Pacific Takes - Colorado Football: Buffaloes Overhauling, Putting 2012 Past ThemWhere The West Coast Is The Best Coasthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52598/pt_fav.png2013-01-22T05:00:02-08:00http://www.pacifictakes.com/rss/stream/32276392013-01-22T05:00:02-08:002013-01-22T05:00:02-08:00Better coaching hire: MacIntyre or Dykes?
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>The Pac-12 will have two new head coaches next year. Will Sonny Dykes of the California Golden Bears or Mike MacIntyre of the Colorado Buffaloes be the better hire?</p> <p><b>Which hire impressed you more, Mike MacIntyre or Sonny Dykes?</b></p>
<p><b>Jack Blanchat - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ruleoftree.com">Rule of Tree</a>:</b> I think both hires are fantastic, but I was probably more impressed by Colorado hiring MacIntyre. He fits what the Buffaloes need so well (a person who can build a program) and they were such a disaster last season that I think this hire was basically perfect. Dykes was a good hire for Cal, but they also have a much more attractive program than Colorado.<b></b></p>
<p><b>Andy Wooldridge - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buildingthedam.com">Building The Dam</a>:</b> Mike MacIntyre. He built a pretty complete program at San Jose St. Think about that for a minute. And that's what Colorado is going to need. Quick fixes rarely work in the Pac-12, and that's what I sense California is looking for in Sonny Dykes. Instant offense will sell tickets sooner than a solid program rebuilt over a period of years, but I'll have to see sustained defense before I'm sold on Dykes, or anyone else, in Berkeley.<b></b></p>
<p><b>Jack Follman - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pacifictakes.com">Pacific Takes</a>:</b> I think both were good, not great hires of about equal level, but I would have to say Dykes might be a little better because he has proven success in the conference from his time with Arizona where he was a big part in turning around their offense.<b></b></p>
<p><b>Michael Preston - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com">CougCenter</a>: </b>Sonny Dykes and it's okay that my Mike Leach coaching tree bias is showing. Everywhere he's gone, the offense has turned to gold be it Texas Tech, Arizona or Louisiana Tech. Cal needs someone to get the fanbase excited about Golden Bears football again and Dykes is the best man for the task.</p>
<p><b>Sean Reynolds - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blocku.com">Block U</a>: </b>Sonny Dykes, though I think both hires were good. Dykes wins out, though, because of his past coaching in the Pac-12. <b></b></p>
<p><b><span class="sbn-auto-link">Adam Butler</span>, <a href="http://pachoops.com">Pac Hoops</a>:</b> I think these hires are a tie. Both guys were looking to get out of dodge as Louisiana Tech declined their bowl and both jumped ship after just three seasons as HC. If I'm picking one, it has to be the Sonny Dykes hire because Colorado AD, Mike Bohn, did everything he could to make his hunt as loud as possible.</p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com">California Golden Blogs</a>: </b> Tough to pick between them - I think both hires fit the needs of each program. Cal needed a coach who could come in and immediately overhaul an offense that had stagnated badly over the last few years, and Sonny Dykes certainly sounds like that guy. Colorado needed a coach who could rebuild everything. And although it would be tough to find a program that has hit rock-bottom as hard as Colorado, San Jose State would certainly qualify.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/pac-12-football/2013/1/22/3881936/colorado-buffaloes-mike-macintyre-cal-bears-sonny-dykes-footballAvinash Kunnath2012-12-19T06:02:57-08:002012-12-19T06:02:57-08:00Who'll Mike MacIntyre bring from SJSU to Colorado?
