December 31st

CU Moose in Alaska

The Buff Nation knows no boundaries!

Below are pictures submitted by CU at the Gamers Antonio and Willow Monterrosa, getting up close and personal with a moose in Alaska.

Disclaimer: Do not try this at home. Willow and Antonio are both professionals, with three CU degrees between them!

December 29th

Embree talks recruiting

B.G. Brooks of cubuffs.com did an interview with Colorado head coach Jon Embree, which is important enough to reproduce in its entirety here …

1.    CUBuffs.com: The current dead period ends Jan. 4, and I’m assuming you’ll hit the road immediately. What direction will you head?

Jon Embree: “That’s right . . . and I’m heading West, to Hawaii and California. It’ll be my first trip to Hawaii and second to California.”

•2.    CUBuffs.com: What’s the biggest difference in this recruiting season and last – taking into account the full season you’ve had as opposed to last year?

JE: “The biggest difference is that a year ago, we really didn’t get started (recruiting) until this coming week . . . talk about a short window. This year, we’ve had a better evaluation of players. We’ve gotten to see how they really feel about football and where it is on their list of things that are important to them, where it fits into their lives. And we’ve been able to establish relationships. We’re almost where we need to be . . . I’d like to be doing a lot of junior recruiting, but we’re not at that point yet. Next year I think we can be comfortably looking a year ahead.”

•3.    CUBuffs.com: How would you rate things to this point?

JE: “I think it’s gone very well. We’ve missed on a couple of elite players, but only won three games. Say what want, but at end, it (winning) has to help. At the same time, we’ve gotten commitments from some very good players. We’ve been able to balance the roster at some positions. And there are still some guys we can finish on and have a very good class.”

•4.    CUBuffs.com: Have there been any major surprises out there for you?

JE: “The response has been really good . . . I don’t feel like it’s ever been, ‘Wow, we don’t have a chance on that kid,’ but at the same time just getting in on a kid is not what you’re looking for. Are you in their top two? Did you have a legitimate chance? If you’re just one of five, you’re not really in it. You have to be in their top two.”

•5.    CUBuffs.com: You’ve said before your visits began that prospects’ reception has been good . . . has that held up?

JE: “Yeah, it’s gone very well. Kids have been real receptive. They see the direction of program and want to be involved in helping us continue that process . . . and do some exciting things.”

•6.    CUBuffs.com: Along those lines, is there one common question recruits are asking you?

JE: “Not really, there’s not one general question, but kids see what’s going on. It’s not like they haven’t been paying attention. They see opportunity . . . they can come in and have an impact early. Those kinds of things. Most kids want that opportunity. I’m asking them, ‘Do you want to play or stand on the sidelines and wait your turn?’ These kids want to be a part of something that’s growing. We won two of our last three, and we’ve talked to them about that every time we’ve called them. But you can’t sit there and pretend like you don’t have scars. We do, and I’m going to be honest. I’ll tell where we are, what the deal is. At the end of the day, they’ll know what our goals are – changing the culture, changing the environment, and giving them the opportunity for success in college. They’ve paid attention. It’s been really good.”

•7.    CUBuffs.com: Do you have any “silent” commits?

JE: “Yeah, we’ve got a couple of guys – if they stay true to what they say. But I’ve told them that they need go public. They can help with some of the other players we’re after. If they’re going to truly be in, they need to be in. Taking trips is great, but if you’re going to be a Buff, now’s the time to do it. I can understand that some kids are involved in things they have to do, in recruiting and out. But we’ll see over the next two weeks or so.”

•8.    CUBuffs.com: CU “turned” a handful of recruits last year . . . do you feel you have to take that approach this year?

JE:  “There are a couple of guys we’re actively recruiting who are committed to other schools. A year ago, we went out and got eight players from someone else. This year, we feel like we have to be good with the guys we’ve got (committed). The next two weeks are really important. Some schools during this time frame don’t go out at all. Some go to (high school) all-star games and see guys. We’d rather see the guys we have (committed).”

•9.    CUBuffs.com: Coaching changes have been prevalent . . . has there been an effect on your approach to things?

JE: “It really hasn’t affected us. It may here or there help on a guy, but for the most part it hasn’t done anything. Some name schools – for example, UCLA – didn’t have a coach and still had three kids commit. Now, whether those kids wanted to get in before a coach was named and fill a scholarship, I don’t know. But the overall situation (of schools changing coaches) hasn’t really affected us.”

10.CUBuffs.com: How would you respond to those recruiting analysts who say you’re dangerously short on four- and five-star prospects?

JE: “That’s all right, it doesn’t bother me. To get elite playmakers we have to continue to improve ourselves. You can go around all day about stars. Greg Henderson (freshman corner) did pretty well for us and he wasn’t a five-star guy. I just want football players. That (star rating) stuff is for barrooms and the Internet. You can point to five stars that bust and one stars that become stars. I’m just trying to get the best players. But again, we won three games . . . I don’t think people realize how hard it was for us (CU) in the mid-90s. We’d won a lot of games, we had guys who had won the Heisman, the Thorpe Award and the Butkus. People have to realize we’re not a logo school . . . Ohio State and USC have great classes every year. They’ve got 50 or 60 years of tradition, huge national fan bases. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it here. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

•11.CUBuffs.com: So, from that answer on the star system, I’m guessing your opinion of those ratings hasn’t changed?

JE: “How many of these people really see kids play? A kid commits to Texas and goes from no stars to three, or from three to five. Explain that to me. I’m not down on these (recruiting) sites; they give fans good reason to go them, but it’s like being in a sports bar. I’m not down on Rivals.com and Scout.com . . . I know they’ve helped kids get noticed. But their rating systems are different from coaches. Look at Michigan State, what was their senior class rated? You get a transfer in, you get some guys who pan out that weren’t five-star guys . . . We – and I’m talking about coaches – have to be able to develop guys to give yourself a chance. That’s just my take on it.”

•12.CUBuffs.com: What would be a best-case finish for the Buffs in the final month leading to signing day?

JE: “First, I’m very happy with the guys we have; we want to hold onto them. But if we could get a couple of more corners, the right tight end, maybe a playmaker or two, the right defensive lineman . . . our situation on that side of the ball is not good. We need to get as many as we can (on defense). Some will play, some will redshirt. We need to build there and have legit depth. This class, with last year’s class, gives us a good base from a program standpoint. We just have to go out and finish strong – and hopefully get a head start on some seniors for next year.”

December 28th

Buffs lose out on tight end recruit

Scratch another four-star recruit off the board.

Tight end Taylor McNamara, a highly sought after prospect from San Diego, is going to become an Oklahoma Sooner. McNamara, considered by Rivals to be the No. 2 tight end recruit in the nation, had previously committed to Arizona. When head coach Mike Stoops was fired, however, McNamara re-opened his recruitment, and the choice came down to Colorado and Oklahoma.

“What it really came down to is I really wanted to go to a place where I could play early and win games,” McNamara told Rivals.com. “Colorado is obviously not in a place where they’re going to be winning as many games as Oklahoma. I’m all about winning. I love winning and I really realized it this year.

“My team went 8-4 and the year before that we were 2-8. I could really see the difference really in life, when you’re winning things just go well. When you’re losing things aren’t going well. It means a lot to me and football is a big part of my life and that’s everything down in Norman.”

Apparently the lure of playing for a former NFL tight end – in the end – was not enough to sway McNamara.

And the Buffs’ search for their first four-star recruit of the 2012 class continues …

December 27th

Colorado still operating in the black

According to an article in The Business of College Sports, the University of Colorado athletic department is doing fairly well, both overall and in comparison to other Pac-12 schools.

The article looks at revenue and expenses for football and basketball for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years.

2009-10 … In 2009, Colorado reported $26.2 million in football revenue, with $12.5 of expenses. The $13.7 million profit sounds great, until the reality hits that the remainder of the athletic department is funded by these profits. Overall, CU’s revenue of $26.2 million was 5th amongst Pac-12 schools, with Washington the surprising leader ($33.9 million), followed by Arizona State ($29.58 million), Oregon ($29.50 million), UCLA ($29.0 million). At the bottom of the league was Washington State ($12.7 million), which fared even worse than Utah, then from the Mountain West Conference with little expectation of moving elsewhere, at $14.7 million.

The Colorado basketball program in 2009-10 almost held its own, with $3.58 million in revenues and $3.81 in expenses. The $224,000 loss was only one of three programs in the Pac-12 to lose money on basketball, though Oregon (-$2.2 million) and USC (-$1.0 million) were further down the scale. At the top of the heap was, not surprisingly, UCLA, with $12.3 million in revenue.

2010-11 … For the 2010 football season, the University of Colorado witnessed a slight decline in revenue, down to $25.9 million from $26.2 million. Expenses, though, witnessed a significant increase, from $12.5 million to $16.3 million (largely attributable, one would imagine, to the regime change). The profit margin, as a result, fell significantly, from $13.6 million to $9.6 million. CU’s football revenue remained fifth overall amongst Pac-12 schools, but the gap between CU and the schools behind it narrowed considerably.

In basketball, with the help of a team which made it to the NIT semi-finals and set a school record for victories, Colorado actually turned a profit. The profit margin was still small, $136,157, but it was at least a profit. Still, CU remained 10th in the league in men’s basketball profits, with nine other schools making at least $1 million in profits, with – once again – only Oregon and USC showing a loss.

2011-12 … Will not likely be a good one for the CU athletic department. In addition to the hangover from the shift from Dan Hawkins to Jon Embree, the Buffs were also a team without a conference in 2011 – at least in terms of television revenue. The Buffs took in some additional revenue from the extra sums paid by Fox and extra league games and the inaugural Pac-12 championship game, and the Ohio State game (a road trip with no reciprocal game in Boulder) was all about helping the bottom line. Still, it will likely be a down year as the athletic department looks for the new dawn of the Pac-12 television contract in 2012-13.

(Thanks for the link, Neill!)

Now, what about the rumors out of Ft. Collins?

Ever since Colorado State hired its new head coach, for twice the salary of Jon Embree, there has been discussions in the Buff Nation about why Colorado has – by a wide margin – the lowest paid coach in the Pac-12. As part of the same discussion, there are questions as why Colorado has not announced any plans for spending the television revenue windfall which is to be coming the Buffs’ way over the next decade.

The rumblings got even louder when rumors began surfacing that CSU is working on raising funds for a new, $250 million stadium.

Reality check.

Colorado State has announced improvements to its Moby Arena, built in 1966. The improvements are to be in two phases, with $4.5 million for improvements, with another $11 million to add a glass tower and sky boxes. The first phase is to be put into place over the next two years, with $1.5 million coming from a loan owed to the school by CSU-Global campus; $1.5 million from additional revenues from enrollment growth; and $1.5 million from an as yet unidentified donor.

There’s no schedule for the second phase of the project because a funding source has not yet been identified, CSU President Tony Frank said.

Sound like a $250 million check is in the mail?

Nope.

Will Colorado State be able to make any headway from athletic revenues?

Please.

The same Business of College Sports review shows the following about Colorado State revenues the past two fiscal years:

2009-10: $7.2 million in football revenue; $1.9 million in basketball revenue

2010-11: $7.7 million in football revenue; $2.3 million in basketball revenue

With a third straight 3-9 season being posted in 2011, followed by a buyout of Steve Fairchild and an expensive hiring of Jim McElwain, it is fair to say that the coffers of Colorado State will not be flush anytime soon.

So, if Colorado State announces a $250 million stadium anytime soon, Colorado fans will have plenty to complain about … but until then …

… we should still be complaining about how the rest of the Pac-12 has set into place capital improvements, but Colorado has been silent.

December 21st

Happy Festivus Day!

For fans of Seinfeld, Festivus Day is a holiday to be spent airing grienvances (and to demonstrate feats of strength!).

For fans of the Colorado Buffs, Festivus Day (actually its December 23rd) is just as imaginary a holiday.

Junior college players could commit to teams starting today, and while Colorado was in the running for a few prospects who could both help and qualify, there was nothing but a coal in the stocking.

Other Pac-12 teams, however, made out fairly well.

USC, it should come as no surprise, came out the best.

The Trojans were able to flip defensive end – and former UCLA commit – Morgan Breslin (Pleasant Hill, Calif./Diablo Valley College). Breslin had committed to UCLA last summer but took an official visit to USC this past weekend. A scholarship opened up for the Trojans when defensive end Nick Perry declared for the 2012 NFL draft, and upon being offered by USC, Breslin didn’t waste time in jumping on it. Breslin is eligible to play three seasons for USC.

Safety Gerald Bowman, meanwhile, spent a year at North Carolina Tech before following teammates to Pierce College. After a stellar first year there, USC offered a scholarship and had been chasing him in a big way. Bowman eventually had interest in Oklahoma, and took an official visit there in early November, but an official visit to USC in late December — coupled with Ed Orgeron’s constant presence — was enough for the Trojans to land one of the top junior college recruits in the country.

USC also received good news from All-American junior safetyT.J. McDonald, who announced Wednesday that he would be returning for his final season with the Trojans in 2012.

“USC has been a powerful place for my family and it has been a part of my entire life,” McDonald said in a statement released by the school. “I came to USC at a unique time, when we were on probation, and a bowl ban, and nobody on my team was part of the reason for that bowl ban. We took it on full force and now we are on the way back to the greatness of USC.”

Utah also had a good day, as running back Kelvin York (Fullerton JC, Calif.) signed with the Utes. A former USC commitment, he narrowed his choices to the Utes and Washington before deciding to go with Utah.  York tore his meniscus during a November contest and missed the last part of the season. In early December, York said he talked with USC and when he wasn’t guaranteed that a scholarship would still be available to him, he decided to go in a different direction. That new direction is to Utah, and he’ll have three years to play two for the Utes.

In addition to York, Utah got some good news from an existing player, as Utah nose tackle Star Lotulelei decided to return to the Utes for his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 325-pound team captain, who was recently named the best defensive lineman in the Pac-12 by his peers, is putting an NFL career on hold after weighing his options, according to the Deseret News.

“I think it would be better for me and my family if I stayed,” Lotulelei said while noting he consulted with his parents and wife, Angelina, after getting input from some scouts about his future. Education was also a big factor in Lotulelei’s decision, as he’ll earn his degree next fall.

Against Colorado in the 2011 season finale, the first-team all-conference player was held to three tackles, though he did register Utah’s only sack of the game …

December 20th

Ohio State penalties announced

The NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and other penalties Tuesday for a scandal that involved eight players taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

The university had previously offered to vacate the 2010 season, return bowl money, go on two years of NCAA probation and use five fewer football scholarships over the next three years.

But the NCAA countered with a bowl ban in Urban Meyer’s first year as head coach in 2012, further reduced the number of scholarships and tacked on a year of probation.

It was a sobering blow to Ohio State and athletic director Gene Smith, who through a lengthy NCAA investigation had maintained there was no way the Buckeyes would be banned from a bowl game.

“I’ll be shocked and disappointed and on the offensive,” Smith said in July of his reaction if there was a bowl ban. “It’ll be behavior you haven’t witnessed (from me).”

But after the initial tattoo scandal, Ohio State and the NCAA discovered two additional problems. Three players were suspended just before the start of the season for accepting $200 from booster Bobby DiGeronimo, and midway through the Buckeyes’ 6-6 season it was revealed that several players had been paid too much for too little work on summer jobs — supplied by the same booster. He has been disassociated from the program.

Former coach Jim Tressel, forced out in the wake of the scandal, was hit with a five-year “show-cause” order that all but prevents him from being a college coach during that time.

The NCAA also issued a public reprimand and censure, put the Buckeyes on probation through Dec. 19, 2014, and reduced football scholarships from 85 to 82 through the 2014-15 academic year.

December 19th

CU wide receiver commit has torn ACL

Colorado prospect Peyton Williams, who was injured in the Texas state semi-finals (see December 11th story, below) has a torn ACL. Williams, who caught 90 passes for 1,162 yards and ten touchdowns this fall, will have to undergo surgery, with his return to football for the 2012 season an unlikely proposition.

Williams becomes the second Texas Buff recruit to suffer a serious injury this fall. Running back recruit Terrence Crowder tore his ACL just five carries into his senior season.

With the loss of both Williams and Crowder, the Colorado is down to two healthy wide receiver commits (Gerald Thomas and Jeffrey Thomas) and two healthy running back commits (Damien Payne and Donta Abron) .

Time for the Buffs to put out an ad in the personals? … “Help wanted: Skill position players. Three or four stars preferable but willing to negotiate” …

December 18th

Texas running back heading to junior college

Texas running back Traylon Shead made the decision to transfer, and Colorado was one possible destination.

But not any longer.

This week, Shead decided to make the move to Navarro junior college, a move that allows him to come in and contribute right away, instead of transferring to another Division I school where he’d be forced to sit out another season.

“I’ve sat out two years, and to go to another D-I I’d have to sit out another,” Shead told teh Palestine Herald Press. “I’ll get playing time going the JUCO route. Navarro seems like a great place.”

Colorado has commitments from Davien Payne and Terrence Crowder, but have had former commits Benjamin Catalon (TCU) and Erich Wilson (Washington) commit to other teams.

Marcus Rios commits to UCLA

Coveted cornerback recruit Marcus Rios, from Elk Grove, California, has committed to UCLA.

We met with Coach Mora on Friday,” Cosumnes Oaks head coach Ryan Gomes told BruinBlitz.com. “We had a very good two hour meeting. We literally sat down and talked for a couple of hours. “Coach (Jim) Mora explained his vision of the program and where he feels UCLA is heading,” Gomes said. “Marcus was already had a huge level of respect and appreciation for UCLA as an institution and so the football piece set it over the top.”

The Bruins in Rios get one of the best corner prospects out of the Golden State this season. He lived up to his four-star reputation as he earned Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference after accounting for 59 tackles, 16 pass deflections and four interceptions.

Colorado is still in search of its first cornerback commitment from the Class of 2012.

December 17th

Ryan Miller invited to East-West Shrine Game

Colorado senior guard Ryan Miller has been invited to participate in the East-West Shrine game Jan. 21, in St. Petersburg, Fla., CU sports information director Dave Plati said.

Quarterback Tyler Hansen also could play in the game. He is currently the first alternate quarterback for the game and would participate if one of the other invited quarterbacks cannot play or chooses not to.

Kevin McDermond, a spokesman for the Under Armour Senior Bowl, said that postseason all-star game played each year in Mobile, Ala., is just beginning to announce its rosters and send out invitations to players. Former Buffs Nate Solder and Jalil Brown played in the senior bowl last year.

Running back Rodney Stewart, wide receiver Toney Clemons, guard Ethan Adkins and defensive end/linebacker Josh Hartigan could also be in line for invitations to any of the all-star games this season.

December 16th

Colorado to host nationally televised Thursday night game in 2012

Some of the Buffs’ 2012 schedule is set.

September 1st – We know that Colorado will take on Colorado State and new head coach Jim McElwain in Denver.

September 8th – We know that Colorado will face Sacramento State from the Big Sky Conference in the Buffs’ home opener.

September 15th – We know that Colorado will take its one-game road winning streak to Fresno to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs.

We also know that the Buffs will have a home game against Utah in the regular season finale on Friday, November 23rd.

The other eight games?

Home against Arizona State, UCLA, Washington and Stanford.

On the road against Oregon, Washington State, Arizona and USC.

But when will those games be played?

All we know for now (but stay tuned, the schedule is supposed to be released Saturday) is that Colorado will have a home game on  Thursday, October 11th.

“I recognize a Thursday night game presents logistical challenges for our campus community,” Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano told faculty and staff in a memorandum. “One advantage garnered from our West Coast conference membership is a later kickoff time of 7 p.m., giving our campus more time to transition from daytime academic pursuits to the evening’s sporting event.”

The new $3 billion Pac-12 television deal with ESPN and FOX calls for at least eight weeknight games each season in the conference. League officials have said they are committed to spreading those games around so that one school is not affected by the schedule more often than others.

“I am fully aware that the academic life of our campus continues past 5 p.m., and that there are traffic, parking and scheduling impacts that start well before kickoff,” DiStefano said in the message to campus. “I have charged the committee that led the planning efforts for this year’s evening game against USC to bring its experience and logistical know-how to the planning for next fall’s contest.”

Colorado will also have a bye week in 2012, so it may be that the Buffs will be taking its bye on Saturday, October 6th, in order to have more time to prepare for its home game on October 11th.

December 15th

Foes of $2,000 stipend plan gather enough votes to suspend implementation

So that’s how CSU was able to finance its $250,000 to pay for a search committee …

The governing body of the NCAA said Thursday the number of schools seeking an override to the plan to allow a $2,000 stipend to student-athletes had reached 125 – the necessary number to suspend the rule until it can be reconsidered by the Division I Board of Directors at January’s NCAA convention.

The board passed legislation in October to give some athletes an additional $2,000 toward the full cost-of-tuition, money that would go beyond tuition, room and board, books and fees. Some schools have expressed opposition because they believe it violates the NCAA’s philosophy on amateur sports. But most are concerned about compliance with Title IX rules requiring schools to treat men’s and women’s sports equally, or the budget hit athletic departments will face with incoming recruits next fall.

The board has three options when it meets in January: Rescind the stipend and operate under previous NCAA rules, modify the rule or create a new proposal that would go back to the schools for another 60-day comment period, or allow members to vote on the override. It would a take 5/8ths majority of the roughly 350 Division I members to pass.

Some conferences already have agreed to start giving out the additional money, and NCAA vice president David Berst acknowledged Wednesday that many of the 1,000 or so student-athletes who have signed national letters-of-intent did so with the expectation of receiving the additional money.

Those athletes will get the stipend, the NCAA announced in a statement on its website.

But unless the override measure fails or the board passes a modified version, athletes who sign with schools in February or April would be prohibited from receiving additional money.

Emmert has insisted over the past several months that the additional money is not pay-for-play and compares it to stipends non-athletes receive beyond the cost of tuition, room and board, books and fees. Until 1972, college athletes were permitted to receive a small monthly payment as laundry money.

December 14th

Ryan Miller third-team AP All-American

While many in the Buff Nation are still wondering why senior offensive guard Ryan Miller failed to make the Pac-12 All-Conference team, All-American accolades continue to roll in.

The latest honor – Miller was named today to the Associated Press All-American team, earning third-team honors.

On the Associated Press team, there were a total of nine players from the Pac-12 – all on offense. Stanford placed four players on the All-American team, with three from USC and one from Oregon. Two quarterbacks made the team, with Andrew Luck being named second team, with Matt Barkley third team. Three other “skill” position players made the team – USC wide receiver Robert Woods (1st team), Oregon running back LaMichael James (2nd team), and Stanford tight end Coby Fleener (3rd team). The other four players named were all offensive linemen, including Miller.

The other eight teams from the Pac-12 were shut out of the Associated Press team.

Brian Cabral to Hawai’i?

The University of Hawai’i has received over 30 applicants for its head coaching vacancy.

Reportedly included on that list is long-time Buff linebackers coach Brian Cabral. As interim head coach at CU last fall in the wake of the Dan Hawkins firing, Cabral went 2-1, defeating Iowa State and Kansas State at home before losing to Nebraska in Lincoln.

Also on the list of potential candidates is Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

Others who have applied include associate Hawai’i head coach Rich Miano, Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, according to the report.

A week ago Greg McMackin reached a retirement agreement with Hawaii after four seasons in which he went 29-25. He will receive a buyout of $600,000, about half of the $1.1 million the school owed him on a five-year contract that was supposed to expire Jan. 15, 2013.

December 13th

Jim McElwain introduced as CSU head coach

December 12th

Jim McElwain to become the next head coach at Colorado State

A year ago, he was a candidate for the job opening at Colorado.

The past few weeks, his name has been associated with head coaching vacancies at Memphis, Arizona State, Houston, and Fresno State.

And now he is going to become a Ram.

Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, according to multiple reports, is to become the next head coach at Colorado State.

McElwain will continue coaching the No. 2 Crimson Tide’s offense through their Jan. 9 contest against No. 1 LSU in the Allstate BCS National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans .

McElwain is expected to receive a five-year contract worth about $1.5 million per season from Colorado State, which about double the base salary for CU’s Jon Embree. This past season (before incentives) Embree earned $725,000, the 2nd-lowest base salary in the Pac-12 (Paul Wulff, Washington State – $600,000). With the new coaches being hired, Embree slips to 12th in the conference, well behind Oregon State’s Kevin Riley ($1.3 million).

Jim McElwain had previously coached for Fresno State and developed them into offensive machines. He also did that at Alabama with the immense wealth of talent he has had to work with, namely running back – and Heisman finalist - Trent Richardson (see full resume, below).

The Rams had put up three straight 3-9 records with Steve Fairchild at the helm. He and athletic director Paul Kowalczyk are no longer with the school while new AD Jack Graham is looking to make a signature move early on in his tenure at the position.

Mission accomplished.

My question: It was being reported earlier today that McElwain had been offered the post at Fresno State, which is making the jump to the Mountain West Conference next season, but had turned it down. Does this mean that McElwain sees the situation at Ft. Collins as having greater potential than that which exists in Fresno?

Hard to see it … but that must be the case.  

Program Note – Last December, McElwain was a candidate for the head coaching job at Colorado. Below is my write up …

(Other resumes, if you are interested in taking a trip down memory last to last December, can be found at “The Next CU head coach …”. Resumes I posted for names we were tossing around last December, like Mike Leach, Al Golden, Troy Calhoun, Les Miles, David Shaw, Brady Hoke, and, of course, Bill McCartney, Eric Bieniemy, and Jon Embree).

Jim McElwain

Resume … Jim McElwain is in his third year (now fourth) of a very successful run as the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

Born in Missoula, Montana, in 1962, McElwain was an all-state quarterback in high school before going on to play football at Eastern Washington. McElwain stayed on as a graduate assistant after graduating in 1983, earning an assistant coach position at Eastern Washington in 1985. In nine seasons in Cheney, McElwain coached quarterbacks and wide receivers, with the Eagles twice earning 1-AA playoff bids. McElwain then moved on to another Big Sky school, Montana State (I knew there was a reason I liked this guy!). The highlight of his four years in Bozeman came in 1998, when the Bobcats led the conference in scoring, with 31.6 points per game.

McElwain’s first 1-A coaching job came in 2000, when he was hired as the receivers and special teams coach by Louisville. In his first season, the Cardinals set a school record with nine blocked kicks. After the 2002 season, McElwain was offered the position of assistant head coach at Michigan State, following Louisville head coach John L. Smith to East Lansing. In his three seasons with Michigan State (2003-05), McElwain coached receivers and special teams.

The NFL came calling after the 2005 season, but McElwain’s experience with the League was brief. McElwain was the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2006, but, after a 2-14 season, the entire staff of Art Shell, including McElwain, were fired. McElwain then spent one very successful season with Fresno State. There, as offensive coordinator, McElwain helped lead the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record, with Fresno State averaging almost 33 points per game (ranked 32nd in the nation).

On February 1, 2008, McElwain was hired by Nick Saban to be the offensive coordinator for Alabama. In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Alabama went 12-0 in the regular season, and was ranked No. 1 in the country before season-ending losses to Florida in the SEC title game and to Utah in the Sugar Bowl. In 2009, however, Alabama redeemed itself, going undefeated and winning the national championship. In 2009, Alabama was ranked 12th in rushing offense and 22nd in scoring offense, with Mark Ingram winning the Heisman trophy. So far in 2010, Alabama is ranked 30th in rushing offense, 36th in passing offense, 23rd in total offense, and 24th in scoring offense.

Positives

- McElwain is from the west, and has recruited in Pac-10 country during his stints at Eastern Washington, Montana State, and Fresno State. Unlike Malzahn, McElwain does not have roots in the SEC, and would be far less likely to leave Colorado for an SEC head coaching position.

- McElwain has seen what it is like to compete at different levels. From humble beginnings with Big Sky Conference teams, McElwain has reached one of the pinnacle of the college football world, Alabama, and has won a national championship and coached a Heisman trophy winner.

- McElwain has coached different positions. He has coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and special teams on his way to being an offensive coordinator.

Negatives

- While Alabama did win the national championship in 2009, and McElwain did coach a Heisman trophy candidate, the Crimson Tide wins most of their games with defense. Alabama in 2009 was ranked 92nd in the nation in passing offense – for a 13-0 team. The Alabama defense, at the same time, was ranked in the top ten in nearly every category, and was ranked second in the nation in rushing defense, total defense, and scoring defense. McElwain won’t have the Alabama defense to bail him out in Boulder.

- McElwain has never been a head coach at any level.

- While he has coached seven different schools, none of them had any great success until McElwain hit Alabama. It could certainly be argued that McElwain is more of a product of Alabama’s success than that Alabama owes its success to McElwain.  

And, for those of you with 20/20 hindsight, here is what I had to say about Jon Embree when he was still just a candidate for the CU head coaching job …

Jon Embree

Resume:  As a Player … At CU … Jon Embree was an outstanding player on some poor Colorado teams. Embree was a first-team All-Big Eight tight end in 1984, leading the Buffs in record-setting fashion. Embree caught 51 passes for 680 yards, shattering CU records in both categories. The four-year letterman also led the team in catches in 1985 … with nine catches. After the Buffs switched to the wishbone, Embree’s pass-catching role was reduced considerably, with Embree catching only 17 passes his last two seasons. Still, Embree did enough in his years in Boulder to be drafted in the 6th round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1987 … In then NFL … Embree played only two seasons with the Rams before suffering a career-ending elbow injury in 1989.

As a coach … Jon Embree spent ten years as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado, coaching under Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, and Gary Barnett. While in Boulder, Embree coached tight ends (1993-94; 1999-2000), defensive ends (1995-98), and wide receivers/kickers (2001-2002). Embree moved on to UCLA in 2003, named as assistant head coach/wide receivers (2003), and assistant head coach/tight ends and passing game coordinator (2004-05). While in college, Embree coached two John Mackey Award winners – Daniel Graham at Colorado and Marcedes Lewis at UCLA … In 2006, Embree was hired as tight end coach by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he coached All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez. Under Embree, Gonzalez led all NFL tight ends with 99 catches for 1,172 yards. After three years with the Chiefs, Embree joined the staff of the Washington Redskins as tight ends coach in January, 2010.

Positives

- Again, like McCartney and Bieniemy, Embree would bring an unquestioned loyalty to the Colorado program, and would understand the opportunities/limitations of the head coaching job in Boulder.

- Embree is a Colorado native, going to high school in Denver (Cherry Creek), and committed to play for CU and Bill McCartney in one of the darkest periods of Colorado history. He was a team leader for a team which only had one winning season in his years in Boulder, but he was there on the field for the epic 20-10 win over Nebraska in 1986. He understands what it is like to see CU at the bottom, and what it takes to get Colorado back on top.

- Embree will have a number of recruiting advantages, having ties to both the Denver area, as well as a number of years coaching (and recruiting) for UCLA.

- While best known as a tight ends coach, Embree has had a number of different positions to coach, including wide receivers, defensive ends and kickers. He has also served in the capacity as an assistant head coach while at UCLA.

Negatives

- While a known quantity for many Buff fans, Embree would not likely be seen as a “home run” hire by the national media. Bieniemy was a star on a national championship team, while Embree toiled in anonymity for a poor to fair Colorado program.

- Without a head coaching background, concerns will be raised about Embree’s ability to bring aboard a first-class assistant coaching staff.

- Embree’s son, Tyler, is a junior at UCLA. Would Embree want to coach against his son in 2011?

Buffs lose out on junior college offensive lineman

It came down to Colorado and Utah for junior college offensive lineman Alexandru Ceachir. Originally from Russia, the Santa Monica junior college offensive tackle was in Boulder the weekend of December 2nd-3rd, then in Utah this past weekend.

Ceachir’s choice … Utah.

According to Ceachir, committing to Utah was an easy call to make. “What can I say? They have great coaches. It’s a great school with great people. I feel comfortable in the program, and that’s my choice,” Ceachir told UteZone.com. It also didn’t hurt the Utes cause that Ceachir will be able to enroll in January and be available for spring practices. To qualify at CU, Ceachir needed more credits, and would have had to enroll this summer.

Any chance the Buffs might still lure him to Boulder? ”I’m not taking my word back,” he said.

