Preview Archive

Preview – Utah

//posted 11.23.2011

Preview – Utah

It must be tough to watch the Utah game film for the Colorado coaching staff.

The Utes, for the most part, are everything head coach Jon Embree and his coaching staff envision for the CU program: a power rushing attack combined with a solid defense.

That, and Utah can finish games.

The Utes lost their first four games as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The howls could be heard from Seattle to Tucson that the Utes were pretenders, and didn’t below in a Bowl Championship Series conference.

And now?

Utah has won four Pac-12 games in a row, including two on the road, to not only secure a bowl bid for the ninth consecutive season, but also remain in the hunt for the inaugural Pac-12 title game, and yes, a Pac-12 championship.

The road to Eugene (or perhaps, Palo Alto, if the Ducks can’t take care of business against Oregon State this weekend) is straight-forward for Utah. Defeat Colorado, then sit back and hope that Arizona State falls to Cal (not inconceivable – the Sun Devils have lost three in a row, and four of five, with rumors swirling that head coach Dennis Erickson will not…

CSU – “T.I.P.S.” for Saturday

//posted 9.15.2011

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“T.I.P.S.” for Colorado v. Colorado State – September 17, 2011 – in Denver

A number of questions about the Colorado football program will be answered this weekend:

Will the Buffs post their first win of the Jon Embree era against undefeated Colorado State in Denver?

Will the Colorado coaches be able to find – and keep healthy – five good offensive linemen?

Will the Rams be able to find a way to contain Paul Richardson? If they are able to do so, will Tyler Hansen be able to find an alternative receiver?

Will this be the weekend when the Colorado rushing game finally asserts itself?

Will the Buffs be able to keep Colorado State from scoring over 30 points (a feat which has eluded the Buffs in six of their last seven games, dating back to last season)?

Only one way to find out …

Here are this week’s “T.I.P.S.”

T – Talent

For the first time in his four seasons as head coach of the Colorado State Rams, Steve Fairchild has a returning starter at quarterback.

Pete Thomas was the only freshman quarterback in the nation to start every game last season. He got off to a rough start against Colorado,…

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Preview – Kansas State

//posted 11.17.2010

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Preview – Kansas State

For one game, everything went right for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Against Iowa State last Saturday, the offense was efficient, and took advantage of scoring opportunities. Cody Hawkins was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his 266 yard, three touchdown performance. Rodney Stewart was the workhorse, gaining 123 yards on 36 carries, while freshman wide receiver Paul Richardson posted his second consecutive 100-yard game.

Against Iowa State last Saturday, the defense was dominant, registering eight sacks. The Buffs held Iowa State to a total of minus-six yards rushing, and a season-low 229 yards overall. A week after posting 30 points against the Blackshirts of Nebraska, the Cyclones could only muster 14 points against Colorado.

For a change, even the special teams contributed. The Buffs produced an 89-yard kickoff return and forced a fumble last weekend. Aric Goodman, who struggled early in the year, went two-for-two in field goal attempts.

The Buffs remain at home for the second game of the Brian Cabral regime. Colorado remains mathematically eligible for a bowl bid.

Can Colorado post a second consecutive complete game? We’ll see …

Here are this week’s “T.I.P.S.” for the game:

T – Talent

For the first time in several weeks,…

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Preview – Iowa State

//posted 11.10.2010

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Colorado/Iowa State Preview

Did it finally happen? Did it really, actually, finally, happen?

Is the Dan Hawkins era at Colorado finally over?

Okay – quickly moving on - who will be the head coach of the Buffs in 2011?

Since the “Collapse in Kansas”, which made the firing of head coach Dan Hawkins all but inevitable, there has been little else discussed when it comes to the Colorado Buffaloes. Bring on 2011 and the Pac-12! Colorado fans are ready for a fresh start; a clean slate …

The thing is, there is a team of players in Ames, Iowa, that is still looking at the calendar, boarding a plane on Friday, and are heading for Boulder. The Iowa State Cyclones, indifferent to the tsunami which has hit Boulder in the past week, are anticipating a game on Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field.