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<figcaption>Justin Sullivan</figcaption>
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<p>Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre will be trying to bring several coaches along from San Jose State, including defensive coordinator Kent Baer, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, and defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a> have already hired Mike MacIntyre, but they have yet to figure out who his assistants might end up being. Who's coming along for the ride?</p>
<p>MacIntyre has three names in mind that he wants to join him from San Jose State.</p>
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<p>MacIntyre says its safe to say he wants Kent Baer to be his DC, Brian Lindgren to be his OC and Jim Jeffcoat to be his DL coach in Boulder</p>
— Kyle Ringo (@KyleRingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleRingo/status/279794975405907968" data-datetime="2012-12-15T03:48:15+00:00">December 15, 2012</a>
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<p>Let's take a look at each of these candidates.<b><br></b></p>
<p><b>Kent Baer (defensive coordinator/linebackers coach):</b> Baer has been a pretty good defensive coordinator for quite awhile. He was at Cal from 1987-1991 during the Bruce Snyder era. He was at Stanford and Notre Dame during the best years of the Ty Willingham era, and has presided over top-25 teams on several occasions. There's no doubt San Jose State had a pretty good defense this year in the WAC (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category09/sort01.html">top-25 in points allowed overall!</a>)<br><br>Baer was given interim head coach duties for the bowl game. But with Carragher getting hired, it's looking like Baer will aim for upward mobility and join MacIntyre in Colorado.<br><br><b>Brian Lindgren (offensive coordinator):</b> Lindgren is a bit greener compared to Baer, having four years of experience coordinating the offense at Northern Arizona and one at San Jose State. Lindgren definitely looks like one of those young up-and-comers who can try and revitalize the moribund Buffs offense.<br><br><b>Jim Jeffcoat (defensive line coach): </b>Jeffcoat's defensive lines definitely made all the difference, bottling up the run and making it hard for Spartan opponents to get going on the ground. Without a strong passing attack, teams had trouble beating San Jose State.<br><br>It remains to be seen who else MacIntyre will look to hire, but these are the obvious candidates up to this point. Will they be able to turn Colorado around?</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/colorado-buffaloes/2012/12/19/3783742/colorado-buffaloes-football-mike-macintyre-kent-baer-brian-lindgren-jim-jeffcoatAvinash Kunnath2012-12-03T06:02:24-08:002012-12-03T06:02:24-08:00Colorado coaching search: Mendenhall, Jones
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<p>The Colorado Buffaloes are considering BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall and Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. Mark Mangino is not a candidate.</p> <p>The firing of Jon Embree was rather unceremonious, but the Buffs seem to be trying to attract a wide variety of top targets from around the country.</p>
<p>One surprising target appears to be BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall.</p>
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<p>My man @<a href="https://twitter.com/byuallblue">byuallblue</a> has confirmed that Bronco Mendenhall has indeed interviewed with Colorado to be its next football coach. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BYU">#BYU</a></p>
— Zach Bloxham (@zbloxham) <a href="https://twitter.com/zbloxham/status/275409729797361664" data-datetime="2012-12-03T01:22:51+00:00">December 3, 2012</a>
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<p>Mendenhall has enjoyed plenty of success in Provo, but things might be wearing down here. BYU finished 7-6, and there have been plenty of grumblings about <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/55382365-88/mendenhall-coach-byu-captain.html.csp">whether it's time for the Cougars to make a change.</a></p>
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<p>It’s one thing for Mendenhall to crack on BYU fans, saying the level of their criticism is equal to their education. It’s another for him to make stupid decisions. That’s been a problem for him this season, and in seasons past, from his decision to go for two at Boise State to tying his team’s fate to a mediocre quarterback. Even his assistants have criticized some of his moves. That’s all been chronicled, as has Mendenhall’s tendency to beat lousy opponents and lose to good ones.</p>
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<p>Could the Buffs be the beneficiary? Mendenhall has won plenty at BYU, and seems to know how to succeed in directing a major college football program. The move from Provo to Boulder might be a bit of culture shock, but it could work well for a Colorado programdying for success.</p>
<p>Another potential target appears to be Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. He appears to be tugging back and forth between two schools: The Buffs and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/purdue-boilermakers">Purdue Boilermakers</a>. Hammer and Rails r<a target="_blank" href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/2012/12/2/3717466/purdue-football-coaching-search-butch-jones-hired">eported that Jones was in West Lafayette this Sunday</a>. They even have <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/2012/12/2/3718810/purdue-football-coaching-search-butch-jones-heads-home-video/in/3378381">video of Jones heading to the airport</a>!</p>