December 11th

Colorado wide receiver recruit Peyton Williams injured

Colorado wide receiver recruit Peyton Williams was injured during the Texas state semi-finals. According to an ESPN story, Williams went down in the first quarter and had to be carried off the field after injuring his left knee. “It just kind of gave out on me,” said Williams.

After the game, Williams was still unsure what was wrong with his knee, but he was there celebrating with his teammates on the field on crutches and with tears in his eyes. Williams’ schoo, Carroll (15-0), advanced to play Fort Bend Hightower (13-2) in the 5A Division I state title game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

It is being reported that Williams – and the CU coaching staff – will know more about Williams’ injury on Tuesday.

Williams is considered to be a three-star prospect, and has run a 4.4 in the 40. In May, Williams’ 4×400 relay team captured a state championship. “I had a low 48 in my split, which wasn’t my best, but we won with a time of 3:13,” Williams said.

Let’s hope for the best …

December 9th

Henderson, O’Neill on Freshman All-American team

Cornerback Greg Henderson and punter Darragh O’Neill were both named to the College Football News All-Freshman team, with both players named to the second team.

This past season, Henderson led the team in snaps from scrimmage, with his 843 plays. Henderson demolished the old freshman record of 597 plays, set by Jordon Dizon in 2004 (third on the list – to give you an idea of how unusual Henderson’s season was – is sophomore safety Terrel Smith who was on the field for all of 414 plays last fall). Henderson was seventh on the team in tackles, with 59. Henderson also posted three tackles for loss, a team-leading nine passes broken up, adding an interception and a fumble recovery.

O’Neill, meanwhile, met or exceeded the expectations of the Buff Nation and the CU coaching staff. Playing in his first year of football at any level, Henderson was second in the nation amongst freshman punters. Against Oregon, O’Neill set freshman records for punts inside-the-20 (with six) and inside-the-ten (with four). In 74 punts, O’Neill put 21 inside the 20-yard line, with only two touchbacks (Zach Grossnickle’s numbers in 2010: 60 punts; with 11 inside the 20-yard line).

The Upside … when taking a look at the recruits the Buffs are trying to lure to Boulder for the Class of 2012 … Greg Henderson was considered a two-star prospect, whose only other offers came from New Mexico and Air Force. Darragh O’Neill, was a walk-on, who was not in the recruiting database for the Class of 2011 for either Rivals or Scout.

The Downside … The College Football News All-Freshman team had two Buffs on the second team. On the CFN All-Freshman first team, however, there were a total of 11 players from the Pac-12, including six from USC alone (so the demise in the Trojans might still be awhile in coming), with one player each from Utah, Oregon State, Washington, Oregon, and Stanford.

So, while we celebrate the accomplishments of Greg Henderson and Darragh O’Neill, it with the understanding that there is still a great deal of work to be done in Boulder before the Buffs are amongst the elite in the Pac-12.

December 8th

Ryan Miller second-team All-American

Colorado had one player named to the All-Pac-12 team last week, an offensive lineman.

On the second-team All-Pac-12 offensive team was …

… sophomore offensive tackle David Bakhtiari.

So when the All-American teams were announced, it was only natural that the only member of the 2011 Buffs to be honored would be an offensive lineman …

… senior offensive guard Ryan Miller.

On Thursday, Ryan Miller was named second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

It’s the oldest All-America team in college athletics, as the organization was the first to select one back in 1889. This is the 122nd team, which is selected by head coaches and sports information directors in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).  

Miller, 6-8, 295 pounds, prepped at Littleton’s Columbine High School and was a member of CU’s 2007 recruiting class.  His true sophomore season was cut short due to a broken fibula, but he played in the season’s first four games, more than enough to letter, and became the just the ninth player out of almost 2,000 lettermen in school history to earn five letters.

“It sure feels good.  I feel honored and I am very thankful to have played five seasons in front of all the Buff fans at Folsom Field and for coach Embree this year,” Miller told cubuffs.com.  “It’s been an honor and pleasure.”

He set the school record for the most career games started with 47 (48 including the 2007 Independence Bowl), breaking the old marks of 45 overall (ILB Jordon Dizon) and 44 by an offensive player (held by two players); he started the last 37 games of his career.  From his redshirt sophomore through his senior seasons, he played 2,548 snaps, all but two of the team’s total.  In 3,320 career plays, he allowed just five sacks, allowed only nine pressures and was called for 10 penalties, only four in his last three seasons.  In his career, he had three position coaches: Jeff Grimes for his first two, then Denver Johnson for two, and Steve Marshall his senior year. 

“We’re real proud of the accomplishments he had this year,” Marshall said.  “He played extremely well the second half of the season and deserves every honor he gets.  It’s rare for a college player to have to endure three different position coaches in their career … change can be unsettling dealing with new philosophies and teaching techniques.  But Ryan worked extremely hard under the new circumstances and just got better and better each week and had a heck of a year as it turned out.”

This past season as one of four team captains, he played 850 snaps from scrimmage, all but one of the CU’s total (the one was allowing another senior to finish the Arizona game).  He graded out to 83.3 percent on the season, coming on strong the last half of the season (88.8 percent in the final six games), and posted 80 percent or better grades in 11 games, with a season-best 90.1 versus Arizona.  He led the team with 40 “great effort blocks,” awarded for knockdowns, downfield blocks, touchdown blocks (which he had three) and blowing opponents off the line (not pancakes).  He was called for just two penalties, and allowed a single quarterback pressure and just one sack. 

Miller was one of 65 players on the official preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy (one of 14 guards to make the list) and was one of 15 guards on the 125-man official watch list for the Lombardi Award.

December 6th

Programs! Get your programs!

Want to be the smartest guy in the sports bar?

Commit to memory the latest conference alignments.

The Big East has morphed into the Big Continent, adding Boise State and San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference, to go with SMU, Houston, and Central Florida (all from Conference USA). And these five teams will be joining …

see, it’s hard.

Okay, the remaining members of the Big East*, at least for football, are: Cincinnati; Louisville; Rutgers; UConn; and South Florida … which gives the Big East ten teams altogether. (Navy and Air Force are still being courted as football only members, to bring the league up to 12 teams – the magic number for a lucrative championship game).

*Subject to litigation – The Big East is trying to keep defectors West Virginia, Syracuse and Pittsburgh around for two more years. Currently, West Virginia has a lawsuit against the Big East, so stay tuned …

What about the Big 12?

Well, Missouri and Texas A&M are off to the SEC, which would leave the Big 12 with eight of its original 12 members … but the league is adding TCU (formerly of the Big East – for about a month – and the Mountain West) and West Virginia (from the Big East), which brings the Big 12, at some point in the near future … back to ten members (but the league has indicated that it might not be done with expansion).

And the Mountain West Conference?

Damned if I know …

Gone over the past two years are TCU, Boise State, San Diego State, BYU, Utah … and now possibly Air Force.

Left are Colorado State, Wyoming, New Mexico, and UNLV, to be supplemented by Fresno State and Hawai’i (both looking for new head coaches) and Nevada. Hawai’i is not scheduled to join the league until 2013, but if Air Force leaves, and Hawai’i doesn’t join early …

the Mountain West Conference will have six teams in 2012 …

Or am I missing somebody? (Utah State, perhaps?)

In any event, if I am looking at becoming the head coach at Colorado State, I’m looking at a conference with no chance at a BCS bowl bid … but one which could be dominated in pretty short order.

So, to earn your free drinks at your local sports bar, or to impress your friends at your Super Bowl party, try these stumpers:

1) What current member of the Mountain West is the only returning member of the conference to have a winning record in 2011?

2) What current member of the Mountain West is the last to win a Mountain West Conference championship?

Answers:

1) Wyoming, 8-4 and heading to the New Mexico (to face Temple, in case you were wondering);

2) Colorado State, in 2002.

December 5th

Pac-12 Underdogs in six out of seven bowl games

Oregon is the only favorite. The Ducks are given six points against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

The biggest underdog is Arizona State against Boise State in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: 13.5 points. UCLA is the smallest, getting 2.5 from Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Oklahoma State is favored by 3.5 over Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Baylor is favored by 10 over Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas is favored by 3.5 over California in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday. Georgia Tech is favored by three over Utah in the Hyundai Sun.

So, if things go by expectations, the Pac-12 should go a terrible 1-6 this bowl season…

Cliff Harris era finally over at Oregon

At least he kept the Buffs from being shut out at home for the first time since 1986 …

Harris, who was suspended for the final games of the year, earned All-American honors in 2010 and was a consensus 2011 preseason All-American, but he never impressed Ducks coaches as much as he impressed some fans and some media. He didn’t start until the second half of the 2010 season, and he didn’t see much action when he returned from a suspension this year.

Harris was credited with just nine tackles and one interception in six games this season. He finished his career with 61 tackles and eight interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He scored touchdowns on four of 38 punt returns, though two were against woeful New Mexico in the 2010 opener.

He also was suspended from the team — he missed the opener against LSU — after he was stopped by police for driving 118 mph with a suspended license on the interstate. Dashboard camera footage from an Oregon State Police patrol car during the June 12, 4:30 a.m. traffic stop included this memorable exchange:

Patrolman: “Who’s got the marijuana in the car?”
Harris: “We smoked it all.”

(And don’t forget, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas was in the car when it was pulled over … never investigated, never missed a down).

December 4th

Pac-12 Bowl partners set

While the national championship game will be an All-SEC affair, the Pac-12 has some interesting bowl matchups.

Rose Bowl – No. 6 Oregon v. No. 9 Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl – No. 4 Stanford v. No. 3 Oklahoma State

Alamo – Washington v. No. 15 Baylor

Sun – Utah v. Georgia Tech

Holiday – Cal v. Texas

Las Vegas – Arizona State v. No. 8 Boise State

Kraft Fight Hunger – UCLA* v. Illinois

* UCLA, despite a 6-7 record, was allowed by the NCAA to participate in a bowl game

It’s hard not to see the Pac-12 entry being the underdog in all but perhaps the Rose Bowl, and even the Oregon/Wisconsin game will be close.

It will be interesting to see whether Stanford will face an Oklahoma State team disappointed at missing out on the national championship game – or one determined to show that they belonged in New Orleans instead of Tempe.

Washington and Arizona State got tough draws, both getting ranked teams with agendas. Boise State is always looking to impress, and travels well. The Sun Devils, still without a future head coach being named, will have little to play for in Las Vegas other than trying to avoid a losing season (6-6 heading in).

Washington, meanwhile, heads off to the state of Texas to play a Baylor team not only excited to be playing close to home, has a team which defeated both Oklahoma and Texas in the same season since … well, ever. The Bears are coming off of a 48-24 win over the Longhorns, the second-highest total for Baylor over Texas ever (and the first time the Bears have beaten the Longhorns in back-to-back seasons since taking four straight … in 1935-38.

Rodney Stewart named MVP – Hansen, Clemons, Pericak, Hartigan, Behrens and Henderson also honored

Senior tailback Rodney Stewart was named by his University of Colorado teammates as the Buffaloes’ 2011 Most Valuable Player, according to a press release from cubuffs.com.

Stewart led the team in rushing with 854 yards, becoming the first player in school history to lead the team in four seasons, which he did in consecutive years. He also led the team in receptions with 45, gaining 571 yards; he was the first player in the nation (and just one of three) to have 500 yards rushing and receiving in 2011, and became just the 12th player in CU history to have 500 of each for a career. His 1,686 all-purpose yards were the sixth-most in a season at Colorado, despite the fact that he missed the better part of four games with knee and ankle injuries.

He missed most of the second half in CU’s season finale at Utah with a sprained ankle, thwarting his effort to become the 27th player in the NCAA (FBS) history to have 3,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a career. Otherwise, Stewart made an indelible mark on CU record book, finishing with 809 rushing attempts (first), 3,598 yards (second), 25 rushing touchdowns (10th), 150 points (tied for 18th) and 16 100-yard games (second). He was first in receptions by a running back with 93 (tied for 14th overall) for 969 yards (first by a running back, 26th overall), while amassing 3,635 yards of total offense (11th), 4,567 yards from scrimmage (first) and 4,828 all-purpose yards (first).

Senior wide receiver Toney Clemons and senior quarterback Tyler Hansen were named the John Mack Award winners as the team’s most outstanding players on offense. Clemons was second in receptions (45) but first in receiving yards (680), with team-bests of 15.8 yards per receptions and eight touchdowns. He was on fire the last five games of the season, catching 25 balls for 476 yards (19.0 per), with five touchdowns. He closes his career with three 100-yard games in his last four, and with 86 receptions (tie-18th), 1,162 yards (17th, just four yards behind CU head coach Jon Embree in 16th); and 11 touchdown catches (tie-9th).

Hansen threw for 2,883 yards and 20 touchdowns, completing 56.1 percent of his passes in starting 12 of 13 games this year. Those were the second-most passing yards in a single season at CU, as were his 2,998 yards of total offense, trailing only Koy Detmer’s 1996 numbers in both. He finished in the top five in five major passing categories: 872 attempts (third), 505 completions (third), 5,705 yards (fourth), 35 TD passes (fourth), 6,183 yards of total offense (fourth). He also tied the school record for the most 200-yard passing games in a season with nine in 2011.

Senior outside linebacker Josh Hartigan and junior defensive tackle Will Pericak shared the Dave Jones Award as the team’s outstanding defensive players. Hartigan led the Buffaloes in sacks for the second straight season, recording eight, which gave him 15 for his career, tying him for 12th all-time with his position coach, Kanavis McGhee. Overall, he had 31 tackles, 24 solo and 10 for losses, with seven hurries, three third down stops and a pass broken up. Pericak was fourth on the team in tackles with 64 (33 solo, two for losses), with a team-high eight hurries. He also had five third down stops, three tackles for zero, two passes broken up, a caused interception and a blocked kick, a PAT try by Cal, the first blocked by a CU player since 2005.

The Lee Willard Award for the most outstanding freshman went to cornerback Greg Henderson, who played in all 13 games, started 12, with his 823 snaps from scrimmage being the most any true freshman has ever played in a single season at Colorado. He had 58 tackles, seventh most on the team that included 44 solo, three for losses and a quarterback sack, along with a team-high nine passes broken up, six third down stops, four touchdown saves, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Pericak also was one of three players to earn the Dean Jacob Van Ek Award for academic achievement; senior defensive backs Anthony Perkins and Travis Sandersfeld shared the honor. Both Pericak (3.43 grade point average) and Sandersfeld (3.38) are majoring in Business-Finance, while Perkins graduated with a degree in Integrative Physiology last December and has been working toward a second in History.

The coaching staff reduced the number of team awards from 20 to five, but did not rule out renewing some in the future or transferring to the spring.

In all, 70 players earned letters this season, including all 28 seniors and 25 cited as first-year lettermen with 15 of those players true freshmen. The breakdown included 32 players on offense, 33 on defense and five specialists.

The complete list of CU award winners announced Sunday; the most valuable player was selected by the players and all others by the coaching staff:

Zack Jordan Award – (most valuable player, selected by teammates): TB Rodney Stewart

John Mack Award – (outstanding offensive player): WR Toney Clemons, QB Tyler Hansen

Dave Jones Award – (outstanding defensive player): OLB Josh Hartigan, DT Will Pericak

Lee Willard Award – (outstanding freshman): CB Greg Henderson

Dean Jacob Van Ek Award – (academic excellence): OL Blake Behrens, SS Anthony Perkins, CB Travis Sandersfeld

Best Interview – (selected by team beat media): WR Toney Clemons

Previously announced:

Buffalo Heart Award – (selected by “the fans behind the bench”): TB Rodney Stewart

Congratulations to all!

2012: Buffs to avoid facing a BCS team until Pac-12 play begins

Bring on the Big Sky!

Colorado has only played two Big Sky teams (as FCS teams, anyway) in school history, but will face a third next September 8th.

It was announced this weekend that the Buffs fill face off against Sacramento State between games at Mile High against Colorado State and on the road against Fresno State.

While a game against a 1-AA team suggests an easy win, Buff fans know otherwise. In 2006, Dan Hawkins made his debut as head coach with a 19-10 loss to Montana State. Then, in 2008, Colorado had all it could handle from Eastern Washington, before a late touchdown return for an interception sealed the victory.

What can Buff fans expect from Sacramento State?

Hard to say.

The Hornets opened the 2011 season with an upset of Oregon State in Corvallis – which should give the Buff Nation pause right there. A few weeks later, Sacramenton State defeated the Montana Grizzlies for the first time ever (17 meetings). The only other victories, though, were against lowly Northern Colorado (0-11 this fall) and Idaho State (2-9, with victories only over Western State and Northern Colorado).

At the end of the campaign, the Hornets were looking at a 4-7 overall record. Sacamento State lost four of its last five games, but those four losses were by a total of 21 points.

Still, it’s nitpicking for Colorado coaches and players to worry about Sacramento State’s record. The Hornets are 1-AA, and should be taken to the woodshed by the Buffs.

Of course, that’s what Oregon State fans thought this past September …

2012 Non-Conference schedule

With the Sacramento State game set, the Buffs now know their three non-conference opponents. Colorado will open September 1st in Denver against Colorado State (3-9, with an eight game losing streak to end the 2011 season), at home against Sacramento State (4-7, 3-5 in Big Sky play), and on the road against Fresno State (4-9 after a 35-28 loss to San Diego State Saturday night. Pat Hill, the head coach for 17 years in Fresno, may or may not be on the sidelines come next September).

That’s a combined record of 11-25 for Colorado’s first three opponents, with only one of those 11 victories coming over a BCS team (Sacramento State’s victory over Oregon State). Conversely, five of the victories came over teams which are 1-AA or below (including two over Northern Colorado).

Only twice before in the modern era (since 1962) has Colorado not faced a BCS conference team in non-conference play. In 1998, Colorado faced off against CSU, Fresno State, and Utah State, while in 2001, Colorado played CSU, Fresno State, and San Jose State.

Buff fans will be looking for a 3-0 record to start the 2012 season.

The issue at hand is whether Colorado, which already will have four new Pac-12 head coaches with which to contend, will have two brand new head coaches to face in the non-conference schedule. Colorado State seems destined to part ways with Steve Fairchild, who has produced three consective 3-9 seasons, while in Fresno, Pat Hill may have worn out his welcome at a school which he put on the national map.

The safest of the three non-conference coaches is probably Marshall Sperbeck at Sacramenton State. Despite a 4-7 record in 2011, and a 24-32 record in five seasons, Sperbeck isn’t likely to get fired this off-season. Last year, Sperbeck led the Hornets to a 6-5 record … the first winning record in Sacramento since 2000.

December 1st

Colorado State hires a new athletic director … Will Fairchild be the next to go?

November 29th

Target 2012: Bowl Game

Beat CSU – check; Win final home game for the seniors – check; get rid of the damn road losing streak – check.

While the Buffs were not able to check too many of their goals for the 2011 season, winning two of the final three games does leave room for quiet optimism for the 2012 season.

And time for a new set of goals.

“We can start talking about that because we’ve won on the road,” head coach Jon Embree said at his press conference Tuesday. “I don’t think you can talk about those goals until you start winning on the road. As this program continues to grow and flourish and progress, that (bowl) should be the next step for us.”

Embree also noted that the importance of winning in November can’t be overestimated.

Winning two of the last three “helps validate some of the things we’ve been talking to recruits about,” he said. “If you’re going to get to a bowl game, you’ve got to win in November.”

When future opponents see CU on their November schedules, Embree would like them to recognize that the Buffs “are playing their best football.”

As for recruiting …

Embree indicated that he expects to sign 28 prospects, using three scholarships “held” from the Class of 2011 to go with the full 25 allowed annually.

Embree also stated that he isn’t into “over-signing” – the practice of signing more than 25 and counting on attrition of some sort bringing the number back to the limit.

“Unless you know you’re signing Player X in case so-and-so doesn’t qualify or is hurt or is a candidate to gray shirt . . . I’m all for it,” he said. “The other way, I don’t know. If you sign a kid and then sign someone else you think is better and put that (first) kid out, I’m not for that.”

CU’s priorities in the 2012 class will be tight ends, cornerbacks and defensive linemen. Embree expects to sign at least three tight ends, five defensive linemen and three or four corners.

At least three recruits are scheduled to enroll for the spring semester, with the possibility of that number increasing to five to seven. Embree said even though finding junior college transfers who qualify under CU’s strict admission standards is challenging, “there are some JC guys we’re looking at.” (Including at least one offensive lineman, Alexandru Ceachir, who will be taking an official visit to Boulder this weekend. Program Note: I will have a full list of visiting players – now up to at least six – profiled on Thursday night or Friday morning) 

Upon his hiring last December, Embree said his recruiters would be unlikely to stray out of the Buffs’ established recruiting footprint unless bona fide prospects contacted CU. That apparently has happened with at least four recruits in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey – normally unusual areas for the Buffs to be visiting.

In a geographical breakdown of his staff’s recruiting territories, Embree said offensive coordinator/running backs coach Eric Bieniemy and defensive ends coach Kanavis McGhee would visit the D.C./New Jersey prospects because of the positions they play and not necessarily because Bieniemy and McGhee are assigned to recruit those areas.

As Embree promised, CU’s heaviest out-of-state focus is on California and Texas, with at least eight staffers assigned to recruit portions of each state. Embree said while “it’s been good to get back into Houston and Dallas,” San Antonio “is turning out to be pretty good for us. We got a couple there last year and there’s a couple with interest this year.”

Prospects’ overall reception of CU, despite the 3-10 final record, has been positive, he said: “We’ve had good responses from recruits. There’s the athlete that wants to go to a readymade situation. Then, there’s still some good athletes out there that want to go play in a good conference and want to be around good coaches . . . those are the ones that we’ve been hearing a lot from.

“There’s some other good players, but because of our record they don’t have an interest in us. It’ll be like that every year. But as you continue to build and improve on things, I think eventually those kinds of athletes will be interest in Colorado.”

Jon Major Pac-12 Defensive Player-of-the-Week

Jon Major, a junior from Parker, Colo., had nine tackles, including two tackles for loss totaling nine yards in the 17-14 win at Utah. He also had a sack in the fourth quarter for seven yards. Major and the Buffalo defense limited Utah to just 39 yards and one first down in the half. Utah’s 274 yards were the second lowest allowed by Colorado this season behind 243 by Colorado State.

Major is the third Buff to be honored as a Pac-12 Player-of-the-Week this season. Sophomore wide receiver Paul Richardson was honored for his record-setting 284-yard receiving effort against Cal, while senior defensive back Travis Sandersfeld was honored after the Buffs’ victory over Arizona.

This season, every team in the Pac-12 has had at least one representative on the Player-of-the-Week list. The breakdown: USC 8; Washington 5; Oregon State 5; Utah 5; Colorado 3; Oregon 3; Stanford 2; Washington State 2; Arizona State 2; Cal 2; Arizona 1; and UCLA 1.

Other Pac-12 Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Mychal Kendricks, LB, California

Freshman Offensive Co-Players of the Year: Marqise Lee, WR, USC and De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Dion Bailey, LB, USC

Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford

All-Pac-12 Team

With a 3-10 team, it was not entirely surprising that only one Colorado player was named to the Pac-12 team.

Any guesses?

On the second-team All-Pac-12 offensive team was …

… sophomore offensive tackle David Bakhtiari.

Congratulations to David. It will be nice to have him along the line for the next two seasons!

Pac-12 title game has the feel of the 2005 Big 12 championship game

Colorado fans would be forgiven if they are feeling a little sense of deja vu this week, as unranked and tattered UCLA heads up to Eugene to get thumped on by Oregon in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.

With the best team in the South, USC, home gloating over its season-ending 50-0 thrashing of the Bruins, UCLA nonetheless backed into the title game when Utah lost to Colorado, and Arizona State imploded down the stretch. The 6-6 Bruins are a 30-point underdog to the Ducks, and the line could go even higher.

Head coach Rick Neuheisel was informed Monday that he would not be retained as head coach, but would be allowed to coach the Pac-12 title game.

Sound like 2005 to you? The Buffs were humbled by Nebraska, 30-3, in the 2005 regular-season finale, but still backed into the title game because Iowa State – for the second year in a row – couldn’t make a field goal in its final game of the season. The Buffs’ reward was to head off to Houston to play a Texas team with Vince Young and national title aspirations. The CU head coach, Gary Barnett, was rumored to be on his way out, and the Buffs played as if they didn’t care.

Texas did care, though, and the final score was 70-3. Two days later, Barnett was gone.

70-3 … sounds about right for this weekend’s game …

In the end, it wasn’t Paul Richarson’s record-shattering performance.

In the end, it wasn’t Tyler Hansen setting a new standard for passing yards.

In the end, it was the Buffs’ inability to overcome their own mistakes which cost Colorado the first victory of the Jon Embree era.

On a day when Colorado amassed 582 yards of total offense, it was the 98 yards in penalties which were the story. From the beginning of the game through to the end, Colorado continued to make mistakes at critical junctures.

A look at the afternoon of Frustration at Folsom:

Penalty No. 1 – After the defense stopped Cal on a three-and-out to start the game, Colorado marched smartly down the field. The drive ended on the Cal nine yard line when Rodney Stewart was stopped short on a fourth-and-one attempt. However, looking back three plays, you find the Buffs’ first penalty of the afternoon, a false start on first-and-ten at the Cal 18 yard line. The Buffs appeared to fall short of a first down after gaining nine-and-a-half yards, when in fact they had gone fourteen-and-a-half yards before being stopped. Arguably, but for the false start penalty, the Buffs could have scored on their opening drive of the game.

Penalty No. 3 – Late in the first quarter, with Colorado up 3-0, Cal faced a third-and-three at the Buff 49-yard line. Zach Maynard’s pass to Marvin Jones fell incomplete, but freshman cornerback Greg Henderson was called for pass interference. First down, Cal, at the Colorado 34-yard line. The Bears went on to score on the drive to take their first lead of the game, 6-3, early in the second quarter.

Penalty No. 5 – Taking the ensuing kickoff, Colorado pushed the ball out to the Buffs’ 42-yard line. Facing a second-and-four, the Buffs were called for a false start. Second-and-nine turned into fourth-and-eight, and the Buffs were forced to punt the ball away.

Penalty No. 6 – Cal running back Isi Sofele takes off on the longest running play of the day for either team, taking off for 29 yards to the Colorado 30-yard line. Unfortunately for the Buffs, junior safety Ray Polk is called for a personal foul in tackling Sofele out-of-bounds, moving the  ball from the Buffs’ 30 to the Buffs’ 15. Three plays later, Gior Tavecchio connects on a 39-yard field goal (which would have been a 54-yard attempt otherwise). Cal upped its lead to 9-3.

Penalty No. 7 (off-set) – On the Buffs’ next drive, Tyler Hansen completed a 22-yard pass to Toney Clemons. Hold on. Colorado and Cal are called for off-setting holding penalties on the play. No penalties are recorded against either team in the official stats, but the Buffs lost a 22-yard gain as the play result was nullified.

Penalty No. 7 (official) – After Colorado kicker Will Oliver connected on a 52-yard field goal to cut the Cal lead to 9-6, the ensuing kickoff was returned to the Cal 25. Offsides, Colorado. On the re-kick, the return is taken out to the Cal 38, a net loss on the transaction of 13 yards to Colorado.

Penalties No. 8 and No. 9 – Colorado is twice called for false starts as the Buffs run the two minute offense just before halftime. Colorado ends the half at the Cal 44-yard line. But for the penalties, the Buffs could have been at the Bears’ 34-yard line, with a chance at a last second field goal. Instead, the Buffs go into halftime down 16-6.

Penalty No. 10 – Colorado comes out in the second half, and, for the second game in a row, scores its first touchdown of the game on the first possession of the second half. With momentum on its side, the Colorado defense holds the Cal offense to a three-and-out. The 49,532 in attendance are in a frenzy as the Cal punting unit comes onto the field. Instead, the Buffs rough the punter, giving the Bears new life. The Buffs’ defense does hold once again, but yardage, and momentum, are lost.

Penalty No. 11 (declined) – After two bombs from Tyler Hansen to Paul Richardson give Colorado a 27-23 early in the fourth quarter, the Colorado defense is called upon to hold the Bears one more time. On third-and-three at the Cal 40, the Buffs are drawn offside. The  penalty is declined as Zach Maynard goes on to complete a pass to Michael Calvin, but Maynard knew he had a free play and a given first down as soon as the ball was snapped.

Penalties No. 11 and No. 12 – With the Buffs down 30-27, Colorado takes over at its own 15-yard line with 7:10 to play in the game. The Buffs march methodically down the field, successfully converting a third-and-five at their own 20-yard line, followed by a successful conversion of a fourth-and-one at the Cal 36. With under two minutes to play, Tyler Hansen hits Paul Richardson for ten yards on third-and-five at the Cal 24, giving the Buffs a first-and-ten at the Bears’ 14. The upset is there for the taking, the victory is within the Buffs’ grasp. On first-and-ten, Rodney Stewart rushes around right end for nine yards to the Cal five yard line. Jubilation! But, no. Holding. Colorado, instead of a second-and-one at the Cal five yard line, now has a first-and-20 at the Cal 24. Frustration is heightened a few seconds later when the Buffs commit their last penalty of the afternoon, a false start. From the Cal 29, the Buffs do gain 15 yards, but only make it back near the original line of scrimmage, where Will Oliver connects from 32 yards out to send the game into overtime.

Twelve penalties. 98 yards.

Every team goes through games where there are a number of “could have been” situations. Certainly many Colorado victims of the past would point to a play here and a play there which would have resulted in their team coming out victorious over the Buffs.

But for a team struggling to find an identity; for a team trying to establish a new era on a positive note; for a team looking at a daunting schedule the remainder of the season; for a team looking for something positive to build upon – the Cal game was that opportunity.

One step forward, two steps back.

Five years ago, when the Buffs opened with losses to Montana State and Colorado State, patience was the watch-word.

We believed. We had faith. We were not rewarded.

We’re being asked once again to have such faith.

I, for one, still have that faith. The loss to Cal was crushing, but the Buffs did make significant strides from what CU fans witnessed against Hawai’i.

There are going to be tough times. There are going to be tough losses. The losses will someday make all the victories all the sweeter.

It would be easy to blame this loss on the officials. The sad truth is that the penalties, while they contributed mightily to the Colorado loss, did not keep the Buffs out of the endzone in overtime after the Buffs had a first-and-goal at the Cal four. Penalties did not turn Cal’s first-and-30 in overtime into a 32-yard pass play which set up the game winning touchdown.

These Buffs still need to learn how to win. They need to learn how to overcome mistakes.

Lesson No. 3 is in Mile High Stadium next Saturday.

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 conference and has made his case to certain Big 12 officials.

The Big 12′s board of directors is scheduled to meet on Saturday.

“The letter received today from Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin will be addressed by the Big 12 conference board of directors,” Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statment. “It remains our strong desire for Texas A&M to continue as a member of the Big 12 and we are working toward that end. However, if it is decided otherwise, the conference is poised to move aggressively with options.”

Nothing official, but there would be no reason for Texas A&M to issue such a statement unless it felt fairly certain that it was leaving the Big 12, and that the school had a new home – the SEC – ready to accept them when they bolted.

Does this latest news affect Colorado and the Pac-12?

According to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News, the Pac-12 should not – and will not – expand.

Here is Wilner’s take on the situation -

“And here’s a 10-digit summation of the Pac-12’s position:  925-932-4411.

“That’s Larry Scott’s number. Call if your school is interested in joining the Pac-12, because he isn’t calling you.

“The sense I got from numerous sources is that Scott believes he has made the Pac-12 an attractive place to be (which he has), with a rock-solid business model (which it has), and he’s finished shopping (as he should be).”

However, Wilner does outline a scenario in which it would make financial sense for Texas to give up its solo Texas Longhorn Network and play nice sharing with the Pac-12 -

“Specifically: The Pac-12 divides its TV revenue equally and The Longhorn Network, a partnership with ESPN, is set to pay Texas about $11 million per year. Those business models cannot co-exist.

“But that doesn’t mean UT to the Pac won’t happen. Several sources said that if Texas and ESPN are willing to make it work — granted, that’s a colossal if — it could work …

“Not-so-quick aside: I disagree with the notion that Texas is better off financially in the Big 12 with TLN than it would be in the Pac-12 without TLN. Look at the numbers:

“The Longhorns are set to receive about $30 million annually from TLN and the Big 12’s first- and second-tier media deals with ESPN and Fox, respectively.

