Buff Nation –
Events over the last three days calls for a Saturday night special Buff Nation Football update. Below are three top 5 lists which may be of interest.
I. Five reasons why hiring Mel Tucker as CU’s next head coach is the right move
1. Defense – For the past three years Mel has served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs. In an age of high-powered offenses and spread attacks, Mel is a throwback to hard-nose defense. CU already has an excellent defense coming back. Under Coach Tucker, they will be even better
2. Championships – while bowl eligibility (oh please, oh please) may be the name of the game next season, starting in 2020 that mentality will be a thing of the past. CU will measure its success based not on bowl or no bowl, but on which bowl and how high in did we finish in the rankings. Coach Tucker has coached in two national championship games and multiple conference championships. A new bar has been set.
3. Recruiting – Coach Tucker is known as one of the best recruiters in the country. Players make plays. Players win games. Under Coach Tuck, CU’s recruiting (which improved significantly under Coach Mac) will continue to reach new heights.
4. CU Tradition – One of CU’s biggest victories at Folsom field took place on Sept 17, 1994 when #7 CU (ah those were the days) destroyed #10 Wisconsin 55-17. A young Coach Tucker was the starting DB for the Badgers. Mel knows first-hand how good CU used to be. He is familiar with the pride and tradition of CU football. Upon arrival in Boulder, Coach Tuck declared CU a “no-excuse program.”
5. Nick Saban – Nick Saban is tied with Bear Bryant for most championships by a head coach. Nick has won six, including last year and will probably win his seventh come this January. Nick has known Mel for over 20 years. During that span, Nick has hired Mel three times (MSU ’97, LSU’00, AL’15). THREE TIMES. THREE. Anyone reading this who has hired someone in the past and then hired them again down the road knows that takes a high level of trust and confidence. I’m going with Saban on this one.
II. Five coaches Mel Tucker should keep on his staff
1. Kwahn Drake – D-line – a young Coach Tuck. High energy. Relatable. Did wonders in his first-year coaching with the Buffs in 2018
2. Darrin Chiaverini – Recruiting / OC – Coach Tuck should keep Chiaverini primarily for the TX and CA ties he holds. Play calling wasn’t that great second half of the season, but there should be growth season over season.
3. DJ Eliot – DC – outside of second half OSU and entire AZ game, Eliot in his second year as Buffs DC had a strong year. DJ is an excellent recruiter and also had some on-point half-time adjustments in victories against NE, UCLA and ASU. Fans may believe it was the Lobe in Lincoln which won the game, but in truth it was the second half defensive performance.
4. Darrian Hagan – RB – I’m not exactly sure what Darrian does, but he is the face of Colorado past and well liked among the fan base.
5. Kurt Roper – QB Coach – while it doesn’t feel like it, QB1 Montez had an excellent season, due in large part to Roper. CU is deep in QB talent, and Roper is the right guy to coach them up.
III. Five (Sneak Peak) Observations on 2019 Schedule
1. CU will finish 8-4 (yup, bowling)
2. The home schedule is one of the most attractive in all of college football with Nebraska, Stanford, USC, and Washington all coming to Folsom.
3. Swing game of the decade (not saying much I know) is Friday, October 25th vs. USC. This will be CU’s program changing / new Coach Tucker signature win.
4. The Buff defense will be scary. One of the best in the Pac-12.
5. QB1 Steven Montez will graduate as the all-time passing leader in Colorado history, and will then go pro.
Whose got it better than us? Nobody! Go Buffs!
Doug