Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Spring/Summer, 2024

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July 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

New Chancellor Justin Schwartz: “I’m a fan, but I’m also a fan of doing things the right way”

From the Daily Camera … Justin Schwartz began his tenure as CU’s new chancellor on July 1, filling the shoes of the now-retired Phil DiStefano, who held that role for 15 years. Schwartz comes to CU from Penn State University, where he spent seven years, including the last two as executive vice president and provost.

As CU’s chancellor, Schwartz will not only be involved as an academic administrator, but in athletics, as well. DiStefano was in the Pac-12 Conference’s CEO group and was heavily involved with major decisions in CU athletics during his time as chancellor and Schwartz will do the same as the Buffaloes transition to the Big 12 Conference.

“It’s a campus issue. It’s CU-Boulder athletics and I will be taking on that role wholeheartedly,” he said. “It’s too important to the campus, both in terms of it’s a significant number of students, it’s high visibility, it’s a significant financial piece. It’s important, so yes, I’ll certainly be taking that lead role in working closely with Rick.”

Schwartz is a die-hard baseball fan, particularly of his beloved Chicago Cubs, and has seen big-time college athletics up close at his previous stops. At CU, he said he’ll continue to be a supporter of athletics, and especially the student-athletes.

“I’m a fan, but I’m also a fan of doing things the right way,” he said. “I’ve never ascribed to the win-at-all-cost (mentality). There have been plenty of examples of how not to do things. One of the things I truly appreciate about Rick and the coaches that I’ve met is that there’s no space between us on that. From the coaches I’ve talked to so far, the commitment to the individual student is prime.”

… Read full story here …

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CU’s “earned media income” four times greater in Year One under Coach Prime

From Sports Illustrated … Data provided by the university from its media-monitoring service, Cision, revealed that Colorado gained approximately $343 million in “earned media” value from July 31 to November 27 during Sanders’ first season. This means Colorado made four times what they did in 2022, garnered only about $87 million in media value during the same period, when the Buffaloes finished 1-11.

This media exposure is not direct revenue but represents the advertising equivalency value of the extensive coverage received during the football season. During this time, Colorado had five of the top ten most-watched games in college football, including the College Football Playoff. Also, the increased exposure had lasting benefits for the university, including a record number of applicants for the fall 2024 semester and a 57% increase in minority applicants.

… Read full story here …

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Shedeur Sanders: “I’m not close to my ceiling at all. I’ve got a long way to go”

From the Daily Camera … Shedeur Sanders knows his game can get better. He also knows that last year was a new challenge he had to navigate.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Colorado’s star quarterback said. “But it’s just like, I honestly don’t really care about the opinions of people that haven’t really played the game. I really don’t, because it’s like you could tell me, ‘Oh your footwork is bad.’ You get out there and get sacked 50 times and you tell me how you feel. You tell me how your footwork is going to be.

“When hits start adding up, when real pressure gets applied, then some things gotta change and you’ve got to find solutions.”

Sanders was sacked a school-record 52 times last year, tied for the most in the country. Despite that, he set a single-season CU record with 3,230 passing yards and tossed 27 touchdown passes, which was one shy of the record set by Sefo Liufau in 2014. He also posted the best single-season completion percentage (69.3) in CU history and threw just three interceptions in 430 attempts.

Considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country this season and projected as top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders said he has a lot more room to grow.

“In my game, year after year after year, even (future Hall of Famer) Tom Brady would tell you that he always improved in an area,” Sanders said. “You can never be your full potential you could be like. You’re always gonna have room for improvement but I’m nowhere close to my ceiling. That’s the difference when I say me and a lot of players is I’m not close to my ceiling at all. I’ve got a long way to go.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Will CU special teams be special in 2024?

From the Daily Camera … Upon his arrival as Colorado’s head football coach in December of 2022, Deion Sanders made it a priority for the Buffaloes to be good on special teams.

CU didn’t have an elite special teams unit in 2023, but it was solid and the key players are back, which could allow the Buffs to take a step forward this year.

“When I see the special teams … I think (punter Mark Vassett) is a darned pro,” Sanders said at Big 12 media day. “And (Alejandro) Mata that don’t miss and Jace Feely and those guys that they can’t wait for their time. They understand special teams mean they’re special.”

Upon his arrival as Colorado’s head football coach in December of 2022, Deion Sanders made it a priority for the Buffaloes to be good on special teams.

CU didn’t have an elite special teams unit in 2023, but it was solid and the key players are back, which could allow the Buffs to take a step forward this year.

Leading up to preseason camp, BuffZone.com will preview each position group for the CU football team and in this installment, we look at the special teams.

“When I see the special teams … I think (punter Mark Vassett) is a darned pro,” Sanders said at Big 12 media day. “And (Alejandro) Mata that don’t miss and Jace Feely and those guys that they can’t wait for their time. They understand special teams mean they’re special.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU’s secondary: “They get out of bed and want to play man-to-man coverage” 

From the Daily Camera … During Big 12 media day in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Colorado’s Shedeur and Shilo Sanders were asked what makes Travis Hunter special.

Going into their third season of playing with Hunter, the Sanders brothers have seen a lot of what Hunter can do.

“Turn on the film,” Shedeur said. “You see what he does. I mean, it’s nothing I can even say. There’s nothing I can say. Everything that you see is basically who he is.”

Leading up to preseason camp, BuffZone.com will preview each position group for the CU football team and in this installment, we look at the defensive backs.

