Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily

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March 20th

… CU in a few minutes …

Ralphie IV passes away at age 19

From CUBuffs.com … Ralphie IV, the beloved University of Colorado’s live buffalo mascot who roamed the sidelines for 10-plus seasons (1998-2008), passed away Sunday morning at the age of 19.

She was a month away from turning 20, but within the last week, she had developed an abnormal growth on her left side. Her longtime veterinarian was called and after several tests, it was determined she was suffering from liver failure and was in rapid decline.

There were no treatment options to end her suffering, and on Sunday morning she was humanely euthanized.  Her caretaker, John Graves, was present and reported, “She was ready to go today.  It was very peaceful … almost 20 is fairly old for a buffalo.”

She was buried at undisclosed location in Henderson, Colo., where she spent her retirement grazing in one of the area’s many green pastures.

Ralphie IV was donated to the university by media and sports entrepreneur Ted Turner in 1998.  Born in April 1997 on the Flying D Ranch in Gallatin Gateway, Montana (one of Turner’s Ranches), she was named “Rowdy” by ranch hands. She was separated from her mother when she was about a month old and was literally found in the jaws of a coyote with bite marks around her neck. She survived the attack and was bottle-fed by the hands for four months. She was released back to the herd but wouldn’t bond with them, so the ranch hands took her back in and fed her grasses and grain. It was then that she was donated to CU as a yearling early in the spring of 1998.

… Continue reading story here …

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Video: History of Ralphie

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March 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

B.G. Brooks: Seven wins and a bowl game for CU in 2017

… Related … “Neill Woelk: Buffs Sow Seeds Of Optimism In Spring Finale” … from CUBuffs.com

From CUBuffs.com … For their 2017 encore, the Colorado Buffaloes will . . . .

This is a fill-in-the-blank exercise – and with a severely flawed crystal ball, filling in a few blanks is the best we can do at the conclusion of spring practice 2016.

But here goes: How will CU follow its finest football season in a little over a decade?

There’s your $16.25 million dollar question, Buffs fans, a little something to ponder, gnaw on and perhaps gnash a few teeth over through spring, the dog days of summer and until Labor Day Weekend, when CU opens against Colorado State on Friday, Sept. 1 in Denver.

In 2016, his fourth season on the job, coach Mike MacIntyre sent the bar through the roof: 10 wins, an 8-1 conference record, a Pac-12 South championship, the program’s first bowl appearance in a decade and a No. 17 final national ranking.

That the Buffs were outscored 79-18 in their final two games – a 41-10 loss to eventual No. 4 finisher Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game; a 38-8 Alamo Bowl loss to final No. 11 Oklahoma State – most certainly stung at the time but didn’t leave an ugly stain on the season.

And no, the pair of postseason blowouts didn’t faze – nor should it have – CU’s administration in offering MacIntyre a three-year contract extension ($16.25 million over the next five seasons) that is waiting regents’ approval until an external investigation into the Joe Tumpkin matter is completed.

… Continue reading story here …

… By any stretch, it’s not close to the killer schedule that the Buffs clawed out 10 ‘W’s from in 2016. Instead, it’s of the type that a team assigned the rebuilding and refocusing that MacIntyre faces in Year 5 should be able to navigate. It’s also the type a coach needs to demonstrate that his program isn’t a one-year wonder, that a reappearance on college football’s landscape won’t be followed by a disappearance.

Will 2017 yield 6, 7, 8 or 10 wins? Another Pac-12 South championship? Another postseason appearance and final Top 25 national ranking?

I’ll go with 7 wins and a bowl game – and I’m very, very open to being proved wrong.

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March 18th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Spring Game statistics 

For what they are worth … 

Full Statistics

Attendance: 6,250

Total points: 41 … First downs: 17 … Third down efficiency: 4-15 … Fourth down efficiency: 3-4 … Red zone efficiency: 6-7 (four touchdowns; two field goals; one downs)

Total plays: 85 (including 12 kicks) … Passing yards: 241, four touchdowns, one interception … Rushing yards: 108 (minus-18 on four sacks) … six penalties (five on offense; one on defense)

Passing: Steven Montez: 7-11 for 55 yards, one touchdown, one interception … Sam Noyer: 6-6 for 51 yards, one touchdown … Tyler Lytle: 6-9 for 70 yards, one touchdown … Casey Marksbury: 5-9 for 65 yards, one touchdown

Rushing: Michael Adkins: ten carries for 53 yards … Beau Bisharat: six carries for 21 yards … Phillip Lindsay (held out for precautionary reasons, no injury)

Receiving: Shay Fields: three catches for 46 yards, one touchdown … Bryce Bobo: three catches for 37 yards … Lee Walker: three catches for 18 yards … Kabion Ento: three catches for 11 yards, one touchdown … Johnny Huntley: two catches for 15 yards, one touchdown … Derek Coleman: two catches for ten yards, one touchdown

Defense: Lucas Cooper: six tackles, one tackle for loss … Anthony Julmisse: five tackles … Kyle Trego: five tackles, one third down stop … Trent Headley: five tackles … Nick Fisher: three tackles, one interception

Kicking: Chris Graham: 4-6 field goals (made from 35, three makes from 32, two misses from 32) … Nick Porter: 1-1 (made from 27)

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Mike MacIntyre quotes:

— On the lack of injuries … “It’s really key. We had a good scrimmage. Last year Isaac Miller got hurt in this game and didn’t make it back. He would have played a lot for us and he was able to play today, so I am excited about that. We got a lot accomplished in the little bit of time that we had, so I thought it went well.”

— On areas which still need work … “Every area! When you are a coach, you watch film and see every area. We didn’t start as well on offensive. Steven [Montez] got a little greedy on the first one, but he will learn from that. It was a good play though by the secondary. Nick Fisher who filled in last year in the Washington State game made player of the week, so he is ready to play. He is another guy that hasn’t played a lot but has a lot of experience and he will play well for us this year. I feel good about our football team and where we are headed. We have a lot work to do between now and when the season starts but we are headed in the right direction.”

— On goals for 2017 season … “Our goal is to get better every day. We have a slogan that I stole from Coach [David] Cutcliffe, ‘You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse; nothing stays the same.’ We say it all the time and we need to keep improving and then have a great fall practices and a great opening game. So that is where we will start.”

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Mike MacIntyre talk with media after Spring Game

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Spring Awards announced

From CUBuffs.com …

— Eddie Crowder Award – Outstanding Leadership … LB Rick Gamboa and RB Phillip Lindsay

— Fred Casotti Award – Most Improved Offensive Back … WR Kabion Ento

— Joe Roemig Award – Most Improved Offensive Lineman … OL Josh Kaiser

— Hale Irwin Award – Most Improved Defensive Back … DB Trey Udoffia

— Greg Biekert Award – Most Improved Linebacker … LB Drew Lewis

— Dan Stavely Award – Most Improved Defensive Lineman … DL Lyle Tuiloma and DL Frank Umu

— Bill McCartney Award – Most Improved Special Teams player … K Chris Graham and WR Lee Walker

— John Wooten Award – Outstanding Work Ethic .. QB Steven Montez and DB Isaiah Oliver

— Dick Anderson Award – Outstanding Toughness … OT Jeromy Irwin

— Jim Hansen Award – Outstanding Academics … TE/DE George Frazier

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CU selects team captains for the 2017 season

… Related … “How the Colorado Buffaloes selected their team captains last season” … From MaxPreps

From CUBuffs.com … For the second year in a row and just third time in Colorado football history, a player has been elected as a team captain for a third time in his career.

CU senior running back Phillip Lindsay was one of six players selected Thursday as team captains for the 2017 season. He will be joined by two other seniors who served as captains in 2016, TE/DE George Frazier and Jeromy Irwin; another player who served as a captain in 2015, senior OLB Derek McCartney (when it was 12-man leadership group that rotated as game captains); and two first-time captains, senior safety Afolabi Laguda and junior ILB Rick Gamboa.

