Gameday Buff Bites - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Missouri Tigers

Woelk: Time for Buffs to play with chip on shoulders - Buffzone
Couldn't have said it any better:

The Buffs need to play with a chip on their shoulders. Play like they care. Play like someone is trying to steal their lunch instead of acting like they`re willing to share. That`s what`s been missing far too often this season.

Paige: Dan Hawkins has to deliver wins at CU - The Denver Post
Woody Paige changes his tune a little bit, saying Dan Hawkins should get his fifth year with the agreement that he must step away after the 2010 season if he has another losing season. I didn't realize that if Dan Hawkins' team loses today, he would be the first coach in Colorado history without a winning season in his first four years on the job.

He should be given one more season, a fifth, because of an attitude adjustment around the program and the chance to play his first full recruiting class (including redshirted players) so there won't be "we're- too-young" excuses. It'll also give him another year to recruit more skill-position players (including, please, a quarterback), to decide on one offensive philosophy, not the current two unstable and ineffective schemes, and because CU can't afford to settle his contract. Yet, if Colorado agrees to retain Hawkins, he must agree to step away after the 2010 season, if he has another losing season.

Chancellor DiStefano backs Hawk - The Denver Post
Chancellor DiStefano doesn't believe it is a good idea to make any coaching changes at this point and believes Hawkins needs more time. I wouldn't expect anything less from the Chancellor, of course he isn't going to say that Dan Hawkins will be fired after the season.

If Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins is looking for support, he's found it in the right place. CU chancellor Phil DiStefano said Hawkins "needs more time" to be successful. DiStefano, in a phone interview with The Denver Post, said he does not foresee making a coaching change anytime soon. "You would never say never, because things happen," DiStefano said. "But right now, Dan and the other coaches (within the athletic department) are recruiting good kids, recruiting the kind of kids that are going to be successful in college, that will get a degree, that will be competitive. That's what I'm looking for." Hawkins, in his fourth season, has come under fire from fans disappointed in CU's 2-5 start. Fans posting comments online are railing against athletic director Mike Bohn, who hired Hawkins, and would like to see him fired too. DiStefano said he has received several of those pleas but he wants Buff fans to exhibit patience. "I just think we need to give Dan and the other coaches, and Mike Bohn, as well, more time to pull things together. In my mind, it's not a good idea to make changes at this point."

Quick chat with FB Josh Smith - Inside UCLA with Jon Gold
Former Buff WR Josh Smith answers five questions from Jon Gold about the situation at UCLA. Gold seems pretty excited about Smith:

I finally caught up with Colorado transfer Josh Smih, and really, I think UCLA is in store for big things. The kid has looked fantastic on the scout team, and along with Joseph Fauria, he adds to true targets in the passing game next season. With the lack of explosiveness at wideout this season, Smith could become the Bruins' top target next year.

What has impressed you most about UCLA so far? "First of all, man, the defense. The defense is really impressive. At Colorado, I was always that guy just hoping that we'd get a turnover so I could get back on the field. I'd dare them to throw the ball to me after a turnover. To continue to see these guys go out there and get two or three picks a game by one person, another two by another. I have never really been a guy to witness that over at Colorado."

CU coach Hawkins tells QB Hansen he's the full-time starter - The Denver Post

"Tyler is our quarterback. He's making plays," McKnight said. "One of the things that has impressed me about Tyler is his leadership abilities. When he gets in the huddle, everyone is listening. People respond very well to him.

Buffs look to improve...now - The Longmont Times-Call

The Tigers might be even younger than the Buffs. They list 36 freshmen and sophomores on their two-deep roster.

CU reported 8,000 tickets remained Friday for today’s homecoming game, which, if that many remain unsold, would leave quite a few empty seats and signal lagging interest in a losing program. Maybe angry fans have chosen to stay away to vent their frustration. If so, CU’s administration undoubtedly will take note. The smallest crowd at Folsom Field this season was 50,535 for the Wyoming game Sept. 19. CU lists Folsom’s capacity as 53,750.

More game related links after the jump...

Matchup: Missouri Tigers vs. Colorado Buffaloes - STLtoday.com
Good news for Buff fans and for the secondary:

In three Big 12 games, the clearly hobbled Blaine Gabbert has hit just 47 of 104 passes for two touchdowns with five interceptions. He threw for only 84 yards against Texas before being pulled after aggravating his ankle injury in the third quarter.

Interesting that Dan Hawkins d… | The Buffzone Blog

Interesting that Dan Hawkins described his team as fragile in postgame comments at Missouri in 2008. He used the same word again this week.

Mizzou faces must-win at Colorado - KansasCity.com

The keys to a must win for Mizzou appear to be these:
•Early devotion to a running game that seemed to work against Texas before two late Texas TDs at the end of the first half forced Missouri to the air in a vain attempt to catch up in the final 30 minutes.
•A return to a defense that had made steady improvement on a disastrous 2008 before reprising those bad old days in a chicken-with-its-head-cut-off runaround against Texas.

MU-Colorado football preview - KansasCity.com

Key matchup Missouri’s pass rush against a porous Colorado pass protection scheme. MU defensive end Aldon Smith is coming on. He had two sacks against Texas and nearly another. Disrupt Colorado’s offense, and Missouri doesn’t have to score a lot to win.

CU seeking redemption vs. Missouri - The Longmont Times-Call

Hawkins feels game with Tigers is "monumental" - The Denver Post

Both have young rosters, each with just six senior starters. Both have a sophomore quarterback still finding his way. Both start three sophomores along the offensive line. And both have found it difficult to establish the running game. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has called today's game "monumental" in importance. Missouri's Gary Pinkel all but said the same thing.

CU faces 'monumental` game - Buffzone

Team trying to stay in Big 12 North race, become bowl eligible

COMMENT: 10 Things you didn't know about Colorado - Columbia Missourian

After making its first primetime television appearance last week, "10 Things" is going back to its roots. From Robin Williams to Ralphie the Buffalo to city-wide animal regulations, here are 10 things you didn't know about Colorado.

Vikings grab first place - San Jose Mercury News
Buff commit Nick Hirschman who is supposed to be in Boulder this weekend for his official visit did not play in his high school game last night due to a leg injury that occurred in last week's game. His Los Gatos team lost last night.