Colorado Daily – Cal Week

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Colorado Daily – Cal Week

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October 15th – Game Day!

… CU in a few minutes … 

Drew Litton gets it! (again)

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Buffs hoping for a fresh start: “Everybody’s seen a different energy”

From the Daily Camera … Going into Saturday’s game the Buffs are banking on renewed energy and the element of surprise to put a stop the negative momentum.

After a bye and nearly two full weeks of practice under the direction of interim head coach Mike Sanford, CU is eager to hit the reset button. Sanford is one of five interim coaches around the country and the others are 6-3, including 4-0 last week.

“There’s an evolution, there’s a process that you need to put in place as an interim head coach,” Sanford said. “Whether it be a new voice; whether it be changes that were made; whether, as an interim head coach, you put play callers in their correct seats and make the changes. I think all of it can lead to positive growth. But the thing that we can’t ever forget is there is an emotional toll on student-athletes with regards to change and that’s never gonna change.”

There was an emotional toll on the Buffs through the 0-5 start, as well. While many players have expressed that they like Dorrell, there has been, without question, a different mindset in the locker room the past two weeks.

“Everybody’s seen a different energy,” tight end Erik Olsen said. “I think the most important part about that energy is I think people are enjoying practice a whole hell of a lot more than they used to be. And if you’re having fun at practice and you want to come to practice, you’re gonna practice better and that’s gonna translate to game day.

“I think that energy is not necessarily just all within the juice, but it’s also within the individual wanting to be there now versus just a mundane practice that was too long for what it needed to be and not a lot of energy was there. (Before the change) everybody sort of was there just to be there, not trying to get better.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 14th

… CU in a few minutes …

Prepping for the Whiteout against Cal

From CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado football team will host Cal for Family Weekend on Saturday, October 15 at 12 p.m. at Folsom Field.

Note that gates will open at 10 a.m. and fans are encouraged to enter the stadium at the one hour mark before kickoff to avoid missing any pregame festivities, including Ralphie’s Run, and kickoff.

TO KNOW AND DO AHEAD OF GAME DAY

BUFFS MOBILE APP—The comprehensive app from the Buffs and our partner SideArm is your one-stop shop on your device for all things CU Buffs.  This app is the best way to purchase and manage tickets and get them in your wallet for entry into Folsom Field.  On top of ticketing, the app also features our latest news, rosters, live stats, videos and much more.  Fans are encouraged to download the app before heading to the stadium and getting their tickets in their wallet ahead of time.

MOBILE TICKETING—All CU home events are completely mobile ticketed.  After purchasing tickets, you will be emailed your mobile tickets to add to your wallet or they will be available in the Buffs Mobile App.  Check out our step-by-step process to manage your mobile tickets.

TRANSFER TICKETS—Can’t make the game and want to send seats to a friend? This is easiest to do in the Buffs Mobile App by selecting the tickets tab, clicking manage tickets, clicking transfer tickets and selecting the season and game you’d like to transfer. Enter the recipients email address or mobile phone number and you’re all set. Prefer the website? Click here to learn how.

STUBHUB—Colorado Athletics is proud to partner with StubHub, the Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace of the Colorado Buffaloes. This exciting partnership with StubHub allows you more freedom in pricing, number of ticket listings and lets you reach more ticket buyers than ever before. Can’t make a game? Season ticket holders can login to their account, and under “My Tickets” select Sell on StubHub to get started.

CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS – All transactions at the ticket office, concession stands and merchandise areas will be cashless.

PARKING – Parking lots for the Cal game will open at 8 a.m.  Donor parking permits have already been mailed out, and those fans wishing to purchase on campus single game parking can do so here.

CLEAR BAG POLICY – Folsom Field has a clear bag policy in place.  Please review the website for reminders on what bags are permitted in the stadium.

PEARL STREET STAMPEDE– Don’t miss one of the best traditions in college football. Join us for the Pearl Street Stampede on Friday night, with the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, CU Spirit and Dance teams as well as Chip the Buffalo as we celebrate gameday with the team in a parade that starts at 7 p.m. in front of the courthouse on Pearl Street.

