September 10th – at Air Force          Air Force 41, Colorado 10

Colorado fumbled on the second play from scrimmage, with Air Force scoring on its first play from scrimmage, never looking back in a 41-10 rout at Falcon Stadium. The Air Force offense needed only eight yards passing while rushing over, around and through the CU defense for 435 yards on the ground.

Junior quarterback J.T. Shrout made his starting debut, but it couldn’t have gone much worse. In addition to fumbling on the game’s second play, Shrout threw an interception in going 5-for-21 passing for all of 51 yards.

“He (Shrout) hasn’t proven anything to think that he’s the guy,” said Karl Dorrell. “We have to continue to develop that position. Maybe we need to look at some of these younger guys too. Younger than our younger guys. It is what it is, but it’s a challenge right now that I think we need a spark.”

In all, the Buffs managed all of 162 yards of total offense, converting 1-of-11 third down opportunities (and going 0-for-2 on fourth down).

Air Force was led by senior fullback Brad Roberts, who had touchdown runs of 14, 20 and 46 yards in totaling 174 yards on 24 carries. Roberts’ total was greater than the entire output by the CU offense, which was led by Deion Smith, who had 59 yards and a 25-yard touchdown on 11 carries. Alex Fontenot contributed 53 yards on 12 carries, but it was a fumble by Fontenot at the Air Force goal line with the Buffs down 20-10 in the third quarter which realistically ended CU’s chance at an upset.

“Obviously, it was a disappointing performance,” Dorrell said. “We didn’t play well, we didn’t play to our capabilities … We have a tremendous amount of work to do. We’ve got to find some rhythm offensively at some point. We’ve got to continue this work and develop this football team … The coaches and myself, we all take responsibility for it.”

Game Story … For a team struggling with its offense, the game against Air Force couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the Buffs. Junior transfer quarterback J.T. Shrout, making his first career start, fumbled the ball away on the second play of the game. One play later – a 14-yard touchdown run by Brad Roberts – the Buffs were behind.

Air Force 7, Colorado 0 … 33 seconds into the game.

The Buffs’ second drive didn’t net a first down, but did at least move the ball forward, with a Shrout scramble for eight yards on third-and-nine bringing about an Ashton Logan punt. Aided by a holding call, the Buff defense was able to hold the Falcon offense from another touchdown. The Falcons did push the ball into CU territory, but had to settle for a Matthew Dapore 54-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game.

CU’s third drive netted five yards – giving the Buffs 11 yards in three possessions – giving the ball back to the Falcons.

The Buff defense was able to hold the Falcons on their ensuing drive, giving CU the ball at its own two-yard line. The Buffs did manage their first first down of the game on a third down pass going for 19 yards to Daniel Arias, but, three incomplete passes later, the Buffs punted the ball away again.

Seven plays and 33 yards later, Air Force had its second field goal of the first quarter. Matthew Dapore was called for a 47-yarder, and Dapore was true again, making it a 13-0 game in the final minute of the first quarter.

The second quarter started just as poorly as did the first for the Buffs, with another turnover. A Shrout interception set the Falcons up at the CU 35-yard line, ready to make the game a blowout. Four plays later, it was 20-0, with Brad Roberts picking up his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time from 20 yards out.

The Colorado offense, which had been held to 32 yards of total offense in its first five drives … put one together. A 21-yard run by Alex Fontenot got the Buffs to midfield for the first time all afternoon. After a false start penalty, a 23-yard run by Deion Smith and a seven-yard completion from Shrout to R.J. Sneed set the Buffs up at the AFA 25, with Deion Smith going the final 25 yards for CU’s first first half score of the season, making it a 20-7 game four minutes into the second quarter.

Air Force looked to restore order on its next drive, marching smartly down the field. Nine plays – all runs – pushed the ball to the CU nine-yard line. There, however, John Lee Eldridge carried the ball, but defensive lineman Jalen Sami forced a fumble, recovered by linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo in the end zone for a touchback.

With the ball and momentum, the Buffs did pick up two first downs on four straight Alex Fontenot’s runs. The drive stalled thereafter, however, with the Buffs punting the ball back to the Falcons with five minutes remaining in the half.

