Monday Grab Bag: The Spring Game Has Sprung

Spring football is finally behind us.  Before I swear off football discussion for three months, I'll dive into the subject one last time.  Today in the bag, I'll wrap-up the Spring Game, discuss the not-yet-started QB battle, talk recruiting news, and briefly mention some notes from the world of baseball.

Click below for the bag...




Spring Game Wrap - 

The big news from Saturday's Spring Game was that there was no news; injury news that is.  After yet another spring camp had left Buff Nation kicked in the crotch with a major injury setback (Paul Richardson), it was nice to escape Spring's final day without further roster depletion.

As for the "Game" itself?  Well, when the Daily Camera headline references the forthcoming freshmen class, rather than anything that happened on the field, you can bet the results were less than inspiring.  With roster deficiencies at defensive line, the defensive backfield, and wide receiver, how could it be anything else?  It is expected that upwards of 22 of the 28 incoming freshmen could see action this fall, leaving competition on the current roster less than ideal.

Josh Ford had another strong Spring Game performance against the patchwork defensive line.  From: the BDC

The plain and simple truth is that this team needs reinforcements that won't be hitting Boulder Valley for another four months.  Boil it down, and you can throw out just about everything you saw Saturday afternoon.  Just look at how Coach Embree responded to the fact that products of the walk-on program scored four of the five touchdowns on the day:

"I'm happy for them. For some of those kids it might be the only time they play on Folsom Field. They got to run out behind Ralphie, got to do that and hopefully mom and dad and grandma and some of them were here to see that. It's a nice reward for those guys for all the work that they've put in because a lot of time they toil in anonymity."

When the coach acts like it doesn't effect plans for the fall, then it didn't really matter.

At least Ralphie was there.  From: the BDC

QB Update - 


The battle to replace departed QB Tyler Hansen would have begun in earnest this spring had all the combatants actually been in Boulder.  Incoming transfer Jordan Webb, freshmen Shane Dillon, and injured incumbent Nick Hirschman will all get their chance this fall, but heralded Texan Connor Wood enjoyed an all but uncontested shot at the #1 spot throughout the spring.  Gifted the majority of snaps Saturday, he finished 7-10 for 137 yards and two scores in front of the fans.

Wood had the QB race all to himself this spring.  From: the BDC

Still, the reception was mixed.  Some thought he looked good, while others, notably Ringo, were much more lukewarm on his performance. (Quote from Ringo: "We learned quarterback Connor Wood is more of a work in progress than a player who is undoubtedly ready to take over as the starter and lead the Buffs to a bowl game.")

The end result is, just like everyone expected, the race to lead the Buffs out of the tunnel against CSU won't be decided until August.


Recruiting News - 

The best news of the weekend actually came from the recruiting front.  The Buffs hosted 50 recruits for the Spring Game, and the evening returned immediate dividends.  4-star QB prospect Sefo Liufau, a top-200 ranked player according to Rivals, committed to CU Sunday.  Listed as the 12th best QB prospect in the 2013 class, the Washington product would continue to bolster not only the QB depth chart, but the growing pipeline to northwest recruiting grounds as well.

A provisional "welcome aboard" to Sefo! From: Rivals.com

While his offer list is rather abbreviated (CU is his only listed offer), he had been drawing reported interest from the usual suspects.  This is the second straight recruiting cycle that the Buffs have landed an early commitment form a blue-chip quarterback (Shane Dillon in 2012).

FWIW, he is saying all the right things, and states that his commitment is solid:

“I will respect what other colleges have to say but I am committed to Colorado and I am going to stay true to my word,” Liufau added. “I feel like if you know you found the right place, you shouldn’t have to wait around for 15 more offers, or however many other offers might come. … I feel like I belong there.” -link

All told, CU now boasts three known commitments for 2013.  The other two, TE Mitchell Parsons and RB Phillip Lindsay, are both instate kids.


Baseball Happenings - 

For one super-sweet afternoon, My Sox were in first place.  Having won four straight ballgames, they eked out a scant half-game lead over the favored Detorit Tigers.  Of course, it's mid April, and a lead now isn't worth a squat (not to mention that the Tigers quickly regained the lead with a win yesterday afternoon).  Still, let the record show that, come September when they're beating down the door of 90 losses, that My Sox stood alone atop the AL Central for at least one day.

The Rox similarly enjoyed Saturday evening.  While nowhere close to the top of the NL West (that is the sole possession of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are off to a roaring 9-1 start), they did get to celebrate a Todd Helton walk-off home run against the D-Backs.  Suffering through multiple rain delays and weather unsuitable for baseball, the hundreds of Rockies diehards still in the seats got a hell of a treat for sticking around.


Happy Monday!