<p>Jones is headed to Colorado today. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/2012/11/30/3712382/purdue-football-coaching-search-butch-jones-colorado-interview-rumors/in/3378381">The rumor that Jones would accept the Purdue job has yet to occur</a>.</p>
<p>One person who won't be taking the job: Mark Mangino. Mangino has been out of coaching for a few years and there was speculation Colorado was considering him. That isn't happening.</p>
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<p>RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/johnhendersondp">johnhendersondp</a>: Mark Mangino is NOT on Colorado's wish list, source close to school says. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23cubuffs">#cubuffs</a></p>
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanDFischer/status/273827477405708288" data-datetime="2012-11-28T16:35:32+00:00">November 28, 2012</a>
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<p>Oh well. So much for the possibility of seeing a program experience mass exodus.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/pac-12-football-coaches/2012/12/3/3721388/colorado-buffaloes-bronco-mendenhall-butch-jones-mark-manginoAvinash Kunnath2012-11-15T08:00:58-08:002012-11-15T08:00:58-08:00Colorado improving with Jon Embree
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<figcaption>Doug Pensinger</figcaption>
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<p>The Colorado Buffaloes are beginning to show progress on the offensive side of the football with their quarterback and running back play. Will it be enough to save Jon Embree for another season?</p> <p><b>Definite signs of life against Arizona. What encouraged you the most, and what do the Buffs still have to work on?</b></p>
<p><b>Jon Woods, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphiereport.com">Ralphie Report</a>:</b> While the Arizona defense is bad, and everything we can glean from this game has to be taken with a grain of salt, there were a good amount of positives from the offense. Both <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114969/connor-wood">Connor Wood</a> and especially Nick Hirschman showed that they should have been starting for this team a lot earlier in this season. Hirshman finished 12 for 13 for 123 yards and one killer interception on a screen pass. He moved well in the pocket and made some great throws. Wood finished 4 for 5 with 90 yards and seemed much more in control of the offense than he had in previous work. Both of them seemed to make the receiving core look like a much more competent group than Jordan Webb had and gave us some hope on that side of the ball for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Both running backs ran hard and fast as they recreated some of their Upland magic (albeit it usually without both of them on the field as the same time) against a soft Arizona defense. Powell finished with 31 carries for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162559/donta-abron">Donta Abron</a> racked up 83 yards on 13 carries while having a 75-yard screen pass called back. Both of these guys are true freshmen running behind an extremely inconsistent offensive line. The future at running back is bright.</p>
<p>What do they need to work on? Defense. So much defense.</p>
<p><b>How much more time are you willing to give Jon Embree? Has he just been dealt the worst hand or is he still underachieving?</b></p>
<p><b>Jon Woods, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphiereport.com">Ralphie Report</a>: </b>It's definitely a bit of both. I think he is going to be back next year and I think that he should. But next year has to show a big improvement. I think he needs 5 wins at a minimum and a bowl game to feel safe. The schedule certainly sets up well for that kind of improvement, but it did this year as well. He will have to find a capable quarterback and will most likely have to make an extremely important hire by bringing in a new defensive coordinator.</p>
<p><b>Washington comes to town. What are the keys to scoring a big upset?</b></p>
<p><b>Jon Woods, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphiereport.com">Ralphie Report</a>: </b>I think the offense played well enough against Arizona to do some damage against the Huskies at home, but we still don't know who will be starting at quarterback. Connor Wood did some things well, but Nick Hirschman definitely seemed to have a better handle on the offense and the position right now. But for the any possibility of an upset, we will have to see a major improvement on the defensive side of the ball. It's not something they are incapable of, we have seen this defense put together a few nice stretches, but they haven't been able to find any kind of consistency and lately the positives have been harder and harder to find.<br><b><br>What's your score prediction for the Colorado-Washington game?<br></b><br><b>Jon Woods, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ralphiereport.com">Ralphie Report</a>: </b>I guess I'll call for my CU upset against the Utes. This week, I'll go 38-24 Huskies.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/colorado-buffaloes/2012/11/15/3648038/colorado-buffaloes-washington-huskies-football-2012-jon-embree-hot-seatAvinash Kunnath2012-10-25T04:00:44-07:002012-10-25T04:00:44-07:00Which Pac-12 Coaches Are on the Hot Seat?