Two plays later, the Buffs had the ball back.

The second fumble in as many possessions for Air Force gave CU a chance for another score. Safety Trevor Woods forced a fumble from fullback Brad Roberts, recovered by defensive lineman Chance Main at the AFA 23-yard line.

With a chance to get back into the game … the CU offense … gained zero yards in three plays. Sophomore kicker Cole Becker came in and pushed through a 41-yard field goal with 45 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Halftime score: Air Force 20, Colorado 10

The Buff defense presented the CU offense with a golden opportunity to get back into the game early in the third quarter. An Air Force fumble on a punt gave the Buffs the ball at the Falcon 13-yard line. A pass interference penalty gave the Buffs a first-and-goal at the AFA two-yard line. Running back Alex Fontenot, though, fumbled the ball back to the Falcons, with Air Force recovering the ball at its own one-yard line.

The CU defense again gave its offense a chance to get back into the game, forcing its first three-and-out of the game. The Air Force punt was returned nine yards by Chase Penry set the Buffs up at the Air Force 40-yard line.

Taking over on the Falcon side of the field for the third straight possession, the CU offense … did nothing. The first three plays of the drive netted eight yards, with Deion Smith gaining one yard on fourth-and-two at the AFA 32-yard line.

Three consecutive possessions started inside AFA territory … three points.

Nine plays later – eight on the ground – it was a 27-10 game. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels took the ball in himself on a third-and-goal at the CU one-yard line, making it a 27-10 score late in the third quarter.

A 45-yard kickoff return by Nikko Reed gave the ball to the CU offense near midfield, but again the Buffs couldn’t capitalize. A 29-yard completion from Shrout to tight end Brady Russell was nullified by a holding penalty with the net result being another three-and-out from the Buff offense.

The Falcons set out on their next drive to deliver the knockout punch. It took only five plays for the Falcons to gain 65 yards, but the Buff defense made one last stand. An Omar Fattah fumble was recovered by linebacker Quinn Perry, giving the Buffs yet another chance as the fourth quarter opened.

A 17-yard completion from Shrout to Arias got the drive off to a good start, but thereafter the drive stalled. Going for it on fourth-and-three at the CU 43-yard line, a scramble by Shrout went for … two yards.

Enough was apparently enough for the Air Force offense, with Brad Roberts scoring his third touchdown of the game on the very next play. Any lingering hope of a CU comeback was now as dreary as the rainy afternoon, with AFA making it a 34-10 score with 11:12 remaining.

With nothing left to play for except for pride … the Buff offense showed nothing, going backwards before punting the ball away after another three-and-out.

Twelve plays and 68 yards later, it was 41-10. Rubbing it in by going for it on fourth-and-one at their own 41-yard line, the Falcons completed the seven-minute drive with a John Lee Eldridge 11-yard touchdown run.

The Colorado offense finished the game appropriately … with another three-and-out.

Final score: Air Force 41, Colorado 10

“We couldn’t sustain any drives consistently enough and those are the two things we talked about throughout the whole week, about how we need drive consistency, about getting in the red zone and getting points,” Dorrell said. “We did okay at times, but we didn’t do enough. We just have a lot of work to clean up with. We’re really at the bottom and we’re trying to work our way back up right now.”

The Falcons out-gained the Buffs, 443 yards to 162. Hanging onto the ball for 38:22 of game clock, the Air Force offense wore down the Colorado defense. The Buff defense generated three turnovers, but any chance at momentum was lost by the three turnovers surrendered by the Buff offense.

“I was pretty proud of us,” defensive lineman Jalen Sami said of the defensive effort. “We didn’t give up. We still were out there fighting for 60 minutes, working trying to get the ball to our offense, which we did, causing three turnovers. So that’s one thing we keep our heads up on. But at the end of the day, we didn’t get the job done.”

The Buffs fell to 0-2, with only 23 points to show for eight quarters of play.