Lindsay, who served as a team captain in 2015 and 2016, joins former teammate Sefo Liufau as one of just three players in CU history to serve three years as captain. The first was Pat Carney, who did it 123 years prior to Liufau, in 1891-92-93.

Head coach Mike MacIntyre has a two-stage process to select the captains. The voting is limited to players who have been in the program at least 18 months (one year if a junior college  transfer).

All six players have been instrumental in the Colorado program’s turnaround, one that last year produced a 10-4 record, a Pac-12 South title and CU’s first bowl appearance since 2007.

Lindsay last season rushed for 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns, CU’s first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2010. Frazier, who is playing offense and defense this spring, was named by coaches last year as the team’s Eddie Crowder Award winner, given to a player who displays outstanding leadership. Irwin, a sixth-year senior, was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection last fall.

McCartney missed most of last season after suffering a torn ACL in the third week of the season at Michigan (he had an 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Wolverines), but the prior year had 70 tackles, including five sacks. Gamboa, who stepped into a starting role early in the 2015 season, was third on the team in tackles last year with 79, including eight third-down stops as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Laguda, who started all 14 games at free safety last year, was second on the team in tackles (80) and also had one interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and six pass break-ups.

Perhaps equally importantly, all have served as leaders on the field as well as in the weightroom, classroom and strength and conditioning workouts.

Along with the three Buffs who have served as captains three times, only a handful of others have served as captains twice. That list includes Harry Gamble (1894-96), ILB Barry Remington (1985-86), TB Bobby Purify (2003-04), QB Joel Klatt (2004-05), ILB Addison Gillam (2014-15), WR Nelson Spruce (2014-15) and ILB Kenneth Olugbode (2015-16).

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March 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – Practice No. 14

Mike MacIntyre talks about the plans for the spring game, with limitations on tackling due to the Buffs being down to three scholarship running backs (Phillip Lindsay, Michael Adkins, and Beau Bisharat … Donovan Lee broke his ankle this week, joining Kyle Evans – hip – on the sidelines).

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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March 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Neill Woelk – someone who has seen practices – discusses how the spring has unfolded

From CUBuffs.com … Notes, quotes and observations as the Colorado Buffaloes head into their last weekend of spring football:

New CU secondary coach ShaDon Brown can smile again.

When Brown took the job in late January, he took over a unit that was one of the nation’s best pass defenses a year ago — but also a group that graduated three starters, all expected to be selected in the NFL Draft. It was by no means the ideal situation for a new coach.

But after 13 spring practices, Brown’s comfort level has grown, as has his confidence in his secondary.

“Obviously I feel more comfortable with the players because I know them and I know their skill set,” Brown said earlier this week. “I know what they do well. I also feel a lot better from practice 1 to practice 13. I think we have a better understanding of what we’re doing. The players are starting to gel together and the leadership is starting to rise. That’s the big thing — when you lose some guys who were the leaders, you have to cultivate new leadership and I think we have that.”

… Continue reading story – which includes discussions of the defensive line, wide receivers, and offensive line … here

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Colorado state legislature passes bill to allow additional long-term contracts

From the Colorado General Assembly website …

Under current law, institutions of higher education are limited in the number and length of term employment contracts or contract extensions that the institution can award. In addition, institutions are prohibited from providing postemployment compensation or benefits to a government-supported employee after the individual’s employment has ended, except in limited situations and in limited amounts. Further, under current law, the terms of government-supported employment contracts are generally available for public inspection.

For state institutions of higher education, the bill exempts the institution’s employee positions that are funded by revenues generated through auxiliary activities, as defined in the bill, from the provisions of current law.

… Status: Passed

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March 15th – beware the Ides of March!

... CU in a few minutes … 

Nick Fisher looking to build upon good results in 2016

From CUBuffs.com … Heading into the 11th game of the season last year, Colorado safety Nick Fisher was still a player with potential, waiting for the opportunity to put that potential on display.

Locked in a secondary loaded with experienced veterans — and future NFL draft picks — Fisher played just 39 snaps on defense in the Buffs’ first 10 games.

Then came a break — and soon thereafter, Nick Fisher became the textbook definition of how to make the most of an opportunity.

In the 11th game of the season, Fisher stepped in at safety for the Buffs against Washington State after starter Afolabi Laguda was ejected in the first quarter for targeting. That brought Fisher into the game against one of the nation’s leading aerial attacks, led by one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks, Luke Falk.

All Fisher did was finish with six tackles (all solo), including three third-down stops and a huge fourth-down stop to go along with one pass breakup. His fourth-down stop came at Colorado’s 15-yard line, with the Cougars trailing 28-24 and in position to regain the lead, helping turn momentum back in the Buffs’ favor in a game CU went on to win, 38-24.

For his efforts, Fisher was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – Practice No. 13

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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March 14th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU signs an Australian kicker

From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado head football coach Mike MacIntyre announced Tuesday that the Buffaloes have signed placekicker James Stefanou out of Australia to a National Letter of Intent.

Stefanou, a 6-1, 187-pound native of Melbourne, Australia, will have five years to complete his four seasons of eligibility with the Buffaloes beginning in the fall of 2017.

“James has a big leg,” MacIntyre said. “We are excited about having him, he is an excellent kicker and he will have a great career here at the University of Colorado.”

Stefanou has trained periodically over the course of the past six seasons at ProKick Australia, an academy developed to assist in the transition to American football by providing the fundamentals of punting and kicking. Alumni of the academy include the last four Ray Guy Award Winners; Tom Hornsey of Memphis in 2013, Tom Hackett of Utah in 2014 and 2015 and Mitch Wishnowsky of Utah in 2016.

He comes from a soccer background in Australia where he has elite level experience as a defender. He represented Australia on its U19 team, a youth progression team that is the feeder squad to the Olympic team. He also played professionally, most notably in two stints for South Melbourne FC, first from 2005-06 before he signed again with them in 2010.

Over the past six years in conjunction with his soccer career, Stefanou learned the art of placekicking with American football at ProKick Australia. He spent the past six months extensively training there, where Pittsburgh Steelers punter Jordan Berry has mentored him.

His long field goal in training was made from 63 yards out.

At Colorado, Stefanou looks forward to studying business. He already has a business background, having worked as a business development manager for a real estate company and serving as a sales manager at a local fitness center in Melbourne during his soccer career.

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March 13th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Fall Camp could open in July for just the third time in school history 

From CUBuffs.com … Thanks to some new recommendations from the NCAA concerning concussion prevention, Colorado could open fall camp in July for just the third time in program history.

The NCAA Sports Science Institute recently recommended that college football programs eliminate two-a-day practice sessions, a popular strategy of coaches across America. The recommendations also include reducing contact at all practices and reducing the days featuring full contact in practice to just one day per week during the season.

In order to give programs a chance to make up for the lost practices, the schools will be allowed to start their preseason camps one week earlier. In Colorado’s case, it means the Buffs have tentatively set July 28 as their opening day of fall camp.

Colorado has opened fall practices in July only twice previously in its history. The first came in 1990, when the Buffs played Tennessee in the Pigskin Classic in late August. The second came in 2001, when Colorado played Fresno State in late August.

Now, although the Buffs don’t open the season until Friday, Sept. 1, against Colorado State, they will likely open practice in July in order to get all the allowed practices in before the season begins.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice comments to media – Practice No. 12

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Chidobe Awuzie the favorite of one of ESPN’s Pac-12 writers

From ESPN … Under the heading: “Which Pac-12 player are you excited to watch on Sunday?“,  ESPN Pac-12 writer Chantel Jennings had this to say about CU defensive back Chidobe Awuzie:

However, the player I’m most excited to actually watch play in the NFL — not just where he ends up or what he ends up doing — is former Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Everyone loves an underdog story, and they don’t come much better than Awuzie’s. He was a member of Mike MacIntyre’s first recruiting class at Colorado and was a lesser-known three-star recruit out of California. He took a chance on a new coach with the Buffs and worked through some tough years and finishes in Boulder. I was in Corvallis during the 2015 season when he sealed the Oregon State win with an interception, and it was cool to see him, in that moment, kind of understand what that Pac-12 win meant for the program. I spoke with him at Pac-12 media days before the season started and I left the conversation thinking, against what seemed like crazy odds at that point late last July, that the Buffs could be a force in the South. I saw him in Eugene early in the 2016 season after the Buffs had given us a first glimpse of their skill, and when I watched him at the NFL combine this year, it was just kind of crazy to think about his journey. Not very many players have come further. Not very many players have been through what he went through. With how he transformed at Colorado, and how he helped the Buffs transform, I think he could have a very successful career at the next level, and it’s one that I’m excited to follow.

