Home › Buffzone Columnists
Woelk: Big games only half the task for Buffs
For those of you not old enough to remember, here's a little history lesson:
STORY TOOLS
More Buffzone Columnists
- Woelk: Easy way out apparently not Scott's way
- Woelk: MSU loss necessary hard lesson for Buffs
- Saturday showdown for Heisman
Share and Enjoy [?]
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Bill McCartney roamed the CU sidelines, "big games" on CU's non-conference schedule were not only regular occurrences, they came with an expectation:
That being, of course, that Colorado would win.
Not that it always happened that way. Mac -- who firmly believed in playing good teams at every opportunity -- lost a few of those non-conference matchups against ranked opponents.
But once McCartney got the program up and running, he won more than his share.
It's a formidable list. Iowa, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan and Texas are just some of the ranked teams Mac teed it up against and beat in his reign. And in just about every one of those instances, the Buffs were favored to win.
Not that other CU coaches haven't played similar lineups. Both Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett followed in Mac's footsteps by playing difficult non-conference schedules.
But by the time Barnett took the reins, there was a major difference:
The Buffs usually weren't the favorite in those non-conference affairs. Instead, the Buffs were underdogs more often than not.
By then, games against ranked teams had taken on adifferent essence. Instead of a chance for CU to maintain or elevate its national status, those games became an opportunity for the Buffs to regain a little national notoriety.
It didn't always work out to Colorado's advantage.
Thursday night, Dan Hawkins' Buffs get another one of those chances when No. 21 West Virginia pays its first-ever visit to Boulder.
The Buffs won't be favored. Even though this matchup lost some luster when WVU was beaten in Week 2 by East Carolina, oddsmakers still say the Mountaineers will come to Boulder and win. West Virginia hasn't lost back-to-back games since the end of the 2004 season.
Thus, it's another chance for CU to turn some heads, to make some noise on a national level.
Call it a measuring stick of the program's progress.
"The nice thing is, as we keep moving forward and get it back to the Coach Mac era, you're going to have those 'watershed' games," Hawkins said. "If you beat one team and then the next one comes up, you're going to ask if this is the biggest game, and I'll say it is. That's how it's going to be as you continue to take those steps.
"To have the university on a national stage is great; it's great exposure for our football team, for our university, for how we do things and how we look. All of that stuff pays dividends."
But Hawk isn't content with just playing these types of games. Rather, CU's coach envisions a day when a big-game loss -- not a win -- turns heads.
"You want to be at a point where people expect you to win these games," Hawkins said. "And when you don't, you guys (the media) are in here grilling me."
Certainly the Buffs aren't at that point today. Thursday's game is the first of four consecutive tilts against teams that are ranked in the top 25 this week: West Virginia (No. 21), Florida State (24), Texas (7) and Kansas (19). The Buffs are likely to be the underdog in every one of them. (Historic note: the Buffs haven't played four consecutive games against ranked teams since 1973).
But neither are the Buffs star-struck by nationally televised games against ranked teams.
"You come to Colorado expecting to play in these games," said linebacker Jeff Smart. "You definitely get excited -- but it's also just business."
That's a start. Hawkins has the Buffs to the point that they shouldn't suffer from stage fright when the lights go on Thursday at Folsom. That's a good sign, particularly when you consider Hawkins will send a starting lineup onto the field that will have at least seven underclassmen on offense.
But it's still another step -- a very big step -- to the point where the Buffs are expected to win such games.
Picking off a couple of these in the next month would go a long way in helping Colorado move forward to that point.
Posted by montanabuff on September 17, 2008 at 5:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Win one of the next four, and the Buffs are still on schedule for a winning season. Win two of the next four, and the pump will be primed for 2009.
One step at a time. One game at a time.
Let's hope Thursday is remembered in future years as one of those "watershed" games.
Go Buffs!
http://www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by archalon on September 17, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They can go 2-2 in the next 4; Texas wont have rest before the game thanks to their Sept. 27th rescheduling, FSU and WVU are overrated and CU played KU tough last year.
Gotta win tomorrow. Its there for the taking.