“They are discouraged right now. They are. I just had a great talk with them though and they’re willing to fight”, said Dorrell. “They want to fight and they want to get better. It’s almost like the same story I keep talking about right now. I’m tired of really talking about it. We need to put it out front and play. We need to coach better, we need to play better so there’s no easy way to say it other than you’ve got to work harder to get better. That’s really where we’re at.”

Game Notes … 

— Colorado’s advantage in the series dropped to 12-6, including a 5-2 edge in Colorado Springs. The game completed a home-and-home series (with AFA winning 30-23 in overtime in Boulder in 2019). No other games between the two teams are scheduled;

— The game was played with rain, the first rain game for CU since a road game against Washington State in 2019;

— It was the highest elevation game for the Buffs since playing at Air Force in 1974 (the only higher elevation game CU has played are games played in Laramie against Wyoming, with the last of those games being played in 1946);

— Three Buffs made their first career starts: junior quarterback J.T. Shrout; transfer linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo; and freshman wide receiver Jordyn Tyson;

— Air Force went 1-for-5 passing for eight yards. There have been 27 games in CU history in which a team completed one or zero passes;

— Daniel Arias had two catches for 36 yards, becoming the 85th player in CU history with over 500 yards receiving (526);

— Deion Smith had 11 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. His previous career highs for yards and carries was in 2021 v. UCLA (10-for-43).

 

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48 Replies to “Air Force 41, Colorado 10”

  1. For the ‘multiple’ playbook and given our team, the one certainty I had going into the season was that we would have a screen game…we don’t even have a single screen play (but at least I’ll get to see w/NFL today). Not only is it ‘easy’ yards but we need one to help our Oline/passing game period. Lots of questions…..

  2. Also wondering why the hit on Fontenot was not even considered as targeting…initiating forcible contact to the head and neck area with the crown of the helmet. He was just hit in the back vs. the front of the head. CBS has officiating guru…doesn’t even talk about it…this is a few minutes after Woods gets tossed.
    Fontenot has no burst either…all one speed (and it’s not quick to start with).

  3. So I get JT got the majority of snaps the week prior in practice, and they installed a game plan ‘for him’. BUT given the conditions…our WR couldn’t catch a ball unless it hit them in the face (and obviously AFA couldn’t throw the ball). Am shocked we didn’t roll out BLew at the start of the 2nd half to go all in on run game. AFA struggled for a moment when we spread them and ran…well go a step further and empty the backfield and QB runs???
    Of all the things yesterday this one bugs the most. and I would love to try and understand, help…was BLew hurt??

  4. On the “positive side”,
    Bug Eaters lost to Georgia Southern.
    It was the third major upset of the day from Sun Belt Conference programs. Before the Eagles worked their magic, Marshall upended Notre Dame and Appalachian State knocked off Texas A&M. All three wins were on the road.

    This appears to indicate that coaching might just have some value… Talent doesn’t always prevail. Just sayin’ 🤷🏼‍♂️

  5. I will never abandon CU football, they will always be my team. I am just so heartbroken that the admin does not feel the same way. I feel so helpless that they actually shoot themselves in the foot and neuter a once great program for the sake of academic branding. Isn’t there anyone in the regents who realize these go hand in hand? Isn’t there anyone who realizes that university donations and improvements are directly correlated to on field success? Isn’t there anyone who understand the plight of the players, conference viability and exposure, NIL draw and business? I honestly feel they are absolutely clueless. Now, I can’t speak for the players and the coaches. They are doing the best with what they have but the gaps in talent and so drastic, to save face our coach will be let go for yet another 3-4 years of job security for the regents admin and athletic office. It’s pitiful. Does anyone have any ideas of how we can root out the evil? No number of open checkbooks will get them to resign or dedicate themselves to success…as a matter of fact it would have the opposite effect. So how can we as fans, alumni, past players and those truly in it for the love of it really help?

  6. Actually, today was a pretty good day for Buff fans…
    Georgia Southern 45
    Corn 42

    My only lament is that they’ll probably toss Scott Frost on his rear before we play them again.
    ‘nuff said 😉

  7. We saw the qb quandary. Weather? Maybe some. But we saw. And again, Karl spoke of next option. Doubt he means Carter. Hoping he doesn’t have to go there.

