by Doug Rutherford | Nov 25, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
When CU and Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, there was a bit of apprehension on the part of the CU fan base (and probably Utah), about the forced relationship. The rest of the Pac-12 schools already had someone they could point to as their rival. Washington had WA St., UCLA had USC, Arizona had AZ. St, Stanford had Cal and Oregon had OR. St. The idea was CU and Utah would become rivals. Close geographic proximity and scheduling the game to be the last game of the regular season would help with that. Seven years into the relationship, the head to head games have been good, but neither side really considers the other their “rival.” That said, games like last year (when the Pac-12 South was on the line) and games like tonight (when a bowl berth is at stake) go a long way to developing that healthy hatred for each other.
Utah is a heavy favorite to win tonight, and CU will need to bring their A game (seen only once this season (against CA)) in order to win. This is CU’s last chance to get it right this season. If they do, somehow, a season of disappointment and violated valued expectations will suddenly have become a success. Make it to a bowl game (which the winner of tonight’s game does) and Buff Nation will be happy. Fail (i.e. lost to Utah) and the season will be looked upon as one of coming up short. CU is stacked with seniors, and CU is coming off a well-timed bye week where some injured players had a chance to get healthy. Utah is coming off of perhaps their best effort of the season in a near loss to WA. This game should be a good one. Both teams will be fighting to salvage their season. Both teams should be playing desperate. Always a recipe for exciting football. This rivalry game may feel more like a manufactured Valentines “holiday” rather than a no doubt Thanksgiving or Christmas event, but give it a few more years with polls and bowls on the line, and this game will begin to hold its own. Buff Nation needs another team to hate. Years of CU/Nebraska must-see football has entrenched red has the most hated collegiate color in Colorado (Black and Silver holds that honor for Sundays). Thankfully Utah also wears red, so if all goes well, Buff fans for generations to come will be seeing Red and experience the joy of healthy hatred.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Nov 11, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
Last week, in CU’s hour of need, no one was home. CU was up 10 on ASU in the fourth quarter. One could argue CU should have been up 17 if not 24. Still, up by two scores with the ball in the final quarter of the game with bowl eligibility on the line, somehow it all slipped away. When pressed, CU couldn’t sustain a drive. When pressed, CU’s defense couldn’t get off the field. When pressed, CU’s special teams wasn’t so special. When pressed, CU’s coaching chose poorly. Last week, no one was home to fight for CU. It was heartbreaking to see Philip Lindsey with head in hands kneeling on the sidelines in the final seconds as ASU continued to pile up the yards. He knew this loss was going to leave a mark.
Fast forward one week. Tomorrow, twenty-one CU football players will take the field for the final time. This Senior class is special. This class is the first of the MacIntyre era. It was this class that took a chance on Colorado when no one else was. As Freshman this was the class that had to endure a 2-10 season. As Sophomores, they were part of a vastly improved competitive team but still unable to secure wins. As Juniors, these players witness first hand “The Rise” and became Pac-12 South Champs and helped CU football return to the competitive ranks. As Seniors, they are fighting for their lives to become bowl eligible (they need one more win). Yet, win or lose, tomorrow is going to be the last time these seniors will play in front of the crowd at Folsom or run behind Ralphie. Fans will no longer hear the names of Lindsay, Fields, Bobo, Ross, McCartney, and Moeller called over the PA system.
CU will have to play a perfect game (and get a little bit lucky) to beat #11 USC. The Trojans offense will give CU’s defense fits all day. I can’t wait to see how this Senior class fights. I can’t wait to see how the underclassman fight for their seniors. USC is clearly the better team. They are one of the best in the country. CU, on the other hand, can be dangerous. This could be a trap game for USC (USC plays their cross-town rival UCLA next week so perhaps they are looking past CU). Win or lose these seniors deserve a standing ovation at the end of the game. It’s been a heck of a road back for the CU program, and while the final outcome of this year still weighs in the balance, the leadership and character these players have displayed have left the CU program a much stronger and more respected program than when they arrived. Plan to arrive early. Plan to stay until the end. These players deserve that much.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Nov 3, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
What a day! What a game! Every once in awhile it all comes together for those who are in attendance. This past Saturday the CU Offense, the CU Defense and the Colorado weather all combined to create the most memorable and enjoyable home game of the season. Yoda would have been proud. There was no trying. There was only doing. Man, if CU plays that way for the rest of the season, good things are in store for Buff Nation.
The Buffs have three more regular season games on its schedule. CU needs to figure out how to win one of those games (@ASU, USC, @Utah) to secure their second consecutive bowl berth. All three games will be tough to win, but all three are winnable. This year the Pac-12 has quickly become a conference of parity. Wa. St. crushed CU. CA crushed Wa. St. CU crushed CA.