“The Pac-12 schools will receive an average of $21 million from the league’s deals with ESPN and Fox that kick in next summer.

“But that figure does not include the revenue from the Pac-12 Network, which should be millions of dollars per school once it has fully ramped up on the distribution and advertising fronts.

“And that figure does not include the added revenue that would come from revised deal with ESPN and Fox prompted by Texas joining the conference.

“Add Texas, Texas Tech and the Oklahoma schools, and ESPN and Fox would have to substantially increase the annual payouts. Toss in the revenue from a Pac-16 Network, and we’re talking much more than $30 million per school.

“Would Texas be better off financially in the Pac-16 than as a football Independent? It would depend on the Longhorns making the BCS. (Notre Dame reportedly brings in $15 million annually from its NBC deal.)

“Now, as I was saying …

“The question is whether the Longhorns and ESPN would be willing to make a merger with the Pac-12 work — to shred or revise contracts, check their egos at the door, etc.”

Here’s betting that Texas – even if the numbers are higher – will not be willing to give up their solo network, or share revenue equally.

If the Longhorns were willing to do so, they would have joined the Pac-16 in 2010.

August 24th

Texas joins Colorado in the bricklaying business

As they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

Let me know if the following sounds familiar: “Brick by Brick”; “Building a New Foundation One Brick at a Time”; and “The pride and and winning tradition of the Texas Longhorns will not be entrusted to the weak and the timid”.

Wait a second – “Texas Longhorns”?

Three phrases which have been heard around Folsom Field over the years, especially since the hiring of the new coaching staff, are now the official motto of the 2011 Texas Longhorns. Here is a link to the ESPN story about how the 5-7 Longhorns are planning on taking the upcoming season one step at a time, one game at a time, one brick at a time.

Buff fans have been hearing for months about how new head coach Jon Embree wants to reinstate the brick wall at the Dal Ward Center, with each brick representing a significant Coloado victory. The first “brick” of the Jon Embree can be earned by ending an 18-game losing streak with a victory in the season opener against Hawai’i on September 3rd.

Now, less than two weeks before the start of the season, Texas has unveiled its motto for the 2011 season, “Building a New Foundation one Brick at at Time”.

Better late than never, Texas?

August 20th

Second scrimmage – good news and bad news

Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen joined his head coach in stating that Friday’s scrimmage was not a great one for the offense. “There’s no excuses,” Tyler Hansen said. “We’ve got to be better than we were (Friday) running the ball.”

Installing some gameday situations, like hand-signals to deal with crowd noise, also hampered the offense, but should not have caused the problems that it did. “We were doing game-day signals . . . that takes a little getting used to,” said Hansen. “But we have to get better overall (offensively). There’s no other way. We’ve got to be sharp these next two weeks. We’ve got Saturday and Sunday off, and Monday’s going to be different.”

Sophomore left tackle David Bakhtiari spoke about the overall lackluster performance this way – “You could just kind of see it as a whole – and I’m not throwing anybody under the bus because all of us were flat for some reason. The twos and threes played pretty well, but we need all 11 players (on the first unit) clicking.

“I think a lot of guys just came out going through the motions. It was pretty disheartening to see, but I’m not too worried about it. I know we’ll bounce back these next two weeks. I know 100 percent that’s going to happen.”

On the positive side …

Several players were singled out for playing well on Friday. Jon Embree praised receivers Logan Gray, Tyler McCulloch and Kyle Cefalo for their efforts … though it is noteworthy that all three of these players were not supposed to be amongst the elite on the team this fall: Logan Gray is a senior transfer from Georgia; Tyler McCulloch is a true freshman who was not signed until after Signing Day in February; and senior Kyle Cefalo is a walk-on who was just awarded a scholarship this week. Notably absent from Embree’s list of praiseworthy wideouts was senior Toney Clemons (sophomore Paul Richardson was held out of the scrimmage, with his position at starter solidified).

Senior Travis Sandersfeld and freshman Greg Henderson appear to have won the two cornerback spots, but defensive back Greg Brown is still trying to find an extra cover man to line up against pass-happy Hawaii and its four- and five-receiver sets.

Brown said Henderson, a 5-11, 185-pounder from Corona, Calif., has acclimated extremely well for a first-year player: “He’s very intelligent and physical. He’s really picked it up fast.”

“I came into camp just wanting to prove myself and try to get in position to start,” Henderson told cubuffs.com. “I felt like I was a good cover guy and good in bump-and-run and being aggressive – that’s what the coaches like.”

Henderson said he expects to be targeted by Hawaii and every other opponent: “I think a lot of people are going to try and come at me because I’m a true freshman. I’ve just got to hold my ground and show them I’m tough.”

Sandersfeld was pulled early Friday to allow evaluation of several players at corner, among them Parker Orms, Josh Moten and Jonathan Hawkins. Ayodeji Olatoye and Paul Vigo sat out the scrimmage, with linebackers Patrick Mahnke, Jon Major and Doug Rippy and safeties Anthony Perkins and Ray Polk exiting early to allow more personnel evaluation.

- The only injury which was reported was to freshman defensive back Will Harlos, who suffered a concussion.

- Jon Embree stated that he expects to burn the red-shirts of “nine or ten” true freshman this fall. Included amongst those who will be playing this fall is defensive end phenom Stephane Nembot. This one surprises me. The one unit in which Colorado is deep and experienced – six seniors – is along the defensive line. Combined with the fact that Nembot has only two years in football, and would benefit from a year of training, would lead one to believe that he would benefit from a red-shirt season.

April 18th

Team captains named

Three seniors and a junior were named Thursday to be the Buffs’ team captains in 2011.

For the offense, senior quarterback Tyler Hansen and senior right guard Ryan Miller were selected by their teammates, while on the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Jon Major and senior safety Anthony Perkins were honored.

Embree also will select a fifth captain for each game, which he said will almost always be based on the previous week’s special teams performances or for a special situation that would warrant a player being chosen.

It’s the first time as many as three Colorado high school performers will serve as team captains since 2004, when Joel Klatt (Arvada), defensive tackle Matt McChesney (Niwot) and tailback Bobby Purify (Colorado Springs) earned the distinction.

“They were voted on by the players, and I think they made excellent choices for who the leaders of the team will be this year. There’s no finer honor that having that kind of respect from your peers.”

Cefalo given a scholarship

In addition to announcing CU’s captains, Embree also said that senior wide receiver Kyle Cefalo has been placed on scholarship.

Cefalo transferred to Colorado in the spring of 2009 from Wenatchee Community College, where he attended one semester after originally signing out of high school with Oregon State on a baseball scholarship. But his career there was cut short due to an arm injury, so he turned to his next love, football. A teammate of Cody Hawkins at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, he then decided to follow his friend to Boulder. He caught six passes for 35 yards as junior in 2010, playing in 11 games which included a start in the season opener against Colorado State.

“Since I’ve been here from day one, Kyle has done it both on and off the field,” Embree told cubuffs.com. “He works hard and he is a great teammate. He’ll be a great contributor for us and I’m happy for him and his family.”

“When coach Embree told me, I was speechless at first, but I’m just really excited and happy,” Cefalo said. “It’s nice when four years of hard work can pay off and the coaches recognize that.

“It was totally out of the blue, coach called me up on stage in front of the whole team. I had no idea what he was going to do. Everybody was really excited, it was really cool to see all my teammates react like they did and give me hugs. It was a great moment.”

August 15th

Texas A&M to SEC still in the works

As Marc Isenberg, an author who follows college sports put it this weekend – “Another day in college sports. Another victory for billable hours” …

What do we know today?

1) The SEC Presidents on Sunday decided not to extend an invitation to Texas A&M “at this particular time” (see August 14th update, below). Some have speculated that the SEC doesn’t want to be sued by the remnants of the Big 12 for tampering with one of the Big 12′s ten members, and prefers to wait for Texas A&M to make the first move (if such is the case, why did the SEC Presidents meet to discuss the matter at all? Would it not have been prudent to wait until after the Texas A&M Board of Regents met?).

Arkansas chancellor Dave Gearhart was at the meeting Sunday and said A&M was among a number of topics discussed. “It was really an open discussion, not just about A&M but about the future of the conference and the future of other conferences,” Gearhart told ESPN. “We did talk about Texas A&M. It’s a great university, a great place. But I think the decision was to make no decision at this particular time.”

“(Texas A&M) did approach the SEC, not the other way around,” Gearhart said. “I’m not really sure of all the reasons for that. I’m sure that there’s a lot of speculation on behalf of a lot of people that what caused them to do that.

“The bottom line is they did approach the SEC.”

It seems as if liability was also on the agenda at Sunday’s meeting …

2) The Texas A&M Board of Regents met on Monday, giving A&M President R. Bowen Loftin to take any action he deems necessary in terms of realignment. While moving to the SEC remains an option, staying with the Big 12 is also an option. Loftin said that any realignment by Texas A&M will take place after a “lengthy” process.

Loftin stressed that no decision had been made yet, but the regents’ decision on Monday allows the possibility of one occurring in the future. There is no timeline for a decision, and there is no set end for Loftin’s possession of negotiating and decision-making power.

“It’s not so much what’s wrong with the Big 12, it’s what’s right for Texas A&M,” he said of the decision.

Loftin said there are too many variables that must be settled before he could say whether or not he would accept a bid to the SEC, but said there has never been a bid to the SEC issued to Texas A&M.

He also added that the SEC’s decision to make no action toward Texas A&M on Sunday was expected.

So, now what?

3) The hearing before a committee for the Texas state legislature, scheduled for Tuesday, has been post-poned. Texas Rep. Dan Branch, the chairman of the Higher Education committee that was to have hosted the hearing, had said it was in the best interest of the students of the state of Texas, including at Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor, to address the matter in a public forum.

“While events may continue to evolve in the coming weeks, at this time, there is no immediate need to evaluate the merits of an athletic conference reconfiguration involving Texas A&M University and, potentially, other Texas public universities,” Branch said in a statement released Monday afternoon. “If the current situation changes, our committee is prepared to convene.”

 Of course, all the Buff Nation really cares about is how this latest round of conference roulette will affect the Buffs.

Again, it comes down to Texas, not Texas A&M.

The buffer against Texas joining the Pac-16 has been the Longhorns’ unwillingness to accept parity. What would become of the Texas Longhorn Network if Texas were to be invited to join the Pac-16?

Not a problem, according to Kirk Bohls, of the Austin American-Statesman: “I expect the six BCS conferences to fold into three: Pac 16, Big Ten and the SEC. And I still think if A&M leaves and the Big 12 chooses not to expand, a nine-team league won’t work, Texas and others will join the Pac-12, and the Longhorn Network will be allowed under the current Pac-12 television package that already includes six regional networks: Arizona, Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Mountain network with Colorado and Utah.”

This seems like an overly simplistic view – Everything is split equally in the Pac-16, but the Longhorn Network (all $300 million of it) remains the property of Texas? Just folding it into the Pac-16 Network doesn’t change the math. Either Texas decides to share (which would be a change from last season, when the Longhorns were presented with largely the same concept – if not the same huge dollars – but balked), or the Pac-12 members take their ball and go home.

Everything Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has touched to date has turned to gold.

I am just hopeful that his grand plan for a nation of super-conferences does not cloud his judgment with respect to the treatment of Texas.

—

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First, Texas A&M has to leave (no sure bet), then the Big 12 has to collapse, rather than just replace Texas A&M (no sure bet), then Texas would have to be invited to join a Pac-16 super-conference (certainly not a sure bet).

Stay tuned …

While this may not be the final word on what happens with Texas A&M and the SEC, I couldn’t resist posting this  ….

August 14th

ESPN giveth; ESPN taketh away

The same network which declared that Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference was a done deal is now reporting that the SEC hasn’t extended any such invitation.

The Southeastern Conference is not extending an invitation to Texas A&M to become its 13th member, according to ESPN, but isn’t ruling out adding the Aggies in the future. University of Florida president Dr. Bernie Machen said the conference’s presidents and chancellors met on Sunday and “reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment.

“We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Machen said. “We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M.”

Arkansas chancellor Dave Gearhart was at the meeting Sunday and said A&M was among a number of topics discussed. “It was really an open discussion, not just about A&M but about the future of the conference and the future of other conferences,” Gearhart said. “We did talk about Texas A&M. It’s a great university, a great place. But I think the decision was to make no decision at this particular time.”

The Texas A&M Board of Directors will still meet on Monday to discuss the possibility of joining the SEC.

Now, at least, it appears that such a vote, if it occurs, will be to accept an offer … if it is tendered.

August 13th

More on the Texas A&M move …

The reported move of Texas A&M to the SEC continues to grow momentum.

While there should not be any “official” news of the Texas A&M move to the Southeastern Conference until after Monday’s meeting of the Texas A&M Board of Regents (see August 12th update, below), speculation has gone from the purview of internet posters to a major story for mainstream outlets.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the move will be announced on Monday – if not before. According to the Chronicle, Texas A&M intends to bolt the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference, abruptly ending its nearly century-old league affiliation with rival Texas, and 15-year union with the Big 12, which includes longtime in-state rivals Baylor and Texas Tech. A&M has called for a telephonic regents meeting for 3 p.m. Monday to discuss “conference alignment.”

ESPN is reporting that in addition to Texas A&M, the SEC is also looking into inviting Clemson, Missouri, and Florida State to join the league. Reportedly, SEC presidents will meet on Sunday to discuss the Texas A&M option, along with the issue of whether to invited one or three other schools.  An SEC official told ESPN that there was still a 30 percent to 40 percent chance the Aggies would not get enough votes for an invitation to the league. And the issue of needing to add a 14th team along with A&M remained, according to the New York Times.

“We realize if we do this, we have to have the 14th,” the SEC official said. “No name has been thrown out. This thing is much slower out of the chute than the media and blogs have made it.”

While ESPN is reporting that Missouri, Clemson and Florida State are potential partners to join the SEC, other outlets say that there is no chance that the two eastern schools are on the SEC’s short list. The rationale for denying the Clemson and Florida State (and Georgia Tech, for that matter) is that, while South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia are willing to play their natural rivals on an annual basis, they have no desire to bring their chief in-state rivals into the SEC. Why not? Simple. To keep their competitive, finanical, and recruiting advantages (the same reason Colorado would never have any interest in elevating Colorado State to the Pac-12).

Once the Texas A&M move is resolved, the eyes of Texas – and the rest of the nation – will turn to Austin, to see what Texas will do. If only Texas A&M leaves, the Longhorns would likely be content to play in a nine-team Big 12, where they can dominate – and keep their $300 million ESPN television contract to themselves.

If however, Missouri and/or Oklahoma also decides to leave, all bets are off.

Big 12 Response

After meeting on Saturday, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors issued the following statement:

“The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors conducted a teleconference meeting today to discuss the future of the Conference given recent developments regarding Texas A&M University.

The Board strongly conveyed to Texas A&M its unanimous desire that it remain a Big 12 member, and acknowledged its value to the Conference. The Board noted that Texas A&M expressed concerns about institutional networks and that the athletics directors worked together and took actions, which the Board has approved, to adequately address those concerns.

The other nine members reaffirmed their long term, unconditional and unequivocal commitments made to each other and the Conference last summer. Although the Board hopes Texas A&M remains in the Conference, the Board is prepared to aggressively move forward to explore expansion opportunities. In doing so, the Board recognizes the strength of the Big 12 Conference national brand and the opportunity to capitalize on it.”

Stay tuned …

August 12th

Texas A&M Board of Regents to meet in a special meeting Monday

Haven’t we been down this road before?

The Texas A&M System board of regents has called a special meeting Monday that includes an agenda item about conference alignment, according to ESPN. The session comes amid speculation that Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.

The item, part of the executive session agenda, is called: “Authorization for the President to Take All Actions Relating to Texas A&M University’s Athletic Conference Alignment, The Texas A&M University System.”

Speculation as to what might occur if Texas A&M leaves for the Southeastern Conference is just as much fun – and just as scary – as the conference realignment debates of last spring. Will Florida State join the SEC? Will the SEC stay at 14 schools, or go to 16, and, if so, who are the other two schools to be invited? What if Missouri and Oklahoma are the two other schools?

And what of the Big 12? Can it continue as a nine-team league if only Texas A&M leaves? Will Houston be invited to join? What about bringing TCU back from the Big East? What about inviting Louisville? Or BYU?

Most importantly, how would such a move ultimately affect Colorado?

Of course, if Texas A&M leaves, the future of the Big 12 as a conference will be dependent upon what Texas does, if anything. If the Longhorns are content to dominate a watered down Big 12, what teams will be invited in? Can Dan Beebe say with a straight face that a Big 12 with Houston, Louisville and BYU is better – or even as good - as a Big 12 with Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas A&M?

If Texas stays with the Big 12 – or goes independent – it is unlikely that the Pac-12 will become the Pac-16 anytime soon. There are just not enough quality schools within a three-hour plane ride of the west coast, and there are just not enough additional television sets in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma to rationalize dividing the Pac-12′s future booty with another four teams.

If, however, Texas is willing to listen to another pitch to join the Pac-16, which teams come along? Oklahoma would be the first choice, with Kansas and Missouri offering some benefits. Texas Tech? No. Baylor? No chance. Oklahoma State? Only if that was the only way to get Oklahoma.

None – repeat NONE – of these options are beneficial to Colorado. If you want to argue that the Buffs need to play in Texas to recruit in Texas, I would like to introduce you to Bobby Kennedy and four of Colorado’s ten recruits for the Class of 2012. What’s more, Colorado would again be in the shadow of Texas, and once again competing on an unlevel playing field in terms of revenues and recruits. Finally, playing in a Pac-16 would only reduce the number of games Colorado could play in the recruiting fields of California (and wasn’t that one of the main reasons for insisting on being a member of the Pac-12 South in the first place?).

If Texas A&M wants to thumb its nose at the Longhorns and leave the sinking ship which is the Big 12, I will stand back and applaud. If Big 12 commissioner wants to again make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear in preserving the Big 12, I’ll just sit back with a smile – or is it a smirk? – on my face.

Just leave Colorado and the Pac-12 out of it …

Punting a two man race – but two different men

Different day, different punters.

A day after Jon Embree announced that the three man race for punter had been reduced to two, on Friday it was revealed that it is a two man race … … with two different men.

Sophomore Zach Grossnickle, the Buffs’ starting punter last season, was the odd-man out on Thursday. “We had a punt off to get it down to two,” said Jon Embree after Thursday afternoon’s practice. “(Freshman) Darragh O’Neill is definitely in it. I’ll see who the other will turn out to be, but it will probably be (senior transfer Mark) Brundage going at it. We’ll see when I see the stats, but that’s what it looked like here on the field”.

It is now being reported that it is Brundage who is out of the competition, with Zach Grossnickle back in.

(A tip of the cap to CU at the Gamer Ric, who was on top of this issue well before it broke, noting that Adam from BuffStampede.com and Kyle from the Camera were both singing the praises of Grossnickle throughout the first week of practice, and were surprised that Grossnickle was excluded from the competition after Thursday’s practice).

August 11th

Chidera Uzo-Diribe anxious to get back to practice

Sophomore Chidera Uzo-Diribe is feeling better.

Much better.

“I am trying to practice either the second practice today (Thursday) or tomorrow so I can scrimmage on Saturday,” the sophomore defensive end told BuffStampede.com following Colorado’s practice on Thursday morning. “But I don’t know if the coaches are going to let that happen.”

Head coach Jon Embree, though, does not want to rush the sophomore, currently listed on the depth chart as the starter at right defensive end. “He wants to practice,” Embree said after the Thursday morning practice. “I’ll talk to [head athletic trainer] Miguel [Rueda] and see on that. I know what he can do. I am comfortable in what he can do in his abilities so I am more concerned with having him for Hawaii. So we’ll see how he feels, how sore he is and all those things.”

So, what exactly happened in Wednesday’s practice? “It happened during team play action pass period,” recalled Uzo-Diribe. “I was coming up field and ‘Speedy’ (Rodney Stewart) was coming to block off the edge and cut me so as I jumped to get over the cut. I just kind of fell awkwardly on my head. It caused stiffness, like a numbness and tingling feeling down my right arm.

“I was on the ground and they told me to cool it and wait, let the training staff come and figure out what was going on. Probably right when the ambulance came and they were asking me to roll on the board, I figured out it was probably not that bad.”

The Colorado defensive line is perhaps the deepest on the team, but it is certainly good news that a potential starter will be back to practice sooner rather than later.

August 10th

Chidera Uzo-Diribe “going to be sore”, but going to be fine

Sophomore Chidera Uzo-Diribe — listed first on the depth chart at right defensive end entering fall camp — was taken off the field in an ambulance after laying motionless for some time as he and CU training staff waited for paramedics to arrive. The injury came while the offense and defense worked on plays near midfield. Uzo-Diribe landed awkwardly on his head and neck after a collision, according to the Daily Camera.

While Uzo-Diribe was taken to the hospital, it all proved precautionary. Here’s what head coach Jon Embree had to say after the morning practice:  “Chidera’s going to be fine. I think it’s similar to what happened to DaVaughn (Thornton), so I’m sure he’s going to be sore. He’s just a little bit of tingling I guess. So (what the trainers did) was just precautionary. You never want to take a risk on something like that. I guess he just landed kind of funny on his neck/shoulder, so what was done was precautionary … He was conscious; talking. He had feeling and everything.

The school reported later in the afternoon that Uzo-Diribe had been released from the hospital, and that all of his tests were negative. According to Dave Plati, the 6’3″, 240-pound defensive end would be sore, but would “return to practice as soon as possible”.

Good news, indeed …

August 9th

Freshman Sherrard Harrington likely to red-shirt

True freshman cornerback Sherrard Harrington has a hip injury which will keep him from practice for the next four to six weeks. As Harrington will lose precious practice time in his freshma season, it is likely that Harrington will red-shirt this fall.

A member of the recruiting Class of 2011, Harrington, came to Boulder from Washington D.C. Harrington reportedly had issues with his hip all summer, but the decision to keep him out of further practice was not made until today.

Colorado had twenty defensive backs on the roster to open fall camp, and remains in search of two starters at cornerback. Harrington becomes the second cornerback to be sidelined in the first week of practice. Last weekend, sophomore cornerback Jered Bell was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Will Oliver: “I’ve got to be the starter every day”

A week before Signing Day, kicker Will Oliver didn’t have a college team to play for.

Six months later, Oliver is the starting kicker for the University of Colorado.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time here,” Oliver told cubuffs.com. “You have to do it every single day. I’ve got to be the starter every day, otherwise it means nothing.”

In January, Oliver, considered by West Coast kicking guru Chris Sailer to be the No. 12 placekickers in the nation, was mulling offers from Maryland and Fresno State. Instead, Oliver chose to go with Colorado. Fortunately for the Buffs, Oliver’s family has a vacation home in Aspen, and the 18-year old high school senior loved the state. “It gets no better than this,” he said. “Just look around, you’ve got mountains, clean air . . . it’s all just wonderful.”

Now Oliver has the task of eliminating all of the bad memories Buff fans have of the kicking game the past few seasons. Oliver has – obviously – fared well in his first week of camp.

On Day 1 of camp, Oliver hit 27 of his 29 field goal attempts. Day 2 brought a drop-off, but in a weird kicking sort of way, he said that might have been beneficial: “As a kicker, it sounds a little weird to say, but it’s probably good to have at the beginning of camp. You kind of feel the pressure, you feel what it’s like hit the ground and that you need to bounce back.

“The biggest thing with kicking is forgetting – having a short memory so you can get back on the field and feel you’re as good as you always were. Most kickers have done this a long time, especially when you get to the college level. It’s got to be the same thing every time. You won’t be here if you’re not good; you have to just go back to your normal self and find your own rhythm.”

Now, Oliver will be the kicker at Colorado for the next four years … if he can keep up the good work.

August 8th

Up for a little light reading?

Although the Colorado football program is looking up at the rest of the Pac-12 South division in the preseason polls, projected to finish last – for the first time since 1915 – there is still much to be thankful for.

Colorado could still be a part of the Big 12.

If you are up for a little light reading, here is a link to the 50-page agreement between Texas and ESPN for the Texas Longhorn Network contract

Some highlights (or lowlights, as pointed out by fans of the schools left behind in the blog “Outkick the Coverage” …

 1. If Texas leaves the Big 12 ESPN receives an exclusive sixty day window to negotiate for all of Texas’s athletic rights.

“In the event that UT determines not to participate in any athletics conference in one or more sports, UT agrees to provide ESPN a right of first negotiation of 60 days with respect to its television telecast rights..”. What’s more Texas also grants ESPN 48 hours to match the offer of any other entity. Significantly the language allows this negotiation window to open “in one or more sports.”

So could Texas football go independent and cash in while the rest of the sports remained in a conference?

Yep.

2. Woe unto you if you are unfairly critical of Texas on the Longhorn Network.

While ESPN agrees to spend $13 million on a studio and expects to hire 75 employees to work on the network, those employees better be Longhorns through and through.  

Here’s what I’ll call the “Don’t Mess With Texas” provision of the agreement:  “In the event that UT reasonably determines that any on-air talent does not reflect the quality and reputation desired by UT for the network based upon inappropriate statements made or actions taken by such talent and so notifies ESPN, ESPN will cause such talent to be replaced (and will in any event no longer allow them on air following such notice).”

Yep, Texas controls who works on the network and what they say, not ESPN.

3. There’s a broad contractual provision that appears to prohibit Texas from being affiliated with any other network.

So those dreams of a Big 12 network? They seem pretty stifled by this language. “Neither IMG nor UT will during the Term and within the Territory, … i) participate in or permit the development of another “Longhorns Network” or similar network enterprise (regardless of name) related to UT”.

The term is twenty years and the territory is defined as Texas. Again, there are other provisions in here, but that language seems to spell out that Texas doesn’t have any desire to be a part of any Big 12 network.  In fact, more alarmingly for the Big 12, Texas may not even have the contractual right to be a part of a Big 12 Network.

4. Under the television portion of the contract: “the parties acknowledge their mutual desire that the Network telecast no less than two (2) such regular season games per college football season”

So far there is just one football game to be aired on the Longhorn Network. Anyone else think that’s going to grow? Well, the parties are mutually agreeing to “no less than two.”

—

Now, the commentary is from a Texas A&M fan, so it has to be taken with at least a grain of salt. That being said, it is amazing how the other members of the fading Big 12, in a desperate attempt to remain a league, gave Texas the opportunity to make its own rules. Texas can hardly be blamed for taking advantage of the opportunity, though it may prove, in the long run, to be detrimental to the Longhorns’ self interest.

I’ve said it before, and I still believe it – Texas will not go independent … at least not until it can figure out a way to have the remainder of its athletic programs affiliated with a conference. The Longhorns can certainly go independent for football: Texas has an almost inexhaustible resource base, fanatical (and wealthy) alumni, and all the five-star in-state recruits it can sign. That being said, the women’s golf team needs someone to play, and that means Texas has to have a conference affilation.

The SEC? No chance. Why would the SEC want Texas for baseball and not football?

The Pac-12 or the Big Ten? Same answer.

The Missouri Valley Conference or Conference USA? Doubtful. Why would Texas want to “lower” itself to a mid-major league.

Which leaves the Big East.

While it sounds ridiculous, it is no more ridiculous than the Big East taking TCU. The Horned Frogs will have the same travel issues as would the Longhorns, but is signed on nonetheless despite having fewer resources.

Plus, the precedent has already been set. Notre Dame is independent in football, but plays all of its other sports as a member of the Big East.

Such a move could be a win/win for Texas and the Big East. The Longhorns could make up its own rules with respect to football scheduling (again, see Notre Dame), yet still have a home for its other sports. The question would be: Is the Big East willing to prostitute itself in order to get Texas for basketball and other sports, with perhaps some agreements to play a certain number of games against Big East teams each season?

If Texas A&M does bolt and join the SEC … I wouldn’t  bet against that happening …

August 7th

Colorado players each given a brick of their own

The tunnel for the players to run through before the start of the game at Folsom Field is gone. Also nixed is the smoke.

Perhaps they can be replaced with a little Pink Floyd …

This summer, Jon Embree noted that one of the traditions he wanted to bring back at Colorado was the brick wall. A symbolic wall of bricks at the Dal Ward Center, each brick represented a memorable victory for the Colorado football program. The first brick of the Embree era which the 2011 team can earn comes in the opener, as the Buffs seek to end an 18-game road losing streak.

Now, the Buffs’ head coach has taken the brick concept a step further.

At the team’s opening meeting, according to a story at cubuffs.com, Embree handed out a brick to each player, starting with the seniors. The head coach then handed out a brick to each assistant coach. The players are keeping their bricks in their lockers; the coaches, on their desks.

“I want them to understand when it gets hard – and it’s going to get hard in camp, when the coaches are wearing you out and I’m riding you like Seabiscuit – the reason why is that you’re getting those things, that tradition, back,” said Embree.

“That overrides everything else. It’s not about you. It’s not about how tired you are, how you feel … It ain’t about you. It’s about getting it all back.”

While most teams would not relish the idea of starting the season on the road – especially against a team which has a history of picking off distracted BCS teams on his home turf – Embree is embracing the difficulty of the first game of his tenure as head coach.

“(Players) need to know, need to understand the importance of it. You want to start fast every year”, said Embree. “If you just sit there and think ‘we’ll start in game four,’ you’re out of it. The nature of the program here at the University of Colorado, you’re going to play good teams out of the gate. We can’t afford to wait for a quote ‘easy’ game; we don’t have any easy games. It goes from hard to real hard and the players have to understand that.”

The concept isn’t being lost on the players. “It’s all about tradition,” said junior inside linebacker Doug Rippy. “It’s something you can’t argue against or fight against. It’s something you’ve got to do. Honestly, we need to bring it back here. Receiving that brick from him means a lot to me because it comes from a former player here who has done it.”

Less than four weeks to kickoff of the 2011 season, and the chance to earn the first brick.

If the players are successful, “The Wall” by Pink Floyd may be soon heard at Folsom.

On the other hand, hearing, “We don’t need no education” blaring as the team warms up might not be such a great idea …

August 6th

Colorado loses Jered Bell

The Buffs have 20 defensive backs on the roster, but will now have to make due with nineteen.

During Saturday’s practice, sophomore cornerback Jered Bell tore his ACL, and will likely be lost for the 2011 season.

Last year, Bell played as a true freshman, so he has a red-shirt year remaining. In 2010, Bell was in on 54 plays on defense, accumulating 11 tackles. Bell also played on special teams, where he contributed an additional four tackles.

On the pre-fall depth chart, Bell was listed as the third right cornerback, behind seniors Arthur Jaffee and Jonathan Hawkins.

August 5th

Colorado opens as an 11-point underdog

Reality check. 

Just when Colorado fans were beginning to feel good about their team (see videos, below, as well as pretty much any quote from a CU player or coach), Las Vegas brings the Buff Nation down to earth.

The VegasInsider.com opened its betting line for the September 3rd season opener on Friday, listing the Hawai’i Warriors, 10-4 in 2010, as an 11-point favorite at home over Colorado, 5-7 in 2010.

Okay, so Colorado hasn’t won on the road since 2007. True, Hawai’i plays well at home. But 11 points? When Colorado defeated the same Hawai’i team, 31-10 last season in Boulder?

Apparently, those that are interested in betting lines were not sure about the line, either.

Four hours after the line was posted, the line was down to seven …

August 4th

A cool video, one which was shown to the players at the start of fall camp …

Introduction to Fall Camp, 2011

The second video is equally inspiring …

It’s all here for you

Colorado sells as many season tickets as Colorado State and Air Force combined

Think Colorado fans were starved for a change of leadership in the coaching staff.

The Buffs were 5-7, the fifth consecutive losing season in program history. Only in the six year drought from 1979-1984 witnessed a longer run without a winning season. Still, the Buff Nation is responding to new head coach Jon Embree and his coaching staff in record numbers.

The Denver Post is reporting that Colorado has sold 23,650 season tickets, up over 4,000 from last season. The increase is the largest since the 1989 team went 11-1 and played for the national championship, inspiring a rush of new season ticket sales.