TO DO ON GAME DAY

WEAR WHITE—Fans are encouraged to wear their WHITE Buffs Gear for the Cal game.

CHIP’S KIDS CLUB AREA – The Indoor Practice Facility will be open for Chip’s Kids Club Area again this season. This indoor space opens 2 hours prior to the game closes after halftime. Will include games, inflatables and a football toss.

RALPHIE’S CORRAL – Located on Duane Field, Ralphie’s Corral is the official tailgate of the CU Alumni Association and is open to everyone.  Ralphie’s Corral will be open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and there will be cashless concessions and merchandise available.

BUFF WALK – The Buff Walk is Back!  Welcome the team to the stadium along the Buff Walk, located on the east side of Folsom Field between the stadium and Franklin Field.  Head over to the Buff Walk at about 9:30 a.m. so you don’t miss the arrival of the team.

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Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Game

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado interim head coach Mike Sanford didn’t make any big promises when he was appointed to the position on Oct. 2.

But Sanford did say he wanted to make the game fun again for the 0-5 Buffaloes, who admittedly have found that commodity in short supply thus far this year.

Of course, the best way to have fun is to collect a win, something the 0-5 Buffs (0-2 Pac-12) will attempt to do Saturday when they play host to Cal (3-2, 1-1) in a noon game at Folsom Field.

To notch that elusive first victory, Sanford’s Buffs will have to change the direction of just about every facet of their game. They will need to improve a defense that is near the bottom of the nation in points allowed (43.2 per game) and an offense that is occupying the same neighborhood in its production (13.4 points per game).

The Buffs did show some slight improvement in their last outing, registering a season-high in points in a 43-20 loss to Arizona.

But they will be facing a Cal team that rolled to a 49-31 win over that same Arizona team a week earlier before falling to Washington State, 28-9, in its last outing.

Both teams are coming off a bye week, meaning both teams have had a little extra time to address their issues.

What the Buffs must do in order to notch their first win of the season:

1. Reduce explosive plays on defense. In five games, Colorado has yielded 2,544 offensive yards on 346 offensive snaps by the opponent — and 1,059 of those yards have come on just 35 plays.

Translated, that means more than 41 percent of opponents’ yardage has come on barely 10 percent of the plays.

Those chunk plays are back-breakers. The Buffs have to figure out a way to reduce those big moments and make the Bears work to grind out long, sustained drives.

If CU can accomplish that, the Buffs can be in the game down the stretch.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 13th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU projects to be near capacity for Cal game

Tweet from Brian Howell at the Daily Camera … Tickets are available but not many. As of Thursday afternoon, Colorado has sold 48,054 tickets for Saturday’s game against California. CU projects to be around 50K (capacity is 50,183)

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CU Coaches to Recruiting Class: “If you’re committed to CU, CU is committed to you”

From the Daily Camera … Mike Sanford and the Buffs’ assistants hit the recruiting trail last week for a few days. With the program in the midst of change after firing head coach Karl Dorrell on Oct. 2, the coaches wanted to make sure to visit the players that are interested in being Buffs in the future.

“The No. 1 thing that we talk to each one of those players about is that Colorado is committed to you,” Sanford said. “The University of Colorado is in it for you. We’ve had great cooperation with (athletic director) Rick George with regards to recruiting and conversations with recruits.

“We just want to reiterate to them that there’s seven games left of football this year, that there is obviously zero quit in any one of us as coaches. That’s reflected in the type of relationships we have with them in recruiting. We’re operating business as usual. If you’re committed to Colorado, Colorado is committed to you. Let’s just keep putting our head down and moving forward towards the goal, which is to win football games and ultimately get you to sign that dotted line here at Colorado.”

… Read full story here …

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“Five Hours of Hope” Gaining Traction (and what you can do to help)

My Essay for the bye weekend, “Five Hours of Hope“, was posted last Sunday. With no CU game to write (or lament) about, I wrote about CU’s transfer policy, and how it will handcuff CU’s next head coach. Since then, the Essay has found a wider audience than just us.

