Preseason - 2009
The Week that Was - June 21st - June 27th
Top News Stories of the Week
Shaun Simon ineligible, to grey shirt this fall (Update below)
Quarterback Nick Hirschman become Buffs’ fourth verbal commitment for 2010 recruiting class (Update below)
Plus - CU Athletic Department receives record $4.75 million gift; Josh Smith receives release to play for UCLA; BCS says “no chance” to eight-team playoff proposal; Nebraska loses fourth defensive back from 2008 recruiting class.
Shaun Simon to Greyshirt
Shaun Simon, the 6’2”, 305-pound offensive line prospect from Tulsa,
While it is never a positive when a recruit is ineligible, and while the Buffs do need help at the center position, the loss of Simon for 2009 is not critical. As an incoming freshman, Simon would likely have red-shirted, anyway. Sophomore Mike Iltis took over the center position for the departed Daniel Sanders during the first week of spring practice, and never yielded. Backing up Iltis, at least as fall practice nears, is junior Keenan Stevens.
Buffs pick up fourth 2010 commitment
On Wednesday, the Buffs received their fourth verbal commitment of the 2010 recruiting class. Quarterback Nick Hirschman, a 6′3″, 220-pound pro-style quarterback from Los Gatos, California, committed after attending a camp at CU this past weekend. Hirschman threw for 2,119 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, leading his team to the CIF-CCS medium schools Division title. With an exceptional senior year, Hirschman would be in line to break most of the school records set by former Los Gatos player - and present day Buffalo Bills’ quarterback - Trent Edwards.
“When I went up there, I fell in love with their coaching staff, the whole atmosphere, the school, and the stadium,” said Hirschman of his visit to Boulder last weekend. “I loved it so much, and it was a real easy decision. I’m very, very excited.” Hirschman, who received the call from offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau, believes he will be ready to compete for the role of starting quarterback right away. “They run my style (of offense), and I enjoy that,” said Hirschman. “I’m just ready to get a playbook and go down there and compete for a spot.”
Hirschman had only received an offer from Harvard (he has a 3.6 GPA, and a sister enrolled at Yale) prior to the Buffs’ offer, but Hirschman had attended camps and attracted interest from most of the schools in the Pac-10, including Cal, UCLA, Arizona State, and Stanford. Hirschman is rated as a three-star prospect by Scout.com, considered the 60th-best quarterback prospect in the nation overall. Hirschman is considered “a pocket passer with prototypical size, bulk, and arm strength”, according to an evaluation done for ESPN.com. Hirschman “shows very good command (of the offense), knows where to go with the ball, and can throw to a spot with confidence”.
Hirschman becomes the fourth commitment (and second quarterback) of this year’s class. Colorado did not receive their fourth commitment from the class of 2009 until October.
Restricting Josh Smith’s transfer – pros and cons.
I’m sure you are familiar with the history of this story. Junior Josh Smith, he of the record-setting kick return performances in 2008, announced after spring practice that he wished to transfer from CU. The stated reason for the transfer was that Smith wished to pursue a career in rap or hip/hop music after his college playing days are over, and that the University of Colorado did not offer a music program conducive to such a career.
Athletic Director Mike Bohn countered Smith’s move with an announcement that
“That would be final,” said Julie Manning, CU associate athletic director for compliance of the ruling. As a result, Smith has three choices: transfer to USC (assuming the Trojans will take him), and have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2009 season; transfer to another school and pay his own way in 2009; or return to CU. (UPDATE: On Friday, it was announced that an arrangement had been reached whereby Smith would also be allowed to transfer to UCLA. If Smith does transfer, he will become the second former Buff, joining offensive lineman Kai Maiava on the Bruins’ roster, a roster coached by former CU head coach Rick Neuheisal).
