Post-Season Round-Up

Well, we gave it a good effort to end the season but came up short. A 6-7 record is better than last year but leaves HUGE amounts of room for improvement. As I said before, pass D and guts on offense are things that, I believe, we need to improve if we're going to rise to the levels of UT and OU - or Kansas, I guess...

For the time being, I'm going to be ratcheting back to posting about once a week. I'm going to be pretty busy doing extra flying at work coming up and, well, the football season is over. There'll be some good stuff to write about here and there, so once a week will probably suffice.

I hope everyone is doing well in this, 2008. Talk to all of you soon.

Flashback: 2002 Fiesta Bowl

So, this freakin' writers' strike is killing me. I'm deprived of my normal shows, "Chuck" and "Journeyman" (and my wife's "Grey's Anatomy", sorry), and I decided to TiVo the replay of the 2002 Fiesta Bowl between CU and Oregon. We lost this game at the worst time for me - I was newly dating a recently-graduated Oregon Duck (my wife) - and we didn't look very good at all beyond the first drive.

A few things I noted from the game's first couple of quarters (it was over in the 2nd, basically):

- Oregon had Maurice Morris AND Onterrio "The Whizzinator" Smith as their RBs. Not a bad pair. Morris had enough brains to stay off the whacky tobacky and is still in the NFL as Shaun Alexander's able backup. Onterrio Smith is probably one of those telemarketers that show up as "unavailable" on your caller ID screens trying to sell you nutritional supplements or used Barbie dolls or something. He showed some good promise - even after calling himself "S.O.D" (Steal of the Draft) - as a 4th-round pick to my Vikings. He would have been the starter if he stayed off the whacky...

- Joey Harrington actually looked GOOD. I see why he was the big pick. Too bad he didn't pan out as well in the NFL. It's unfortunate.

- I forgot about Bobby Pesavento.

- Why are so few CU players in the NFL? It's kinda like Nebraska (stay with me here). The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. No stars but a good team. The draft is a topic for another day.

Anyway, just some things I noticed watching the game. Hope the new year (and the workweek) is treating everyone well. Take care and talk to you all soon!

Neuheisel: Prescient or Just Lucky?

I've noticed that a few readers have quite the passion for Mr. Neuheisel. As you probably already read, as well, he received the head coaching position at UCLA. This was much to his delight, as he is an alumnus and for assistant coach for the team. I want to congratulate Rick on the promotion.

However, I have to wonder if something bigger is going on here inside Mr. Neuheisel's brain. Rick was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens - a team coached by Brian Billick, the former offensive coordinator of my favorite pro team, the Minnesota Vikings. Billick was the OC for the 1998 Minnesota Vikings that should have TROUNCED the Atlanta Falcons and Jamal Anderson in the NFC Championship...but Dennis Green got outcoached by Dan Reeves and got beat at home. My Vikes would have gone on to plow the Broncos into the ground that year, as Randy Moss was a ROCK STAR at the time...BUT, I digress...The fact of the matter is that Billick was considered (and considers himself) an offensive genius with the Vikings and the Ravens. Therefore, he called all the plays for the Ravens. That makes me wonder why they had an OC to begin with? Dress rehearsal? My Vikings have a similar setup with Darrell Bevell. Brad Childress used to be the OC at Philly and still calls the plays in Minnie. Bevell is relegated to "running the offense". Whatever that means. Either way, the job couldn't have been that great for Rick Neuheisel. I'm guessing it was a little boring and demeaning living under the shadow and ego of Brian "I'm not going anywhere next year" Billick. Good move for Rick.

However, Billick didn't seem to know that the ax was about to fall on his (and everyone else's) head. He made a rather grand proclamation during a press conference that, despite his 9-game losing streak, he was not planning to be fired and that most people should shed the notion.
On Black Monday, he and the whole staffed were tossed...less than a week after Neuheisel jumped ship and took the offer at UCLA. Makes me wonder if, while he coveted the UCLA job, he didn't know that, somehow, the ship was sinking in Baltimore and he was tethered to it. It seemed that even Billick didn't know.

So, question. Rick Neuheisel: Lucky or wise? You decide.

2007 Independence Bowl Post-Mortem

First off, Happy New Year! I'm at home tonight because, well, I have 2 kids - one is 3 and the other just short of 2 - and finding a high-schooler to watch them until 0100 is just a little difficult. So, we rode into the new year here at home with a bottle of champagne, watching Fergie (yowsa...), Carrie Underwood (not bad, either), and Alicia Keys (again, quite nice...what's with all the chicks?) sing on the TeeVee. While I'd rather have seen something a little less Top 40, I guess I'd be asking a bunch and showing my 30 years of age. So, decent entertainment. Dick Clark sounds better this year, too. Seems to have his wits fully about him as he jabs Ryan Seacrest...OK, enough of this crap. FOOTBALL!!!