A twitter account going by the moniker of “Buffaloed” (@ThomasE74697710), set out the following tweet on Monday: “We need some definitive commentary from @CUToddSaliman Phil DiStephano and @RickGeorgeCU about how this will be addressed. Thank you. https://cuatthegame.com/2022/five-hours-of-hope/

Of perhaps even greater import – at least in terms of followers on Twitter – the tweet from “Buffaloed” was retweeted by none other than Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News: “This is good – explains a hurdle facing CU that you might expect to see at Stanford or Northwestern”.

Thanks to these tweets, and thanks to the postings of the Essay at BuffStampede.com by “Buff Predictor” and at the Buffs Nation!!! Facebook page by Kate York, more Buff fans – including some Buff fans of significance to the athletic department – have been reaching out to CU to voice their concerns about the Buff coaching staff not being able to compete for transfers on a level playing field.

If you would like to keep the momentum going … 

… You can cite the link to the “Five Hours of Hope” Essay to a tweet, including @CUToddSaliman and @RickGeorgeCU in your post, or send an email with the link to OfficeOfThePresident@cu.edu, chancellor@colorado.edu, and/or Rick.George@Colorado.edu

If the next CU head coach is to have a fighting chance at success, and not just hang up a shingle for three years before they are inevitably fired, they will need to have access to transfers. There are any number of current success stories in college football (Kansas being the most obvious), with programs getting a jump start thanks to use of the Transfer Portal (NIL being a four letter word at CU is another battle for another day). Colorado, however, is one of a handful of schools which is denying itself full access to the undergraduate transfer market.

Let’s not just gripe about it … here’s a chance to do something about it!

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October 12th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Sanford announces several title changes on the coaching staff

From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado interim head coach Mike Sanford announced Wednesday several title changes on the football coaching staff.

Two staff members in quality control, Chris Reinert and Jeff Smart, have been elevated to assistant coaches.  Reinert will be the special teams coordinator and Smart will work together with Mark Smith and both will coach the linebackers (both the inside and outside positions).  Additionally, offensive line coach Kyle DeVan will add run game coordinator to his coaching duties.

“Jeff Smart is one of the great Buff linebackers but also just a tremendous mind for the game of football,” Sanford said.  “The elevation of him along with Mark Smith, those guys will work together coaching the linebackers.  We have also elevated Chris Reinert from his quality control role to being the special team’s coordinator.  Kyle DeVan has done a great job working with the offensive line and it makes sense for him to be the run game coordinator with Clay Patterson’s move to offensive coordinator.”

Sanford will continue to work with the quarterbacks and graduate assistant coach Nate Dodson, who was previously helping him with the quarterbacks, will have a heightened role there.

Previously, Sanford announced that Clay Patterson will serve as the offensive coordinator and Gerald Chatman as the defensive coordinator.

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Defensive improvements: “This is the fastest the defense has looked in three years”

From the Daily Camera … Now under the direction of new coordinator Gerald Chatman, the Buffs, coming off a bye week, have taken a new approach on defense. The motto: Simple, sound and fast.

“What we believe is that if we can find a defense that plays sound, fast and simple and flies around, they’re gonna respond,” interim head coach Mike Sanford said.

More than a week into that new approach, the difference has been noticeable.

One veteran on offense said, “This is the fastest the defense has looked in three years.”

The philosophy of the coaches going forward is to do everything possible to give the defense confidence it hasn’t had in recent weeks. At least in practice, that has shown up.

“It’s definitely way more simple than the things we’ve done in the past,” linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo said. “It’s not dumbing it down, but just making sure it makes sense to everybody across the board. Like, there really should be no confusion, especially if we stay in our (play) books. It’s really just simple.”

