Oct. 16th – Arizona – Battle for the Basement

The Buffs broke open a close game in the third quarter, with a blocked punt for a touchdown and an interception for a touchdown turning a 6-0 game into a 20-0 advantage, with the Buffs coasting thereafter to a 34-0 win over Arizona. In snapping a four-game losing streak, the Buffs had 365 yards of total offense, with quarterback Brendon Lewis posting his first career 200-yard passing game, going 12-for-19 for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Brenden Rice had his first career 100-yard receiving game, with 111 yards on only three catches, including a 62-yard score in the third quarter.

The Colorado defense posted a shutout, its first since a 48-0 win over Nicholls State in in 2015. The loss was the 18th straight for Arizona, dating back to a win over the Buffs in Boulder in October, 2019. “As soon as the offense scored in the first quarter we said if they don’t score again they don’t win,” Carson Wells, who had a 50-yard interception for a touchdown, said. “So that was our philosophy for the whole game.”

“That was a really good win for us as a program,” head coach Karl Dorrell, who leveled his overall record at CU at 6-6, said. “All three phases scored touchdowns … We had two weeks of really doing some things in detail. I just felt like the dam was going to break at some point and it did today.”

In 2015, Colorado, with an 0-3 Pac-12 record, traveled to Corvallis to play Oregon State, which was also 0-3 in Pac-12 play. The Buffs squeaked by with a 17-13 win, breaking CU school records for conference losing streaks (14 straight losses) and losses in conference road games (13 straight).

It was a low scoring affair, as can happen with poor teams. The Buffs were led by CU legends Sefo Liufau (with all of 157 yards passing), Phillip Lindsay (51 yards rushing) and Nelson Spruce (60 yards receiving).

My Essay for the game was entitled, “We’re No. 1(1)!!”, a play on words which had more than just of dose of reality. Far from being relevant nationally, Buff fans had to be content with the fact that, for at least one more weekend, Colorado wasn’t the worst team in the conference.

And now, here we are, six years later … back clinging to the “happiness” of not being the absolute worst team in the Pac-12.

Now, it’s true that the Buffs have enjoyed some success since that 2015 win in Corvallis. The 2016 team broke the school-record streak of consecutive losing seasons at ten long years. The 2020 team also finished with a winning record and an Alamo Bowl berth.

But … since opening the 2020 season with a 4-0 record a No. 21 national ranking, the Buffs have gone south. Since giving No. 5 Texas A&M a game at Mile High, the Buffs have not only been bad, but have been Jon Embree 2011-12 bad.

Now or never: “Either you want it or you don’t. It’s simple” … Pat Rooney: Here’s hoping that the “subtle changes” will make the difference … Cornerbacks confident as Pac-12’s second-best wide receiver comes to town …

Oregon survives with fourth-and-goal stop to defeat Cal, 24-17 … The Athletic: CU the third-most difficult job in the Pac-12 … USA Today releases coaches’ salaries (Karl Dorrell 8th in the Pac-12) … Pac-12 picks: Colorado’s defense is good enough to win four or five games …

Surprise! Arizona game approaching a sell out … This will be Arizona’s first afternoon game of the season … Which newly created CU record belongs to Nate Landman? … Stanley Berryhill: Arizona’s answer to Drake London … Which school just passed CU on the all-time victories list (you’ll hate the answer) …

It’s a “Battle of the Bad” as 1-4 CU hosts 0-5 Arizona … Will the Wildcats be able to move the ball with the previously benched Gunner Cruz at quarterback? … Will CU’s “subtle changes” on both sides of the ball produce a better product than what CU fans have witnessed the past month? …

Arizona doesn’t have offensive weapons to scare many defenses, but then, again, CU’s offense isn’t scaring anyone, either … Which team can overcome their deficiencies for a breakthrough win? … Stats which are “R” rated (for both teams) …

Bill Murray is a comedic genius, who gave us an inspiring “halftime” speech in his first starring role in Meatballs (1978) … CU will never get the “good looking girls”, but should the Buff Nation accept the role as the lovable losers of the Pac-12? …

CU picked up seven new players in the Transfer Portal, giving Buff fans hope that play on the field would improve … But … the addition of the (now) three-highest rated players on the roster hasn’t paid many dividends … Plus – how former Buffs are faring elsewhere …