Well, we came up just a bit short last night. However, it's tough to get going when you're picked off on your first play from scrimmage. Hawkins appeared to just plain miss MLB Rolando McLain during his scan for receivers and tossed it straight to him, resulting in a 17-yard return and setting up Alabama's first FG. We managed to make John Parker Wilson (JPW from here on - too long of a name) look like an all-star at the beginning of the game, where he lit us up for 20 points in the first quarter ALONE...

CU made a valiant effort of it, however, as Hawkins drove us for 2 TDs in the last few minutes of Q2, sending us to the locker room at 27-14. The momentum, however, died out when we narrowly missed that FG on the opening drive of Q3. We played 'em tough for the rest of the game and outgained and outscored them, but it was too tough to dig out of that 27-0 hole we jumped into at the beginning of the game.

Altogether, we looked pretty good and our offense showed some promise. Problems I see from last night, however...

- Power running game: If this is due to play-calling or running back size, I'm not sure. Either way, we appeared afraid to run it downhill. The misdirection and end-arounds didn't fool anyone and it appeared as if UA was simply waiting for us to do it on running downs. I'm pretty sure it's not the O line, as those guys certainly had no problem giving Hawkins plenty of time to pass. The run blocking was no worse. Hugh Charles is not huge, but he isn't tiny, either. Run at 'em, already.

- Pass defense: We just made JPW look too damn good. Sorry, but this guy was on the skids for the last half of the season. We gave them the mid pass (20-30 yards) too easily. We need to make them earn that. We have the talent to stop it. Perhaps the Cover 2 scheme is too easily picked apart? I know it doesn't work so well for my Vikes with a good QB...

Well, that's about it from here for the night. Happy New Year, everyone. I appreciate your joining me last night during the game. I'll be expanding the blog (and hopefully moving over to SB Nation) as we move into 2008. Have a good sleep this evening/tomorrow morning/tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to try to ignore the fireworks going off outside my window and get some sleep here shortly. More coming up later this week. We'll talk NFL draft, upcoming recruits, and even some CU basketball.

Peace, all. Take care!

Live-Blogging Open Thread - Independence Bowl 2007 - 2nd Half

- Sorry, Jimmy Love. Just published your comments now :)

- Alright, we came out of the locker room this half and are kickin' some butt. Who the heck is this DeVree guy? He's going balls-out right now...

- AHHHH!!! Hawkins had Josh Smith wide open and just missed him. Would've been 6...

- Crap. We missed the FG. All the momentum wasted. We'll have to see how the D comes out...

- JPW and 'Bama look a little dumbstruck. Good D for us, especially on 2nd down with the D line being in JPW's face. He threw that to no one. Hell of a punt, however. We have a LONG way to go...

- Good. Out of the dungeon with a first down...and another on 3rd and 15. 'Bama isn't going to go far with this kind of D...

- Hell of a run by Charles for 27. 1st down...again...and 'Bama is looking flat on D.

- Another 1st down. Man, that was a weird screen pass that took FOREVER to develop...but it worked...though the follow-up play - another counter - didn't work. We need to quit trying that out...

- Jeez...Eberhart almost missed THAT FG, as well. Whatever 3 points on the board and we have a 10-point game.

(...and these announcers need to shut it about the bowl system being better than playoffs because it "compromises the game". Sorry, not buying it. Just because pro teams rest some guys because the games don't matter during the last two weeks of the year doesn't mean college football is any better. Once you have 7 losses, you're not bowl-eligible. So, if you start 0-7 and decide to sit all seniors, does that "compromise the game"? Lousy argument, guys...)

- FUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CU BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My wife says "game on, yo!"...

- Damn, ANOTHER 3rd down conversion. 'Bama's pass D is looking like my Vikes' pass D.

- Crap. Punt...

- 'Bama looks much better on this drive...and we let them out of a hole and gave 'em 20 yards for 1st down on CU's 42...We need a turnover...but a sack will do. Back to the 50. Sorry, JPW...

- 8:39 to go in the game. We need 10 to tie. We start on our own 20. Time to get aggressive.

- CRAP, PICK!!! Ugh...

(Good point by Jimmy Love: resting players won't happen when there are 119 teams in FBS [Div 1A] and nearly none of them - relatively speaking - ever play each other, making head-to-head tiebreakers nearly impossible. Computers will still make the seedings for a playoff system, meaning that sitting starters will not help your cause in a horserace. Now, one way to alleviate some of those issues is to use the Wetzel Plan, making the computers much less influential. The computers are half the problem now, anyway...)

- Just not stopping them. 1st down inside the 10. Looks like potential victory is slipping away. The missed FG appears to be the turning point for the momentum in this game...

- Man, this drive was beautiful. Big passes and a hell of a strike by Hawkins to cap it under SERIOUS pressure. He has good poise for a Freshman...Anyway, 6-point game...

