV: Pac-12 Network).
Despite Arizona’s school-record losing streak, the Buffs know this isn’t a game to take lightly.
“Any Power 5 team can beat each other on any given day,” CU center Colby Pursell said. “You have to prepare as if you’re playing the best team ever every week.”
Arizona certainly isn’t the best team ever, but the Buffs are preparing to get the best version of the Wildcats.
“They’re in games and being competitive,” CU head coach Karl Dorrell said. “They just haven’t been able to close out games themselves. This is a team that’s getting better and they’re playing hard. They’re doing everything that a coach in this first year would want his team to do. They’re playing hard and trying to do the things that they’re teaching in their system.”
“They do have good football players,” CU defensive lineman Jalen Sami said. “Yes, they’ve been struggling, but it doesn’t stop the fact that they’re still a good football team and they can come in and pretty much give it to us if they want.
“But that’s a sense of motivation for me and I believe for my teammates that we can’t let up on them. We can’t expect them to just roll over and just let us win. We know it’s a fight and we know we’re also the last few weeks struggling on trying to figure things out.”
… Continue reading story here …
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NFL Buffs: Awuzie’s pick; Crosby’s (eventual) game-winner
From CUBuffs.com … Sunday’s NFL thriller that saw the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers stretched far into overtime saw big performances from former Colorado Buffaloes on both teams.
Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie returned to action from a groin injury along with an interception of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, which he returned 42 yards, he had five tackles and two total pass defenses.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby struggled early, missing three kicks but rebounded to hit the 49-yard game-winning field goal, his second game-winning field goal of the season as the Packers won 25-22.
Here is what happened with all other former CU Buffs across the NFL in week five.
Phillip Lindsay, RB, Houston Texans
Had five carries for 19 yards in the Texans 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots. On the season he has 50 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards with both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Laviska Shenault Jr, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Shenault showcased his physicality again this week on a 58-yard catch and run where he broke five tackles in the process in the Jaguars lost 37-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Jimmy Smith, CB, Baltimore Ravens
Had one tackle and one pass defended in the Ravens thrilling 31-25 comeback victory in overtime on Monday Night Football, including a pair of big plays in the fourth quarter as the Ravens were mounting their comeback.
Nate Solder, OT, New York Giants
Appeared in 100% of the offensive snaps for the third consecutive week in the Giants 44-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Davion Taylor, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Had five tackles in the Eagles thrilling 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Josh Tupou, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Racked up three tackles and played on 39% of defensive snaps in the Bengals 25-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Isaiah Oliver, CB Atlanta Falcons will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Pittsburgh Steelers (did not play vs Broncos), David Bakhtairi, OL (Green Bay Packers PUP list). Ken Crawley, CB Saints and Daniel Munyer, OL Titans (IR). Kabion Ento (Green Bay Packers), Arlington Hambright (Chicago Bears), Steven Montez (Detroit Lions), Will Sherman (New England Patriots), and Juwann Winfree (Green Bay Packers) are all on their respective team’s practice squads.
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October 13th
… CU in a few minutes …
**Video: Defensive Coordinator Chris Wilson talks with the media** – “We learned a lot from the past week”
“The bye week for our staff was really a chance for us to get to dig into our schemes and evaluate our personnel,” defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said. “That was really critical for us, looking at some of the things that we do well, and making sure we keep emphasizing those things but also having really good self-awareness about the things that we need to improve on.
… “We made that a big point of emphasis not only from what we’re doing on the field but even from the meeting standpoints and how meetings are going and how we are trying to structure those. So, it was really good for us.”
… “We learned a lot from the past week on some of the things that we can improve on in regards to mixing and matching our bracket coverages when we need it,” Wilson said.
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Jarek Broussard hints at dissension: “We’re just trying to keep it all together”
From the Daily Camera … Some fans want to see coaches fired or demoted. Others want a change at quarterback. Or a new scheme.
Fixing the Colorado offense – or at least improving the results – however, could simply come down to players buying in.
Running back Jarek Broussard said the Buffaloes (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) are busy working on their offense this week, but added, “We’ve just got to get everybody to believe in it. It’s kind of hard if everybody’s not on board.
“We’ve just got to bring it together as a team. We need all 11.”
With a bye last week, the Buffs have been working on coming together as a team, but Broussard said that’s been an ongoing process.
“Week in and week out,” he said. “That’s all you can do when you’re losing.”
Throughout CU’s current four-game losing streak – during which the Buffs have scored just 34 points (8.5 per game) – the task of getting everyone to buy in has become more difficult, especially on offense.
“Yeah, because I feel like when you lose more a lot of guys kind of, you know, it kind of fades,” Broussard said. “But, we’re just trying to keep it all together.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 12th
… CU in a few minutes …
Three Pac-12 teams in CBS Bottom 25 (out of five Power Five schools)
From CBS Sports … The Pac-12 does not receive a lot of respect from the college football nation. In this week’s AP Top 25 Poll and Coaches Poll, you’ll find only two Pac-12 teams. There’s Oregon up there in the top 10, hanging on with one hand while trying not to drop the league’s College Football Playoff hopes with the other. As you get further down, you’ll find a 5-1 Arizona State team closer to No. 20 than you’d typically find a Power Five team with such a record at this point in the season. It’s usually an area reserved for the Group of Five.
These polls do not respect our nation’s western residents. The Bottom 25 does, though. Yes, there are only five Power Five schools ranked in our poll this week, and three Pac-12 teams call The Bottom 25 home. And The Bottom 25 is proud to have them. We hold no judgment here. The Bottom 25 understands that every game must have a winner and a loser, and The Bottom 25 does not shun the loser for fulfilling a role.
So, welcome, Pac-12. Take off your Birkenstocks and stay awhile.
No. 23 – California (1-4) … Cal had the weekend off but will return to action on Friday night against one of the Pac-12 ranked teams in Oregon. If Cal wins, it’s proof that The Bottom 25 is the only true poll we need. (24)
No. 20 – Colorado (1-4) … Colorado took the weekend off to give itself extra time to prepare for its showdown with No. 8 Arizona. (14)
No. 12 – Vanderbilt (2-4) … The Commodores are 0-2 in SEC play so far, and they’ve been outscored 104-0. Granted, the two games were against Georgia and Florida, but still, that’s not a great start. Here’s hoping the Commies can get on the scoreboard against South Carolina this week. (21)
No. 8 – Arizona (0-5) … The world is just piling on Arizona now. The Wildcats were feisty in a 34-16 loss to UCLA, but it’s a loss all the same. It also cost them their starting quarterback, as Arizona announced Jordan McCloud will miss the rest of the season. Not the news you want to hear just before a road trip to face No. 20 Colorado in THE BOTTOM 25 GAME OF THE CENTURY OF THE WEEK. (11)
No. 2 – Kansas (1-4) … The Jayhawks had the week off and moved from No. 4 to No. 2. That’s just how powerful their Bottom 25 brand is. Kansas is the SEC of The Bottom 25. It just sits there and gets respect. We’ll see how much more respect it’ll command after facing Texas Tech Saturday afternoon. (4)
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Karl Dorrell: “Hopefully, the changes we’ve made are going to help us play more efficient and effective football”
From CUBuffs.com … After a week of working on the little things that have caused some big problems, Karl Dorrell‘s Colorado Buffaloes turned their focus Monday to what could be seen as a critical crossroads on the CU schedule:
Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. home matchup with Arizona.
The Buffs (1-4 overall, 0-2 Pac-12) have lost four in a row and need a win to regain some confidence and turn their season back in the right direction.
Of course, Jedd Fisch’s Wildcats (0-5, 0-2) are in the same boat — except the ‘Cats are currently in the throes of a 17-game losing streak that stretches back two seasons.
Arizona’s last win? A 35-30 victory over the Buffs at Folsom Field on Oct. 5, 2019. Colorado beat Arizona last season, 24-13, in Tucson, led by a 301-yard rushing day from Jarek Broussard.
