Posts Tagged ‘Ryan Miller’

E Pluribus Unum

//posted 9.17.2011

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E Pluribus Unum

Out of many, one.

One drive. One score. One victory.

Will the Colorado State game, more precisely, the fourth quarter of the Colorado State game, be a turning point for the Colorado football program and its long-suffering Buff Nation?

Since December 6, 2010, when Jon Embree was named the 24th permanent head coach in Colorado football history, Embree has been preaching that it was time for the Colorado program to return to its successful roots. In order to do that, the Buffs had to re-establish a power running game. “When this program has been at its best,” Embree said at his introductory press conference, “it’s had its [players] come out on this field or go somewhere else and just line up and run you over.”

The Buffs appeared primed to do just that. Colorado returned the majority of its offensive line, a senior returning starter at quarterback, and one Rodney Stewart. The senior running back posted 1,318 rushing yards in 2010, and opened the 2011 season within shouting distance (1,196 yards) of becoming the all-time leading rusher in Colorado history.

The pieces in place, Colorado traveled to Hawai’i to take on a Warrior team which had surrendered 106 yards…

Depth Chart-ing

//posted 8.27.2011

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Depth Chart-ing – A look at the players making a name for themselves in Fall Camp

8/27 Players of Note – Junior safety Ray Polk and junior wide receiver Makiri Pugh

Both players came to Boulder to make a name for themselves.

Both players came to Boulder with fanfare.

Both can still make an impact – but not at the position for which they were recruited.

Junior safety Ray Polk came to Boulder as one of the top running back prospects in the nation, and now is the starting free safety for the Buffs. Makiri Pugh, meanwhile, transferred to Colorado from Georgia as a much heralded defensive back, and is now trying to get onto the playing field as a wide receiver.

Ray Polk – Coming to Boulder out of Phoenix, Arizona, as part of the Class of 2008, Polk was the No. 11 running back in the nation (Darrell Scott was ranked No. 1). Instead of sticking at running back, though, Polk moved over to defense, and has played safety for the Buffs for the past two seasons.

While Polk is entrenched as the starter at free safety (Polk started every game last season, and has 15 starts to his…

Colorado Daily – August

//posted 8.25.2011

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August 25th

Texas A&M gives its notice … sort of

In a news release today, Texas A&M University “officially notified the Big 12 Conference that it is exploring options related to the institution’s athletic conference affiliation. Texas A&M also requested that the Big 12 outline the process to be followed should the university elect to withdraw from the conference.”

What does that mean?

In the letter to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin indicated that if the university withdraws from the conference, Texas A&M would do so in a way that complies with the Big 12′s bylaws. Additionally, Texas A&M would be supportive of the Big 12′s efforts to seek a new member of the conference.

“As I have indicated previously, we are working very deliberately to act in the best long-term interests of both Texas A&M and the State of Texas. This truly is a 100-year decision,” said Loftin. “While we understand the desire of all parties to quickly reach a resolution, these are extremely complex issues that we are addressing methodically.”

Coincidentally, SMU athletic director Steve Orsini made public his belief Thursday that the Mustangs are ready to join an automatic-qualifier BCS…

Colorado Daily – July, 2011

//posted 7.31.2011

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July 31st

Texas A&M serious about bolting to SEC

When Colorado was asked to join the Pac-12, it was cause for celebration in the Buff Nation.

When Texas announced the creation of the Longhorn Television Network, a multi-billion marriage with ESPN, Buff fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Colorado was very lucky not to be a part of the Texas et al. “Big 12″. Even after Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was hailed for managing to hold the conference together last summer, it was clear that the new conference was retaining – in fact endorsing – a league of “haves” and “have nots”. Unlike the Pac-12, where the teams agreed to share television revenue equally, the Big 12 maintained (though it was modified slightly) a system where the more powerful schools (Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M) received a disproportionate amount of revenue.

The Texas Longhorn Network, though, irked even Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The TLN would not only bring in unprecedented revenue to the school – which the Longhorns didn’t have to share with the rest of the league – but would also give Texas exposure to recruits unavailable to other teams in the league.

Then, the TLN announced it was going…

Spring Grades – Offense

//posted 6.16.2011

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Mid-term papers turned in – It’s time for the grades

Expectations for the Colorado Buffaloes for the 2011 season are, well, mixed. There are great hopes for the future of the program under the new head coach, Jon Embree, but a daunting schedule and a perceived dearth of talent on the roster mute the chances for an immediate breakout.

