Rocky Mountain Showdown; Good not Great

You always remember your first.

“It feels great,” said Jon Embree after his first victory as a head coach, “My first win as a player was against these guys so to do it as a coach means a lot.”

It doesn’t hurt that his inaugural victory comes against, what is now, Colorado’s only true rival.

The 16^th Rocky Mountain Showdown matched the undefeated Rams against the defeated Buffs but lacked the anticipation that many Colorado natives once knew. The two teams combined for 8 wins in 2010 (only 7 if you don’t count the Buffs win in the same matchup last year), and the last bowl game for either team was Colorado State’s win over Fresno State in 2008.

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, which holds upwards of 70-thousand people, was far from full. There were patches of empty seats scattered throughout, but the no-shows (whom are usually booed at Mile High Field) didn’t lessen the energy that translated to the players on the field.

“I heard them; I don’t count them. I don’t spend too much time looking at them,” said CSU head coach Steve Fairchild about the fans although the Rams were only able to see a little more than 17-thousand of their 31-thousand (55%) allotment, “There were enough people there to provide an atmosphere.”

The 55-thousand that staggered into the building from the exponential rowdy tailgates saw a physical game. The Buffs defense took on a new mentality that made them fly to the ball.

“I take responsibility for the personal fouls because I told the team in their today that I took the leash off – there were no rules,” said Embree who usually doesn’t handle the defense, allowed the Buffs to fly around in this big game, “There were no rules and I took the leash off them.”

Colorado’s defense slowed down the Rams rushing game, only giving up 67 yards on the ground and only 176 through the air for sophomore Pete Thomas. But the 10 minute drive to seal the game for the Buffs, the defense stepping up, and even the win was once again overshadowed by the mistakes.  

“I’m happy. I’ll be happier,” said Jon Embree who was clearly upset by numerous mistakes that are constantly plaguing the Buffs.

“There are a lot of things we need to fix too,” said senior Ryan Miller. Colorado came into the game as one of the most penalized teams in the nation and was flagged 10 times for 114 yards on Saturday. “[Today] definitely wasn’t a perfect game. We had a lot of penalties; we need to clean that up.”

The Buffs have a long way to go, but the victory is most obviously a step in the right direction. But CU can’t stew on the victory too long; they have to start preparing for the Buckeyes and a streak that nobody in black & gold can avoid.

“As soon as possible,” said senior Anthony Perkins.

Sportsmag Week: 2

Another week of Sportsmag is in the books, literally. (You'll have to watch the third video to understand that reference.) So have at 'em....

The Colorado Cup was decided on aggregate goals a week ago, bring the Cup back to Boulder this year. But Denver University didn't get a chance to play the Buffs in the tournament; the game this weekend isn't for a trophy but it might as well be. 

Concussions are one of the most dangerous injuries an athlete can sustain on the playing field. The long term effects from them are subjective to many medical professionals. We look at how Colorado is handling them and how the NCAA mandate is keeping student-athletes safer.

Technology has changed the landscape of media guides and how they are put out. The NCAA has stepped in and started to regulate how they can be used. The Buffs are among many schools transitioning to digital copies of these invaluable sources of information. 

Finally, we look back at 9/11/01 through the eyes of Colorado athletes...

Buffs lose heartbreaker to Cal - Short Recap

Jon Embree’s return to Boulder and Folsom Field probably went better in his dreams. Only a little better though, the only thing that was missing for the new head coach on Saturday was a Buffs win.

“We didn’t play good enough – we lost. I don’t care if we run for two yards or 1,000 yards, we have to win the game,” said Embree following the disappointing 36-33 overtime loss to new Pac-12 opponent California.

The upsides from this back-and-forth game were hard to ignore though.

The combination of Tyler Hansen and Paul Richardson tore apart the Colorado record books. Hansen threw for 474 yards, a new school record, and of those 284 went to Richardson, also writing his name in the record books.  

“I think Paul Richardson is a star in the making and we are seeing it,” said Embree of the sophomore whose 11 receptions tied a school record.

And, don’t forget about Will Oliver’s right leg that gave the Buffs a chance to win the game in the extra period. “It was the reason I picked him. It was a gut feeling,” Embree said about the true freshman that made sent the Buffs into overtime with a 33 yard field goal in the final minute of the game, “That kid is going to be good and he was the answer for us.”

The more than 50-thousands fans that stacked Folsom Field have something to be more than excited about. But the coach wants more.

“Disappointed, I thought we would win,” said the coach. Embree isn’t going to look at numbers as a victory unless the numbers also point in the Buffs favor on the scoreboard following the game.

To Love Michael Vick or not?

Michael Vick is everyone’s 3^rd grade crush. And this is a lily that continues to grow pedals; I love him, I love him not, I love him, I love him, I love him not.

At Virginia Tech people couldn’t wrap their mind around a dual-threat quarterback. He was criticized and critiqued and then he won. Vick went on to play just 2 years with the Hokies and he is now considered one of the most dynamic players to play college football.

I love you not, I love you.

The San Diego traded away the #1 overall pick to the Falcons, who took Vick. (Fun fact; Vick was also drafted by the Colorado Rockies.) He then blossomed in Atlanta, and led his team deep into the playoffs in his second year in the league. And then the craziest and most demoralizing of stories are the ones involving Vick and dog fighting. 

I love you not, I love you, I love you not.

Vick returned, against all odds and versus everyone, including the 11 men on the other side of the ball and played well. He changed people’s minds, by inflicting change within himself.  

And now his star is shining brighter than ever, in a city that doesn’t settle. Will Vick be successful?