The Buffs are returning from a bye week that saw them get in three practices, then some time off over the weekend. The Wildcats are coming off a 34-16 loss to UCLA in which the Bruins scored the last 17 points of the game and UA starting quarterback Jordan McCloud suffered a season-ending leg injury.
McCloud’s injury means the Wildcats will likely be turning to backup Gunner Cruz, who started the first two games of the season before being benched in favor of McCloud.
The Buffs, meanwhile, continue to sort through their own offensive issues. Those include — but are by no means limited to — the struggles of freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis, who has thrown for 475 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in five games. The Buffs spent last week working on a number of issues within the offense and Dorrell said he believes that work will pay dividends this week.
“Hopefully, the changes we’ve made are going to help us play more efficient and effective football,” he said. “We addressed a lot of things. Coaches’ roles, in terms of what the expectations are, the expectations we set for our players … they’ve owned up that we can be better. So far, so good with that mindset of addressing the issues that are in front of us. So we are moving forward with the subtle changes we did make.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 11th
… CU in a few minutes …
**Karl Dorrell Press Conference: “Subtle changes” being made**
From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV … Discusses the Carson Lee investigation … Still on the team, pending investigation … Good practices last week and today … Went through the process of clearing up a lot of detail … Good for the players to get a week with a change of pace … Renewed energy … We addressed a lot of things – coaches’ roles … Expectations we set for our players … They’ve owned up to it that we can be better … We are moving forward with the subtle changes that we did make … Playing better at practices leads to better play on the field … There are a number of things we addressed, which we hope will translate … We’re not really finishing plays, but we’ve made some progress … Frank Fillip is working the rust off – he’s just catching up with reps … Max Wray just got out of concussion protocol, will be cleared for full contact Tuesday … There is no change in terms of the dynamics, and what we’re doing for play calling offensively or defensively … No change in roles, from a play-calling standpoint … The detail of how we are prepping our guys, we’ve done some adjustments that way, we’ve given more responsibility to other people on the staff from a preparation standpoint, but in terms of the play-calling and stuff like that, its still going to remain the same … Arizona is playing pretty well. They are in games, and being competitive … They just haven’t been able to close out games themselves … It’s going to be another big challenge for us …
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Kickoff time set for CU at California
From CUBuffs.com … The Colorado at California football game on Saturday, Oct. 23 in Berkeley will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
The fully announced schedule for Oct. 22-23:
Friday, October 22, 2021
7:30pm PT – Washington at Arizona, ESPN2 (previously announced)
Saturday, October 23, 2021
12:30pm PT – Oregon at UCLA, ABC or ESPN (network designation after games on 10/16 are final)
12:30pm PT / 1:30pm MT – BYU at Washington State, FS1
12:30pm PT / 1:30pm MT – Colorado at California, Pac-12 Network
4:30pm PT / 5:30pm MT – Utah at Oregon State, Pac-12 Network
4:30pm PT – USC at Notre Dame, NBC (previously announced)
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October 10th
… CU in a few minutes …
Nate Landman: “I do feel healthy and I feel like I’m having a pretty good season”
From the Daily Camera … Prior to the start of the season, in August, Colorado linebacker Nate Landman said he believed he was a better player than ever before.
That was a bold claim considering Landman was already really good, and at the time was just eight months removed from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon – an injury that can take a year or more for complete recovery.
Five games into his senior season, however, Landman is backing that up, leading Buffs (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) with 53 tackles, including 43 solo stops. He’s also got five tackles for loss, seven tackles for zero yards and a team-high three pass breakups.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m moving around well,” Landman said. “Still some uncharacteristic missed tackles and stuff like that, but I think from the stuff I’m doing schematically and in the new defense we’re running, I think I’m doing a pretty good job. That’s a credit to the guys around me.
“Having Carson Wells out there with me in leadership and Quinn Perry and our D-line allows me to make those kinds of plays. But, yeah I do feel healthy and I feel like I’m having a pretty good season coming off that injury.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Rooney: It’s tough to reconcile just what a circus the program has dissolved into
From the Daily Camera … It’s tough to reconcile just what a circus the program has dissolved into after such a promising start to the Dorrell era in the shortened 2020 season, yet that brief glimmer of excitement has proven to be an illusion. Two of the teams the Buffs beat out of the gate last year, UCLA and Stanford, were saddled with much more extensive coronavirus practice restrictions than the Buffs. And, indeed, both teams improved over the course of the short 2020 season, while the Buffs’ momentum was short-lived.
The Buffs had mettle-proving games canceled against Oregon, USC, and Arizona State, topped a late-replacement foe in San Diego State, and still got a chance to pick up a win against lowly Arizona. By the end, the lopsided losses against Utah, and then Texas in the Alamo Bowl, were signs of things to come.
Keeping backup quarterback Drew Carter on the sideline while massaging the battered confidence of first-year starter Brendon Lewis has been a puzzling turn of events. On one hand, maybe Dorrell is attempting to preserve a year of eligibility for Carter, a true freshman who can appear in up to four games while still being eligible for a redshirt season. That would be understandable in other circumstances, but Carter is one big hit against Lewis behind his struggling offensive line from being the guy.
Moreover, though all CU’s offensive issues shouldn’t be heaped upon Lewis’ shoulders, the offense under his watch has begged for a spark. If Dorrell does have Carter’s future on his mind while balking at putting him in even in mop-up situations, so be it. But soon Dorrell might have to worry more about his own future than preserving future eligibility for Carter. Watching this hot mess of a season probably isn’t giving any potential recruits goosebumps over the prospects of one day playing for Dorrell’s Buffs.
It was an eventful bye week, more so than the Buffs and their fans would have preferred. A win against Arizona next week certainly won’t solve all the Buffs’ problems, on or off the field. A loss, however, could be the precursor of a bottom-falling-out finish to 2021.
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October 9th
… CU in a few minutes …
Offensive guard Casey Roddick: “I’m still working back into it”
From the Daily Camera … A year ago, Casey Roddick got used to being in Colorado’s starting lineup and had hoped to carry that momentum into this year.
An offseason illness, however, threw him out of whack and the fourth-year sophomore right guard is still working through some kinks as the Buffaloes (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) go through their bye week in preparation for an Oct. 16 matchup with Arizona.
“Being out for even one month is pretty detrimental but being out for six months, it took a lot of time to try to get back,” said Roddick, who missed the entire spring and wasn’t cleared until just before the start of preseason camp in August. “I’m still working back into it, but it’s more so the mental side behind it, knowing certain steps on certain plays and stuff like that. The physical part is over because you’ve already been accustomed and in tune to the practices throughout camp but now it’s more the mental side and knowing certain blocks and stuff like that.”
Roddick, listed at 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, started all six games of the 2020 season and has started 11 of the 23 games he’s played at CU.
This year, Roddick has shared the right guard spot with Kanan Ray for much of the season. Ray started the first two games and played about two-thirds of the snaps in those games, with Roddick getting about a third of the snaps.
Roddick has started the last three games and in the last two he has played more than 90% of the snaps. Although still regaining his chemistry with right tackle Frank Fillip (who missed several months this offseason and the first two games of the season), Roddick believes that is coming along.
… Continue reading story here …
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WR Chase Penry glad for first score, but wants more: “I’m very confident we can get this turned around”
From the Daily Camera … Chase Penry is one of several in-state Colorado football recruits who grew up attending games at Folsom Field.
Additionally, as a very young youngster, Penry was a fan of watching the high-flying USC offense from a decade and a half ago led by stars like Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart.
That’s why it was fitting Penry’s first taste of collegiate pay dirt arrived amid a perfect storm of circumstances last week.
Penry, a freshman receiver from Cherry Creek High School, scored his first collegiate touchdown during the Buffaloes’ 37-14 home loss against USC. It was a muted celebration for Penry, given the final score, yet an important milestone nonetheless for a player who already has worked his way into the Buffs’ receiver rotation.
… “I’m very confident we can get this turned around,” Penry said. “Our morale is not down. This bye for us has been pretty big. We’ve been correcting a lot of stuff we’ve been doing wrong in previous games. I’m pretty confident we’re going to string together some wins. That’s just my mindset, and I’m pretty excited for the next couple of games.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 8th
… CU in a few minutes …
Nate Landman: “We’re still a great program and we’re excited for the future”
From the Daily Camera … Nate Landman was in his first season as a full-time starter with the Colorado Buffaloes when he went through the team’s epic collapse of 2018.
