Tuesday Grab Bag: 70% Good

Late on a Tuesday, I'm straight to the action today.

In the bag, I'm talking the bored shrug against Lipscomb, the 70% good of the football program, and women's action against little sister.

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2014 Utah Football Preview: the Finish Line

Finally, the finish line.  It's been an interesting year, football, but I think we're all in need of a palate cleanser. At least I am.  See you in March.

Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is set for 11am on Saturday.  Yes, tomorrow; just like last year, we can't have Friday football after Turkey Day.  Everyone was so intent on killing this rivalry before it started that it's just another Saturday game now. Sure glad we chose to dismiss, out-of-hand, the only geographical rivalry that made sense in this league. *sigh*  Let's just keep waiting for USC to give a shit about the Black and Gold... still waiting...

Anyway, the game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call is on 850 KOA.  AKA, the usual.

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2014 Oregon Football Preview

Not much to say before this.  The Buffs face a massively difficult road test in Eugene this weekend, in essentially an 'us against the world' scenario.  No one thinks CU has a chance in hell of even competing for a few minutes tomorrow, and the rest of the college football landscape sees this one as a rest stop on the way to Santa Clara for the Ducks.  But, as Chris Berman famously says, 'that's why they play the game.' Weirder things have happened...

Kickoff from the house that the Swoosh built is set for 2:30pm on Saturday.  Televised coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

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2014 Arizona Football Preview

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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

A grand view, even if I took a painful route to get there.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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*

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2014 USC Football Preview

The Buffs are officially onto the second half of their season, riding high on a wave of improvement-based optimism. However, the schedule gods were far from kind with the back-loaded portion of the slate that they are about to tackle.  Over the next six game weeks, CU will play some of the best teams in the Pac-12, a set that boast a combined 27-8 record in 2014.  When the national media said at the beginning of the year that the Pac-12 was the best conference in America, they weren't kidding.  This bunch is loaded.  As well as the Buffs have been playing recently, I'm starting to worry that all of this momentum could get drowned out over the next month and a half against the West's elite programs.

It's undeniable that Colorado Football is in a better position today than it was a year ago.  Across the board, this program has improved. Dramatically. If you don't recognize that - whether through ignorance, resentment, or jealousy - your opinions are no longer welcome. Yet, with one fewer win on the books than this point in 2013, and a bevy of difficult games on the horizon, I'd be kidding myself to ignore the fact that a 2-10 finish is a real possibility.  It sucks, but that's what could be on the table.

In a results based business, I'm worried about the impact that could have on the fanbase.  The big question for me is how, exactly, will BuffNation take the results over the next few weeks.  The Broncos are rolling, basketball is just around the corner, and ski season is about to ramp up.  As exciting as the team has proven to be this campaign, will the fans stick with this bunch if results continue to mirror what we've seen to-date, or will the denizens grow distracted and disinterested, as they have in the past?  Will the fans - alums, students, et al - still show up and help create a competitive atmosphere next Saturday against UCLA, November 1st against Washington, or November 29th against Utah?  God, I hope so.

See, I've bought in.  I've already committed to going to every game played in the state this fall, so I will be in attendance, hell or high water.  I shouldn't be alone on this journey.  For half a decade, the fan base - myself included - has been screaming for any sign of life from those in Black and Gold.  Well, we finally have one, and we as a group need to vote with our feet and show up.  The team sure has, now BuffNation needs to have their back.  Make your plans now; show up next week, show up in November.  Get it done.

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Kickoff from the historic LA Memorial Coliseum is set for 4pm MST.  Televised coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

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Tuesday Grab Bag: Throw it on the pile

The Pac-12 is next-level stupid right now.  What does Week Six bring but another converted Hail Mary, major home upsets of the league's two presumptive juggernauts (hahaha, Oregon), and ridiculous scores all over the place.  No other league in the country is this interesting.  I don't even care what Katy Perry did in that bar in Mississippi, the Pac-12 was more captivating on Saturday.

Just another boring weekend in the world's dumbest league.  From: 30 FPS

Yeah, that Cal/Washington State game you turned off in the third quarter? That ended up 60-59, and featured the all-time NCAA passing record being set in a loss.  Your division leaders?  Fucking Cal and Arizona.  The Wildcats, BTW, are the only remaining undefeated team in the league, and probably the only team on the West Coast with an honest shot at the national title (wut?).  Whatever you though about this conference before the season started, I hope you wrote it down in pencil, because it's all wrong right now.

I get the feeling that we're all going to wake up in two months, and this all will have been on regional-sized acid trip.  We've left the bounds of reason and convention, and are floating in clouds of absurdity.  Can't wait for next week...

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the game against OSU, the upcoming schedule, and the start of basketball practices.