I love you, I love you not?

SportsMag- Week 1

CU SportsMag- Week 1, September 2, 2011

The University of Colorado took on a team from the Eastern European nation of Slovenia. And although they came in from around the world there was one player from Club Branik that could call this a 'home' game.

The new practice facility at the Coors Events Center is much more than an upgrade. It could put Colorado court athletics on the map; I'll take you inside the newest building on campus and show you all it has to offer CU athletics.

There is more to come once I get the DVD....

Embree and Buffs lose season opener

The first game for the Colorado Buffaloes under new head coach Jon Embree didn’t go as well as planned.

“Not good. Not A great debut,” Embree said following the 34-17 loss to the Hawai’i Warriors.

The loss makes it 18 consecutive road losses for the Buffaloes, a streak that dates back to October of 2007. Embree emphasized, during the offseason, the ineptitude of the Buffs to win away from the friendly confines of Folsom Field.

“There is no bright side. I’m not a moral victory type guy. We did not win,” said the former Colorado tight end was 7-13 in true road games over his career in the mid-1980’s, “That was our goal. We got to end this losing streak on the road. That is the goal right now. We didn’t do that.”

Colorado’s offense got off to a slow start at Aloha Stadium.  “We were off in the first half. I don’t know what that was,” Embree concluded, the first play was an extremely inauspicious start for the Buffs, “I mean, you fumble the snap on the first play of the game.” CU punted on their first 5 possessions, and went into halftime with 100 total yards of offense.

Bryant Moniz led the nation in passing a year ago with 5,040 yards through the air. But it was his legs, including a touchdown run of 57 yards that surprised some of the Warrior faithful and led the home team into the half up 17-0. “Mo Might not lead the nation in passing this week, but he might lead the nation in rushing,” said Hawai’i head coach McMackin about his now dual threat quarterback.

“You have to give him some credit, too. Seventeen (Moniz) is a heck of a player,” Embree and the Buffs defenders were preparing for an aerial attack from the Warrior senior, “He’s a stronger guy than what I thought. He ran though a lot of tackles.”

Even though CU went into the half, there was still quite a bit of confidence remaining in the Buffs locker room.

“I told the teams at halftime don’t worry about it. Let’s just come out and play and we did. I felt at halftime like we were going to win,” said Embree. The Buffs took only 3 minutes to do just that. A 15 yard strike by senior Tyler Hansen to sophomore Paul Richardson put the ball in the end zone for the first time on the season for the Buffs.

But Hawai’i stole the momentum right back. A 48 yard kickoff return gave the Warriors a short field ending in another Moniz touchdown scamper, one of three on the day, from 1 yard out.

Colorado continued to battle back though, the same combination met up on the next drive, Hansen to Richardson, this time from 21 yards out. Down ten, 24-14, and an ensuing fumble recovery by Conrad Obi and the Buffs put CU in position to strike. Will Oliver made a 34 yard field goal to open the 4^th quarter, to make it a one possession game, at 24-17.

After trading punts, Hawai’i started to put distance between themselves and the Buffs. Joey Iosefa took a shovel pass from Moniz 22 yards to the end zone, extending the lead to 31-17 with only 6:17 to play. Tyler Hansen was then intercepted on a 4^th and 6 from inside the Colorado 30, and Hawai’i tacked on a field goal to put the game away.

“It’s a great win, a great team win. I’m really proud of our players and our coaches,” said McMackin who saw a 10-0 lead disappear, losing 31-17 in Boulder last year, “We let one get away last year (at Colorado). We had that chip on our shoulders. We’ve been working really hard for this.”

The 34-17 loss for the Buffs is not what Jon Embree and company had in mind when they got on the 7 hour plane ride to the Aloha State. But patience is key for Embree and the rest of the Buffs, especially with a Pac-12 opponent (although it is not a conference matchup this year) in California coming to Boulder next week.

“We have to get ready for Cal. We don’t have any choice. That’s who’s coming in,” finished Embree, the Buffs lost 52-7 in 2010, “They whipped our butts last year. We just got to go. We need to get better.”

Colorado Buffaloes: 2011 Prediction

Over the course of my college career I have seen bad football, and a grand total of 13 wins. I’ve used body paint that was intended for industrial use, and made the studious student in me go to class looking like Zoolander in a coal mine. I’ve seen good traditions, like student marshmallow and tortilla fights during television timeouts, disappear.  

I’ve gotten the raw end of many deals, but yet I remain faithful and most of the time positive.

So I feel confident in saying the Buffs won’t go to a bowl game. Jon Embree’s second year as a coach will be better than this first. But the 5 wins, that I’m predicting, will be a success.

Hawai’i, Colorado State and Washington State should all be wins.

The Buffs will get at least one of these games, but more likely two Arizona, USC, UCLA, Washington, Arizona State or Cal. Greg Brown, Colorado’s defensive coordinator, will put together some crazy scheme for the matchup with his former team, the Arizona Wildcats. Their overall popularity has made USC a team players are gunning to knock off the top, even if they aren’t anywhere close to where they have been in years past. And Jon Embree will come out of the opposing tunnel at the Rose Bowl. He will be walking his son, Taylor, out on senior night and then hopefully sustain those strong emotions into the game versus UCLA.

And I think the Buffs could, or will at least have the opportunity in the final moments to beat Oregon, Utah, Ohio State or Stanford.  A win in one of these games won’t only be good for national recognition (possibly not the type Colorado needs) but it will reaffirm to Buff fans that this is the right direction the program needs to move in.