The CU secondary is led by Hunter, an elite talent who is one of the best players on offense and defense in the country. In addition to his 57 catches for 721 yards on offense last year, Hunter posted 31 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups on defense and he impresses his teammates with his football IQ.

“Football is a really mental game,” Shilo, a starting safety for the Buffs, said when asked about Hunter. “There’s not really much physical difference between 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), so it comes down to decision making. Some guys have great decision making instincts and that’s what separates them.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

No one worried about CU’s wide receiver depth: “We have a plethora of receivers”

From the Daily Camera … Between Jimmy Horn Jr., Travis Hunter and Xavier Weaver, Colorado had a stellar trio at the top of its receiving corps last year.

Although Weaver is now in the NFL, CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders lights up when talking about the weapons he has to work with this year, knowing it might be an even better group than he had a year ago.

“We got a lot of guys,” Sanders said. “So, that ball’s gotta get spread around.”

A year ago, Horn, Hunter and Weaver each caught at least 57 passes — the first time in CU history that three players caught at least 50 in the same season.

Horn, who had 58 catches for 567 yards and a team-high six touchdown catches, is back for more. Hunter, who also stars at cornerback, caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns last year, despite missing three games.

To replace Weaver, the Buffs added two of the top receivers in the transfer portal.

Senior LaJohntay Wester was second in the country last year with 108 catches for Florida Atlantic, while also racking up 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns (in addition to starring as a punt returner). Another senior, Will Sheppard, led Vanderbilt with 47 catches for 684 yards and eight touchdowns.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU’s Inside linebackers: Two starters back, but has the unit improved?

From the Daily Camera … During Big 12 media day on July 10 in Las Vegas, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders threw out an intriguing name when talking about senior linebacker Trevor Woods.

“The change made from safety to linebacker with Trevor, I really think this young man is going to be the next Brian Urlacher,” Sanders said.

Urlacher was a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker with the Chicago Bears from 2000-12 and an All-American at New Mexico in 1999. Woods isn’t on that level — yet — but putting him in the same category as Urlacher may not be a stretch.

Before Urlacher was an eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Bears, he was a safety. In fact, going into his senior year at New Mexico, several publications had him as a preseason All-American at safety. And that year, he was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in the country.

Woods, who will be a senior this season with the Buffs, was exclusively a safety in his first two seasons at CU. He started the first five games of the 2023 season at safety, too, before CU shifted him to linebacker in the second half of the year.

Listed as 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Woods is a bit small for a linebacker (Bentley, for example, is 235 pounds), so he had mixed results after the switch. But, he also didn’t practice at linebacker. He said he practiced at safety and then played linebacker in games.

This offseason, tough, Woods has been with the linebackers, and Sanders sees tremendous potential.

“I think he’s going to make the transition from safety to linebacker and be dominant,” Sanders said.

Whether it’s Woods or someone else, CU could use some dominant play in the middle of the defense next to Bentley.

Bentley, who began his career at Clemson, was a full-time starter in college for the first time last year. He led the Buffs in tackles (69), while tying for the team lead in sacks (five) and finishing second in tackles for loss (11). He also led the Buffs in QB hurries, with five.

Inside linebacker was a revolving door last year, however. Including Bentley, CU tried five different players in the starting lineup at inside linebacker during the first half of the season. Inconsistent play from the group led to the Buffs moving Woods up from safety, where he had proven to have a knack for big plays.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 21st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU running backs untested, but talented: “All those backs are good, man”

From the Daily Camera … With Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, the Colorado offense was explosive at times in 2023.

The offense wasn’t consistent enough, however, with the lack of a run game playing a major role.

Coming into this season, Sanders is back and he has a deep core of receivers to throw to once again. But, it is the unheralded backfield that could make the difference as CU returns to the Big 12 Conference.

“All those backs are good, man,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said last week.

Coach Prime said the same about the group in 2023, but that talent at running back didn’t translate to production on the field. CU had the worst rushing offense in the country, with 68.9 yards per game.

Almost the entire group from last year is gone, via the transfer portal or graduation. There’s a new crop of running backs this year and the Buffs expect to be better on the ground because of not only the talent, but the commitment to the run game and the ability of the revamped offensive line to open holes.

“We’ve got to be able to run the football,” Coach Prime said. “We’ve got to do some things that keeps us where we want to be.”

… CU’s group doesn’t have the star power that others in the Big 12 have at running back.

Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks, UCF’s RJ Harvey and Peny Boone, Kansas’ Devin Neal, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens and Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner all topped the 1,000-yard mark last year. Arizona’s Quali Conley has rushed for 1,934 yards the last two years at other schools and six other schools bring back experienced starters.

The Buffs might have the most unknown group in the Big 12, but it’s a group that Shedeur is excited about.

“You’ve got some young guys that can tote the ball,” he said. “You got older guys that’s able to really run through holes and that played on big stages. So, you’re getting a lot of players that have already experienced big lights and understand what it’s gonna be like and what winning feels like and understands that. So, you’re set up for success.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 20th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Will BJ Green and other imports give CU a solid defensive line? 

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are widely viewed as potential top-10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but head coach Deion Sanders wants more.

“We want four in the first round,” he said at Big12 media day recently. “The only way that’s going to happen is that we win and we’re dominant. I think BJ Green could be one of those guys, and I think he will be one of those guys because he wants it that much.”