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2014 Oregon State Football Preview

I hope BuffNation heeds the call on Saturday afternoon.  This team has proven deserving of our attention and attendance, certainly against a potentially beatable opponent on a gorgeous early-Fall day.  If you're in the Boulder area, GET YOUR ASS TO THE STADIUM.

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Kickoff from the always beautiful Folsom Field is set for 2pm MT.  Those without tickets can find coverage on Pac-12 Networks.  Since the Rockies are finally, mercifully done flailing at the rest of the National League, the radio call will most definitely be on 850 KOA.

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2014 Cal Football Preview

The Buffs head to the Bay Area for their second true road test of the year.  The Cal Golden Bears are a significant upgrade over the UMass Minutemen, however, so it'll take a much stronger effort to claim a second-consecutive road scalp this weekend. 

Kickoff from Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley, CA is set for 2pm MT.  While plenty of our West Coast brethren will be in attendance, those of us back home in Colorado will have to make due with watching the game on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call, pending late-season Rockies 'baseball,' will be on 850 KOA.

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Tuesday Grab Bag: Two! Two wins! Ah, ah ah!

Straight to the action on this Tuesday.

Today in the bag, I'm talking Saturday's win over Hawai'i, the upcoming football schedule, and some basketball recruiting.

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Tuesday Grab Bag: The Rumblinmobile lost a wheel, and the Sun Devils got away.

Were you stuck in a traffic jam coming into Boulder yesterday afternoon around 5pm?  Yeah, that's my bad. You see, the Rumblinmobile suffered a blowout (doubtful for the rest of the week, btw), stranding me on the right lane of west-bound US 36, and backing up traffic for miles.

Haha, the sidewall disappeared. Wait, that's not funny...

On the plus side, no one was hurt, the rest of the truck is fine(ish), and courtesy patrol was relatively quick in getting me out of there.  I guess if you're going to wreck during rush hour on 36, that's the way to do it.

Hopefully, your wait time was kept to a minimum.  If not, I sincerely apologize, and owe you a coke.

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Today in the bag, I'm talking Saturday's performance against the Sun Devils, the upcoming football schedule, and the release of the full men's basketball slate.

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2014 ASU Football Preview

The start of the season has been nice and all, but it doesn't really count until the first fall day in Folsom.  Say what you will about the football program, but that stadium is a special, special place.  Any opportunity to visit the old girl is worthy of celebration, and Saturday night's matchup with Arizona State is no different.

With the season's first date in Boulder also comes BuffNation's first up-close and personal look at Phase I of the improvement project, the first major upgrades to the stadium since my sophomore year.  In case you don't understand my meaning, they're long overdue.

Starting to come together! From: CUBuffs.com

Athletic Director Rick George says the premium seating options at the north end of Folsom will be ready to go by gameday.  While I see plenty of work that needs doing when I peek at the construction cam, I have no reason to doubt his veracity.  Assuming the areas are up to code by kickoff, we'll have honest-to-Tad evidence that this program is headed in the right direction.  I almost don't care what the score ends up being against the Sun Devils, that construction schedule already baring fruit is enough of a win for me.

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Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is scheduled for 8pm Saturday.  It's a BLACKOUT game, so those with tickets need to remember to don their darker finery.  Coverage for those out and about can be found on ESPNU, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

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Monday Grab Bag: A win's a win?

Straight to the action today...

In the bag, I'm talking CU's comeback win over the Minutemen, the status of Colorado's next three opponents, and the NFL's opening week.

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2014 UMass Football Preview

It would be simplistic of me to post the Dropkick Murphy's obligatory 'I'm Shipping up to Boston' video, what with the Buffs, you know, shipping up to Boston this weekend, but that shit is played out.  Instead, you get the 'Spicy McHaggis Jig.'

You're welcome.

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Kickoff from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA is set for 1pm MT on Saturday.  There's no national broadcast of the action, but those with the appropriate access can watch the game on their computer/phone/gaming console via ESPN3.  Mark Johnson has the radio call on 850 KOA.

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2014 Rocky Mountain Showdown Preview

I will inflict upon the genophage the greatest insult an enemy can suffer: to be ignored. - Warlord Okeer

There's been a lot of hot air blowing around this week, even more than usual.  A lot of it has been weird, beyond-the-pale ramblings from the delusional up north (as well as some from the delusional down south). Like batshit insane stuff along the lines of 'we're actually happier being second rate.'

*sighs*

You know what, that's it.  I've had enough.  This isn't even fun in the awkward ways it used to be.  I no longer have enough give-a-shit in my body to care about the state's little farm college.  This year they pushed me over the edge.  I'm just flat done with them, their fans, and their Napoleonic fetish of being the little guy.  They want to be a minor league organization, then so be it, but I'm not being dragged down to Single-A.