CU has finally hit its stride. Tomorrow night’s contest against a good ASU team will go a long way in determining how good this team really is. Buff Nation was in despair (disgust?) after the Wa. St beat down a couple weeks ago. Hope springs eternal now. Look for the Buffs to ride QB Montez and his newly found A-game to beat the Sun Devils and have bowl eligibility wrapped up before we all roll our clocks back an hour and enjoy a little extra sleep knowing in our hearts that the rise is real.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Oct 27, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
Clearly, this is not the season we were looking for. Coming on the heels of a not-soon–to-be-forgotten breakout (Cinderella?) season, this season has fallen far short of expectations. Unlike last year in which every game was a display of top-shelf football and a fan just kind of had the feeling CU would win, every game this season has seemed to be a grind, a struggle, a chore (duty?) to watch.
That said, to use the old cliché’, “It is what it is.” Regardless of how we got here, what the CU football team does next is the most important thing. At noon tomorrow, CU (4-4) takes on the California Bears (4-4). A win will put the Buffs one victory away from being bowl eligible with three games remaining (a team needs six wins to qualify for a postseason bowl berth). At this point in the season, earning a bowl berth is the goal. A bowl will allow CU to keep practicing after the regular season ends. This provides valuable reps for the underclassman. A second straight bowl berth will begin to instill in the player’s psyche that playing in bowls is what CU does. A bowl berth also affords CU invaluable natural exposure for potential recruits. There is still a lot on the line for this year’s Buff team. To not go to a bowl game this season will clearly be a step back for the CU program.
Regardless which QB will starts (Coach MacIntyre has not yet made his decision), the CU offense has to step up. They have six starting seniors. One of them is going to have to make a play when it is needed most tomorrow. The CU defense has yet to find it’s identity. They are getting better, but time is running out. One of the underclassmen will have to take on the leadership role. Playing at home in front of a friendly crowd and a beautiful Fall afternoon in the greatest place in the world has the recipe for victory. At the end of the day, CU will be with be one win away from starting a streak of consecutive bowl seasons for the first time in twelve years. As a famous warrior once said. “Do. Or Do Not. There is No Try.“
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Oct 21, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation,
On a cold, rainy, windy night in Pullman, Washington, the CU Buffs salvaged their season, found their identity and reestablished themselves as contenders in the Pac-12. At least, that is one possible outcome for tonight’s 8:45 PM ESPN game when the CU Buffs take on the #15 Washington State Cougars. The forecast calls for foul weather. That will match the Cougars’ mood as they chomp at the bit to redeem themselves after an embarrassing loss to Cal last week. That will also match the mood the Buffs have regarding their entire season. Eight weeks in and CU has yet to find its identity.
Tonight CU will find out who they are. They are Phillip Lindsey, CU’ all-time leader in career all-purpose yards. The three-year captain, out of Denver South High School is Colorado’s native son. He represents all that is good in football – on and off the field. CU rides Lindsey when nothing is working and when everything is working. Over the course of the last couple seasons, my kids have crossed paths with Lindsey at least a handful of times. Every time he has slowed down to see them, to take pictures and to smile. I’m not even sure he knows he’s doing it. Tonight in Pullman, CU will go where Lindsay takes them. He is the best CU has to offer.
The Pac-12 is a tough well-balanced league. Anyone can beat anyone on any given Saturday. Tonight CU goes in as a heavy 10-point underdog. Look for CU to go to Lindsay early and often. Lindsay will do his part. If rest of the CU offense continues to hum like they have over last two weeks (finally) and the defense figures out how to stop the run (please), this match-up has the making of an excellent Pac-12 football at night ball game. Come Sunday am Buff Nation will see how far Lindsay has taken them.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Oct 12, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
What a mess. On a perfect Fall evening at Folsom field, Buff Nation turned out in force (family weekend), the Buffs offense (finally) found their groove back, yet it was all for not as the CU defense didn’t have a clue how to stop Arizona’s back-up (yup, back-up) QB. It was hard to watch and even harder to stomach. It was almost like the CU Defense missed the bus and a local high school stepped in to do their best in Pac-12 play. It didn’t look fair.
In my kid’s school, there is a concept of retaking a test for “meaningful corrections.” Basically, if the student didn’t do well the first time, they can retake the test to improve their grade. I guess the point is to make sure the student understands the concepts and not to blown up the kids grade due to a single moment of bad performance. CU needs to make some “meaningful corrections” or this season is going to blow up in our face. Not only is the Pac-12 championship now a pipe dream, even becoming bowl eligible is now in question. Bottom line is CU is too talented a team to be sitting on the sidelines come bowl season. We’ve wallowed in that waiting room before and we are not going back.
Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”. Yeah, 2017 is not turning out the way we had hope. Yeah, the season isn’t over yet and the Buffs can still make a miraculous comeback (an eternal optimist), but “the Rise” is not about the 2017 (or 2016) season. It’s about having the courage to do what it takes to get to the next level. This coming Saturday at Oregon State, the Buffs have a chance to put into action the courage it takes to be a championship football team. Let’s see if they have the courage to put the past behind them and start of new chapter in Buff Nation lore.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Oct 6, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation,
On Saturday night, under the lights of Folsom (no rain this time), CU has one more chance to get it right before being forced to throttle down expectations on this season. In years past, a bowl game would have been ideal. CU will be bowling this year for sure, but the ultimate objective is to win the Pac-12. In order to do that, CU needs to win the Pac-12 South. Beating AZ tomorrow will put CU right back in the driver seat. A loss will put them in a hole which will be hard to climb out of with half only six games remaining on the season.
That said, it won’t be easy. Arizona took Utah deep into the game two weeks ago. AZ is coming off a bye week (more time to rest and plan), and they have won on their last two trips to Folsom.
CU, on the other hand, is also not a team you want to underestimate. While they haven’t shown it yet this season, they are primed to break open a game with their offense. They are only averaging 26 points per game, but look for them to score a lot more than that on Saturday. CU will need to put four quarters of football together (they aren’t good enough to take a quarter off against any Pac-12 team). If they play a complete game, stay away from the turnovers and find a way to contain AZ QB Brandon Dawkins, this is a game CU should win going away.
The forecast calls for upper 60’s at kickoff (6 PM). As of yesterday, 91% of all tickets had been sold. It’s parents weekend and there is still every reason to believe that this season, like last season, will be a special one and will take CU one step closer to becoming a perennial football powerhouse. It is going to be epic. It’s time to get it right.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Sep 6, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation –
In a game which was supposed to be won by air, last Friday night at Mile High, CU scratched out a victory by land 17-3. It was their running game (thanks, Lindsay!) and not necessarily the, still to appear, prolific air attack which took down a surprisingly decent CSU Rams squad. Outside of a beautiful Colorado night, a flurry of flags (most which went against CSU) and the relief of once again leaving CSU in our rear-view mirror for another season, there isn’t much to be said about this game. The defense was the pleasant surprise of the night. New faces from freshman to seniors stepped up to fill the void left by the departure of eight of last year’s starters. CSU had scored 58 last week on Oregon St. With the win, CU moved up from #35 to #29 in the AP polls.
Week 2 – Preview – On to the mighty Texas State Bobcats. Um, I can tell you CU is favored by 34.5 and we’ll probably beat them by 50. I can tell you Texas State is also 1-0 (they beat Houston Baptist 20-11 last week), so this game can technically be billed as a game of unbeatens. I can tell you 90% of the 106 players on Texas State are from the state of Texas. They do have one from Colorado Springs. The Bobcats play in the Sun Belt League (one division below CU). They are considered to have the best recruiting class in their league. Their best player is linebacker Brandon London II (cool name). CU says they are not overlooking Texas State. I’m glad to hear it. A loss on Saturday would put a big dent in “The Rise is Real” mantra. CU wins this one going away. They are too good across the board to lose to a team that will struggle to find meaningful success in any of the three phases of the game.
Go Buffs!
Doug
by Doug Rutherford | Sep 1, 2017 | 2017
Buff Nation,
In 2016 “The Rise” of the Colorado football program was one of the nation’s feel good stories. From worst to first in the Pac-12 South, Coach of the year, top ten ranking, and a bowl berth for the first time in a decade. There was a lot to celebrate. It was the best year in over a decade to be a Buff fan.
Yet, the reality with “The Rise” as the 2017 season is upon us, is that no one cares. It doesn’t matter. It is in the past. If the Rise doesn’t continue in 2017, it was all for not. It was just a few blissful (and awesome) Fall Saturdays in Boulder.
Thankfully the beauty of “The Rise” is that it is about an attitude. It’s about living into the belief that every day you either get better, or you get worse, nothing stays the same; so when you get up in the morning, you better get going. Starting tonight at Mile High Stadium, CU will look to keep “The Rise” alive.
If you are planning to attend, we will be tailgating in Lot C. 2:30-5:00 PM.
So, with that said, below is the 2017 season game-by-game prediction. Never Stop Rising.