With that in mind, the below grades for each unit on the team is not with respect to similar athletes on the rosters of Colorado’s Pac-12 rivals, but rather with respect to what we knew about those units heading into the spring, and how well those players and their coaches did in improving their standing.

Quarterbacks – Spring Grade: B/B+

Spring Game stats: Tyler Hansen - 8-15, 124 yards; one TD; Nick Hirschman – 11-19, 170 yards; two TD’s; Brent Burnette – 4-8, 40 yards; one TD, one interception

After three years of Cody v. Tyler, Colorado fans are conditioned to spring practices in which the battle for the starting quarterback position is the lead story. In 2011, the Buff Nation was once again primed for a battle. Senior Tyler Hansen was the returning starter, but there was a new coaching staff, a new offense, a new…

Spring Game – 2011

//posted 6.9.2011

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“I’m happy with where we are … we just need to keep working and improving”

The Colorado Buffaloes completed Spring practice, 2011, with a 105-play scrimmage before 15,655 at Folsom Field in the first-ever Spring game with an evening kickoff (6:00 p.m).

Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen completed 8-of-15 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in his seven drives of the scrimmage. While not as efficient as Hansen’s 18-for-19 performance in the second spring scrimmage a week earlier, the odds are still on Hansen being named the starting quarterback for the season on Tuesday. “I feel really comfortable as a player, and this offense is really good,” said Hansen. “(Accuracy) was my goal, and I’ve been working on my mechanics with coach (Rip) Scherer. I feel I’m getting a lot more accurate.”

“I wouldn’t say from Day One (that he was impressed with Hansen), but I am happy with his productivity,” said head coach Jon Embree. “He’s done a good job with his command of the offense, getting them in and out of the huddle. We need to get better with our tempo … But, overall, I am pleased with how he’s competed.”

The quarterbacks vying for the backup position had mixed…

Spring Practice – 2011

//posted 4.6.2011

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April 7th

“Guys are showing who they are”

Colorado conducted its last practice before the Spring game on Thursday, with the practice, at the last minute, being opened to the public. Jon Embree described the two-hour run-through as a “good practice. The defense had a couple of lapses, but otherwise they did well. Offensively, we got some things accomplished, some things done we wanted to get done as far as some install stuff. Guys are showing who they are.”

The Colorado head coach then raised some eyebrows when he was asked about whether there were some players who had not lived up to expectations. “It’s a privilege to be a Buffalo; it’s not a right,” said Embree. “If they can’t play, and they’re not doing what they are supposed to do academically, and buying into the program, they won’t be here.” Embree went on, ” Some won’t be back; everyone’s year-to-year. It’s simple. I don’t ask a lot. I want effort; I want you to compete. I want you to do it on and off the field. That’s basically all I ask … and for some guys, they can’t do that.”

Player Notes -

- Jon Embree spoke about his…

Spring Practice Preview

//posted 3.11.2011

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Spring Practice Preview -

Special Teams

Roster: Toney Clemons (Sr.); Arthur Jaffee (Sr.); Brian Lockridge (Sr.); Will Jefferson (Jr.); Justin Castor (So.); Zach Grossnickle (So.); Ryan Iverson (So.); Justin Gorman (R-Fr.)

Players Lost: Aric Goodman; Joe Silipo; Scotty McKnight; Cody Hawkins; Travon Patterson

“Numbers Don’t Lie“

Yuck.

There was very little which was special about the special teams play by the University of Colorado in 2010.

Colorado was ranked 88th in net punting last year, with Zach Grossnickle struggling to a 35.7 yards net average (Colorado’s opponents’ net average was 40.2). Senior kicker Aric Goodman connected on two-thirds of his attempts (10-for-15), but was only accurate half the time from beyond 30 yards (5-for-10).

In the return game, Colorado was adequate at best. There were several long kickoff returns, with a long of 89 yards by Arthur Jaffee against Iowa State, but the Buffs were unable to come up with a kick returner which they felt comfortable with, as four players posted between eight and 14 kickoff returns during the season. All four – Arthur Jaffee (14); Toney Clemons (10); Brian Lockridge (10); and Will Jefferson (8) – return in 2011, but there are no guarantees that any from that group…

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