Yes, it was that bad. Probably couldn't have come up with a worse script to start the game (let's not challenge the Buffs, though): CU kicks off, Oregon makes quick drive down field for touchdown, CU fumbles ensuing kickoff, Oregon marches right in, 14-0, less than 3 minutes into the game. The offense hadn't even got to touch the ball yet. It never got any better, the commentators again pointing out how the the Buffaloes don't seem to like momentum, finding a way to quickly kill it whenever they do something positive. Even when they moved down the field when they finally got the ball, a third down pickup was nullified by not one, but THREE blocking penalties on the play-it took officials a few minutes to figure out what happened and then the Duckshad to decide which 15-yarder to choose. End of first quarter Oregon 28 CU 0 (not sure if they had 28 yards of total offense at the point). To open the second half they did put together two consecutive TD drives, sandwiched around a defensive fumble recovery, and led by Nick Hirschman handing the ball off to Christian Powell; however, they were already down 56-0 and playing against Oregon reserves. But don't worry, Oregon third-stringers were able to cover. Oh yeah, and 1-7 officially kills any chance of a miraculous bowl bid.
MVP update: P Darragh O'Neill continued to punt well, keeping the ball high and deep or away from the incredibly dynamic D'Anthony Thomas, booming a couple very deep inside the 20. However, on one of those that landed and bounced, and looked like it would be downed inside the 10, was instead picked up by Thomas who went backwards, before juking Ray Polk and Derrick Webb (both defensive starters playing special teams) and trotting down the sidelines for an easy TD to make it 42-0 (O'Neill got plastered on a crack back block as he almost made the play). The Buffs are wasting three scholarships on kickers, two of whom are worthless (Zack Grossnickle kicked off for the ineffective Justin Castor again, but it wasn't pretty), while O'Neill plays for free and with the most heart on the team.
Injury/Depth chart data: LT David Bahktiari did not play, with Ryan Dannewitz filling in admirably. C Gus Handler got injured early, but I thought the offensive line looked better (again) with Munyer and Harris shifting over to C and RG (from RG and RT respectively) and Stephane Nembot coming in at RT. WR Nelson Spruce was injured and the offense had very few passing options after he left. It looks like LB Kyle Washington is still out and Brady Daigh was announced as the starter at LB but I never saw him or heard his name. Yuri Wright started at CB instead of Kenneth Crawley (who didn't see much time on defense, if at all, but returned two punts in the 4th). Ray Polk still looked a little slow and rusty, missing a few plays he should and needs to make. I actually hope that Chidera Uzo-Diribe is still hurt, because that would give him an excuse as to why he got flatfooted by backup QB Bryan Bennett as he waltzed in for one of his TDs. I think Samson Kafovalu has moved into the number one DT slot ahead of Nate Bonsu and T-Fr. Justin Solis and Tyler Henington (Josh Tupou did not make the trip). Tony Jones opened the game returning kicks, promptly muffed the first Duck kick, leading to their second TD in a minute, and didn't do much after that, although he did touch the ball a few times on offense. T-Fr. Donta Abron looked decent carrying the ball against Duck scrubs and Josh Ford got his honorary carry.
It is very possible that we were looking at CU's new starting QB during the second half. Nick Hirschman was not perfect any means, but he did lead the Buffs on two scoring drives, albeit against reserves. His decisions and passing were certainly no worse than Webb's have been (outside of the second half of the Wash St. game) and I believe he has earned the chance to start and lead the team (interception was not really his fault-his pass was a little behind, but catchable). Embree admitted they will evaluate that position again this week. Supposedly Wood is still making some crucial mistakes, likely eye-locking on his first option and not looking off DBs, telegraphing a lot of his decisions. Conventional wisdom says that if you are going to throw a new QB out there, do it in front of a home crowd and not against one of the best defenses in the country; although I suppose they could even throw Webb out there one more time against Stanford, and maybe at Arizona as both should be blowout losses, before closing out the season at home against Washington and Utah.
The only positive, again, is that a lot of young players got a lot of snaps against Pac-12 talents (even Oregon reserves are really good and fast). In the second half, seniors hardly played, although they got Eric Richter some time in at RG and Doug Rippy was still out there trying to lead the young guys late on defense; Spruce's injury forced them to continue to use WR Dustin Ebner late also (don't think he's fast enough to carry water for Ducks).
There were a few other positives amidst the ugly: LB Jon Major did have his best game in awhile, getting a little pressure on the QB and batting two passes. LB Paul Vigo had another nice game. Powell did have 121 yards. Donta Abron did take a few kickoff out past the 25 yard line (teams are dropping the kickoffs short of the endzone because they want us to return it). That's about all I can find.
I can't imagine Stanford being much different, except that maybe we can hold them under fifty.
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