An area of emphasis for Sanders and his staff this offseason has been to upgrade the defensive line, and adding Green could be a key to the Buffs having a more formidable front.

Of the 16 scholarship players in the defensive line/edge group, 11 have joined the Buffs this offseason as transfers, and it’s a group that could be led by Green, a 6-foot-1, 270-pounder who played the previous three years at Arizona State.

“BJ Green is already a leader,” Sanders said. “Do you know that BJ Green played for me when he was five through seven years with TRUTH in south Dallas? He’s been a part of my life for a long time. They raised him right at Arizona State. For him to come over now, it’s phenomenal. His work ethic, the way he approaches and attacks the game is phenomenal. His want. His desire. His will.”

Last year, CU gave up 176.4 rushing yards per game (110th nationally) and 73 runs of 10 yards or more (112th). The Buffs did produce 27 sacks, which was a significant jump from 2022 (nation-worst nine), but that still ranked just 63rd nationally. The talent is there to make those numbers better in 2024.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 18th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Shedeur on offensive line: “You got guys that’s not gonna accept being mediocre”

From the Daily Camera … Players who accounted for 53 of the 60 starts up front last year are no longer with the team. One graduated, but most of them transferred.

For some teams, the lack of returning experience could be a concern, but for the Buffs there was no question that an upgrade needed to be made up front. CU gave up a school-record 56 sacks, and the Buffs were last in the country in rushing offense. No quarterback in the country was sacked more than Shedeur Sanders (52 times).

Head coach Deion Sanders made it clear last season that the Buffs would be utilizing the transfer portal to fix the offensive line, and he certainly did that.

CU added nine transfers, in addition to signing the No. 1 offensive line recruit in the 2024 class, Jordan Seaton. Of the nine transfers, five were full-time starters at the FBS level last year. In all, the transfer group has a combined 96 career starts at the FBS level and 11 more at the FCS level.

It is a group that has bonded well with Shedeur Sanders this offseason, and there is confidence in that group that they are better than what CU had a year ago.

“You’ve got leaders on there,” Shedeur said. “You got guys that’s not gonna accept being mediocre.”

The best of the new bunch might be Justin Mayers, a 24-game starter at UTEP the past two years. He was All-Conference USA honorable mention twice for the Miners.

The group also includes Kahlil Benson, who allowed one sack in 12 starts with Indiana last year; and Tyler Johnson, who started 22 games for Houston in the past two years, allowing a total of two sacks.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime excited about new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston: “He’s going to be a head coach”

From the Daily Camera … Deion Sanders has yet to go through a season with Robert Livingston, and he hasn’t had a full season with Pat Shurmur calling plays.

Colorado’s head coach is bullish about the Buffaloes’ coordinators, though.

Livingston, hired last winter to coordinate the defense, is preparing for his first season with the Buffaloes. Shurmur is preparing for his second, but first as the offensive coordinator.

Last week at Big 12 media day in Las Vegas, Sanders was asked what went into hiring Livingston, who spent the previous 12 seasons with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

“Oh my God, just the opportunity,” Sanders said. “We needed a defensive coordinator. I’m a pro. That’s nothing against the college coaches, because we have some phenomenal college coaches, especially in this conference, but I’m a pro. So I like the relationships and the thought process of a pro, and coach Livingston was recommended to me by a few pros that I’m well familiar with and I trust, Mike Zimmer being one of them.”

Zimmer, recently hired by Dallas Cowboys as their defensive coordinator, was Sanders’ position coach with the Cowboys in the 1990s and they’ve had a close relationship ever since. Zimmer was working with the Bengals when he hired Livingston.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 16th

… CU in few minutes … 

Punter Mark Vassett: “This year, I’m not going to be punting as much as I did last year”

From the Daily Camera … Punter Mark Vassett, who is from Melbourne, Australia, hopes to be a big part of the success of the Buffs this season, as they make the move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. But, he also hopes to be on the field less often than he was last year, when CU went 4-8 (1-8 Pac-12).

After playing two seasons at Louisville, Vassett transferred to CU last year. He wound up earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors from the Associated Press after averaging 44.4 yards per punt and landing 22 of his 65 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Six of those landed inside the 5-yard line.

It was a good year, but Vassett hopes to be better this year.

“Oh, 100%, I can always improve,” he said. “I mean, I want to be a more consistent spiral punter and eliminate those mis-hits.”

He added: “This year, I’m not going to be punting as much as I did last year, so that’ll also help.”

Only nine punters in the country were utilized more than Vassett last year, which isn’t good. When he’s playing a lot, that means the offense isn’t scoring often enough. But Vassett is confident that quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the offense will give him more work at his other job: as the holder for field goals and extra points.

When he does punt, though, Vassett is hoping to have his best season as he continues to progress.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 15th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Shedeur: “I’m able to listen to coach (Shurmur) and get wisdom from him because he coached the best”

From the Daily Camera … Throughout his college career, Shedeur has worked with several different offensive coordinators and he’ll work with another this year as Pat Shurmur takes over the job full-time.

Shurmur was an analyst for CU last year before taking over play-calling duties during the last four games, but this is his first year in the OC role. The Shurmur-Shedeur partnership is one that has worked well so far.

“I feel like he sat back and he watched (last year), basically,”  Shedeur said. “I think he kind of sat back and learned how I am and not really like the traditional way. I’m not, like, a big try-hard type of guy. What try-hard means for those who don’t know is just try to appease the coaches just by any way. It’s just weird. Try-hard stuff is just weird.