    Go Buffs

    1. Stuart I commend you for even continuing this blog. It is a great outlet for the genuine angst Buff fans are going through. I don’t think I could have hung in there as long as you have, and I wouldn’t blame you one bit if this was the last game you ever covered on here. Love you fans and thanks again Stuart. No hope anymore.

      1. Thanks, Sam, for the kind words.
        More than once I have thought of pulling the plug. I stopped writing for awhile during the 2006 season (Dan Hawkins’ miserable debut), but there was no website then, so I was later able to go back and reconstruct the season for the purpose of keeping the Archives whole.
        I could quit now, but, after 25 years of writing, 14 years of the website, and three years of the podcast … it would be hard.

  8. I spent a lot of time complaining about Lewis.

    And the Dorrell showed everyone we were wrong by doing the wrong thing… Playing a passing QB in wet cold rain when no one could catch and every throw from Shrout was high.

    We ironically win this game with Lewis. The offense just had to do… SOMETHING. And instead they shit in their hands and slapped the defense in face with it. Over and over again.

    Kinda impressed with how bad the offense is. It takes real effort to be that bad that consistently

  9. Well said, Jeff. This very well could have been a 20-17 game in the third quarter. At that point, C.U. would have had all of the momentum. The “no touchdown” call was a setback, for sure. Also, convert the fourth and one early in the first quarter against TCU last week, and C.U may be up 14-0 in the first quarter of that game.

    Yes, C.U. has been on the short end of the first two games by scores of “a lot to a little.” However, unlike many posts here, I have seen glimmers of hope. Yes, close only counts in horseshoes,… but this team, I think, is closer than it may appear. Put this game on a clear day, and maybe the qb has a completely different start.

    Now is the time to “dig in, and support the team.” The players are always asked to reach down for that something extra during difficult times. The same can be said for fans.

    All of this is happening at a time when the size/speed/talent gap will continue to widen between the “college haves and have nots.” Throughout the country these past few decades, youth Pop Warner and high school football programs have seen a steady drop in participation with youth soccer experiencing record highs almost in inverted proportion to “American football” participation of youngsters. Recently, there has been an infusion of cash for uniforms and leagues, and Pop Warner numbers have begun to rise. These trends have been VERY true predominantly in the western states. Of course, this will influence the sheer number of quality football players available to colleges.

    This is a perfect storm of bad circumstances for CU. However, with time, patience, commitment, and Coach McCartney’s favorite word “resolve,” the program can be turned around.

    Count me in, for the long haul,…

  10. You know I am as disappointed as anyone is in the score, but it’s obvious that 99.9% of all of you have never played high-level sports let alone college football or any other real sport that you actually started in other then maybe fencing!

    If you all want to leave I say good riddance we don’t need negativity, that’s exactly part of the problem with buff nation. Your either in or you’re out. Do you really think the coaches and players don’t want to win. I know most of you got your participation trophies throughout Elementary school and probably even into junior high and high school and have them stacked up on the wall to show your kids.
    I played for CU back in early 90s when we were a powerhouse, those were good times!
    Unfortunately CU has fallen on hard times for many years and that breaks my heart and soul to the core, but I never give up hope or my love for being a BUFF!!!!
    To all you participation trophy owners …PETER specifically, name one sport in the world that is not dominated by teams with money ….Quit your whining and open up your checkbook as I have done every year and just like all the other top schools alumni do in the country. Every winning program now and then had support financially by alumni.
    Peter you should be ashamed of yourself!!! I feel sorry for your kids especially. Way to go Dad. I can totally see you on the sidelines of your kids sports asking the coach why your kid is not playing and talking to the board of their sport and complaining. God you make me Nauseous!!!
    You know how everyone calls the you know what…“Karen’s”….well Peter you’re the new Karen. I’m going to use your name Peter from hear on out,
    as are my kids to define wannabe whiners, who won’t help to be part of the solution, but sit in their participation trophy filled home and judge!!!
    We have no idea of how good or bad the coaches are. You can only do so much with the talent you have to work with. Changing coaches every couple of years does not build winning programs. There has to be some consistency. Would your 4 or 5 star son want to go to a school if he had no idea if the coaches he had a connection with we’re going to even be around when he got there. Peter… you don’t have to answer that. With what your teaching your kids they will likely be whining about something for sure!!
    The answer is no!!! Has it worked out for CU???? How can a team get any good when every two or three years they’re changing the entire defense and offensive systems.
    I know all of you Colorado players are trying to win and be the best you can be and I whole heartedly appreciate that!!! Keep working hard and the rewards will come just like anything in life!
    To all the football coaches at CU… keep molding the clay you have and turn it into something no one expected.
    BUFF FOR LIFE!!!!

