It's the end of the year as we know it...

…and not much to report for the CU Buffaloes. There is nothing really new of any note, but a there are a few tidbits to tide us over until the official assistant coaching announcement on Wednesday:

Reports are pretty strong that secondary coach Charles Clark will also follow Mike MacIntyre from San Jose State to Colorado.  Other than Baer, Lindgren, Jeffcoat, I have no idea who else it will be.  I am not sure why MacIntyre (and maybe the Bohnhead?) are waiting until January 2 to announce everything, not even officially giving out the names that seem to be set in stone, and without officially saying that the current assistants are gone.  It gives the school no advantage, if anything, it’s a disadvantage with recruits, and it’s not like any of the hires are going to make a big splash. 

Conventional wisdom follows that MacIntyre also lures Dave Forman, the strength and conditioning guy he hired from Stanford two years ago, but San Jose Mercury News Pac-12 reporter extraordinaire Jon Wilner thinks Caragher will try to retain him at SJSU.

While many internet speculators would still love to see Matt Lubick end up here, I doubt that is going to happen-I can’t see him making a move, unless it is to an offensive coordinator position.

I also laugh heartily at the suggestions that Bienemy would stay on as only RB coach or especially at the few who are saying Embree should be named TE coach?!  Seriously people?  I can’t even address the Embree suggestion it is so absurd, and even EB is not that stupid.

Reports are that all CU coaches’ offices are empty; all of them are gone quietly, except Darian Hagan is still on the job, helping with the recruiting coordination still, but for how long?  Hopefully, all were told long ago that they were not in the future plans so they could move on in their lives and look for new jobs.

Someone might end up okay out of all this as Pete Roussel of CoachingSearch.com reports that Greg Brown might be up for the DB job at…Alabama!  Nick Saban has lost a few position coaches of late and this would be a phenomenal opportunity for Brown, who I always said was a great position coach, and he could learn a lot.

Ron Caragher is filling out his new staff at SJSU with at least three members of his San Diego staff, and it appears that only the two previously reported holdover coaches, wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Terry Malley and running backs/special teams coach Fred Guidici, are staying on with him at San Jose, freeing up the rest to follow MacIntyre to Boulder.  However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of the Spartan staff is coming to Boulder, but probably many of them.

buffsballer on NetBuffs posted: “Expect 7 assistants from SJSU -D2 Danny Part 2: including the inexperienced son-in-law of the OL coach. Nice hire Bohn(head) - you stayed one step ahead of the posse for now, but it's won't last forever. Wonder how long until Bohn throws MacIntyre and his staff under the bus in another effort for Bohn to stay employed, though he is one of the very worst AD's in college athletics?”

Although it will be great to know who the coaching staff is and that we can all move forward, it will be sad on Wednesday when it is simultaneously announced that most, if not all, of the previous staff, are being let go, having been tied down in limbo here knowing they are only awaiting their fate.  We will see if Alfred was correct in saying two weeks ago that everyone is gone, “everybody” and also how the Bohnhead words his response to the questions about how this process has been handled.

Athlon re-ranked the new coaching situations as to who has “the greatest likelihood of yielding success within the next five years for the average coach” (whatever that may mean for each program?). Colorado came out 10^th of the 27 and they had this to say: “Pros: Colorado has had pockets of success, with three different coaches winning at last 10 games since the 1990 national title. The state usually has a handful of top-flight prospects as well. The days of Colorado competing for a national title may be over, but with time, the Buffaloes could be a bowl contender again.   Cons: The program is a major rebuilding job as it was evident the Buffaloes lacked the talent to compete in the Pac-12. Colorado fired Embree after just two seasons, and athletic director Mike Bohn curiously detailed the various problems with the job, including “the erosion of the fan base and ... ticket sales.”  Not very encouraging. (And why do national writers keeping “Ellis-island-ing” the CU AD’s name, by shortening it?!)

Nevada head coach Chris Ault, the mastermind behind the Pistol offense, is retiring.  No word yet as to whom will replace him, but it could have some effect on the CU offensive coaching staff, assuming Nevada wants to continue with the Pistol that has helped give the university a name in college football.

RB Josh Ford, who always showed flashes of rushing brilliance on the field, but was dogged by the last staff for not practicing hard and not knowing his pass blocking assignments, is confident in the new staff as he tweeted that he predicted a bowl game for CU next year.

Jon Wilner, Pac-12 expert from the San Jose Mercury News, wrote this about MacIntyre and his knack for finding talent: “One point that I failed to mention when MacIntyre accepted the job — and a topic that will resonate with frustrated CU fans — is what I consider to be his greatest strength: Talent evaluation. MacIntyre hired a collection of assistants at SJSU that was as strong as any staff in the WAC or MWC (a few are joining him in Boulder). His ability to spot talent, a skill honed during his years working for Bill Parcells, is no less impressive…Colorado fans should expect MacIntyre to sign a bevy of big-framed, versatile athletes and worry about their position down the road. Many will end up at linebacker or tight end, but a few could grow into tackles. He believes a lean 250-pound prospect with the potential to add 30 or 40 pounds has far more long-term value than a 300-pounder with substantial body fat. The best example on SJSU’s roster is Travis Raciti, who was signed as a 255-pound TE/OLB/DE and grew into a 285-pound tackle good enough to start for many teams in the Pac-12 (and eventually play in the NFL). It will take a few years, obviously, but MacIntyre will eventually transform the CU roster into a more talented, and far more versatile, group.”

Here’s a link to the AllBuffs forum page speculating about possible recruits with Colorado ties or mentions: http://www.allbuffs.com/forumdisplay.php/14-Colorado-Football-Recruiting-Central

Check this photo out, supposedly from Les Miles’ office at LSU: http://www.netbuffs.com/message_board/football/2012/December/28/760876.php  Now, that’s an even more creative and interesting motivational technique than the repetitive hoarse yelling used by Bienemy.

Happy New Year and Go Buffs!