… Continue reading story here …

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*Video: Interim Head Coach Mike Sanford’s Weekly Press Conference*

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com … Also appearing are running back Anthony Hankerson and linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo …

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*Video: RB Deion Smith talks about the Buffs: “We’ll get to Saturday and see what happens”*

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

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Cal week preparations: “The most important thing is getting these players to believe”

From CUBuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes will provide an answer this weekend to a question that has never before been posed in program history.

Can a coaching change at midseason inject life into a program?

The Buffs (0-5 overall, 0-2 Pac-12) aim to answer in the affirmative Saturday when they play host to Cal (3-2, 1-1) in a noon game at Folsom Field.

KOA radio (850 AM, 94.1 FM) will carry the broadcast while the Pac-12 Network will televise the game.

Saturday’s game will be the Buffs’ first under the direction of interim head coach Mike Sanford, named to the position on Oct. 2. He steps into the spot after an 0-5 start under former head coach Karl Dorrell spurred CU leaders to make a change and begin the search for a new leader for the program.

But while CU conducts that search, Sanford has been charged with guiding the Buffs for their remaining seven regular season games. Along with new defensive coordinator Gerald Chatman (replacing Chris Wilson) and new O-coordinator Clay Patterson (stepping into Sanford’s old spot), the revamped staff will try to reverse CU’s fortunes.

Colorado has played under the direction of an interim coach before. Mike Hankwitz led CU in the 2005 Champ Sports Bowl (19-10 loss to Clemson), Brian Cabral guided the Buffs to a 2-1 finish down the stretch in 2010 and Kurt Roper took the reins in CU’s 2018 season finale, a 33-21 loss to Cal.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Even with four-game transfer rule, CU roster holding together

From the Daily Camera … The NCAA board of directors adopted transfer portal windows this fall. Most football players have 60 days a year to put their names into the portal, broken up into two different windows: one after the season (Dec. 5-Jan. 18) and one in spring (May 1-15).

However, players on teams that have a head coach fired during the season have an immediate 30-day window to enter the portal. For CU, that window opened up last week and closes Nov. 1st.

After Dorrell was fired, Sanford made it a point to talk to each player and find out how they’re doing. He had their well-being in mind, in part because he knows the transfer option is there.

“If you look around college football already, you’re getting some people done with game four, game five of the season,” Sanford said. “The portal is rapid. It’s players that have played four games that are already kind of looking into, ‘I’ve used my four games, I have a redshirt year, I’m going to go in the portal.’

“We got ahead of that (with CU’s players). We talked about it, we spoke specifically about where you particularly stand and I was very candid, they were very candid, and I felt really good about just the entire team’s willingness and desire to stay here. We all know that this world is rapidly changing, and that’s subject to change, but I thought that that was another message that was really good.”

… Read full story here …

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Kickoff time set for CU at Oregon State

From CUBuffs.com …

The October 22 Colorado at Oregon State football game will kickoff at 5 p.m. PDT (6 p.m. MDT) and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

The day’s selections:

1:30pm MT – UCLA at Oregon (FOX or FS1)
2:00pm MT – Arizona State at Stanford (Pac-12 Network)
6:00pm MT / 6:00pm MT – Colorado at Oregon State  (Pac-12 Network)
8:30pm MT – Washington at Cal (ESPN)

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Sanford: “Schematically we’ve gone back to the drawing board on both sides of the ball”

From the Daily Camera … Without Dorrell and Wilson, it’s possible the Buffs will have some differences in personnel and/or scheme, as well, but Sanford said the main changes are about leadership.

Tight ends coach Clay Patterson is now the offensive coordinator. Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman is now the defensive coordinator. And, CU has promoted two staff members to on-field coaching positions: Jeff Smart (defense) and Chris Reinert (special teams coordinator).

“Putting people in the correct seats of leadership, putting the players in the right positions,” Sanford said of the main changes. “Just talking to players about what particular position they feel most comfortable with and those are ongoing decisions that we’re going to be making.

“We want to put the players in the best position, but also want to put the coaches in the best place so that they can further enhance the development of this roster.”

Although some big changes were made last week, Sanford said the development and tweaks will take time.