Earlier this year, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn boldly predicted 25,000 season tickets would be sold. At the time, that seemed like bravado, as Colorado offered only five home games – plus a mandatory trip to Denver for the CSU game – but it appears likely now that the ticket office will reach the 25,000 ticket goal.

Air Force has sold a healthy number of season tickets, 17,000, while Colorado State has managed to sell only 6,456. The Rams are down 6% from last season, when the total season ticket sales were 6,860 to this date (remind me again how it is that Colorado ever loses to Colorado State?!?!).

Congratulations to the ticket office on a job well done (it should go without saying that the record for away games will obliterate all previous records. This year the Buffs will travel to Seattle instead of Ames; San Francisco instead of Manhattan; Los Angeles instead of Lubbock; and Tempe instead of Waco … yeah, I think the Buffs will sell a few more tickets this year!).

August 3rd

Buffs get a little love from, of all places, the Denver Post

It’s a new season. Colorado has a new coaching staff, a new enthusiasm, a renewed sense of pride.

Everything is new. Anything is possible …

… including positive press from the Denver Post?

Hard to believe, but both Mark Kizla and Woody Paige had good things to say about the University of Colorado football program (if John Henderson had chimed in, I would have dismissed the stories as an elaborate ruse).

Okay, an article in which Kizla writes “There would be no shame in this Colorado team losing 10 times” is hardly a puff piece. However, Kizla does allow Embree to make his points, and there are some great quotes from the Buffs’ new head coach …

“I think we’ve kept our success and a tradition a secret. I don’t think we talk about it enough. How many schools have a Heisman Trophy winner and a national title?”** Embree said. “We should thump our chests about what this university has accomplished, from Rhodes Scholars to the engineering program and the business school. CU is a heck of a place. We need to let people across the country know about us, and we need to be proud of what we’ve accomplished at this school. You know, back when I was a coach at UCLA, they had the fifth or sixth 10-win season in the history of the football program. Well, in my 11 years at Colorado (as an assistant coach), we did that four times. So what’s the big deal? But people don’t know that. It’s time we change the reality out there in the public, so it changes the public’s perception. Our reality is way better than the perception of this place.”

**(Just thought I would answer that one for you. There are 24 schools which have won the national championship and have produced a Heisman trophy winner. From the Pac-12, only Colorado, USC, and UCLA can claim that distinction).

- Kizla was not alone in giving Colorado some positive ink. In his latest Mailbag, Woody Paige was asked about whether Colorado could be a national championship contender in a few seasons.

Paige’s response:

August 2nd

How far west will the Big East go?

This summer, it was the Pac-12′s turn to make the best television deal in college football history.

Come next summer, it will be the Big East’s turn.

The Big East was close to signing an extension with ESPN earlier this year, but decided to wait and test the market. With the Pac-12 basking in the glow of its new 12-year, $3 billion television deal, the Big East is glad that it waited.

The question now for the Big East: How many teams will be party to the new television deal?

The conference is an unwieldy association of 16 schools, with TCU joining in 2012 to make the number 17 – with nine for football. While the league has teams in major markets like New York, Chicago, and Philadephia, it is still largely a basketball league.

Expansion seems to be a reasonable possibility for the league, if only to get the number off of 17.

But how – and where?

“There is no magic number for us,” said Big East commissioner John Marinatto with regard to the number of teams the league will have when the new television contracts are negotiated. “We want quality. We’re a nontraditional conference. We find ways to make things work. We keep defying the odds.”

Marinatto is enjoying being in a position similar to what the Pac-12 recently enjoyed – the only league without a long term contract. “Having last bat, last dance, provides us an opportunity to evaluate what everybody else has done,” Marinatto said. “Our agreements four years ago were negotiated in a very different marketplace and during a difficult time for our conference.

“We now have a golden opportunity to secure our long-term security,” he said. “We can again achieve equity with the other major conferences. … We can’t make a mistake this time.”

The football members of the conference would like to add at least one more member – perhaps as many as three – but the choice has to appease the basketball members as well.

Is it just me, or does Kansas sound like the perfect fit?

Remember, this is a league which just signed up TCU, so apparently geography is not a deal breaker. Kansas could bring to the league a BCS-caliber school, with a fair to middling football program, and a nationally followed basketball program.

If the league wants three football schools, why not go with Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas State? The league could then have a 12-team football conference (read: lucrative championship game), and a basketball league which could send a dozen teams to the NCAA’s every season.

So, if Texas A&M is serious about bolting to the SEC, and the rejects from the old Big 12 are looking for a new home …

… who knows?

Time for a little love

If you have already grown weary of what the preseason magazines have had to say about Colorado (see, Colorado Daily, May 29th), then this might raise your spirits …

In his ESPN blog, Ted Miller wrote an article entitled, “Colorado’s visit to OSU no longer imposing“.  In it, Miller notes that Ohio State was already going to be without several key players for the game against Colorado on September 24th, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, leading rusher Daniel Herron, No. 2 wide receiver DeVier Posey, All-Big Ten offensive tackle Mike Adams and backup defensive end Solomon Thomas.

If any of the nine players named in the Sports Illustrated article (see Colorado Daily, May 30th) are similarly suspended, though, the Buckeyes’ ranks could be severely thinned. Included on that list are two returning starters along the defensive line, the second-string running back, and both the first- and second-string middle linebackers. In all, Ohio State could be without seven starters and three immediate backups.

Miller notes that if any of these players are found to have taken cash or tattoos in exchange for memorabilia, that the school won’t waste much time suspending them in a similar fashion – in a last-ditch attempt to show the NCAA that it is capable of policing its own.

If further suspensions do occur, Colorado’s chances on September 24th are certainly increased. Miller concludes: “We are not ready to term this a prediction, Buffaloes fans, but it no longer is completely absurd to dream of heading to Stanford on Oct. 8 with a 5-0 record”.

Perhaps that it is an overstatement (let’s win one game on the road before we start adding upset road victories), but it is certainly nice to have someone from the mainstream media giving Colorado at least some recognition.

And then there is this … This was not a part of Miller’s article, but I am beginning to wonder if there is a chance the Ohio State/Colorado game might not be played.

Colorado needed a big payday, and had the option for a 13th game. Ohio State wanted a quality opponent which was willing to come to the Horseshoe without wanting a return date. A match made in financial heaven – Ohio State got a high profile victory; Colorado got cash to pay off the Dan Hawkins’ contract.

Part of the expectations of both parties, though, was that the game would be televised. Now, with Ohio State facing potentially harsh penalties from the NCAA – including a ban on televised games – Ohio State might want to reconsider its guaranteed check to the Colorado athletic department.

Colorado doesn’t need the game – the Buffs already have 12 without a payday trip to Columbus – and Ohio State, if the game can’t be televised, might prefer to write a smaller check to a neighboring MAC school (Ohio State is 28-1 all-time against schools from the Mid-American conference, with two more – v. Akron and v. Toledo, already scheduled for 2011).

An actual bye between the Colorado State game and the start of the Pac-12 schedule could actually be a big plus for the Buffs.

Then again, a win over Ohio State – even a depleted Ohio State – could work wonders for the attitudes of the Buff players and members of the Buff Nation …

Also …

Ted Miller, in writing about Cal’s schedule this fall, had this to say … “Trap game: Cal crushed Colorado 52-7 last year, so Bears players and fans might be expecting an easy trip to Boulder on Sept. 10. Here’s some advice: don’t. The Buffaloes didn’t show up in Berkeley, but that performance isn’t indicative of the talent on this team. And, Golden Bears, you do know a few things about laying eggs and looking overmatched on the road when the talent ledger suggests you are not.”

Don’t know about you, but I’m kinda liking this Ted Miller guy …

And the Winner is …

Some 25,000 voters participated in the choosing of a logo for the inaugural Pac-12 title game.

The winning logo, along with a look at the three other candidates which were not selected, can be found here …

May 27th

Pac-12 hires 18 new officials

The influence of Larry Scott extends well past the pocketbooks of the members of the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 commissioner noted early on in his tenure that officiating in the conference needed to be reviewed. It has been the consensus that the Pac-10 was not the best league when it came to officials – “There is definitely a difference when we play out-of-league games compare to when we play in the league,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly told ESPN.com. “At Tennessee (last season), we used SEC guys. They were great” – which led to the resignation of the league’s coordinator of officials, Dave Cutaia.

The Pac-12′s interim coordinator, Mike Pereira, has been busy. Pereira retired as the NFL vice-president of officiating in 2009, stepping in as interim director this past February. Noting that the NFL hadn’t hired a Pac-10 official in seven years, Pereira fired 12 of the league’s 44 officials – 27 percent – while hiring 18 new officials (the extra officials required due to the expansion of the league).

“I’m not saying it was horrible,” Pereira said. “It was not what the conference deserved, and to me it hasn’t been what the conference desired.”

Periera didn’t stop at personnel changes. The Pac-12 will be the first football league – collegiate or professional – which has hired a supervisor for each of the seven officiating positions on the field. Six of the supervisors are current NFL officials. Each position group will work together during the week, rather than compete against one another for coveted post-season assignments.

“I really think we, in all of college football and the NFL, have become focused too much on what our grades are,” Periera told ESPN.com. “Just because an official calls a foul for holding doesn’t mean he’s a great official. How he does it, how he communicates with the players, how he communicates with the coaches, how he communicates with the supervisor, how he keeps himself in shape, how he scores on rules tests – all of those things, to me, got lost somewhere. We all ended up focusing on grades. If you’re officiating and competing just to get the Cotton Bowl, then that’s not the right thing. That’s not the right competition. We should be competing to be as consistent as we possibly can as a group.”

Pereira’s role as interim coordinator of officials ends May 31st, with a permanent replacement for Dave Cutaia to be named June 1st.

As with everything else with the Pac-12, though, Pereira has gotten the new conference off to a good start.

May 25th

Brother, can you spare a billion?

“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money” – attributed to U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen

Not satisfied with the 12-year, $3 billion contract the Pac-12 signed with ESPN and Fox Sports? Is $250 million per year not enough? Convinced that the Buffs can’t get by with an average of $21 million per year in television revenue?

Larry Scott to the rescue.

The Pac-12 commissioner is still at it, indicating that the Pac-12 Network could earn the league over $1 billion over the next seven to ten years. The Pac-12 Media Enterprises will be a holding company, which will bundle the Pac-12 Network, digital rights, as well as conference sponsorship and licensing (Pac-12 Properties).

“I can tell you this, based on offers people have made to us, we’ve got a least a billion-dollar business we’re sitting on,” Scott told CBSSports.com. “That’s just Pac-12 Media Enterprises.”

Still not enough? “That is a broad figure that has been thrown out to us by media investors. That’s a potential minimum value over a seven-to-ten year period,” said Scott.

Let’s do some math … $1 billion divided amongst 12 schools could mean an additional $83 million in revenue per school. If the contracts went out ten years, that would be an extra $8.3 million per year per school. If the contracts were for seven years, the figure would go up to $11.9 million per year.

Profits will not come immediately (the Big Ten Network to two years to realize a profit), but the league is also in line to earn 100% of the revenue, compared to the 49% take the Big Ten teams receive.

Regardless, it is hard not to see these extra dollars as Monopoly money for the Colorado athletic department.

If Larry Scott comes through – and when has he failed to deliver even more than what was expected? – the revenue flowing to the University of Colorado from Pac-12 Media Enterprises ALONE could exceed what the Buffs were receiving from television revenue as a member of the Big 12.

Dare to dream … big!

May 24th

No automatic bid for Mountain West likely – will the conference appeal?

At the end of the 2011 season, the five non-automatic qualifying conferences (Mountain West, Western Athletic, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Mid-American) will have their status reviewed, with the potential for one of the conferences to qualify to have an automatic bid into a BCS bowl, joining the six conferences (Big East, ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12) which already have their conference champion guaranteed a BCS bowl game.

As it stands, only the Mountain West Conference has a chance, and that is a slim one … and MWC officials are none to pleased.

There is a system in place whereby a  non-AQ conference could be allowed an automatic bid for the bowl games to be played after the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Over a four-year evaluation period (which ends this fall), a conference must meet three benchmarks:

1) The average rank of the highest-ranked team must finish in the top six (of the 11 conferences);

2) The number of teams in the conference which have been ranked at least once in the top 25 must rank in the top six; and

3) The average computer ranking for all teams in the conference must rank in the top six.

The Mountain West conference qualifies under the first two criteria.

First, there is the average rank of the highest-ranked teams in the conference. Thanks to Utah and TCU (which are leaving the MWC, but we’ll get to that in a minute) – the Mountain West average is 5.3, good enough for fourth place amongst all of the conferences (SEC is ranked highest, at 1.3; then the Big 12, 3.3; and the Pac-10, 4.7 … followed by the MWC, Big Ten, 7.0; ACC, 12.0; and the Big East, 14.7).

Second, there is the number and ranking of teams in the Top 25, adjusted for league size. Again, the Mountain West makes the grade, coming in 5th. The SEC again comes in first, rated at 100%, followed by the Big 12, at 90.6% (CU didn’t help the grade here); the Big Ten (88.9%); Pac-10 (77.8%) MWC (72.9%), Big East (45.1%), and the ACC (41.7%).

The final test, average computer rankings of all teams (in six computer polls), is where the Mountain West falls short. The SEC, not surprisingly, has the highest overall average, at 38.4, followed by the Big 12 (41.4); ACC (45.1); Pac-10 (45.3); Big Ten (46.5); Big East (50.3); and Mountain West (63.1). The MWC is down in seventh thanks to bottom feeders like New Mexico (1-11 in 2010), UNLV (2-11), Wyoming (3-9) and Colorado State (3-9). With the significant gap between the number six conference, Big East (50.3) and the Mountain West (63.1) is significant enough that it is unlikely that the Mountain West will be able to catch the Big East and meet the third criterion.

“They would need nothing short of a miracle to get to No. 6″, BCS expert Jerry Palm told the San Diego Union Tribune. “It’s mathematically unrealistic, if not impossible.”

So, end of story, right? The rules are that in order to be entitled to be an automatic qualifer for 2013 and 2014, a non-AQ conference must be in the top six in the above three categories, and the Mountain West falls short.

“The Mountain West has shown it should be in the mix,” said San Diego State Athletic director Jim Sterk. “It has performed better than the Big East and (ACC) for the most part.” The Mountain West has not yet failed to qualify – yet. “Right now (being successful this fall) is our focus,” said Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson. “We want to earn our way by doing what we have to do on the field.”

But, assuming that the Mountain West fails to post significant advancement top-to-bottom this fall (a task made even more difficult with the departures of Utah and BYU), the conference will have another option. If the MWC meets two of the criteria but comes up short on the third, the conference can appeal its case to the 12-member BCS Presidential Oversight committee. The committee does have the authority to override the three tests. “There may come a time when we have to make that case, but as I said, that is not our focus right now,” said Thompson. “Should be get to that point it will be up to us to share our feelings about the current system.”

Will the Oversight committee allow the Mountain West into the big money party?

The case for: The Mountain West is ranked higher than both the ACC and Big East in two of the three criteria. If the conference has a good year in 2011 (TCU remains a member for one more year, with Boise State joining this year), there will be pressure to allow the Mountain West in as an automatic qualifier, at least for 2012 and 2013.

The case against: The reason the Mountain West is even within sniffing distance of an automatic bid is due to the success of Utah, BYU, and TCU over the past three seasons. None of those teams will be part of the conference in 2012. In sum, the Mountain West Conference will have earned the bid on the backs of teams who will not be around to participate in the automatic bid.

Best guess: With the Justice Department making noise about the unfairness of the BCS process, the last thing the BCS or the NCAA wants is to have a very public argument about the unfairness of the BCS process. The four-year evaluation process is only about the 2012 and 2013 bowl seasons. A total of seven teams from non-qualifying conferences have made a BCS bowl over the past seven seasons, so the BCS conferences would not be giving up too much to allow an automatic entry from the Mountain West.

Then, in two years, if the new Mountain West, made up of Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Air Force, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Hawai’i, Nevada, and Fresno State, cannot produce on the field the same way the old Mountain West did the past three seasons, the BCS could pull the automatic qualification.

As Jim Sterk, the San Diego State athletic director put it, “this fall is really important to the league.” Think the other members will be cheering for new member Boise State takes on Georgia on September 3rd? “Huge game,” said MWC commissioner Craig Thompson. “Monster game.”

Stay tuned …

May 18th

Gene Smith still backing Tressel

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is apparently hitching his wagon to Jim Tressel.

After it appeared to onlookers the past few weeks that Smith was distancing himself from Tressel, Smith this week gave an endorsement – albeit lukewarm – of his embattled head coach. “Oh, definitely. No question,” Smith responded when asked if he still supported Tressel, who has been accused of lying to the NCAA several different times. “I haven’t changed. I haven’t changed,” Smith told ESPN.com. “But I’m not talking about the case beyond that.”

The only expansion on the status of the case Smith was willing to make wast that the University was incurring significant legal fees in dealing with the NCAA inquiry, which the school must respond to by mid-August, calling the fees being incurred, “a nightmare.”

Tressel, for his part, has been enjoying the Big Ten spring meetings, where he has been picking up vocal support from other coaches and administrators.

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald made his position clear. The Northwestern coach said he sent Tressel a text message earlier this year that said “Thinking of you … got your back” as the Buckeyes’ leader was dealing with stories of potential NCAA violations. Fitzgerald said he has had a great relationship with Tressel over the years while the two served on various committees together. “More than anything, I tried to let him know I was there and have his back,” Fitzgerald told ESPN.com. “He’s been unbelievable with me since the moment I had a chance to start a relationship with him, and I’ve always been thankful for that.”

Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne, while not commenting on the Ohio State scandals specificially, did support Tressel. “I don’t really know enough about [Ohio State's situation],” Osborne said. “I do know Jim Tressel, and I believe that Jim’s an honorable person. There will be those who will criticize me for saying that, but I think I know Jim’s character. What happened, I don’t know a lot about the details. I certainly hope for his sake that things turn out OK, and for Ohio State.”

“Coaches are great,” Tressel said. “They understand all the challenges everyone has. It’s good to be with them.”

May 16th

Western Athletic Conference expansion

While the BCS conferences – all locked into long-term network television contracts – may not be expanding in the very near future, that doesn’t mean that the game of conference affilation musical chairs has come to a complete stop.

The Western Athletic Conference is expected to announce its expansion plans in the next month, as invitations must be extended by July 1st in order for newcomers to be available to the conference for the 2012-13 academic.

It’s hard to keep track of what is out there, but the eight-school conference is losing Fresno State, Nevada, and Hawai’i next summer, but will be adding Texas State, Texas San Antonio, and Denver (which doesn’t play football).

According to the San Jose Mercury News, schools under consideration for the next round of expansion include Seattle (like Denver, as a non-football playing member), Utah Valley, Cal-State Bakersfield, Lamar, Montana, Montana State (I haven’t heard anything, and I live in Bozeman), Texas-Arlington, Sacramento State, and Cal-Poly SLO.

The only FBS school (in other words, non-FCS, or 1-AA) under consideration is North Texas, currently a member of the Sun Belt Conference. North Texas has said “no” to the WAC before, but now, with the additions of Texas State and Texas-San Antonio, the Mean Green might be willing to take another look.

“We could stick with eight members or go to nine or 10 or 12 – all those are still in the mix,” said Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson. “In the last several months, we’ve honed in on our options.”

Stay tuned. An announcement should be forthcoming in the next few weeks …

Oregon State defensive tackle facing a number of charges

The Oregon State Beavers have suspended Castro Masanial after the junior defensive tackle was arrested on a litany of charges over the weekend.

Masanial was arrested and booked on charges of second-degree kidnapping, coercion, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief. The arrests stemmed from an incident which took place at a downtown McDonald’s restaurant.

Masanial had been projected as a starter for the Beavers this fall. In 2010, Masanial played in seven games before a shoulder injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He was expected to be a “full go” for fall practices starting in August, but his future with the team is now in doubt.

May 14th

Former Buffalo quarterback to be quarterback for Cal

The race to replace Kevin Riley as the starting quarterback at Cal is already over.

The six man race was reduced to one this week, when Zach Maynard was named as the starting quarterback for the 2011 season. Maynard, a dual-threat quarterback, was the starter for Buffalo in 2009, but decided to transfer after the Bulls head coach Turner Gill was hired at Kansas. ”Zach showed a tremendous amount of upside during spring practice and is the quarterback that gives us the best opportunity to win football games,” head coach Jeff Tedford told ESPN. “He has the ability to both throw and run the ball effectively, giving us another dimension at that position that we haven’t had in a while.”

Maynard beat out several other candidates for the job, including senior Brock Mansion, who started the final five games of the 2010 season after Kevin Riley was injured (but posted a 1-4 record in those games).

Cal opens at Candlestick Park on September 3rd against Fresno State before traveling to Boulder to face Colorado in a non-conference game.

Maynard, who threw for 2,694 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for Buffalo in 1999, will be looking to match the effort of Kevin Riley, who went 15-for-24 for 197 yards and four touchdowns (no interceptions) in last year’s 52-7 rout of the Buffs.

May 11th

Chris Spielman: “I’d be surprised if (Jim Tressel) is coaching next year”

It’s not over yet …

True, it turned out that one of the 50 vehicle purchases by Ohio State players and their families which are being investigated turned out to be legitimate. The investigations continue, however, and one of the Buckeyes’ most loyal supporters doesn’t see a happy ending for Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel.

Current broadcaster and former award-winning linebacker Chris Spielman told an Ohio State fund-raiser that “at this rate, I would be surprised if he’s coaching next year (2011)”.  Spielman continued, “Why I say that is I think there is more stuff coming out”. Spielman did not elaborate, but if there is anyone who would have inside information, it would likely be Spielman.

“He’s a friend of mine, and I respect him. I would be honored if my son were ever good enough to have him play for a guy like Jim Tressel,” said Spielman. “That being said, Ohio State is bigger than one individual … So what has to happen, in my opinion, is that the people in charge have to take an honest look and say, ‘What is best for the university moving forward?’. Then they have to make a hard decision.”

May 10th

Colorado / Utah game to be played on Friday

Not a surprise, but it wasn’t official until today. 

The season-ending rivalry game between Colorado and Utah will be played in Salt Lake City on Friday, November 25th, the day after Thanksgiving.

The kickoff for the first meeting between the two schools since 1962 (though the 58th overall) has yet to be determined, as is the television partner. “The (Nebraska) game was extremely popular being played on that particular Friday,” said Colorado athletic director in a press release. “We want to maintain that connectivity. The one constant with our schedule every year is that we knew we would be playing Nebraska the day after Thanksgiving.”

The Colorado/Nebraska season-ending rivalry game was played every year of the 15-year run by the schools in the Big 12. The last time Colorado played a school other than Nebraska in the last game of the regular season came in 1994, in a memorable game against Iowa State. That afternoon, Rashaan Salaam exceeded the 2,000-yard mark in storybook fashion …

racing for a 67-yard touchdown to make his Heisman-trophy winning total 2,055. Then there was Kordell Stewart, who became the Big Eight’s all-time leader in total yards that afternoon. And yes, by the way, Bill McCartney announced his retirement.

Beat that, Utah!

Spring game attendance gives Buffs a new goal

One more reason to love the move to the Pac-12 …

Spring game attendance in the Pac-12 was nothing like what you see in rabid areas like Alabama and the Cornhusker state. Oregon set a new Pac-12 record for attendance at a Spring game, with all of 43,468 in attendance.

The previous record for a Pac-10 Spring game? 25,211, set at Oregon … last spring.

The University of Colorado will never attract 92,310 to a spring game, which is the number of Crimson Tide fans on hand for the Alabama spring game this year. Nor with the Buffs bring in the 66,784 (the number of red-clad fans who had nothing better to do in Lincoln last month).

43,468?

Now that’s a realistic goal.

This spring, with the enthusiasm of a new coaching staff tempered by the reality of a five-season losing streak, Colorado still drew 15,655 to its Spring game. That total, the second-highest total in Colorado history (17,800 were on hand for the 2008 game), was the third-highest attendance for a Spring game in the Pac-12.

Other than Oregon, the only school to out-draw Colorado was USC, who was able to pull in 16,850 from the greater Los Angeles metro area. The only other two schools to bring in as many as 10,000 were Utah (15,000) and Washington (10,000).

Next on the list was Stanford, home of a top five team. Despite having the odds-on favorite for the Heisman trophy, Andrew Luck, Stanford could only draw 6,800 to its Spring game. The rest of the list: Arizona State (6,400); UCLA (6,400); Oregon State (5,519); Arizona (4,500); and Washington State (4,076) (California does not have a formal Spring game).

While setting a league record for Spring game attendance is not exactly something which will draw national attention, it is something I believe this coaching staff, with a few “W’s” and a little promotion, can accomplish. Junior day in Boulder should be a happening, and, with a little success on the field, is doable.

If nothing else, it’s nice to know that the University of Colorado has found its niche. Does the Pac-12 have rabid fans? Certainly. Does the new league have loyal fans? Of course.

But the University of Colorado was never on par with the fan base of the Longhorns, the Sooners, or the Cornhuskers. The Pac-12 always was a better fit.

It’s nice to feel … finally … at home.

May 9th

What we learned this spring

ESPN blogger Ted Miller has done a good job of covering Colorado’s introduction to the Pac-12, and, I believe, been pretty fair with his assessments. Miller has put out his “What we learned this spring” article, as well as his team-by-team spring reports.

Some highlights with respect to the Buffs …

Under the heading of “What we learned this spring”, there is this … “There are no patsies in the Pac-12: A fair share of you seem to believe that Colorado will get clobbered and Utah will be exposed this season. One word: No. Both will be competitive from the start …”.

“As for the two new teams, Colorado and Utah, the Buffaloes fired Dan Hawkins and hired Jon Embree, who led a physically demanding spring session intended to show his players that a new sheriff was in town. But the transition from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 doesn’t figure to be too dramatic, other than giving fans much better road trips.”

“Best performance by a walk-on: Colorado sophomore walk-on running back Josh Ford rushed 17 times for 164 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown in the Buffaloes’ spring game.”

Best “you’ve never heard of me but you will”: Colorado DT Conrad Obi had just four tackles last year and has played just 100 snaps in his career, but the 310-pound fifth-year senior was selected as the Buffaloes’ most improved player this spring. In the three scrimmages, he had 20 tackles (17 solo, six for losses, two sacks), four third-down stops and four tackles for zero yards (so 12 of the 20 were at or behind the line of scrimmage). Oh, and he forced fumble.

Colorado did come in at No. 11 in the overall power rankings, just ahead of Washington State. While that may be agitating, it is something Buff fans should get used to over the next few months. The preseason magazines will all say the same things … five straight losing seasons; no cornerbacks to replace Smith and Brown; lousy special teams. Just because the Buff Nation is excited about Jon Embree and the new coaching staff, it doesn’t mean that anyone else has ever heard of them (Quick: Who is the new tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins? That’s how well Jon Embree is known outside of the Buff Nation … for now).

Here is Ted Miller’s assessment …

COLORADO

2010 Overall record: 5-7

2010 conference record: 2-6 (Big 12)

Returning starters

Offense: 8, Defense: 5, punter/kicker: punter

Top returners

RB Rodney Stewart, WR Paul Richardson, QB Tyler Hansen, OG Ryan Miller, LB Jon Major, DE Josh Hartigan

Key losses:

OT Nate Solder, CB Jimmy Smith, CB Jalil Brown, LB Michael Sipili

2010 statistical leaders (*returning starter)

Rushing: Stewart* (1,318)

Passing: Cody Hawkins (1,547)

Receiving: Scotty McKnight (621)

Tackles: Sipili (94)

Sacks: Josh Hartigan (7)

Interceptions: Brown (3)

Spring answers

1. Hello, my name is: The first priority since only one coach was retained from the previous staff was the get to know one another — coaches and players. For the players, they needed to know that a new sheriff was in town, and coach Jon Embree made sure they knew things were different with a physically taxing spring session. Further, coaches had to find their own rhythm working together. And, obviously, new schemes had to be adapted: a pro-style offense and 4-3 base defense.

2. Hansen without Hawkins: After sharing the starting job with former coach Dan Hawkins’ son Cody the previous three seasons, Hansen is a man-alone at quarterback. That might help, and the results in scrimmages suggested so. In one, he completed 18 of 19 passes for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns (a 255.6 rating), and his totals for all three scrimmages were 39-of-53 (73.6%), 531 yards/5 touchdowns/zero interceptions (188.9 rating). He also showed he’s learning to get rid of the ball as he wasn’t sacked in the three scrimmages.

3. Fronting the seven: Heading into spring, the defensive front seven was a question, even with a lot of guys back. It still is, but a number of players stepped up, most notably linebacker Doug Rippy and defensive tackle Conrad Obi. Both are upperclassmen who seemed energized by a coaching change. The 310-pound Obi, in particular, was a revelation. After playing just 100 snaps the previous three seasons, he dominated three scrimmages, piling up 20 tackles, six coming for a loss — four were for no-gain, by the way — with two sacks and a forced fumble. Oh, and outside linebacker Jon Major came back strong from a knee injury.

Fall questions

1. Hey, buddy, can you spare a corner? Smith and Brown are off to the NFL, and their replacements didn’t reveal themselves this spring. In fact, the results in general in the secondary were a bit worrisome, and incoming players may be needed to help.

2. Operation install: Much of spring was dedicated to figuring out what sort of talent was on-hand, so the offensive scheme wasn’t fully implemented. That’s going to be a chief task during fall camp.

3. Just for kicks? Embree was outspoken about how unhappy he was with the special teams play he saw on film in 2010, and he looked exasperated more than a few times this spring. The Buffaloes specialists are going to be young and were markedly inconsistent this spring. Sophomore punter Zach Grossnickle averaged just 39.5 yards per punt in 2010, while sophomore Justin Caster was No. 1 at kicker after spring practices.

Sports Illustrated doesn’t think much of the Buffs, either …

Sports Illustrated has graded the new 11 major college coaching hires.

SI.com gave out two grades of “A”, including one to Stanford and it’s hire of David Shaw. The magazine gave out one “A-”, four “B’s”, one “B-”, two “C’s” … and one “D”.

Guess which school got the “D”?

“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 wide receivers on Thursday, noting that Toney Clemons, when he was available, along with Paul Richardson, have “done well”. But that’s about it in terms of wide receiver play. “After that, we haven’t had anyone really step up and say, ‘I’m the next one in line’.

- Paul Richardson drew praise from his head coach. “He’s fast; he’s good with the ball after he catches it; he has good hands,” said Embree. “He could have great hands. He’s almost to the point where literally anything near him, he will catch. He’s a football player. He really understands football. And he’s hard on himself. He wants to be really good.”

- Junior wide receiver Will Jefferson, according to Embree, “has been up and down”. Jefferson has tendinitis in both knees. “Some days,” joked Embree, ” it looks like I could beat him running.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Thursday

On the desire to build toughness back into the Buffs – “We’re physical … Guys have a little bit of an edge. It’s been a very good spring from that standpoint. I know that they understand how to practice. It’s been pretty grueling; we’ve done a lot … 95% of the guys have responded.”

On what he is looking for from the Spring game – “Health” and … “A couple of guys are pushing for some positions, whether it’s a number two at a certain spot, or a starter, or just a spot on the team – to have a chance to go to Hawai’i. When the freshmen come in (in August), we’re plugging them in, because we’re going to evaluate them. These guys have had 15 practices, they’ve had off-season workouts. They’ve had all their opportunities to show what they can do. So we’ve got to evaluate the young guys coming in to see what they can do so we can get the best guys out there … So, for some of the guys (the Spring game) is a big day.”

April 5th

“Eric has two kids he needs to feed”

Colorado ran its second-to-last closed practice before the Spring game on Saturday (the next practice will be a light run through on Thursday, focused on special teams and “on-field” teaching). Colorado head coach Jon Embree was not dismayed by not being able to evaluate some of the injured personnel, either this week or throughout the spring. “I don’t look at it as being a negative,” said Embree. “I look at it as a positive, being able to evaluate who our backups could be, and maybe some starters. There are some guys who I thought would be backups, who have a chance to play a lot of football for us.”