“I’ve played a lot of football, so I know what it takes, I know how to do it, and I’m able to listen to coach (Shurmur) and get wisdom from him because he coached the best.”

… Read full story here …

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Shilo Sanders on he and Shedeur in the NFL: “We’ll probably be on the same team again in the future”

From the Daily Camera … Considering they’ve been together on the football field for so many years, there could be some sentimental feelings for the Sanders brothers coming into this year.

After all, this could be the last year that the two Colorado stars play together, as Shedeur Sanders, the starting quarterback, and Shilo Sanders, a starting safety, are both in their final seasons of college football.

Next year, both expect to be the NFL and they won’t be able to choose where they play, but neither one is feeling sentimental.

“Who knows? We may be on the same team next year,” Shedeur said during Big 12 media day in Las Vegas. “We’re just living life.”

Shilo added: “We’ll probably be on the same team again in the future.”

Even if the two brothers aren’t concerned about this being the last year they play together, this is likely the last year they’ll have their father as their coach. Coach Prime has said numerous times he doesn’t want to coach in the NFL.

Still, Shilo joked that he’s been down this road before.

“I was excited in high school when I thought that was our last time playing together because he’s my dad and he’s been coaching me forever,” Shilo said. “So I was excited for high school. Then he started coaching college. Then he started coaching me in college. … And then after that we came here. So I don’t know when it’s gonna end.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 14th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Shedeur Sanders: “I’m not close to my ceiling at all. I’ve got a long way to go”

From the Daily Camera … For this season, as the Buffs move to the Big 12 Conference, Big 12 media has picked CU to finish 11th place and the sportsbooks have set CU’s over/under for wins at 5.5. Having a healthy and more experienced Shedeur Sanders, however, is a big reason why the Buffs are confident they can exceed those expectations and find the winning touch again.

A year ago, Shedeur was sacked 52 times – the most in CU history and tied for the most in the country. He took such a beating that a fracture in his back caused him to miss the last game and a half. He didn’t miss a game during high school or his first two seasons in college.

Shedeur went 48-5 as a four-year starter in high school, and then 23-3 in two seasons at Jackson State. Enduring the struggles of last year was new for Shedeur, but he’s proud of how he handled it.

He still put up exceptional numbers, including 27 touchdown passes and school records for passing yards (3,230) and completion percentage (69.3%). And, he didn’t lose hope as a leader.

“When everything falls down, what type of person are you? What’s your principles? What are you grounded off?” Shedeur said. “Are you one to point the finger? Are you one to just say, ‘OK, what can I do better?’”

“I knew who I was. I don’t ever change. In any situation, I’ll never forget who I am, so it only just reminded me of who I was and it brought that guy out.”

As with most players, Shedeur saw things in his own game that could improve going forward and he’s worked on those aspects of the game.

“There’s always room for improvement,” he said. “Even (future Hall of Famer) Tom Brady would tell you that he always improved in an area. … I’m nowhere close to my ceiling, so that’s the difference when I say me and a lot of players is I’m not close to my ceiling at all. I’ve got a long way to go.”

… Read full story here …

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July 13th

... CU in a few minutes … 

CU promotes Damione Lewis from defensive analyst to defensive line coach

From the Daily Camera … Colorado has promoted Damione Lewis to coach the defensive line, replacing Sal Sunseri, who is no longer with the program.

An NFL veteran of 10 years, Lewis was hired earlier this offseason by head coach Deion Sanders to be a defensive analyst for the Buffaloes. Sunseri was away from the team throughout the offseason, however, and Lewis stepped into that role throughout spring practices.

Lewis has now officially joined the full-time coaching staff as one of the 10 main assistants. He has signed a two-year contract that will pay him $315,000 this year and $350,000 for the second year of the deal.

From 2020-23, Lewis worked with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, helping to coach the defensive line. In 2019, he worked at Florida International as an assistant athletic director for player development and community relations.

Lewis, 46, grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and played collegiately at Miami. He earned second-team All-Big East as a junior in 1999 and first-team All-Big East – as well as some All-American honors – as a senior in 2000. He collected 220 tackles and 15.5 sacks during his time at Miami.

In 2001, he was the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Rams. He spent five seasons with the Rams before playing for the Carolina Panthers (2006-09), New England Patriots (offseason in 2010) and Houston Texans (2010).

During his NFL career, Lewis racked up 262 tackles, 23.5 sacks and five fumble recoveries in 141 games.

Between Lewis and graduate assistant Warren Sapp, the Buffs have a combined 23 years of NFL playing experience to work with the defensive linemen. Sapp, who played at Miami before Lewis, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

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July 12th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rick George: ‘It’s great to be in a position of stability”

From the Daily Camera … Head coach Deion Sanders missed last year’s media days event after having surgery, but he was the star of this week’s Big 12 media days, along with his sons Shedeur – the star quarterback – and Shilo, a star safety.

The biggest difference for CU, however, is stability. The Buffs didn’t have it last year, but they do now.

“It’s great to be in a position where there is stability; we know where we’re going to be for (at least) seven years,” George said Wednesday. “We’re excited about it.”

The 2023 Pac-12 media day event was focused largely on the conference’s lack of a long-term media rights contract, and whether the league could even keep itself together for the future.

