Welcome!

Teacher by day, Buff fanatic by night, and, actually throughout the school day also. I was raised in Boulder during the dark Chuck Fairbanks years by two University of Michigan alums. I knew "Go Blue!" long before "Go Buffs!", but when a relatively unknown defensive coordinator was hired to lead the Buffs, my interest was slightly piqued. By the time I reached high school Bill McCartney was building a solid foundation with homegrown talent like Jon Embree and I remember the day in 1986 when Boulder celebrated the win over Nebraska. In college I sold beer, watched Coach Mac win a championship, Rashaan Salaam win a Heisman and I was hooked forever. When Jon Embree was hired, I renewed my season tickets and hit the practice rail. I wrote up a few things for some relatives, forwarded them to a few friends, and then made it a blog. Now I find writing about my Buffies is fun, more informative and therapy! I'll post a few times a week during the season, less in the offseason, with news, musings and links. Go Buffs!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Spring Practice Update- April 3

The Buffs returned from Spring Break (“with no issues”) Monday and had “good energy” according to Embree. The Athletic Department sent out season ticket renewals and is giving us less than 2 weeks to submit them before the Spring Game.  The team will run some sort of minor scrimmage on Thursday.  
A few notes:
§  We finally got some clarity on the offensive line when Steve Marshall declared that Alex Lewis and Daniel Munyer would be the starting guards if they had a game this week, along with tackles Bahktiari and Harris and Handler at center.
§   The unit is working on its cohesiveness and depth, especially as it already has some injuries: Ryan Dannwitz is out for the spring, Stephane Nembot did not do much in the first half of practices and is still limited by an offsesason conditioning knee injury, Alex Kelley and Kawai Crabb have also been limited.
§  BG Brooks wrote that recruit Jeromy Irwin could be called upon to provide depth in the interior if the team cannot stay healthy.
§  DT Nate Bonsu returned to practice but only for individual drills and no contact.
§  Eric Richter appears to be just a big body as he has been called out yet again; he has had more “downs than ups” and has “6 practices left” to show his stuff.
§  It is unclear if Kansas transfer Jordan Webb is actually joining the team or not.  He is finishing up his semester and degree at Kansas and I guess we will know later this Spring.
§  Embree said he is pleased with Connor Wood, but that you always want to have some experience and depth.  He is “excited” to see Nick Hirschman in August. [It sounds like Mack Brown is still unsure who his QB at Texas will be with David Ash still holding an edge over Case McCoy.  Wood would likely be in the mix there if he was still around; he might have even gotten in last year amidst all their struggles.]
§  DD Goodson has gotten some praise for his play at RB, catching the ball, having good instincts, “He’s just a football player.”
§  I heard one rumor that Cabral is a little worried about depth at LB with so many young players and injuries in the older players (Rippy still rehabbing his knee and Jon Major is dealing with a variety of unreported nagging injuries). 
§  Embree joked that speedy converted safety Kyle Washington was struggling but then, with Washington within earshot, said he was “pleased with him so far.”
§  DB Parker Orms remains out for the entire Spring with a pulled right hamstring.  Over his three years in the program right leg injuries have kept him sidelined for more games, and even practices, than those in which he has participated.
§  Bleacher Report made a list of the most important player for each D1 team and had safety Ray Polk listed for the Buffs.  I would have thought P-Rich or one of the LBs, Rippy or Major.
§  Still nothing on Special Teams.

§  Pac-12 Note:  It has to be reported that Rick Neuheisel has been hired as an analyst for the Pac-12 network.  As much as Buff, Husky and Bruin fans might cringe as having to continually see his face, he does bring some charisma and experience to the table (he has coached at those 3 conference schools-25% of them!).  At least we can all probably make his life miserable with a barrage of emails, texts and tweets (whichever you participate in) to his accounts and appearances.

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