Player Notes

- Sophomore tight end DaVaughn Thornton, ushered into an ambulance on Monday, was back on the field on Tuesday, though not practicing. “He’s fine,” said Jon Embree, noting that Thornton’s injury was related to the tight end’s back. “He’ll do some stuff on Thursday, and then we’ll decide if we’ll do anything with him on Saturday. He wants to play, but we’ll see.”

- Also in the “maybe” category for the Spring game is senior wide receiver Toney Clemons, who has been nursing a hamstring injury. “I have no idea (if Clemons will play in the Spring game)”, said Embree. “We’ll see if he can do anything on Thursday”, noting that he did not want Clemons to aggravate his injury just to put into action during the Spring game. “Once August comes, I don’t want any issues,” said Embree.

- The fullbacks, Tyler Ahles and Evan Harrington, are doing well in their transition from linebacker. “They bring a physical element to us,” said Embree. “They are a lot better than I thought they would be, being defensive players … I’ve been surprised by them, pleasantly. I think between the two of them, we’ll be fine.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Tuesday

- On what sophomore wide receiver Paul Richardson needs to do to become an elite performer: “He’s got to be better running routes; he’s got to get better understanding what the coverage is, and what the defense is trying to do to him … More consistent catching the ball. He’ll make the spectacular catch, but then he’ll drop some, too … He can be a great one.”

- On running backs coach Eric Bieniemy riding his players hard, making them do extra work and drills: “Eric has two kids to feed. So, if they (the running backs) fumble the ball, I’d rather be hard on them than tell the family we’ve got to move. We had a fumble; we had a back run out of bounds in (the) four-minute (drill), when we’re trying to run out the clock … They earn (the punishments) … If that’s too much for them, we’ll find some guys who will hold onto the ball, or understand that they will be held accountable when they don’t.”

April 4th

Defense bounces back

Perhaps motivated by the impressive numbers put up by the Colorado offense in the second scrimmage, the Colorado defense made a statement of their own during Monday’s practice. “The defense had a great practice,” said CU head coach Jon Embree. “Very physical. They did a good job of tackling; forcing some turnovers … The (defense) won every situation today.

Embree saw the rise of the defense as an issue the coaches have had to deal with all spring. “Right now as a team, we’re not very good when things don’t go our way early,” said Embree. “We’ve got to get better about playing the next play. We still watch the scoreboard too much.” The flip side was true for the offense on Monday. After doing well in the second scrimmage on Saturday, the offense struggled in its first effort back on the practice fields. “(the offense) didn’t know how to handle success,” said Embree.

Player Notes

- Sophomore tight end DaVaughn Thornton was escorted off of the playing field by trainers during Monday’s practice, but Embree did not see the injury as serious. “He jogged off the field”, explained Embree, explaining that the injury was “something in (Thornton’s) back”, but that he felt the attention afforded Thornton was largely precautionary.

- Sophomore kicker Justin Castor continues to improve, according to Embree. “Each day, he gets better and better. He’s been fixing things from a mechanical standpoint”, explained Embree, noting that improved play from the snapper and holder was helping Castor be more consistent.

Jon Embree Quotes – Monday

- When asked if injuries to the defense was an excuse for the unit’s poor play on Saturday, Embree laughed off the explanation. “This is your opportunity to show you want to be on that plane going to Hawai’i,” said Embree, noting that there would be some freshmen coming into camp in August that would be more than happy to take the spots of these players if they are too tired this spring. “You want to be tired?”, asked Embree. “You can watch the game on TV”.

- Embree also spoke about an increased emphasis on special teams this spring (except for kick returns, which will be worked on more this fall, when some new players, who will be asked to fill some of those roles, will be in camp. “We’re trying to get our kickers, especially our punter, to understand how he can change the field; the importance of putting the ball where we need it from a coverage standpoint,” said Embree. “When you’re not the most talented, you need to win all three phases of the game. We need to make (opposing offenses) go a long way (to score)”.

April 1st

“A good mental day”

Colorado went through a lighter practice on Friday (no pads, no tackling) in preparation for the second scrimmage of the spring season, set for 1:30 on Saturday (open to the public). Buff head coach Jon Embree indicated that it would be a regular scrimmage, with “1′s v. 1′s and 2′s v. 2′s” starting at the minus-30 yard line. Embree also stated that the Buffs would mix in “a little red zone, because we want to get in a little more red zone work”. There will also be some field goals attempted during the scrimmage.

“I don’t know how many plays it will be,” said Embree. “We’re beat up on one side of the line, the D-line, but we’ve got to go.”

Player Notes -

- Red-shirt freshman tight end Harold Mobley has been reinstated to the team. Mobley was held out of the first nine practices so that he could concentrate on school work (and remaining eligible). Embree noted that Mobley was “way behind”, but that “is his own fault”.

- Senior defensive tackle Curtis Cunningham has been nursing a sore elbow, but should be available for the spring game, so as to let his elbow “calm down a little bit”, according to Embree.

- Red-shirt freshman defensive tackle Kirk Poston, slowed by an ankle injury, will be allowed to participate in the April 2nd scrimmage.

- Sophomore defensive tackle Nate Bonsu should also play on Saturday. Bonsu’s injury has been a sore shoulder.

- True freshman offensive lineman Alex Lewis has been “down on himself”, said Embree, but needs to remember that he is still just a true freshman (Lewis was a member of the recruiting class of 2010, but gray-shirted, enrolling in January. He still has five years to play four). Embree remains high on Lewis. “He’s going to have a bright future here,” said Embree.

Jon Embree Quotes – Friday

Embree was asked after the Friday practice what the biggest issue is facing the Buff offensive players in adjusting to the West coast offense. “Details,” Embree replied. “It really falls on the receivers and tight ends. Those are the guys who have to do the most learning”. Still, Embree is pleased overall. “They have done pretty good with it. I’m pleasantly surprised at how well they’re picking up some things. It’s starting to click.”

The Colorado head coach was particularly impressed with the work of the offensive line under new line coach Steve Marshall. “They’re a lot farther along than the other positions,” said Embree. “That’s been very encouraging, because usually that’s the group that you have to hold things back for … The good thing is, we can put in as many passes as we want, as soon as (the wide receivers and tight ends) can learn the ones we have in.”

March 31st

“I’m finding out who we can count on”

“Early on, the defense was wearing them out,” said Colorado head coach Jon Embree about Thursday’s practice. “The defense was very good against the run today.”

While Colorado has made it through its first nine practices without a significant new injury, there still have been a number of players who have spent time on the sidelines. The walking wounded total, though, does not bother Embree. “”The guys that are playing for the guys who are injured are doing a great job of taking advantage of their opportunities,” said Embree. “They’re showing up. We’re going to play 13 straight weeks, we’re not going to have everybody. As a staff, we don’t really talk about it. We just coach the guys that we have.”

Player Notes -

- Embree is encouraged by getting to see his new team on the field. “I’m finding out who we can count on,” said Embree. “The guys that aren’t necessarily workout warriors; the guys who are football players.”

- Colorado may be naming a starting quarterback sooner rather than later. “If there is a clear cut guy, then we’ll do it,” said Embree. “I’m not into playing games, or trying to make the other team figure out all that stuff. When I know, we need to let everyone know. The team needs to know who their leader is in the huddle.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Thursday

- On his tight ends: “They’re getting there. We need tight ends. We need more.”

- On the cornerbacks biggest problem: “Knowing what to do. No one does anything consistently. No one does it every play yet.”

March 29th

“There’s nobody on this team that we need to go out there and lose”

Colorado passed the midway point of spring practice, 2011, on Tuesday, with the eighth of 15 practices. Overall, head coach Jon Embree was pleased. “This was the first practice that both sides did stuff good, so that was encouraging,” said Embree. “We continued to run the ball good. We’re still not sharp in the passing game, so we’ve got to clean that up.” As for the defense, Embree noted that “the defense created some turnovers at the right time.”

Still, there is plenty to improve upon before September. “We’ve got to start learning how to handle success,” said Embree, explaining, “The defense stops them twice, and they start feeling good about themselves, and then the offense scores a couple of touchdowns.”

Player Notes –

- Embree was asked about junior defensive end Nick Kasa, who Embree noted on Monday was amongst the walking wounded. “Something in his knee,” Embree said. “one of those L’s” – but Embree did not indicate that Kasa was being held out of practice, or that Kasa’s injury was long term.

- With Kasa limited, Embree noted the play of sophomore defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, walk-on senior defensive end Tony Poremba, senior walk-on outside linebacker David Goldberg, and senior defensive end Josh Hartigan. “Guys are taking advantage of their opportunities,” said Embree.

- Senior wide receiver Toney Clemons has been bothered by a hamstring this spring. “He’s about 85%,” said Embree. “He caught a deep ball (Tuesday); about a 60-yarder.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Tuesday

- On the play of the cornerbacks: “I guess good and bad. No one is jumping out and taking the lead.”

- On the kicking game: “We have to be more consistent. And it’s not all on (the kickers). We’ve been inconsistent snapping (where the Buffs are replacing Joe Silipo) and holding (where the Buffs are replacing Scotty McKnight and Cody Hawkins), so it’s the whole battery which has to be more consistent.” Embree went on to note that he has not had to deal with kickers before, so they are not getting special treatment. “They’re not fragile. I’m treating them like everybody else.”

Only “Players” will earn the trip to Hawai’i

The best quotes from Tuesday’s practice came after Embree was asked about sophomore center Gus Handler, seen running laps. Embree said he wasn’t exactly sure about the nature of Handler’s punishment, but felt it had to do with Handler not getting treatment. Which led Embree to the following monologue:

“We can take 70 to Hawai’i, but we may not be taking 70. I’m going to take guys who can play and who can help us. I’ve told the team, ‘We’ve lost enough games with everybody, so there’s nobody on this team that we need to go out there and lose. We can lose without them.’ If you can’t do it right off the field, you won’t do it right on the field, either.”

Is it too early to start campaigning for Pac-12 coach-of-the-year?

Offensive line picture crystalizing?

Colorado only has one hole to fill along its offensive line this spring … but it’s a big hole.

Off to the NFL as a likely first round draft pick is CU left tackle Nate Solder. Rather than replace Solder at the all-important “protect the quarterback’s back” position, sophomore David Bakhtiari, who started 11 games at right tackle last season as a red-shirt freshman, has been practicing at left tackle.

Which moves the hole in the line over the right tackle position.

Through the first half of spring practice, sophomore Jack Harris has been getting the most repetitions. Harris was doing well in practice last fall before a shoulder injury kept Harris from playing.  “We were almost done with camp, and everything was going well, but I ended up with a shoulder injury and I was out for about eight weeks,” Harris explained to BuffStampede.com. “It was definitely disappointing … It took me a long time to get all the strength back in my shoulder. I feel like I didn’t get back to 100 percent until winter conditioning with (strength and conditioning) coach (Malcolm) Bracken.”

Harris has done well at right tackle so far, but he still has work to do before he will be considered as a lock at becoming the Buffs’ next starting right tackle. “Jack has been up and down,” said Jon Embree after the March 28th practice. “He had an up-and-down day (Monday). He went the wrong way a couple times. But he brings a physical presence that you need on the right side.”

For his part, Harris appreciates the chance to prove his worth. “I am very grateful that I am getting an opportunity to work with the starting team,” said Harris. ”I am going to try and keep my job, and fend off other guys who are coming up.”

In words which will be pleasing to hear from Buff fans confused by the use of the offensive line the past few seasons, Harris said, “(offensive line) coach (Steve) Marshall is different (from former offensive line coach Denver Johnson). He just  has a totally different demeanor,” said Harris. He just seems more into it. He wants you to get it perfect, and, if you don’t, you’re going to hear about it.

“One word that I hear coach Marshall use a lot is ‘displace’. He definitely wants us to pound people into the ground in the run game, and be aggressive in pass pro(tection),” said Harris. “So I would say there is more emphasis on being aggressive all the time.”

March 28th

 “Really good practice for the defense”

Colorado conducted its seventh practice of the spring on Monday, with this week’s practices to be culminated with a scrimmage on April 2nd (at 1:30 – open to the public).

All of the players were back from spring break and accounted for.

Player Notes -

- Several players who have not been able to practice much to date are working their way back into the rotation. Offensive lineman Shawn Daniels, defensive end Nick Kasa, sophomore linebacker Derrick Webb, and defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe are amongst those walking wounded who are getting onto the practice fields more after the break.

- Sophomore Jack Harris has been practicing with the first team offensive line. David Bahktiari is doing well making the transition from right tackle to left tackle.

- In reviewing the tape of the March 18th scrimmage, head coach Jon Embree noted that senior defensive tackle Conrad Obi played well, as did senior linebacker Doug Rippy. Embree also noted that red-shirt freshman running back Tony Jones ran well.

Jon Embree Quotes – Monday

- On Monday’s practice – “A really good practice for the defense; a really good practice. I was very encouraged to see them come out and respond. They were really sharp.”

- On the play of the offense in the March 18th scrimmage – “I felt better about the run game. We do have to get better throwing it; I was happy with the quarterbacks running of the offense.”

- On the play of the defense in the March 18th scrimmage – “Defensively, the tackling could have been better at times; could have been better up front. Conrad Obi played well, Doug Rippy had a very good scrimmage.”

- On sophomore defensive back Terrel Smith, who tore off his red-shirt last midway through the 2010 season, compiling 60 tackles in six games – “I need to see more from him … I haven’t seen it yet.”

March 27th

Back from break

The Colorado Buffaloes have had ten days off since their scrimmage on March 18th. Monday’s practice will be the seventh of 15 allowed practices (the April 2nd scrimmage and April 9th Spring game count against the total).

“I’m happy with the way they’ve responded, and now we’re going to pick it up again when we come back,” said Jon Embree. The Colorado head coach, did spend some time on the west coast meeting with boosters before spending some time with family in Boulder looking for a house for he and his wife and daugther.  

On the sixth day, they rested …

After going through five straight days of practices, the Buff players had a day off on Wednesday. They will be back at it on Thursday, but in the meantime, let’s take a look at how the quarterback race is shaping up.

Five practices are in the books, with ten practices, including a scrimmage (April 2nd) and the Spring game (April 9th) yet to come. Still, if the season were to start tomorrow, it appears clear that senior Tyler Hansen would be the starting quarterback. Head coach Jon Embree has noted Hansen’s efforts on the field, and also named him as one of the leaders of the team.

What about Hansen’s position coach, Rip Scherer?

“I think Tyler, he has game experience, game maturity. I’ve been really pleased with him,” said Scherer. “Some of the things I saw on tape that were bad habits, that I thought he needed to correct right away, he has taken to heart and improved right off the bat. I like his leadership. I like his huddle demeanor. And he’s done a good job of playing with the pocket.”

Hansen, for his part, is embracing the challenge of having to prove he belongs in the starting role. “I am. That’s life; you have to live through and battle through the tough times,” Hansen told BuffStampede.com. “But I like it. I have to re-prove myself, it is more exciting. It’s fun to learn a new offense; it’s fun to compete.” Hansen also is embracing the role of being a senior leader. “Coach Rip has asked me to be more of a leader within our group, too, to help Nick and Brent along … I am teaching them tricks and trying to relate it to something I have learned in the past … As a senior quarterback, the coaches have asked me to be a leader, and asked me to be the guy the other guys look to and ask questions, and look to for leadership.”

This is not to say that the starting position has been ceded by Hansen’s competitors. Redshirt freshman Nick Hirschman, for one, is excited about the change in offensive philosophy. “It’s more pro style than we were last year,” said Hirschman. “That suits me a little better than last year’s offense did. I’m more of a traditional drop back guy who can run around with his feet if he needs to, but I’d rather stay in the pocket and throw.”

Junior transfer Brent Burnette has the advantage of being “more of a pocket guy – at least that’s how it looked on his junior college tapes,” said Scherer. “His team (Western Arizona) ran some spread and shotgun, so there’s still going to be a learning curve. But I think his forte is to play from the pocket.” Still, Burnette is under the handicap of not having spent time with the Buffs’ receiving corps, as have Hansen and Hirschman. “We’d throw a little bit in the bubble after we got done running,” said Burnette of the winter conditioning period. “But it really doesn’t compare to coming out here and strapping the pads on and going full against the defense and against the rush. That’s something I’m still working on, and figuring out how this receiver runs routes compared to another. That’s just something that with time, it will come.”

As a result, all three players have a great deal to learn this spring. “Anytime you go from a spread offense to a pro-style, it’s different for everybody, but more different for the quarterback,” said Scherer. “It’s a whole different perspective for the quarterback to take the ball from center and go back three, five or seven steps, put your foot in the ground and make a decision – as opposed to standing back there and kind of sorting things out.”

So, who will win the job?

“What will go into it is the guy that has leadership skills and also will handle the ball and value the ball,” said Scherer. “You know, if you don’t turn the ball over in this game, you’ve got a chance to win. So it doesn’t matter how talented a guy is, if he is going to spray the ball around and turn it over, you’ve got problems. so value the ball and then making plays.

“The bottom line with a quarterback is how many times do you take the offense and cross the last line? If you can put the ball in the end zone, you may not be the most stylish guy doing it, but the bottom line is making sure the ball gets in the end zone.”

Meanwhile, quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer is already looking to the future

“I think we’ve created a niche for ourselves in recruiting,” said Scherer. “We’re going to try and go nationally and recruit the top quarterback that we can every year. I think for a young player who has aspirations to play at the next level, you’re in this kind of offense you’re more readily prepared, and there’s not many of us doing it.”

College offenses, Scherer contends, are cyclical, with the spread offense the current rage. “It’ll cycle back to this, but we’ll be on the cusp of it, the front edge,” said Scherer. “We create an alternative for a top flight quarterback that has projected ability to move beyond college.” Scherer pointed out that 18 NFL teams “run a west coast offense of some sort. I think you can sit in front of a high school kid and his parents – not that that should be the only reason that a guy comes to Colorado or anyplace else – but the fact is, it gives us a different niche. The NFL’s not changing; the NFL’s not going to the spread offense. I think it will allow us to get our foot in the door of some of the top prospects in the country.”

The 2011 season? It may well be that Hansen, Hirschman or Burnette – whoever wins the job – will struggle to make the West Coast offense work in Boulder.

But the future looks bright …

March 15th

Buffs have a more productive practice

Player Notes

- Head coach Jon Embree was asked after Tuesday’s practice to name players which were assuming leadership of the team. On offense, Embree named quarterback Tyler Hansen – “He’s taking the reins of the offense”; right guard Ryan Miller – “trying to do some stuff”; as well as wide receivers Toney Clemons and Paul Richardson. On defense, Embree had a tougher time coming up with names, noting that he wanted to see more out of defensive tackles Curtis Cunningham and Will Pericak. Jon Major was named as the linebacker doing the most in terms of leadership, while Embree named safety Anthony Perkins, who is injured and not participating in hitting drills, as the likely leader of the secondary. Of the players named, all are seniors except for Pericak and Major, who are juniors, and Richardson, who is a sophomore.

Running backs

The running back corps has been getting  a great deal of attention in the early going. (Yes, I know there is a rumor about a running back quitting the team. I would like to have that confirmed by the player or the team first, though, before taking that issue any further). Much of the discussion has centered around the coaching style of offensive coordinator and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who is known for his energy, as well as his fiery attitude. “Bieniemy is a little bit more experienced,” senior running back Rodney Stewart said when comparing Bieniemy to Stewart’s former position coach, Darian Hagan. “He’s more aggressive than Hagan, but Hagan’s pretty aggressive, too.”

“It think it takes a while to get used to,” said Bieniemy of his coaching style. “But one thing I always tell them is don’t confuse the message with the speech. Make sure you listen to what I am saying … When they do it right, I’m going to be the first one to praise them. When they do it wrong, I’m going to critique them and make sure they understand why they did it wrong, and make sure I stay on their tail so that they don’t make the same mistake again.

“I tell my guys I coach hard, but I coach fair,” said Bieniemy. “I’m your biggest fan, and I expect you to be great at all times. If we make a mistake, things happen. If we get physically beat, things happen. If we make a mental error, I take personal issue with that.”

Rodney Stewart, for one, doesn’t have a problem with Bieniemy’s style. “He wants me to be more of a leader, helping the other guys out,” said Stewart. “I’ve got to get better, too. There is a lot of things I need to work on to be a good back, and if I want to go to the next level and be good at that. I think he’s going to get me where I need to be.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Tuesday

Coach Embree was asked which running back is the number two back behind Stewart this spring: “Tony Jones is doing very well. He needs to get stronger, but he has a good knack of finding the seem.”

On how many backs he would like to have in the rotation this fall, Embree said he was looking for at least three backs to be ready (including Stewart and Brian Lockridge, who won’t be able to practice until August): “People remember Chris Brown for all those touchdowns against Nebraska, and he was the third back in. It was Cortlen (Johnson) who got a ‘hammie’; then (Bobby) Purify got an ankle sprain. And then Chris came in. You’ve got to have them. You’ve got to have them ready.”

On running nine-on-seven drills, something Dan Hawkins specifically went away from in his practices: “You could tell (Monday) that it was the first time doing it for some of them. For some of them, the first time ever. Today was a little better; the intensity. You could hear the pads. Yesterday, it was like a pillow fight. Today we’re hitting.” (Note: In a nine-on-seven drill, the offense pits the offensive line, a tight end, the quarterback, and two running backs against the front seven of the defense. The drill is designed to improve both the run offense and the run defense. It is considered a “high intensity” drill).

March 14th

“We don’t know how to work yet … We’ll get it”

Player Notes

- There have been rumors about players leaving the team (specifically, a running back). Head coach Jon Embree was asked about player defections after practice on Monday. “Not that I know of yet,” said Embree. “I think there might be some guys that are on the fence, so we’ll see.”

- As to players who are standing out, Embree had several names in mind. “You know the guy I am really proud of?, said Embree. “Forrest West. After day one, I ripped him and demoted him, and all he has done since then is make plays. Now, he can still get better, but he responded.” Embree also singled out red-shirt running back Tony Jones. “He is responding,” said Embree. “He is stepping up his game and doing some things.” Embree also gave props to quarterback Tyler Hansen, wide receiver Paul Richardson, the tight ends, and the offensive line.

Jon Embree Quotes – Monday

 On “Separation Day”: “Oh yeah, some guys got exposed, and that is good because their teammates will know about them. It is habits right now. That is the problem right now, habits. They want to feel sorry for themselves a little bit. We don’t know how to work yet … We’ll get it.”

On intensity during Monday’s practice: “We are still up and down. We can’t get to a certain level and just sustain it. Offense beats the defense in nine-on-seven and then we go to team run offense and offense does well again and then defense dominates the rest of practice. We can’t be like that.”

On focusing on running plays: “I feel like we are really progressing. There are going to be some plays we can hang our hat on. Short yardage scrimmage, like I said, the defense got us. But we put in new plays and new personnel groups for that, but when we ran the plays that we’ve been running; we were very good at it. So I am encouraged by that. But yet, at the same time, we have to be able to take new stuff on the field, and get going. We can’t keep taking a day to figure it out. We have to do better. We have to have some football IQ to be able to take some of that to the field.”

March 13th

“We can run, but we can’t throw worth a dang”

Sunday’s practice, the last practice open to the public, brought about mixed reviews from the Colorado head coach.

“I was pleased from a running standpoint,” said Jon Embree. “I feel like we can run the ball, but we can’t throw worth a dang. Some of that is because we installed new plays today. So guys are swimming, but we have to get better. We can’t have center-quarterback exchange (problems); we can’t keep putting the ball on the ground. We can’t have that.”

Sunday was the last for the Buffs in shoulder pads and shorts. On Monday, the Buffs will conduct the first full contact practice of the spring.

“It counts tomorrow,” said Embree, who called Monday “separation day”. “Anybody can play in shells and shorts, but when you really have to tackle and not tag off, we are going to find out who can play. It is going to separate who can play from the pretenders”.

Player Notes

- Sophomore linebacker Liloa Nobriga sat out Sunday’s practice with a minor hamstring injury.

- Senior wide receiver Toney Clemons suffered a minor hamstring injury during Sunday’s practice.

- Junior wide receiver Will Jefferson has been hobbled, but has practiced this spring. “Will just has knees older than mine, that’s his problem,” said Embree. “He just has to take care of them … I think he’ll be alright. He has tendinitis.”

- Sophomore defensive back Parker Orms continues to recover from his torn ACL, suffered in the first quarter of the Colorado State game. “Prior to that, I hadn’t missed a game since I was seven years old,” Orms told BuffStampede.com. “Last fall was the toughest time of my life, for sure.” Orms is doing some light workouts this spring. “I am about 90 percent right now, they say the last ten percent is the hardest,” said Orms. “There is definitely still some pain … They say six months after the injury is the projected time when I should be getting close. It will be six months (on March 24th), so we will see. After we come back from spring break, I will see if I can participate. It is better to come back a little late than too early.”

- Sophomore offensive lineman Maxwell Tuioti-Mariner is also on the mend, recovering from two torn ACL’s. “He has done a good job of re-habbing it, we’re trying to give him an ample opportunity to get back,” said Embree. “I don’t want to get him out there too soon and then have to shut him down for sure … So it is just a matter of when he is going to put in some actions.”

Jon Embree Quotes – Sunday

On reported struggles by kicker Justin Castor: “The issue is our snapper and holder. We have to get that worked out. One time the ball was four inches inside the spot; another time it is behind it.”

On the overall effort through three practices: “Yeah, they are (learning new plays), but, as I told the coaches, we can’t accept, ‘Oh, we almost did it,’ or, ‘That is close enough’. If we say a six-yard split, (it has to be) a six-yard split. There is going to be a standard you can’t bend on … They are doing a lot of things right, but we are not doing everything right. I was told my job as a coach was not to be satisfied, so I will find something.”

On closing the next eight practices: “(It’s) so we can get some work done with the players … As we get going, as this program progresses, I want people around all the time.”

March 12th

Offensive line moves

With starting center Mike Iltis out for the spring, and All-American left tackle Nate Solder waiting to hear his name called during the first round of the NFL draft, there has been some movement along the Buffs’ offensive line. Sophomore David Bakhtiari, who started 11 games at right tackle last season, has been running with the first team at left tackle.

“I actually practiced at left tackle last spring, so I feel comfortable there,” Bakhtiari told BuffStampede.com. “I am still good friends with Nate, so when he came back for (pro) timing day, we went in the practice bubble and we did some sets. He taught me some new tricks he learned while training for the draft.”

In Bakhtiari’s place at right tackle, grey-shirt freshman Alex Lewis has impressed head coach Jon Embree in the first two days of practice, but it has been sophomore Jack Harris who has been lining up with the first team at the position.

At the center position, sophomore Gus Handler has been getting most of the snaps with the first team, with both Iltis and possible backup Shawn Daniels out for the spring recovering from off-season surgeries.

Starting offensive lineup – first weekend

The Colorado depth chart lists players alphabetically, and Jon Embree has taken pains to remind everyone that each and every starting job is up for grabs, but someone has to run with the first team. The first weekend of practice, the “ones” on offense are:

QB – Tyler Hansen; TB – Rodney Stewart; FB – Tyler Ahles; WR – Paul Richardson; WR – Toney Clemons; TE – Ryan Deehan; LT – David Bakhtiari; LG – Ethan Adkins; C – Gus Handler; RG – Ryan Miller; RT – Jack Harris.

This could all change several times before fall (it could change several times before the spring game), but, if the Hawai’i game were next Saturday, this might well be the lineup the Buffs would trot out onto the field in Honolulu. Not bad …

Player Notes

- Junior offensive lineman Bryce Givens is being held out of practice until his fate is decided by the Office of Judicial Affairs. Givens was caught on video vandalizing three cars in a Denver parking garage in December. Teammates Eric Richter and Will Pericak were with Givens that night, but both are practicing with the team.

- Harold Mobley may never get his shot at quarterback. The red-shirt freshman tight end is being held out of practice for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Mobley may be back to practice sometime this spring, but no timetable was given by Jon Embree for Mobley’s return.

- Quarterback turned defensive back Justin Gorman may have found his way onto the field. Gorman is being given a look at holder for extra points and field goals. The job was held down by Cody Hawkins and Scotty McKnight the past few seasons.

- Red-shirt freshman defensive lineman Kirk Poston is concentrating on playing inside at defensive tackle.

- There are a total of six new walk-ons listed on the Colorado roster (Hunter, a transfer, would not be eligible to play until 2012): 

Drew Ebner                 WR          5-11       200        Fr.        HS       Arvada, Colo. (Pomona)

Jacob Frost                  PK           6-  0       170        Fr.        HS       Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty)

Harrison Hunter        DB           5-10       170        So.       TR        Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort Carson/Fort Lewis)

Andre Nichols            DE           6-  4       220        Fr.        HS       Colorado Springs, Colo. (Rampart)

Alec Parker                OLB         6-  0       210        Fr.        HS       Westminster, Colo. (Standley Lake)

Conner Wilhelm        WR          5-11       170        Fr.        HS       Los Angeles, Calif. (Hamilton)

Jon Embree quotes – Saturday

On the second day of practice: “The intensity stayed up high. Anyone can do it once. They answered the call; competed well.”

On the coaches getting on players for making mistakes: “Someone’s in their ear. Someone’s on them when they make a mistake. So they have that constant pressure on them, and I told them that we’re going to keep the pressure on them. We’re not going to let them breathe and relax.”

Concerning some of the fights between the players, and whether that was okay with him: “Yeah, I expect it. When I was a player here, we fought each other. That’s part of the deal.” Embree then went on to explain that going against the same players every play, with them trying to prevent you from doing what you were trying to do, it would get to him as a player, and he expects it to get to his players now. This is a deviation from the policy about fights under Dan Hawkins, when the entire team had to run “gassers” if a fight broke out. “When you are on the football field, emotions are running high so that is bound to happen,” said sophomore offensive tackle David Bakhtiari. “I got in a tussle with Josh Hartigan today, and, shortly after, I went up to him and said, ‘Good (****)’. We are good friends, it is nothing personal.”

“Intensity” the word of choice by players after practice

“For the record, it’s intense,” said senior wide receiver Toney Clemons of the Buffs’ practice regime. “But it’s what we need. It feels good to have everything crisp, everything real militant and everything real professional. They’re teaching us how to become young men and young football players, and we’re getting a feel for what the game is like on the next level. You want that high level coaching, and we’ve got it here.”

Red-shirt freshman quarterback Nick Hirschman agreed. “I thought the level of intensity was so much higher,” said Hirschman. “It was a lot more enthusiastic, and that makes it a lot more fun for the players and the coaches.”

For senior linebacker Jon Major, the first practice was just a continuation of what the players have seen since winter conditioning began. “It’s really attention to details, maximum effort, and if you don’t do it right, then you’re going to do it again or you’re going to get punished,” said Major. “That’s definitely going to carry over I think in the fall.”

Former safety – now cornerback – Deji Olatoye concurred. “It was a rough program for everyone (this winter),” said Olatoye, who had an interception in the first practice. (New strength and conditioning) Coach (Malcolm) Blacken did a good job of getting us prepared for this. It was a lot of running, it definitely opened up our eyes, and I feel like I am a part of a college football team now.”

Sophomore wide receiver Paul Richardson, who joined the team just a few days before the start of fall practice last summer, is going through his first spring practices as a Buff, and, at least for now, he is enjoying the ride. “The coaches wanted us to get used to facing adversity,” said Richardson of the winter conditioning program. As for his goals this spring, Richardson said that “getting in and out of my breaks better, and having the role of a leader. “I like the weight the coaches have put on my shoulders,” said Richardson, “and the level of responsibility that I have”. Richardson also indicated that he had decided to return to Colorado even before Jon Embree was hired, and that he made it through his first Colorado winter without any difficulties.

New names

There are some new names on the Colorado roster. These are names not likely to make the starting roster, but you never know …

Linebacker Alec Parker, defensive end Andre Nichols, and kicker Jacob Frost, all walk-ons, appeared on the rosters handed out to the media at the first practice. 

There is also a potential transfer, Hunter Harrison, a defensive back from Fountain, Colorado. Harrison comes from Fort Lewis, and the walk-on would have four years to play three after sitting out the 2011 season.

March 11th

Colorado opens Jon Embree era with afternoon practice

“I am going to have to get some throat lozenges,” Jon Embree joked after his first practice as the 24th-head coach in Colorado football history.