“It’s not a concern,” then-Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said when asked if he was worried about Pac-12 schools leaving for other conferences. “Our schools are committed to each other and to the Pac-12.”

The Pac-12 ultimately crumbled because of its inability to get a media rights deal done in a timely manner. Worried about security, CU and others found it elsewhere. The Big 12 has a media rights deal with ESPN and Fox through 2030-31.

Although CU doesn’t officially join the Big 12 until Aug. 2, George said he hasn’t looked back from last year.

“I know that league. I was in it when I was here in the ’80s and I know the success that we had in that league,” George said of CU’s past in the Big Eight/Big 12. “I’m excited for all of our teams and our student-athletes and our fans.

“Every game that we go to in men’s basketball will be sold out and most every game that we play in football will be sold out. That’s the kind of enthusiasm that that league has for their teams. We won’t get any of the away tickets back (for games at Folsom Field) because they’re going to purchase them all and come because Boulder is a great destination”.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 11th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: Trevor Woods “is going to be the next Brian Urlacher”

From CUBuffs.com … While Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter received their fair of attention at Wednesday’s Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium, CU’s Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders held out some of the highest praise of the day for a player not even in attendance.

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Shilo Sanders: “I’m feeling good. I’m not missing nothing”

From the Daily Camera … In May, there was an unconfirmed report that Colorado safety Shilo Sanders would be out at least six months after shoulder surgery.

On Wednesday, Sanders laughed that off and said he’s ready to go.

“Yeah I’m feeling good,” he told BuffZone during Big 12 media day at Allegiant Stadium. “I’m not missing nothing. I don’t know who wrote that.”

Preparing for his senior season, Sanders said he would be ready when the Buffs open preseason practices later this month.

In fact, he believes he’s a better player than last year, when he had 67 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception that he returned 80 yards for a touchdown.

“Believe it or not, I think snowboarding has actually made me faster,” he said, referring to one of his favorite recreational activities. “I came back in the spring, I was doing conditioning and finishing first and stuff, I’m like, ‘Dang!’”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 10th

… CU in a few minutes …

Coach Prime at Big 12 Media Days: “We definitely plan on winning and first and foremost, it starts with the staff”

From CUBuffs.com … Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes officially introduced themselves to the Big 12 Wednesday when he and four players participated in the league’s Media Days at Allegiant Stadium.

But the truth is, Coach Prime needed no introduction. Not only did he draw a large crowd for his Wednesday press conference, no other coach in the league was talked about more by opposing coaches. From Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy to Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire to Utah’s Kyle Whittingham to UCF’s Gus Malzahn, they found themselves answering questions about the coach of a team picked by the media to finish 11th in the 16-team league.

“We’re lucky in our league that he’s with us because he brings more people and notoriety and viewers to the Big 12 Conference and that’s what makes it go,” Gundy said. “We need viewership. We want people to watch our teams play. It will be fun to have him in our league. It will be fun — it’s fun for me to have Colorado back in our league and to be able to compete against him. I can only imagine what his competitive level is. So that will be fun to have him in the league.”

But fun didn’t appear to be on the minds of the Colorado contingent that included quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way star Travis Hunter, safety Shilo Sanders and punter Mark Vassett. Instead, the Buffs made Media Days a business trip, flying in to Las Vegas on Wednesday morning and departing Wednesday afternoon.

No doubt the Buffs know they have plenty to prove this year. After an electrifying 3-0 start and top 25 ranking a year ago, injuries and a lack of depth hit home. Colorado lost eight of its last nine games to finish with a 4-8 record and despite another offseason roster rebuild, the media don’t seem to be convinced that much brighter days are ahead for CU.

Still, an 11th-place finish with the league’s first-team preseason all-conference quarterback (Sanders) and the preseason defensive player of the year (Hunter) seems a bit out of whack.

It is a prediction that’s definitely not sitting well with Coach Prime.

“I’d be an idiot to sit over here and not tell you we plan on winning,” he told ESPN. “I don’t know who sits down and says they don’t plan on winning. You got to be an idiot to say that. We definitely plan on winning and first and foremost, it starts with the staff. I think we have over 140 years of NFL experience on the staff.”

Sanders made rebuilding his staff one of his top priorities of the offseason. He promoted Pat Shurmur to full-time offensive coordinator, brought in NFL assistant Robert Livingston to serve as defensive coordinator, and also added offensive line coach Phil Loadholt, defensive line coach Damione Lewis, wide receivers coach Jason Phillips and fellow NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp as a graduate assistant.

Sanders is clearly pleased with his coordinator changes.

“Livingston was recommended to me by a few pros that I’m well familiar with,” Sanders said. “In his interview process, his consistency and his thought process and his relatability just put him well above the other applicants. I pray to God that I can keep him because I feel like we’re gonna kick butt. We’re gonna win, and he’s gonna be a head coach in college or pros or whatever he endeavors because he’s that good.”

Shurmur, meanwhile, brings years of experience at the NFL level as well as a solid relationship with his star quarterback.

“His  compatibility and relationship with Shedeur is amazing,” Coach Prime said. “What they plan on doing this season, I can’t wait to see it myself.”

… Continue reading story here …

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First 2024 sellout! CU v. Cincinnati (Family Weekend)

Press release from CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado will celebrate Family Weekend on Saturday, October 26 in front of a packed house as the home football game vs. the University of Cincinnati has sold out. This is the first complete sell-out of the 2024 football season, which will also mark Colorado’s return to the Big 12 Conference.

