“Don’t shove me…I’m tired of being shoved.”
Will Kane (High Noon)
Buff Nation –
In 1952, the Academy Award-winning movie High Noon, starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, made its debut. A story about the difficulty of standing one’s ground, especially when all have abandoned you, has been claimed to be the favorite movie of multiple US Presidents, including Harry S Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Bill Clinton (who reportedly showed the movie 17 times during his tenure in the White House). In a movie that plays out in real-time (think Jack Bauer -24), the clock is literally ticking while a noon train filled with a gang of gunslingers brings trouble. In a life-and-death circumstance, the cast of characters vet through their options and ultimately make their final answer.
At (high) noon this Saturday, the almighty (especially next year) Colorado Buffaloes, kick-off their final home game of the season against the upstart Arizona Wildcats. Arizona has beaten three ranked teams consecutively in the last three weeks earning their own top-25 ranking (#21), their first since 2017. I couldn’t prove it out, but this may be the first time an unranked team has beaten three ranked teams in three consecutive weeks (fun fact(ish)).
While CU doesn’t stand alone (it’s a sell-out game), they do face their own proverbial showdown, a final shot (no pun intended) at proving their character in front of their home crowd. The 2023 Buffs have already proven they have heart and can compete. Point differential in games lost last year was 32.4 (over four touchdowns!). Point differential in games lost this year is 13. The only game CU has not been competitive is the loss at Oregon. Take out that blow out point differential and the average margin of the four other losses this season is 7.3 – basically a touchdown (one possession!). It may not feel like it, but in nearly every game they have played this season, they have been right there. Yet, more is required. Especially tomorrow, at home, in front of the Buff faithful for the last time of the season. Not only does Gary Cooper take a courageous stand in High Noon, but he also delivers in his action by being the last one standing in a Hollywood classic gunfight. This Saturday, it’s time for the Buffs to not just take a stand but be the last one standing. The clock is ticking, and the Buffs better be loaded for bear.
Go Buffs!
Doug