Buff Nation –
Week Two Review –
CU 33, NE 28. Yup, that’s a correct score. Victory in Lincoln. It doesn’t happen very often (the last time was 2004). Amidst a sea of 90,000 Nebraska fans dressed in Red, a prodigal son type atmosphere for the debut of Coach Scott Frost, and a Nebraska team that is big, talented and ready to set the record straight, the CU Buffs and it’s 5,000 wayward fans pulled out an unlikely and quite amazing victory.
After starting fast with 14 points off two turnovers, the Buffs survived multiple body blows to stay close entering the fourth quarter. Half-time adjustments by CU’s coaching staff and a team first attitude by the Buffs kept the game tight. As the game wore on, Husker Nation (in my opinion the best fans in College football), began to sense there was a game to be played, and CU fans began to sense we had weathered the storm and there was a game to be won. Out of section 20 in the upper end zone of Memorial Stadium (a bucket list visit) where the Buff Nation was relegated, cheers of “Buffaloes, Buffaloes, Go CU!” carried to neighboring sections and caused heads to turn. It was surreal.
In the fourth quarter alone, there were three missed field goals, an interception, three fourth down attempts and a 40-yard TD for the ages (see video attached). No one, on either side of the field, wanted to punt the ball. In the end, CU finished strong when it counted most.
At its best, this win is the signature win CU needs to blow the roof off of this season (similar to the win at OR in ’16) and for years to come. At its worst (if there is such a thing), this win brings us one step closer to bowl eligibility. My guess is we are closer to the former. This season is shaping up to be special. Buckle your seat belts, we are in for an awesome ride.
Week Three Preview – Every once in a while, an FBS (college football’s top level) team loses to an FCS (college football’s second level) team. Every six years (2006, 2012) CU finds a way to take on this dubious honor. This Saturday the FCS University of New Hampshire come to Folsom. CU is paying the school $400,000 to come to Boulder to get beat up (that’s how FCS schools make their money and how FBS schools rack up non-conference W’s, so they can become bowl eligible). There is no way UNH wins this game. It will be 21-0 before the first quarter is over. UNH’s only legit player is their QB Trevor Knight (cool name) and he probably won’t be cleared in time to play this Saturday. CU wins this game by 50 and all CU’s reserve players will be playing in the fourth quarter. Unlike 2006 and 2012, CU is way too good to let an FCS team hang with them. Without Knight, UNH has surprisingly lost their first two games. Beating CU would absolutely make UNH’s season. It would be the single greatest victory in their school history. CU, while riding a high after beating it’s in-state rival CSU and their best (former) divisional rival Nebraska, in back to back weeks, better be ready to start fast in this game (which they will), and not let the Wildcats of New Hampshire believe they have a chance to make history.
At the end of the day this Saturday, CU will be 3-0 and 50% of its way to Bowl Bound or Bust.
Go Buffs!
Doug