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Exorcising Demons
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They dressed in their familiar red.
The logo and uniforms were the same. Many of the players were the same.
The coach was most definitely the same.
The Utah Utes came to Boulder looking to do what they had pretty much always done every time when they entered Folsom Field to take on the Buffs over the past 13 years.
They came not to praise the Buffs, but to bury them.
Once upon a time, Colorado had a healthy edge against Utah in the all-time series, back when the two teams left their respective conferences in 2011 to join the Pac-12. The Buffs were up 33-21-3 in the series, a rivalry which dated back to 1903. But, since the two teams again became conference rivals, the Utes had dominated.
The Buffs won the first game between the two teams as Pac-12 foes in 2011, and CU did have the memorable 27-22 win in Boulder in 2016.
Other than that? Not so much. Since 2016, with the exception of the battle of the backup quarterbacks in Salt Lake City last November, the Utes won the other six games since CU’s last win by an average score of 40-15.
So, while it was certainly true that Utah had struggled this season, falling from the No. 10 team in the nation to a 4-5 team with more questions than answers, it was still Utah which was coming to town to face CU.
With the Utes playing with their second-string quarterback – who had been demoted after poor play, but was back in the lineup after the third-string quarterback got hurt the previous weekend against BYU – the Buffs came into the game double-digit favorites.
Then … The game opened with Shedeur Sanders throwing a bad interception on the first play of scrimmage.
It wasn’t supposed to be the same old Utah. It wasn’t supposed to be the same old CU … but the game sure opened that way.
But … a funny thing happened on the way to CU playing poorly against Utah yet again.
The Buff defense, taking the field on their own 23-yard line to open the game, held Utah to a field goal.
The Buff offense then faced a first-and-20 after a holding penalty, and then a third-and-23.
But … a funny thing happened on the way to CU playing poorly against Utah yet again.
On third down, Shedeur Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester for 18 yards, and then, on fourth-and-five at the Utah 40-yard line, connected with Will Sheppard for a 40-yard touchdown.
A few minutes later, it was Wester’s turn, this time on a 76-yard punt return, and the Buffs were off to the races.
There were certainly moments during the game in which CU gave the Buff Nation reason for concern, but in the end they didn’t let the demons of the past bring the Buffs down:
- In the second quarter, with CU still up by a score of 14-3, Shedeur Sanders fumbled a snap, giving the ball back to Utah at the CU 23. Instead of giving the Utes a momentum shifting touchdown, the Buff defense held, once again forcing a Utah field goal;
- After giving up a 40-yard touchdown on a one-play drive for the Utes in the third quarter to make it a 28-16 game, the Buff offense responded with a 75-drive of its own, restoring some order with a 35-16 lead early in the fourth quarter; and
- After then giving up a touchdown and a fumble, making the Buff Nation nervous – a 35-24 game with seven minutes still left to play – the Buff defense forced a turnover of its own, with cornerback DJ McKinney picking up an interception, restoring order.
In the end, CU scored 49 points, the most in a game against anyone since 2019, and scored 49 against a defense which hadn’t given up more than 22 points in any game all season.
“Now for us, putting up 49 points, and not playing your best game. I think that speaks a lot about the program and where we are”, said Coach Prime after the win. “We got to tighten some things up and get some things together. But we’re trending in the right direction”.
With the win, Colorado beat the team which had been one of the biggest thorns in CU’s side in the Pac-12. The Buffs and Utes were supposed to be rivals in the new league, but the Utes, moving up from the Mountain West, enjoyed great success in their new league. CU and its fans, meanwhile, endured some of the deepest lows in school history, with Utah often inflicting the pain.
Now, the Buffs are 8-2, while the Utes are 4-6. Colorado fans, stressed at different moments during the game, had a few minutes late in the game to relish the big win over the Utes, a few delicious moments to soak in a win by three touchdowns … and not endure a loss by three touchdowns.
With the win, the spotlight on the program will grow even brighter. The Buffs are two wins – on the road against Kansas; at home against Oklahoma State – from making the Big 12 title game for the first time since 2005. Colorado will move up in the national rankings, and will creep ever closer to the Top 12 in the College Football rankings.
With CU’s success, there are going to be admirers, both who want to praise the Buffs … and those who don’t see CU and Coach Prime as a long-term marriage. The Buffs are 8-2, so how can the haters tear down Coach Prime and the Buffs?
By seeing the CU and its coach part ways.
Colorado, picked by Vegas to win five or six games this fall, and picked by the Big 12 media to finish 11th in the conference, was under the radar when it came to Coach Prime leaving for greener pastures.
Sure, the haters were more than happy to claim that Coach Prime – if he didn’t get fired – would leave Boulder as soon as his sons left for the NFL. But, with Coach Prime showing his method of growing a program can work, is now rumored to be off to the NFL, or to an SEC or ACC team.