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<figcaption>Jed Jacobsohn</figcaption>
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<p>Taking a look at the temperature of the seats underneath the Pac-12 coaches halfway through the 2012 season.</p> <p>With four first-year coaches in the Pac-12 this year, clearly last year was the "Year of the Coaches Hot Seat" in the conference. With a number of the new coaches having success, and the majority of the conference's current powers still on top, it looks like 2012 could be a rare season in a major football conference where all head coaches survive the season.</p>
<p>With that said, the first half of the season has already seen the remarkable comeback of the conference's longest tenured head coach, a horrible slide for the second-longest tenured and some very quick starts for some of the new guys.</p>
<p>But how do the 12 coaches stack up right now in regards to who is on the hottest seat and who is on the coldest seat?</p>
<p><b>Coldest</b></p>
<p><b>Chip Kelly, Oregon</b></p>
<p>Though he is the least likely coach to get fired in the conference right now for his team's performance on the field, Kelly might be the guy that I would bet has the best chance of leaving after this season. When Bill Belichick and the Patriots are regularly consulting you, that means that you are a hot commodity and I think it is only a matter of time before Kelly has to prove himself in the NFL. There's that, and the fact that the NCAA is still investigating Oregon for allegations that are primarily aimed directly at him.</p>
<p>From a pure coaching standpoint though, I can't imagine that anyone in the Oregon camp is thinking that Kelly's job should be in question. Well, maybe this <a href="http://www.firechipkelly.com/">guy</a>.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Zero percent unless something comes out from the NCAA soon and it is very bad and he his forced out.</p>
<p><b>Mike Riley, Oregon State</b></p>
<p>Riley was actually one the coaches on the hot seat going into the season, but winning changes everything and the perfect marriage between Riley and Corvallis appears to be going strong again. No one expected Oregon State to be undefeated and ranked in the Top 10 in late-October and Riley deserves a ton of credit as his unheralded team is playing as good as anyone in the country.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Almost zero percent, but the Beavers face a tougher schedule the rest of the way and faltering down the stretch would make him get back towards the fire he was near going into the season.</p>
<p><b>David Shaw, Stanford</b></p>
<p>Shaw has only lost four games as a head coach, but his in-game coaching has very much been in question in his last three losses with the kicking debacle in last season's Fiesta Bowl and Stanford losing games they should have wrapped up against Washington and Notre Dame. Stanford is one of the least pressure packed jobs in the conference, but Shaw has a ton of talent in Palo Alto and will need to show that he can keep Stanford at the top of the conference as Harbaugh's players start to graduate.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> None, he'll have to really falter to get much pressure at Stanford, though it would be imperative for him to show that he can get his team to compete with Oregon this year and not get blown out in Eugene.</p>
<p><b>Todd Graham, Arizona State</b></p>
<p>Despite getting bounced by Oregon at home, the Sun Devils are just one win away from matching their win total from last year and sitting at second in the South Division. Graham has received a lot of credit for taking a talented but undisciplined team and getting them playing the right way in just one season as coach. Sun Devil fans are excited about the future, and should be as long as Graham doesn't do what Graham does and bolt as soon as something better comes along.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> None, Graham could lose out the rest of the way and while, he wouldn't get himself off to a good start, he would still be safe in his first season.</p>
<p><b>Rich Rodriguez, Arizona</b></p>
<p>Despite an 0-3 Pac-12 start in his first season in the conference, Wildcat fans have to be excited about what Rodriguez' offense can do after seeing it in full affect against Oklahoma State, Washington and Stanford. The fact that Rodriguez was able to get the hurry-up offense humming as well as it has in his first season at Arizona is a great sign for the future as he follows Oregon's path of hoping to destroy opponents with speed and tempo.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Once again, these first-year coaches will get a pass in their first season, but Rodriguez can make sure that he chills his seat by getting his defense to play well down the stretch and getting Arizona to a bowl game. Expectations aren't sky high in Arizona and the Wildcats don't have an easy schedule, but getting to a bowl game in his first year will do wonders for his job security.</p>
