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