by Doug Rutherford | Nov 26, 2018 | 2018
Buff Nation –
2018 Season Review
Buff Nation – for better or for worse, the 2018 Buff Season is officially over. After a fantastic 5-0 start which saw the Buffs destroy their in-state rival CSU Rams and an amazing come from behind victory at Lincoln (NEVER an easy place to win), CU started Pac-12 play 2-0 with wins against UCLA and ASU. All seemed to be going according to plan. Yet, somewhere along the line CU stumbled and was never able to regain their balance. A pick-six against USC, a meltdown for the ages against OSU, injuries, poor play calling, suspect zebra calls and global warming all contributed to the Buffs losing their last seven games of the season and coming up short on going to a bowl game.
For their efforts, the Buffs fired their head coach, in all probability will lose the rest of their coaches (except perhaps for one or two) which will be the call of the incoming head coach and will take a hit on their recruiting class. It’s too early to speculate on who the next head coach will be, but Buff Nation is indeed embarking on yet another chapter in its return to dominance.
2019 Season (Sneak) Preview
A quick look at 2019 season in intriguing for sure. CU will win at least two of its first three game (CSU, Air Force) and will battle it out against NE at Folsom Field (do not miss this game). Pac-12 play will be tougher than 2018. Most of the teams in the Pac-12 improved through the 2018 season, and CU’s schedule includes Oregon and Stanford (replacing OSU and CA). There are zero give me games in the Pac-12 CU now knows that and will never forget it.
For CU’s part, they come back loaded. Digesting a new coaching scheme aside, CU will be a better team on the field in 2019 than in 2018. CU returns eight starters on Offense (they need a tailback and right tackler) and ten starters/key contributors on defense (they need a safety, depth at cornerback). CU will two brilliant captains in Lavisaka Shenault and Nate Landman (two of the best players in NCAA next year) and have at least three future pros on the field. If QB Montez comes back for his final season (he is contemplating going pro) he will need to battle red-shirt freshman Tyler Little for the QB1. Either way, CU will be good at QB and their offensive line will be better (four returning starters). Several players got extra playing time this year due to injuries. While there will be no easy games, with the right coach and mentality, I like CU’s chances. I can’t wait.
So, with that, thank you all for your comments through the season both via email and over a brew during tailgates in Lot 380. It’s a joy to travel this road back to dominance (it will happen) with you.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Nov 23, 2018 | 2018
Buff Nation –
Week Twelve Review –
This past Saturday, CU laid an egg as it’s final tribute to Coach MacIntyre. With the coach’s job hanging in the balance, CU came out energized against the #19 Utah Utes, but were in effective in generating any offense (being held to 7 points for the second week in a row). The defense stood tall for as long as they could (halftime score was 7-7), but without the aid of their offensive brothers, they too soon began to lie down. On a grey (literally and figuratively), frigid and listless day, with so much to play for, CU failed to compete. Less than 24 hours later Coach MacIntyre was fired. A brave new world now faces CU Football. Time will tell if this program is moving forward or sliding. I have faith in Athletic Director Rick George. Big time football programs need to be run like big-time corporations, and Rick has proven to have that experience and insight. Coach MacIntyre is a good man. I’ve talked with him on several occasions. He did a lot of great things for this program but was unable to sustain the success of the 2016 season (The Rise), nor win games which needed to be won. I wish him the best. On to the next. Business is business.
Week Thirteen Preview –
In 1939, Agatha Christie wrote her famous book And Then There Were None. A fictional story about a group of secluded people who were slowly and methodically killed, eliminating any and all suspects until there was there was one and then none, uncertainty, angst and fear settled into the psyche of the cast of characters). Over the past seven weeks, CU has slowly and methodically eliminated their bowl eligibility chances. Uncertainty, angst and fear(?) has permeated into the psyche of CU Football. We are now down to one opportunity – tomorrow, on the road against the California Bears, to secure bowl eligibility. A win against the suddenly hot bears (they have won 3 of their last 4) give breathes new life into the CU football season and goes a long way to solving the mystery of what happened to the 2018 football season. A put the Buffaloes and Buff Nation out of its misery, in what would go down as one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory.
