Buff Nation –
Week One Review
CU 35, Northern Colorado 7
Not bad. Not great, but not bad. Yes, the Buffs effectively dismantled the UNC…Bears, but they were supposed to.
The glass half-full guy would say a win is a win, the Buffs had no turnovers, after some initial (expected) hiccups the Buffs got the ground game going (four backs scored touchdowns), and Frosh QB1 Lewis had zero turnovers and played a relatively respectable first game. The Buffs were up 14-0 at half, and in full control of the game by mid-third quarter, won by four touchdowns (as predicted here last week). A solid smackdown.
Glass half-empty guy would say, yeah but with that performance and number of penalties (12), no way you beat a Pac-12 team, let alone a top 5 Texas A&M team (more on that below).
One thing which was not debatable in terms of half full or half-empty was Folsom field. Packed to the tune of 45K plus fans. It was a site to be seen, and one to be repeated (often). It was an epic day/night for tailgating and FNL college fotball viewing (see below) .
Week Two Preview
CU (1-0) vs. #5 Texas A&M (1-0) – Saturday, 1:30 PM Mile High Stadium
Want respect? Beat the #5 team in the nation and forever have the respect and admiration of your peers (well, maybe not forever, but for this season at least).
On Saturday at 1:30 PM at Mile High Stadium (regardless of sponsor, it will always be Mile High Stadium), the Buffs take on the #5, yup #5 Texas A&M Aggies. To put #5 into context, there are 130 FBS (top college football division) teams. The last time CU beat a top 5 team was 2007 Oklahoma. The last time CU was ranked in the top five was at the end of 2001 on the heels of beating Texas in the Big 12 Championship. These rankings aren’t to be taken lightly, nor should be taken for granted. For the record, CU is currently ranked #53 in the nation (top 25 if they beat TAM).
So, with an eye on the past (we are a storied program), and an eye on the future (which could be the present if the Buffs win tomorrow), the Buffs have an opportunity to be somebody. While not as daunting as one in a million , they are actually 3 in 22 (12%). Montana was a bigger underdog than that last week and knocked off Washington. So, yeah, we do have a chance.
On the field, CU will have to play a near flawless game and Brendon Lewis is going to have to grow up in a hurry. The (not so) secret sauce will be to establish dominance on the offensive line, find success running the ball early, control the clock and shorten this game down. IMHO Buffs show up, keep it close, but ultimately succumb to the physical nature and speed of the Aggies. That said, you can’t win it, if you are not in it, and the Buffs are definitely in it tomorrow.
Go Buffs!
Doug