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March 11th

… CU in a few minutes …

Defensive lineman Leo Jackson III expected to be the leader of CU’s rebuilt defensive line

From the Daily Camera … If the Colorado football team is to be a contender in the Pac-12 this season, the Buffaloes know their defense has to be stellar once again.

To do that, the Buffs have to figure out how to rebuild a defensive line that lost all three starters to graduation. That could make Leo Jackson III one of the most important players on the team this year.

A senior, Jackson was the top reserve on the defensive front last season, when the Buffs went 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South division. With last year’s starters — Jordan Carrell, Samson Kafovalu and Josh Tupou — now training for a shot at the NFL, the Buffs need somebody to step up.

It could all start with Jackson.

“I expect him to be the leader of the group,” defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat said. “If he’s playing at a high level, he’s going to pull some other guys along.”

… Continue reading story here …

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March 10th

… CU in a few minutes …

Scrimmage report – MacIntyre: “We got a ton of plays in”

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs ran over 100 plays at Franklin Field, with coach Mike MacIntyre opting for a “full-speed thud” scenario – or full speed in all phases except tackling and putting ball carriers/receivers on the ground.

“We’ve had four practices this week and they’ve been practicing hard,” MacIntyre said. “And we got a ton of plays in (Friday), a ton.”

The scrimmage, which featured referees and plenty of mixing and matching personnel, put the Buffs in “almost every situation, which was good,” MacIntyre said. “I thought some of the DBs covered well, I thought a couple of the receivers made some big catches, which is good and bad there. And we came out of it healthy, which is always good.”

He said defensive progress is noticeable, “but you’re never satisfied. You know how that is. We’ll watch the film and see just how much progress there is. We played a lot of guys in different spots, moved some guys up.”

OUT AND ABOUT: Tailback Kyle Evans, who suffered a dislocated hip in last weekend’s scrimmage and underwent surgery on Monday, was at Friday’s scrimmage on crutches.

He was released from a local hospital on Thursday night. “They kicked me out because they said my rehab was going so good,” he said.

Evans said a plate and eight screws were used to repair his hip.

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D.J. Eliot still adjusting to life as a CU football coach

From CUBuffs.com … D.J. Eliot, as the saying goes, hit the ground running. The ground hit back. He got high marks for exuberance and intensity, but he also got a boot on his right leg.

Several spring practices ago, Eliot – hired in January as Colorado’s new defensive coordinator – might have gotten a bit carried away in demonstrating the mechanics of a drill, a coverage, a technique.

Whatever, he tore his right calf muscle.

“I was running around like a maniac . . . I’m not as youthful as I once was,” said Eliot, who will be booted up for roughly the next month while the injury heals.

His injury and the inconvenience of the boot might be small prices to pay if the Buffaloes can conjure up a portion of last season’s defensive magic that helped propel them to the Pac-12 South Division title.

In reality, it wasn’t magic or smoke and mirrors that stationed the Buffs high among the Pac-12’s top defensive units. It was veteran players and coaches coupled with their hard work in a scheme that suited them.

CU retained the 3-4 scheme – three down linemen, four linebackers – when former coordinator Jim Leavitt left for the same position at Oregon. That has helped Eliot’s in transition from a four-year stint at Kentucky, where he also coached the 3-4.

… Continue reading story here …

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March 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Record-setting day at CU Pro Timing Day

From CUBuffs.com … Fourteen former Buffaloes participated in the University of Colorado’s annual Pro Timing Day with 44 scouts from all 32 NFL teams in attendance. Wednesday marked the first time CU has hosted all 32 NFL teams for Pro Day since 1995.

Defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie, Tedric Thompson and Ahkello Witherspoon as well as quarterback Sefo Liufau participated in a few events, including position drills. However, the four athletes opted to defer to their NFL Combine numbers in the 40-yard dash, bench press and shuttle runs.

Other Buffs participating in Pro Timing Day included athlete Jaleel Awini, tight end Sean Irwin, offensive linemen Shane Callahan and Alex Kelley, linebackers Jimmie Gilbert, Kenneth Olugbodeand Deaysean Rippy and defensive linemen Jordan Carrell, Samson Kafovalu and Josh Tupou.

The players began in the weight room, measuring their height, weight, hand size and wingspan. Most notably, Jimmie Gilbert has put on upwards of 20 pounds to his frame, weighing in at 234.

Next, the athletes participated in the vertical jump and bench press. Samson Kafovalu turned in a notable performance, leading all Buffs with 33 reps at the bench press, while Chidobe Awuzie jumped the highest at 39.5 inches.

Pro Day then moved into the Indoor Practice Facility to complete the broad jump, 40-yard dash, Pro Shuttle and L-Drill and participate in the Latter Drill and position drills.

Gilbert turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time of the day at 4.64, while Awuzie was the fastest Buff, running 4.43, which was recorded in Indianapolis.

The 2017 NFL Draft will take place April 27-29 in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.          

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice comments to media – Practice No. 9

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Senior Jeromy Irwin: “Throwing me back at guard is helping me learn more of the offense”

From the Daily Camera … Jeromy Irwin has been at Colorado long enough — about 7,000 years, by his estimation — to have experienced just about everything as a football player.

Given his journey through college football, playing a new position doesn’t bother the sixth-year senior.

Last year’s starter at left tackle, Irwin has spent much of this spring at left guard, as the Buffaloes try to get looks at other players at tackle.

Offensive line coach Klayton Adams is searching for the best combination of five linemen, and it’s possible that Irwin’s best fit for this next season is at guard.

That would be just fine for Irwin, who has 26 career starts at left tackle, including 13 last season.

“I love guard,” said Irwin, who was second-team All-Pac-12 at tackle last season. “I played guard my first year or two years here and all through high school. Coach is just trying to get looks everywhere on the line. I like what he’s doing.”

… Continue reading story here …

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March 7th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Beau Bisharat willing to take on expanded role in the absence of injured Kyle Evans

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado running back Beau Bisharat arrived in Boulder last summer with a hefty resume and the outside expectations to match.

Bisharat, who rushed for 4,130 yards and 43 touchdowns at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Calif., was one of the more celebrated members of the Buffs’ 2016 recruiting class.

But while folks from the outside may have expected Bisharat to burst onto the scene, Bisharat knew it would be more of a grind than a burst. It is what he expected and it is what he encountered.

Disappointment, though, was never on his radar (although he admits to a little homesickness in the beginning). Learning, growing and getter better were his priorities.

“It wasn’t difficult at all,” Bisharat said of his freshman season. “You have to stay humble. I knew coming in Phillip (Lindsay) was a good back. I knew we had good backs in that room and I knew the (recruiting) stars don’t mean anything when you get here. Once you get here, you start from scratch. I understand that. I was taught that growing up you never come in expecting anything — you have to work for everything you get.”

… Continue reading story here …

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March 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Witherspoon, Thompson and Awuzie enhance draft stock at NFL Combine

From CUBuffs.com … Three former Buffs — all defensive backs — showed their stuff at the NFL Combine on Monday and all had outstanding days.

Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, the eighth-fastest time among cornerbacks and 11th fastest thus far in the combine. His 16 reps on the bench press were 10th best for cornerbacks and he had the second-best standing long jump at 11 feet.

