On another epic Saturday at Folsom (no place better), the faithful Buff Nation turned out in masses (CU leads the Pac-12 in attendance with an 101% capacity average), to watch the Buffs continue to exercise the demons associated with turning a program around. CU’s defense seemingly came out of nowhere to pitch a shutout, well not really a shut out, but it certainly felt like it, making Stanford look pedestrian. In the end it was an instant CU iconic football moment when Shenault literally willed his was to a had to have it fourth and 1, to put the Buffs in field goal range to win the game (see below). The win breathed fresh air into this program. Everyone knows it. Everyone feels it. Winning is better than losing (excuse the language).
Week Twelve Preview
CU Bye
CU has a welcomed bye this week. A chance to get some key players healed up as we head into our final home game of the season next week Saturday 11/23 against Washington. Everything is still on the tables for the Buffs. Here’s to hoping we beat Washington, but more on that in next Friday’s report. For now…winning is indeed better than losing. Especially when you have a bye.
Final Thought
During last Saturday’s game, Tucker had over 80 recruits in town. The following day, two of them (one a four star) committed to join the CU program in the Fall. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football. Players make plays. Players win game. Tucker may not have the Win / Lose record we were hoping for this season, but he is winning on the recruiting trail, and that may actually be more important than bowling this year. Our current trajectory for this program is more important than our current state.
Hope. It doesn’t make for a good business strategy, but it does serve as one of life’s basic tenants. A prominent theme in our world’s three major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam), hope is also a requirement for Buff nation (some consider college football a fourth religion). As CU’s seasons holds in the balance, and seemingly slips through our fingers every weekend, the outlook for the Buffs (hopefully) is bright.
In news that shocked the College football world this week, the #1 prospect (Antonio Alfano) in the Nation (yup, nation), is transferring from Alabama to CU. Yes, our CU Buffs are getting a 5-star wrecking ball of a player to boost our defensive line and program. The street credit this news bring to the program should be exponential. While football is the ultimate team sport and one player doesn’t a program make (exhibit A – Laviska Shenault), the news should open up the doors to some high-quality recruits looking to join forces with Alfano and the Buffs. This was never a one-year turn-around effort, but we are directionally correct (see final thought at bottom).
Oh yeah, in other news CU lost to UCLA last week. CU quickly sprinted out to a 0-17 hole like seemingly only the Buffs can do, and worked the rest of the night to climb out. A couple missed field goals was damaging, and CU never looked in sync. A missed opportunity that never really got off the ground. Did I mention the nation’s #1 recruit is transferring to CU?
Week Eleven Preview
CU (3-6) vs. Stanford (4-4) – Folsom Field, 1:10 PM Kickoff
Stanford. This a game CU can and should win. Perhaps a slight upset if they do, but certainly nothing to rush the field about (ah, remember Nebraska? That was awesome.). Stanford is a mediocre Pac-12 team. CU should be able to outpace the Cardinal (what is a Cardinal anyway?) on offense, dependent on whether QB1 Montez or Fortnite Montez shows up. It would also be good (awesome) to see Laviska Shenault (arguably the biggest tease in CU history) stay healthy for an entire game.
While CU needs to win it’s three remaining games to become bowl eligible (here’s to…wait for it…hoping), ironically a bigger return on victory (ROV) would be increasing the probability that all the top-shelf CU recruits in town for the game decide CU (and Tucker, and Alfano) are the place they want to place their bets.
Final Thought
2020 – CU goes to bowl game.
2021 – CU finishes season ranked in top 25.
2022 – CU wins Pac-12 Title
2023 – CU finish season ranked in Top 10 and in playoff conversation
It was not to be. CU had their chances this past Friday evening in front of a packed “Blackout” Folsom Field crowd. Yet an inability to get critical stops at the end of the game (CU had a ten point lead going into the fourth quarter), recover fumbles (either would of prevented a USC TD), and untimely and dumb penalties led to another heart breaking loss.
While there are no moral victories in the high-stakes Power-5 college football world, there are positive to be had from CU’s Friday night effort. Unlike the blow out losses to OR and WSU, against USC, CU showed some heart. They showed some grit, and thankfully, they should some improvement. The running game showed signs of life (the Buffs are set at RB for the next few years), Montez had his best game in weeks (but not without his brain freeze moments), and the young secondary (KJ Trujillo) held their own for most of the game. Our time will come.
Week Ten Preview
CU (3-5) @ UCLA (3-5)
CU plays on the road at UCLA in the Rose Bowl tomorrow night at 7PM. CU wins this one in a down to the wire game to get that elusive fourth win of the season. Laviska Shenault follows up on his big USC performance with more high-light reel plays to prove the difference maker. Montez also plays a solid game (he knows he is running out of time as a Buff, and certainly doesn’t want to be known as the QB who holds all the records yet held the program back). KD Nixon sneaks in there for a TD as well.