Go Buffs!
Doug
2017 CU Football Season Predictions
September 1, CSU
I hate this game. It’s like playing your little brother’s team. Win or lose there is no upside. Only despair or relief. Playing at Mile High makes the whole scenario even worse. The first half of this game is a shootout. CSU comes in confident and brash. By the second half emotions have settled down and talent takes over. CU’s top-shelf offense takes over. The Rams don’t have enough players to cover the spread offense. CU wins by double digits.
CU 1-0
September 8, Texas State
How was this game ever scheduled? The blow out victory does nothing for CU’s rankings, but it does give the reserves an entire half of valuable playing experience. CU wins by 50 (yup, 50).
CU 2-0
September 15, UNC (University of Northern Colorado)
For the second week in a row pundits question CU’s motives for scheduling such a cream puff opponent. CU takes its foot off the pedal early to avoid putting up 70 points on our friends (way) up north. Half the CU fans don’t return after the halftime tailgating. They are satisfied. Besides, Washington is coming to town next week.
CU 3-0
September 22, Washington
ESPN College Gameday returns to Boulder for the first time since 1995 for this rematch of the 2016 Pac-12 Championship. In a hard fought game with very few mistakes, CU outlasts WA, putting the nation on notice that last year was not a fluke, and “The Rise” is real.
CU 4-0
September 30, at UCLA
Buoyed by their win over WA, CU enters the Rose Bowl a confident bunch. CU’s burgeoning defense shuts down UCLA and gives CU’s offense enough opportunities to put points on the board. CU prevails over a slightly over-rated Bruins team. CU has its second signature win in as many weeks. CU is rolling.
CU 5-0
October 7, Arizona
CU likes to say they play “Folsom Fast” and today CU puts on a football clinic. The Buffs are happy to be back at Folsom. CU has not lost here in nearly 700 days dating back to the USC game in 2015. CU wins in convincing fashion on a perfect Fall Saturday. Boulder is beside themselves with their football team.
CU 6-0
October 14, at Oregon St.
The fact that CU is playing on the road and looking past this game (Washington St is next week) is the only hope the Oregon St. Beavers have. Beating CU would make OSU’s miserable season. Not going to happen. After a surprisingly close first quarter, RB Philip Lindsay unloads on his offensive teammates while his teammate Afolabi Laguda does the same to his defensive teammates. They remind each other to “choose discipline” and make every play count. CU shuts out OSU in the second half and wins going away by three touchdowns. CU cracks the top ten.
CU 7-0
October 21, at Washington St
All good things must come to an end, and it does here. CU gets beat in convincing fashion by a very good Washington State team. Perhaps it’s premature visions of a Rose Bowl (or even possibly Playoff Birth), but CU plays uncharacteristically tight. This loss is written off as a “wake-up” call for the Buffs. There is still work to be done.
CU 7-1
October 28, California
Ah, the California Bears at Folsom field. Just what the doctor order to get back to our winning ways. CU plays its finest game of the season. Precise on Offense. Mean on defense. Disciplined on Special teams. CU pounds the Bears early and often. Coach Mac leaves his first teamers in a bit too long. Words are exchanged by coaches at the end of the game. CU has its sights on taking the next step in performance.
CU 8-1
November 4, at Arizona State
Last year this game was a total beat down under the lights at Folsom. CU won going away 40-16. ASU remembers and comes in with redemption on their minds. This game turns ugly under the lights in Tempe. There are no ejections, but there is a lot of spitting, fighting, grabbing and locker room conversation happening on the field. CU comes away on top. The game could have gone either way.
CU 9-1
November 11, USC
A battle tested #2 USC team comes into Boulder. ESPN College Gameday is tempted to make its second visit to Boulder but chooses the Florida State vs. Clemson game instead. No matter, as USC is too good for CU. They have the next Heisman trophy winner at QB and they have zero weaknesses on offense or defense. CU fights to the end (like they always do), but USC is a better team. USC remains undefeated. CU drops their second of the season. That is nothing to be ashamed of; there is just more work to do.
CU 9-2
November 25, at Utah
Ever since joining the Pac-12 together in 2011, the conference has pitched this as a rival game. Neither school bought into it. CU will always hate Nebraska, and Utah had…(who cares). Over the last three years, that attitude has slowly changed and culminated last year with CU and Utah playing for the Pac-12 South Championship. Once again CU’s opponent is unable to cover the fleet of top-shelf receivers, three of whom will be playing on Sundays next year.
CU 10-2
CU Bowl Prediction – Holiday Bowl – December 28, 2017 – San Diego, CA
Go Buffs!
Doug