- That holding penalty was a killer for the Tide. Took back a seriously nice run. Lousy play by #10.

- Buffs need a stuff here on 3rd and 7...badly...DAMMIT! JPW runs it for the 1st down. Looks like the final nail...

- Last play coming up. We'll see how it works out...Nice razzle dazzle at the end, but no dice. Good effort, but too many points up front to dig ourselves out.

I'm out for the night. Thanks for joining me! Take care...

Live-Blogging Open Thread - Independence Bowl 2007

- 45 minutes to gametime. Hope everyone has it in the TiVo :)

- Alright, we're off. Decent return by 'Bama. Post-KO commentary went through the end of the Tide's season. Ouch. How are they still in the bowl game?

- Ugh. This Glen Coffee dude is the entire O on this first drive. 2 first downs out of the first 3. CU is looking a bit rough on the first drive...

- CU stiffens up and stuffs 'em at the 23 and holds 'Bama to 3 points. CU ball after the break...

- Short return for CU on the KO...and we're picked on the first freakin' play. Ouch. Hawk appeared to have missed the LB altogether on his checkdowns. Threw it right to him. Oops.

- CU stiffens up...again...and makes 'Bama kick the FG after 3 plays. So, 2 drives, about 60 yards, only 6 points. I guess I'll take it as long as Hawk doesn't toss another pick...

- 3 downs and little to show for it. We had a 3rd and 8...and threw for 6. Not sure I understand that call...

- The fake punt was a nice touch - and this was a decent spot for it on the field - but the Tide didn't bite at all. Crap. Turnover on downs...

- Good first play to stuff the QB after the switch...but what's with us letting JPW out of the pocket for 20 yards?

- Crap. Got 'em on 3rd and 8, looking for another FG, and we let 'em toss it in for 6. 13-0.

- Good return by Charles on the ensuing KO. We start at about the 35...

- Another busted up drive. Still not happening...

- CU is making JPW look good. Um, let's stop these guys, shall we?

- Ugh. Another TD. 20-0...and now the end of Q1. Better step it up. We're not fooling these guys at all.

(sorry, had to cook some dinner...I'm catching up on TiVo)

- 27-0. I'm not liking this. Looks like 'Bama gamed this one out plenty in the run-up to this game. That last TD was too damn easy. They're making our pass protection look like Swiss cheese...

- Our offensive scheme isn't fooling anyone. We're trying the same counters and misdirection in Q2 as we did in Q1. They have someone spying the RB every time.

- Hugh Charles has quick feet. He's getting by some of the spies. Makes the misdirection a little easier. Cody Hawkins, however, looks nervous here in Q2. He's throwing everything for short yardage and sometimes even for a loss. He'd be better off just tossing some of these passes out of bounds.

- Our pass D really needs some work tonight. 'Bama is converting on too many critical 3rd downs...though at 27-0, some of these are starting to look less critical...

- Sweet. JPW picked by Walters. Hypolite provides some pressure into JPW's face, forcing a lousy pass. Our ball on the 43 of the Tide...

- Great pass by Hawkins for about 25. Follow-up run by Smith was sweet. We need to convert this 1st down...Got it!

- Heck of a catch for the TD by Tyson DeVree. 27-7. Hell of a drive!

- D looks pumped up for this 'Bama drive. It'd be nice to get the ball back for one last drive this half.

- Crap. Nice run by Coffee for 16...1st down...but we stuff 'em and get the ball back...but what the HECK was McBride doing on that punt return? Looks like Troy Williamson of my Vikings against the Broncos today. He took one off the helmet when he was wide open for a TD...

- Hurry-up offense...1st down...and ANOTHER to DeVree. He took a hit on that one, putting us into FG range after about 20 yards.

- Well, we spike it...throw a worthless pass for 2 yards in bounds...take FOREVER to get to the line...and Hawkins tosses a TD to Sprague with :04 to go in the 1st half. Kick ass...Go Buffs!

The 1st half has come to an end. A DISMAL beginning for the Buffs as we spot the Tide 27 points to start the game. We come up with 14 points in the last 5 minutes to make it a game. We had 159 yards of O in the first half...2/3 of it came on the last 2 drives (so says Mark May of ESPN). We get the ball back in the 2nd half.

New thread for the 2nd half...

UCLA Hires Neuheisel

For those of you not paying attention. the University of California at Los Angeles - otherwise known as "UCLA" - has hired our old coach, Rick Neuheisel, to be its head coach starting in the 2008 season. Neuheisel, as you might know, is a UCLA alumnus and former assistant coach.

Interestingly, Neuheisel was the QB for the Rose-Bowl-winning UCLA Bruins of 1983-4 and is replacing one of his former favorite targets, Karl Dorrell, who was a sophomore receiver on the same bowl squad of that year. Neuheisel was named MVP of the Rose Bowl that year, having completed 4 TD passes during the game in a win over 4th-ranked Illinois.

