State of the Buffs

The Colorado Buffalo football team is 0-3 and staring at 0-12.  One win against anyone at this point would be a celebration.  People are calling for Embree’s head after only 15 games. AD Mike Bohn and President Bruce Benson are sticking behind Embree and the program (is this a dreaded “vote of confidence”?). Former players and fans everywhere are being very negatively vocal.  Bill McCartney tells us to ride the storm, support the team and be part of the rebuilding, even though we are deep down in the dirt trying to lay a foundation.   What should be done?

            Firing anyone now would probably be more damaging to the program, especially Embree. Former Niwot star, Buff and NFL player Matt McChesney is sick of what he is seeing and called for defensive coordinator Greg Brown to be fired, and admitted that while he still is supporting Embree and Bienemy, he is doubting if they were the right choices, even though he was one of their most ardent supporters. One of his best criticisms is asking why their best pass rusher, Chidera Uzo-Diribe, is dropping into zone pass coverage on a critical goal line play? I won’t bother going on and on here. I would be more in favor of demoting Brown (I think he could handle it in this situation) and letting him concentrate on coaching his position, which is lacking serious fundamental technique, and promoting Cabral to DC.  He is a master LB coach, with lots of talent to work with, and he was supposed to be the guy at first anyway.  As for the offense, Bienemy, like Brown, is in way over his head trying to coach a position with a lot of young players, and trying to coordinate an entire side of not so great players.  I think it is a good idea to have him and his fire on the sidelines, but I don’t think that will “solve all the world’s problems”.  QB coach Rip Scherer’s eye up in the box are probably better for the team as well.

            As for Embree?  I really can’t say.  While I think he deserves at least three years, and certainly should not be let go midseason, I am not sure if they will have a choice when the season is done.  However, I wonder where they will go instead?  Most experienced coaches will not touch this place with a thousand-foot-pole right now and I don’t think they want anyone without a head coaching past.  They will have to pay BIG money for someone known and I have no vision of who that could possibly be.  No matter what, there will have to be changes made on the staff.  However, I definitely know I don’t want Mike Bohn making another football coach hire, even though he has done wonders for the rest of the Athletic Department.

            And for me?  I am still supporting the Buffs, although maybe wearing a little less bright gold.  We have decided that while we want to visit a niece and some friends in So Cal, we won’t be attending the USC game as we had tentatively planned.  I will try to temper myself during games and just watch football.  I will help circle the wagons with Mac, but I am probably dragging at the back of the line.

Recruiting notes: The Buffs still have 13 commits, however, it appears that the Buffs best commit prospect, (their only true) 4-star Chapparal TE Mitchell Parsons is entertaining calls from other programs, although he still remains committed to CU.  This would be a huge blow if he falls because more will follow him; he has been a strong recruiter and the rock that has kept Buff recruits in touch with each other through a Facebook page.

On a different note…ESPN is reporting that the Buffs offered (currently unrated?) Sherman Oaks QB Kelly Hilinski, who told them that “Rip Scherer told him that their scholarship situation for the 2013 class changed recently, which opened a spot for an additional quarterback.”  He also has offers from Arkansas (so not a total scrub) as well as Harvard and Yale (so not a total idiot).  I don’t know if that means they have more slots because of kids they know will leave, or if it means they suddenly decided they need another QB on the roster.

Here are a few perspectives on the ordeal:

Buffnik (of “uncensored preview” fame) offers this two-part open letter (click on part II on link at bottom of article): http://www.allbuffs.com/content.php/1532-A-2nd-Open-Letter-to-the-CU-faithful-Part-I-Revisiting-the-isssues

The Camera’s article on McChesney: http://www.buffzone.com/ci_21562688/former-cu-buff-matt-mcchesney-calls-change-football?source=most_viewed

Go Buffs…please go and show up!