Posted by Rise_Against on September 17, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UH OH BUFFALOES!!!!
Posted by Ralphie2 on September 17, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BLACKOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone wears black on Thursday night!!!
Also, get in your seats EARLY!
Posted by GoBuffs05 on September 17, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not saying it's definitely going to happen, but I feel like the Buffs have a good shot in each of the next 4 games. WVU, FSU, Texas, and KU are all beatable. The stupid mistakes from the EWU game need to be remedied, and we need better performances from the lines, both of which I have complete confidence will happen.
Can't wait for a glorious Thursday night under the lights at Folsom!
Posted by buff75 on September 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sooooooooooooooo pumped. Here's to Hawk jr. hitting J-fly for a bomb, Scott and Stewart showing Devine a thing or two, and the D shutting down the run. Lets go buffs!!!!!!!
Posted by SuperiorBuff6236 on September 17, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is great that everyone is pumped about the blackout and trust me i am too. But what i think is really important is that EVERYONE is in there seats at kickoff. If you look at great schools around the nation with great fans they sell out every game, all wear the same colors, and are in there seats 15 minutes before gametime.It really gets the players jacked and helps them start the game off strong. SO LETS ALL DO OUR PART IN HELPING THE BUFFS GET A BIG WIN.
BE LOUD, WEAR BLACK, AND BE THERE EARLY!
go buffs!
Posted by phxbuff on September 17, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, a little bit off line with all of the previous comments, but I have to make a quick remark on big games. Someone suggested a CU v. Mich not too long ago. Now that would be a big game that would get all sorts of national recognition. Any thoughts??
Posted by phxbuff on September 17, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If anyone does agree, lets push for it. A little more entertaining than Minnesota. Don't you think??
Posted by moet on September 17, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The non-conference schedule this year is pretty much perfect - two low-ranked teams to get the kinks out, followed by two ranked teams that make the Buffs rise to the challenge.
I know many have said that the Big XII is tough enough, esp. when you throw in a Conference Championship, so just schedule patsies like most of the rest do. I say, bring anybody on, just not more than two at a time. Scheduling nationally-prominent teams makes the fans happy, as we get to see the best players and teams in the country over time, it helps us move up the polls, and it helps recruiting not only by luring kids with the prospect of playing on national tv but also by bringing the Buffs right into the backyards of the best recruits. It also means bringing more money into the U of C's coffers, esp. thru tv revenues.
Buff fans expect to see the best teams come into town, and Buffs players expect to play the best. Here's hoping it stays that way.
Meanwhile, I can't wait til tomorrow night. BLACKOUT is almost here! GO BUFFS! Show the "Mountaineers" what it's really like to play on mile-high Folsom Field at the base of some REAL mountains.
Posted by mgmtgrad on September 17, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the following statement from the story says it all.
"You come to Colorado expecting to play in these games," said linebacker Jeff Smart. "You definitely get excited -- but it's also just business."
Statements from players like the one above is why CU's recruiting classes will continue to get better.
Marcus J
Posted by oz_in_cali on September 18, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Big, Big Game.
Speaking of the Mac era and Thursday night games, any one remember that Thursday night game, back in the day, against Stanford.
Just the memory of being at that game makes me a little nervous about tonight. Let's hope the Buffs take this as the opportunity for their "coming out party" that it truly is.
We finally have a bunch of kids that can play, but we are asking them to grow up in a hurry. As tremendous as high school football is here in Southern California, it aint the Big 12. So no matter how tremendous Scott was in high school and continues to be as a freshman, we need to stay realistic and expect some growing pains.
Having said that, I expect our boys to come out ready and fired up. I have a feeling that having been the head coach of team that often walked in the shoes that East Carolina is wearing this year, Hawk will have the kids primed for what is a very big opportunity indeed.
GO BUFFS!!!
Posted by 14ers4me on September 18, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Oz. Let's go Buffs!
Posted by BuffNut99 on September 18, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone remember the last Thursday night ESPN game that the Buffs played?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it was in 1992 @ Missouri. Bad weather, Kordell had a broken wrist, the Buffs pulled it out 6-0.
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.