<p><b>Lane Kiffin, USC</b></p>
<p>Kiffin's record and current recruiting class suggests that his seat should be cooler, but I just keep hearing rumblings about how the administration at USC isn't in love with him and expectations are higher at USC than anywhere else in the conference. Three or four losses are very possible for USC this season if they don't play at a high level and that would be extremely disappointing for a season where the Trojans came in with national championship hype. Fans can't be happy with his complete inability to beat Stanford and he will have a lot of explaining to do if he gets beat by Oregon twice in one year which would make his record against Stanford and Oregon 1-6.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Very low, but not impossible. If the administration truly doesn't like him and he finishes 9-5 or 8-6 this season, USC might jump at the chance at getting one of the many elite coaches who would assuredly love to coach there.</p>
<p><b>Jim Mora, UCLA</b></p>
<p>Mora's hard to grasp personality and unique philosophies will leave him little room for failure, but he appears to have UCLA headed in the right direction for the most part in 2012. UCLA fans were ecstatic with the early-season start, but the blowout loss they suffered at Cal was exactly the kind of uninspired loss to an equal or lesser opponent that has doomed previous UCLA coaches so they definitely have to be a little wary until he can prove that they still aren't the underachieving Bruins of old.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> None, unless he says something out of this world stupid.</p>
<p><b>Mike Leach, Washington State</b></p>
<p>It's not so much that Leach has the Cougars sitting at 2-5, it's the way they have done it. Despite being heralded as an offensive genius, the Cougars offense has failed to score much at all and hasn't struck fear into anyone - not even Eastern Washington or Colorado. The fact that Rodriguez has been able to immediately get his high-octane spread offense going immediately at Arizona can't sit well with Cougar fans either.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> None, the Cougars made a big move by hiring Leach, so they are likely going to have to stick it out with him for a while, but he will immediately be on the hot seat if he can't find a way to win another game or two the rest of the season.</p>
<p><b>Kyle Whittingham, Utah</b></p>
<p>I wonder if Whittingham kind of wishes that the Utes would have stayed in the comfort of the Mountain West. The transition to the Pac-12 hasn't gone well for the Utes, and despite looking like they had started to put it together late last season, they have pretty much been in a tailspin since last season's inexcusable upset at the hands of Colorado that kept them out of the Pac-12 Championship Game.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Low, but people will call for it if the Utes can't win a game or two down the stretch and have to being to wonder if they might need a proven BCS coach to keep them competitive in the Pac-12.</p>
<p><b>Steve Sarkisian, Washington</b></p>
<p>It is actually kind of shocking how Sarkisian has completely avoided the hot seat so far just based on his 22-23 overall record at Washington, but coming off of Tyrone Willingham and an 0-12 season, Husky fans have been very appreciative of what he has done. However, I think most expected the Huskies to be farther along in their progression in Sarkisian's fourth year in Seattle and he will officially be in the hot seat in 2013 if the Huskies can't finish this season strong.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Low, but it wouldn't be impossible if the Huskies went winless or get just one win the rest of the season. Most of the pressure will be on next year when the Huskies finally start to have some experienced starters and depth.</p>
<p><b>Jon Embree, Colorado</b></p>
<p>Even in the ultra competitive, "win now or else" world of modern college football, it's still pretty hard to get fired in only two seasons, but Embree is definitely testing those waters. The Buffaloes haven't just been bad under Embree, they have been embarrassing, particularly out of conference where they got obliterated by Fresno State and lost to FCS Sacramento State earlier this year.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Not likely, but a possibility, especially if Colorado fails to compete in the rest of their games. I don't think Colorado is serious enough about football to do it, but a 1-11 season filled with blowouts could be enough to cut ties with Embree sooner rather than later to stop the bleeding.</p>
<p><b>Hottest</b></p>
<p><b>Jeff Tedford, Cal</b></p>