“The thing that I’ve learned, particularly with the abruptness of this opportunity, is you can’t make every single change in one day,” he said. “If you change everything day one then it’s tough to be able to deal with it. Players are resilient, but to a point, and I don’t think that we need to make any massive wholesale changes at this point, other than just putting people in the right chairs, and then schematically we’ve gone back to the drawing board on both sides of the ball.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rooney: Mike Sanford won the bye week – next step more difficult

From the Daily Camera … Amid the ruins of the Karl Dorrell era, winning the room was easy. Now comes the hard part for Mike Sanford and the reshuffled deck of Colorado’s football staff.

The bye week following Dorrell’s firing — his final straw falling after last week’s 43-20 loss at Arizona, dropping the Buffs to 0-5 and 4-15 in Dorrell’s past 19 games — offered a chance for the Buffs to regroup. And in just a few short days, the change in attitude was palpable.

There was Sanford, hired 10 months ago as CU’s offensive coordinator after being let go by Minnesota, gushing with enthusiasm in a team hype video. There were more smiles and humor in one press conference from Sanford and company than Buffs fans have witnessed in years.

Changing the mood, though, simply required Sanford to show up. I was never as turned off by Dorrell’s stoic demeanor as CU fans. But when that stoicism fails to inspire, when the most emotion you show in two-plus seasons is a postgame shove of a television camera and, most importantly, when you don’t win, quiet leadership becomes largely indistinguishable from no leadership.

In a few short days, Sanford has proven to be the anti-Dorrell. His practice energy, at least per team-run social media accounts, is that of a man burning more calories in one team workout than his predecessor did in years. Sanford’s answers to the media — and likewise for CU’s new interim coordinators, Clay Patterson (offense) and Gerald Chatman (defense) — were engaging and heartfelt. Focusing on the players, many of whom have endured the upheaval of regime change more than once, is a selfless proposition.

Will it translate to the field? It’s doubtful the Buffs suddenly will become a force over the final seven games of the season. But really, can it be any worse? Maybe lightening the atmosphere will at least allow the Buffs to play more loosely. There is nowhere to go but up for a team boasting one of the nation’s worst defenses to complement one of the nation’s worst offenses.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Interim defensive coordinator Gerald Chatman: “We have to change our traits”

From the Daily Camera … Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is one of many people to reach out to Colorado’s Gerald Chatman this week as he takes on a daunting challenge.

A year ago, Chatman was working for Orgeron as a defensive analyst at LSU. Now, as of Sunday, he’s running the Buffs’ defense.

“When I woke up (Sunday), I was motivated and energized as I usually am to do what I was called to do, which was coach the D-line,” Chatman said. “I was called to do something else that day and I instantly accepted the calling and the challenge and got right to work.”

In his 13 years as a coach, Chatman has never been a coordinator, so he’s soaking up the advice of Orgeron and others as he embarks on a new journey. Chatman, however, is mainly leaning on his fellow coaches at CU and relying on his own experience to carry him through.

“When the opportunity came up, I hit the ground running,” he said. “All my focus has been on the defensive staff to start, to make sure that we’re all led the same way and that we’re all on the same page and we have an understanding. We have an open dialogue to be able to discuss everything and vet everything out before we go to the players. That’s what we’ve been doing the last couple of days.”

… “We have to change our traits first,” he said. “How we look, how we take the field, our energy, our sense of urgency. Overall, what you see besides the scheme and being sound, we have to change our traits and we’ve been talking to the entire team about that.

“An outside eye could look and they ask the question, ‘Do these guys believe?’ I think that what we need to change and what we’re going to change is to the outside eye, you’re not going to have to ask that question. You’re going to look at the team and say that they believe. … I’m gonna give them everything I’ve got and give them my heart, and the coaches are gonna do the same thing.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 7th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU holding onto Recruiting Class, at least for now

From the San Jose Mercury News … The big news this week was the firing of Colorado coach Karl Dorrell, and it will be interesting to see how CU’s 2022-23 recruiting class shakes out with the change. The outcome depends partly on which coaches are retained.