Now that Buff fans do not have Dan Hawkins to kick around anymore (my second Richard Nixon reference of the week. Hmmm …), will the fans show up to cheer on the Buffs and interim coach Brian Cabral? Will the Buffs be prepared? Motivated? Let’s take a look …

Here are this week’s “T.I.P.S.” for the Colorado/Iowa State game:

T – Talent

Colorado fans have a…

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Texas Tech – Preview

//posted 10.18.2010

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Colorado is halfway through the 2010 season – exactly half if there is to be no bowl game …

Which is looking all the more likely after the Buffs fell at home, 31-25, to Baylor last weekend to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Texas Tech comes to Boulder for CU’s Homecoming this Saturday. If the Buffs cannot handle the Red Raiders, Colorado would have to win three of its final five games just to become bowl-eligible, and the Buffs have not won on the road since defeating Texas Tech in Lubbock in October, 2007.

Suffice it to say, if the University of Colorado is to go bowling and have a winning season in 2010, a win over 3-3 Texas Tech is a must win.

Breaking down the Colorado / Texas Tech game, here are this week’s “T.I.P.S.”:

T – Talent

When Tommy Tuberville was hired as the new Texas Tech head coach, he indicated that he was not going to be a strict disciple of the pass happy offense of his predecessor, Mike Leach.

Mission only partially accomplished.

Texas Tech has been ranked first, second, or third in the nation in passing each of the past eight seasons, including being ranked…

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Preview – Missouri

//posted 10.4.2010

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The Colorado Buffaloes, high from a last minute win over Georgia, may well come crashing back to earth this week as the Missouri Tigers appear on the schedule.

An ugly return to reality? Or a golden opportunity?

No team in the Big 12 has owned the Buffs under Dan Hawkins more than Gary Pinkel’s Tigers. Missouri is 4-0 over Colorado since 2006, and has won each game in convincing fashion. Colorado fans are all too familiar with the numbers: a combined score of 177-40 (an average final score of 44-10); a 58-0 disaster the last time Colorado visited Columbia.

Last week, the stars were aligned for Colorado to upset Georgia … the Bulldogs were struggling; the Buffs were playing at home; Colorado had a bye week to prepare; the national championship team from 1990 was on hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Colorado’s title run; a national television audience; and a ”Blackout” in the stands to cheer on the Buffs.

This week, the stars are aligned for Colorado to get blown out by Missouri … the Tigers are 4-0; the Buffs are on the road; Missouri has had a bye week to prepare; there are daily stories about the 20th anniversary of the 1990 5th down game; a national…

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Preview – Georgia

//posted 9.28.2010

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Preview – Georgia at Colorado Saturday, October 2, 2010

When previewing the 2010 Colorado schedule, many Buff fans believed that four of the five home games on the calendar – Hawai’i, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas State – were winnable.

There was one home game, however, which was not seen as even a potential “W” – the game against Georgia.

After the humbling 52-7 loss to Cal in week two, Buff fans were cringing at the thought of playing the Bulldogs in Boulder.

What a difference a few weeks can make …

While Colorado was getting thumped by the Cal Bears, Georgia was falling to No. 24 South Carolina, 17-6. True, the Bulldogs were not used to losing to the Gamecocks, having defeated South Carolina nine straight times. But the game was in Columbia, it was against a ranked South Carolina team, and Georgia was within one score of South Carolina almost the entire game, until a Gamecock field goal with 1:12 remaining put the game out of reach.

The following week, however, Georgia, while Colorado was posting its second win of the season, was losing again. The Buffs put together their best half of the young campaign, routing Hawai’i, 31-3 in the second half…

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Preview – Hawai’i

//posted 9.15.2010

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On September 11th, the Colorado Buffaloes were destroyed by the California Bears, 52-7. It was an embarrassing loss, one which the Buffs failed to, in the words of even the players, “show up”.

This Saturday, the Buffs will play their home opener against Hawai’i. Former Colorado All-American – and 2010 College Hall of Fame inductee – Alfred Williams will be honored.

The question CU fans will have as they enter Folsom Field for the first time in 2010 is:

Will the Buffs “show up” this week?

Here’s a look at how Colorado and Hawai’i stack up, using the categories Talent, Intangibles, Preparation/Schedule, and Statistics …

T – Talent

On offense, Hawai’i has talent at quarterback and at wide receiver. The Warriors are going to score against the Colorado defense, that is pretty much a given. The real issue is whether the Buffs can minimize the damage.

The Warriors are led by junior quarterback Bryant Moniz. In a career which has spanned one season plus two games – a total of ten starts - Moniz has already passed for more than 3,000 yards. If he wore the black-and-gold of Colorado, Moniz would already rank 11th on the Colorado all-time pass yardage list. In two games…

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