The third option, while enticing to fans, has pitfalls. For one thing, if Smith returns, his position coach would be none other than Dan Hawkins, who is coaching the wide receivers this season. Hawkins, in an interview with KKFN radio, did not seem to be willing to accept Smith back with open arms. “You can’t lower your standards,” Hawkins said. “At the end of the day, you need to be all-in or all-out”.
There are two sides to the debate about the restrictions placed on Smith. In one camp, there are those who feel that Smith should be allowed to transfer to any school not on the Buffs’ schedule. Coaches come and go without repercussions, so why should players not be allowed the same freedom? There is also the argument that Colorado is going to be perceived by future recruits as being a place unfriendly to its players. Finally, there is always the concern in the back of the minds of the CU faithful that the harsh treatment of Josh Smith may have an effect on the attitude, playing ability, and future with the program of Smith’s nephew - one Darrell Scott.
On the other side of the debate, the one made by Mike Bohn in limiting Smith’s options, is that a school invests a great deal of time and expense in its student athletes. Josh Smith received three years of quality education, and the Buffs, for their part, were entitled to expect to reap the benefit of that investment over the next two seasons.
My take? I can see both arguments. While a school has a right to expect loyalty from its players, the way the existing system is run, schools (and, by extension, its boosters) require a five-year, 12-month a year commitment from its athletes, but gives them no compensation in return other than tuition and fees (along with a few other allowances). Schools have multi-million dollar budgets build around the efforts of these student-athletes, but the individuals creating the revenue stream do not share in it. Is it unfair for a 21-year old to want to change their mind about their education (Smith)? For a 19-year old to be home-sick (tight end Ryan Wallace)? For a 20-year old to want to take care of family business, including a newborn child (wide receiver Kendrick Celestine)?
I would offer a compromise. If a student leaves in good-standing (as Smith is reported to be), such that their leaving will not affect the team’s APR, I would let them go to any school not on the team’s schedule over the course of that player’s remaining eligibility. By the same token, if a player is leaving as an academic (read: APR) liability, such that the transfer will hurt the team in the number of available scholarships in succeeding years, then that player should have to sit out and pay his own way.
If Josh Smith wants to go to Arizona State or UCLA, I say let him. What is to be gained by denying Smith tuition at another school? Do the Buffs believe that other CU players will hereafter be deterred from transferring? Does the coaching staff think Smith will come back to Boulder if USC or UCLA don’t take him? If he does come back, won’t that sour team chemistry?
As Dan Hawkins himself said, “You can’t lower your standards. At the end of the day, you need to be all-in or all-out.” Josh Smith is out.
Let him go in peace.
Buffs receive a record donation
Louise Bennett Reed is not a name familiar to Buff fans, but her legacy will assist the Colorado athletic department for generations to come. It was announced this week that Reed, who passed away last June at the age of 103, had named the athletic department as the sole heir of her estate. The value of the estate? Over $4.75 million. The funds will be used to establish the Louise Bennett Reed Scholarship Fund, which will be used to fund up to 10 scholarships for football and men’s and women’s basketball – in perpetuity. Reed, who graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees elsewhere, became enamored with
With the arms race amongst college athletic departments ramped up to an all-time high, a gift of this magnitude is a blessing, and a huge boost to the athletic department budget. Thank you, Ms. Reed, wherever you are!
Other News
Eight team playoff proposal by MWC rejected
That the BCS Conference Presidents rejected a proposal from the Mountain West Conference for an eight-team playoff is not really news. However, but the quotes from the outgoing committee chairman were noteworthy. David Frohnmayer, President of the University of
The statement went on. “In the past six years, I’ve read pundits, heard the pronouncements of broadcasters, and collected several cubic feet of email printouts from advocates of an NFL-style playoff system. Even those that go beyond sound bite certitude share two intertwined and fatal deficiencies: They disrespect our academic calendars, and they utterly lack a business plan.”
Say what you will about the present system, but the above comments struck me the wrong way. A playoff “disrespects our academic calendars”? Then how is that a playoff system works for the FCS (Division 1-AA), as well as Divisions II and III? And how’s about that little playoff system known as “March Madness”? Any disruption in the old academic calendars there?
