I'll cop to being a little distracted this week. Basketball season looms large (next Friday, btw), my HEAVILY ANTICIPATED hoops preview is demanding the majority of my attention, and, with the football team on the road this week, it's almost a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind.
Almost. I'm still mostly invested in this group as they embark on a rough final quarter of the season schedule. While I don't expect any surprises over the next three games, this team has proven to have a ton of fight in them, and I'm interested to see how they perform when everyone is back to expecting the bare minimum from them. Certainly this week, a road trip to a top-25 opponent, does not appear to be a great opportunity to see the Buffs at their best, but they've been traditionally competitive in the Arizona series, and a good game wouldn't exactly shock me.
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Kickoff from recently renovated Arizona Stadium is set for 6pm on Saturday (finally a night game, and it's on the road, *smh*). Pac-12 Network has the television rights for this one, with the radio call, as always, on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Friday, November 7, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Tuesday Grab Bag: #ItIsFinallyNovember
The first 'result' of basketball season is in. Over the weekend the men's squad was in action behind closed doors up at the CEC, taking on the DU Pioneers in a scrimmage. According to 'sources,' Coach Boyle and crew at the very least took care of business, beating the Pios by seven. Not quite 1-0, but I'll call it .1-0.
Hardcore BasketBuffs are already well aware, but NCAA rules prohibit fans, media, or other interlopers at these preseason tilts. The idea is that these meetings are supposed to be tuneups, and that prying eyes would put too much pressure on what are essentially glorified practices. Coach Boyle didn't seem to mind discussing the problems he saw, however, saying, "turnovers were an issue with this team, taking care of the basketball. [...] If we turn the ball over like we're turning it over, we're going to put a lot of pressure on our defense, and I'd rather not do that."
That certainly sounds dire, but I wouldn't get too worked up over that less than glowing report. It's his job to be hyper-critical at this stage, and that sounds like vintage Boyle. Besides, I'd rather the turnovers be made when it doesn't count, with the understanding that a veteran team should be able to take care of the basketball by the time the lights turn on for real.
10 days...
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Today in the bag, I'm talking the football meltdown against Washington, some successes in cross country, volleyball and soccer, and the 'Colorado 4' in the NBA.
Click below for the bag...
Hardcore BasketBuffs are already well aware, but NCAA rules prohibit fans, media, or other interlopers at these preseason tilts. The idea is that these meetings are supposed to be tuneups, and that prying eyes would put too much pressure on what are essentially glorified practices. Coach Boyle didn't seem to mind discussing the problems he saw, however, saying, "turnovers were an issue with this team, taking care of the basketball. [...] If we turn the ball over like we're turning it over, we're going to put a lot of pressure on our defense, and I'd rather not do that."
That certainly sounds dire, but I wouldn't get too worked up over that less than glowing report. It's his job to be hyper-critical at this stage, and that sounds like vintage Boyle. Besides, I'd rather the turnovers be made when it doesn't count, with the understanding that a veteran team should be able to take care of the basketball by the time the lights turn on for real.
10 days...
--
Today in the bag, I'm talking the football meltdown against Washington, some successes in cross country, volleyball and soccer, and the 'Colorado 4' in the NBA.
Click below for the bag...
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Washington Edition
Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"
Happy Halloween, everyone! Due to the 'holiday' at hand, I want to continue my recent tradition of selecting a local pumpkin beer for the end of October tailgate. Two years ago, it was Upslope and their Pumpkin Ale. Last fall, it was Avery's Rumpkin. For 2014, I'm heading back up Arapahoe Ave to Avery Brewing for a new take on mixing the seasonal gourd with beer. That combination, their Pump[KY]n, is this week's game day beer-o-the-week.
I guess it makes sense; if you pair pumpkins with rum, the next step would be to pair them with bourbon. That's exactly what Avery did with this barrel-aged imperial pumpkin porter, throwing some nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves into the batch for good measure.
I like where Avery is going with their barrel-aged series, and Pump[KY]n does exactly what you would expect - blend bourbon with pumpkin pie. Pouring a very dark brown with limited head, Pump[KY]n certainly brings the typical Kentucky whiskey aromas to the party, along with something very reminiscent of the famous dessert. It's very sweet on the tongue, with more of a molasses/pumpkin spice taste to it than, say, the natural flavor of pumpkins found in Upslope's brew. It's a huge beer, both in terms of flavor and volume. Pleasant, as long as it's enjoyed in sips.
This beast was originally unleashed in late-September as part of a very limited release; for the most part, the readily available quantities have been all bought up by this point. Still, I've seen a few bottles still floating around over the last few weeks, and LiquorMart's website, in fact, still claims availability. I say, if you can still find a 12oz-er of this, it's worth the spend, if only to say you've had some. Don't go too crazy, however, as it does come in at a hefty 17% ABV. That'll put some hair on your chest...
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Huskies!