<p>It's crazy to think that in the mid-2000's Tedford was one of the hottest commodities on the coaching market and was perpetually speculated as a target for every good coaching opening, even some in the NFL. The Bears have without a doubt stagnated under Tedford and it is hard to see that turning around anytime soon as they aren't exactly teeming with young talent and the monster recruiting class they were putting together last year basically got obliterated by Washington's poaching of Tosh Lupoi.</p>
<p><b>Chances he is fired in 2012 -</b> Likely, and he is the only one that I would bet any money on losing his job. I think he needs to at least get Cal to six wins to save his job and that is a tough task as they will need to win three out of their last four with one of those games being against Oregon and two on the road.</p>
<p>What I think may be Tedford's saving grace though is that he rejuvenated the program to the point where they remodeled their stadium so it would be pretty brutal if they fired him the first year post-renovation.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/pac-12-football/2012/10/25/3551084/jeff-tedford-cal-jon-embree-colorado-hot-seat-college-football-coachesJack Follman2012-09-23T05:01:32-07:002012-09-23T05:01:32-07:00Colorado gets some redemption against WSU
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<p>The Colorado Buffaloes earned a measure of redemption and relief in beating the Washington State Cougars.</p> <p><b>Colorado 35, Washington State 34</b></p>
<p>It looked like the season was going to be an absolute abomination for Colorado fans after their 0-3 start in non-conference play. The gimme rivalry loss to Colorado State, the painful home shocker to Sacramento State, the absolute railroading by Fresno State--suddenly 0-12 was very much in play. With so many strong teams coming up in the Pac-12, how would the Buffaloes fare?<br><br>It was looking like Washington State would be the most winnable game; the Cougars had looked like the most beatable team along with the Buffs in conference play. But after some encouraging early moments, it looked like Colorado wasn't going to make it happen.</p>
<p>And then the magic. <a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/2012/9/22/3374106/colorado-buffaloes-washington-state-cougars-recap" target="_blank">Jon Woods of the Ralphie Report has the details</a>.</p>
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<p>At the point the Colorado offense seemed to have had fired all of it's bullets and couldn't get out of it's own way but big plays, a beautiful 70-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Webb to tight end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75900/nick-kasa" class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Kasa</a> and an 84-yard touchdown scamper by Tony Jones, got the Buffaloes right back into the game. Washington State kicked off to the Buffaloes after a field goal with 3:18 to go and Colorado took the ball down the field for a final fourth down play on the Cougars four-yard line. Five wide receivers, empty backfield. Jordan Webb runs the quarterback draw up the middle to give Colorado their first win of the 2012 season. To give Colorado a 1-0 record in the Pac-12 South. To give Colorado a return to respectability and Buffaloes fans everywhere one hell of a Saturday afternoon.</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>Colorado might be turning a corner. They might not be. But for now, in a season where they were predicted to do less than nothing, the Buffs no longer have to worry about getting blanked this season. They might not end up making a bowl or even winning another football game, but they will avoid the ultimate embarrassment a college football program will endure. And they can start coming together like an actual football team and try and grow and develop with the guys they've got.</p>
<p>That's good enough for Jon Embree and the Buffs today. That's good enough for Buff Nation.</p>
<p><b>SB Nation snippet</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/2012/9/22/3375468/colorado-buffaloes-washington-state-cougars-quick-recap" target="_blank">DavidAGerhardt, Ralphie Report</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>How about that second half by our Buffs? We outscored Mike Leach and his Cougars 28-13, and 21-6 in the 4th quarter. We payed them back for their comeback victory last season in Boulder. I remember thinking in the middle of the 4th, that it felt eerily similar, but with the roles reversed. This was an exciting game (at least in the second half), and one that was actually fun to watch. We still have problems all over the field, but we looked better this week than we have at any point yet this year. We have a long way to go before we can hope to muster up any other wins in 2012, but this was a definite step in the right direction.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/2012/9/23/3375862/colorado-buffaloes-vs-washington-state-cougars-football-2012-score-recapAvinash Kunnath2012-09-21T07:00:21-07:002012-09-21T07:00:21-07:00WSU faces Colorado in Pac-12 cellar matchup
