September 30th

… CU in a few minutes … 

First look at the Buccaneers

We will get to know the Charleston-Southern Buccaneers much better over the next few weeks, but here’s a first glance:

– The Buccaneers are members of the Big South Conference, a 1-AA (FCS) Conference which includes only six teams: CSU; Coastal Carolina; Gardner-Webb; Liberty; Presbyterian; and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI);

– Charleston-Southern is currently 5-0 on the season, which has included four games on the road. Some of the opponents, though, are hard to place – The Citadel (32-29); Shorter (23-15); Campbell (30-10); Norfolk State (20-12); and Appalachian State (27-24).

– Coming to you from an FCS town, I can tell you that Appalachian State is a 1-AA power – normally. The Mountaineers are only 1-3 this season, however. About the game, the recap included the following: “CSU executed in all three phases of the game to keep the improbable start to the Chadwell era going and to pull off one of the biggest wins – certainly the biggest road win – in school history”. Jamey Chadwell is in his first season, with the Buccaneers going 5-0 after going 5-17 the past two seasons.

– Charleston-Southern has won four games on the road already this season … a new school record set by the end of September.

– The Buccaneers received 41 votes in the most recent FCS poll, good enough for 35th overall (Central Arkansas, the Buffs’ second week opponent, is No. 14 in this week’s FCS poll).

– Charleston-Southern did not have an FBS team on its schedule this season, but last season played at Illinois (lost 44-0), as part of a 5-6 season. In 2011, the Buccaneers lost to UCF (62-0) and Florida State (62-10), as part of an 0-11 season.

Charleston-Southern press release

“Obviously, adding a game at this point in the season is a unique situation,” CSU head coach Jamey Chadwell said. “It is a big opportunity for us though. It’s a chance for us to showcase Charleston Southern University and our football program against a PAC-12 school for the first time. Also, the playing this type of game against a quality opponent like Colorado provide long-term benefits for our program.”

Colorado joins a growing list of FBS opponents the Bucs have faced including a trip to Illinois last season and the likes of Florida, Florida State, and Miami in years past. CSU is scheduled to face Georgia and Vanderbilt next season.

“The game is an exciting opportunity to play a PAC-12 school,” CSU athletic director Hank Small said Monday. “Our players have had the experience playing Big Ten, SEC, and ACC schools and this is a chance to add the PAC-12 program to that group and to continue to move our program forward.”

“This contest represents the university’s desire to compete at the highest level of NCAA Division 1 athletics,” CSU Vice President for Student Affairs & Athletics Dr. Rick Brewer said.  “Consistent with our previous practice, funds from this game will be applied to enhancing CSU’s football facilities and program.”

Charleston-Southern the pick to replace Fresno State, will be in Boulder October 19th

From CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado has secured Charleston Southern University as the opponent to replace the Sept. 14 Fresno State football game which was postponed due to the record rainfall and subsequent flooding in Boulder, CU athletic director Rick George announced Monday.

The game has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19; the kickoff time will be determined once the Pac-12 Conference sets the television schedule for that day next Monday.

CU and Fresno State officials couldn’t come up with a workable scenario to make up the game this season and will discuss future options; the series is a “two-for-one” (two in Boulder, one in Fresno) as the Buffaloes played on the road at Fresno last year and the two are scheduled to meet in Boulder on Sept. 14, 2019.

“The Fresno State athletic department leadership, their president and their fans have all been very supportive and cooperative in our efforts to reschedule this contest,” George said. “We are also most appreciative of Fresno State’s student-athletes collecting donations to aid those victims of the flood.”

Over the last two weeks, George and CU officials contacted nearly three dozen schools on both the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) levels, exploring all options available to find an opponent, preferably for Oct. 19, which was the second open date on CU’s 2013 schedule. The only other possible date would have been the first Friday or Saturday in December, but those were fraught with complications.

Last Friday, Colorado received a waiver from the NCAA for it to be bowl eligible if it gets to six wins this season but if two were to come against FCS teams. Under the current rules, schools are allowed one win over an FCS opponent to count toward the minimum six required for postseason eligibility; the Buffaloes already had played an FCS school, Central Arkansas, winning that game 38-24 back on Sept. 7.

Fans can use the tickets and parking passes dated Sept. 14 with Fresno State for admission to the game; if ticket holders are unable to attend the make-up game on Oct. 19, they can make an exchange for any of CU’s other four home games (Oregon, Arizona, California or Southern California). Those doing so would be on a value for value, best available seating basis which would need to be done before the final home game against USC on Nov. 23.

The complete ticket policy can be found here.