Neuheisel moved on after law school to become an assistant coach at UCLA in 1993 and moved to Colorado in 1994. After stays at CU and Washington, he moved on to become the QB coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2005 and was promoted to offensive coordinator under coach Brian Billick in 2006.

Neuheisel returns to UCLA to become its head coach, where one of his biggest challenges is going to be to keep his "new" coaching staff together, as they have a reputation for excellent recruiting skills.

Congrats to Coach Neuheisel...

2007 Independence Bowl Preview

Well, we're less than 24 hours out from the PetroSun KFC Hardee's Chevrolet Independence Bowl and the teams are rested up and ready to go. Alabama comes into the game riding a 4-game losing streak, including one to the University of Louisiana - Monroe (kinda like CU-Denver having a football squad). Nick Saban decided that this loss was SO BAD and SO MOMENTOUS that it was - you'd think Rudy Giuliani wrote it himself - like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. I'm not kidding. Read this. Anyway, I'm guessing that rust has worn off a bit and the Tide will roll into Shreveport a little more refreshed and a little less dumbstruck. If not, it'll be a fun night for CU.

Anyway, the Buffs will hopefully have licked some of their wounds before the game and called it good. Terrence Wheatley (broken foot) and Riar Geer (broken hand) both may play, but nothing was known at the time of my writing this post. Wheatley appears to be healed up but admits being in poor shape considering he has not practiced much in the last month. One notable player missing from the game tomorrow will be linebacker RJ Brown, who went out with his - yes - 6th concussion against FSU in September and will likely not return to the field. Ever. Ouch...

On a non-football note, while in Shreveport CU assisted with the "Lift Up America" program which seeks to eliminate hunger. Apparently, our players' participation in the program was much greater than expected (the WHOLE FREAKIN' TEAM was there, compared with about a dozen or so from the Tide) and a few players even carried 3 cases of food 2 MILES to a man's house that needed the food. Impressive.

Anyway, I'm off until tomorrow. Remember that I'll be live-blogging the game as best I can with 2 little kids crawling all over me. Please add your comments as the game goes on. I'll publish all of them that come through. Take care and GO BUFFS!!!

4 Days to Shreveport...

First off, I want to wish all those that celebrate it a very Merry (and belated) Christmas. I just got done taking down the decorations with my wife and cleaning up all the freakin' toys my kids got from everyone and his mother. Man, Fisher-Price must get rich this time of the year. If you can't stand the commercialization of Christmas, I hope you enjoyed your Festivus for the rest of us :)

ANYWAY, I have my house and my TV back now (you can only watch "Frosty the Snowman" so many times) and have set the TiVo to record our game, which is only 4 days away. I have decided to live-blog the game - that means I'll be updating the blog during the game and adding my commentary. Hopefully, you'll join me :)

Well, for those of you heading down to the game, I hope you have a good time. I'll be watching at home. Take care!

Big, Fat OOPS...

Someone threw the Buffalo soldiers into a tizz today with this Internet report:

UCLA: Rick Neuheisel is scheduled to be interviewed by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for the Bruins' head coach job tonight, sources familiar with the search said. Coach Hawkins interviewed with UCLA on Monday. [emphasis mine] He is very interested in the job and UCLA is going to be able to meet his salary requirements

CU's Rapid Response team went into action very quickly with the following statement from Associate AD David Plati:

We have had numerous inquiries from fans, and this erroneous one line mention has already reached into the recruiting world. And it says only “Coach Hawkins” without mentioning a first name, but in some circles, it is taking on a life of its own.

Either it was innocent in that whoever entered it typed Rick’s name and subconsciously was thinking of Colorado, or it was on purpose in an attempt to throw a monkey wrench into our recruiting.

Regardless, two contacts were made with this website to change it, and no reply or change was forthcoming. We had legal representation contact this site at the request of Athletic Director Mike Bohn to have it changed this afternoon.

Mike, Dan and I assure you that what is claimed in the above highlighted text in regards to “Coach Hawkins” could not be further from the truth. It is our hope that it is righted by the website and that the media does not pursue this as any kind of story, as there is none to pursue. Dan Hawkins is a Colorado Buffalo. Period. [emphasis mine] That may only help serve to accomplish what the author intended. We wanted to address it on our website since the question has come up in recruiting.

Anonymity is the cloak of cowardice someone once said; websites such as this one also gives people freedom to make things up to damage others. That is sad.

Jeez, don't get in the way of CU and Hawk. Looks like he's stickin' around. Hell, looks like we aren't going to let him go...ever. That said, this is a little scary considering recent events.

Slick Rick is heading back to college, huh? Perhaps he's getting tired of Steve McNair's legs giving out on him? Maybe Troy Smith can change his mind...