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, December 16, 2014

Random reflections on a lost season

Sighs were common across Colorado this season as the Buffaloes struggled to a disappointing 2-10 record, without even recording a conference win.  Those of us who were hopefully optimistic before the season about getting to a bowl game this year must have been off their rockers...or were we? Looking back, this feisty young Buff squad definitely had four other possible wins in them on this schedule. They certainly had multiple opportunities in the overtime losses to Cal and UCLA, not mention driving late for what would have been the go ahead TD against Oregon St. That's three "shoulda" been wins, plus they were leading csu, Arizona and Utah before crumbling late as well as Washington and even stayed tight with asu. Okay, I'm not saying they should have definitely gotten the magical six wins to book a bowl, but it is not "whoa, crazy crazy" to think it was in the realm of possibility. Unfortunately, they could not catch a break (I.e. overturned interceptions bs both osu and Utah) and were quite proficient at compounding mistakes and bad breaks either right before or after halftime, and never able to the make the crucial auate in the game.
A few rolls, bounces or whistles, especially earlier in the season and this team with confidence could have become quite dangerous. Outside of sefo's tendency to make at least one awful turnover per game, the offense was very productive and was able to score points.  The defense was not nearly as good, but did lose three would be staters (kafovalu, henington and bell) in the preseason, only got a 60% or so Addison gillam and had its secondary decimated by injuries. Next season is looking up with whom they have returning, who they get back and some intriguing JC recruits coming in. All in all the 2014 season leaves a sour taste in the mouth, although it is mixed with a little of that lemon drop sweetness of what could have been and the maybe of what might be...

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