While improved (UCLA just beat a ranked ASU team last weekend), I still think UCLA is soft and can be had. The Bruins will score their points against our thin defense, but the Buffs will fight and keep the game close until the end. CU is due. They are not as bad as their record. Hopefully UCLA is.
Final thought
Until there are fewer games remaining than victories CU needs to secure for a bowl game, the dream isn’t over. CU has four game remaining and needs to win three of them to go bowling.
Well the cat is out of the bag, and everyone in the Pac-12 wants a part of it. CU is not very good, and all schools want their W against the buffs before Tucker rights the ship (it’s going to take a couple years). WSU three-game losing streak was cured by the Buffs in easy fashion. Unlike the OR game where Montez and the Buff played almost a half worth of Pac-12 football, against WSU Montez early on looked like he would rather be playing Fortnite with his Sigma Pi brothers than honoring the privilege to play QB1 for CU. I think Coach Tucker has come to realize that all the shines is not (Buff) gold. Montez may have the records, but he doesn’t have the key to a program turnaround. Lack of talent, injuries, suspect play calling (what was our OC’s job last year) and dumb penalties continue to haunt a once proud CU program.
CU (3-4) vs USC (4-3) -Friday 7 PM, Folsom Field (Black Out)
It doesn’t get easier, but it is at home. The USC Trojans come to town sporting the top receiving corps in the Pac-12. I’m sure there was a lot of salivating going on watching film of how AZ, OR and WSU ate CU’s lunch through the air. No surprise what USC is going to do (one if by land, two if by air). The CU faithful will come into Folsom strong. Dressed in black (black out for National TV) and probably well hydrated given it’s a Friday night, the Colorado Buffaloes will have the home field advantage and perhaps even weather on their side. In order for CU to win, they will once again have to play a near perfect game, and Montez (dammit), has to play his best game of his career (why not now?). A win on Friday and CU is back in the bowl hunt (sko Buffs!). A loss and CU needs to turn its sights to 2020. CU will play tough to start but will ultimately succumb to USC’s. Too many things must break our way in order to secure victory. A season of promise is on the brink of becoming a season disappointment. Here’s to playing old school Buff football beating the Trojans at Folsom. Remember to wear black. Hopefully it’s in honor of CU’s back in black resurgence and not because it’s a funeral.
Final Thought:
If CU loses this game, Montez should not start another game for the remainder of the year. Montez should be benched in favor of QB2, someone who could gain from the playing experience this season in order to help lead the Buffs in 2020.
There really isn’t anything good to say about last week’s blowout loss to Oregon (OR). CU didn’t compete for 60 minutes (they stopped at the 28-minute mark), Montez didn’t come to play (he almost seemed pre-occupied), and CU made stupid mistakes. OR accepted all of it and made CU pay. As I stated last week, our hope rested with Montez and that is always a crapshoot. Depends how he is feeling that day.
That said, OR is playing at a level where we can only aspire to be and won’t be for a couple years. It’s a long way to the top of the Pac-12 South, especially when you are starting at the bottom. If there is any good news to be had from the game, it’s that our young players are getting valuable playing time (at the cost of W’s) and we didn’t have anyone else get hurt (and Shenault made a cameo appearance). Slim pickings I know, but we do what we can.
Week Eight Preview
CU (3-3) @ Washington State (3-3)
Well, unfortunately things don’t get easier with this week’s match up against the Washington State Cougars (WSU). CU travels to Pullman, WA which is a brutal place to play given the weather and talent WSU consistently has on their roster. Even when they are losing (WSU is riding a 3-game losing streak after winning their first three) they are still putting up Pac-12 leading offensive yards. Their air attack is potent and RB Max Borghi (straight out of nearby Pomona high school) is a weapon.
Copy and paste OR game assessment here. CU will give up a lot of points to WSU, but also has the opportunity to score a lot of points. Neither team’s defense is that good. CU’s only hope (wait for it) is Montez (digest; pause; throw up in mouth). If Montez plays lights out with his top shelf receiving core (time for Shenault to take over a game) CU has a chance. If not, well, this game will get ugly in a hurry. Montez has a proven ability to bounce back from bad performances. My guess he plays a solid game, but not good enough. CU loses this one 45-34.
Final Thought
For CU to become bowl eligible, they need to win three more games. The two mostly likely wins are @ UCLA on 11/2 and Stanford home on 11/9. The third win will most likely need to come from either upsetting WSU tomorrow night, or taking down USC at Folsom on 10/25.