Charleston Southern (which also goes by CSU) is a member of the Big South Conference and is currently 5-0 on the season; the Buccaneers are ranked just outside the Top 25 in the FCS.�To date, they have played and won four games on the road (at The Citadel, Campbell, Norfolk State and Appalachian State) with a win over Shorter at home. They also received a waiver from the NCAA, one that allowed them to play a 13th game, eight of which will be away from Charleston.

“We really appreciate (CSU athletic director) Hank Small and Charleston Southern working with us to schedule this game and we look forward to hosting the Buccaneers on October 19,” George said.

The Buccaneers will be the first school from South Carolina to play a football game in Boulder; CU has played Clemson twice, both in bowl games, and has never faced the University of South Carolina or other FCS schools who have traditionally played schools one division higher, including Coastal Carolina, Furman, Presbyterian or the Citadel.

There are five Pac-12 conference games on Oct. 19, along with one non-league affair, USC playing at Notre Dame; the conference and its television partners make their selections Monday mornings, so the game time will be known on Oct. 7.

September 27th

EA Sports settles in O’Bannon lawsuit; NCAA vows to continue fight

From USAToday … The NCAA has made significant additions to its defense team for lawsuits it is facing concerning the use of college athletes’ names and likenesses, and its chief legal officer said Thursday it is ready to fight the case as long as necessary.

“We’re prepared to take this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,” Donald Remy told USA TODAY Sports. “We are not prepared to compromise on the case.”

One of those cases and another similar action now have been put before the Supreme Court, as lawyers for video game manufacturer Electronic Arts this week filed petitions asking the high court to review lower court rulings in those cases.

In concert with the NCAA’s position, Remy said the association has retained one new law firm for the purpose of trial and another to handle appeals. Asked whether the likely cost of such additions to the NCAA’s legal team had been approved by association governing panels involved with oversight of the NCAA’s finances, Remy said: “This strategy has been discussed by all appropriate bodies and endorsed. The membership supports this handling of the case.”

Remy said the NCAA had retained the California-based firm of Munger, Tolles and Olson to handle trial work and has hired former U.S. solicitor Seth Waxman, now of Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr, to handle appeals.

A group of former and current college football and men’s basketball players headed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon is pursuing a presumptive class-action anti-trust suit against the NCAA, Electronic Arts and the nation’s leading collegiate trademark licensing firm, Collegiate Licensing Co.

EA Sports settles, will get out of college football

From ESPN … While current NCAA players fight for their right to make money, a large group of former college football players scored a major victory Thursday.

Shortly after Electronic Arts announced it would stop producing a college football game beginning next year, the video game company — together with Collegiate Licensing Company, which holds the licensing rights to the trademarks of the majority of colleges and universities — filed papers to the U.S. District Court in Northern California that it had settled its case brought by former players.

Although the video games did not use their names, the former college athletes alleged EA Sports used the same jersey numbers, heights, weights, skin tones, hair colors and home states in the in-game bios, not only without their permission, but without compensation.

Steve Berman, managing partner of the law firm Hagens Berman, who served as co-lead counsel in the class-action lawsuit brought by the players, acknowledged to ESPN.com that a settlement had been reached, although the specific terms will remain confidential. Berman said negotiations started in earnest the past few weeks on the heels of an appellate court affirming in July a U.S. District Court decision that EA could not use a First Amendment defense of free speech.

After the sides met with a mediator, they put the finishing touches on a settlement, which Berman says will include between 200,000 and 300,000 former college football players whose likenesses were used in the game.

… “Today’s settlement is a game-changer because, for the first time, student-athletes suiting up to play this weekend are going to be paid for the use of their likenesses,” said Eugene Egdorf, a Houston-based lawyer who litigated on behalf of the former college players. “We view this as the first step towards our ultimate goal of making sure all student-athletes can claim their fair share of the billions of dollars generated each year by college sports.”

Update … From ESPN … Video game producer EA Sports and College Licensing Company will pay around $40 million to settle lawsuits brought by former players whose likenesses were used without compensation, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN’s Tom Farrey on Friday.

The total number of players to benefit is between 200,000 and 300,000, said Steve Berman, managing partner of the law firm Hagens Berman, who served as co-lead counsel in the class-action lawsuit brought by the players.

Current players are eligible to take part in the settlement, sources told ESPN. The NCAA would have to make a determination as to whether payments to current players would affect their eligibility.

It has not yet been determined how the money will be divided, however. Much of the focus of the lawsuits has been on EA Sports’ college football game. Since the lawsuit brought by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon was also settled, though, former players who did not appear in video games will still receive some sort of compensation, a source told ESPN.