Happy Halloween, everyone! Due to the 'holiday' at hand, I want to continue my recent tradition of selecting a local pumpkin beer for the end of October tailgate. Two years ago, it was Upslope and their Pumpkin Ale. Last fall, it was Avery's Rumpkin. For 2014, I'm heading back up Arapahoe Ave to Avery Brewing for a new take on mixing the seasonal gourd with beer. That combination, their Pump[KY]n, is this week's game day beer-o-the-week.
I guess it makes sense; if you pair pumpkins with rum, the next step would be to pair them with bourbon. That's exactly what Avery did with this barrel-aged imperial pumpkin porter, throwing some nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves into the batch for good measure.
I like where Avery is going with their barrel-aged series, and Pump[KY]n does exactly what you would expect - blend bourbon with pumpkin pie. Pouring a very dark brown with limited head, Pump[KY]n certainly brings the typical Kentucky whiskey aromas to the party, along with something very reminiscent of the famous dessert. It's very sweet on the tongue, with more of a molasses/pumpkin spice taste to it than, say, the natural flavor of pumpkins found in Upslope's brew. It's a huge beer, both in terms of flavor and volume. Pleasant, as long as it's enjoyed in sips.
This beast was originally unleashed in late-September as part of a very limited release; for the most part, the readily available quantities have been all bought up by this point. Still, I've seen a few bottles still floating around over the last few weeks, and LiquorMart's website, in fact, still claims availability. I say, if you can still find a 12oz-er of this, it's worth the spend, if only to say you've had some. Don't go too crazy, however, as it does come in at a hefty 17% ABV. That'll put some hair on your chest...
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Huskies!
2014 Washington Football Preview
Just saying, but tomorrow is November. You all know what that means... (*barely holding the tidal wave of excitement back*)
Before the insanity of basketball season descends, however, BuffNation has another home football game to peruse. The weird thing is, by the time the Buffs next grace the home gridiron, I will have seen four basketball games, and essentially completely given myself over to the hardwood. While there is still football to be played, important games, too, it's almost as if this weekend, against Washington, is my last opportunity to appreciate the 2014 Buffs without distraction. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling it quits on the season, and I'm still going to go to the Utah game. I'm just trying to live in reality, which is that basketball will soon dominate.
At least, for this final, uninterrupted look at football, Colorado should be competitive. The Washington Huskies are not nearly as strong as their 5-1 start belied, and, while they need this game to keep an easy path to bowl eligibility open, I figure the Buffs should have as good a chance as any to break their losing streak.
I'm ready, bring it on!
--
It's the last home game before Thanksgiving. Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is set for 11am tomorrow. The weather's supposed to be lovely, so get your ass to the stadium bright and early to bathe in that last gasp of fall sunshine. For those stuck at home, coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview..
Before the insanity of basketball season descends, however, BuffNation has another home football game to peruse. The weird thing is, by the time the Buffs next grace the home gridiron, I will have seen four basketball games, and essentially completely given myself over to the hardwood. While there is still football to be played, important games, too, it's almost as if this weekend, against Washington, is my last opportunity to appreciate the 2014 Buffs without distraction. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling it quits on the season, and I'm still going to go to the Utah game. I'm just trying to live in reality, which is that basketball will soon dominate.
At least, for this final, uninterrupted look at football, Colorado should be competitive. The Washington Huskies are not nearly as strong as their 5-1 start belied, and, while they need this game to keep an easy path to bowl eligibility open, I figure the Buffs should have as good a chance as any to break their losing streak.
I'm ready, bring it on!
--
It's the last home game before Thanksgiving. Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is set for 11am tomorrow. The weather's supposed to be lovely, so get your ass to the stadium bright and early to bathe in that last gasp of fall sunshine. For those stuck at home, coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview..
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tuesday Grab Bag: Playing for check, rather than checkmate
It was good to be back with the band on Saturday, wailing away on my tuba, and putting as much noise in the ears of the Bruins as humanly possible. Still, I was laid low by just how absolutely exhausting playing at a football game is. I could barely sit up straight Saturday night, as physically beaten as I was by carrying that instrument all day. My shoulder swelled to five times its normal size, my back hurt, my neck turned into a solid block of concrete, my cheeks and lips were cut and bruised, and my head pounded from dehydration. All that without having to march full cadence, pregame, or the full halftime show; I even took multiple breaks, and *gasp* sat down a time or twelve throughout the action. The lesson here: I'm not 19 anymore.
Huge props to those kids who volunteer to pull that off seven Saturdays a year, all while juggling classes, homework, social commitments, and the rest of their lives. Looking back, I'm struggling to reconcile my ability to do that for four years with the realities of everything that gameday entails. What's more, after every game, most of them losses, those kids proudly march back to the music building, heads held high, ready to do it all again next week. Just incredible, when you think about it.
--
Today in the bag, I'm talking the loss to the Bruins, the upcoming schedule, and the game of telephone that was me hearing about the basketball scrimmage.
