Colorado State – A Will to Win in Mac’s Debut

Colorado matched its win total for all of 2012 with a season-opening victory over Colorado State, 41-27.

In the first game of the Mike MacIntyre era, junior quarterback Connor Wood became just the third Buff quarterback in CU history to pass for 400 yards in a season opener, going 33-of-46 for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came on bombs to junior wide receiver Paul Richardson, who became the first Buff receiver to post two career 200-yard receiving games, collecting ten catches for 208 yards.

Heroics were not limited to the offensive side of the ball, however, as the much-maligned Colorado defense, which gave up almost 500 yards a game in total offense the previous season, held Colorado State to 295 yards. The defense also contributed a touchdown of its own, with Greg Henderson going 53 yards for a score on a fumble caused by senior captain Chidera Uzo-Diribe.

“I’m just excited for our seniors to start the season off like this with a great rivalry game,” said Mike MacIntyre, who became just the second CU coach in the past 80 seasons to post a victory in his first game. “I think our conditioning paid off tremendously, the way we practice, our repetitions, if you come and stay at practice you know what we do, we practice really hard, we don’t have picnics, I’ll tell you that so I appreciate what our kids do.”’

On a day in which wide receiver Paul Richardson became the first Colorado player to ever post a second 200-yard receiving game in a career …On a day in which quarterback Connor Wood became only the third Buff to pass for over 400 yards in a season opener (409 by Kordell Stewart in 1992; 402 by Joel Klatt in 2003, both against Colorado State) …On a day in which senior captain defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe and cornerback Greg Henderson teamed up for an electrifying 53-yard fumble return for a touchdown …My MVP for the 2013 Rocky Mountain Showdown (if I can’t give it to coach Mike MacIntyre and his coaching staff) is …Kicker Will Oliver …

“T.I.P.S.” – CU/CSU comparison based upon T-Talent; I-Intangibles; P-Preparation/Schedule; and S-Statistics

CU over 32,000 in ticket sales … McElwain: CSU offensive line “can take over a game if needed”