“I have to be me”, said Embree of his raising his voice on a number of occasions during the shorts-and-helmets opening practice. “I am very demanding. I am going to be on them. There is a standard, and either you do or you don’t. And we can’t bend or compromise it.”

Embree’s no-nonsense approach hasn’t been lost on the players, with one player describing it as “a lot more professional.”

It is the intent of the coaches to install the basics of a West Coast offense this spring, but not cloud the players’ minds with too much information. Rather, the coaches want to see which players have the physical skill to run the playbook, and the heart to help bring back a winning tradition to the program. “It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be intense,” said senior quarterback Tyler Hansen. “It’s going to be hard work, a lot different than it was.”

Hansen, for one, likes the look of the new offense. “I like it a lot,” said Hansen. “I don’t have to run the ball as much, take as many hits, and we’re getting the ball off on time. Stuff like that. It’s good stuff.”

On defense, many eyes will be trained upon the secondary, where the Buffs have lost two cornerbacks, Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown, to the NFL. “The big issue is we’re going to have to replace two proven playmakers in Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown,” said defensive coordinator and secondary coach Greg Brown. “Behind that, there weren’t a lot of guys who stepped in at that corner spot for the last two or three years because of the play of those two guys. So corner is a large unknown right now, and it probably will still be an unknown going all the way into the fall.”

The defensive playbook will also be vanilla this spring, as the coaches evaluate talent. “We’re evolving right now,” said Brown. “There is no way of knowing where the thing is going to end up. Our focus right now is on spring ball and just trying to line up and play it straight and see if we can win some one-on-one battles.”

Player Notes

- There were four players who were already known to be “OUT” for spring practice due to off-season surgery: Tight end Matt Bahr; offensive lineman Blake Behrens; center Mike Iltis; and offensive lineman Max Tuioti-Mariner. Joining that list now are four players who were previously listed as “TBD” … Out for the spring are: defensive back Anthony Perkins; defensive back Parker Orms; offensive lineman Shawn Daniels; and defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe. The only name which was not on the “TBD” list earlier was Uzo-Diribe, who had surgery on a broken toe in late February. While listed as out for the spring, Uzo-Diribe believes he could be available for the second half of spring practices.

- With center Mike Iltis out, three players will see time at that position this spring … sophomore Gus Handler; red-shirt freshman Daniel Munyer; and red-shirt freshman Kaiwi Crabb.

- Senior guard Ryan Miller, rumored to be moving to left tackle to replace the departed Nate Solder, isn’t going anywhere. Miller will remain at guard.

- As it turns out, there will be more competition at quarterback. With a lack of depth in the secondary, it was thought that red-shirt freshman Josh Moten would be asked to concentrate on learning the defense. Moten will, however, be given a tryout at quarterback, as will red-shirt freshman tight end Harold Mobley. Both Moten and Mobley played quarterback in high school, and Moten believed that he was to be given a chance at quarterback by Dan Hawkins, but that did not work out.

- Perhaps in return for Moten, the quarterbacks are sending Justin Gorman, a walk-on red-shirt freshman, over to the secondary (interestingly enough, in his post-practice comments, Jon Embree was surprised to learn that Gorman was listed as a quarterback on the depth chart. Embree had been under the impression that Gorman had always been a defensive back).

- Junior Eric Richter, listed on the depth chart as an offensive lineman, will be moving to the defensive line.

- Red-shirt freshman Deji Olatoye, who practiced at safety last fall, will be tried out as a cornerback this spring.

- The Buffs have a new walk-on kicker. His name is Jacob Frost (no further information currently available).

Jon Embree Quotes – Friday

Overall view of first practice: “I think the guys are starting to understand a little bit about what’s expected … They had a pretty good grasp of what we’re asking them to do. They know what to do. They weren’t great in the details.”

On coaching college players instead of NFL players, and not being too hard on the team: “Skill has nothing to do with effort”.

On bringing a fullback into the offense: “The fullback is very important … We want to run the football. Having a fullback will allow you to mess with the defensive spacing.” (Embree also mentioned that Tyler Ahles and Evan Harrington, both former linebackers, volunteered to make the move to fullback).

Second Scrimmage – Behind the numbers

“There are three kinds of lies: lies; damned lies; and statistics”, a phrase widely attributed to Benjamin Desraeli and popularized by Mark Twain.

The phrase certainly holds true when reviewing the numbers from an intra-squad scrimmage, and a spring one at that. For every celebration over a long touchdown pass, there is consternation over a blown coverage by the secondary; for every sack, there is a missed assignment by an offensive lineman.

Still, as the 2011 Buffs have been under wraps for the past few weeks, a look under the hood of Jon Embree’s team is certainly called for after the team completed practice No. 11 of 15 allotted practices.

Quarterbacks

While head coach Jon Embree wouldn’t agree that Tyler Hansen was “clearly” the choice for starting quarterback in September, Hansen’s numbers – and those of his competitors – suggest otherwise.

True, Hansen’s 18-for-19 performance was against a depleted defensive line and a secondary missing both of its likely starters at safety, but Nick Hirschman and Brent Burnette went up against much of the same personnel, with significantly different numbers. Hirschman went 4-of-11 for 27 yards, while Burnette went one-for-five for eight yards. Hansen threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns;  Hirschman/Burnette threw for 35 yards and no scores (in just three fewer passes).

Buff defenders managed four sacks on the afternoon, all against Nick Hirschman. Hansen was not sacked, and did not take off running with the ball, carrying the ball only twice on the afternoon (once for 13 yards; the other for two yards). All together, Hirschman/Burnette were in for eight drives, netting two touchdowns. In Hansen’s seven drives, the offense scored six touchdowns (three drives for 70 yards, the other three in red zone drives started at the 20-yard line).

“If it’s still like this at the end of the spring, yeah, we’ll go with Tyler,” said Embree. “If Tyler continues like he has, and Nick doesn’t pick it up a little bit, Tyler will be the No. 1″.

I appreciate Embree’s diplomacy, but, barring injury or a very strange summer, Tyler Hansen will be the starter in Honolulu.

Running backs

Senior Rodney Stewart had the 5th-best season in Colorado history last year, rushing for 1,318 yards. Stewart is the No. 1 running back, and he did little to dissuade anyone from that conclusion during the second scrimmage, when Speedy carried the ball 11 times for 48 yards and three touchdowns (Stewart also had five catches and another touchdown receiving).

The more interesting story goes to who will serve as Stewart’s primary backup. With senior running back Brian Lockridge out for the spring as his ankle mends, red-shirt freshman Tony Jones has become a fan favorite. The Gatorade Player-of-the-Year in New Jersey in 2009, Jones had to sit out last year, waiting for his turn. “I felt sick to my stomach not playing, and seeing all the guys having fun, and seeing Speedy run for touchdowns and me just being on the sidelines cheering him on and wishing I was playing,” said Jones. “But you know everything happens for a reason, and I’m pretty grateful that I red-shirted last season and played scout team and got the feel of the college level.”

Jones rushed for a team-best 76 yards on 13 carries in the first scrimmage of the spring, and had 11 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown in the April 2nd scrimmage. “Tony Jones is doing very well,” Embree said earlier this week. “He is starting to show up. He needs to get stronger, but he has a knack of finding the hole and the seam. The other thing is he’s protecting the football. Don’t ever take that for granted.”

The other back trying to get into the discussion is Josh Ford. A sophomore walk-on, Ford was a star at Mullen high before signing with Kansas State. After a year with the Wildcats (and Barton Community College), Ford is trying to make his way into the Buffs’ rotation. Ford had 60 yards on only five carries in the April 2nd scrimmage. Even taking out his impressive 39-yard run, Ford had 21 yards in his other four carries, still over five yards per tote.

The fullbacks remain a work in progress, though former linebackers Tyler Ahles and Evan Harrington are getting good reviews. With the fullbacks you can lump in red-shirt freshman Cordary Allen, the biggest of the tailbacks (6’1″, 225-pounds), who may become a short-yardage specialist for the Buffs. In the second scrimmage, Allen had four carries for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receivers / Tight Ends

For now at least, it appears that the Colorado receiving corps is sophomore Paul Richardson … and everybody else. Richardson continues to impress, hauling in four passes for 85 yards on April 2nd, including a 58-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Hansen.

After Richardson, though, there are question marks, and head coach Jon Embree has complained throughout much of the spring about a lack of production amongst the receivers. Senior Toney Clemons sat out the second spring scrimmage, and junior Will Jefferson had only one catch (albeit for 45 yards and a touchdown). Walk-on senior Kyle Cefalo had the second-best day on April 2nd, catching three balls for 53 yards, including a 33-yarder.

Perhaps it is due to a recognized lack of depth and talent at the wide receiver position that the Colorado coaches may yet bring in a receiver or two before the start of the 2011 season. Georgia transfer Logan Gray will be in Boulder for the spring game, with one season of eligibility remaining. Also coming to Boulder is Thomas Carter from Cajon high in California. Carter has not received any scholarship offers (due to academic concerns, which have since been rectified), telling BuffaloSportsNews.net, “They said when I come out there and meet the coach, if he likes me, then they will offer me a scholarship.” (More on Gray and Carter in the “Recruiting Prospects – 2012” section of CU at the Game).

At tight end, however, things are looking up. Senior Ryan Deehan is starting to look like the four-star prospect he was out of high school (three catches for 39 yards on April 2nd), while sophomore DaVaughn Thornton (four catches for 33 yards) is looking to make his own mark. “This spring is like a breath of fresh air,” said Thornton. “I will be on the field way more than I was last year. I will still make plays in practice, and the difference will be that I’ll also be out on the field in Folsom making plays.”

Offensive Line

Even without the likely starting center (Mike Iltis, out for all of spring practice), and a potential backup at center (Daniel Munyer, excused to attend his sister’s wedding), the Colorado offensive line did well in the second scrimmage. The Buffs managed 173 yards rushing, and 454 yards of total offense.

The Colorado quarterbacks were sacked four times (Nick Hirschman was the victim all four times), but otherwise had a good afternoon. When asked about Tyler Hansen’s 18-for-19 day, wide receiver Paul Richardson replied: “A big part of that is our offensive line, giving him enough time to make his reads, and deliver the ball.”

Defensive Line

The flipside of that same coin is that – if the Colorado offensive line had a good day, it must mean that the Colorado defensive line fared poorly.

Considering that the Buffs, due to injuries, were down to three defensive tackles and 2 1/2 defensive ends (red-shirt freshman Kirk Poston played despite a sore ankle), the line did give up many big plays. Of the Buffs’ 34 rushes, only one went for over 20 yards. Conrad Obi, who has earned the praise of Jon Embree, had seven tackles on April 2nd, including three tackles-for-loss, a sack, and a third down stop. Helping out on the defensive line was senior walk-on Tony Poremba, who contributed five tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Eric Richter, a converted offensive lineman, chipped in four tackles of his own.

Hopefully, two or three of the walking wounded – Curtis Cunningham, Nate Bonsu, Forrest West, and Nick Kasa – will be available for the Spring game, and will give a better representation of what the Buff Nation can expect from the defensive line this fall.

Linebackers

After losing two starters from the 2010 team, the linebackers are in rebuilding mode. Fortunately for Buff fans, the lone holdover from the Dan Hawkins staff is long-time linebackers coach Brian Cabral. Starter Jon Major returns, along with long-time contributor Doug Rippy. In the second scrimmage, Rippy had seven tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, while Major contributed four tackles, which included two tackles-for-loss, one sack, and a third down stop.

Sophomores Derrick Webb and Liloa Nobriga have been out, so this is another unit which has yet to realize its full potential.

Secondary

Yes, this is a problem area.

And yes, it will get better before September.

While it is true that Tyler Hansen put up a ridiculous passer rating of 255.6 (18-for-19, 246 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions), it is also true that Nick Hirschman and Brent Burnette also took their shots against the Colorado secondary, and went a combined 5-for-16 for 35 yards.

It is also important to remember that three potential starters – senior safety Anthony Perkins, junior safety Vince Ewing, and sophomore nickel back Parker Orms – are all out for the spring.

Sophomore Jered Bell has received the most lukewarm praise from Jon Embree, being called the “most consistent” of the defensive backs, but it clear that this unit has a great deal of work to do before fall. Transfer cornerback (from Georgia) Makiri Pugh was supposed to have an immediate impact this spring after sitting out last season, but that has yet to take place. Senior Jonathan Hawkins has had his moments, as have a a trio of sophomores – Paul Vigo; Terrel Smith; and Deji Olatoye – but none have had a break out spring.

Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Greg Brown has had to “make do” before with even less talent than he has on hand now, but the secondary will remain a question mark into the fall. Five defensive backs will hit Boulder in August – Sherrard Harrington; Greg Henderson; Kyle Washington; Jermaine Clark; and Will Harlos. If the existing players are not able to improve, and/or the injured players do not come back full strength and full throttle, it could be a long fall for the Colorado secondary.

Kickers

There was no punting during the second scrimmage, and no extra points attempted.

Jon Embree did, however, allow sophomore Justin Castor eight opportunities at field goals, and …

… Castor was good on six of those.

Okay, it’s not exactly time to break out the champagne over finding a consistent kicker, but it’s a start. Castor was good on six kicks ranging from 31 to 43 yards, with his only two misses coming from 43 and 45 yards out.

Sure, those are not Mason Crosby numbers, but bear this in mind – during the second scrimmage last spring, the two kickers (Zach Grossnickle and Marcus Kirkwood) went a combined one-for-six in their field goal attempts.

Note:  There have been posts that Zach Grossnickle was punting off to the side of the scrimmage, and that Grossnickle had a few punts over the bubble on Saturday (thanks, Nic, for that info).

For comparison’s sake … Last spring, after the second scrimmage of the 2010 spring practices, my article was entitled “Second Scrimmage Report – In a word: Offensive“. During last season’s second scrimmge, the offense failed to score a point until the ball was placed at the five yard line. Despite the horrendous effort by the offensive unit, CU fans got this: “Kiesau’s final comment will likely send shivers down the spines of many in the Buff Nation: ‘I like the way (Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen) are playing.’ ”

Baby steps, my friends. Baby steps … but we’re getting there.

Hansen asserts himself in second scrimmage

For those who understand how passer ratings are figured, break out your calculator.

Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen went 18-for-19 in the second scrimmage of the spring, going for 246 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s about as close to perfection as you can get for a quarterback.

Stats

The one-hour, 16-minute scrimmage covered over 82 plays. Complete stats sheet

Passing

Tyler Hansen – 18-for-19, 246 yards and three touchdowns

Nick Hirschman – 4-for-11 for 27 yards

Brent Burnette – 1-for-5 for 8 yards

Rushing

Tony Jones – 11-for-60 yards and one touchdown

Rodney Stewart – 11-for-48 yards and three touchdowns

Cordary Allen – 4-for-17 yards and one touchdown

Josh Ford – 5-for-60 yards

Receiving

Paul Richardson – 4-for-85 yards and one touchdown (a 57-yarder)

Rodney Stewart – 5-for-6 yards and one touchdown (a six-yarder)

DaVaughn Thornton (TE) – 4-for-33 yards

Ryan Deehan (TE) – 3-for-39 yards

Kyle Cefalo – 3-for-53 yards

Will Jefferson – 1-for-45 yards and a touchdown

Jon Embree Quotes – April 2nd scrimmage

On Tyler Hansen – “He did a good job of placing the ball. I thought his accuracy was pretty good for the most part. He made a couple of throws on the deep ball, so I was encouraged”

On Nick Hirschman – “He’s doing well. He’s doing better. I just want him to be more assertive; to be more aggressive. I think he needs to trust himself more. He hasn’t turned it loose.”

On whether Tyler Hansen is clearly the stater – “I wouldn’t say ’clearly’ yet. I’m going to evaluate this through … If it’s still like this at the end of the spring, yeah, we’ll go with Tyler … If Tyler continues like he has, and Nick doesn’t pick it up a little bit, Tyler will be the No. 1″.

On perhaps running fewer plays due to a lack of healthy defensive linemen – “We were sensitive to that”, said Embree, noting that there were only three defensive tackles and “2 1/2″ defensive ends, with Kirk Poston playing despite a sprained ankle. 

On the play of the defense overall – “I was disappointed in the defense from the standpoint that we didn’t have enough energy and enthusiasm. That’s 90% of defense, just being excited about being out there and having some energy when you’re running around out there hitting people. We were just going through the motions, feeling sorry for ourselves.”

On the plans for the coaches between the second scrimmage and the Spring game – “We need to get better at tackling; our corners need to be better tackling … From an offensive standpoint, continuing to install our passes.”

After noting that the coaches may only install about 30% of the offense this spring, and whether Colorado could go into the season with less than a full playbook – “My philosophy: It doesn’t matter what we (the coaches) know. It’s what they (the players) know; what they can do.” 

Tyler Hansen Quotes – April 2nd scrimmage

On learning the new offense, of which only 30% is installed – “It’s going to take a lot of studying; a lot of preparation. It’ll be fun. Every week we’ll have different plays … This summer’s going to be very important for all of us.”

On competing with Nick Hirschman – “I still have to compete every day. Whether it’s with Nick or myself, I still have to compete.”

On what Hirschman has to do better – “He’s thinking too much. You’ve just got to relax and play what you see. If your read is a middle backer, read the middle backer. Just relax.”

On playing well as an offense on April 2nd – “The offense was efficient today, but we’re not going against all of the 1′s … yet. Yeah, we did great, but we have to take it with a grain of salt.”

Paul Richardson Quotes – April 2nd scrimmage

On whether his success on the field is “easy” for him: “I wouldn’t say that it’s easy. I’m just truly blessed and gifted … I just try and make it look as easy as possible. But a lot of this stuff is challenging.”

On Tyler Hansen’s big day: “A big part of that is our offensive line, giving him enough time to make his reads, and deliver the ball.”

Inactive List

In addition to the players who are out for all of spring practice – tight end Matt Bahr; offensive lineman Blake Behrens; center Mike Iltis; and offensive lineman Max Tuioti-Mariner – there were a number of players who were inactive for the April 2nd scrimmage: center Daniel Munyer (excused for his sister’s wedding); defensive end Nick Kasa; defensive tackle Nate Bonsu; defensive end Forrest West; linebacker Derrick Webb; wide receiver Jason Espinoza; wide receiver Toney Clemons; running back Brian Lockridge; safety Anthony Perkins; defensive tackle Curtis Cunningham; nickel back Parker Orms; and safety Vince Ewing.

As you can see, head coach Jon Embree wasn’t kidding about having to be “sensitive” to the lack of defensive linemen, with Curtis Cunningham, Nick Kasa, Nate Bonsu, and Forrest West all unavailable for the April 2nd scrimmage.

First Scrimmage – Thursday, March 17th

Stats from first scrimmage

The Buffs, in their final practice before spring break, conducted an 86-play, game-like scrimmage. There were no kickoffs or punts, and the offense started each drive on the 30-yard line. Some numbers from the scrimmage:

Passing:

Tyler Hansen – 13-of-19; 161 yards. One touchdown; no interceptions

Nick Hirschman – 7-of-13; 77 yards. One touchdown; no interceptions

Brent Burnette – 5-of-12; 52 yards. One touchdown; no interceptions

Rushing:

Tony Jones: 13 for 76 yards

Josh Ford: 8 for 40 yards

Rodney Stewart: 10 for 23 yards

Cordary Allen: 4 for 12 yards

Receiving:

Rodney Stewart: 5 for 48 yards

Ryan Deehan: 4 for 49 yards

DaVaughn Thornton: 2 for 49 yards

Josh Ford: 2 for 23 yards

Jason Espinoza: 2 for 20 yards

Paul Richardson: 2 for 18 yards

Will Jefferson: 1 for 12 yards and a touchdown

Alex Wood: 1 for nine yards and a touchdown

Keenan Canty: 1 for four yards and a touchdown

Tackles:

Doug Rippy: 15 tackles; 10 solo; two tackles for loss

Conrad Obi: nine tackles; eight solo; three for loss (one sack)

Patrick Mahnke: six tackles; four solo; two quarterback hurries

Overall, the offense rushed for 189 yards on 39 carries. There were five total penalties, and the defense had four sacks.

Player Notes – First Scrimmage

- In lieu of extra points, the field goal team was brought in. Sophomore kicker Justin Castor had eight attempts from betweend 32 and 47 yards, making only three.

- Injury notes: Senior wide receiver Toney Clemons did not participate in the scrimmage due to a hamstring injury. Clemons is expected to be back on the practice fields after spring break … Senior offensive lineman Shawn Daniels, who has been out since fracturing his foot in the Colorado State game, will be back to practicing after spring break. Daniels had been listed as “full go” before the start of spring practices, but his participation was limited during the first week … Sophomore linebacker Derrick Webb was seen on crutches, but did not have a cast or a boot, so the speculation is that the injury is relatively minor, and that Webb will be back after the spring break layoff.

- Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen, who appears to have the early lead for the starting job (see story, below), was not sacked, while Nick Hirschman and Brent Burnette were each sacked twice. “In previous years the defense was way ahead of the offense early during the spring, but this year is kind of different,” said Hansen. “I feel like today especially, the offense got after it a little bit. We ran the ball really well, and I feel like we took it to the defense a little bit.”

- Sophomore tight end DaVaughn Thornton has been playing well this week. “DaVaughn is the kind of guy whose going to give us some flexibility,” said Jon Embree. “Because he can play, obviously, flex out, he can move, and he can play as an end line guy. As he gets stronger and a little more confident in our offense, more of his talent will come out.”

- Senior defensive lineman Conrad Obi continues to have a good spring. In the Thursday scrimmage, Obi had nine tackles (eight solo), with three tackles for loss and a sack. In the last two seasons, Thursday’s effort would have constituted a year’s worth of work. As a red-shirt freshman in 2008, Obi was on the field for all of 12 plays. The number went up to 23 snaps the following year, with a grand total of 64 snaps (and four tackles) in 2010. “I want to do big things this year,” Obi told BuffStampede.com. “It is not to say I have ever come out here to play mediocre, I have always put in the effort. But this is my last year, last chance. I am going to give it my all, and we’ll see how things fall. That is all I can do.

“There are so many stories out there like Josh (Hartigan, who went from backup linebacker to second team all-conference defensive in one year), guys who rise up and meet their potential,” said Obi. “There are so many stories out there like that … I want to be all-conference, and I really believe I can get that done. I’m putting in the work; I am putting in the time.”

While Obi would be considered a backup to starters Will Pericak and Curtis Cunningham heading into the 2011 season, Obi isn’t daunted by his lack of playing time in the past. “New coaches, new opportunity this spring,” said Obi. “I love it.”

Jon Embree Quotes – First Scrimmage

On the progress of the Colorado running game, which produced 189 yards on 39 carries: “I was very pleased with how well we ran the ball. We’re starting to establish our physical nature … You’d like to be around 250-275 (yards rushing), so there is work to do. But it’s a start.”

On the first week of practice overall: “I am glad that they are embracing the physicalness and the intensity, and understanding that we have to do it. That was one of the reasons I wanted to (practice) five days in a row, just to see who really wanted to play; who was willing to put it all out there.”

On getting into pads for three practices, and conducting a scrimmage: “I think they are realizing they are not going to hurt themselves. It is okay to hit and be hit, and you are going to get up and live to tell about it … And I think they are enjoying it some, too. I think they are kind of having fun getting after each other.”

On the play of the defense in the scrimmage: “The defense was playing well early, and then we had a couple of guys get dinged, so our lack of depth showed up there, but it gave opportunities to some guys to petition, or make their case, as to why they should be a part of this thing next year.”

On what he told his players about Spring break: “I told them about Curt Koch, who was an All-American at CU and going into his senior year (1987) he was at Padre Island walking down the street and he got hit by a car, and it cost him an NFL career … Be smart. Don’t let that ‘liquid courage’ get it you and make you do stupid things. No one is exempt from something happening.”

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 will be on the field returning kicks this fall. The same problem exists in the area of punt returns, where departed Travon Patterson returned 15 of the 18 punts returned by Buffs in 2010.

While there may be open auditions for kick returners this spring, there is limited competition for the kicking positions …

… which may prove to be unfortunate.

Sophomore Zach Grossnickle handled the punting chores last year, to mixed reviews. Meanwhile sophomore Justin Castor inherits the placekicking job. Castor had his red-shirt burned in the fifth game of the season when his only attempt of the year, a 40-yarder against Missouri, was blocked. Castor did have the opportunity at some kickoffs later in the year, but was not allowed another kicking attempt.

Help may be on the way this fall, in the name of freshman recruit Will Oliver, but for this spring, the kicking jobs are Grossnickle’s and Castor’s to lose. (There are reports that there is walk-on competition on campus this spring. On name cited is that of Jacob Frost, a 2010 graduate of Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California. Another name is that of Darragh O’Neil from Fairview High in Boulder. Neither name, though, was on the roster when spring practice opened on March 11th).

The positions of long-snapper and short-snapper were manned this past season by Joe Silipo and Ryan Iverson, with Iverson, a sophomore, returning this spring.

The all-important job of holder, meanwhile, will need to be filled. Scotty McKnight and Cody Hawkins filled that role for the past several seasons. Justin Gorman, a red-shirt freshman walk-on quarterback (who has been moved to the defensive secondary for spring practice) is one player who may inherit the job. Walk-on senior wide receiver Kyle Cefalo is also taking turns at holder.

With unproven talent at both punter and kicker, and with no clear-cut favorites for kick and punt returners, special teams coach J.D. Brookhart has his work cut out for him. That being said, there is plenty of young talent (and speed) in the Colorado receiving corps and secondary, so there is no reason that a pair of excellent kick returners cannot be produced by this team. As for the kickers, both Grossnickle and Castor were highly ranked kickers coming out of high school. Perhaps with the departure of Aric Goodman (and his patron, Dan Hawkins), these kickers can develop into something special over the next three seasons.

The numbers won’t lie …

Jon Embree outlines his goals for Spring Practice

The Colorado Buffaloes in 2011 will not resemble the Colorado Buffaloes of 2010.

Not if new head coach Jon Embree has anything to say about it.

“I told the guys in the first team meeting that there were things we needed to do,” said Embree. “We had to create an identity of what this program needs to be, and the first thing was mental toughness, and that was going to be how we train, that was going to come from the weight room.

“The next thing was our physical toughness and that comes from how we practice, so we are starting that phase right now, and as we go into spring ball there is going to be a certain way that we are going to learn how to practice. To help them with that I have some clips from when I was at Washington of some of the different drills and different team periods of how you practice, how it should look.”

In order to focus on doing things the right way, Embree indicated that the plan this spring was to K.I.S.S. – “I want to see who can play,” said Embree. “If you throw a lot at guys, and it takes them awhile to pick it up, then you may not get your best players. I want to see who can play, and then we can go back and teach them and get it going … It’s not what I know or Eric knows or Greg Brown knows. It is what they know, and what they can execute. So we are not going to throw a lot at them.”

That is not to say, though, that this spring will be a breaking in period. Embree said he will hold his players accountable for their actions, and is already doing so through winter conditioning. “We have been doing that from day one, not just starting with spring ball,” said Embree. “Competing is an all the time thing. So when they mess up, and they don’t do something, either they are punished, their unit is punished, or that side of the ball is punished to try to create an environment of positive peer pressure.”

What type of punishment is being dispensed? “Well, you bear crawl 100-yards, then you logroll 100-yards, then you summersault 100-yards, and then you jog,” said Embree. “If you can get six of those, or 30 minutes, whatever happens first. One thing they have learned is that if they are going to get punished, don’t eat lunch. They learned that one quick.”

And what mistakes merit such punishment? “Being late to class, just something like that,” said Embree. “It’s a little thing to them, but when you are late off the count or you jump off-sides and you lose the game, then it is not so little. Just again, getting them to understand it all counts, everything we do counts. It can’t just be a sometimes thing.”

It’s also safe to say that Embree was not impressed with the 2010 Buffs. “What shows up to me on tape was we didn’t play hard,” said Embree. “That’s what really showed up on tape. We let the scoreboard affect how we played way too much … You can’t look at the scoreboard. Your job is to beat the guy across from you that play, no matter what happened good or bad before it.”

Secondary

Roster: Jonathan Hawkins (Sr.); Travis Sandersfeld (Sr.); Makiri Pugh (Jr.); Ray Polk (Jr.); Paul Vigo (So.); Jered Bell (So.); Terrel Smith (So.); Deji Olatoye (So.); Josh Moten (R-Fr.); Arthur Jaffee (Sr./walk-on); Jordan Marquez (R-Fr./walk-on); Eric Ghent (R-Fr./walk-on)

Injured, may not practice this spring: Anthony Perkins (Sr.) (knee); Vince Ewing (Jr.) (knee); Parker Orms (So.) (knee)

Players Lost: Jimmy Smith; Jalil Brown; Matt Meyer; Cameron Ham

“No preconceived notions”

A defensive coordinator’s dream: two shut-down cornerbacks.

The Colorado defense in 2010 boasted not one, but two, future NFL draft picks at cornerback. Both were seniors; both seasoned veterans of the Big 12 passing wars.

Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown afforded the Colorado coaching staff the luxury of focusing on stopping other elements of the opposition’s offensive arsenal, content to leave Brown and Smith out on an island.

The net result? Colorado was 110th in pass defense; 112th in pass efficiency defense; and 91st in scoring defense.

What happened? And, more to the point this spring – how can the Buffs manage to keep matters from getting even worse, now that Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown are gone?

Greg Brown returns to Colorado as the Buffs’ new defensive coordinator and secondary coach. In his two previous stints, Brown coached CU Thorpe Award winners Deon Figures and Chris Hudson. In between, Brown coached four six NFL teams, and was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for an Arizona Wildcat team which ranked 44th in pass defense and 33rd in scoring defense – much better numbers than those produced in Boulder.

What does Brown have to work with this spring?

Three potential starters are injured, with their status for this spring listed as “TBD”: senior safety Anthony Perkins; junior safety Vince Ewing; and sophomore safety Parker Orms. All three are nursing knee injuries suffered last fall, and will be limited as to the drills and practices in which they will participate.

Perkins was the starter at strong safety before being injured in the Missouri game. Jered Bell, a true freshman last fall, started the next game against Baylor, with fellow true freshman Terrel Smith earning the starting role for the remainder of the season. Smith recorded 60 tackles in only six games, finishing fourth on the team in tackles (all three players who finished above Smith in tackles played in all 12 games).

So, assuming senior Anthony Perkins is a “Full Go” for the fall, the Buffs seem to be ably manned at strong safety.

What about free safety?

At the free safety position, the Buffs have a 23-game veteran, a player who has made 15 starts, including all 12 games last season.

But he might not be there this fall …

Ray Polk moved from running back to safety after his freshman year, and started all 12 games last fall. Polk was second on the team in tackles, with 72. He was on the field for more snaps – 787 – than any other defensive player other than Jalil Brown.

The problem with Polk, however, is that he has also struggled at the position. True, he was second on the team in tackles, but he was not a play-maker. Polk had no sacks, no tackles for loss, only four third-down stops, and only one pass broken up to his credit. For the Buffs to be successful on defense, the free safety position needs to be more productive.

Will Polk even return at the position? There are rumors that Polk may return to the running back corps. The new coaching staff is looking to institute more of a power rushing attack, and while Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge have had their share of success, they are not of the physical makeup (6’1, 210-pounds) of Ray Polk.

Still, the rumor may turn out to be just that, a rumor. “Between Ray Polk and Anthony Perkins, they have a compilation of a proven number of starts,” said Greg Brown. “So at safety, we feel we have some experience and guys are going to be able to get lined up and do the right thing.” … Sounds as if Brown is expecting Polk to remain on the defensive side of the ball.

At cornerback, Brown will have a large number of players from which to choose his starters, but all are lacking in game experience.

Senior Jonathan Hawkins has the most experience of any player in the group, playing in nine games last fall. He and walk-on senior Arthur Jaffee, who led the team in special team points last fall, also have the benefit of having already spent time with Greg Brown as a coach (before Brown left for Arizona after the 2009 season).

Two interesting storylines of the spring could involve red-shirt freshman Josh Moten and junior transfer Makiri Pugh. Moten was a quarterback recruit who practiced half the season at cornerback (to rave reviews) before an off-field incident (since resolved) kept him from practicing. With the change in coaching staffs, Moten may also be given a look at quarterback this spring, so we’ll have to track Moten’s progress.

