Black and Pink Notes

Here are just a few mid-week tidbits leading up to the “Black and Pink is the new Black and Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Game:

§  Review of the tape: I can’t believe I forgot to record the Charleston Southern game?!  It would be enjoyable to watch a win again, and I would really like to watch the lines to see how bad they really were.  Maybe I can find it on ESPNClassic.

§  Line: Arizona (4-2, 1-2) opened at -17, but that had gone down to 15 quickly.  Is everyone betting on the Buffs?

§  Injuries: Backup tackle Marc Mustoe broke his fibula in jumbo package duty and is done for the year.  Otherwise the Buffs are still relatively healthy, waiting for Josh Ford and Jeromy Irwin to heal.  FB/TE Alex Wood might play, but will anyone but his parents notice?

§  Both Arizona safeties, Tra’mayne Bondurant (not cleared from concussion) and Jared Tevis (knee), are questionable and very well may not play.

§  Team notes: True frosh San Kroshrage has been listed as the next tackle if something happened to Harris or Nembot (not playing well as it is), but they prefer not to use him.  Daniel Munyer and Kawai Crabb will work some at tackle this week and one of them would move outside, with Alex Kelley taking their guard spot, if something happens. If Jeromy Irwin does get fully healthy, they would prefer to also redshirt him this year since he lost last year to just a few plays. 

§  Sefo is really impressing everyone, not just with his play on the field, but his maturity and comfort in the interviews and press conferences.  He leads a group of young players who give some hope to the future.  Here’s a great article from his hometown. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/10/22/2849777/from-graduation-to-college-starter.html

§  Honors, mentions and recognitions: Chidera Uzo-Diribe is getting some press (mention at Athlon and article in Camera) for his knack for forcing fumbles, as he leads the nation in that stat with 5 this season (and 10 in his career-one behind Brain Cabral’s team record).  He is looking forward to playing the Wildcats as they have been susceptible to fumbling, although they have recovered most themselves.  He also said that this staff doesn’t just talk about causing turnovers, but they spend a period every practice rotating through stations with different coaches working on stripping, catching the ball and other skills-so linemen work with DB coaches and DBs with others on causing fumbles.

§  An interesting stat from Athlon: “Colorado is 3-0 against the last three visiting teams from the Eastern time zoneCharleston Southern was a late addition to Colorado’s schedule, after its Sept. 14 game against Fresno State was canceled due to the flooding in Colorado. In its fifth-ever game against a FCS opponent and first home game against an Eastern time zone opponent since Georgia left with a 29-27 loss in 2010, the Buffaloes handed the previously 7-0 Buccaneers a 43-10 loss. Colorado also defeated visiting Miami (Ohio) 42-0 in 2007.”

§  RB Michael Adkins had a stellar week but was overlooked somewhat with some big days by other backs, but no worries as he could still catch someone off guard.

§  P-Rich has dropped to 4^th in the country with 130.3 receiving yards per game, ninth in overall receiving yards with 782, well on his way to most of CU’s single season receiving records.

§  Arizona RB Ka’Deem Carey is coming off a strong performance himself, having been named Pac12 Offensive player of the week for his school record 40 carries, picking up 236 yards and a 44-yard game-winning TD.

§  Connections: Paul’s cousin Shaquille Richardson is a DB on the Wildcats and the two could go head-to-head at times just like Grandma’s backyard at Thanksgiving. They are talking a lot of friendly, cousinly trash to each other and a huge contingent of Richardson will be in attendance.  Paul admitted that the holidays will be awkward for someone. I guess they did a funny joint interview on Pac12 Networks, so keep your eye out for it.

§  Other Buffs Notes: Sean Embree, former Buff TE and little brother of Jon, won his third straight European Football championship in Serbia.

§  2014 Recruiting: Verbal commit Evan White, an in-state recruit, has taken three visits to CU and is more excited than ever to come to Boulder.

§  Pacific Takes Fantasy League: Michael Adkins made up for the injury loss of both UCLA’s Jordon James and Oregon De’Anthony Thomas (and for basically no TE-Kyle Slavin) while Connor Halliday again threw for over 500 yards as “Bringin’ the Buff” rolled again.  We are up to 5-3, second best record behind the league founder.  I am without Halliday on bye next week, going Utah’s Adam Schulz who came on for Travis Wilson, although I have no idea who will actually play.