Those who will register as part of CU’s Family Weekend festivities will have an opportunity to purchase tickets to the football game.  Student sports passes will go on sale Wednesday, July 10 at 10 a.m. to students who are registered for at least 4 credit hours. Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the Cincinnati game can purchase via CU’s official secondary partner, SeatGeek.

Last year, Colorado completely sold out all home football games for the first time in school history. While season tickets are sold out for the 2024 season, the second with Coach Prime at the helm, individual game tickets against North Dakota State, as well as Big 12 Conference rivals Baylor, Kansas State, Utah, and Oklahoma State are still available to purchase now.

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Joel Klatt to represent CU on Big 12 Alumni Council

Press release from the Big 12 … Today, the Big 12 Conference announced the formation of the first-ever Big 12 Alumni Council.

Membership of the Big 12 Alumni Council includes:

“I’m thrilled to serve on the first-ever Big 12 Alumni Council,” said former BYU QB and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Steve Young. “This is an incredibly exciting time for the Big 12, and I look forward to being a resource for Commissioner Yormark and his team as the Conference continues to thrive.”

“The Big 12 Conference is home to thousands of student-athlete alumni who have had great success on and off the field following their time on campus,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “As we enter into a new chapter as a 16-team league, the insights and perspectives of the Big 12 Alumni Council will be an incredible resource.”

The Big 12 Alumni Council is comprised of 32 former student-athletes from men’s and women’s programs across each Big 12 institution. The Council was created to leverage the experience and expertise of some of the Big 12’s most notable student-athlete alumni as the Conference enters a new era. These alumni will provide guidance and insights surrounding a variety of topics, including brand building, athlete relations, storytelling, digital content and much more.

In turn, each Council member will receive a variety of resources and amenities, including networking access to the Big 12’s Business Advisory Board for professional networking, league support of council member’s community initiatives, media opportunities on behalf of the league and VIP access to all Big 12 Championships and Conference events.

The Council will be overseen by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and VP of Communications & Strategy Clark Williams. The Council will kick off in August 2024, as the Big 12 officially becomes a 16-team league.

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July 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Big 12 signs partnership deal with Microsoft to provide teams with tablets for players and coaches

Press release from the Big 12 … The Big 12 Conference and Microsoft have announced a partnership that will see Microsoft Surface devices provided to each Big 12 football program for use throughout the 2024 season. This is Microsoft’s first partnership in college athletics and across A4 conferences.

These tablets will be available for usage on the sideline and in the coaching booth, allowing players and coaches access to video review in-game. Microsoft has served as the Official Technology Partner for the National Football League since 2013, where all 32 NFL clubs utilize Microsoft Surface devices.

“The Big 12 is excited to announce our partnership with Microsoft that will see their Surface devices across our sidelines and in our coaching booths this fall. We look forward to continuing to be innovative and grow Big 12 Football, and we are thrilled to do so alongside a pioneering company such as Microsoft.” – Scott Draper, Chief Football & Competition Officer, Big 12 Conference. 

“We are thrilled to partner with the Big 12 Conference for the 2024 NCAAF season as they continue to innovate in football and technology. We look forward to bringing our joint expertise together to evolve the game and further empower student-athletes and coaches.” – Gabe Rudolph, Sr. Manager, Sports Partnerships, Microsoft.

Earlier this year, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the use of tablets to view in-game videos. Teams can have up to 18 active tablets for use in the coaching booth, sideline, and locker room. Tablets cannot be connected to other devices to project larger additional images and cannot include analytics, data or data access capability or other communication access. All team personnel will be allowed to view the tablets during the game.

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July 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Black Friday finale v. Oklahoma State could be pivotal 

From the Daily Camera … Mike Gundy, a former OSU quarterback, went 4-7 in his first season leading the Cowboys (2005), but has taken them to 18 consecutive bowl games since then. It’s the sixth-longest active bowl streak, with only Georgia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama and Clemson enjoying longer streaks.

This season, the Cowboys return almost everybody from a team that went 10-4 last year and played in the Big 12 title game.

“It was really fun this spring to move quickly through terminology from a football standpoint,” Gundy said recently in an interview with ESPN. “Last year we had 28 new players.”

One of those new players last year was quarterback Alan Bowman, who transferred in from Michigan. Bowman wound up as the starter, but not until after the Cowboys used three different quarterbacks early.

The Cowboys averaged just 29.6 points per game last year, the first time they finished under 30 since 2014. Gundy feels that will improve with Bowman back and firmly entrenched as the starter.

“We put a lot on our quarterbacks,” he said. “We ask them to put us in the best situation. We’ll have more availability with that this fall than we did last year because we were rotating guys through. Bowman has come though and had a terrific spring for us. He now understands our system. I think he’s very comfortable in communication and understanding where we want to attack the defense.”

It certainly helps that Bowman can hand off to last year’s Big 12 offensive player of the year, running back Ollie Gordon II, and has the entire offensive line back.