As for the “lack of a business plan” comment, it is nonsense. Granted, if a playoff system were to be implemented, some minor bowls may not be able to survive, and there would have to be serious discussions as to an equitable division of revenue. However, college football has lost such huge draws as the Tangerine Bowl, the Freedom Bowl, the Bluebonnet Bowl, the Cherry Bowl, and the All-American Bowl (not to mention the Garden State Bowl, the Gotham Bowl, the Seattle Bowl, and the Mercy Bowl). Which do you think will bring in more revenue to college football: an eight-team (or sixteen-team) playoff with huge ratings and blanket national coverage, or the proliferation of 6-6 match-ups in
Nebraska down to 80 scholarship players
And, for a little perspective on the comings and goings on the Colorado roster … This week it was announced that Nebraska sophomore defensive back Mason Wald had decided to leave the program. Wald, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, will return home to play for Samford University. Wald, who played in all 13 games last season, was one of only two true freshmen to play for Nebraska last fall.
While the story of Wald’s return home is not national news, and it will not affect the balance of power in the Big 12 North, the story is noteworthy on two counts. First, Wald was one of five defensive backs recruited as part of the 2008 recruiting class at Nebraska - and the fourth of those five to leave the program. Second, Wald becomes the sixth player to leave the program overall since Bo Pelini took over as head coach, leaving the Cornhuskers (assuming all of the recruiting class of 2009 qualifies), with 80 scholarship players, five below the limit.
Remember last November, when Colorado went to Lincoln with only 49 scholarship players healthy enough to play? Numbers. Numbers. Numbers.
After awhile, they add up.
Read Last Week’s “The Week that Was” by clicking here …
Preseason picks - Why preseason magazines still matter
News flash: Buffs are being picked to finish outside the top 25, and 4th in the Big 12 North.Okay, so that’s not really news. The preseason predictions are nothing if not, well, predictable. So, are there any reasons to still pick Athlon’s, Lindy’s, Phil Steele’s and The Sporting News preseason magazines?
You bet. Here’s why ….
Read The Entire Article… CU and the 3-4 Defense - What to Expect this Fall
The Buffs will be playing more of the 3-4 defense this fall. No, there wasn’t a change of coaches (though Bob Foster was added to help out with the outside linebackers). Nor was there necessarily even a change of philosophy.
Rather, the Buffs are changing defenses in accordance with the dictates of their personnel. A dearth of talent on the defensive line, coupled with a number of talented linebackers, mandated a shift to more 3-4 alignments. Below is a look at the 3-4, position-by-position, along with a look at the CU depth chart, and how each starter will be utilized this fall …
(This article will be posted in July)
To read More about the Buffs and their new defense, click here …
Archive game of the week
This is one part of the site which will receive several updates all the way up to the 2009 season opener. I have a write up on every game CU has played since 1980 (the weekly posts from last season remain on the left hand side of the website). Want a little Buff fix to tide you over during the off-season? Let me know what game you want to read about again (drop me an email at cuatthegame@gmail.com anytime), and I will try and get it posted.
This week’s Archive Game of the Week:
Colorado 27, #3 Oklahoma 24 - September 29, 2007
The Buffs were 2-2 on the 2007 season, already a marked improvement on the forgettable 2-10 season of 2006. The Buffs were now moving into Big 12 play, however, and Miami (Ohio) was replaced on the calendar with #3 Oklahoma. The Sooners were averaging over 50 points per game, and were a favorite not only to win the Big 12, but the national championship.
It wasn’t all that long ago. Do you remember where you were when Kevin Eberhart lined up as the seconds ticked away ….?
Reserved
This area reserved for an in-depth look at the 2009 schedule - opponent by opponent. For each game, there are reasons for optimism; reasons to lose sleep. We’ll walk through the upcoming season, game-by-game.
(To be posted in early August) …..