    1. Amen, brother. Not so much for bashing Peter, I haven’t read his comment yet, but you overall point. That is why I think Karl needs to be back I. 2023. Could I be wrong? Hell yeah. But we have seen what the coaching roulette does.

      Go Buffs

      1. Not even sure what is being said…so it’s financial?? Sorry Jeff you should know by now, that part of the problem is that we don’t have the alumni financial investment in football…the hope here is that YOU win Mega Millions for the Buffs.
        They seem to be doing a lot more with the dollars in the Springs….or was that coaching??? I value my education at CU b/c it is where I learned how to (try) and view things as objectively from different viewpoints as possible(during my years as a Philosophy/Sociology major). Going blindly for something is for the (fill in the blank)…kind of like supporters of our EX pres.

    2. Jeff. Pump the brakes. I’m not counting my participation trophies. And I’m glad you are donating every year. But at some point I would hope you’d expect some level of competence with your investment. Bottom line is Karl Dorrell wouldn’t have got so much as an interview with a Power 5 school (or anyone else probably). This disaster could be seen a mile down the road and gave him 3 mil. We could have had Bielema, numerous other competent coaches. Look at Wash St. today. You really think their talent level is that much better? It isn’t. You think Air Force has a huge talent advantage? They don’t. This team has been embarrassing the last two weeks. 41-10 to Air Force? TCU will win 3 games. Look at the stats. Dorrell screaming about how good they’d be is icing on the cake. Karl Dorrell should be relieved. May be a very nice man. But this team is awful at everything and it’s year 3. This guy Peter is not a “Karen” for pointing out the obvious. Is it good to switch coaches every 2 years? No. But this team under this coach won’t win in year 3,4,5 or 10. Sometimes it’s time to acknowledge an error. One most people could see 3 years ago.

      1. We could’ve had who? Top dudes turned the job down. I would have loved to have sark.

        We got who we got. And not sure the next go round would do better. Karl is rebuilding. Can we argue he helped the destruction? Yes. But every guy Will want their m.o. with players etc.

        Gonna be a rough year.

        The bummer? You gotta evaluate coaching change before you know if the team is bought in, or will hit the portal. Well, unless you are the ad for football. Here’s lookin at you, Lance.

        Go Buffs

        1. We should have shelled out $$$ to keep Midnight Mel.

          (Some will argue that he “wasn’t loyal” (who cares?) and then also argue that this is a game of money and I should donate more and not see the inconsistency there)

          1. Maybe. Maybe should have stuck with the guy before him. Maybe.

            Neither happened.

            Here we are. We got the guy who wanted us. 2023 there’s nowhere to hide. And I am not convinced anyone would look at this job and this roster, and this admin, and say “yeah, I want that!” Except maybe Chev. And I don’t think we want that, either.