Pugh is a transfer from Georgia who sat out the 2010 season under NCAA transfer rules. Largely forgotten since being interviewed the week of the Georgia game last fall, Pugh may make his presence known on the depth chart before the end of spring drills. Out of high school, Pugh was considered to be the 31st-best cornerback prospect in the nation (Rivals), and had offers from a number of SEC and ACC schools. In 2009, as a red-shirt freshman, Pugh saw action in nine games for Georgia.  

The rosters is filled with potential cornerbacks and nickelbacks, though no one may want to take the field wearing the label of the latter position.

Colorado went through nickelbacks like candy in early 2010. Parker Orms was given the job as a red-shirt freshman last fall, but in his first start, he didn’t make it out of the first quarter, injuring his knee on punt coverage during the Colorado State game, and did not return all season (Orms will be entitled to a medical red-shirt season as a result). Orms was replaced by Travis Sandersfeld, who was injured during  following game against Cal. Sandersfeld’s replacement, Paul Vigo, was subsquently injured during the game against Hawai’i. Against Georgia, the Buffs started linebacker Patrick Mahnke at nickelback, with Jonathan Hawkins and linebacker Liloa Nobriga also receiving starts at the position in 2010.

By the end of the season, some sense of normalcy had been returned to the nickelback position. After starting six different players at the position in the first eight games of year, Sandersfeld started the last four games. Heading into spring drills, the job may be Sandersfeld’s to lose. “Travis Sandersfeld has done nothing but come on and be a steady guy from years past and worked his way up,” said Greg Brown, who also recruited Sandersfeld.

So, who will be in the starting lineup come September?

If the depth chart from last season is a guide, you would look to Anthony Perkins at strong safety, Ray Polk at free safety, Travis Sandersfeld at nickelback, and perhaps Jonathan Hawkins at one cornerback position. The other cornerback? Will it be senior Arthur Jaffee? Junior transfer Makiri Pugh? Sophomore Jered Bell? “Right now, there are no preconceived notions about what is going to happen,” said Brown.

Colorado secondary coach Greg Brown does have two things going for him: 1) depth – Colorado has a good number of quality backs returning; and 2) versatility – almost every back mentioned above can play any of the positions in the secondary. With Colorado looking at a 3-4 defense – or even a 3-3-5, versatility will be at a premium this fall.

This spring will be crucial … the opener is against Hawai’i, which just happened to lead the NCAA in passing offense in 2010, at 394 yards per game. Quarterback Bryant Moniz, who led the nation in total offense last year, and who had 330 yards passing against the Buffs in Boulder last fall, returns for his senior campaign.

No time like the present to being shoring up those defensive statistics …

Linebackers

Roster: Patrick Mahnke (Sr.); Jon Major (Jr.); Doug Rippy (Jr.); Derrick Webb (So.); Liloa Nobriga (So.); Lowell Williams (R-Fr.); David Goldberg (Sr./walk-on); Gage Greer (R-Fr./walk-on); David Blaha (R-Fr./walk-on) .. This Fall … Brady Daigh (Fr.); Woodson Greer (Fr.); K.T. Tuumalo (Fr.)

Players Lost: B.J. Beatty; Michael Sipili; Evan Harrington (moved to fullback); Tyler Ahles (moved to fullback)

“Where’s the Depth?”

There is a real buzz in the Buff Nation about Colorado’s new attacking defense. Getting away from the 4-3, the Buffs will be playing more 3-4 or even 3-3-5, with new defensive line /linebackers coach Kanavis McGhee unleashing his charges upon unsuspecting quarterbacks in the Pac-12.

Problem is … There isn’t a great deal of depth for the coaches to work with – yet.

Colorado loses two senior starters from its linebacker corps. Michael Sipili led the team in tackles last fall with 94, while fellow senior B.J. Beatty made the most of his 36 tackles (Beatty had five sacks and four other tackles for loss in 2010). Only junior Jon Major, who was injured during the Texas Tech game and did not return for the remainder of the season (though he is a “Full Go” for practice this spring), and Major’s replacement, sophomore Liloa Nobriga, have any starting experience from those remaining on the roster.

Still, depth was apparently not seen as a issue amongst the Colorado coaching staff, as two linebackers in line for significant playing time this fall, seniors Tyler Ahles and Evan Harrington, will be learning the fullback position this spring.

So, other than Major and Nobriga, who does linebacker coach Brian Cabral have to work with this spring?

Senior Patrick Mahnke has 35 games to his credit, including six starts. Last season, Mahnke played in all 12 games, starting three as the Buffs’ nickel back. Junior Doug Rippy has not lived up to expectations, and was in on 27 plays over six games in 2010. Sophomore Derrick Webb earned his first start of his career against Oklahoma last fall, seeing action in seven games overall.

With Colorado moving to more of an attacking style, players who are “hybrids” – too small to be a linebacker; too big for safety – will see a great deal of attention. Patrick Mahnke (6’1, 205-pounds) fits into this mold, as do recruits K.T. Tu’umalo (6’2″, 200-pounds) and Will Harlos (6’4″, 200-pounds).

Another player who could help out in this blending of the linebackers and defensive backs is junior Ray Polk. A former running back recruit, Polk (6’1, 210-pounds) was second on the team last season with 72 tackles. Polk started every game last fall at safety and … is rumored to be back on his way to the offensive backfield.

Two seniors lost to graduation; two other seniors converting to fullback; and a starting junior perhaps moving back to running back.

Apparently, depth at linebacker is not a concern for the CU coaching staff.

We’ll see how the dust settles this spring …

Offensive line

Roster: Ryan Miller (Sr.); Ethan Adkins (Sr.); Shawn Daniels (Sr.); Sione Tau (Sr.); Bryce Givens (Jr.); Ryan Dannewitz (Jr.); Eric Richter (Jr.); David Bakhtiari (So.);  Jack Harris (So.); Gus Handler (So.); Kaiwi Crabb (R-Fr.); Daniel Munyer (R-Fr.); Alex Lewis (Fr.); David Clark (Sr./walk-on) … This Fall: Marc Mustoe (Fr.); Alex Kelley (Fr.); Paulay Asiata (Fr.).

Injured: Mike Iltis (Sr.) (knee surgery- out for spring practice); Blake Behrens (Sr.) (shoulder surgery – out for spring); Max Tuioti-Mariner (So.) (knee injury – out for spring practice)

Players Lost: Nate Solder; Keenas Stevens

“Job Opening: Left Tackle”

In one sense, the Colorado offensive line is fairly set, as four of five starters from last season return. Senior Ethan Adkins started 11 games at left guard last season, and has 20 career starts on his resume. Senior Mike Iltis also had 11 starts last fall, with ten of those at the center position (Note: Iltis suffered a torn ACL against Nebraska, and will not be available for spring practice). Senior Ryan Miller is the most recognizable name amongst the returning lineman. Miller has already played in 38 games in his Colorado career, and has earned 35 starts (including starting all 12 games in 2010 at right guard). Sophomore David Bakhtiari is the baby of the group. Still, as a red-shirt freshman last fall, Bakhtiari played in all 12 games, and had 11 starts at right tackle.

Overall, the foursome has played in 95 games, and has earned 83 starts. Behind them, Rodney Stewart rushed for 1,318 yards, the fifth-highest total in school history.

So, what’s not to love?

Well, for starters, there is the loss of that fifth starter, one Nate Solder. A consensus All-American, Solder is believed to be a shoe-in for the first round of the NFL draft, with some draft boards placing Solder in the top 10-15 picks overall. Solder had 40 career starts, and left the team after starting the last 36 games of his career. Solder was the only Colorado lineman in 2010 to grade out at over 90% (at 94.3%), with 142 finishes/knockdown blocks (Miller was second on the team, with 83), had ten touchdown blocks (Miller; second with six); and graded out with a 99% in the 44-36 win over Kansas State.

Very large shoes to fill.

Colorado’s new offensive line coach, Steve Marshall, will have a number of candidates from which to choose, and how Marshall tinkers with the starting lineup will be one of the most interesting stories to follow this spring. Junior Ryan Dannewitz was listed behind Solder on the depth chart at left tackle last fall. Dannewitz has played in 20 games in his career, but did ot play in 2010, and has never started a game for Colorado. Junior Bryce Givens will be another candidate to replace Solder. Givens has played in fewer games than Dannewitz (11), but does have eight starts to his credit. Last fall, Givens played in three games – against Colorado State; Cal; and Texas Tech – but only in spot duty. The only other returning player listed as a tackle on the 2010 depth chart is senior Sione Tau, who has yet to see action as a Buff.

While it may appear that Steve Marshall only has one position to fill, there may be significant adjustments made to the line this spring. Colorado is shifting to more of a power offense, with fewer spread formations and more two-tight end alignments. The emphasis this spring will be on creating a strong rushing attack, and Marshall may not like what he sees on the film from last season. Yes, Rodney Stewart did have a great year, but overall, the Colorado offense struggled. The Buffs were 85th in the nation in rushing and 79th in total offense. Even with All-American Nate Solder protecting the quarterbacks’ backs, Colorado was 51st in the nation in sacks allowed.

Then there is the question of how well the Buffs adjust to their third offensive line coach in four seasons. Solder is seen as a great talent by NFL scouts, but not necessarily as one which was home grown. In a Sporting News article, “drafnik” Dennis Dillon was asked who were his risky picks. Dillon included Solder, stating, “(Solder) reminds me of that great athlete who’s so raw and technically terrible that he gets beaten,” Ouch. Translation: Solder is high on the draft charts in spite of his coaching at Colorado, not because of it (thank you, Denver Johnson).

Jon Embree has stated at every opportunity that every job is open, and that every player must compete for their job. This will be no different along the offensive line.

On paper, Colorado has a strong nucleus of returning talent, including four of five starters, with three of the four being seniors. There are many teams which would like to have that much experience returning.

Whether those four starters are starters against Hawai’i, however, remains to be seen.

Defensive Line

Roster - Defensive Tackle: Curtis Cunningham (Sr.); Conrad Obi (Sr.); Will Pericak (Jr.); Nate Bonsu (So.); Kirk Poston (R-Fr.)

Roster – Defensive End: Josh Hartigan (Sr.); Nick Kasa (Jr.); Forrest West (Jr.); Chidera Uzo-Diribe (So.); Tony Poremba (Sr./walk-on) … This Fall: Stephan Nembot (Fr.); Juda Parker (Fr.)

Player Lost: Marquez Herrod

“In the trenches”

The intrigue this spring for the Colorado defensive line will be as much about style as substance. What form of defense will Colorado play? How will they be coached?

A look at the Colorado coaching staff shows that Brian Cabral, in addition to being the linebackers coach, is also the “Defensive Run Game Coordinator”. Meanwhile, Mike Tuiasosopo is listed as the “Defensive Line” coach and Kanavis McGhee is listed as the “Defensive Line/Assistant Special Teams” coach.

Three coaches working with the defensive line. In a 3-4 defense, that is a lot of attention for each member of the defensive line unit.

Which may not be a bad idea.

Last fall, the Colorado defense had its moments. The Buffs were decent against the run (48th in the nation), but were 71st in tackles for loss and 91st overall in the only statistic that really matters – scoring defense.

The Colorado coaching staff under Jon Embree has only one word for the 2011 Buff defense: Attack.

Along the defensive line, there is plenty of starting experience, but very little depth. Junior nose tackle Will Pericak led the defensive line in 2010 with 45 tackles and two sacks. Joining Pericak as a mainstay along the defensive line is senior defensive tackle Curtis Cunningham, who had 31 tackles and five tackles for loss last year. Both Pericak and Cunningham have been in the starting lineup for every game the past two seasons. The third member of the band, senior defensive end Josh Hartigan, might have joined his linemates in starting every game if not for a mid-season injury. In Hartigan’s absence, three other lineman received their first career starts in consecutive games, with junior Nick Kasa earning his first start against Texas Tech, then junior Forrest West against Oklahoma, and sophomore Chidera Uzo-Diribe against Kansas. Hartigan then returned to the starting lineup against Iowa State, finishing the last three games as the starter. Rounding out the players returning with experience is sophomore Nate Bonsu, who played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2009 before sitting out the 2010 season after suffering a knee injury during winter conditioning.

Is the defensive line, as a result, set for 2011?

Hardly.

As noted, the philosophy of the defense is being altered, and, with it, the role of the defensive line. This will make for some intrigue during spring practice …

Will the three starters solidify their roles? Will Nick Kasa live up to the hype surrounding his signing three years ago, when the hometown star de-committed from Florida to stay in Colorado? Will Forrest West, who came on strong at the end of the season (five tackles in the first half of 2010; 15 tackles, including 4 1/2 sacks in the second half), continue to earn more playing time? Will Conrad Obi, in his senior seasons, finally force his way into the starting lineup (28; 0 starts)?

(Note: It is being posted on the internet that sophomore Chidera Uzo-Diribe – according to his Twitter account – underwent some form of surgery on March 22nd. The nature of the surgery, if any, and whether the surgery will have any impact on Uzo-Diribe’s ability to compete this spring, has yet to be announced).

Mike Tuiasosopo and Kanavis McGhee were touted as great recruiters when they were brought in from Arizona and Houston, respectively. Their ability to mold a dominating defensive line, though, remains to be demonstrated.

Class begins March 11th.

Wide Receivers

Roster: Toney Clemons (Sr.); Jason Espinoza (Sr.); Will Jefferson (Jr.); Paul Richardson (So.); Jarrod Darden (So.); Keenan Canty (R-Fr.); Kyle Cefalo (Sr./walk-on); Dustin Ebner (Jr./walk-on); Alex Turbow (R-Fr./walk-on); Parker Robbins (R-Fr./walk-on) … This Fall: Nelson Spruce (Fr.); Tyler McCulloch (Fr.).

Players Lost: Scotty McKnight; Kendrick Celestine; Andre Simmons Travon Patterson

“In search of the next Scotty“

Scotty McKnight finished his career with more receptions, yards, and touchdown catches than any other receiver in Colorado history.

While McKnight is off to prove to NFL scouts that he can translate his prowess in Boulder into similar success in the big leagues, he leaves behind some significant shoes to fill.

Two players with significant playing time will help to fill the void, as senior Toney Clemons and sophomore Paul Richardson return. Clemons has eight starts to his credit, and was second on the team in catches in 2010, with 43 for 482 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the high number of catches (just seven behind McKnight), and a team-best 73-yard touchdown reception (against Hawai’i), however, Clemons failed to capture the attention of the Buff Nation.

Instead, the excitement about the future of the receiving corps rests with Paul Richardson. Signed by the Buffs just two days before the start of fall camp, the true freshman had a late on-the-field start to his 2010 season as well. In the first half of the campaign, Richardson had seven catches for 64 yards and no touchdowns. In the second half of 2010, though, Richardson posted 27 catches for 450 yards and six scores. With the graduation of Scotty McKnight, Buff fans will be looking even more to Richardson to lead the receivers.

After Clemons and Richardson, where will the Buff coaches turn to for help?

Two potential senior wide receivers, Andre Simmons and Kendrick Celestine, did not have their scholarships renewed. The only remaining scholarship upper-classmen who remain on the roster are senior Jason Espinoza and junior Will Jefferson. Espinoza has played in 25 games in his Colorado career, and has earned five starts. However, Espinoza sees most of his playing time on special teams, and had only one catch (for 13 yards) in 2010. Meanwhile, Buff fans have been waiting for Will Jefferson to have a breakout game/season, but such a breakout has yet to happen. Last fall Jefferson, who has ten starts to his credit, had 14 catches for 177 yards and one touchdown.

The only other scholarship receivers on the roster this spring are sophomore Jarrod Darden and red-shirt freshman Keenan Canty. This spring will be an audition for both of these players. It is time for them to either distinguish themselves, or make plans to be buried on the depth chart as the Buff coaching staff makes a concerted effort to bring in new and fresh talent to the position.

Colorado will be implementing a west coast offense this spring. “It’s going to be the quarterback making the decision based upon what the defense does to distribute the ball correctly,” said passing coordinator J.D. Brookhart. “It’s a very quarterback-driven offense. So what you see on Sundays is what you’re going to see on Saturdays here.”

With more emphasis on a strong running game and better use of the tight ends (see below), the wide receivers do not have to be great for the Buffs to be successful.

The receivers do, however, have to be very good. And right now, other than Paul Richardson, there is not much in the lineup to put fear into the hearts of Pac-12 defensive backs.

Perhaps this spring a receiver or two will prove me wrong.

Tight Ends

Roster: Ryan Deehan (Sr.); Matthew Bahr (Sr.) (injured/out for spring practice); DaVaughn Thorton (So.); Kyle Slavin (R-Fr.); Harold Mobley (R-Fr.); Henley Griffon (R-Fr.); Alex Wood (So./walk-on); Matt Allen (So./walk-on).

Player Lost: Luke Walters

“We’ve got to be smart how we use them”

The University of Colorado football team in 2011 will be more physical on offense.

Okay, so that’s not really a secret. But the emphasis on the strong running game will also mean more two-tight end sets, which translates into more opportunities for the tight ends on the roster to make a contribution and see playing time. “I think that as grow through spring, we’ll probably have a little better idea of how they fit our system, because the system is flexible,” said tight ends coach J.D. Brookhart. “You don’t have to line up in two tight ends and run downhill all the time. You can do some different things.”

The best blockers will likely get the first opportunity to see the playing field, and senior Ryan Deehan is the best of the bunch. Deehan already has 36 games under his belt, and 18 starts. Last year, Deehan had 25 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown. “Deehan is an interesting kid because he was all over the field,” said tight ends coach J.D. Brookhart. “He’s a smart kid. Those guys will allow you to be more flexible with things, when you can put them in multiple positions.”

After Deehan though, there is little experience. Converted offensive lineman Matt Bahr will be working with the tight ends, while third-year sophomore DaVaughn Thornton and red-shirt freshmen Henley Griffon and Kyle Slavin will be trying to make an impression this spring.

“I think if you look at the tight ends specifically, you have some different body types,” said Brookhart. “Some are more adept to the run game, some more to the pass game who were kind of more recruited to the spread offense.

“I think we’ve got to be smart how we use them. I think they’ve made a good commitment to the 6 a.m. (off-season workouts), and things we’ve seen from them. They want to be good, and that’s half the battle.”

The second half of the battle – adjusting to the new offense, and showing that they are entitled to be on the field this fall, begins March 11th.

Quarterbacks

Roster: Tyler Hansen (Sr.); Brent Burnette (Jr./Transfer); Nick Hirschman (R-Fr.); Justin Gorman (R-Fr./walk-on) … This Fall: Stevie Joe Dorman (Fr.)

Player Lost: Cody Hawkins

“Iron sharpens iron“

Colorado has a returning senior at quarterback, a senior who has had starts in each of his first three seasons. None of his competition for the starting job has so much as a snap behind center at the Division 1-A level.

So, a no-brainer that Tyler Hansen will be the starter against Hawai’i?

Nope.

“It’s nothing new,” said Hansen, who has had to contend with Cody Hawkins for starting time the past three seasons. While Hansen has posted 2,822 career passing yards, he only has 15 career touchdowns to offset 17 career interceptions. Hansen was the starter for all of the 2010 season until he suffered a ruptured spleen against Texas Tech, missing the remainder of the campaign. While Hansen is a “full go” for practice this spring, how well he adapts to another quarterbacks coach and another offensive scheme will be one of the most talked about issues of the 2011 spring practices.

“I like it, actually,” said Hansen of having his third quarterbacks coach (Rip Scherer) in his four years in Boulder. “Different opinions will make you better. The more opinions the better. I think the different techniques to coaching help. Coach (Mark) Helfrich was a hands-on guy, and coach (Eric) Kiesau was a lot different than that. I’m looking forward to coach Scherer and seeing what his techniques are to coaching.”

Will having a new offense level the playing field between Hansen and his competition? “I’m not really worried about that,” Hansen said. “I think whatever they ask me to do, I can do it … I’ve got to be a leader even more than I already have. I’ve got to invest myself in the offense and really learn the offense pretty good, because the old offense we had last year, I knew it inside and out.”

New head coach Jon Embree appreciates the fact that Tyler Hansen is not coming into spring ball assuming he has the job. “Tyler’s not walking around like, ‘I have this job’,” Embree said.

So, who is the competition?

This spring, the main contenders are red-shirt freshman Nick Hirschman and junior college transfer Brent Burnette. Hirschman has the advantage of having been in Boulder last season; Burnette has the advantage of having been on the playing field, albeit at Middle Tennessee in 2009 and at Western Arizona Junior College last season. Still, those advantages are tempered – Hirschman, along with Hansen, has to learn a new system; while Burnette was not exactly spectacular when he was on the playing field, earning only one start, with 1,219 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games last season.

Still, the starting job is open. “Nick is not walking around like, ‘Oh, I’m just the backup’, and neither is Brent,” said Embree. “I think it’s great because like I’ve talked about, they’ve got to learn to compete. Iron sharpens iron. The better your backup is, the better your starter is. If you beat him out, you beat him out.”

While spring practice does not begin until March 11th, the competition has already begun. “They have all been very competitive,” said Embree. “They all show their face around here a lot, asking questions and wanting to learn the new offense that we’re still in the process of putting together.”

Any other players in the mix?

Walk-on red-shirt freshman Justin Gorman is on the roster, but it would be a surprise if he rose dramatically up the depth chart. There has also been speculation that former high school quarterbacks Josh Moten (now a red-shirt freshman cornerback) and/or Harold Mobley (now a red-shirt freshman tight end) might also be given a look at quarterback this spring, but, with all the work that the coaching staff has to do to orient the likely quarterback candidates to the new offense, Moten and Mobley may be given only a courtesy look, if they are given one at all.

The other potential candidate to start on September 3rd against Hawai’i will not be participating in spring ball. Incoming true freshman Stevie Dorman will be given a chance this fall. “Stevie’s advantage is that the guys who are here only have 15 days,” said Embree. “It’s not one of those things in a normal situation where Tyler had been in this offense for four years, or Hirschman is going into his third year in the offense and knowing all of the nuances.

“So, depending on how fast they learn, and depending what he’s capable of learning, because that window is so short, he has a chance. If he can learn quicker than them to show his skills, he’ll put himself in position to play.” It also won’t hurt Dorman’s chances that the offense the Buffs are installing is similar to the offense which he played in high school at Somerset, Texas.

Still, you would have to assume, at least for now, that the job is Tyler Hansen’s to lose. “I’ve got to be (a leader) the same way with this offense,” said Hansen. “If I do that, I think I can have a pretty good shot at being a leader and a playmaker on this team.”

All eyes will be on the quarterbacks … starting March 11th.

Running backs

Roster:  Running backs – Rodney Stewart (Sr.); Brian Lockridge (Sr.); Quentin Hildreth (So./Walk-on); Tony Jones (R-Fr.); Trea Jones (R-Fr.); Cordary Allen (R-Fr.); Josh Ford (R-Fr./Walk-on) … This Fall: Rashad Hall (Fr.); Malcolm Creer (Fr.).

Roster: Fullbacks – Tyler Ahles (Sr.); Evan Harrington (Sr.); Scott Fernandez (So./Walk-on).

Player Lost: Corey Nabors

“Aces and spaces“

In bridge, the term refers to a player who has been dealt several aces, but does not have any supporting face cards, or much depth in those suits.

At the University of Colorado, the term refers to the depth chart at running back.

Colorado does have two quality returning seniors. In 2010, Rodney Stewart posted 1,318 rushing yards, the fifth-highest total in CU history. ”Speedy” was able to get the tough yards despite his diminutive size (5’6″, 175-pounds), and was able to stay healthy for the entire season for the first time in his career. Stewart’s potential running mate, Brian Lockridge, suffered an ankle sprain against Georgia in early October, ending his season with only 146 yards on 35 carries. In his stead, wide receiver Will Jefferson picked up some carries later in the season, but it appears that the junior wideout will be returning his attentions this fall to being a full-time wide receiver.

After seniors Stewart and Lockridge, both of whom are a “full go” for practice this spring, there is no depth. No juniors, no scholarship sophomores. Just “spaces”.

It wasn’t meant to be this way. In 2007, Colorado received letters-of-intent from junior college running back P.T. Gates and incoming freshman Devan Johnson, but neither player saw action at running back at Colorado. The big haul came in 2008, when Colorado signed (along with throw-in Rodney Stewart) two of the top ten running back recruits in the nation – Darrell Scott (now with South Florida) and Ray Polk (now a junior safety for the Buffs). In 2009, Colorado failed to sign any running backs.

Which leads us to the Class of 2010. Colorado signed three running backs last February, and all three red-shirted last fall. Looking to make an impact this spring will be Tony Jones, a Rodney Stewart clone at 5’7″, 180-pounds, and two bigger backs, Cordary Allen (6’1, 230-pounds) and Trea’ Jones (5’10″, 190-pounds). Also in the mix is a sophomore walk-on, Quentin Hildreth.

Joining this trio in the backfield this spring are two other “newcomers”, though not to the team. Former linebackers Tyler Ahles and Evan Harrington, both seniors, are being asked to give it a go at fullback this season. Ahles and Harrington join walk-on sophomore Scott Fernandez, who saw action at fullback last season in goal line situations.

As Colorado is clearly attempting to bulk up its running game, the early name to watch amongst the newcomers is probably Cordary Allen, the largest of the red-shirt freshmen. Allen may be the coaches’ first choice to provide the larger back in a two-back offense, serving as as additional blocker for Stewart and Lockridge, while also serving as a short-yardage back.

That being said, Buff fans will be keeping an eye on all three of the red-shirt freshmen. Other than Stewart and Lockridge (and other than Jefferson and Justin Torres, who had 14 carries as a freshman last fall, but has since left the team), there isn’t a single collegiate carry amongst the backs on the Colorado roster. If nothing else, the Buff coaching staff must begin to look towards 2012. While it would be great to see Rodney Stewart go over a 1,000 yards again in 2011, and while it would make an interesting story to watch Stewart chase the record of his position coach (Stewart has 2,744 career rushing yards, needing 1,197 yards to surpass Eric Bieniemy for the all-time Colorado rushing lead), the much better story for Colorado as a team would be to see one of more of the red-shirt freshmen emerge as the next star at running back for Colorado.

The testing begins this spring. If the firm of Jones, Allen and Jones can’t get the job done in March and April, Buff coaches may turn to true freshmen this fall, with Rashad Hall and Malcolm Creer joining the roster this summer.

Pick your favorite baby Buff back this spring, and see how well they fare.

Due to Colorado’s “Aces and spaces”, you may be looking at the feature back for the Buffs in 2012.

Colorado drove as far as the Baylor 19-yard line in the final minute, but a desperation pass from Tyler Hansen to Toney Clemons fell incomplete, preserving a 31-25 victory for the Baylor Bears in Boulder. The loss left the Buffs with a 3-3 record for the 2010 season, with bowl hopes, so much in view after Colorado upset Georgia to run its record to 3-1, suddenly fading.

The game started well for the Colorado offense, as the Buffs took the opening kickoff and marched from their 20-yard line to the 34-yard line of Baylor. The optimism which permeated through the sun-drenched crowd of 48,953 quickly dissipated, though, when junior quarterback Tyler Hansen was intercepted on a first-and-ten at the 34 by Baylor safety Byron Landor. Setting up shop at the Colorado 46-yard line after Landor’s 32-yard return, Baylor quickly returned the favor of a turnover. On the Bears’ second play from scrimmage, running back Jay Findley fumbled, with junior safety Patrick Mahnke recovering for the Buffs at the Colorado 26-yard line.

A three-and-out by the Buffs and two 12-yard completions by Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III set up the Bears in Colorado territory. On fourth-and-one at the Colorado 40-yard line, however, senior linebacker B.J. Beatty stopped Terrance Ganaway for no gain, and the Buffs took over. A nine-play, 60-yard drive ensued, with Tyler Hansen twice completing third down passes to junior wide receiver Toney Clemons to keep the drive alive. A nineteen yard pass from Hansen to tight end Ryan Deehan set up the Buffs at the Baylor 18-yard line, and Rodney Stewart did the rest.

Taking off on a sweep to the right, Stewart evaded a number of Baylor defenders, cutting back to the middle of the field for a touchdown. Inexplicably, Colorado went for a two-point conversion after the score, but a Cody Hawkins pass to Ryan Deehan fell incomplete. Still, with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Colorado had the lead, 6-0.

Baylor then put together a 14-play drive of their own, covering 66 yards. The Bears had five plays in the Colorado red-zone, and had a first-and-goal at the Buffs’ one-yard line. Still, aided by a false start penalty which pushed the Bears back to the six, Baylor came up empty after a 24-yard field goal attempt by Aaron Jones hit the right upright.

Colorado could not take advantage, driving only as far as the Baylor 48-yard line before punting the ball away. This time, Baylor and its star quarterback, Robert Griffin III, would not be denied. It took the Bears only six plays to cover 80 yards, with Griffin posting runs of 24 and 20 yards along the way. A nine-yard scoring pass from Griffin to tight end Jerod Monk put Baylor ahead, 7-6, with 5:24 to play in the first half.

The Buffs answered in short order. Taking over at the 35-yard line after a 31-yard kickoff return by Toney Clemons, the Buffs put together an eight-play scoring drive of their own, highligted by a 13-yard completion from Hansen to Scotty McKnight on a third-and-13, and a 35-yard completion to senior wide receiver Travon Patterson down to the Baylor three yard line. Two plays later, Rodney Stewart had his second touchdown of the night, hitting the left pylon of the endzone to complete a six yard touchdown run. A second unsuccessful two-point conversion, this time on a Tyler Hansen scramble, left the score at 12-7, Colorado, with just 1:28 to play before halftime.

The late first half scoring onslaught continued a few moments later, after a Robert Griffin pass was deflected by sophomore defensive tackle Will Pericak and intercepted by Michael Sipili. The Buffs’ senior linebacker returned the interception four yards to the Baylor 24 yard line, and the Buffs were in business with 1:28 still to play before halftime.

The Colorado offense, however, sputtered, losing four yards in three plays. Buff fans held their collective breaths as senior kicker Aric Goodman trotted out onto the field. Goodman had not been successful since the first half of the first game of the season, but did connect this time, hitting from 45 yards out to give Colorado a 15-7 lead.

The Buffs also gave Robert Griffin too much time. Taking over with just 49 seconds to play before the break, Griffin ran and threw the Bears into scoring position, with Aaron Jones hitting a 50-yarder as time expired.

Halftime score: Colorado 15, Baylor 10.

Colorado had the lead at halftime, yet there was still a sense of unease amongst the Buff faithful. The Buffs had two touchdowns (and a field goal!), had held the ball for almost 2/3 of the first half (19:46 to 10:14), but still only had a five point lead. Baylor had run only 29 plays from scrimmage in the first half (to 41 by Colorado), but had amassed 253 yards of offense – almost nine yards per play. The Bears had yet to punt, being stopped only by a missed field goal, a turnover on downs, a fumble, and an interception.

It would take more of the same if Colorado was to hang on for a victory.

Fears of Baylor’s offense taking over the game were realized when Baylor took the second half kickoff and quickly moved into position to take the lead. A 38-yard run by Jay Finley, who would rush for 143 yards in the game, set up the Bears at the Colorado 12-yard line. Once again, though, the Colorado defense stiffened, and the Bears had to settle for a 25-yard Aaron Jones field goal.

Colorado 15, Baylor 13.

Rather than fold, the Colorado offense again responded in kind. The Buffs quickly marched down the field, never facing a third down. It took only eight plays for the Buffs to set up shop at the Baylor 24-yard line. A touchdown to give Colorado a two-score lead seemed inevitable.

Then … the play of the game.

Sophomore Will Jefferson, moved to running back the week of the Baylor game after Brian Lockridge was lost for the season with an ankle injury, rushed up the middle of the Baylor defense. Jefferson appeared to be on his way to a touchdown, but was stripped of the ball at the Baylor one yard line. The ball fell into the endzone for a touchback. Not only were the Buffs denied a first-and-goal at the Baylor one yard line, but Baylor was able to take over at their 20-yard line for their next drive.