The receiver room is stacked, too, with Brennan Presley (101 catches last year) leading the way. The Cowboys should also get a boost from De’Zhaun Stribling. A transfer from Washington State last year, he missed the last 11 games with an injury. In two seasons at WSU, he caught 95 passes for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Defensively last year the Cowboys were 10th in the Big 12 in points allowed (28.6) and last in yards allowed (441.8). Ten players with starting experience are back, though, including a pair of linebackers – Nick Martin and Collins Oliver – who are among the best in the Big 12.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

NFL Scout compares Shedeur Sanders to NFL Pro Bowler Geno Smith

From NFL.com … Deion Sanders’ first Colorado team took the college football world by storm in the opening week of last season, knocking off heavily favored TCU in a 45-42 thriller. Deion’s son, Shedeur, absolutely shredded the Horned Frogs, completing 81 percent of his passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. In the ensuing two weeks, the Buffaloes beat Nebraska and Colorado State, with the quarterback providing more video game numbers and throwing his hat into the Heisman Trophy race.

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July 4th – Happy Independence Day!

… CU in a few minutes … 

Vegas oddsmaker on CU: “They’re going to be a fringe top 25 team”

From Fox Sports … Legendary Las Vegas oddsmaker Kenny White remembers paying close attention to all the chess moves in Sanders’ first offseason, one that was adamantly clear about adding gobs of talent at the skill positions.

“I love when there’s change and I love the transfer portal,” White told FOX Sports. “I have a power rating on every single player, so all I have to do is add all the players up to get to a team’s power rating.”

A “100” rating is an average team in White’s system. He creates his point spreads by subtracting the lower team from the higher team. So if a 104-point team is facing a 98-point team on a neutral field, White’s line is -6.

Variables like home-field advantage sway numbers more.

White’s rating on Colorado was a measly 81.5 at the end of the 2022 campaign, but Sanders’ deft recruiting catapulted that number to 96.5 by Colorado’s first game at TCU in Week 1 of 2023.

Kenny White’s Colorado ratings last year:

WK 1 – 96.5 points
WK 2 – 102.5
WK 3 – 104.5
WK 4 – 101 (-3.5 pts w/out Travis Hunter)
WK 5 – 100
WK 6 – 100.5 (after losing 48-41 to USC)
WK 7 – 103.5 (Travis Hunter’s return)
WK 8 – 102.5
WK 9 – 102.5
WK 10 – 98
WK 11 – 98
WK 12 – 98
WK 13 – 97
WK 14 – 92.5 (Shedeur Sanders OUT)

“Finishing at 92.5 says they were 7.5 points below the average team at the end,” White explained. “But they reached the mid-100s at their peak.

“I understood the Colorado love after the first three wins, but it was just too much. There was a lack of depth and the offensive and defensive lines were very thin. It was impossible for them to play well when injuries piled up.

“I bet a lot of money against them at the end of the year.”

White will use last year’s ratings as a North Star for 2024, and he’ll likely use Colorado’s numerical ceiling [104.5] as a starting point.

“They’re going to be a fringe top 25 team,” White forecasted. “Deion knows how to bring in talent. It’s very tough to imagine them taking a step back with all the new talent, plus Sanders and Hunter both back in Boulder.

“They’ll probably be around 110 in my numbers.”

81.5 — Kenny’s Colorado power rating Dec. 2022

110 — Kenny’s projected Colorado rating Aug. 2024 

The elephant in Colorado’s room is that we still don’t really know if Deion Sanders is a solid in-game coach.

His Jackson State teams were dominantly superior to the competition, and it’s unfair to dog him for trying to push a boulder up a mountain last year with a make-shift, portal-laden roster.

Kenny?

“He overachieved to the betting number,” White countered. “Colorado finished 7-4-1 (63.6%) against the spread, which is impressive. I won’t sit here and act like I studied Colorado’s schemes and play calling.

“I watched a handful of games and never thought Colorado was outschemed or unprepared in its games. I never thought, ‘Wow, Deion’s a bad coach.’ I rate all the coaches in the country, and he’s in the A- to B+ range.”

Colorado’s 2024 regular-season win total is 5.5 at most sportsbooks, a two-win hike from last year’s number. While the Buffs should be much improved, they’re still massive long shots to make the College Football Playoff (14-1) or win the National Championship (300-1).

But White knows better days will reach Boulder soon.

“Players make coaches look good and Deion is a fabulous recruiter,” he said. “Guys want to play for him, that’s obvious. If he stays at Colorado, he’ll have a championship-caliber program there by his fourth season.”

… Read full story here …

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Texas Tech (picked ninth in preseason poll) a question mark: “We feel good about our team”

From the Daily Camera … Although not viewed as a title contender this year – the Red Raiders were picked by media to finish ninth in the Big 12 – head coach Joey McGuire comes into his third season with confidence.

Health at quarterback is critical, though.

“I hope to God that I don’t play three quarterbacks this year,” he said in a recent interview with 365 Sports.

Injuries forced Texas Tech to use three different starting quarterbacks in 2022, and again in 2023. Junior Behren Morton started games in both seasons and he’s back for his junior year.

“It’s really important for us to keep our quarterback healthy,” McGuire said. “I think that’s one thing that can help us take the next step. We feel good about our team.”

Traditionally known for its high-powered offense, Tech took a step back last year, averaging just 27.4 points per game – the lowest average for a Tech offense since 25.3 points per game in 2000 (Leach’s first year in Lubbock).

Behrens will be a key to the Red Raider offense improving, but this is a unit led by star running back Tahj Brooks. One of the nation’s leading rushers last year, he’s a major weapon in a conference loaded with running backs.

While Brooks and Morton are back, there’s been a lot of changes around them.

