We attended the event because my mother-in-law and family decided to donate to the Scholarship Fund in Honor of Zane (Paying It Forward-Kunkel on Pages 8 & 9 of Magazine or 9 & 10 of PDF). The scholarship in Zane's Memory goes to a walk-on football player, for the next 5 years, that is either a junior or senior that earned his scholarship like my brother-in-law/Best Friend for his 5th-year senior season.
The Scholarship Luncheon allowed us the opportunity to meet the young man that earned his scholarship and hear from the new Athletic Director, Rick George, new Head Football Coach, Mike MacIntyre, a couple team captains in Paul Richardson and Derrick Webb and converse with some great people at CU. After attending the Spring Game, attending part of this practice and keeping a close eye on what is going on with Colorado Football more intently than years past, there is reason for optimism. I have highlighted some of this in my article about Rick George after he was hired (Rick George Takes Colorado AD Job Running) and many about Mike MacIntyre and his staff as you can see in my previous blog posts on here. I feel this way more so than ever. I coincidentally, and very fitting for the type of unique person I am, met Rick George in the restroom where he introduced himself to me (though no introduction was needed on his part) and we shook hands (yes we both were sanitary and washed our hands first) and we talked briefly about my excitement of him taking over (I may have sounded like a teenage girl meeting a boy band member and if I did, I apologize). After seeing Mr. George interact with the group, hear him speak about CU's future, but mainly what needs done before that, his honest and genuine nature can be seen through his sincerity in every interaction he had with us and the others around us. He locks in on you and isn't giving a pep rally speech and is the leader CU needed. The players even mentioned him being on the football field within 30 minutes of starting his first day at Colorado. He knows in order to build the athletic program at Colorado, it starts with the football team.
That's where I have seen a big difference compared to the last 7 years. The practices are more organized and a sense of something being accomplished and improving. Mike MacIntyre is as honest and sincere in how he speaks. It's not just coach speak as I have read too many "fans" put out there. MacIntyre says the things that I would have wanted to hear as a player, that I said myself when I coached. He has instilled the belief that every game is winnable and the staff will do everything possible through their game plan and teaching to make that happen. There is no, settle for a bowl, or circle a few games but let's go out and try to win every game.
But what's this all mean to Colorado Football in 2013 against CSU?
Like I alluded to earlier, the practices seem to have more structure, more reps, more emphasis on getting something accomplished and caring about the program and each other. Last year, I didn't see that from the staff finger pointing to each other, the players and just a mess. There is more talent and experience at areas that was without experience last year, mainly secondary. Derrick Webb mentioned in his 5th-year that this was the toughest camp he has ever been involved in. To me that is sweet music. Football camp is not supposed to be easy, it's supposed to be difficult. You are supposed to push your body and challenge yourself to get better. This group believes in each other and the staff they are coached by.
Colorado improved at Quarterback by simply giving the reigns to Connor Wood. He looked uncomfortable last year, but he had two possession WRs with little playmaking ability. Wood separated himself in Spring by using that playmaker in Paul Richardson. The Buffs move the ball around with their new Pistol offense and it will be a much quicker offense with no huddle and moving the ball down the field and the misdirection the Pistol formation brings. This isn't the slow Pro Formation that was ran last year. Christian Powell showed big play ability with huge games last year.
Colorado has a strong Defensive End in Chidera Uzo-Diribe. He contains well and is a beast of a pass rusher that should approach double digit sack totals in his senior year. The LB corp lost two starters, but may have gained speed in the undersized but hard hitting Paul Vigo. This defense and team is lead by the electric personality and physical gift of Derrick Webb. Webb can bring a room together but he can knock a player out with his physical gifts. He was Colorado's best LB last year and is a natural leader. Secondary is still young but was thrown to the fire last year. They look to be stronger with a much improved Kenneth Crawley and the shutdown consistency of Greg Henderson in his 3rd season.
So this all brings us to CSU Week and the Rocky Mountain Showdown:
This is a big game for both programs. CSU needs to take that next step and see if they can potentially get to a bowl game and move the program closer to what it was years ago under Lubbick. CU needs to start the MacIntyre era on the right foot and go into Central Arkansas with some confidence. Additionally, the last 3 head coaches have lost their first game at CU with the Barnett drubbing against CSU, Hawkins inability to take a bowl team the previous season over a FCS school in Montana State and the Hawaii drubbing Embree took in his first game. CU fans want to see a sign of things changing for the better. Both programs need to turn it around and a game where both teams look good would go a long way. If it's the bumbling awful game with the awful attendance seen last year, there will be even more questions raised by the pessimistic "FANS".
Colorado State is coming off a season where they finished fairly strong with wins in 3 of their last 5 games after losing 6 straight after their win over Colorado in Week 1. It was Jim McElwain's first season after departing Alabama as Offensive Coordinator and the Rams took their lumps, but he seemed to have his team improve. The Rams have a pair of solid backs in Chris Nwoke and Donnell Alexander that look to share the load this season and a strong offensive line with experience across the board starting four seniors this year. Quarterback seems to be up in the air but they have experience there with Garrett Grayson and Conner Smith. Grayson has more starts, but Smith played well at the end of last season. At TE/WR there is a lot of returners, but no one that was a consistent playmaker at any point last season. McElwain has a strong offensive mind and it will be interesting to see what he does with this group.
On Defense, there is a lot of experience and playmaking ability back from a squad that shut down CU in the second half. They filled holes via the JUCO route and found success doing so in 2012.
Last season McElwain and staffs adjustments in the second half of the Rocky Mountain Showdown were the difference in a close game.
This all said, Colorado has a much more talented group offensively with the return of Paul Richardson and the return of Christian Powell. They have a quarterback that isn't just a game manager like they had with Webb last season. Connor Wood makes mistakes where he puts the ball and it may lead to some picks that drive Buffs fans crazy but he has more receiving threats to spread the ball around this season to ease those mistakes with big play making ability. The Buffs seem to have more talent than CSU but always do in what has became a huge rivalry.
The Buffs kick off on the right foot and win 34-20 with Paul Richardson welcoming himself back to college football and showing what was dearly missed last season.
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