That season, the Buffs started 5-0 and vaulted to No. 19 in the country, but didn’t win again, finishing 5-7.
A year later, the Buffs went through a five-game losing streak.
The current Buffs (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) are on a four-game skid, and Landman, a senior inside linebacker, is doing what he can to prevent a repeat of 2018 or 2019.
“You’ve got to work on little things,” Landman said. “The crazy thing about the Pac-12, too, is that each week is different and you’ve seen that across the years that every game is different each week. A top three team can lose to an unranked team and I think that you’ve just got to stay level. Can’t get too high on the highs; can’t get too low on the lows.”
,,, “I’ve lost my fair share games and won my fair share of games,” said Landman, who has gone 20-27 in his CU career. “Football is a roller coaster and keeping level-headed is where you’ve got to stay. … I just reiterate that to the guys. Watching the film, we’re not too far off. We’ve got some stuff to clean up, but we’re still a great program and we’re excited for the future.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 7th
… CU in a few minutes …
Defensive lineman Carson Lee charged with felony assault
From the Daily Camera … University of Colorado Boulder lineman Carson Lee has been charged with felony assault after police say he repeatedly punched a man early Sunday morning.
Lee, 19, was charged Wednesday with second-degree assault causing serious bodily injury and third-degree assault according to online court records.
The second-degree assault charge is a Class 4 felony while the third-degree assault charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
According to an affidavit, police were called to a Boulder address just before 2 a.m. Sunday because Lee and a woman were having a verbal argument. The two told police that they had been out partying during the night and had gotten separated at one point.
They said another man helped the woman back to the address, which caused a verbal argument between Lee and the woman. Lee told police he yelled at the man, but did not hit him.
While police noted what appeared to be dried blood on Lee’s sleeve, they did not observe any injuries to the woman and so left the scene after breaking up the argument.
But later that morning, police were told a man had gone to the hospital in Boulder after being assaulted. The man said he was walking on University Hill just after midnight when he came across a woman who was intoxicated and sick.
… Lee was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and is set for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 25.
In a statement released Thursday, a CU Boulder spokesperson wrote, “We are aware of the arrest of one of our student-athletes over the weekend, and we take such allegations seriously. We hold all of our student-athletes to high standards of conduct, and we will address follow-up steps related to the matter as more details become clear. Athletics has also referred the matter to the university’s student conduct office for review.”
As for Lee’s status with the team, officials Thursday said Lee is not currently practicing. The Buffs are on a bye week after a home loss Saturday that dropped their record to 1-4.
A highly-recruited center out of Cherry Creek High School, Lee was part of the Buffs’ 2020 class and has played two games this year as a second-year freshman. He appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2020.
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RB Deion Smith: “I feel this week was a good week to just hit the reset button – we’ve got to get it done”
From the Daily Camera … When the Buffs put together a promising start to the Karl Dorrell era last season, Deion Smith could only watch, sidelined by a knee injury suffered during summer workouts.
As Jarek Broussard galloped his way to the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, Smith toiled in the background, trying to regain his speed and strength ahead of the 2021 season. He announced his comeback during the season opener against Northern Colorado, recording 32 yards on four carries, including his first career touchdown.
Smith’s TD against the Trojans got the Buffs within 20-7 of USC in the final minute of the third quarter. That modest deficit proved far too overwhelming for the Buffs’ struggling offense, though Smith finished with a career-high-tying seven carries (for only 12 yards).
“In the running back room, we just feel like we’ve got to take more responsibility and just try to give more to the team,” Smith said. “It starts here at practice. And every day when we step out on game day, we’ve got to do as much as we can to help the other guys. To help B-Lew (quarterback Brendon Lewis), to help the receivers, to help the line. I feel like we just have to take it a little bit more personal, so as a whole we can set ourselves apart and even give those other position groups relief.”
CU’s mark of 139.2 rushing yards per game ranks seventh in the Pac-12, but much of that damage was done by posting 281 rushing yards against Northern Colorado. Against their four FBS-level opponents, the Buffs have averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and 103.8 rushing yards per game.
“We started this bye week just trying to focus on the things that we need to work on specifically — mechanics, techniques, schemes, little things like that,” Smith said. “I feel this week was a good week to just hit the reset button, restart, and just get back in the lab for another week. Our whole mentality this week is we’ve got to get it done. We’ve got to win.”
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October 6th
… CU in a few minutes …
Offensive Line hoping additional practice time will lead to more consistency
From the Daily Camera … An illness kept Colorado right guard Casey Roddick off the football field for about six months, including all of spring practice.
An injury kept right tackle Frank Fillip out for about five months. Tackle Max Wray has missed two games, while center Colby Pursell missed one.
Among the many issues CU (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) is trying to fix during its bye this week is the offensive line – a veteran group that hasn’t played well throughout the Buffaloes’ four-game losing streak. As far as Roddick is concerned, much of the problem lies with lack of chemistry because of injuries.
“I haven’t had my opportunity to work with Frank throughout those six months I was out,” Roddick said. “Frank hasn’t had his opportunity to work with me throughout those months.
“The inconsistency of the lineup has been our main issue. Last year we still had that inconsistency (on game day) but, I mean, we still worked together every single day (at practice), day in and day out.”
Roddick isn’t making excuses but said there’s no question chemistry is a factor for the line, which is aiming to make significant improvement this week in preparation for an Oct. 16 matchup with Arizona.
The Buffs rank 10th in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per carry (3.64) and only Washington State has allowed more sacks than CU’s 15.
“Chemistry is the number one thing and as an offensive lineman,” he said. “If you know who you’re working with, you know what techniques they use, you can be a very good offense in terms of the offensive line.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Morale still high for Buffs: “We’re shoulder to shoulder. We’re a very tight team”
From the Daily Camera … Despite the struggles of the past four weeks, especially the last three, several players have maintained that the Buffs aren’t deflated.
“I think the morale is still pretty high,” receiver Dimitri Stanley said. “We kind of know what we’ve got in the locker room, and we have a whole bunch of talent on this team. It’s kind of just breaking the film down and seeing what we’re doing wrong in order to fix it for next week. So going into this bye week, we have a lot to focus on and lots of work on to get ready to play Arizona.”
Scoring a couple of touchdowns after falling into a 20-0 hole against USC suggests CU isn’t giving up, and outside linebacker Guy Thomas said that fight is still there.
“The guys, we love each other, so I don’t see any of us like giving up on each other,” Thomas said. “I feel like going into next week if there are guys who are not a part of the program that don’t want to be here, then they’ll leave, but the guys that want to be here will come back Monday getting ready to go to work.”
Tight end Brady Russell said that even when the Buffs fell behind by multiple scores there didn’t seem to be a lack of belief on the sidelines.
“I think we’ve got a lot of guys that want to fight and they want to be great,” he said. “It’s just mistakes here and there that are holding us back. I don’t think there’s any sort of once we get down we think we’re losing.”
Safety Isaiah Lewis said he expected the Buffs to rally during the bye.
“We’re shoulder to shoulder,” he said. “We’re a very tight team. It’s just putting the full picture together is what we need to get to.”
… Continue reading story here …
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October 5th
… CU in a few minutes …
Laviska Shenault’s 99-yard effort tops NFL Buffs’ Week Four
From CUBuffs.com … Week four saw a breakout performance by Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who had his best game of the season in primetime catching six passes for 99 yards in the Jags 24-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
He caught Trevor Lawrence’s longest completion so far in his career on a 52-yard spin-around reception that showcased Shenault’s pure athleticism. He looks poised to have a bigger role in the Jaguars offense as he was Lawrence’s top target on Thursday night.
Here is what happened with all other former CU Buffs across the NFL in week four.