Only one starting offensive lineman returns, and McGuire hit the transfer portal to land three new starters. The receiving corps is revamped, too, with five-star freshman Micah Hudson and several transfers in the mix.

Defensively, the Red Raiders feel good about the linebacker duo of Ben Roberts and Jacob Rodriguez. Roberts was one of the Big 12’s top freshmen last year and Rodriguez has been highly productive when healthy, but missed most of 2023 with an injury.

There are a pair of starters back in the secondary, but Tech will rely on several young players or newcomers to step up.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 3rd

... CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN’s First 2025 NFL Mock Draft has two Buffs in Top Ten

From ESPN … The 2025 NFL draft is still more than nine months away, but I’m already digging into tape on the top prospects in the class, including a handful of potential franchise quarterbacks. And with NFL training camps on the horizon and the start of the 2024 college football season not far behind, I’m doing an early projection of all 32 first-round picks for next year’s draft.

Our draft order for this exercise comes from ESPN’s Football Power Index, which uses thousands of simulations to predict the 2024 NFL season. In turn, that gives us a 1-32 order, starting with the Patriots at No. 1. But would New England hang onto the top pick or trade it away to a QB-needy team? Spoiler: I projected two trades in this mock draft, including a deal involving the No. 1 selection.

Of course, a lot will change before teams are actually on the clock next April. Prospects will rise and fall on draft boards, and some of these players will ultimately return to school for another year. We have an entire season of game tape ahead of us — and I admittedly haven’t watched a ton on everyone just yet. So what follows is just an early look at what could happen based on what I’ve seen, what I’m hearing, what each team might need and what could make sense. Let’s jump in.

2. Las Vegas Raiders (via projected trade with CAR)

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The Raiders went 8-9 last season, and the late-season 5-4 surge under coach Antonio Pierce didn’t have much to do with the quarterback play. The team had 20 passing touchdowns to 18 interceptions, as rookie Aidan O’Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo for 11 games. O’Connell may prove his status in Year 2, but the early read on Las Vegas is that it needs a quarterback. Sanders is a legitimate Heisman contender if Colorado can string together some wins. His accuracy, toughness and poise would make him a rookie starter for the Raiders and give the offense some much-needed swagger. He threw 27 touchdown passes to three interceptions for the Buffaloes last year.

9. Arizona Cardinals

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*

Arizona is building a solid foundation, and the front office could realistically turn to a “best player available” approach next April. Hunter is a two-way star who logged 984 snaps last season, including 412 on offense and 572 on defense, and proved himself as a playmaker and elite cover man. His 57 receptions and five touchdowns over nine games made him an early Heisman candidate, and he added three interceptions and seven pass breakups on defense. There will be a debate about which side of the ball makes more sense for Hunter in the pros, but he is a throwback do-it-all football player the Cardinals could deploy in a number of roles.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

5430 Alliance hosting EA Sports launch party (with Buffs) on July 19th 

Press Release from 5430 Alliance … Boulder, CO (July 2, 2024) – 5430 Alliance, the official NIL collective supporting University of Colorado, Boulder (CU) student-athletes, today announced that it will be hosting an event to celebrate the release of College Football 25′, the latest installment in EA Sports’ iconic college football gaming franchise. To commemorate this highly anticipated release, 5430 Alliance will host a launch party on July 19 at the University Memorial Center on campus, featuring a Madden-style tournament opportunity for fans and gamers to compete against some of their favorite CU Football players.

This event promises an afternoon filled with fandom, camaraderie and competition as gaming enthusiasts and football fans come together to experience the renaissance of college football gaming. Attendees will have the thrilling opportunity to test their skills in College Football 25′, with special appearances from CU Football players who will join the tournament alongside attendees.

“We are thrilled to commemorate the launch of College Football 25′ and provide our student-athletes with a platform to showcase their gaming talents,” expressed Natalie Sharp, Executive Director at 5430 Alliance. “Highlighting one of our own student-athletes on the game’s cover is incredibly special, and this release is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the evolving landscape of NIL opportunities. Fans can look forward to competing against familiar faces from the game, bridging the gap between virtual gaming and real-world athletics in a uniquely enjoyable experience.”

In addition to the tournament, guests will also enjoy refreshments, interactive experiences, and meet-and-greet opportunities with their favorite CU Football players. Tickets are available at three distinct levels, each offering a unique experience and limited in quantity. Attendees can choose from the VIP EA Tournament Experience tickets, Tournament tickets and General Admission tickets. For supporters who prefer to spectate rather than participate in the tournament, General Admission tickets provide access to witness CU players compete against enthusiastic fans of the game.

For more information about 5430 Alliance and to stay updated on event details, please visit 5430alliance.com or follow @5430Alliance on Instagram, X, Facebook or Linkedin.

ABOUT 5430 ALLIANCE

5430 Alliance is the premiere Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective supporting 350-plus student-athletes at the University of Colorado. Supporters, fans, and alumni who support 5430 Alliance are pledging to maximize opportunities for student-athletes to build their brands and engage with the community. There are various ways to get involved, including corporate partnerships, memberships, and charitable contributions. 5430 Alliance is powered by parent company Blueprint Sports. For more information about NIL partnerships with Buffs student-athletes, visit or follow @5430Alliance on Instagram, X, Facebook, and Linkedin.

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CU trying a “Stripe Out” for North Dakota State (note your section’s color!)

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Tags: Ben Kelly, Ronnie Bradford
This post, about the Spring/Summer game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
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