The players who have already committed are pretty optimistic. Right now, the Buffaloes have the seventh-ranked class in the Pac-12 with 17 total commitments — all of them three-star prospects.

And crucially, nobody had de-committed yet. If you’re a CU fan, that’s encouraging.

*** But there are a few players the Buffaloes have to hold onto tightly.

One of them is Brady Nassar, a three-star edge from Pleasanton, Cal. He has committed to play for the Buffs, but Oregon State was one of his finalists, and Cal is trying to convince him to stay in the Bay Area.

Nassar can play defensive end and tight end. 247Sports has him rated as an edge rusher. Cal offered him a scholarship as a tight end. Oregon State is recruiting him as an edge.

*** The Buffaloes have a number of committed players from the Big 12 and SEC country, including three-star linebacker CJ Turner from Arkansas and three-star safety Adrian Wilson from Texas.

Those prospects have maintained they’re committed to the program despite the coaching change, but it’s a nervous time for Colorado to see if the staff can hold onto the class.

And with so many of the program’s commitments from Texas — seven of the 17, to be exact — it will be interesting to see if the new head coach maintains those ties and continues to recruit the Lone Star State.

The Buffaloes actually have a decent class that’s just outside the top half of the Pac-12, even with all talk of Dorrell being on the hot seat before the season started.

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs in the NFL: Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal a highlight

From CUBuffs.com … Week four in the NFL season meant Buffalo alumni hitting the field for an exciting week of football. Mason Crosby came up clutch on Sunday, kicking a game winning field goal in overtime to lead the Packers to victory over the New England Patriots. Josh Topou got his first sack of the season as the Bengals were able to beat the Dolphins under the lights Thursday night.

Here is what happened with all other Buffs across the NFL:

•    Chidobe Awuzie: Played in every defensive snap on Sunday, and added four unassisted tackles as the Bengals beat the Dolphins 27-15 during primetime on Thursday night.
•    David Bakhtiari: Started in his second game of the season and was in peak form, playing in 96% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps as the packers won in an overtime thriller 27-24 against the New England Patriots.
•    Mason Crosby: Crosby is still clutch in his 16th NFL season, making both of his field goal attempts, including the game winning 31 yard kick in overtime to beat the Patriots 27-24 in front of a home crowd at Lambeau Field.
•    Nate Landman: Nate Landman continues to play solid special teams for the Falcons, seeing the field for 13 plays as Atlanta beat the Cleveland Browns 23-20.
•    Laviska Shenault: Saw four plays offensively before having to leave the game due to a hamstring injury, status is currently questionable to play in week five.
•    Josh Topou: Topou started against the Dolphins and got his first sack of the season, as well as three unassisted tackles to help Cincinnati beat Miami on Thursday Night.

Isaiah Oliver (Falcons) and Ahkello Witherspoon (Steelers) did not play in week four due to injury.

Arlington Hambright (Colts), Phillip Lindsey (Colts), Will Sherman (Broncos), Davion Taylor (Eagles), and Juwann Winfree (Packers) are all on their team’s practice squads.

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October 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Interim offensive coordinator Clay Patterson: “We want these kids to have fun playing football again”

From the Daily Camera … Growing up in Oklahoma, Clay Patterson had visions of what he could do if he was running an offense for the college football teams he watched.

Now, he is running an offense for one of those teams, as he was elevated to the coordinator role at Colorado earlier this week.

“My dream was to be a Big 12 offensive coordinator at Colorado or (Oklahoma), and I wanted to run the wishbone,” he said. “So we’ll see you guys next Saturday!”

… Patterson won’t be running the wishbone and the Buffs aren’t likely to match the 656.1 yards per game that Trinity Valley posted in 2015. Patterson, however, hopes to restore some confidence and production in a group that has struggled mightily.

The Buffs are 128th nationally in scoring (13.4 points per game) and 124th in yards per game (277.0). They scored a season-high in points during Saturday’s 43-20 loss at Arizona.