Mason Crosby, K, Green Bay Packers
Coming off making a huge game winner the previous week Crosby had a perfect kicking game going 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points in the Packers 27-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Phillip Lindsay, RB, Houston Texans
Lindsay had four carries in the Texans 40-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Isaiah Oliver, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Oliver recorded two tackles before exiting the game with a knee injury in the Falcons 34-30 loss to the Washington Football Team.
Jimmy Smith, CB, Baltimore Ravens
Smith had a tackle and pass breakup while playing 39% of defensive snaps in the Ravens commanding 23-7 win over the Denver Broncos.
Nate Solder, OT, New York Giants
Solder played 100% of offensive snaps and did not allow a sack in the Giants 27-21 OT win over the New Orleans Saints on the road.
Davion Taylor, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Taylor recorded three tackles against the speedy Kansas City Chiefs offense in the Eagles 42-30 loss.
Josh Tupou, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Tupou played 43% of defensive snaps in the middle of the Bengals front seven in their 24-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
Injuries and Inactives:
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Cincinnati Bengals (inactive with a groin injury) ,
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Steelers (inactive against the Packers). David Bakhtairi, OL Packers
(PUP), Ken Crawley (Saints) and Daniel Munyer (Titans) IR, Kabion Ento (Packers), Arlington Hambright (Bears), Steven Montez (Lions), Will Sherman (Patriots) and Juwann Winfree (Packers) are all on their team’s practice squads.
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Karl Dorrell: “If we need to make changes, we’ll do it”
From CUBuffs.com … With a bye week at hand that couldn’t have come at a better time, Karl Dorrell‘s Colorado Buffaloes (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) will spend the week trying to address the issues that have led to a four-game losing streak.
Dorrell said Monday that includes a directive to his assistant coaches to meet with every player in their respective position groups.
“I gave the coaches a mandate this week about talking to each and every one of their players about what are one or two attributes that we have to fix this week so we can carry on that improvement going into next week,” Dorrell said. “That’s really the emphasis this week, to try to shore up the issues that we’re not performing well and address those things in an off week where you have really good practices. There’s some things on defense we’re trying to fix. There’s things offensively we’re trying to fix. That’s really the mandate, to try to get each player, whatever their issues are, to get those things addressed.”
The Buffs will practice three times this week, have the weekend off, then return to work next Monday in preparation for their Oct. 16 home matchup with Arizona. That game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
Dorrell said one thing he has stressed with his team is that the Buffs have seven games remaining — still plenty of time to carve out some success.
“There’s still a lot of games left, still a lot to play for,” Dorrell said. “We play this game to win, we play this game to compete. Obviously we’ve been on the shorter side of winning but there’s things in front of us that we can control, at least that we can try to address and to play better and to get ourselves in position to win.”
Dorrell said he and his staff will also use this week to assess possible changes. That could include personnel as well as coaching duties and responsibilities.
“We’re evaluating everything right now,” he said. “We had a long staff meeting yesterday and had a chance to talk through a lot of things we’re trying to address, whether it’s from our staff or from a personnel perspective. But nothing is in concrete right now. We’re still going through an evaluation period. We have some time this week to work on some things we need to work on. If we need to make changes, we’ll do it.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Pat Rooney: “Do something, anything, to spark the futile status quo”
From the Daily Camera … Clinging to matters like Brendon Lewis’ career-best 162 passing yards would be like slapping a glitzy coat of paint on a house with a crumbling foundation. It looks more appealing, but the entire operation still is falling apart. And if Dorrell and the Buffs don’t use the bye week to address the offensive malaise, either by relieving offensive coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini of his play-calling duties or relieving him of his job altogether, CU will just be running out the clock on the 2021 season.
Before Buffs fans flood my inbox for the sin of even a slight defense of Lewis, let me reiterate that he clearly is a young quarterback who at this point is in over his head. He doesn’t see the field well, holds the ball too long, and has a limited comfort zone within the sort of offensive schemes that might possibly spell success for him.
Yet to blame all the Buffs’ offensive shortcomings on the quarterback overlooks a porous offensive line and an offensive approach that often seems at odds with itself. That leads back to Dorrell and Chiaverini, and all those shortcomings were on display early before the Trojans pulled away.
On the Buffs’ opening drive, Lewis misfired on a swing pass to Jarek Broussard that may not have gone anywhere anyway. Two plays later Lewis was sacked on third down after a missed block against what, for the most part, was a standard four-man rush by the Trojans throughout the game.
On the next series fans likely were up in arms when Lewis held on to the ball and suffered a second-down sack that led to a three-and-out. What they may not have seen was the Buffs’ primary two receivers taking themselves out of the play by colliding into each other over the middle of the field.
… Midseason changes aren’t a path any coach wants to embark upon, but it’s not as bad as doing the same things over and over and over and expecting different results. The bye week offers Dorrell and the Buffs a chance to regroup before a very winnable game against Arizona.
Give Carter reps. Change play-callers. Shake up the staff. Do something, anything, to spark the futile status quo. If not, the Buffs are just waving the white flag on 2021.
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October 4th
… CU in a few minutes …
Finally, some good news: Regent Jack Kroll will not seek re-election
… Kroll, who joined the Board of Regents in 2017, voted in favor of football contracts the first two times he had a chance, but has voted against them the last four times …
From the Daily Camera … University of Colorado Regent Jack Kroll will not seek a second term on the Board of Regents, the university system announced today.
Kroll, a Democrat who lives in Denver, was elected to represent the 1st Congressional District on the system’s governing board in 2016. He is currently chair of the board and was up for reelection in 2022. Kroll currently works at CU Boulder as associate director of admissions and earned a bachelor’s and master’s from CU Denver.
In a statement, Kroll said he decided to not seek reelection to spend more time with his family.
“I’ve been fortunate to have many titles in my life, but there is none more important to me than the title of ‘dad’,” Kroll said in a statement.
Kroll’s tenure on the board included the retirement of longtime President Bruce Benson, the controversial hiring of President Mark Kennedy and Kennedy’s departure just two years later.
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**Must See Video: Karl Dorrell’s Monday post-practice talk with media**
From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation.com … “We’re evaluating everything right now. We had a long staff meeting yesterday and got a chance to talk through a lot of the things that we’re trying to address. Whether it’s from our staff or a personnel perspective, we’re doing all those things right now. But nothing in concrete right now. We’re still going through an evaluation period. We have some time this week to work on some things we need to work on and to see where, if we need to make changes, we’ll do (that). We’re going to work through that in probably a methodical process.”
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Kickoff time set for CU/Arizona game
Press release from CUBuffs.com … The Arizona at Colorado football game on Saturday, Oct. 16 (part of CU’s family weekend), will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
All selections:
Friday, Oct.15
7:30pm PT – California at Oregon, ESPN (previously announced)
Saturday, Oct. 16
1:30pm MT / 12:30pm PT – Arizona at Colorado, Pac-12 Network
4:30pm PT – Stanford at Washington State, ESPNU
5:30pm PT – UCLA at Washington, FOX
8:00pm MT / 7:00pm PT – Arizona State at Utah, ESPN
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Neill Woelk’s Takeaways from loss to USC
From CUBuffs.com … With a four-game losing streak in tow and a plethora of issues that need addressing, Karl Dorrell‘s Colorado Buffaloes will no doubt welcome the upcoming bye week.
The week to reassess, recalibrate and retool couldn’t come at a better time. As Dorrell said following Saturday’s 37-14 loss to Southern California, “This is going to be a week for us to get back and really try to shore up as much as we can before we play Arizona in two weeks. There’s a lot of work for us to do and we’re definitely going to do that.”
To be blunt, there’s almost no area that couldn’t use some work (aside from the punt team, which isn’t exactly an area of strength on which any team wants to hang its hat). While CU’s offense did take some incremental steps in the right direction, they were by no means enough to make a difference.
Meanwhile, the Buffs’ defense also had its own issues, against the run and the pass.
Our weekly takeaways from Saturday’s game:
1. With seven games to go, there’s still time to change the narrative — but it has to happen now. We’ll let Dorrell’s words paint the picture: “The pacifier is going to have to go … We’ve got to grow up fast. We’ve got to go. There’s only so long you can take those incremental steps. We’re at that point right now. This season is in the balance.”