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F-G2gTSsbWxs_6-DPbd7-0uPEdg=/0x0:3999x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/801101/20120914_jla_ar4_480.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>A preview of Saturday's game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington State Cougars.</p> <p>When Washington State and Colorado fans look at the rest of their schedules, I'm sure they both draw the same exact conclusion about Saturday's game in Pullman, "We must win this game Saturday, because it is far and away the most winnable game left on the schedule."</p>
<p>For the Buffaloes, the Cougars simply represent the team closest to them in talent level in the conference, and also represent their best chance to even get one win all season after already losing to the three worst opponents on their schedule to open the season. For the Cougars, it will be a meltdown in Pullman if they aren't able to beat the lowly Buffaloes as it won't get any easier the rest of the way, and the Cougars will likely end up winning fewer than, or just as many games as they did last year under Paul Wulff unless they can pull off a few upsets.</p>
<p>While the Cougars have been far from impressive so far this season, they have been nowhere near as helpless looking as the Buffaloes, who look not only like the worst BCS conference team in the nation this season, but possibly the worst FBS team. The Buffaloes got absolutely demolished by a Fresno State team that has been pretty bad in recent years, lost to FCS Sacramento State at home and lost to a Colorado State team that turned around and got smashed by an FCS team themselves. Unless Jon Embree can make a serious turnaround, it's likely that his job will soon go the way of the American Bison.</p>
<p>The Cougars really have no excuse if they don't come out at home and easily blow out the Buffaloes. Colorado is fresh off giving up back-to-back 300 yard passing games to David Carr's little brother and the wily <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Garrett Safron</a> so either <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Tuel</a> or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114012/connor-halliday" class="sbn-auto-link">Connor Halliday</a> should be able to have a field day with the Cougars deep receiving corps. Cougar fans should fully expect to finally see the offensive production from Mike Leach's team that they expected to see from the first game forward unless something weird happens.</p>
<p>But this is college football, something weird always happens.Just a few weeks ago Stanford struggled to just barely beat San Jose State and Arizona went to overtime with mighty Toledo and now both are among the hottest teams in the country. With that in mind, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see Colorado come out and make a game of it on the Palouse. While their cupboards aren't as stocked as teams like Stanford or Arizona, the Buffaloes aren't completely devoid of talent, and honestly shouldn't be getting blasted by teams like Fresno State the way that they did. If the Buffaloes can come out motivated and get a running game going, slowing the pace of play and calming the home crowd, they should have a shot, especially if the Cougar offense continues to struggle to get on track.</p>
<p>From a pure match-up standpoint though, the game favors the Cougars with them playing at home and possessing a prolific passing game that should be better than that of Fresno State and Sacramento State. The Cougars also surprisingly have almost looked better on defense than on offense at times and the Colorado offense has failed to show much of a pulse all season, so it is unlikely that they suddenly will against the best defense they have faced yet. Motivation should also be a key factor for the Cougars as well, as a win will put them at 3-1 and needing only 3 wins the rest of the way to get to the coveted 6 wins and long elusive bowl eligibility.</p>
<p>What it all boils down to though is that no matter the outcome, one coach is going to come away in a really bad spot very early in the season after Saturday's game with their team looking fully entrenched in the Pac-12 cellar for at least the rest of the season and if you are fan of either it will be a worst nightmare come true.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/2012/9/21/3365492/washington-state-football-vs-colorado-the-cougars-fight-to-stay-outJack Follman2012-09-19T03:00:23-07:002012-09-19T03:00:23-07:00Colorado obliterated by Fresno State
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<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Colorado Buffaloes are a flaming wreck that everyone feel sorry for after their annihilation by Fresno State. Well, maybe not Nebraska fans.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/colorado-buffaloes" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Buffaloes</a> should be a likeable football team. They're situated in one of the most beautiful college environments in the country, they havee some of the chillest in the nation, they have knowledegable people covering the team (<a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com" target="_blank">hit up Ralphie Report y'all</a>).</p>