Awuzie checked in at an even 6-foot-0, 202 pounds.

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, meanwhile, had the best vertical jump among cornerbacks — 40.5 inches — as well as the third-best overall. His 4.45 40 was 12th best among CBs and second best for corners 6-foot-3 and taller. He also measured 33-inch arms (fifth longest among CBs), and he checked in at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds.

Safety Tedric Thompson did 17 reps on the bench press (eighth best among safeties and just three off the leaders) and his 32.5-inch vertical leap was 13th best for safeties. Thompson checked in at 6-foot even and 204 pounds.

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Darrin Chiverini to wide receivers – step up your game, or spend time on the sideline

From CUBuffs.com … There may be no position on the Colorado football team more stocked with talent and depth than wide receiver.

Not only do the Buffs have every wide receiver who caught a pass last season returning, they also have a host of other players itching to get their foot in the door, and more ready to hit the field in the fall.

It has made for an “every snap” counts mentality in spring practices and some terrific competition at the position. Virtually every practice produces a handful of big plays by receivers, as the bar gets bumped a little higher on a daily basis.

The biggest takeaway thus far?

“You’ve got to work if you want to be playing on Saturdays,” offensive co-coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini said after Monday’s workout. “You have to earn your spot. Nothing’s going to be given to you. If you’re struggling or if you’re not doing your job, you’re going to be passed up.”

The Buffs wideouts have taken that to heart.

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – Monday

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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March 5th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Jon Wilner takes a look at CU’s spring practices

From the San Jose Mercury News …

COLORADO

Start: Feb. 22
Scrimmage: March 18 (TV: Pac-12 Mountain, 12 p.m. PDT)
Coach: Mike MacIntyre
Win totals by year at Colorado: 4-2-4-10
Hot Seat rating: Frosty* (* = see below: Big picture)

What to watch: There’s plenty, especially on defense … The Buffs have a new coordinator, D.J. Eliot, who is replacing the brilliant Jim Leavitt (now at Oregon). This would be a greater concern for the Buffs if their head coach had an offensive bent, but MacIntyre’s background is defense and that should ease the transition … Every defensive line starter is gone, as are three elite starters in the secondary and star linebackers Jimmie Gilbert and Kenneth Olugbode — basically, the defense was gutted by attrition … Which mid-year transfer (Chris Mulumba) will show signs (Chris Mulumba) of being an impact player (Chris Mulumba)?

QB status: The Buffs could do a lot worse than having Steven Montez as their presumed starter. He has a big arm and played with poise in ’16 when subbing for Sefo Liufau. But CU’s backup, Sam Noyer, is a redshirt freshman. That combination of a first-year starter and inexperience backup is precarious. At least the Buffs are loaded at receiver with the firm of Fields, Ross and Bobo.

Big picture: Based only on CU’s on-field performance, MacIntyre’s job security would be frosty — he would have a nice, fat contract extension following his national coach of the year performance. But the Joe Tumpkin domestic-abuse allegations, CU’s handling of Tumpkin and the resulting investigation have delayed MacIntyre’s extension. The well-being of the victim and deliverance of justice are paramount, of course. But if we view the situation through the narrow lends of CU football, the issue this spring and into the summer is whether there are far-reaching repercussions. (It doesn’t seem like the situation is headed that way.) At some point, I would like to hear the administration address what, if any, impact the Baylor scandal had on how CU handled the allegations against Tumpkin — what MacIntyre was told to do, and not do.

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Kyle Evans suffers a hip dislocation – status for 2017 season unknown

From the Daily Camera … Colorado running back Kyle Evans suffered a hip dislocation during a scrimmage on Saturday at Folsom Field.

On Sunday, CU associate athletic director David Plati said Evans, who left the stadium in an ambulance, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. Evans will be hospitalized until Thursday.

Plati said Evans’ status for the 2017 season won’t be known until after surgery. Plati added that Evans was in good spirits when head coach Mike MacIntyre visited him on Sunday morning, and that Evans’ parents are coming to Colorado to be with him.

A 5-foot-6, 175-pound junior, Evans is from San Jose, Calif. He came to CU was a walk-on in 2014, and was awarded a scholarship last fall.

Last season, Evans was the primary back-up to starter Phillip Lindsay. Evans rushed for 346 yards and three touchdowns and caught eight passes for 114 yards.

Without Evans, the Buffs have just four scholarship running backs for the second half of spring ball, and that includes senior Donovan Lee, who has been practicing at cornerback.

Lindsay is back for his senior year, and senior Michael Adkins II gives the Buffs another experienced back.

… Continue reading story here …

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March 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – first spring scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation.com:

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CU spring scrimmage story – Buffs run 83 plays … Running back Kyle Evans injured

… Related … “Buffs Youngsters To Get Chance To Make Impression In Saturday Scrimmage” … from CUBuffs.com

… Related … “Running back Kyle Evans injured in Buffs’ scrimmage” … from the Daily Camera

… Related … “Trey Udoffia, others progressing in Buffs’ secondary” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … First spring football scrimmages usually focus on adjustments, and in Colorado’s case Saturday at Folsom Field most of the adjusting was done on defense – by coaches as well as players.

CU is breaking in three new coaches on that side of the ball, including coordinator D.J. Eliot, linebackers coach Ross Els and secondary coach ShaDon Davis.

The changes represent a virtual overhaul from the 2016 season, when the Buffs’ ‘D’ ranked among the top units nationally and in the Pac-12 Conference under Jim Leavitt.

But head coach Mike MacIntyre said Saturday’s 83-play scrimmage, which lasted just over an hour, showed that progress is being made by the three new coaches and their players.

“This was the first scrimmage with all the coaches on the sidelines; we wanted to see what they know,” MacIntyre said. “We lined up well, did some good things and I thought overall they did a really good job. We kept the same terminology, the same defense. It’s just them getting used to how we do things every day.”

… Continue reading story here …

INJURY REPORT: Tailback Kyle Evans suffered a hip injury late in Saturday’s scrimmage and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

“It was a negative way to end,” MacIntyre said. “I don’t know how bad it is . . . that put a downer on it (the scrimmage).”

MacIntyre said there is adequate depth at the position but having anyone injured always is a negative. “We’ve got good running backs but hopefully (Evans) will be all right.”

SATURDAY’S SCORING PLAYS: Lindsay 3 run (no PAT kick) . . . . Dylan Keeney 3 pass from Montez (no PAT kick) . . . . Ento 3 pass from Lytle (no PAT kick) . . . . Graham 37 FG . . . . Xavier Cochrane 40 pass from Lytle (no PAT kick) . . . . Ento 35 pass from Noyer (no PAT kick) . . . . Price 26 FG . . . . Graham 32 FG. Totals: 5 touchdowns (1 rush, 4 pass, 0 return).

NOTES: Receiver Kabion Ento continues to work himself into open spaces and make acrobatic catches . . . . Linebackers Lewis and Akil Jones both show sideline-to-sideline speed and the ability to tackle in the open field . . . . N.J. Falo is being given a spring look at ILB. MacIntyre said Falo, who has experience on the outside, “can always go back; he understands that (position) real well.” . . . . All three QBs – Montez, redshirt freshman Noyer and true freshman Lytle – have lively arms, but Montez’s game experience stands out . . . . Tailback Beau Bisharat is developing into a powerful runner who could fill a need in that area this fall . . . . The O-line continues to be a work in progress, as does the D-line.

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March 3rd

… CU in a few minutes …

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – Practice No. 6

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation.com:

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March 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Kabion Ento wants to be a part of the wide receiver rotation

From CUBuffs.com … It’s no secret that wide receiver is one of the most heated position battles in spring ball for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Not only do the Buffs have every receiver who caught a pass last year returning, there are a host of talented receivers ready to join the team next summer.

It is, quite simply, a situation that means every pass caught in every practice is magnified in importance — never mind every conditioning drill, every sprint and every meeting.