            Go Buffs

    3. Hi Jeff,
      I haven’t really seen you post here before so I am not sure you have the context. I think there was a lot of venting today. Most people on this site are pretty hardcore fans. There are many folks that no longer think Dorrell is the right guy for the job anymore. To be honest, I don’t think he is anymore either. I was a big Dorrell supporter until the last 2 games. I am at best an outsider with no real insight into the team. As a former buff you have much greater access than I. What makes you so positive Dorrell is the right guy? I am willing to be convinced. What do you see in this team or what have you heard about this team that leads you to believe Dorrell has this team positioned for future success? I liked the Sanford hire, but the early returns are while his offense is more effective than Chev’s it still struggles to score points. I don’t ask this to antagonize, I truly want to know what you see. I also contribute. I also had a cup of coffee at the D1 level. I am not a participation trophy guy at all. I can break film down with the best of them and I see a lot of bad play. Worse I see inconsistent play. At pretty much every level. You played, you know football requires 11 guys doing the same thing and doing it right almost every time. I see that happening like 70%. And if you played in the 90’s you know that is not nearly enough. That produces drives that stall out and lots of explosive plays against you. Can this be fixed. Maybe? It’s tough to do it in season. Not impossible, but tough. If your team does not know how to do that before the season starts how do you teach them to do it during a season. Details matter, the coaches had all year to drill that into heads but during a game those details are now slipping. So what ever the coaches were doing to get that focus in the off-season didn’t work so now they have to figure out how to do it on the fly? As I said below. I am going to show up and root for these guys. I am going to hope they figure it out. I am go8ng to continue to contribute to the Boulder nil and if the Jerdough guy e er gets something going I will look into what I can contribute there. I love this program and I do believe there is a route to success for us. I am just not sure it is with Dorrell anymore.

    4. So App St has more money? How about Marshall? How about Georgia Southern?
      Come back with a better argument.

      We are terrible. We have no will to not be terrible at the HC, AD, or regent/administrative level.

      At the HC level, Karl is a clown. I saw a bit of MSU at half-time, tucker was more fired up about them leaving 1s on the board before the half while up 24-0 than I have seen Karl about anything. His passivity would be fine if he was calm and collected, but under that calm surface he must be in a constant state of panic, nothing else could explain such reflexively bad decisions.

      Your approach might work in the past but we are in the transfer portal now. Continuity of player is also important. Everyone with talent, who had a real coach under Mel hit that portal as hard as they could. You can expect a revolving door of talent with HCKD.

      Please refrain from attacking me as a father over a game played by college kids. It is sad and makes you sound like a has been bully.

      If you want to spend more time and money on this that is fine by me but I am not one to fall for a sunk cost fallacy.

    5. I’d bet I’ve been a Buff fan longer than you’ve been alive. I’m old. I’ve seen the Fairbanks days, the glory days of McCartney, and the first gradual, then precipitous decline of this program, I don’t need lessons from you on how to be a fan. Pump sunshine if you must, but you don’t get to tell the rest of us we can’t call a spade a spade. This program is at rock bottom right now. I hope we find our way out, but I’m definitely not going to pull any punches, I’m going to call it like I see it.

  11. We are now at Fairbanks and Embree lows. This as bad as I have ever seen the program. Per an earlier post, I’m in this through 2023. If no bowl then, I’m out after 50 years of rooting for the football program. Air Force played as expected, CU played even worse than I expected (which was a low bar to begin with). I have only intellectual curiosity left this year as to what will be done given this abysmal performance to either salvage something (unlikely) for this season but more importantly, what to do for 2023.

  12. This is completely the University of Colorado administration’s fault. Karl Dorrell never had a chance to succeed. Karl was a dsesperation hire and nothing out of desperation ever goes well. This administration sucks!! Rick George does not have a chance to succeed, unless this University commits to a winning football program.
    Contact the admin and let them know they suck.
    Most of them graduated from schools with good football programs. I bet they care if the football team is good at their alma maters?
    Board of Regents
    John “Jack” Kroll – Chair, District 1; term expires 2023
    Sue Sharkey – Vice Chair, District 4; term expires 2023
    Nolbert Chavez – District 7; term expires 2027
    Glen Gallegos – District 3; term expires 2025
    Heidi Ganahl – At large; term expires 2023
    Ken Montera – District 5; term expires 2022
    Callie Rennison – District 2; term expires 2027
    Lesley Smith – At large; term expires 2025
    Ilana Dubin Spiegel – District 6; term expires 2027