“I told my guys today, I’ve never called an offense and been a part of an offense that we didn’t talk about three things and that’s effort, attitude and toughness,” Patterson said. “The situation we’re in offensively is we have to have all our kids step up and make plays.

“We’re gonna run our offense; this is our offense.”

It hasn’t been a good offense to this point, but Patterson thinks that can change.

“Football sometimes becomes not fun,” he said. “We want these kids to have fun playing football again. These guys have been through a lot of stuff, man. … Our job as coaches is to make sure these guys have fun and enjoy this experience. If they’ll do that and they’ll find some joy in playing football again, then I think that you’ll see good results from them. But we have to empower these young kids to go out and feel like they can make plays.”

… Continue reading story here …

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CU coaches hit the road, still recruiting the Class of ’23

From the Daily Camera … In addition to focusing on the current players, Sanford knows the importance of recruiting. It’s possible Sanford and the rest of the staff are let go after the season, but he’ll still continue to do what he can for CU.

“If we’re stagnant on (recruiting), that’s going to actually set back our program,” Sanford said. “I want to do anything from my perspective that I can over the course of these next eight weeks, in addition to helping these players, to help this program move forward.”

While Sanford focuses on leading the Buffs, his bosses – athletic director Rick George, chancellor Phil DiStefano and president Todd Saliman – will evaluate candidates and figure how who will become the full-time coach.

Put together a highly successful eight weeks and Sanford could put himself in the running for the job – not that he’s worried about it at this point.

“I think it would be important for me to be an asset for them in this endeavor for these next couple of months, and then see where the chips fall,” Sanford said.

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October 5th 

... CU in a few minutes … 

You just have to laugh: SEC Shorts includes CU

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Energy and accountability watch words as Buffs resume practices

From CUBuffs.com … New Colorado football coach Mike Sanford certainly doesn’t have a blueprint for operating as an interim coach for seven games.

Fact is, one doesn’t exist. The Buffaloes’ situation is a rarity. Coaching changes usually happen near the end of a season — not with more than half the schedule remaining.

But Sanford, named CU’s interim boss after Sunday’s dismissal of Karl Dorrell, is approaching the scenario with a sense of urgency and an air of renewed energy, an atmosphere he believes CU’s players will embrace.

“The theme of the day was energy,” Sanford said after his first practice as CU’s head coach. “Just going out and finding a whole bunch of fun in the game of football, and I think the players responded tremendously well … Energy at practice doesn’t guarantee you anything, but it gives you a chance.”

At this point, a chance is all CU’s players want — especially those who have been in the program for a few years.

For a handful of Buffs, Sanford will be the fifth head coach (counting interim appointees) they have experienced in their time in Boulder.

As transfer offensive lineman Tommy Brown said Tuesday, “It’s new to me, but for some of my teammates, this is ‘same old, same old.'”

Now, it is Sanford’s job to try to create something resembling stability over the last seven games of the season — and maybe pick up a few wins along the way.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Punter Ashton Logan no longer with team

From the Daily Camera … True freshman punter Ashton Logan was dismissed from the program last week by Dorrell for violating team rules.

During the first three games, Logan averaged 40.6 yards on 17 punts, with a net average of 34.4. He then missed the fourth game with an illness. True freshman walk-on Trent Carrizosa has punted the last two games, averaging 45.8 yards on 10 punts, with a 43.2 net average.

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*Video: HC Mike Sanford; DC Gerald Chatman; OC Clay Patterson*

Interim head coach Mike Sanford: “Very pleased with the first day, but it was just the first day” … Spent 12 hours on Sunday meeting individually with every player … Every meeting started with: “How are you doing?” … Talked with players about the Transfer Portal (players can play up to four games without burning their redshirt year), but no mention of any specific players who have indicated they won’t play the rest of the season … “You can’t make every single change in one day. There have already been significant changes in these players’ lives, so we can’t make wholesale changes at this point” … “It’s about the players (and not about me and my future)” …

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Mike Sanford: “I’m confident that we have the talent and the will to win the games down the stretch”

From the Daily Camera … Sunday wasn’t the ideal day at the office for Colorado’s Mike Sanford.