Put senior Kabion Ento on the list of wideouts who are making the most of every one of those opportunities. In Wednesday’s first full-contact work of spring ball, Ento hauled in two long touchdown passes — one each from quarterbacks Steven Montez and Sam Noyer — along with a sky-high leaping grab on the sidelines. It was clearly the best performance of any of the wide receivers on the day.

“It’s what my coach always talks about, making the most of your opportunities,” Ento said after the practice “They’re not going to put more on you than you can handle; but you have to be ready to handle everything they give you. I just have to keep improving and become more consistent, and it all starts in practice.”

… Continue reading story here …

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CU secondary – rebuilding or reloading?

From CUBuffs.com … What people will definitely see is a Buffs secondary with a different look next fall. Along with the task of  replacing starters Chidobe Awuzie, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tedric Thompson, the CU secondary is also working under the guidance of a new coach, ShaDon Brown.

“When you lose three guys that go to the NFL Combine, most definitely you’re going to have a dropoff until you build the depth back up,” Brown said after Wednesday’s practice. “Most of the guys we’re playing with at corner right now are freshmen or transfer guys and you’re trying to develop those guys and keep their confidence up. But the raw talent is most definitely there. The more reps they get, the better and faster they’ll play.”

It’s not as if Brown inherited a secondary completely devoid of experience. Along with Laguda, who started all 14 games last season, Colorado also returns cornerback Isaiah Oliver (five career starts, 440 defensive snaps last season), safety/Buff back Ryan Moeller (nine starts last year) and safety Nick Fisher (107 defensive snaps last season and one Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week award).

“We’ve got some good leadership from guys like Fo and Moeller and Isaiah,” Brown said. “Those guys are doing a great of leading and trying to help get those young guys in the right place, and that’s important when you’ve got a lot of young guys.”

… Continue reading story here …

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March 1st

… CU in a few minutes …

Mike MacIntyre post-practice comments – Practice No. 5

From YouTube.com, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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How CU chose its captains last season

… An excellent story. Definitely worth your time …

From MaxPreps.com … Mike MacIntyre at Colorado found an interesting method of picking captains for his team.

American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year Mike MacIntyre addressed the AFCA Convention in January, after he led the University of Colorado to a 10-4 record and a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game.

The process that MacIntyre and his staff used to choose team captains for the 2016 led to the best leadership he had ever seen on a team. That is high praise from a coach who has spent a lifetime dedicated to this profession.

Choosing their captains, because they aren’t choosing kids that are players now, that is a critical error.

This is about the process the Colorado used. What would this look like in your program?

With the whole team in the room, MacIntyre first asked all of the players who did not have one and a half years in the program to leave the room. About 35-40 percent of the players got up and left the room.

Next, he told the remaining group to make a list when he left the room. This list would be written on a white board in the front of the room. He told players to develop a list of all of the characteristics that a team captain should have. This took them about 45 minutes to complete; it was all player-led as he waited outside the room.

… Continue reading story here …

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February 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Neill Woelk gives Buff fans updates on CU spring practices

From CUBuffs.com … Notes, quotes and observations as Mike MacIntyre‘s Colorado Buffaloes get ready to head into their second week of spring ball:

… One thing that’s becoming apparent early is that despite the loss of one the most influential senior classes in recent years, the 2017 Buffs won’t lack leadership.

For starters, three of last year’s team captains — offensive lineman Jeromy Irwin, running back Phillip Lindsay and (now) defensive lineman George Frazier — all return. Those three, plus a handful of other key upperclassmen, have stepped in to take the role assumed by last year’s leaders. It was evident in strength and conditioning drills heading into the spring practice sessions, and it is clearly the case now.

…  Speaking of Frazier, it will be a surprise if the fifth-year senior isn’t a key contributor on the defensive line this year.

… Speaking of the one-on-one drills, one of the more interesting matchups of the spring manifested itself earlier this week when Irwin, who is experimenting at guard this spring, matched up with nose tackle Javier Edwards.

… By the time next fall rolls around, it will have been four seasons since outside linebacker Sam Bennion played in an organized game.

… Expected to be one of the more competitive position battles before spring ball, wide receiver hasn’t disappointed. Virtually every player at the position has had a bright moment or two thus far.

… BUFFS BITS: With mainstay Addison Gillam taking a “sabbatical” this spring, it’s opened the doors for several other players in the battle for a position alongside junior Rick Gamboa at inside linebacker. So far, juniors Drew Lewis and N.J. Falo have looked good at the spot. … Two other youngsters who are making some waves at linebacker are redshirt freshmen Pookie Maka and Akil Jones. … Timothy Coleman has shown some good pass rush work from the defensive end spot. … A healthy Michael Adkins is showing some flashes at running back. … Sophomore Anthony Julmisse is having a good spring at cornerback, a spot where the Buffs need to replace a pair of starters (although Isaiah Oliver is almost certain to nail down one of those spots). … Safeties Ryan Moeller and Afolabi Laguda have picked up where they left off last fall and will no doubt be mainstays, and Evan White and Nick Fisherare also making plays in the secondary.

SCHEDULE: The Buffs will practice again Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week, with a scrimmage tentatively scheduled for Saturday. Also this week, CU will host its annual coaches clinic on Friday.

… Read full story here …

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February 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU quarterbacks young, but talented 

From CUBuffs.com … When it comes to Colorado’s quarterbacks this year, it is a position fairly bursting with potential —  and scant in experience.

All told, the entire Buffaloes roster of quarterbacks has exactly one player who has thrown a pass in a college game —  sophomore Steven Montez, who also happens to be the “veteran” of the group. Only walkon senior T.J. Patterson is older than Montez; after that, the rest of the roster consists of three redshirt freshmen and a true freshman.

They are indeed the Buffs’ “Young Guns.”

“As a redshirt sophomore, being the veteran in the group is a little crazy, a little surreal,” Montez said after Monday morning’s practice. “But you have to grow up quick and be a leader and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

… Continue reading story here …

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MIXING AND MATCHING: CU coaches continue to work a variety of players at different positions as they see what combinations might work. Sophomore offensive lineman Tim Lynott Jr., the only CU lineman to start all 14 games last season, is once again seeing some time at center, as is Jonathan Huckins, as the Buffs continue the search for a replacement for three-year starter Alex Kelley.

MacIntyre said Lynott is obviously most comfortable at guard, as that’s where he played last season. “But he can play center and he could be very good at it,” MacIntyre said. “He’s more comfortable at center than he was this time last spring or last fall. Now he’s doing it a lot more, he understands it, I think he understands all the calls.”

Also getting some work in this spring have been Josh Kaiser and Dillon Middlemiss at tackle, and Jeromy Irwin has been working at guard. Defensively, the Buffs are taking a look at redshirt freshman Sam Bennion at outside linebacker while N.J. Falo, who played outside last year, is getting some work at inside linebacker. …

At Monday morning’s practice, George Frazier, Javier Edwards and Timothy Coleman each had their moments in 1-on-1 drills vs. the offensive line. … On the offensive side, Irwin and Lynott had good outings. … Defensive back Isaiah Oliver was back on the field Monday after spending the weekend competing in the Mountain States Pacific Federation heptathlon, where he finished ninth. … Safety Ryan Moeller had a nice interception of a deep ball in team drills. … Shay Fields, who is having an excellent spring thus far, came up with a nice leaping catch in traffic. … Sophomore Brett Tonz, who made the move from defensive line to offensive line this spring, is also turning some heads.

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Coach MacIntyre post-practice talk with media – Practice No. 4

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation.com

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February 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Sixth-year senior Jeromy Irwin looking forward to “senior” season

From CUBuffs.com … Had Jeromy Irwin chosen to do so, he could be preparing for an NFL career this spring. He could have walked away from school and spent the spring getting ready for draft workouts, meeting with scouts and preparing for the next level.

Instead, the sixth-year senior tackle is back in a Colorado uniform, going through yet another spring football session and preparing for one more fall with the Buffaloes.

