Monday Grab Bag: Rick George hits Boulder

I'm a little less that two months away from releasing my Massive Basketball Preview, but the professionals are already starting to make their thoughts known.

Only the first I've seen of many to come, Miles Simon of ESPN released his initial Pac-12 power rankings, and slotted the Buffs 2nd behind a powerful Arizona squad.  He cited CU's depth, probably the best in Boyle's tenure, as a key reason why the team could challenge the Wildcats for the league title.

ESPN's Eamonn Brennan later doubled-down on the prediction, saying in his best-case/worst-case article that the backcourt duo of Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker could be strong enough to carry the Buffs deep into the tournament.

Positive previews are already rolling in, and it's only August.  With some 87 days to go before the season starts, it's going to be difficult to keep the hype train from leaving too soon.

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Today in the bag, I'm talking Rick George in Boulder, Buffs in Green Bay, and the women's basketball trip to Italy.

Click below for the bag...


An optimistic Rick George arrives in Boulder - 

Yesterday afternoon, while hitting up the local Target, I noticed a clean-cut man in a white CU Athletics polo cruising the pharmacy aisles.  It was newly-installed athletic director Rick George, fresh off the practice fields, shopping with his daughter.

After I quickly introduced myself and welcomed him to Boulder, I expressed some hope that he might help turn the football program around.  He dismissed that by offhandedly saying that it's not a question of hope or 'if,' but that he will get it turned around.  A dash of Texas-sized confidence from the former President of Business Operations with the Texas Rangers.

George was supremely confident Sunday.  From: Rivals.com

It being August, that braggadocio and optimism is not out of place.  Seemingly everywhere, people are trying to talk themselves into a quick turnaround.  Last week saw WR Paul Richardson say that, realistically, he expects this team to be .500 or better this year, and Coach MacIntyre even name-checked the surging Pittsburgh Pirates when intimating that the 2013 Buffs may be better than everyone thinks.

I'm still doubtful of how quickly things can turn.  Maybe CU will pull a Pirates, and break a seemingly endless sting of post-season absences.  Maybe Rick George, Mike MacIntyre, and Paul Richardson are the special combination of administration, coaching, and talent required to break the malaise.  Stranger things have happened... but I'm not going to hold my breath, just yet.


A pair of Buffs in Green Bay, one rising, one falling -

Any doubts that former CU tackle David Bakhtiari made the right decision by foregoing his final season of collegiate eligibility have been laid to rest, as he is in-line to claim the starting left tackle job with the Green Bay Packers.  With projected starter Bryan Bulaga out with an ACL tear, only abject inability to learn the role stands in Bakh's way from protecting Aaron Rodgers' blind side.

Bakhtiari looks to step into a high profile position in Green Bay.  From: Green Bay Press-Gazette

Early reviews of his progress in earning, rather than just inheriting, the position have been largely positive.  After Friday's preseason game between the Packers and Arizona, Baktiari reported feeling calm and not overwhelmed by the role, and Josh VanDyke at ACME Packing CO said he looked 'above-average' in his debut, while showing off 'good agility, hand movement, and foot work in pass blocking.'  Maybe not the makings of the next Jonathan Ogden, but solid enough to anchor the O-Line in Green Bay.

On the flip side, the great Mason Crosby has seemingly lost his stroke.  At a recent scrimmage, he was only able to connect on 3-of-8 attempts, leaving many to speculate that the two-time All-American may be on his way out as the starting kicker for the Packers.

The greatest kicker in program history may be on his way out of Green Bay.

The sorry truth is that this has been coming for a while now.  In addition to more recent struggles, Crosby finished 2012 kicking 64%, good for worst in the league.  Sure, maybe that has a lot to do with the Packers using him in multiple long-yardage situations, but that's what they pay him for, and the NFL is a zero-sum league.  If Crosby doesn't turn his production around, and soon, he won't just be out of a job, he'll be out of the league.


Women off to Europe - 

Much like how the men's team took a tour of European hardwood prior to last season, the women's team is set to travel to Italy on a four-game exhibition romp.  Beginning tomorrow evening, the trip kicks off with visits to Lake Como and Venice before getting down to business with contests in Florence and Rome.  As much as the men enjoyed Belgium and the Netherlands, I'm sure they'll be jealous when the women get back and show off their pictures of Italy's wonders.  Lake Como trumps Bruges.

While games will be played and scores kept, the experience gained doesn't ride on the win-loss record.  It's more about the opportunity to get some extra practices in, and grow as a unit.

Just last year, the men used their European excursion to take look at the large freshmen class, and build cohesion across the roster. Their 2-3 record in Europe was largely forgotten when the team rolled out 10 wins in 12 to start the season.  While Lappe's ladies haven't dropped a non-conference game since December of 2010, I'm sure they're hoping for a similar kind of boost to help them burn through their 2013 campaign.


Happy Monday!