<p>And they are absolutely awful.</p>
<p>To get an idea of how bad last week's loss with Fresno was, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/18/3348936/college-football-colorado" target="_blank">read Brian Cook's This Week in Schadenfreude</a>, and keep on scrolling through the Colorado section. And feel the sads.</p>
<p>Colorado is 0-3 and is now looking to try and <i>just win</i> a football game. The Buffaloes have already lost their most winnable games on their schedule to Sacramento State and Colorado State, and could have been lit up for a hundred points if Fresno State's coach was a total bro. After they play Washington State, they face five ranked teams in six weeks (and Arizona State is right on the cusp). No win this week probably means 0-10 is a given.</p>
<p>And nothing is easily fixed. Colorado is so young and inexperienced in so many spots that new players can't be brought in and expected to do any better. And the Pac-12 is so loaded everywhere that it's impossible not to pencil in automatic victory for anyone they face.</p>
<p>Washington State 2008 was an awful football squad, but Colorado 2012 might do their best to replicate that effort this year. It's not something one wishes upon anyone. Makes sense that the Buffs would try and knock off the Cougars to get that lone win.</p>
<p>It's almost like a passing of an unlit torch.</p>
<p><b>SB Nation snippets</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/18/3352946/college-football-stats-week-3-2012" target="_blank">Bill Connelly details the horror in the Numerical</a>.</p>
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<p><b>5</b>. Plays it took for Fresno State to gain 215 yards and score four touchdowns in the first quarter of a ridiculous, 69-14 massacre of Colorado. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/85472/robbie-rouse" class="sbn-auto-link">Robbie Rouse</a> caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to go up 14-0, then following a good punt return by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116703/isaiah-burse" class="sbn-auto-link">Isaiah Burse</a>, Rouse caught a 12-yard touchdown pass on their next play. 21-0. Colorado pinned FSU deep with a punt, but on the first play of the next drive, Carr found Burse for a 97-yard touchdown. 28-0. And after <i>another</i> good punt, Rouse ran for three yards, then ripped off a 94-yard touchdown.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.ralphiereport.com/2012/9/15/3340086/colorado-buffaloes-fresno-state-bulldogs-quick-recap" target="_blank">David Gerhardt, Ralphie Report</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This is a miserable team. They are bad, they show no heart, they play without passion, and no matter who they put out there (and they tried just about everyone), they stink. It's only going to get worse. The team is going backwards instead of forwards and the schedule only gets tougher. I'd love someone, when they're sober, to look up the most points we've given up in a single season. Because I have a feeling we're going to eclipse that. Does Jon Embree step down after this game? Would that even solve anything? Players aren't improving. Nobody is stepping up. Changes aren't being made. This is awful. Just awful. I already talked about how I'm not for coaching changes midseason, but I also haven't experience a team that was this terrible.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/9/18/3347472/college-football-2012-utah-fans" target="_blank">Spencer Hall, SB Nation Alphabetical</a>:</p>
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<p><b>Lugent </b>is a word meaning weeping, and is this week a synonym for Colorado football.</p>
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<p>It really is cheating to say this since Colorado football is a synonym for weeping every week, but when the story of this season is written for Colorado, someone should remember the time a linebacker was taken out by a safety tripping over the field umpire. Then that story, and all its unspeakable horrors, should be burned, and buried deep beneath the earth's surface.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1390937/Screen_Shot_2012-09-18_at_10.49.43_AM.png" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1390937/Screen_Shot_2012-09-18_at_10.49.43_AM_medium.png" alt="Screen_shot_2012-09-18_at_10"></a> <br id="1347979912551"></p>
<p>The fetal pose of the safety there is the saddest and most fitting summary of this exact moment in Colorado football.</p>
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<p>My god. THE PAIN.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/2012/9/19/3356204/colorado-buffs-buffaloes-football-2012Avinash Kunnath