September 26th

CU initiates “We Care Customer Service Pledge”

From CUBuffs.com …

The We Care Customer Service Pledge is our promise to fans and donors for what they should expect in every customer service interaction with the CU Athletics Department. We truly value every person who supports our program and want to ensure they are treated like family. We will create this culture by focusing more on how we operate and treat people, not just what we do. The basis of our pledge is built around two primary pillars: Relationships and Communication.

Pillar #1: Relationships

We are here to serve, we are here to care. The core of all exemplary service is the relationships that are built through each and every customer interaction. Through consistent positive experiences, trust is built and expectations are exceeded. We will accomplish this through focusing on the following Relationship core values:

  • Be Kind, Polite and Professional – treat our customers like the family that they are
  • Empathy – listen well and understand the customers point of view on the situation
  • Proactively Anticipate Needs – understand the issues and concerns and look to solve the problem before it arises
Pillar #2: Communication

Knowledge is only power when it is shared, so when in doubt over communicate. Our role is to make your experience with CU Athletics an exciting and rewarding one. To make this happen, it is important to keep fans properly informed about all facets of their relationship with us.  Whether that is through phone calls, e-mails, social media or in-person, we need to deliver the information that they need so that they feel comfortable with the situation. Good communication will be achieved through the following Communication core values:

  • Accurate – up to date and correct information
  • Timely – return phone calls and e-mails the same business day, or the next business day if after hours.
  • Consistent – same level of service and information in all interactions
  • Transparent – share information we know and be honest in all that we do
Contact Us

For more information, please contact:

Ticket Office – 303.492.8337  or cutix@colorado.edu Buff Club – 303-492-2200 or buffclub@colorado.edu

 

September 23rd

Seven players designated for redshirt seasons

According to the latest depth chart, six freshman and a sophomore (cornerback Yuri Wright) are being designated to red-shirt this season. This list could change, however, if injuries hurt the depth at a certain position.

It’s always good if you can redshirt young offensive and defensive linemen. Teams prefer to give lineman an extra year in the weight room, and a chance to adjust to the speed of the college game, before putting them out onto the field. So it’s good that four of the seven players chosen to redshirt are linemen, although Markeis Reed was a slight surprise. Reed reportedly had a good camp, and was looked upon as a potential contributor at defensive end this fall.

Wide receiver Jeffrey Thomas, as we know, has had a difficult road to the playing field. A member of the Recruiting Class of 2012, Thomas returned home to Dallas last August to take care of family issues. Thomas delayed his enrollment, took classes in Dallas, and came to Boulder as a grayshirt in January. This spring, Thomas had six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and was looked upon as one of the potential candidates to take some of the pressure off of Paul Richardson. With Nelson Spruce, Tyler McCulloch, D.D. Goodson  and Devin Ross in front of him, though, Thomas might not have seen much action this fall. Here’s hoping that a year of working with the scout team, and taking care of business in the classroom, will set the stage for a breakout season in 2014.

The same might be said for defensive back Yuri Wright. One of the true freshmen thrown to the wolves last fall, Wright played in eight games in 2012, starting six. In playing 310 snaps, Wright earned honorable mention honors from the Pac-12 coaches. Wright was listed by Lindy’s as a preseason second-team All-Pac-12 player, but Wright has had injury issues since the spring. Perhaps, with the redshirt season Wright should have had last fall, he will return in 2014 as a regular contributor to the still young – but improving – Colorado secondary.

The redshirt list:

Wide receiver Jeffrey Thomas

Fullback George Frazier

Offensive lineman Sam Kronshage

Offensive lineman Gerrad Kough,

Defensive end Derek McCartney

Defensive end Markeis Reed

Defensive back Yuri Wright

 

It’s looking more and more like it will be Hawai’i on October 19th … and then it’s not

If Twitter is to be believed, Colorado will be playing Hawai’i in Boulder on October 19th.

The devil, they say, is in the details, so we’ll see what Colorado athletic director Rick George and his counterpart at Hawai’i, Ben Jay, can work out.

The tweets …

From Ferd Lewis, reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (last night) … UH’s Ben Jay & CU AD Rick George meeting in Dallas. “Probably no decision tonight” on proposed Oct. 19 game at Boulder, UH sez.

From Marvin Chun … Coach Chow said he’s all for the Colorado game if it can be worked out.

But then … From Stephen Tsai, reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser …  Hawaii turns down offer to play Colorado on Oct. 19 in Boulder

If you would like to follow CU at the Game on twitter, and find out about the Buffs’ next opponent as soon as it becomes official, you can follow me here.