There is, after all, a job not quite finished in Boulder. While the Buffs took a big step in the direction he vowed to help take them when he arrived, Irwin wants to make sure everything is on solid footing — both personally and from a program standpoint — before he takes his last snap in Folsom Field.

“Honestly, there are two reasons to come back,” Irwin said. “Personally I wasn’t where I wanted to be last year in terms of strength and coming off the injury (a torn ACL that forced him to miss almost the entire 2015 season). I needed more time to get where I want to be athletically and build my body up.

“But, last year … I know it was a good year, but it really left a sour taste in my mouth. We just didn’t show up in the confetti games. It’s nice to set goals, and we wanted to make it to those games and we made it — but I want to win them. I don’t want to just get there.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Getting to Know: Ross Els

… Related … CU Press Release: “Els Named Inside Linebackers Coach At Colorado” ... from CUBuffs.com

… Related … “Ross Els excited for chance with CU Buffs” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … New Colorado assistant coach Ross Els was on the field for the second day for the Buffs on Saturday, CU’s first day in full pads this spring.

Els will have a big learning curve this spring, as he hasn’t coached in a 3-4 defensive scheme before. But he is already spending extra time with defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot and believes he will get up to speed in a hurry.

“I like the intensity, I like the effort they put forth,” Els said after Saturday’s practice. “Once I start learning the scheme a little better, then I can help them as far as the Xs and Os. But they’re playing hard, they’re attentive, they’re good kids. I think we’re physical; we’ll find out when we can tackle.”

That will come Monday, when the Buffs hold their first “50-50” tackling practice of the spring in pads. NCAA rules allow four practices in pads with no tackling, five in pads with tackling allowed 50 percent of the time and three in pads with tackling allowed throughout (scrimmages).

… Continue reading story here …

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February 25th

… CU in a few minutes …

Linebacker Addison Gillam on “sabbatical” – may not return

From the Daily Camera … One player Els won’t work with this spring is Addison Gillam, a senior who was projected to start at inside linebacker. Gillam is taking what MacIntyre described as “a sabbatical” from the team this spring, and it’s unclear if he will return.

“He’s just taking some time off right now,” MacIntyre said, adding that Gillam is using the time to rest his knee.

Gillam missed most of the 2015 season with a knee injury that also kept him out of spring ball in 2016. He remained healthy throughout the 2016 season, however, and finished fifth on the team with 66 tackles while splitting time with Rick Gamboa.

With Gillam not involved this spring, Gamboa and Drew Lewis, both juniors, are running with the first unit.

Junior NJ Falo is also in the mix after bulking up and moving in from the outside linebacker spot he played last season. Falo said he is playing alongside redshirt freshman Akil Jones with the second team.

… Continue reading story (primary story about new linebackers coach Ross Els) here …

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Defensive end Javier Edwards making good first impressions

From CUBuffs.com … The first thing you notice about Colorado nose tackle Javier Edwards is that he is a big man.

No surprise. Division I defensive linemen are supposed to be big, and Edwards fits the bill. Listed as 6-foot-3, 350 pounds, on CU’s signing day press release, he’s every bit of that.

But the next thing you notice about Edwards, at least when he’s on the field, is that he moves well. Not that he’s going to be challenging Buffs wideout Shay Fields in a 40-yard sprint anytime soon, but quick enough and fast enough that he catches your eye. While he is clearly the biggest man on the field, he is not the last man off the field when the defense sprints to the sidelines, and he holds his own in the dreaded up-down sprint drills.

In short, he’s what every 3-4 defense needs — a big body in the middle with strength and mobility. Good for the Buffs; headache for opponents.

“He’s big and strong,” said Buffs defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat. “Javier wants to be good and he’s doing the things that he needs to do to be good. He’s gotten his weight down since he’s been here and he’s been doing extra work. He’s a really good kid and he’s getting better and better.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (practice No. 3, first day in pads)

From YouTube, courtesy of CU Sports Nation:

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February 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU hires Ross Els as inside linebackers coach

From CUBuffs.com … Ross Els, a 27-year veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks, has been hired as an assistant coach on the University of Colorado football staff, head coach Mike MacIntyre announced Friday.

Els, 51, will coach the inside linebackers as he fills the remaining vacancy on the CU staff.  His paperwork was completed in time for him to join the team on the field in the Buffaloes’ second practice of the spring Friday morning.

He joins the Colorado program from Purdue University, where he served as the Boilermakers’ defensive coordinator in 2016 under head coach Darrell Hazell.

“Coach Ross Els brings a lot of energy,” MacIntyre said.  “He has great experience as a coordinator, positions coach and special teams coach, and we’re really excited about having his expertise in those phases in our program.”

The reshuffled defensive staff under MacIntyre for this season features three new faces: Els, D.J. Elliot(defensive coordinator and outside linebackers) and ShaDon Brown (secondary).  Jim Jeffcoat returns for his fifth season coaching the defensive line.

“I’m extremely excited to be a part of a class program like Colorado that does things right and wins football games,” Els said. “Coach MacIntyre’s reputation – of doing things right and the success he’s had at San Jose and here – was a draw obviously as well as being able to work with D.J. Eliot, who’s done a great job wherever he’s been.  It’s really a quality staff with a bunch of good people that win games.”

Els has the bulk of his experience as an assistant coach working with the linebackers, and all but one of his 27 years devoted on the defensive side of the ball.  He spent four years at the University of Nebraska from 2011-14 under coach Bo Pellini, his first season as linebackers coach with the responsibilities of coordinating both special teams and recruiting added to his duties for the last three years.  One of his top players while he was with the Huskers was Lavonte David, a finalist for the Butkus Award and the 2011 Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, as well as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lott Trophy.  He was a second round selection by Tampa Bay in the 2012 National Football League Draft.

In 2012, he coached Nebraska’s leading tackler, Will Compton, who record 110 total stops, six of which were for losses including three quarterback sacks.  That aided a 10-win season and a berth in the Big Ten’s championship game.

Nebraska was 37-16 in his four years on its staff, including four bowl appearances: Capital One (2012 and 2013), TaxSlayer Gator (2014) and Holiday (2014).  In-between his Nebraska and Purdue appointments, he spent the 2015 season as an assistant coach at his son’s high school, Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest.

Prior to Nebraska, he was the linebackers coach for six seasons, working under a former NU graduate in Frank Solich.  In his third season there, he was named the Bobcats’ special teams coordinator, and in his final year there (2010), Solich promoted him to assistant head coach.  He coached four All-Mid-American Conference linebackers, in addition helping OU to two MAC East Division titles and three bowl appearances:

In 2010, Ohio’s defense ranked 20th nationally and second in the MAC in rushing defense.   Els’ special teams were also a key part of Ohio’s 8-5 season that culminated with a trip to the New Orleans Bowl. The Bobcats ranked first in the 14-team MAC in net punting, third in punt returns and fifth in kickoff returns.  In 2009, he tutored linebacker Noah Keller, who led the MAC with 155 tackles en route to earning honorable mention All-America honors.  He also coached punt returner LaVon Brazil to second-team All-America honors that season, while placekicker Matt Weller was named a Freshman All-American after kicking a school record 21 field goals.

He coached in Division I (now the FBS) for the first time when he spent four years at New Mexico State University, first tutoring the safeties and special teams for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and then the linebackers along with a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004.  He worked under Tony Samuel, another former Nebraska player and assistant coach, during his time in Las Cruces.

Els was the head coach at Hastings (Neb.) College from 1997-2000, where he was the quarterbacks coach in 1995 and the defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 1996.  As Hastings’ head coach, Els compiled a 32-9 record, including NAIA playoff appearances in 1998 and 1999.

A 1988 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he majored in Management Information Systems and lettered four years as a safety.  He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Northern Iowa, where he earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education in 1999; that’s where he began his coaching career a decade earlier as a graduate assistant (in 1989), working with the linebackers and secondary.

He then returned to his alma mater, UNO, for his first full-time position in the ranks, coaching the secondary for four seasons (1990-93).