Rumor has it there is a new energy in the CU football program now that a coaching change has been made. Is it enough to secure a win tomorrow and “save” the season? I bet is it is. However improbable a win feels after six straight losses, CU still is a good football. For reasons which have been discussed in prior posts, CU hasn’t been able to put it all together. With nothing left to lose, CU should be able to play loose away from their home town crowd and get it right. If not, we will all be left with the age-old question – “Who done it? Who killed the CU Football program? How about we don’t go there and just win this game already?
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Nov 16, 2018 | 2018
Buff Nation –
Week Eleven Review
The sudden demise of the 2018 CU Football season seems to have happened in a blink of an eye. Against the Washington State Cougars this past Saturday, the Buffs showed heart on defense holding the national most prolific quarterback to a modest day, but the offense didn’t follow suit. Unfortunate penalties kept CU on the ropes and they simply didn’t have the talent to rebound. A suspect call by Coach Mac (punting from the Cougars 36-yard line) was head scratching and stole the heart and fire from Buff Nation and the Buff football team. Final score CU 7, WSU 31. If this season does crash, it is this call pundits will point to regarding why Coach Mac wasn’t the right guy to lead the Buffs to the next level.
Sadly, it wasn’t too long ago that everything was going CU’s way. Just a few weeks ago CU was #19 in the country, the only remaining Pac-12 undefeated team sitting at 5-0 and making a powerful statement against the USC trojans on the road. CU had the USC freshman QB rattled and led 7-0. The stars were aligned. Puzzle pieces were in place. Buff Nation stood at the ready. This was the team we had been waiting on for nearly a decade. We were ready to take the next step. Yet, we all know how the story ended. Less than two quarters later, a pick-six by Montez put the Buffs behind 28-7, and the Buffs have never been the same since. Injuries yes. Tough opponents yes. Suspect coaching yes. Still, all these factors happened to all big-time football teams and the great ones find a way to respond. The CU Buffs are still trying to make that happen.
Week Twelve Preview
Lost among the rumors of coach firings and general chaos coming from CU Football operations, the pride and tradition of CU football has been temporarily lost. CU has (yet) another shot at redemption when they take on the #19 (ah, remember when we were #19) Utah Utes. Amid the chaos (or perhaps in spite of it) this game has the potential to be the game of the season for the Buffs. With more story lines than the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, both teams have a lot to play for.
For starters, tomorrow marks the 500th game at Folsom Field (see link below Folsom Field highlights). A win by Utah gives the Utes their first Pac-12 South championship (the only Pac-12 school not to win the title). A win by CU makes them bowl eligible and saves Coach Mac’s job and washes all the fowl from this season. A win by CU stops a 0-28 nine-year skid against ranked team (when CU is not ranked), an 0-8 record in games where bowl eligibility is on the line, and the recent 0-5 losing streak. A win on Saturday would go a long way to curing CU’s woes and ugly streaks.
Saturday is also the last home game for 20 CU seniors including long-time household name – Jay McIntyre, Rick Gambo (it seems like this this guy has been leading the CU defense forever) and Drew Lewis. This senior class deserves to go out with a win. It is expected to snow, and in the 500 games played at Folsom, this has only happened 7 times. CU is 6-1 in those games (fun fact).
All in all, the cards are staked against CU. CU two best defensive backs are already declared out for this game due to injury. CU is confidence is shattered. QB Montez played with no heart last week, almost as if the season was already over. Yet, all of that said, these are our CU Buffaloes and I’m excited to watch CU put it all together and get it right. There is so much parity in the Pac-12, and CU has been on the outside looking in. This Saturday, in the snow, for the Seniors, for the honor and tradition of playing in the 500th game at Folsom, and for their coach, CU will play its best game of the season and beat Utah in a close, hard fought and highly emotional game.
Go Buffs!
Doug
FOLSOM FIELD HISTORY
by Doug Rutherford | Nov 9, 2018 | 2018
Buff Nation –
Week Ten Review
I liked the way CU played last week. While a victory would have been nice and would have effectively put to rest all the heartburn that is running through Buff Nation, CU played with a lot of heart. I liked the aggressive play calling by CU and the willingness of Coach Mac to play to win, rather than playing not to lose (the two are not the same). CU went toe to toe with a very good AZ team, and for most of the game, CU was playing without several of its top play-makers. Including injuries coming into the game, CU at one point had 11 starters out of the lineup. CU also had the misfortune of playing AZ right when their beast of a QB – Khalil Tate was healthy. Injury prone all season long, Tate had a break out game (just like last year) against the Buffs. Once Tate got going, the CU secondary seemed helpless in stopping him. College football is all about the W’s, and while playing with heart is nice, it only goes so far.
