“We are on the way, not to compete but to win. Not to show up but to show out. Not to be among the rest but to be the absolute best.”
Coach Prime (Introductory Press Conference – 12/4/2022)
Buff Nation –
Coach Prime was hired over 650 days ago to turn this Colorado program around. A third of the way through the 2024 season the Buffs are 3-1, but it wasn’t easy, and that was the softer part of the schedule. Come this Saturday, the Buffs play on the road against undefeated University of Central Florida. The Knights boast the top rushing offense in the nation and are a 14-point favorite. Given CU’s inability to protect the quarterback, no one is expecting CU to win.
The Buffs may not have the best team, but they have the best player (#12) and one of the best QB’s (#2), and the best receiving corps in the nation. Coach Prime has often said he is a man that needs to be needed. I guess that can apply to all of us but come Saturday we need Coach Prime to deliver on his first major win of the season. To quote Fatboy Slim, a victory right here, right now would bring this program full circle and into the conference championship conversation. If CU wants to be taken seriously, they need to make the weight. It’s time to win a game they are projected to lose.
After nearly a two decades wandering in the wilderness, the Buffs are still on a vision quest, trying to find their way back to championship football. The 52,000 Buff Nation faithful who packed Folsom last Saturday in the pouring rain are evidence that the Buffs are not alone on this journey. A win on Saturday would be two miracles in as many weeks, and catapult CU’s season into one Coach Prime talked about all those days ago at his news conference.
“Whoa, we’re halfway there. Oh-oh, livin’ on a prayer.”
– Bon Jovi
Buff Nation –
I hope you stayed. Be it in the stands or in your living room, I hope you stayed. Every three decades the Buffs win (tie) on a Hail-Mary pass. First it was the Miracle in Michigan, and this past Saturday night it was the Finish at Folsom.
The moment was an instant ESPN classic. The rain poured down, and the fans poured onto the field (twice). The moment forever part of CU football lore. It was awesome.
The Buffs are 3-1 and halfway to bowl eligibility (Bon Jovi would be proud). There is no clear lead horse in the Big XXII. As long as CU keeps improving (O-line still way too sketchy) and #12 and #2 remain healthy, CU will be in contention for that elusive bowl bid.
Regarding #12, In the 134-year history of Colorado football, there has never been a player like Travis Hunter. With all due respect to Rashaan Salaam who won the Heisman in 1994, and a few other notables, Travis Hunter is 1 of 1. It’s not marketing. It’s not spin. It’s real. He is not to be taken for granted. Perhaps we’ll see him do kickoffs since we don’t have anyone on the team that can reach the endzone.
Here we go Buff fans. Take my hand, and we’ll make it. I swear.
“Success isn’t owned, it’s leased, and rent is due every day.”
– JJ Watt
Buff Nation –
The Triple Crown, Neptune’s Trident, The Holy Trinity. All around us number three is held in high esteem. Tomorrow, under what will be a rainy night, the Colorado Buffaloes seek their third win of the season in their Big XXII home opener against the Baylor Bears (6PM Kickoff / 3:30 Tailgate).
There aren’t too many games on the schedule in which CU will be favored to win (Cincy, Kansas), but this is one of them, and the Buffs would be wise to take advantage.
A third win for the Buffs would get them to the mid-way point of bowl eligibility with two-thirds of the season remaining. Bowl eligibility (arguably) is the benchmark for the 2024 Buffs. Get there and all is well. Miss out (failure to get to six wins) and tough questions will be asked (Coach Prime may choose not just to answer them). Fun fact – bowl eligibility will also be necessary for Travis Hunter to be considered for the Heisman. No Heisman since Paul Hornung (1969) has ever been awarded to a player on a losing team.
The good news is the Buffs looked like they took a big step forward in their dominating 28-9 victory over the CSU Rams last Saturday night. The O-line blocked well, Frosh running back Micah Welch showed promises of a run game (strong correlation), and the linebackers (Bentley, Hill-Green and Woods) all balled out. But now it’s back to work. Rent is due.
So, rain or shine, it’s Prime time Saturday night. Let’s see if Travis knows how to do the Griddy in the rain. Multiple times is preferred.
Steel yourself. For the first time in 28 years, CU will play in Fort Collins against the Colorado State Rams in a game that has seismic ramifications for this young 2024 Buff season.
In response to CSU players talking smack about the upcoming CU game, coach Prime said, “it’s personal.” I wish he wouldn’t do that. I wish Coach Prime would say nothing and treat the trek up to Fort Collins as a business trip. Leave the bling, the NIL estimates, the blenders, the celebrities, and the shiny golden coaches’ headsets (really?), back in Boulder, and take care of business on the road.
CSU just announced they will join the Pac-12 in 2025. They are coming off their first win of the season, and they know CU is not a particularly good team (not yet at least). In front of their home crowd with Boulder’s own Henry Blackburn at safety, the Rams will be playing for redemption, honor, and pride. CU shouldn’t need additional “it’s personal” motivation. CSU is right in front of their face.
Coach Prime, and the Buffs were at their best just before kickoff against TCU last year. The pre-game speech is legendary. It’s authentic. It’s organic.
Tomorrow night, CU needs to return to that raw state of desire. Play for the love of the game. Play for each other. Win the toss, take the ball and jump out to a 7-0 lead. Now is the time to throw the first punch. If not, CU may find itself sleeping among the fishes.
In Jospeh Conrad’s book Lord Jim, the protagonist prematurely abandons a sinking ship and spends the rest of the novel pursuing redemption after being shamed by his peers.
While disappointing and embarrassing, the loss to Nebraska this past Saturday does not warrant abandoning ship (although it does give us pause). A win in Lincoln was always a reach. The Buffs holding a 1-1 record at this stage in the young season was expected by many.
CU has two winnable games over the next two weeks (@ CSU, Baylor). A 3-1 record heading into BIG XXII play would provide the necessary momentum and hope for Buff Nation to hold the line, as CU’s Offensive line continues to figure out how to provide pass protection and open up some holes (football 101 in case Coach Prime is reading this blog).
If the performance continues to go south, we can meet again and see who we want to vote off the island. Until then, head up, not down. Hold the line. Love isn’t always on time.