That last sentence speaks volumes. CU’s season indeed is in the balance — and what the Buffs are able to accomplish over the next two weeks will decide which way those scales tip.
… Continue reading story here …
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October 3rd
… CU in a few minutes …
Dorrell to look at quarterback situation over bye week: “Maybe this is a one-two machine now”
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado coach Karl Dorrell said he and his staff will perform a careful assessment of the Buffaloes’ quarterback situation during the upcoming off week.
But, Dorrell stressed, CU’s offensive issues are not all on the shoulders of freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis.
Lewis has started every game thus far for the 1-4 Buffs. He had his best game of the season in Saturday’s 37-14 loss to USC, completing 10 of 17 attempts for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
CU’s only other real option at quarterback is another freshman, Drew Carter, who has played only sparingly. Carter did not play Saturday, and has completed four of eight attempts in two games for 27 yards.
Dorrell, though, hinted that CU coaches will carefully evaluate the situation next week.
“Maybe this is a one-two machine now,” Dorrell said. “Give both these guys a chance to develop and go. That’s something we will definitely discuss this week, now that we don’t have a game at the end of next week. We have some more time to really think through this.”
Another area that will be assessed closely is CU’s offensive line. Against a team that had recorded three sacks in four games, the Buffs gave up five Saturday.
“They’re not playing at a level that they should, given the experience,” Dorrell said. “We’re having some issues in a lot of areas but particularly up front. This is going to be a week for us to get back and really try to shore up as much as we can before we play Arizona in two weeks. There’s a lot of work for us to do and we’re definitely going to do that.”
Those problems up front only steepen the learning curve of a young quarterback.
“The thing that helps a quarterback is if he feels he has protection,” Dorrell said. “That’s part of having a young guy that’s not only learning, but you don’t want him to be thinking about whether he’s going to be protected or not. We have a lot of stuff to work on right now. Like I said before, it’s not just Brendon.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Dorrell apologizes for pushing TV cameraman
From the Daily Camera … Colorado head football coach Karl Dorrell issued an apology on Sunday for pushing the camera of a local photojournalist while running off the field Saturday following a 37-14 loss to Southern California at Folsom Field.
A photojournalist from CBS-4 TV in Denver was filming Dorrell after the game and the seven-second clip shows Dorrell reaching his hand out and pushing the camera out of the way.
“I want to apologize for the incident at the end of our game Saturday,” Dorrell said in a statement released by CU. “We do value the media and the coverage they provide for our program, and this was strictly in the heat of the moment. That’s not who I am, and I hope people who have known me through the years do realize that. I did reach out and spoke directly this morning to the videographer from CBS-4 and personally apologized to him.”
On Saturday, CU athletic director Rick George tweeted an apology on behalf of Dorrell, writing: “Coach Dorrell sends his apologies to the local journalist who he intercepted after today’s game. We treat journalists with respect and apologize for falling short of that today.”
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Michael Westbrook appreciative of reception for Hall of Fame induction
From the Daily Camera … In an age of social media direct messages, cell phones everywhere, and even the comparatively rustic medium of emails, it’s understandable that Michael Westbrook last year tossed aside a curious-looking package that arrived via snail mail.
Minutes later, Westbrook was struck by the recognition that the correspondence wasn’t actually from the University of Colorado, as he initially assumed. Westbrook, one of CU’s all-time greats and one of the central figures in one of the most memorable plays in college football history, had been selected for the College Football Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, the former standout wide receiver was celebrated with a brief first-half ceremony at Folsom Field, giving the Buffs’ faithful even more reason to long for the glories of yesteryear during a 37-14 loss against USC.
… “Around the 24th (of September) every year I get lots of phone calls,” Westbrook said. “To me, that’s not who I am. It’s a play. It’s a moment in time. What makes me is what kind of parent I am. How I’m raising my children. That’s my life. That’s a play. It’s one of the greatest plays I’ve ever been a part of. But it doesn’t make me who I am.”
Despite playing in a run-first era of college football, Westbrook’s name remains prominent atop CU records alongside receivers from more recent pass-happy offenses. Westbrook left CU as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (167) and receiving yards (2,548). He still ranks third and fourth, respectively, in those categories. He also left the Buffs as the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 19 and still ranks seventh.
“It meant everything just to be out there,” Westbrook said. “The alumni, the football former players, haven’t been involved in a whole lot of stuff here. So for them to do that for me was huge, a way of saying thank you for all you did for us. I’m very grateful for the display they showed.”
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94 Replies to “Colorado Daily – Arizona”
Me too.
God, I hate it when I agree with Rooney……. See ya at the game Stu.
Me too.
Pizzla Jr.
So Neil’s keys to the game depress me. He gets to see practice and see what they are working on. So basically he just said they are going to try the same things they have tried all year. Which, hot tip, with our line and blocking scheme will result in failure. You cannot consistently run into that defensive front with what we have been doing. There is no execution in a zone or stretch scheme that can overcome the defensive front we will see unless you completely outman the other side, which we do not…. Crap, we are going to lose this game as well.
MASKIROVKA
That’s all you need to know.
Neil is part of it.
The players are part of it.
Coaches are part of it.
Could be the the best MASKIROVKA ever.
Go Buffs
lets hope so. I doubt if Neil would expose any “subtle changes.”….but I left the Charlie Brown state of gullibility a while back on Lucy keeping the ball on the ground….ie…or any lights going on inside Chev or KD’s head.
The more I think about it Shrout was probably going to be the starter as the offense, if you want to call it that, is hardly designed for a dual threat QB. And the appalling thing is we havent seen even any subtle changes to this point.
Not surprised at Shaw’s compensation. Stanford has endowments out the wazoo.
Aghast is definitely the word, along with disgusted at the 14 plus million buyout for KD. Along with that comes a lot less respect for RG. This after empty suit Mickey Mac skates away with 9 or 10. Little Jay probably has a trust fund that pays him more every year than a coordinator’s salary.
The lack of urgency, that KD apparently feels, to do anything major to his so far failed product on the field is ‘splainable. Baby steps as long as he wants em. We did 5 years of HWSRN, 5 with mickey bric a brac but it looks like it will be longer than that if we have to buy KD out.
We need to start a go fund me page for Buff fan’s to donate money towards the purchase of power ball tickets earmarked for just that.
Power ball. Thats a great comparison to how crazy coach salaries have become.
Chris Johnson tells it like it is. He made some bad calls on D vs USC and got burned, and not afraid to say it. Other coaches should take note. If KD can keep Johnson and get a new OC next year I might actually be optimistic.
what a contrast in style to Chev’s blubbering
Chris Johnson?
Never hear of him.
GoBigBuffWilson
When the schedule rolled out, it was apparent the past four games would be a gauntlet. The Texas A & M game, at least for me, proved to be a mirage – particularly in light of the Las Vegas line of the four wil over/under total.
These next two upcoming games will be huge in either settling in on the over/under, and possibly taking the over, or pressing (hard) the “panic button.” I HOPE the ship is turned around, the details are addressed , and the Coach Darrell era settles in,… We will see,…
“We’ve just got to get everybody to believe in it. It’s kind of hard if everybody’s not on board.
That’s a offense coaching issue period.
Clearly fans don’t believe in it!
We go trouble right here in the Champions center.
I guess after for weeks of running that offensive scheme and being ranked 129 in the country the birdies have come home to rest.
Gobuffswinoneplease
I am confused by Broussard’s comment in the camera. ” We just need to buy in to the offense” then things will roll. That implies that haven’t been buying in to what’s going on. So now that the offense is putting up 8 points a game, they will now buy in? What?
Huge game. looked at next years schedule. No Northern Colorado’s. If we lose this one, it could be an Arizonaesque losing streak. If we win, maybe we can beat Cal…..
I get the impression they have tried but all they can do is keep trying even though the players know better than anyone they have been handed a dud to execute. Its gotta be tough to keep the motivation up in the face of that. I also get the feeling Jarek almost let something slip that would really piss off KD.