Week Eleven Preview
On what is projected to be a perfect Fall afternoon in Boulder, the #8 Washington State Cougars will kick off against the CU Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Few are giving CU a chance to win this game and for good reason. CU is 2-29 against ranked teams over the last nine years. Those two sole wins came in 2016 against WSU and Utah. After each game Buff Nation rushed the field in celebration and Athletic Director Rick George had to cut a check for $150,000 for the Pac-12 violation. I bet Rick would love to cut another check for the same reason come this Saturday. The Cougars are riding a high, and CU is in the dumps. The bitterness of the OSU loss still lingers, and the whispers of coaches being on the hot seat are starting to become shouts.
Glass half-full guy says the Cougars are overrated at #8 and may be overlooking CU with its sites on securing the Pac-12 Title. CU on the other hand has been decimated by injuries (where have you gone Laviska Shenault, we hardly knew you), had some brain freeze coaching moments (ah-hmm OSU) and some general back luck. At 5-4, CU could easily be 6-3 (ah-hmm OSU) if not 7-2, so the Buffs are not as bad as they appear, and they are still mathematically alive to win the Pac-12 South title (go figure). If CU can get healthy (e.g. Shenault, Worthington, Nixon), find a couple players who know how to defend the pass, and catch the Cougars napping, this could be a game where CU shocks the Pac-12 (this time in a good way), and perhaps shocks themselves a bit as well. CU has been either sleep walking (ah-hmm OSU), playing timid (USC WA), or playing on fumes (AZ) for the last month. A return to Folsom, against a ranked opponent on national TV, in front of Buff Nation, could create the right cocktail mix for CU to play to its potential. Maybe, just maybe, Buff Nation will have the opportunity to force Rick George to cut another check to the Pac-12. CU on the field after the game.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Oct 26, 2018 | 2018
Buff Nation –
Week Eight Review –
For the second week in a row, the Buffs were on the doorstep of beating one of the elite teams in the Pac-12, only to come up short once again. One could argue that with a couple healthy CU players, CU would of beat the Washington Huskies, but it’s hard to tell. Nearly two-thirds of the way through the season, all we really know about 2018 CU Football team is that they are a good middle of the Pac-12 caliber team, and have demonstrated potential to compete with the upper echelon teams. Thus far in the season, CU has beaten the teams it should of beat, and has lost to the teams they were projected to lose to (Nebraska withstanding). With five games left in the season, CU still has everything to play for and ample opportunity to prove they are more than a middle of the pack team, but indeed a top tier team, now and for seasons to come.
Week Nine Preview –
The arrival of the Oregon State (OSU) Beavers into Boulder for tomorrow’s 1PM kickoff at Folsom Field is the perfect remedy for what has been ailing the Buffs. CU has struggled over the past two weeks to reach that elusive sixth win for bowl eligibility (NCAA requirement). CU’s offense has struggled to maintain its once high-octane cadence and point production. CU has lost a bit of its swagger (good opponents will do that to a team). Forecast calls for epic fall football (and tailgating) weather. If CU takes care of business in the friendly confines of Folsom Field and their Buff faithful, with a win on Saturday (and CU will definitely win), the Buffs will become bowl eligible for the second time in three years (’16, ’18), coming on the heels of eight season bowl drought (’08-’15). OSU is the cure we have been waiting on for the past two weeks.
One note of caution. Even though CU will be heavily favored in this game, it’s still a Pac-12 match-up and the OSU players are also on scholarship and looking to make a name for themselves. If the bowl eligibility win proves elusive on Saturday, CU will either need to beat a Pac-12 team (AZ, CAL) on the road (something they haven’t done since 11/12/16) or beat a ranked team (Utah, WSU) at Folsom. A win tomorrow sets CU up to play with house money (i.e. the pressure is off) for the rest of the season. A lose puts CU in near desperation mode. Let’s trust that the Buffs will take care of business on Saturday and play with house money the rest of the season.
Go Buffs!
Doug
