“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.
“You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright” – Bruce Springsteen
Buff Nation –
Last Thursday, on a warm summer night, under the lights of a sold-out Folsom Field, the Colorado Buffaloes opened the 2024 football season against the North Dakota State Bison (NDST). Coach Prime and the Buffs had one job. Win the game and start getting ready for Nebraska.
The win over NDST was never going to be pretty. It did not have to be. It just needed to be a win. Mission accomplished. It wasn’t a beauty, but it was alright. The Bison will win the FCS national championship. At least, I hope they do. They are no slouch and would give any team in the Big XXII a run for their money.
While the Buffs still have questions on defense, and their offensive line played just average, they kept the main thing the main thing and secured the W. Congrats Coach Prime. You did your job.
Now, time to get serious. The University of Nebraska. The NU word is the FU word for any true Buff fan. No team in the history of Colorado’s 134-year existence stirs the innards of Buff Nation more than Nebraska. When it comes to these two teams, hate is still good.
All W’s count toward bowl eligibility, but some count more than others when defining who you are, past, present, and future. This game, more than anything other, matters the most with regards to CU’s storied history. One BNF reader shared “If we win this game and lose every game the rest of the year, it would still be a winning season…this game defines the season!”
CU will have their hands full to win this game, but I would not bet against Shedeur and Travis as they continue their magical mystery tour of being the best tandem in college sports. If CU’s offensive line shows incremental improvement, CU will win in a shootout. CU’s receiving corps is lethal. Nebraska will struggle to cover four NFL bound receivers.
Nebraska, like CU, is desperate to return to the days of glory. CU has been a thorn in their side as of late. Husker nation is placing their hope if 5-star Freshman QB Dylan Raiola who was a late decommit from GA. He played well in his first game against UTEP, but it was UTEP, so who really knows. Either way, we have two teams fighting for redemption.
A win in Lincoln will serve as the marquee victory of the young 2024 season and propel CU into bowling, if not playoff (inside voice) contention. Let’s go Buffs, in the name of love, bring the hate.
Go Buffs!
Doug
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Opponent Preview:
Nebraska Football Fun Facts:
NU Football holds the all-time NCAA record (all sports) for consecutive sellouts (#397).
On game day, Memorial stadium becomes the third largest city in NE. Folsom Field becomes CO’s 21st.
NU / CU have played 72 times over the past 125 years. A win on Saturday would give CU a four-game win streak, their longest. NU’s longest is 18 (freaking eighteen!) NU holds a 49-21-2 overall record against CU.
Nebraska had the fewest players transfer via the portal (9), while CU had the most (41).
Nebraska is one of 22 states in the Union without a professional sports team.