Had the same thought re: broussard’s quotes. Then had to remind myself, they’re sound bites and may not carry the full context of his thoughts. Sure hope they don’t. Or that ain’t great.
I will grant those that think coaching drives the bus, that the coaches’ primary job is to sell the vision. If people don’t buy into the vision, the execution is likely lacking.
Go Buffs
How about his next comment:
`“I would love to get the ball more and get the ball in space, but, it’s an up top thing,” he said, referring to coaches making decisions on playing time. “I’m good (physically). I’m a hundred percent. I’m ready to do what I do, it’s just … it’s up top.” `
I have no clue what to make of that statement.
“I was the Offensive Player of the Year last year, but they won’t give me the ball. I can’t wait for December, when I can transfer to a school who will let me play” … I’m just guessin’ …
Maybe, but couldn’t he just transfer now? The transfer portal’s definitely going to be interesting this year, especially if the trajectory of the program doesn’t seem to change during the season.
Go Buffs
No, he can’t transfer now – he’s a “student-athlete”.
If he plays out the season, he continues to get the opportunity to show his talents, plus get the use of the CU training and medical facilities.
If he quits now, he still has to stay in school to keep his eligibility, but would be an outcast on campus, and would lose Champions Center access.
No sense not to be a team player for the next seven weeks …
Didn’t other guys just bail and enter the portal? So they decided it was worth it. Granted, maybe jarek would be trying to improve his free agency value, but if he keeps at current statistical level, that is questionable too.
Go Buffs
The two defensive linemen who bailed quit after game four, to keep their year of eligibility.
At this point, anyone still on the team has burned a year of playing time … so they may as well play.
Oh got it. Forgot about that part. I guess we’ll see who’s still working these next 7 games.
Go Buffs
Hmmm, But does that apply to true freshman? I thought they could participate up to 4 games and and still have the redshirt year ie five years of eligibility
Buffs.
KD needs to work on his extemporaneous speaking to reporters.
“Hopefully, the changes we’ve made are going to help us play more efficient and effective football,”
Hope is not a plan, and an incredibly weak statement. KD might try and be a little more forceful….something like “we’re going to do whatever it takes to get this fixed”, and while he may not succeed it at leasts gives the impression he will try and do whatever it takes.
“
This is a hilarious and accurate comment. I’m trying to think of work emails to my boss along the lines of “well I’m making some really subtle changes that hopefully might make the software a lot more efficient and effective!”
Though, to be honest.. This analogy isn’t great. I have indeed said basically this exact thing to my boss and then did indeed make very subtle changes that had a huge impact.
But software engineering isn’t football, and the code in question was 99% correct. Colorado’s offense is certainly not 99% correct.
I have always liked the response to “How is the development program going?”
We got a plan, We are on schedule, and we are working hard
Roll eyes and move on.
Buffs
Wow. At least we’re not Kansas. Yet. They’re a basketball school, right? Hey, so are we!
They’re the SEC of the bottom 25. They just sit there and get respect. That’s pretty funny.
Go Buffs
Subtle changes? PLEAZZE…
Looking more and more like last year was a fluke, where many of the better teams’ games were canceled, and we caught other teams early in the season. Since Utah last year, the Buffs have been blown out by 3 TD’s or more except Texas A&M, which had their own problems at QB then.
I had hopes that HCKD would make SIGNIFICANT changes over the bye week, both in coaching and reps + reps + reps to improve execution. AZ comes in with a 2 year losing streak and a QB who is out for the season. Buffs had better come out and dominate, using a new offensive game plan (can you say zone reads and screen passes, short passes to the backs outside, passes to TE’s across the middle, and at least a couple of shots downfield each half?) No more inside handoffs up the middle for 1-2 yards on first down, followed by incompletes and sacks for long 2nd and 3rd downs. If Lewis stinks again, give him the hook early and let’s see what Carter can do. It can’t be much worse, hard to go down lower when you are already at the bottom of the barrel.
Last- watch the game film from 2020 AZ game. Repeat! Let’s see Broussard pop for 200+ rushing yards, and get Fontenot, Clayton and other backs going and SCORE SOME POINTS!
You watch Tx vs OU? OU down28-7.. Put in back up freshman QB and won game.. College football can be fun.. Figure it out KD snd Buffs…
Well? Sounds like Jon grid em is available.
Go Buffs
Gruden. Phooking fooooone
Go Buffs
Yes, we only scored 8 points a game. And we were last in the nation in every offensive statistical category, but we are just a subtle change away from greatness. I know our 1-11 season doesn’t reflect it, but I like where we are and won’t be making any changes this off season……..except for the subtle one I am not going to reveal to you.
The funny thing is I really like KD. He seems like such a decent guy. I was hoping we had our own version of Sunny Lubick. C’mon KD, fix this thing. We are really rooting for you.
I agree with everything you wrote in your 2nd paragraph, bufffan62. Further, the fact Dorrell was building his home in CO before anyone came knocking about this Buff job showed that if he got this thing rolling, he could stay indefinitely.
I’m still hoping he can, but the fact we have an Offense sitting at the bottom of every single FBS category… and he isn’t even willing to put the backup QB in for 4th quarter experience is showing a defiance and stubbornness that just won’t fly in college football, IMO.
It’s not that we are losing, it’s that our offense makes it so we aren’t even close to competitive. If we wanted to continue with that kind of mediocrity, we could have kept Mike MacIntyre.
Fix it, coach! Go Buffs!
Ya know,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ever since he stepped on board it’s been his way of doing it. Hasn’t waivered a bit.
He knows more than you or anyone about what is going on inside that place…. and why it is what it is.
I believe he will do what is right when he decides it is right. He is driven by the long term not the short term………..
What’s two more years of crap when ya just had 15? Especially if the third is path out of this hell
Go Buffs
That’s a pretty optimistic way of looking at it, at this point. But why not? Even if he’s not the guy, as I mentioned before, I think you can’t just fire another head coach at CU.
So? Hopefully he is the guy. Hopefully Owen McCown, or JT, or Brendon or Drew can actually play the QB position the way his offense requires it to be played.
We’ll find out.
Go Buffs. Just beat AZ.
One of the questions in Stuart’s poll today made me laugh
“no free agent market for players or coaches”
The carousel is the same damn thing as a free agent market. If I had one stinking year of most any Div 1 coach’s salary I would spend 75% of my remaining days reeling in the tuna/dorado/marlin on my cruiser in the Sea of Cortez and open my bar and grill on a remote section of the Baja for folks tired of the Cabo hustle turning the day’s catch into ceviche to go with the margs.
The other 25% ? right where I am right now. I already live in a beautiful place but its getting a little crowded with people form lousyiana and caleefornya
clearing up some detail? hmmmm….where have I heard that before? (arrrghhh)
and
no
wait a minute
I was going to trash all the rest of KD’s canned quotes but that has/will be done for me by the others in here.
I keep going back to the Dumb and Dumber quote of “you mean there’s a chance?” …that KD’s subtle changes are blowing smoke down to Tucson?
Seriously, I join Rob O with no expectations left for any success the rest of the season.
I’m not ready to throw Lewis under the bus though. I still feel he would thrive under real coaching. Lets face it the coaching here sucks in every phase of the game at almost every position with the possible exception of running backs who never get a chance with the newly inept O line.
eff subtle changes
I put this all on the coaches for not benching Lewis and at least trying Carter. I saw a statistic that I hadn’t known but exactly but knew from watching. Noyer released the ball at an average of 2.8 seconds. Lewis is like 3.2. That doesn’t sound like a lot but it is, the route trees are designed to come open for. Dry short periods of time. The offensive line is average at best right now and cannot hold up for long. So holding it that fraction of a second too long, not anticipating the route coming open means sacks, held balls, and throw away. That is the difference. With a decent qbwe are at least 1 win better and maybe 2. The fact that KD is unwilling to at least try the other kid is a sign that he is unwilling to take risks. The greatest coaches take risks. Maybe this season is all different if Shrout doesn’t go down. But man…..
That is absurd. 3.2 second is “Mike Martz 7-step-drop max protect getJay Cutler killed so many times he visibly says ‘f&*k you’ and changes the play himself” levels of time.