Click below for the bag...
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| A grand view, even if I took a painful route to get there. |
--
Today in the bag, I'm talking the loss to the Bruins, the upcoming schedule, and the game of telephone that was me hearing about the basketball scrimmage.
Click below for the bag...
Friday, October 24, 2014
Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - UCLA Edition
Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"
I didn't drink before I got to college. I took the old 'Chef' adage of 'there's a time and a place for everything, and that's called college' to heart, and stayed pretty clean-cut through my high school years. Of course, that just meant that I arrived in Boulder - at the height of CU's party school days, no less - with absolutely no drinking experience. None. Had no idea what I liked; what was a good idea, and what wasn't.
Inevitably, that lead to poor decisions. Not epically bad ones, just choices that, looking back, could've been handled with better aplomb. Take for instance, my first collegiate beer. Yeesh, I picked a doozy. It's a miracle that, having tasted that swill, that I ever went back to the world of suds for more. That said, since it's Homecoming, and I'm feeling all nostalgic, I'm naming that beer, FUCKING COORS ORIGINAL, as my gameday beer-o-the-week.
You all know Coors Original, or, as I call it, CR. The 'Banquet Beer,' or whatever. Maybe there's some truth to that marketing scheme, but it doesn't matter. This beer, from the local multi-national conglomerate, is hardly anything but water and off-putting flavors. Throw H20, fizzyness, and yellow coloring into a cup, and you essentially have this beast. A classic of the American Adjunct genre, it's been around for decades, and, much like everything else tired and ancient, probably needed to be put to rest years ago. Yet, Coors keeps pumping out the stuff, begging you to buy it. Some of you even do (*shakes head*).
I'm not going to suggest anyone reading this go out and buy CR this weekend. However, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts you know someone who will have this in their cooler on Saturday. Chug - don't sip - some of their purchase, and remind yourself of the good ole' college days. That's what Homecoming is all about, isn't it?
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Bruins!
I didn't drink before I got to college. I took the old 'Chef' adage of 'there's a time and a place for everything, and that's called college' to heart, and stayed pretty clean-cut through my high school years. Of course, that just meant that I arrived in Boulder - at the height of CU's party school days, no less - with absolutely no drinking experience. None. Had no idea what I liked; what was a good idea, and what wasn't.
Inevitably, that lead to poor decisions. Not epically bad ones, just choices that, looking back, could've been handled with better aplomb. Take for instance, my first collegiate beer. Yeesh, I picked a doozy. It's a miracle that, having tasted that swill, that I ever went back to the world of suds for more. That said, since it's Homecoming, and I'm feeling all nostalgic, I'm naming that beer, FUCKING COORS ORIGINAL, as my gameday beer-o-the-week.
 |
| The mountains are blue! |
I'm not going to suggest anyone reading this go out and buy CR this weekend. However, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts you know someone who will have this in their cooler on Saturday. Chug - don't sip - some of their purchase, and remind yourself of the good ole' college days. That's what Homecoming is all about, isn't it?
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Bruins!
2014 UCLA Football Preview
The Buffs seem to have been having some trouble with the alarm clock the last two games. While their opponents have comfortably made it to the field wide awake and rarin' to go for the opening kickoff, CU has tried to pound the snooze button in vain. Oregon State and USC put up a combined 45 points to Colorado's seven through the last two first quarters, which is especially painful when you consider that the Buffs outscored those two 52-47 over the other hour and a half of action.
It hasn't been much better at the start of second halves this year, either. Overall, CU is down 82-45 in third quarters in 2014. The simple fact of the matter is that CU isn't using the locker room to their advantage. Once they find their feet, they play well enough, but whatever is being said behind closed doors is lost by the time they leave the tunnel. Maybe it's nerves, maybe it's preparation, but the fact stands. If the Buffs are ever going to get back in the win column this season, they need to perform better in the odd numbered quarters.
--
Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is scheduled for high noon tomorrow. Televised coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
*cough* For those interested, there's also a men's basketball scrimmage starting at 10am at the CEC. It's free for all, and would make for a wonderful aperitif to your sports Saturday. *cough*
Click below for the preview...
It hasn't been much better at the start of second halves this year, either. Overall, CU is down 82-45 in third quarters in 2014. The simple fact of the matter is that CU isn't using the locker room to their advantage. Once they find their feet, they play well enough, but whatever is being said behind closed doors is lost by the time they leave the tunnel. Maybe it's nerves, maybe it's preparation, but the fact stands. If the Buffs are ever going to get back in the win column this season, they need to perform better in the odd numbered quarters.
--
Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is scheduled for high noon tomorrow. Televised coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
*cough* For those interested, there's also a men's basketball scrimmage starting at 10am at the CEC. It's free for all, and would make for a wonderful aperitif to your sports Saturday. *cough*
Click below for the preview...
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