Hired less than 10 months ago as the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator, Sanford found himself in a new role – replacing the man who hired him.

On Sunday, CU athletic director Rick George made the decision to fire head football coach Karl Dorrell, while naming Sanford as the interim head coach.

“First off, it’s been a challenging day, a difficult day for many of us coaches and players in this program,” Sanford said. “Coach Dorrell is the ultimate professional, a man of integrity, a man of incredible wisdom. I’m very grateful to him.”

With CU struggling under Dorrell’s leadership, however, it was time to make a change and George tabbed Sanford to guide the Buffs (0-5, 0-2 Pac-12) through the remainder of the season.

“We have seven games remaining on our schedule, and I’m confident that we have the talent and the will to win the games down the stretch,” George said. “I have full confidence in Mike to lead this football program. Mike has had a lot of success in his coaching career and he’s an incredible motivator. I’m excited to see Mike in this role and think he will bring the team the energy that we need.”

While the Sanford-led offense has sputtered throughout the season, he said he’s excited about the opportunity to guide the entire team. Tight ends coach Clay Patterson will take over the offensive coordinator role. On defense, line coach Gerald Chatman will take over as coordinator in place of Chris Wilson, who was also fired Sunday.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 3rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Kickoff time set for game against California

From CUBuffs.com …

The California at Colorado football game on Saturday, Oct. 15 (part of CU’s Family Weekend) will kickoff of at 12:00 p.m. MDT and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

The full Pac-12 schedule that day:

12:00pm – Cal at Colorado (Pac-12 Network)

3:30pm – Arizona at Washington (Pac-12 Network)

5:30pm – Stanford at Notre Dame (NBC)

6:00pm – USC at Utah (FOX)

7:00pm – Washington State at Oregon State (Pac-12 Network)

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Former Buff great Jimmy Smith retires after 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens 

From YahooSports.com … Cornerback Jimmy Smith, a Baltimore Ravens lifer who was part of the team that won Super Bowl 47, announced on Monday that he’s retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons, and will sign a one-day contract so he can retire with the only team he’s ever played for.

Smith, 34, told Josina Anderson that he’s retiring because it’s time to give his body a rest.

Just spoke with #Ravens CB Jimmy Smith–retiring today after 11 seasons. Smith was in the middle of writing thank you notes to those who impacted his career when he returned my call telling me why it’s time: “My body has taken a beating. My body is happy. I’m happy. No regrets.”

Smith was the 27th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, selected by the Ravens after four standout years at Colorado. In just his second season, he helped the Ravens make it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they faced the San Francisco 49ers and their QB Colin Kaepernick. He even provided a few of the game’s major highlights, making back-to-back stops at the goal line and breaking up what would have been the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Injuries were a major part of Smith’s career. In seven of his 11 seasons, according to the Ravens website, injuries caused Smith to miss at least four games. He had a season-ending lisfranc injury in 2014, which seriously affected his play in 2015. Back injuries and a high ankle sprain kept him out of commission for five games in 2016. He tore his Achilles near the end of the 2017 season.

Injuries continued to pile up for the rest of his career, but he did make it into 10 games in 2021 despite dealing with an ankle sprain. He was a free agent at the close of the 2021 season, and was not signed before the start of the 2022 season. But as he told the team website before the end of last season, he wasn’t desperate to find work. He was happy just to spend time with his family.

“I’ve got three boys and now a girl,” Smith said near the end of last season. “With the boys, they’re old enough I can start getting them into sports. They’re getting active. I’ve got time to figure out stuff long-term. I’m in no rush to get to work or anything. I don’t have to, so that’s a blessing.

“Part of it is, ‘Do I even want to put my body through something like this again?’ So I do cherish these last games. I’m getting old. I’ve been through a lot of injuries and they start to pile up on you.”

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Tags: Mike Sanford
This post, about the California game, from the 2022 Season, is filed under Article.
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