Below the fold, you will find NO MENTION of tomorrow night's opponent.  I'm taking this opportunity to preview our Buffs, and no one else.

I ain't even kidding anymore, they ain't worth my time.

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The 86th edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown kicks off from Sports Authority Field at Mile High at 7pm MT on Friday. Coverage can be found on FOX Sports 1 (yep, even for you Dish folk), with Mark Johnson and the radio broadcast on 850 KOA.

For reference, you can find my previews from previous iterations of this series here, here, here, and here.

Click below for the preview...

Wish List for the 2014 Football Season

Football season is back, and with it a palpable sense of optimism to Boulder.  The general impression is that the football program is on the upswing after an extended dalliance in the depths of the college football world. Certainly they were better in 2013.  In fact, the program hit all of my expectations for the campaign, winning four games, competing in many others, showing a sense of pride on both sides of the ball, and generally moving the sticks forward throughout a successful season.  BuffNation even stepped up to the point that the Folsom upgrades are a reality.  By comparison, despondent efforts like 2011 and 2012 seem like they were in the distant past.

But all the positive vibes engendered by a strong 2013 could vanish if 2014 goes to pot.  With that in mind, I've put together a five-pack of wishes for this season.  Nothing on this list is a gimme, but I would considering everything 'reasonable.'  Should the team achieve at least four of these, CU Athletics could rightfully claim another step forward.  Any less than four, however, and I'd consider 2014 a season stuck in neutral.

1) A perfect run through non-conference play

Echoing last season, it'd be nice for the Buffs to make their par-saves out of the gate.  Games against CSU, Massachusetts, and Hawai'i are all solidly 'winnable' on paper, and need to be converted into wins to maintain the status quo.

It won't be as easy as many Black and Gold faithful are making it out to be, however.  The RMS is always a 'thing,' and road games east of the Mississippi have never been kind to this program (even though UMass is particularly awful...).  As unpalatable as it may seem, and as improved as the team is over previous seasons, I can easily envision a scenario where the team starts out 0-2.

Charleston Southern ain't walkin' through that door.  From: the BDC

That's not to say I think it likely.  CU will be favored in each game, and has the talent to overwhelm either opponent, given uneventful efforts from each side.  Plus, if the Buffs can swing those two, the Hawai'i game, after a brief hiccup against ASU, should be a cake walk.  They're talking of dropping the sport, after all.

Honestly, there's really no excuse for the team to not jump out to a 3-1 start in 2014.

2) More than one conference win

Speaking of par saves, slapping around Cal, as CU did last season, is nice and all, but the football program is not going to get back to where BuffNation wants to see it by playing at the Golden Bears' level.  The Buffs need to start beating multiple conference foes on a regular basis.

Get out our way, Cal!

To that end, the Buffs have to get more than one conference win this year.  Yep, a feat not conjured since Jon Embree, of all people, managed it in 2011 (with the help of a historically large senior class).

Finding a winnable pair is not easy.  The Cal game is on the road, and they'll be looking at that date for a win as much as the Buffs will.  Even given a win on 9/27, the Pac-12 is one of the best conferences in the country - some even say it will be better than the vaunted SEC.  The other eight games will be difficult tests, regardless of opponents and location.  Probably the best bet is November 29th against Utah, as CU has usually played their Mountain Time Zone rival well, but that program continues to improve as the power conference money trickles in.  Beyond the Utes, you could maybe sell me on upsets against Washington (new coach), @ Arizona, and @ USC (new coach), but I just don't see it.  It's Bears and Utes or bust.

3) Stay competitive throughout

In the three-year history of the Pac-12, the Buffs have routinely been trounced on the gridiron.  Over the 27 conference games played since 2011, they've lost an ugly total of 19 by at least 22 points.  That's right, CU has been blown out in just over 70% of their Pac-12 tilts.

It's been painful to watch.  From the BDC

Inexcusable.  That has to change.  Immediately.

I don't expect Mike MacIntyre to walk his troops into Autzen and pull out a win, but is it too much to ask them to stay within reach of at least five of their conference foes this season?  Let's say a max of four losses by more than three touchdowns, and only one by 40 points or more.  That'd certainly be a step in the right direction.

This effort would be greatly helped by continuing to stay, relatively, injury free.  Outside of unfortunate season-ending nicks to Jered Bell and Tyler Henington, the Buffs find themselves fortunate to head into the season with their two-deep mostly intact.  While depth is improving at the Foot of the Flatirons, it's not yet to the level that continued shuffling of the deck is a mountable challenge.  For the Buffs to stay in games this fall, they have to stay healthy, and keep their best talent on the field.

4) Get Sefo Liufau into the 2,000 club

This is obviously a individual benchmark, but it stands as a milestone for the entire offense.  In the history of Colorado Football, there's only been thirteen 2,000 yard passing efforts, with six of those owned by messrs Stewart and Klatt.  Getting the calm, composed sophomore into that club would make for a strong sign that the offense is starting to come together.