Els obviously has a lot of ties to the state of Nebraska, and the Huskers reappear on CU’s schedule in 2018 (at Lincoln) and 2019 (in Boulder).  “We had to play Nebraska when I was at Purdue. That’s part of the deal whenever you go somewhere near where you’re from. That won’t be a factor until that game week. Then, it’ll be just like any other game.”

He was born August 14, 1965 in Lincoln, Neb., and graduated from Lincoln Northeast High where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.  He is married to the former Jane Ketterer, and the couple has two daughters, Julie and Taylor (a sophomore on the volleyball team at Northern Colorado), and a son, Bo.

 COACHING EXPERIENCE

(Note: he is NOT related to Ernie Els, but “would love to have his golf swing.”)

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Tight end George Frazier moves to defensive line

From the Daily Camera … After losing all three starting defensive linemen to graduation, the Colorado football team is finding a variety of ways to fill those holes.

They’re even taking another look at George Frazier.

The fifth-year senior tight end and fullback is practicing at defensive line this spring.

“I thought about it and asked (head coach Mike MacIntyre) about it, and once I brought it up, he knew exactly where I was going with it,” Frazier said. “We were side by side with (the idea).”

Frazier, in fact, began preparing for this during the 2016 season.

Primarily a blocking tight end, he began last season weighing 260 pounds, but during the season added 20 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame. He has maintained that weight, coming into spring at 280 pounds.

“I believe at the end of the season I was able to hold this weight and still move around,” said Frazier, who is working at defensive end.

… Continue reading story here …

Notable

Sophomore Brett Tonz, who has played defensive line in his first two seasons in the program, is working with the offensive line in the early going of spring drills. … Tailback Donovan Lee is also working at defensive back. Lee, who had 414 yards in total offense in 2015, had just 135 yards in limited playing time last season

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Leaner Steven Montez looking to make his mark in 2017

From CUBuffs.com … Just about everyone associated with Colorado football has fond memories of Steven Montez‘s starting debut.

The Buffs quarterback burst onto the scene last fall with an unforgettable effort in a 41-38 win over Oregon. The then-redshirt freshman threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 135 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first player in CU history to throw for at least 300 yards and run for at least 100 in the same game.

Memorable, indeed.

But while Montez remembers the win — a key moment in CU’s 10-4, Pac-12 South title turnaround season — it’s not just the numbers he remembers.

He also remembers gasping for breath after some of his runs, barely able to get up and get back to the line of scrimmage in time for the next play.

“Honestly, it was kind of embarrassing,” Montez said Wednesday after the Buffs first spring practice. “I was pretty much getting dragged by my O-lineman up and down the field because I was so tired and so out of shape and just so fat.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 23rd

… CU in a few minutes …

Isaac Miller happy to be back in the fold

From the Daily Camera … Just about everything went well for Isaac Miller during spring practices a year ago.

Until the end.

Miller was named the Buffaloes’ most improved offensive lineman during the spring in 2016 and was thought to be in the running for a starting role at tackle last fall.

During the spring game on April 9, however, Miller left early with a sprained MCL. He never really recovered, however, and didn’t play last season.

“It was tough,” the Silver Creek High School graduate said. “I had a good spring. (The injury) was supposed to be a minor, easy recovery and it’s kind of been a setback for me, but I’m doing everything I can to get back and trying to take care of business.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Mike MacIntyre talk with media after first day of practice

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

… Related … “ ‘Hungry’ Buffs Open 2017 Spring Drills” … from CUBuffs.com

… (Semi)Related (all about the investigation, nothing about practice) … “CU Buffs’ Mike MacIntyre pleased to focus on football, put distractions aside” … from the Daily Camera

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YouTube highlights of first practice, from CUBuffs.com:

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Defensive lineman Frank Umu looking to make an impact in 2017

From the Daily Camera … While the Colorado football team had its breakout season in 2016, Frank Umu knew his time to shine would have to wait.

A redshirt freshman last season, Umu spent the fall as a reserve defensive tackle who rarely played. While he did play on special teams — and 18 snaps on defense — Umu kept his eyes on the future.

The future is now for Umu, who is one of several players vying for starting jobs on the defensive line as the Buffaloes (10-4, 8-1 Pac-12 last season) open spring practice on Wednesday.

“I’m really just trying to have that breakout season, get my chance to start; push to start and compete,” said Umu, a 2015 graduate of Heritage High School in Littleton. “There’s so many of us, there’s going to be a lot of competition this spring. That’s definitely going to push everybody else to get better, so we should be better as a unit.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 21st

… CU in a few minutes … 

Spring Schedule released

… not a surprise, but only the Spring Game will be open to the public …

From CUBuffs.com …

FEBRUARY 22— Practice # 1 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED shorts/helmets

FEBRUARY 24— Practice # 2 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED shorts/helmets

FEBRUARY 25— Practice # 3 (7:00 a.m. meetings, 8:00-10:30 a.m. practice) CLOSED pads-NT

FEBRUARY 27— Practice # 4 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED pads-50/50

MARCH 1— Practice # 5 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 3— Practice # 6 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice; Annual Coaches Clinic) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 4— Practice # 7 (8:30 a.m. meetings, 9:30 a.m.-Noon scrimmage) CLOSED pads

MARCH 6— Practice # 8 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 8— Practice # 9 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA PRO TIMING DAY (1:00 p.m., Indoor Practice Facility; ’16 seniors: assorted sprints and drills)

MARCH 9— Practice #10 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 10— Practice #11 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30 a.m. scrimmage) CLOSED pads

MARCH 13— Practice #12 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 15— Practice #13 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED TBA

MARCH 17— Practice #14 (7:30 a.m. meetings, 8:30-11:00 a.m. practice) CLOSED shorts/helmets

MARCH 18— SPRING GAME (Practice #15; meetings TBA, 1:00 p.m. game; Pac 12 Network, KOA-Radio) OPEN pads

PRACTICE ACCESS (MEDIA & PUBLIC): Most spring practices are generally closed; when they are open, Coach Mike MacIntyre encourages families to come out and enjoy the sessions. Closed practices are open to player families, high school coaches, former players, staff members and donors and sponsors (accompanied by appropriate CU staff) provided they register with the football operations office in advance.

Schools are allowed 15 practices over 34 days per NCAA rules (not including spring break); sessions break down as follows, tentatively listed below on the column on the right: three in shorts (no contact), four in pads (no tackling, or NT below), five in pads (tackling allowed 50 percent or less of the time), three in pads (tackling allowed throughout, as in extended scrimmages). The primary location will be the practice field south of the Indoor Practice Facility (where sessions will be during inclement weather); the spring game will be at Folsom Field and will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks.

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ESPN lists Colorado’s “Must-Win” and “Trap” games

From ESPN … When is it too early to start dissecting the 2017 football schedule? Whenever it was, it is behind us …

We’re taking a look at some of the most important games each Pac-12 team has waiting for it in the fall: the must-wins and the trap games. Next up: Colorado.

Must-win game: Nov. 4 at Arizona State.

Trap game: Oct. 14 at Oregon State.

… Read full story here …

… Not that anyone is asking, but my “Must-Win” game and “Trap Game”  for CU this fall would be reversed from what ESPN is listing.

Oregon State is the “Must Win” game on October 14th. Assuming CU gets past its non-conference schedule (CSU, Texas State, and Northern Colorado), the next three games are Washington (probable loss), at UCLA (possible loss) and Arizona (probable win). The Oregon State game is next, and on the road. On paper, the Buffs look like a clear favorite, but, as noted, the Beavers are improving. CU has a two-game winning streak against Oregon State (the first winning “streak” for the Buffs against any Pac-12 team), but, if the 2016 season momentum is to be maintained, this can’t be a loss. 