    Administrative Officers
    CU System
    Todd Saliman – President. BA, University of Colorado Boulder.
    Annie Baccary – Associate vice president and advancement administration officer. BA, Colorado State University.
    Leonard Dinegar – Senior vice president and chief of staff. BA, Catholic University of America; MA, University of Colorado Denver.
    Antonio Farias – Special Advisor to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. BA, University of California, Berkeley; MFA, University of California, Riverside.
    Jack Finlaw – President and chief executive officer University of Colorado Foundation. BS, Georgetown University; JD, University of Denver.
    Jeremy Hueth – Vice president, university counsel and secretary of the Board of Regents. BA, University of Montana; JD, University of Montana.
    Michael Lightner – Vice president for academic affairs. BS, MS, University of Florida; PhD, Carnegie-Mellon University.
    ​Chad Marturano – Acting chief financial officer. BA, Colorado State University; MA, University of Colorado, Denver.
    Felicity O’Herron – Chief human resources officer and associate vice president of employee services. BA, Bryn Mawr College. JD, Catholic University of America.
    Emily Osan – Diversity, equity and inclusion specialist. BSW, University of Texas, Austin; MSW, University of Michigan.
    Heather Retzko – Senior associate vice president of state relations. BA, University of Colorado, Boulder; MPA, University of Colorado, Denver.
    Tony Salazar – Assistant vice president of engagement. BA, University of Denver.
    Michael Sandler – Vice president for communications. BA, Cornell University; MA, Columbia University.
    Valerie Simons – Interim chief compliance officer & Title IX coordinator. BA, University of California, Berkeley; JD, Georgetown University.

    CU Boulder
    Philip P. DiStefano – Chancellor. BS, PhD, Ohio State University; MA, West Virginia University.
    Russell L. Moore – Provost. BS, University of California, Davis; PhD, Washington State University.
    Patrick T. O’Rourke – Chief operating officer. BA, Creighton University; JD, Georgetown University Law Center.
    Sonia DeLuca Fernández – Senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion. BA, MA, University of Iowa; PhD, University of Michigan.
    Katy Kotlarczyk – Vice chancellor for advancement. BA, MA, Stanford University; MBA, DePaul University.
    Rick George – Athletic director. BA, University of Illinois.
    Catherine Shea – Chancellor’s chief of staff. BA, University of Notre Dame; JD, Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

    1. The admin literally run the program like a business. It’s like the Rockies, not interested in winning but Coors field will always bring in patrons. CU is the team who decided they weren’t going to evolve in the new age of nil. Being an elite academic institution would be great but unfortunately for any player who values academics there are better options. Cal, Stanford, UCLA. The truth is that any coach they get will be someone middle of the pack. You get what you pay for. The admin has two decisions, 1. Keep the same philosophy and watch cu from an empty Folsom, getting embarrassed, with a depleted reveue stream. 2. Invest in winning, coaches, recruiting, nil.

      They don’t even consider that the other sports at cu are predacated on the success of football. This admin has failed.

  13. WOW. I believe that the university and Boulder elite have spent years killing off the hated football team. This has been a long process that can’t be reversed. We are done, and actually have been done for awhile and wouldn’t admit it. No coach with any talent would come here for more than a year or two – Ala Mel Tucker.

    1. Spot on. The faculty and administration has hated the football program for years. This is exactly what they want. A hapless, helpless, and hopeless program. I’m at the point where I think that in the not too distant future they will seriously consider simply ending football, or at the least dropping to a minor conference. I for one would welcome a move to say the Mountain West where we might have a chance at winning a few games, and occasional bowl trips. We’ll see soon enough when the Pac-12 restructures or disbands.

  14. I was at the game for the first half and it was embarrassing. CU looked slow and befuddled and was very uninspired. Let’s see, Appalachian St can beat A&M and Marshall can beat Notre Dame but apparently CU can’t beat ANYONE! Fire KD!

    1. And hire who? Tuket went 5-7 and got hired away. The admin doesn’t care about the fb program. We have had multiple coaches since Barnett. Different faces but same result. You get what you pay for.