The Buffs need a big year from Sefo.  From: the Post

There's been too much upheval under center over the last decade.  Ever since Klatt left, it's been anyone's guess who will be leading the team in the huddle.  If anything, meeting this goal would at least point to some stability in the backfield.

The key will be the offensive line.  The only way 2,000 happens is if they're keeping Sefo's jersey clean. Luckily, the line returns three of the starters from last season, and boasts a pair of 5th-year senior guards in Dan Munyer and Kaiwi Crabb.  I like the way the group projects headed into the season, and have high hopes for them.

5) Make a damn bowl game

Bowl games.  The ultimate symbol of mediocrity dressed up as achievement.  In any other sport, earning a .500 record would not be worth celebrating, but college football continues to make it the end-all, be all of competition.  Sure, it's a reward for the kids and coaching staffs for working so hard, but making the BitPay St Petersberg Bowl (*hold for laughter*) has never struck me as anything but a trophy from an everyone-wins little league.

Still, this is the world we live in, and the fact remains that Colorado Football hasn't even been able to manage the pinnacle of average that is earning a bowl berth since 2007.  It's time to end the streak.  Somehow, someway, Mike MacIntyre and crew must turn a brutal Pac-12 slate into at least three wins and sneak into December at 6-6.

Remember when CU and Alabama met on equal footing?

This is probably a bridge to far for 2014, even if some local pundits are entertaining the possibility.  Granting CU manages to sweep non-conference play and beat Cal and Utah (no easy set of tasks, there), they'd still need one more win out of seven very difficult games to break even on the campaign. Given the schedule, given the fragile state of the depth chart, and given the continuing youth that still dominates the field, I just feel it's going to be impossible for this club to find six wins.  

More than likely, this is a achievable goal for 2015.  Still, it's nice to dream.  So, BuffNation, find a shooting star, drop a pocketful of change in the nearest fountain, and scour the ground for four-leaf clovers.  'Cause, if the Buffs can pull this one off, look out...

Go Buffs!  Live the dream!

Quick Post: On Shane Callahan

As if the Fall Practice, Good News Sunshine Express wasn't enough in and of itself, the 2014 outlook for the Buffs got even rosier yesterday afternoon when it was announced that OL Shane Callahan is immediately eligible to play this fall.  Callahan, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Auburn, had been in camp with CU up to this point, but didn't know whether he'd be able to play in 2014, as, under normal circumstances, he'd have had to sit out a transfer year.  Luckily, and thanks in no small measure to Auburn, the NCAA granted a transfer waiver due to Shane moving closer to home for family reasons, and the Buffs suddenly have depth in the trenches.

Callahan is immediately eligible!  From: the BDC

This is big news for the still developing Colorado O-Line.  Callahan, a class of 2012 recruit out of Parker, was a 4-star prospect when he spurned CU for Auburn and former Buffs O-Line coach Jeff Grimes.  But Grimes isn't with the Tigers anymore, and Callahan, after a redshirt season, was lost in depth chart hell, practicing with the 3rd team on last season's national title runners-up.  Over the offseason, I started to hear rumblings that Shane was coming home to the Centennial State, but mostly put them out of my mind, since I didn't figure that the waiver was a realistic possibility.  Thankfully, that's not the case, and Callahan, after two years of SEC competition and coaching, is now a seductive option to help protect a very young quarterback. Oh, and he'll have three years to play three.  Huzzah!

Excitement aside, don't immediately assume that Shane is an anointed starter.  4-stars or no, he's still got to earn his spot. Offensive terminology will be a hurdle, and anything can happen in the heat of fall camp; position battles are fickle bitches, after all. But it's hard not to get excited when an in-state recruiting miss comes home.  That he was able to take advantage of the NCAA, an organization that usually only seems intent on leeching off of their wards, makes the whole situation even more appealing.


Welcome aboard, Shane!

Monday Grab Bag: Mid-July sucks

We're just under 40 days away from the Rocky Mountain Showdown! I'll cop to being mildly excited, if only because there's nothing else to draw my attention between now and then.  Fuck CSU, and all of that.

Overall, I'm cautiously optimistic about the Buffs this year. Not enough to lose me head and starting making bowl trip plans, but I honestly enjoyed the measured improvement shown in 2013, and look forward to what Coach Mac and crew have in store for 2014. Another year like last, and I may actually be able to look my friends from other Pac-12 schools in the eye from August through October.

Media day isn't for another two weeks, and fall camp won't start until August 1st, but it's important to mention that football is right around the corner.  What else do we have to think about as July slowly melts away?

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Today in the bag, I got BREAKING NEWS and a little on the British Open... Woof, it's been a quiet week...

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