 

September 21st

Bill McCartney to be honored at halftime of Oregon game October 5th

From the Daily Camera … When the Colorado football team finally returns to Folsom Field for its next home game Oct. 5 against No. 2 Oregon, there will be added incentive for the Buffs to play well.

In addition to it being the first home game since historic flooding wrecked parts of the city and killed four Boulder County residents, the school had previously designated the weekend to honor former coach Bill McCartney for earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Needless to say, with all of those ingredients, emotions will be running high.

McCartney said Friday he is excited by the opportunity to return to the stadium where he built the Buffs into a national champion and share his accomplishment with Buffs fans and the other men who helped him become a hall of fame coach.

“You know how this works, is one guy gets credit for what a lot of people accomplished,” McCartney said. “Looking back on the coaching staffs I had then. They were really good coaching staffs and good recruiters. I just want to make sure they get some acknowledgement here.”

Eleven of the men who served as assistant coaches under McCartney during his tenure from 1982-1994 went on to become head coaches at the college or NFL levels. Two others members of his staffs became athletic directors, including current CU athletic director Rick George.

He is the first CU coach to earn the honor and the seventh CU hall of famer, joining former players Byron ‘Whizzer’ White, Joe Romig, Dick Anderson, Bobby Anderson, Alfred Williams and Jon Wooten.

More than two dozen of McCartney’s former players have pledged to attend the celebration on Oct. 5. It’s unclear how many of his former assistants will be able to make it, considering some are still in coaching or have careers in radio or television as football analysts.

McCartney learned he had earned induction to the hall in May when the National Football Foundation announced its 2013 class. He will be inducted at the NFF annual banquet in December and officially enshrined next summer.

“It really is humbling and honoring that guys would want to come back,” McCartney said. “The whole thing is something I want to share. I don’t want to be receiving a lot of recognition. I want to share it with all the guys who deserve it. I was just a small part of it.”

CU red-shirt freshman running back Terrence Crowder arrested for domestic violence

From the Daily Camera … A University of Colorado running back was arrested over the weekend in Boulder on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, according to a police report.

Terrence Crowder, 20, was arrested on domestic violence, third-degree assault and harassment charges.

According to the report, a woman approached CU police after Crowder threw small rocks at her, tripped her several times and rubbed mud in her hair. Boulder police also responded.

The woman told police that she and Crowder had been dating for eight months. She said Crowder came over to her apartment around 2:30 Sunday morning when she began reading text messages in his phone.

The woman said she became upset after reading a message from one of Crowder’s ex-girlfriends. She then collected some items Crowder had given her during their relationship and followed Crowder outside to give him the bag of items. Crowder threw the bag into a nearby yard and the woman followed him.

The woman told police that a group of men had passed by previously and whistled at her, which made her uncomfortable. She asked Crowder if she could continue walking with him because she did not feel safe.

Crowder told her no and crossed the street to create distance between them, according to the report. The woman said Crowder then began throwing small rocks and other flood debris at her. Then Crowder rubbed mud in her hair and pulled her hair.

The woman then began running toward Williams Village at 30th Street and Baseline Road. Crowder followed and kicked her legs, trying to trip her, according to the report. The woman got away and saw a CU police officer nearby.

Crowder was arrested and taken to the Boulder County Jail where he was booked and jailed, according to the report. He was due in court this afternoon to have his bond set.

September 15th

Buffs give back to community

From CUBuffs.com … On Saturday, the University of Colorado Athletic Department and CU student-athletes hosted approximately 800 Boulder flood victims at Folsom Field. The event, which took place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the stadium’s Club Level, provided evacuees with a meal and a chance to visit with athletes, coaches and administrators.

“Our student-athletes and the athletic department really care about this community,” said Colorado Athletic Director Rick George. “This event is a way to help them through all the devastation they’ve dealt with over the past several days.”

A majority of attendees were residents of CU’s family housing, who were evacuated on Wednesday evening due to complex’s proximity to Boulder Creek.

“This means a lot,” said Sarah Stith, a resident manager at CU’s Smiley Court Apartments who attended the event with her husband and two young children. Smiley Court, located on the corner of 30th Street and Colorado Avenue, sits directly next to Boulder Creek. The complex is one of several on the CU-Boulder campus that houses a variety of graduate students with families, committed couples, and single parents.

“It’s been a hard time. It’s nice to know that this community is here and that everyone is coming together. Tragedies like this can make you feel really separated from the rest of the world and it’s things like this that just make you realize what a great community we have,” Stith said.

Student-Athletes from football, men and women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse and women’s volleyball spent the afternoon serving food, cleaning tables, and entertaining the children in attendance by signing autographs and taking photos.