But it’s even worse than that, because even Lewis’s “quick read” throws take like 2.8 seconds. See: Jarek Broussard nearly getting killed multiple times.
Ugh.
Great news!! We only needed a subtle change to go from 8 points a game and last in college football to over 30 points a game. Who knew??
Subtle changes! Subtle f#$&*(ing changes. Well, F&$ck. Guess the season is gone. We won’t win another game. How did KD go from a coach that led us to a 4-2 season during the pandemic to this? What sort of bullsh$#@t coaching thinks subtle changes are going to fix a historically bad offense. That is a failure of leadership, if we dropped a couple of games we shouldn’t have I can understand subtle changes, but now when you are the worst team in football. Not unless that is your expectation. Crap. I don’t think he is hiding anything. I bet Carter doesn’t even get in the game. Dorrell is lost. He is unwilling to make changes, he is willing to accept god awful qb play instead of playing a true freshman. Why would anyone play hard for him. You can play like crap in the most important position on the field and get “subtle” changes…. I am going to spend my wasted season tickets money giving Dorrell a price of my mind since the football will be so bad it won’t be worth watching.
” Why would anyone play hard for him. You can play like crap in the most important position on the field and get “subtle” change”
I agree with you here. And it’s not just “play like crap” it’s very literally “i have never in my life seen a worse QB that started 5 games in a row, at any level, ever”.
There was a thread on Reddit earlier today that was something like “what would happen if your team’s QB and your opponent’s QB swapped?”
For CU? They would be undefeated!
Maybe this was KD’s retirement job after all, not a bad way to fund your retirement acct. Having said that, and barring a turnaround, this is pretty much at RG’s doorstep. Hopefully, KD can pull a rabbit out of his hat with these subtle changes. Still rooting for him, but as time wanes on, my enthusiasm for him as HC wanes also. Its really not about the W/L, its about what he is putting out on the field.
So Rooney’s article scares me. If you want to keep everything the same and throw Carter in I would be ok with that. But no changes? I will freak out. I am going to the game and if there are no changes by the 2nd half the game will be out of reach and the stands will clear. I am going to move down to right behind Dorrell and tell him loudly for the rest of the game what I think about his lack of leadership.
How is it that Iowa is #3? Campus and location isnt as cool as ours. And yet they are relevant and we havent been except one or twice is the last 15 years? Anyone have an explanation??
Big 10 attitude and cash. Coaching stability. More passionate fans. Supportive administration. Need I go on?
Maybe if you heckle chev enough he’ll break a clipboard over his knee and throw it at you, like one of the McCaffreys did the other week!
Are all you guys howled out? or do have some howling in reserve or a lot more meaningless analysis when AU wins?
why do I say that?
Because with all the coach speak I have heard so far there is no substantial contrition…substantial?….barely discernable contrition from them.
With the equally inept AU and Cal coming up I sense they are going to do very little in the way of changes thinking they can get away with the baby steps current scheme failure .
Yeah you can call the players the crew on the carrier but the captains are holding on to the wheel.
Once again 38. And Buffs negative 3
Fractured skull?
surprised assault was the most serious charge. Sounds like time in the slammer anyway.
This is exactly what HCKD needs right now…..and Lee’s team mates. All the anti football people in the wood work will be having a field day with this one….and wait for it….Mark Pizzla.
I guess if there is any silver lining it opens up a schollie which hopefully…and I know its a remote chance…for another O lineman…(did Lee switch to D?) who just might crack the starting lineup and actually be able to play…….some place other than prison yard pick up.
HCKD gave a mandate lol. Rick George needs to give a mandate.
Did anyone notice the play that Rooney references in his article where Lewis gets sacked and the two receivers on a crossing route literally run right into each other and fall down. The two USC defenders just looked at each other ( both of them were still standing) like WTFO, I guess we don’t need to cover these guys they’ll just run into each other like the Keystone cops. Honestly the most embarrassing play I have ever seen, including the Sanchez butt fumble.
It was actually talked about on the broadcast.
The Receivers have no Coach
Buffs.
Note: Two weeks to make the changes for the present and the future. Please don’t waste them
Note 2: It ain’t just the players. The coaches are supposed to give them the tools to win. Ain’t happening.
All roads lead to Chev. Poor play calling by the OC and poor WR play because the WR coach is also the OC. The WR s are suffering and we don’t know if he’s a good OC or not.
I watched that play 3 times in pure puzzlement. The think a USC linebacker gave Russell a little push which sent him into Stanley. Took both out of the play.
A literal dog that just voted yes to whatever the chancellor, athletic director, and president wanted (if we had one) would be a better regent than idiots like Jack Kroll or Sue Sharkey.
Truly great news that Kroll won’t seek reelection.
Did anyone else notice that Slovis threw the ball when it was a 50/50 proposition and let his receivers go get the ball and make big plays? And our guy won’t throw the ball period.
Yes. Absolutely. It helps when those 50/50 balls are on time and in the right spot. And when you have a Calvin Johnson type 6’5” stud receiver who is a likely first round pick battling a smaller, shorter db. And our db’s were covering well. Very well. That dude just made plays.
Go Buffs
Ya, but I would like to at least see Arias and Rice get a chance….. listen, if you cannot coach a quarterback to recognize, 1 high safety (which is all we get now) and press coverage (which they rotate) and a receiver to get off the line cleanly with a jab step in for a slant and then a break outside for a fade, and then teach the quarterback to take three clean steps back and throw the fade 50/50 ball then you really do not know how to coach cause every kid that ever played qb and receiver has run that play. And Lewis must be able to throw to a spot or he must not start.
True enough, Rob. For whatever reason, Brendon seems to miss a lot of basic throws in games, but apparently doesn’t in practice. Although, the tiny snippets of practice we did see in the last twelve months, he missed some glaring ones there too, that even I could see.
Looking forward to seeing what we’ll see in ten days or so. Whether it’s improvement from him, or someone else getting a shot, or both. And the usual disclaimer, we know it’s not ALL on the QB, but unfortunately, most of it is. Hard to get anything going offensively if the opposing defense has zero concerns about being beat in the air. And so far, that’s exactly the case.
Go Buffs
You are so right. I went and broke down what I could using the PAC12 broadcast of the first half. The coaches are correct it is not all on Lewis, but man a lot of it is, and it has escalated becuase the defense has no fear. They are lining up blocker +1 in the box. They are pinching off the edges with a db to shut down the read option game, they are running single high safety even against 4 wideouts and he is standing at 8-10 yards. Running into that morass is damn near impossible on a consistent basis. Think about the defenses people have when it is 1st and goal. We are playing into that all the time and unfortunately we don’t get a td each time we get a first down….. you can’t run, the read option won’t work becuase the db’s are pinching the edges. The way to break it is play action pass. But the o line is only good for 3.5 seconds before the pocket collapses and our qb is unwilling or unable to make the throw. I have a hope that they use this week to put Carter in and we explode, 1. Becuase Arizona is that bad 2. Carter will put the ball into the air. In the times I have seen him he is decisive. The ball is out in sub 3 seconds and he trusts his arm to fit it in. There was one that it was close to an interception but he threw so hard the defense could not react in time.
God I hope so.
Rob. You are way too kind. A touchdown each time we get a first down? Not sure that would have won us any game, either. Sigh. Bye. Can’t hurt.
Go Buffs
Arizona licking their chops. Listening to HCKD’s coachspeak, CU will go with Lewis until game out of hand and wont change coaching responsibilities until season over. Arizona can break their 17 game losing streak against the Buffs. Last team Arizona beat? wait for it. CU in 2019. Bookend wins. How grim would that be….
That would be sad. Grim indeed. And terribly unsurprising, at this point. Come on Buffs. Don’t let that happen.
Go Buffs
Prediction for the Bye week
Bye-38, Buffs negative 3
Damn. Is that even possible? Maybe.
Go Buffs
So Stu I am not sure why the video was marked as must watch as I felt this was largely Dorrell saying what he always says. Did I miss something? Maybe he admitted Carter should be in the next game when sh#t is out of control again?