Conversely, the Arizona State game on November 4th is my “Trap” game. If all goes according to Hoyle, USC, Colorado and Utah, the top three teams in the Pac-12 South in 2016, will be the top three teams in the Pac-12 South in 2017. If that proves to be the case, then CU’s last two games – USC on November 11th; and at Utah on November 25th, will play a huge role in determining the 2017 Pac-12 South champion. If CU gets to November in contention, it would be easy to look forward to the Trojans and Utes, and look past the Sun Devils, a team the Buffs blasted last fall. CU has only one victory – ever – against Arizona State, and has yet to play even the semblance of a good game in Tempe since joining the league. ASU may not be a great team in 2017, but CU cannot assume this road game will be a victory. 

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Neill Woelk – Ten Buffs to Watch during spring practices

… Related … “After short offseason, Buffs ready for spring ball” … from the Daily Camera (Including: “5 Questions facing the Buffs” … “Five Veterans to Watch” … “Five Newcomers to Watch” … and “Players Ready to Breakout”).

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From Neill Woelk at CUBuffs.com … With Mike MacIntyre‘s fifth spring session in Boulder set to begin Wednesday, here are 10 players whose development will be interesting to watch as spring ball unfolds.

(Before you check out the story, see how many of ten you can guess. Hint: one quarterback; one running back; one wide receiver; one offensive lineman; three defensive linemen; two linebackers; one defensive back)

… Continue reading story here …

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February 20th 

… CU in a few minutes …

New defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot: “I’m about 50 percent fluent” in CU’s defense

From the Daily Camera … D.J. Eliot isn’t exactly trying to learn a whole new language, but it sometimes feels that way to Colorado’s new defensive coordinator.

Hired by CU last month, Eliot will employ the same 3-4 defensive scheme that the Buffaloes have used over the past two years.

It’s also the same scheme Eliot ran at Kentucky the past four years, but the terminology is much different.

CU, which begins spring practices on Wednesday, must replace eight senior starters from last year, as well as three assistant coaches. With all of that turnover, Eliot felt it would make the transition easier for the players if he adopted their terminology.

“Sometimes it’s been hard,” he said. “It’s kind of like learning a new language, but I think it’s easier to teach one guy than to teach 50. It’ll be fine. I’m already, I’d say, about 50 percent fluent. By the end of the spring, I expect to be 100 percent fluent.”

… Continue reading story here …

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February 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

College Football News … Colorado the No. 41 team in the nation

From College Football News … CU 2017 opponents … Texas State – No. 126 … California – No. 69 … Oregon State – No. 68 … Arizona – No. 60 … Colorado State – No. 57 … Utah – No. 47 … Arizona State – No. 42 … Still to come – UCLA; USC; Stanford; Washington (Northern Colorado from the FCS not ranked, so, if the College Football News is to be believed, Colorado will finish the 2017 regular season with an 8-4 record) …

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Colorado Buffaloes Prespring Status

It was the biggest shocker of the 2016 season as Colorado went from Pac-12 doormat to the conference title game, but it all crashed with a thud. Forget for a moment that the Buffs only had a few nice wins and lost to USC, 10-4 was a special run considering how bad they’ve been since joining the conference. But they lost to Washington and Oklahoma State by a combined score of 79-18 to close out the year, couldn’t get the offense going against the better teams – except for, maybe, Washington State – and now have to prove it all over again.

QB Sefo Liufau might be gone, but most of the other key parts of the offense are back. Eight starters return on O, including almost everyone who did something meaningful for the passing game. However …

Colorado Buffaloes Biggest Issue

The defense that was so fantastic in the run to the Pac-12 South title has to all but start over. The defensive front three needs three new starters, two of the four starting linebackers are done, and three starters are gone in the secondary including star Tedric Thompson at one safety spot and both corners Chidobe Awizie and Ahkello Witherspoon. Eight of the top 12 tacklers, 11 of the 15 interceptions, and 25.5 of the 36 sacks have to be replaced.

Colorado Buffaloes Biggest Positive

286 of last year’s 289 receptions are back, including Shay Fields, Devin Ross, and everyone who caught more than one pass. This was a big play, efficient passing game that should be terrific again, going along with the returning 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground from Phillip Lindsay. It doesn’t help to lose Liufau, but Steven Montez occasionally filled in and was fine, hitting 59% of his passes with nine scores and just five picks.

Really, Why Are The Colorado Buffaloes Ranked Here?

That was great – now do it again. The offense should be able to hang around with just about anyone, but there are way, way too many key losses from the nation’s 19th-ranked defense to expect the same results. The D might not drop off the map to get back to 2014 and 2015 levels – the 2016 defense improved by over 100 yards from the one two years go – but it’s asking for way too much to be as good.

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February 18th

… CU in a few minutes …

Neill Woelk posts his ten priorities for CU heading into spring practices

From CUBuffs.com … It’s been less than two months since Mike MacIntyre‘s Colorado Buffaloes closed the 2016 season with the program’s first bowl game in nearly a decade.

It’s made for a short offseason as well as setting the stage for perhaps one of the more anticipated spring football sessions in years, one that will begin to answer a long list of questions.

Of course, the biggest question — how do the Buffs follow up their historic 2016 turnaround season? — won’t be answered until next fall.

But this year’s spring session, which begins next Wednesday and culminates with the March 18 Spring Game, should still begin to provide at least a good glimpse of what we can expect when the Buffs hit fall camp in preparation for the 2017 season.

There will be plenty of issues for the Buffs to address, beginning with replacing eight starters on a defense that finished 19th in the nation in yards allowed last year. (That starters number, though, is a bit misleading: while the Buffs lost eight defensive starters, they still return at least a half-dozen players with significant starting experience).

Here’s a look at 10 priorities for the Buffs as they begin their allowed 15 spring practice sessions next week:

… Continue reading story here …

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February 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Regents approve contract for defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot

From the Daily Camera … Colorado regents voted Friday to approve the three-year contract for new football defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot.

Hired last month, Eliot is set to make $700,000 annually over the next three years, through Dec. 31, 2019, making him the highest paid assistant coach in school history.

Two regents were not present at Friday’s meetings, but the seven who were there voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Eliot’s contract will pay him a base salary of $500,000. In addition, Eliot will receive $200,000 in supplemental salary — $100,000 for Nike sponsorship support and $100,000 for community outreach.

As with other coaches, Eliot will receive $7,500 to use on a membership to the Boulder Country Club and receive $2,500 worth of Nike products. CU will reimburse Eliot, who came to CU after four years at Kentucky, for moving expenses (up to $20,000).

If Eliot were to leave the Buffs prior to Dec. 31 of this year, he would owe CU $600,000 in liquidated damages. He would owe $300,000 if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2018, and $150,000 before Dec. 31, 2019.

An additional $100,000 will be added to those liquidated damages if Eliot leaves CU to take a position at another Pac-12 school. That clause was not written in the contract of Eliot’s processor, Jim Leavitt, who left CU in December to take the defensive coordinator job at Pac-12 rival Oregon.

… Continue reading story here …

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CU athletic director Rick George on fund-raising: “We’re not even close to being done”

From the Daily Camera … The Colorado athletic program is enjoying more fundraising success than ever, but athletic director Rick George made it clear Thursday that the finish line is nowhere in sight.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” George said during the first day of the board of regents meeting at the University Memorial Center. “We’re not even close to being done.”

CU recently reached a milestone, as it topped the $100 million mark in its “Drive for $105 million” campaign. As of Jan. 31, CU had raised $100,631,894 to go towards financing the recent facilities upgrades.

The Buffs have blown away their original goal of raising $20 million in endowments (they are just over $34 million), but well below their goal of $85 million in capital funds (currently at $66.6 million).

“We’ve got a lot more capital that we have to raise and that will be our focus in the next six to nine months,” George said.

The morning portion of Thursday’s meeting centered on athletics, where George presented an overall update of the department; senior associate athletic director Ceal Barry gave an overview of CU’s gender equity plan; and UC-Colorado Springs athletic director Nathan Gibson gave an update on his department.

… Continue reading (this thorough story) here …

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This post, about the Spring Practice game, from the 2017 Season, is filed under Article.
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