“Our team has been doing everything we can to help out the community of Boulder,” said CU basketball guard and Boulder native Beau Gamble. “It’s great to see the other student-athletes out helping too and doing whatever they can, whether it’s helping people move out of flooded basements or digging out cars, or whatever else needs to be done. Today, half of the team is over at the Center for Community helping out since they are low-staffed and the rest of us are here at Folsom greeting evacuees from CU’s family housing.”

September 12th

CU Video does it yet again!

Coach MacIntyre speaking to the team at Folsom … “This is your turf!”. Great stuff!

http://vimeo.com/74244383

September 11th

Buffs recognize need for more rushing yards

From CUBuffs.com … Klayton Adams isn’t concerned so much with numbers as he is productivity. And yes, there is a difference.

Adams – Colorado’s running backs, fullbacks and tight ends coach – believes the Buffs’ ground game is capable of more than the 96.5 yards it has averaged in the first two games. But he’ll tell you fairly fast, “We’re not huge into stats, so the numbers are not so much what we look at. Are we doing our job? It takes an entire group to improve.”

The Buffs ran for 113 yards in their opening win over Colorado State and 84 last weekend in defeating Central Arkansas. In both games, the passing of quarterback Connor Wood– 400 yards vs. CSU, 341 vs. UCA – carried the offense.

But Adams, Wood and coach Mike MacIntyre know the day will come (and soon) when more balance is needed between the running and passing games.

Said MacIntyre: “I think that we just need to keep pushing it and keep working with it and I think we’ll eventually do better at it. We just haven’t broken a 50-yard run that you all of a sudden go instead of having 120 yards rushing you’re at 175. So we need to do that and I’m hoping that happens this week.”

It would be timely. The Buffs play Fresno State Saturday in Folsom Field (12:05 p.m., Pac-12 Network).

MacIntyre cited “different reasons” for the ground game stalling: “Either we didn’t block the right guy one time or we missed a cut one time or a (defensive) guy made a great play . . . the other side of that is, our short passing game has been good. We’ve done a good job in the passing game and sometimes we were able to throw it pretty well. Sometimes you do whatever you can do to win the football game.”

In the first two games, Adams has used three tailbacks – sophomores Christian Powell and Donta Abron, and junior Tony Jones. None of that trio has had a run longer than 11 yards (Jones). CU’s longest run from scrimmage has been a 31-yarder by receiver D.D. Goodson on a reverse. Goodson has carried twice for 40 yards.

Powell has been slowed by a thigh bruise but says he’s gotten steadily better and won’t be hampered for Saturday’s game. “My thigh is a little sore but I’m getting it taken care of,” said Powell, who is averaging 3.05 yards per attempt (21 carries, 64 yards).

The biggest of the Buffs’ backs at 6-0, 230, Powell said he has “been trying to keep up on whatever I’ve needed to do – blocking, getting the reads, all that. Of course, I’d like to see the run game be more of a factor.”

He also said running out of pistol formation sets rather than last season’s pro-style sets “is not that big a difference to me.”

Jones has rushed for 85 yards on 25 attempts, averaging 3.40 yards a carry. Of his total, 58 yards were gained against UCA, with the bulk of those late in the game when CU holding onto a lead and the ball. Adams said the 5-7, 190-pound Jones ran well in that situation “and we’re looking to build on that. He fits through tight spaces pretty well; he’s quick and low to the ground and he’s tough. I think both of those guys (Powell, Jones) have a lot of upside and potential. But all of them need to improve.”

Abron (5-10, 180) has carried 10 times in two games for 14 yards, and Adams indicated he needs to see more of Abron in game situations before judging his capabilities. “You don’t know exactly what someone is going to do, how they’re going to make plays until they get in a game,” Adams said. “The more you get guys into games, the more you see how comfortable they can get. And ultimately, a guy can earn more time.”

For his part, Abron said he is “going in and trying to make something happen. I’ll be ready when my number is called. I learned a lot more (in camp) than what I knew last year. I just wanted to keep getting better.”

Wood has 10 carries through the first two weekends, gaining 47 yards but only 11 net after sack totals (36) are subtracted. Wood has proven to be a capable runner and contends he is comfortable when asked to run: “I feel confident with that, especially kind of ad-libbing, that’s been a pretty big part of our offense.”

None of Wood’s 10 runs have been called, but he always has the option to run on zone read plays. “That option of keeping it and running it is there for me,” he said. “And I feel comfortable doing it.”

September 9th

Paul Richardson Pac-12 Player-of-the-Week for ESPN … but not for Pac-12

Last week, Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson was honored by the Pac-12 as its Offensive Player-of-the-Week. Against Colorado State, Richardson had ten catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

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