  15. I’m reduced to measuring against CSU who lost at home to Mid TN…MN won’t bring solace next week for us…But 0-2 CSU going to Pullman to take on 2-0 WA St should keep our
    “flagships” even….Meanwhile I’ll give a break to Shrout making his 1’st collegiate start against a solid AF team who’ll probably win the MW

  16. So 2 weeks ago I figured out why people hated Dorrell, I called it the Airforce test. CU should always beat airforce without some stupid bad bounce. And those that hated Dorrell knew he did not have it in him to beat Airforce. I disagreed. I just thought he was addled with a qb. But now I think it is much deeper. I think he has lost the room now. I am not sure how, maybe his stoicism just doesn’t resonate. Maybe he just doesn’t motivate them. I am not I. The room. Stu’s interviews all seemed to indicate the athletes liked the coaches but that was in the spring maybe things changed? I humbly apologize for doubting all of you. Eric, the money is yours…. I was wrong. Dorrell is not who I thought he was, he has not assembled a staff that can win. I am eternally optimistic but now my optimism will be reserved to the post Dorrell era. Maybe we can hire Macintyre to dig us out again….I wonder if Leavitt would take the job in a year. Maybe that guy in group of 5 with the crazy offense? Hell didn’t Callaghan interview for the job? I don’t think I would want Bienemy unfortunately, I think he has been out of the college game and recruiting is clearly important. I am not giving this team up, this season yes, and until Dorrell is let go probably. But I am still going to the games and cheer. Hope to see a couple of you around. I am going to lurk around and read Stu’s articles. Maybe comment here or there but I am done analyzing. Too much heart ache.

    1. Hold on, man. I will shed some optimism – falsely or not – when not on my ph’n fone. I saw some hope today. Really. Not for this year, but I saw that last year. It’s about building from here. Hopefully.

      Go Buffs

      1. Crap man where? I was so sure Shrout was the answer. I had actually been able to see the second scrimmage where he moved the ball so effectively. But that clearly a mirage. Our o line is much worse than I thought they would be and the defensive front 7 have severe issues. And those were supposed to be the strengths of our team. Legit, tell me what I am missing? If we go 1-2 wins this year which may be a stretch. What will we have next year? Please give me hope….

  17. Well this season and coaching staff are done.

    This is why ibwas critical of the Mike McIntyre fire. The bar had been raised, and now it has been dropped, and we are right back at the Embree level lows….pathetic.

  18. That totally sucked!

    It seems to me that having a really good *coach* who is able to cultivate and get the best out of young men might be the only way the Buffs will ever have a chance again. But we can only have a really good coach if we give him a (whole) lot of money … and someone will always have more than CU can give. So perhaps we have to get really creative with the contract –> something like big money to good coach + huge buyout that decreases with success metrics (not years). I don’t know; it’s killing me that we’re so bad. But it’s clear that Dorrell is hopeless … and I need some hope.

    btw, so far Sanford is not making Chev look bad in my opinion — and that’s not good.

    1. It ain’t the oc. Bo Guffs is the best oc out there. And he can’t do much with this roster. Gotta recruit. There was another youth movement today. Kinda like 2013.

      Go Buffs

  19. Blown out by Air Force?!? There isn’t a winnable game on the schedule. I was all for benching Lewis for today. But holy hell, Shrout was awful. And todays conditions Lewis would of been a better option. At least in 2nd half.
    Karl is incompetent.

  20. I am done. I will not watch another CU sporting event of any kind until Karl is fired.

    I will not watch another football game until we have had at least a .500 season.

    I am putting away all of my CU gear and not buying my kids any. No reason to inflict this bizarre loyalty to a joke of a program on them.

    Nobody cares and its time that I join them.

    It has been great talking to you all, hopefully we will run into each other on the trails above Boulder some fall Saturday afternoon and laugh at all the time we used to spend as suckers in that stadium.

    Signing off.

      1. That’s our problem!! Half the folks ‘act like’ MBB doesn’t even exist. All the things ‘against us’ (outlined well by Stuart above) are not in play to the magnitude for MBB. Only 12-18 players to ‘pay’. Smaller schools are BB powers, look at them as the model. Put our money into REBUILDING CFB.

    1. Since Barnett the coaches have been awful.. The admin refuses to evolve and invest. This isn’t about coaching this is about investing. It’s a business and as long as they make money they don’t care about wins and losses. The teams who spend the most on coaches and players win… It’s pretty simple

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