This all said, I started being a buff fan in the early 90’s . So I don’t remember the early. Mac years. I am going to go into the archives and see what was Mac saying during his first few losing seasons. What changes was he making game to game?
Well, in Year Four, Mac went to the wishbone …
That is funny. I was the lone voice in the wilderness thinking Jeff Monken may have been a good guy to talk to when nobody else was interested.
But I had the same question about the must see video tag.
Go Buffs
I pooped my diaper after hearing something about working on details, so was distracted for the rest of the video. Was it good? Probably something in there about the offense needing the bye week to learn a new playbook. Yep, I must have missed that part.
Game vs Arizona exiled to the most forgettable timeslot in the conference : 130pm on pac12net
At least it’s not a morning game. Ugh.
After listening to Chevs small value bleating in the last presser , along with the redundant game results afterwards I have to believe HCKD is complicit if not the originator of the develop the young players now with nothing more than fundamentals at the cost of the entire season. Maybe they thought they could get away with that and still win some games.
Unless you got a guy like Lamar Jackson you absolutely have to have a passing game these days to win at least against evenly matched competitors. Speaking of Lamar and the passing game, if anyone watched the donkies yesterday they saw a running QB turn them into kibbles and bits by passing against the dinkie donkie’s vaunted secondary . No way Blew is going to turn into Aaron Rodgers in 2 weeks but he does fit the Jackson mold a little bit so do what everyone else posting in here has said and give him more play action, roll outs, read options or whatever it takes. Carter is supposed to have that kind of leg athleticism too. In other words, coaches, shut the eff up and do what even you say is necessary…..and yes….of we dont see at least an attempt at something new next game chev as to either go or be given mundane duties until the end of the season where he will be replaced. Man I hope the coaches arent saying to themselves….geeez…its just Arizona meaning we can still keep with the current plan and win.
I have watched enough football to notice the running game on over 90% of the teams and 90% of the time doesn’t accomplish squat. Each play is usually a gain of zero to 3 yards. Sure once in a while you will break a big on but the running game these days is just a token effort to keep more guys in the box to help the passing game which is what really wins a game for you.
Going back to the Broncos, another deficiency of theirs was protecting the QB. The Ravens pass rush was another thing that won the game. I have said for a long time I was worried about the Buff’s D line. We got a bunch of big ol boys (thanks Mel) but how many of them can move those ponderous bodies well enough? Hopefully Mustafa will not only help out with his own abilities but motivate by example to get some of the other barges to pitch in.
Sorry. I am done listening to my self. Have a little patience with a desperate and frustrated Buff fan.
To be fair to the donkeys, they were missing their two starting guards. Which is basically how the CU season has gone as well: except the guards are there they’re just missing blocks!
The difference between Lamar and Lewis is that Lamar will throw the f&$&ing ball down the f$$%cking field. Lewis won’t throw anything.
Denver got burned because the Ravens would throw deep on play action when safety was in the box and would run effectively when he wasn’t. Cu can’t their effectively in any situation and can’t run effectively consistently so… Yah.
Not sure there are applicable lessons from that game…
I got one lesson. You cannot compare a Heisman trophy winning QB to any QB at CU, ever. Possibly with the exception of Kordell. Possibly. So, there’s that.
Go Buffs
Koy when healthy was VERY GOOD….Detmer boys could spin it.
Get over it! This isn’t ballroom dancing or a dog show. If the inadvertent pushing away of a camera about to be in your face after an embarrassing loss offends you, find another hobby. Grow orchids, raise cats, build a bird feeder, enjoy the cooking channel, but stay away from competitive, physical sport.
along with that when do you quit being a photo journalist and start being paparazzi
“Maybe this is a one-two machine now,” Dorrell said
Let do that and start with the OC coach.
Sounds about right..
Buff
So I was perusing ESPN’s next weekends college game to see which ones I might want to watch.
Interesting
The CU-Arizona game was not on the list. Nowhere to be found. Sheesh.
Buffs.
Note: Well I am sure the Pac-12 will pick them up regardless at some time cause they only have one game on their channel I can see.
Note 2: Here we go Buffaloes Here we go
Of course, if you were looking for UCLA at Arizona, you would find that it is on ESPN (8:30 p.m., MT).
Pssst … CU has a bye next weekend.
no wonder.
Guess I am lucky they are not playing
Wife’s birthday
too much wine
see ya
Lol! Classic!
Yupt Tatonka, that is me.
A real classic by some definition
Buffs
Note: Hope yur doing good
And people think HCKD doesn’t care. A rare moment of him letting his frustrations out.
Yo Stuart,
I certainly hope that CU has their legal team looking at Dorrell’s contract already. If he’s not fired for cause for assaulting a journalist, then I give up on Colorado football. Football LEGENDS Woody Hayes and Frank Kush were both fired after an in-game assault(Hayes) and an accusation of an assault (Kush).
Kush was later exonerated and the Arizona State Stadium turf is now Frank Kush Field. Closer to home, former CU defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt was fired as head coach at South Florida after a player accused Leavitt of striking him. Leavitt denied striking the player and later was awarded $2.75 million for his dismissal. That accusation was one of the primary reasons that Leavitt was not considered for the CU head coaching job after Mike MacIntyre was fired.
Like Karl Dorrell, Jim Leavitt’s family still resides in Boulder County even though he coaches now at SMU.
The University of Colorado needs to stand by their morals and fire Karl Dorrell for cause. The first domino has fallen, and if CU does not respond correctly, things are going to get very bad. As a former journalist and a CU alum, I refuse to accept this behavior from the highest paid state employee. We would not accept it from the players, and we should NOT accept it from the coach.
I would rather that CU drop football altogether than to let Dorrell off the hook for this. Let’s see if Rick George and Administration have the guts to do the right thing. Believe me, the media are watching.
Mark / Boulderdevil
As a legal matter, I doubt that this would stand up under a dismissal for cause.
As a practical matter, who would you have step in as the interim coach? The defensive coordinator, whose defense has given up 30+ points in each of the past three games? Or the offensive coordinator, who … never mind.
I think that would depend on the way the contract is written. Dorrell is not a typical employee. He is the face of the university to national sports media. His standard of conduct expectations are extremely elevated, as they should be for someone in his position.
How can the university and the Boulder community accept this kind of behavior? How can CU expect to enforce any type of moral authority over any students, be they football players or not, if they don’t hold authority figures to a higher standard or even the same standard?
It’s a continuation of the decline of community standards of acceptable behavior if the university does nothing. How many times does it have to happen? Where do we finally draw the line?
As you know, I was disappointed with the trajectory of the program. That’s my right to be frustrated. However, my rights do not extend to physically imposing my frustrations on other people.
It’s a line that cannot be crossed without peril.
Mark
You’ve lost your mind Mr. Boulderdevil. Enjoy your Buffalo free Saturdays in the Fall.
I honestly can’t tell if this argument is a joke and just a way to fire HCKD for being bad at football, or if you’re actually serious
So, as a so called “former journalist”, there’s zero bias in the argument, right? “Decline of community standards”? Really? Lighten up Francis.
Emotional knee jerk reactions typically don’t end up going too well. While sharing the
frustrations of this season, the rest of the over-the-top screed is just silly.
Yur into a drift.
Go get drunk
Come back drunk
Buffs
one of the photo-“journalists” favorite thing these days is zeroing in on a coach after his team has had a bad play or in this case losing a bad game. Even though I find it distasteful its certainly not illegal. Its fine if you keep your distance…the cameras these days can catch a cussword all the way across the field….but …when you get close enough with the cam in an obvious negative situation for the subject to stick his arm out thats taunting in my book.
To compare it with Woody Hayes outright uncontrolled attack on a player is BS.
No its not a good look but to fire him for that is a complete over reaction.
The tape that I saw did NOT show HCKD push the journalist or his camera. He put is hand out basically saying not now. He is MORE frustrated about our team’s current situation than us fans. It was just a reflex reaction in the heat of the moment. Cut him some slack. He has issued a statement and called the journalist the next day to apologize. Enough said, enough done.