It took only five plays for Baylor to take advantage of their second life. Quarterback Robert Griffin, who had 234 yards passing to go with 137 yards rushing, ran and passed the Bears into position to take the lead for good. With 4:09 to play in the third quarter, running back Jay Finley ran up the middle untouched for a 17-yard touchdown and a 21-15 Baylor lead.

The game seemed all but over after the Colorado offense went three-and-out in response to the Baylor touchdown. On the Bears’ second play from scrimmage, however, Robert Griffin threw a lateral to wide receiver Kendall Wright. The ball was behind Wright, and the fumble was recovered by Colorado cornerback Jalil Brown at the Baylor 36-yard line. A 15-yard personal foul penalty set up the Buffs at the Baylor 21-yard line, and Colorado was back in business as the third quarter drew to a close.

As had been the case with a Baylor turnover late in the first half, though, the Buffs could not capitalize. Colorado pushed the ball as close as the Baylor eight yard line, but no further. Aric Goodman was true on his second field goal of the night, hitting from 25 yards out to pull the Buffs to within three, at 21-18, but there was a sense of opportunity lost amongst the “Gold Rush” crowd on hand for Parents’ weekend at Folsom Field.

Baylor tried to put the game out of reach with their next drive, an 80-yarder in eight plays. The drive was capped by Jay Findley’s second touchdown of the game, this time on a 14-yard run. Down 28-18 with less than ten minutes to play, though, the Buffs rallied. A 43-yard kickoff return by Arthur Jaffee set the Buffs up in Baylor territory, and this time the Buffs capitalized. Tyler Hansen, who would hit on 21-of-28 passes for 207 yards in the game, hit freshman wide receiver Paul Richardson for a 21-yard gain to the Baylor seven yard line. On third-and-goal from the seven, Hansen hit Scotty McKnight for the score. A conventional extra point by Aric Goodman brought the Buffs back to within three, at 28-25, with 5:08 still to play.

Hopes of a comeback were seemingly dashed, however, as Baylor, behind Robert Griffin, sapped the spirit of the Colorado faithful. A 36-yard run by Griffin put the ball at the Colorado 31-yard line, and a game-clinching touchdown appeared inevitable. A holding penalty, though, stalled the Baylor drive, and, after Colorado exhausted its time outs to preserve the clock, Aaron Jones hit on his third field goal of the game, this time from 38-yards out, to give Baylor a 31-25 lead.

There was still 1:54 on the clock, however, as the Colorado offense took the field at their 29-yard line to mount its final drive. Two completions from Hansen to Ryan Deehan took the ball out near midfield with still over a minute to play. A six-yard completion from Hansen to tight end Ryan Walters on third-and-six a few moments later kept the drive alive.

On second-and-nine at the Baylor 41, Tyler Hansen scrambled for a 15-yard gain, but the run was nullified as the Buffs did not have seven men on the line of scrimmage. The costly penalty not only pushed the Buffs back five yards, it cost precious time. Three consecutive completions to Ryan Deehan got the ball into the redzone, but now only five seconds remained.

First-and-ten at the Baylor 19-yard line. Down six points. Five seconds to play.

One chance at Colorado immortality.

Instead, Tyler Hansen’s pass for wide receiver Toney Clemons was broken up by Baylor cornerback Chance Casey, and fell quietly to the turf in the endzone.

Final score: Baylor 31, Colorado 25.

“Well, I certainly didn’t like the score, but I’m proud of our effort,” said Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins after the game. “It wasn’t from lack of effort, or trying, or heart or soul. They just made more plays than we did, and sometimes that happens.”

Colorado’s offense posted better numbers than it had after being shut out by Missouri the previous week … but not by much. Against Missouri, the Buffs had 311 yards of total offense; against Baylor the Buffs had 399. The problem for the Colorado offense, as had been the case against the Tigers, was not executing on the opponent’s side of the field. In the Missouri game, Colorado had the ball on the Missouri side of the field six times, but came away with no points (aided in part by the decision on three occasions, to go for a fourth down conversion instead of kicking a field goal). Against Baylor, the Buffs had the ball on the Baylor side of the field nine times, but scored only 25 points. In fact, on only two occasions in the entire game did the Buffs fail to cross midfield.

On the other side of the ball, the Colorado “bend but don’t break” defense did exactly that – for the most part. The Buffs’ defense did not force a punt the entire evening, but did force three turnovers, and on three drives inside the Buffs’ redzone, forced three field goal attempts (two made; one missed). Colorado gave up 543 yards of total offense, with Baylor gaining an average of 8.8 yards every time it snapped the ball … yet the Colorado defense did give the Colorado offense every opportunity to win the game.

The Colorado special teams contributed as well … for a change. Toney Clemons contributed a 31-yard kickoff return in the first half; Arthur Jaffee had a 43-yarder in the second. Zach Grossnickle, while he did not pin Baylor insided its 20-yard line, did have his best game of the season, going for a 44.7 yard average in three kicks. And then there was, of course, the two successful field goal attempts by senior Aric Goodman. Reportedly benched in favor of junior walk-on Marcus Kirkwood, Goodman hit from 45 and 25 yards, for his second and third field goals of the season. “I think (Goodman) hit a 57-yarder in warmups, and sometimes you go by feel,” explained Dan Hawkins. “He made the long one, and so obviously he was hot, so we returned the favor and he made the other one as well.”

Goodman’s success would have been one of the “feel good” stories of the night … had the Buffs won the game.

Instead, Tyler Hansen’s 28th pass of the game fell incomplete, and the storybook ending was not to be. “Clemons is a great player,” said Hansen of his target on the last play. “He has a chip on his shoulder, he has a little swagger, and before the play he said, ‘Hey, give me a chance. I’m going to get it’. I was confident in him, and I had confidence in him that he would go up and make that play. He almost did.”

Said Clemons of the final play, “Tyler threw a ball and I just had to go make a play. The defender made a good play; he was in good position. We both tussled for the ball, it hit the ground, and the ball was incomplete.”

With the loss, Colorado fell to 3-3, 0-2 in Big 12 play. Hopes for a Big 12 championship gone for good, the Buffs had to move on to more modest goals. “I think next week is a big week for us,” said Tyler Hansen. “We’ve got to get a win. 4-3 as opposed to 3-4 is really big for us.”

“I think these guys are pretty resilient, I really do,” said Dan Hawkins. “We talked about this at the start of the season, how there is no easy day, and how every day is going to be a grind. So if we win by two or lose by two, you’d better redial and be ready to go by the next week, and I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to be.”

Up next for Colorado, a date with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are also 3-3, and also in a hole in the Big 12 Conference, with a 1-3 record. The only conference win for the Red Raiders came in a 45-38 shoot out with – you guessed it – Baylor.

It will be one more opportunity for the Colorado offense to shine against a porous defense. Another game with success between the 20′s, but not in the redzone, will only result in another loss.

Game Notes -

- Senior linebacker Michael Sipili’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career.

- Senior kicker Aric Goodman’s two field goals makes him three-for-six on the season. He last had two field goals in a game against Texas A&M in 2009.

- Colorado’s streak of consecutive games with a sack came to an end at 25. Baylor out-scored Colorado 11-0 in the third quarter; coming into the game, Colorado had a 46-10 third quarter scoring advantage.

- Junior running back Rodney Stewart had 125 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns. Stewart’s 125 yards moved him up four places on the all-time list, as “Speedy” became just the 17th Buff to rush for over 2,000 yards. Stewart now has 2,044 yards for his career, passing Tony Reed (1,938), John Bayuk (1,943), Carroll Hardy (1,999), and Stewart’s position coach, Darian Hagan (2,007). Stewart also posted his 11th-career 100-yard game, moving him into a tie for 5th in that category, alongside Bobby Anderson and James Mayberry.

- Senior wide receiver Scotty McKnight extended his school-best streak of 42 games with a catch early in the second quarter. For the game, McKnight had five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. McKnight is now 4th on the all-time receiving yards list, with his 2,188 yards passing Phil Savoy’s 2,176. His 18th career touchdown receiving places him alone in 4th in that category, just two behind co-leaders Rae Carruth and Derek McCoy, who each had 20 in their careers.

- True freshman defensive back Jered Bell made his first career start against Baylor. Bell is the first true freshman to earn a start, joining ten red-shirt freshmen who have been on the field from the first play of a game in 2010. Bell led the team in tackles against Baylor, posting nine tackles overall, seven solo.

First, the numbers.

After having his red-shirt torn off at mid-season for the second year in a row, sophomore Tyler Hansen started the final seven games of the 2009 season. Hansen ended the yeat with 1,440 passing yards, topping junior Cody Hawkins’ 1,277 yards with his 269-yard effort in the finale against Nebraska. The total team passing yards for the season – 2,717 – was just seven yards short of the best passing year of the Dan Hawkins’ era – 2,724 – in 2007.

Hansen was moderately more successful than Hawkins on the much of the stats sheet. Hansen completed 55.8% of his passes, compared to Hawkins’ 50.6% completion percentage. Hansen had a touchdown to interception ratio of eight-to-seven, while Hawkins had ten touchdowns and eleven interceptions. The more mobile Hansen does not appear so in the final numbers. Hansen was sacked 33 times in his eight appearances, while Hawkins was sacked only 11 times. In games started by Cody Hawkins, the Buffs went 1-4, while Colorado went 2-5 under Tyler Hansen.

Cody Hawkins will be back for his senior season, and, with his father being retained for a fifth year, the fear might be that father Dan might re-open the competiton for the starting quarterback job again this spring. While the “every job is open” mantra is to be expected – even welcomed – the starting role is Tyler Hansen’s to lose. Hansen improved his play over the course of the season, as the Colorado offense averaged 370 yards/game in the final four games after averaging only 247 yards/game in Hansen’s first three starts.

The Buffs, with an offensive line which never gelled, relied more and more on the passing game late in the season. The Buffs opened the Oklahoma State game with 13 straight passes; the pass/run ratio in the finale against Nebraska was 44/28. What’s more, there is reason to believe that the passing game may become more of the focus of the offense in 2010. The entire wide receiver corps returns next fall, supplemented by transfer Toney Clemons, returning former starter Kendrick Celestine, as well as red-shirt freshmen Jarrod Darden and Terdema Ussery.

So, will there be a quarterback controversy in 2010?

Perhaps, but it may not be the battle you have seen the past two years.

Yes, senior-to-be Cody Hawkins will be given every opportunity to win back the starting position. Hawkins is, after all, in the top five in every major passing statistical category in Colorado history, including first in touchdown passes (46), second in pass attempts (983) and completions (543), and third in passing yards (5,862). Of course, Cody is also first in career interceptions (36), and the Buffs have never been able to put together a successful run with Cody at the helm (a three-game winning streak to start the 2008 season notwithstanding).

So, if not Cody, who will challenge Tyler Hansen for the starting position?

Remember Clark Evans?

Clark Evans was a 2009 recruit, and sat out his red-shirt season this past fall. Evans was the 25th-ranked quarterback in the 2009 class, a 6’5″, 230-pound dual-threat player from Los Alamitos, California. In his senior year in high school, Evans was the MVP of his prep league, throwing for 2,173 yards, running for 840 yards, and accounting for 37 touchdowns overall.

Remember Josh Moten?

Josh Moten was another 2009 recruit, but was not engrossing himself in the Buffs’ system this past fall. There were issues with Moten’s test scores last summer, and the Harbor City, California, recruit was not allowed to enroll at Colorado. Moten re-took his tests, has been accepted at CU, and will enroll in January. “I’m really excited,” said Moten. “I’m happy it’s over and I can get up there and help my teammates.” Moten is 6’1″, 180 pounds, and, like Evans, was the MVP of his prep league. Moten threw for 2,741 yards and 26 touchdowns his senior year, running for another 500 yards.

There is also a walk-on quarterback, Seth Lobato, from Eaton, Colorado. Lobato was a true freshman this past season, and was actually the back-up quarterback on the depth chart early in the season – when the pre-season announcement that Tyler Hansen would red-shirt in 2009 was still in effect. (Another freshman quarterback walk-on, Jerry Slota, will not be returning to Colorado in 2010).

2010 Recruiting class

There are two quarterbacks already on the Colorado 2010 recruiting list, Nick Hirschman and Munchie Legaux.

Nick Hirschman committed back in June, when “ten wins, no excuses” was still a possibility for 2009. Hirschman is 6’2″, 212 pounds, and played for Los Gatos High in California. As a senior, Hirschman threw 22 touchdowns – and no interceptions – in his first seven games in a pro-style offense. Hirschman led his team to a 7-3 regular season record, and then dominated in the playoffs. Los Gatos won its first two playoff games by a combined score of 93-6. In a 45-6 thrashing of Aragon in the Central Coast Division II playoffs, Hirschman went 11-of-17 for 286 yards and two touchdowns in limited playing time.

In the finals against Wilcox, Hirschman led the Wildcats to a 20-19 victory in overtime. The three-star college prospect hit Jake Hackman-Salazar for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the seven yard line, with the extra point giving Los Gatos the championship. “They out-played us most of the game,” said Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico. “Hirschman has been our team all year, and he came through when we needed him again.” Hirschman went 14-of-25 for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the title game, which included a 70-yard drive in the final three minutes to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

Munchie Legaux is a different type of quarterback than Hirschman, but has also been a success on the field. Legaux is 6’4″, 185 pounds, runs a 4.6 40, and is considered to be the 12th-best dual threat quarterback in the nation (Rivals). Playing at Edna Karr Magnet School in New Orleans, Legaux committed, along with teammate Keenan Canty (a wide receiver prospect) after a trip to Boulder for the Missouri game.

In a 4A regional playoff victory over Vandebilt, Legaux was a star, leading the Cougars to a 46-9 victory. Legaux threw only 15 passes, but he hit on nine of them for 151 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 100 yards and two more scores. Unfortunately, the following weekend, Edna Karr High met its match, falling in overtime to Salmen in the state quarterfinals, 25-24. Legaux scored for the Cougars in overtime, but the extra point was blocked, setting the stage for the one-point loss. Legaux went 9-for-22 for 107 yards in his final high school game.

Any other prospects for the 2010 recruiting class?

No, and that’s probably a good thing. With the senior Hawkins, junior Hansen, red-shirt freshman Evans, and true freshmen Hirschman and Legaux, the Buffs will have six scholarship quarterbacks. Most teams keep five, and, with Hawkins the only senior, will not be in dire need of a new quarterback recruit anytime soon. Still, there remains the possibility that one or more of the players may be moved. Josh Moten is the most likely candidate. “Coach Hawkins said said I can play quarterback if that’s what I really want to do,” said Moten. “But if me switching to another position is going to boost the team, then I am going to go for it. I could play receiver or defensive back.”

Up next week:  The running backs.

For the Colorado Buffaloes, the 2009 season ended the way it began, with a disheartening home loss to a rival. A season which had the potential for “ten wins”, and the expectation of at least seven or eight wins and a bowl game, ended with a 28-20 loss to Nebraska to put an end to a miserable 3-9 season.

Against Nebraska, the offense rolled up 403 yards, a season-high against Nebraska. But, when the game was on the line in the second half, the Colorado offense failed on three consecutive trips to the red zone to produce any points.

Against Nebraska, the defense limited the Cornhuskers to 217 yards of total offense. But, when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, the Colorado defense gave up a 13-play, 80-yard drive which consumed 6:52 of game time, and resulted in a touchdown which clinched the game for Nebraska.

Against Nebraska, the Buffs had a 100-yard rusher (Rodney Stewart, 110 yards), two 100-yard receivers (Scotty McKnight, 114 yards; Markques Simas, 108 yards), but could not produce a sustained offensive attack.

Against Nebraska, the Buffs again allowed non-offensive touchdowns, giving up a punt return for a score and an interception for a score – the difference in the game.

In sum, the 28-20 loss to Nebraska, played out before a sun-bathed Folsom Field crowd of 52,817 (at least two-thirds of which were Colorado fans), was the Buffs’ 2009 season in microcosm.

A day after receiving a reprieve from the Colorado administration, granting him a fifth chance to produce a winning season, Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins’ Buffs won the opening coin toss. Rather than defer to the second half, Hawkins chose to receive, pitting the Buffs’ inconsistent offense against a top 15 defense.

The game may have been lost before it ever began.

Colorado started its first possession at its own 17 yard line, and punted three plays later. Nebraska took over at its own 47, and drove to the Buffs’ 34 before two sacks forced a punt.

Colorado started possession number two at its two yard line, and punted three plays later. Nebraska started possession number two at its 46, but went backwards before punting.

Two drives for each team. Colorado had 13 total yards; Nebraska six. Still, the Buffs, starting inside its twenty while giving the ball to Nebraska near midfield, were playing with fire. Three plays later, the Buffs got burned.

The Buffs’ third possession started at their seven yard line. Three plays netted nine yards, and senior punter Matt DiLallo was sent out for the third time. This time, though, Nebraska did not start their drive near mid-field. Instead, Niles Paul ran right up the middle of the Buffs’ kick coverage for 59 yards and a 7-0 Nebraska lead with 3:34 to play in the first quarter. After the Buffs’ fourth first quarter possession again ended in a three-and-out, the makings of a rout were in the offing. Colorado fans were eyeing the exits a few plays later, as Nebraska capped a six-play, 56-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Zac Lee to Ben Cotton on the first play of the second quarter.

When the Buffs trotted out for their first possession of the second quarter, they were coming off a “perfect” first quarter. Four possessions; four three-and-outs; four punts. The fifth possession showed a modicum of improvement, as Colorado picked up its first first down of the game on a quarterback sneak by quarterback Tyler Hansen on third-and-one at the CU 29-line. Any thoughts of righting the Buffs’ ship were muted a few moments later, as Tyler Hansen was intercepted by Nebraska defensive back Dejon Gomes at the Nebraska 48 yard line. Nebraska drove as far as the Colorado 32-yard line, but a 50-yard field goal attempt by Alex Henery missed wide right.  Colorado had dodged a bullet, but, with 8:54 to play in the first half, Nebraska had as many touchdowns on the scoreboard as Colorado had first downs (2).

Still, the missed field goal seemed to bring new life to the Buffs. Stuffed all afternoon, the Colorado offense found its rhythm. After a three yard completion from Hansen to Scotty McKnight on third-and-two at the 41-yard line kept the drive alive, the Buffs put together three straight double digit gains: a 13-yard run by Brian Lockridge; a 22-yard pass from Hansen to McKnight; and a 19-yard Rodney Stewart run. A first-and-goal at the Nebraska two yard line was quickly converted, as Hansen hit fullback Jake Behrens for a touchdown, cutting the Nebraska lead to 14-7 with 5:39 to play in the half.

Colorado fans were in full voice a few minutes later, after the Colorado defense forced a three-and-out. Then … the only cheers were from the 10,000 Nebraska fans.

On third down, Tyler Hansen threw the ball directly to Nebraska’s Matt O’Hanlon. The Cornhusker free safety took the ball 20 yards for a Nebraska score. Hansen’s second pick of the quarter gave the Cornhuskers a second non-offensive touchdown of the game.

Colorado had the edge in yards gained, 148 to 89. Unfortunately, total offense was not the measure of success.

Halftime score: Nebraska 21, Colorado 7.

Determined not be routed in their final game, the Buffs came out and played well in the third quarter. The defense forced a quick punt, and the Colorado offense put together its most impressive drive of the game. Rodney Stewart carried much of the load, carrying the ball five times in the 12-play, 59-yard drive. Assisted by a defensive holding call against Nebraska on a third down incompletion, the Buffs scored when Tyler Hansen hit Scotty McKnight for a six yard touchdown.

Nebraska 21, Colorado 14, with 6:50 to play in the third quarter. It was a new ballgame.

The next three possessions by the Colorado offense all pushed the ball inside the Nebraska red zone … and put up no points.

The Colorado defense, with the Buffs down only a score, gave the CU offense the ball back five plays later. A 58-yard pass from Hansen to Markques Simas, the longest offensive play of the season by Colorado, put the ball at the Nebraska 25 yard line. Two plays later, on third-and-two at the Nebraska 17-yard line, Tyler Hansen was called for intentional grounding. The 17-yard loss pushed the Buffs back to the Nebraska 34, where Aric Goodman missed a 52-yard field goal attempt.

Undeterred, the Colorado defense quickly gave the offense the ball back. On the first play of the fourth quarter, freshman defensive lineman Will Pericak forced a fumble by Nebraska running back Roy Helu, Jr. The ball was recovered by sophomore defensive lineman Eugene Goree at the Nebraska 49-yard line.

After a 28-yard run by Rodney Stewart to open the drive, an upset, for the first time since the opening kickoff, seemed plausible. Three more plays, though, netted only two yards, and Aric Goodman was again called upon to pull the Buffs closer. Goodman’s 37-yard effort, though, missed wide left. The score held at 21-14, Nebraska.

Nebraska’s next drive brought back memories for fans wearing both black-and-gold and crimson-and-cream. For Buff fans, it was the memories of games of recent past, when the Colorado defense finally succumbed after making a valiant effort. For Cornhusker fans, whose offense has not been the reason for Nebraska’s success this season, it brought back memories of the days of Tom Osborne. Nebraska put together a 13-play, 80-yard drive, taking up 6:52 of the fourth quarter game clock. Cornhusker running back Rex Burkhead carried the load, with nine carries for 60 of those yards, including a seven yard touchdown run with 6:43 to play.

Game all but over. Nebraska 28, Colorado 14.

The Buffs did engineer a third consecutive drive inside the Nebraska 20-yard line on their next possession, with a 23-yard Hansen-to-Simas connection setting the Buffs up at the Nebraska 15-yard line. Then, with just over four minutes to play, the Buffs of 2009 returned. The sequence: complete pass for no gain; incomplete pass; delay of game penalty; false start penalty; and incompletion. Then, on four-and-20, a Tyler Hansen’s pass was intercepted by Nebraska.

Colorado did get the ball back at their 20-yard line for one last drive with 1:30 to play. An 80-yard drive was completed with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Hansen to Scotty McKnight as time expired. The longest touchdown play of Colorado’s 2009 season came on the last play of the season, as, under NCAA rules, the extra point attempt is not allowed when the score comes with no time to play and the attempt will not affect the outcome. (The inability to attempt the extra point hit two Buff players harder than others. Senior long-snapper Austin Bisnow was to make the snap, with junior placekicker Ryan Aweida to be given the chance at the extra point. With the chance at point taken away, neither player made the final participation chart).

Final score: Nebraska 28, Colorado 20.

 Pop quiz: guess which quote goes with which coach …

1) “We didn’t play well today. I’m disappointed in our effort and how we played … I don’t like the way our football team played in any phase of the game”;

2) “I think those guys are coming together a little bit. The O-line is growing up … We just have to clean a few things up …”.

You guessed it. The first quote is from winning coach Bo Pelini; the second quote is from losing coach Dan Hawkins. One coach was “disappointed” – the winning coach. One coach was looking to “clean a few things up” for the next game – nine months from now.

The Colorado head coach also stated, “I think it’s one of those seasons where, if you take away ten plays, you are probably a bowl team.”

Assuming the NCAA will not be giving Colorado any “do-overs” anytime soon, the Buffs are still 3-9. The Colorado defense did hold Nebraska offense to 217 total yards, the lowest total since the 1961 Buffs held the Cornhuskers to 31 total yards (a 7-0 Colorado victory). Rodney Stewart did post his eighth career 100-yard game, and the Buffs’ offense did have two 100-yard receivers in Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas. The 403 yards gained against the Nebraska defense is the highest of the season; the Buffs were only the second Big 12 opponent to reach the 20-point mark.

“It was closer than it looked,” said fullback Jake Behrens. “We had a lot of missed opportunities out there”. Linebacker B.J. Beatty also had the party line down. “Like Coach (Ron) Collins always tells us, ‘We have a small margin of error,’ ” said Beatty. “You go back and look at this game, and it could have been three or four plays … it’s the little things that killed us.”

Colorado finished the season with a 3-9 record, 2-6 in Big 12 play. Colorado finished 5th in the Big 12 North, just ahead of Kansas, which started the 2009 season 5-0, but lost its final seven games to finish with a 1-7 conference record.

The Buffs will not play again until September 4, 2010, taking on a Colorado State team which also finished 3-9, losing its final nine games of the season.

Game Notes -

- Junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight continues on a pace which will place him atop most of the Colorado receiving records next year. McKnight had seven catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska, giving him season totals of 76 catches and 893 yards. The 76 catches ties McKnight with Michael Westbrook for second on the single season charts, behind only D.J. Hackett, who had 78 catches in 2003. It is telling, though, to note that McKnight’s total of 893 yards well off the pace of what Hackett did with his 78 catches (1,013 yards) and what Westbrook did with his similar total of 76 (1,060 yards in 1992).

- In 2010, Scotty McKnight, barring injury, will smash the all-time record for receptions at Colorado. McKnight finished the season with 165 career receptions, just two behind the 167 posted by Michael Westbrook. McKnight also has a decent chance at the all-time yardage record. His 114 yards against Nebraska give him 1,900 career yards, seventh on the all-time list (Westbrook’s 2,548 yards lead that category).

- Sophomore running back Rodney Stewart is also on pace to set records at Colorado. Speedy’s 110 yards against Nebraska gave him 1,426 career yards, good enough for 30th on the all-time list. His fifth 100-yard game of the season (and eighth career) pushed Stewart past Bo Matthews (1,339 yards, 1971-73) and Marlon Barnes (1,364, 1994-98). Stewart total is the second most for any Buff with two years of eligibility, trailing only Eric Bieniemy’s 1,751 yards (Bieniemy would go on to post the all-time high number, 3,940, after two great seasons in 1989 and 1990).

- Rodney Stewart’s 804 yards for the season are the second highest of the Dan Hawkins’ era, second only to the 989 put up by Hugh Charles in the bowl season of 2007.

- Sophomore wide receiver Markques Simas continues to give the Buffs hope for the future. Coming on late in the 2009 campaign, Simas posted three 100-yard receiving efforts in the final four games, including 108 yards on six catches against Nebraska. Simas had only 12 catches in the first eight games of the season, but had 31 catches in the final four games. The 31 catches are a Colorado record for such a span, besting the 30 catches by Charles E. Johnson (1992) and Derek McCoy (2003) had over similar spans of games. Simas finished the season with 585 yards receiving, already good enough for 49th place on the all-time yardage list.

- One of those players who Simas will likely pass next year will be Riar Geer. The senior tight end did not have a catch against Nebraska, finishing the year with 36 catches for 402 yards. Geer’s career totals: 87 catches (16th on the all-time list); 974 yards (22nd); and 68 points (73rd). Amongst those who played primarily tight end in their careers, Geer ranks in the top five in each category.

- Sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen also has posted some impressive second half numbers.  Despite not seeing any action in the first half of both 2008 and 2009, Hansen has still found his way into the top 20 in passing at Colorado. His 269 yards passing gave Hansen 1,440 yards for the season and 1,911 for his career, passing Bobby Pesavento (1,770; 2000-01) for 19th on the all-time list.

2009 Records

Colorado set a number of individual and team records over the course of the 2009 season. With a 3-9 record, though, those records, as you may have suspected, are largely negative. Many came out of the Toledo game, where Cody Hawkins set many a passing record in the course of a season-crushing 54-38 defeat. A brief summary of individual and team records set in that debacle:

Most pass attempts, half (46); Most pass attempts, game (64), Most total plays in a quarter (27), half (50) and game (69) … all set by Cody Hawkins. Also against Toledo, Darrell Scott tied a school record for kickoff returns (8), and set a school record kickoff return yards (204). Linebacker Douglas Rippy tied a single game record set by Tyrone Henderson against Washington State in 2004 when he blocked two Toledo kicks.

Cody Hawkins, before being pulled as a starter after the Texas game, will return as a senior already holding the records for most touchdown passes in a career (45, besting Joel Klatt’s 44), but also holding the all-time record for career interceptions (36, ahead of the 33 thrown by Joel Klatt and Steve Vogel).

On the positive side, Scotty McKnight continues to extend his school record for consecutive games with a catch – at 36 after his six catches against Nebraska).

One last team record worthy of note … the Buffs set a school record for penalties in a game with 20 flags called against them in the game against Texas. The previous record of 18 had held up for almost 60 years (v. Kansas State, 9/30/1950, a game the Buffs won, 34-6).

Hot Turkey Sandwich

Other than flying in on Friday morning rather than Thursday night, my ritual for Nebraska gameday was pretty much the same as it has been since Colorado/Nebraska moved to Thanksgiving weekend. See if you can pick out the variation …

My flight from Bozeman to Denver was on time, and there was little traffic on my Friday morning drive to Boulder (apparently everyone else was still asleep on in a mall somewhere). The weather was perfect for football: hardly a cloud in the sky; a forecast calling for a mid-afternoon high in the 60′s. Quite simply, you couldn’t ask for more, weather-wise, from a Thanksgiving weekend. I drove up the turnpike, and, as I crested the hill overlooking Boulder, I felt that familiar twinge of excitement. Before me lay the landscape of Boulder, with snow-capped peaks in the background; the Flatirons shining in the mid-morning sun.

I stopped off at the home of Tony and Julie, who have served as gracious hosts for my CU pilgrimages for years. We sat around for awhile and caught up (okay, it had only been three weeks since the Texas A&M game, but between jobs and family, there are always topics of conversation). With a 1:30 kickoff, we had an early lunch, consuming a fare familiar to millions of Americans on the day after Thanksgiving: wamed turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, all covered in gravy. Tony and I set out for the game around noon, and, after catching a few tailgates, headed into Folsom Field with plenty of time to spare to be there for the running of Ralphie and the introduction of the seniors.

Okay, so what’s wrong with the above picture?

Being a clever CU at the Game reader, you probably already surmised what was out of place in my narrative … it was the hot turkey sandwich.

I didn’t make note of it at the time, but the fact is, for many, many years, I was not able to eat before a Colorado football game. I would try and nibble on snacks in order to maintain some equilibrium, but sit down for a meal? Never. I couldn’t do it – I was always too nervous. My hands would grow cold; my conversation skills would evaporate. I would go into a trance-like gaze (I preferred the word “focused”), and would remain so until the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.

My inability to eat or communicate was not limited to home games. For road games on television, my pattern of behavior was the same. Over the years, my loving wife has made a habit of staying upstairs, or finding another activity outside the household, when Colorado is playing. Twelve to fifteen days each year, my wife disowns me.

I’m not like that anymore, and I suppose I have Dan Hawkins to thank for that.

Now, I can eat full meals before games, and not think twice about it. Breakfast burritos for a 11:30 a.m. kickoff? No problem. Thursday night ESPN game? Take-and-bake pizza at the ready. There is no longer any extra angst prior to kickoff – I can be a “normal” person. Colorado has so little to play for anymore, and is so unlikely to win a given game, that the rituals before and after the game are now more important than the game itself.  [Quick stat: including the 48:34 of game time in which Colorado trailed Nebraska in the final game of the season, the Buffs spent 444.13 minutes of game time playing from behind in 2009. That translates into over seven full games looking up at the scoreboard to see Colorado with fewer points. By contrast, the Buffs spent 165:18 (or about ten quarters over the course of the season) in the lead; 110:29 minutes tied. For any given game, then, Colorado spent three times as much game clock behind as ahead. It's hard to get excited about watching a documentary about Custer - you know how it ends]

 While there are those that have taken offense to the recent references to the “Colorado sky blue” days of the early 1980′s, for me, the parallels are clear. Colorado football, relevant for two decades on the national stage, has become a footnote, meriting little more than the cursory coverage. There is no longer any point in anticipating the preseason magazines – we know what they will say (I’ve done this with the preseason basketball magazines for decades. Step 1: Skip the top 25 coverage; Step 2: Find the Big 8/ Big 12 section; Step 3: Look to see if Colorado is picked to finish anywhere near the top half of the conference; and, Step 4) Replace magazine on the shelf after confirming what was already suspected). Just like in the days of Fairbanks and the early days of McCartney – the only other period in the history of Colorado football with a similar drought – there is not much to look forward to, before or during the season).

This is not to say that I do not enjoy the company of others before and after games. And it’s not that I don’t appreciate my wife remarks about how much I have “matured” in my game day attitudes.

And I did enjoy Julie’s turkey and Tony’s stuffing before the Nebraska game.

I just long to go back to the days when I would have to pass on the pregame meal.