Never mind that Coach Prime continuously stated he wasn’t going anywhere. “I don’t have any desire or ambition to coach in the NFL,” Coach Prime has told anyone who would listen. “I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs. I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes.”
Coach Prime has been equally emphatic about not leaving for another Power Four program, but it won’t stop the talking heads from speculating.
It’s going to difficult, but the Buff Nation will need to try and tune out the negative noise.
The Buffs have now won four straight games, and won seven of their past eight.
Go ahead and read that sentence again. It hasn’t been a statement CU fans have been able to make since 2016.
The first dragon slayed came when CU beat Cincinnati, claiming win No. 6. After a run of 11 straight losses (spread over the past six seasons) with five wins and a chance at a bowl, the Buffs finally broke through with win No. 6, making a “Bowl for Peggy” a reality. (Side note: With Nebraska’s loss to USC Saturday, the Cornhuskers have now lost eight straight games over the past two seasons with five wins … but who’s counting?).
The next dragon slayed came last weekend, with the come-from-behind road win over Texas Tech. Not only did the Buffs rally from a 13-0 first quarter deficit, but finished with a 41-27 win, CU’s fourth straight road win (all by 14 or more points, a feat not accomplished by a CU team since 1989). The win guaranteed the Buffs would finish with a winning season in Year Two under Coach Prime … not a small feat.
Now, the Buffs have taken down nemesis Utah, the team which enjoyed the success Colorado was supposed to enjoy in the Pac-12.
Colorado has a winning record. Colorado is nationally relevant. Colorado is in the discussion for a conference championship – and a College Football Playoff berth – in mid-November.
The 8-2 record doesn’t make up for all the Buff Nation has endured over the past two decades.
But it’s a helluva a nice start.
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11 Replies to “Exorcising Demons”
The defense set the tone last week holding Texas Tech to 2 FG’s after turnovers and did the same vs Utah. After Shedeur threw that pick I thought “here we go again.” But when the D forced the FG we were back on track. It feels like we’re living a dream with a Defense that’s #6 in the country in sacks and holding Utah to 30-some yards rushing! Going to have to pay a bunch to keep Coach Livingston (along with Prime)!
Looking at the schedule, it could end up Colorado and ASU in the conference championship game. ASU looked pretty good against K-State and they play BYU. Wouldn’t that be ironic if the newest teams to the conference take first and second. Regardless, the Buffs need to take care of business, and just make the conference championship, to play whoever else makes it there.
Agree all the way around. Watching BYU the last two weeks, easy to see them losing again.
Agree that there are areas of improvement across the board, but when was the last time we played ‘decent’ and still dominated the scoreboard?? Never thought Utah had a chance in the 2nd half, still processing what we saw…
Get ready for the bandwagon, the national hype train is gaining some real steam. Pundits will now view CU over BYU (if they make it, and based on the last two weeks, who wouldn’t) so that means CFP (head is literally spinning, just typing that).
I believe it was Will Sheppard who scored the first touch down. You had Wester above and since I love the history side of your website I will surely read this in 10 years hahaha
The thing that strikes me second most (your description of our ability to have something go wrong and be able to answer is the first) is our ability to consistently put away average or bad teams. Our average point differential in Big12 games is over 14. Sure some of those are at the end of the game but it is still OVER 14. You can only play who you have on your schedule but we don’t play down to our opponent the whole game and squeak by bad teams.
One last comment on the Utes. They have always said they were sign stealers. They say it is part of the game and fair game if they can figure out your signs. Strange that they have such a bad year, the year that teams get communication without signals. I know a lot of signals are still called from the sideline, but if the qb and the linebacker are getting changes and communicating it on the field then the Utah coaches are not able to adjust……
Hi Stuart – small correction – It was Will Sheppard who got the first 40 yard TD.
Otherewise, I loved the article and I am really enjoying the season. Where have all the haters gone? What happened to NU. Pretty funny that all they can hang their hat on this year is beating us.
Good catch – got it corrected. Thanks!
I watched a bit of the condom/cobb game. Pretty hard to root for anyone and wishing they both could lose. The end of it was, however, to my liking. I have seen Rhule doing the between periods short interviews with the lady reporters and each time he seems stressed out, nervous, sweaty and tries to talk too fast. Its almost like he is taking some kind of pharmaceutical stimulant.
Of course it could just be working for the “world’s best fans” (snicker)
Deion is just getting started. In Boulder. This offseason is going to be wild across the football landscape. Including in Boulder.
Go Buffs
This is a nice reward for all of us hanging in there for the last 20 years.
And those were 20 TOUGH years, but it appears that us true fans are being rewarded