Buffs go from big foes to big friends - Boulder Daily Camera
Great story on Bryce Givens and Ryan Miller going from high school rivals to friends:

The two massive young men comprising the right side of the Colorado offensive line have come a long way to reach a point where they can depend on each other. Just a couple years ago Ryan Miller and Bryce Givens wanted to tear each other apart. They made the most of their one opportunity on the football field in the 2006 Class 5A state championship game when Miller's Columbine team defeated Givens and Mullen. "We were head up for most of the game," Givens said. "I was choking him. He was giving me clubs to the head. Yeah, we didn't like each other at all. It was a straight-up brawl the whole game." Word is they went a few rounds off the field, as well. "We would end up in the same places in high school and it was just nasty," Miller said. "It's ironic that we play right next to each other right now, and we've grown into such good buddies. But it was ugly."

NCAA College Football Power Rankings - NCAA Football - ESPN
Pat Forde puts the Buffs at #22 in his inaugural ESPN Power Rankings Poll. He is the first person I have seen have the Buffs in their Top 25.

Brooks: Polk Impressive In First Three Days Of Camp - CUBuffs.com

It looks like Ray Polk is making an impact in the defensive backfield. I have heard from a few sources that his big body presence coupled with great speed looks great out there. He has a ways to go to understand the defensive side of the ball but I guess he is getting there:

Ray Polk had no reservations last winter about making the switch from offense to defense. And after only four days of camp, his new position coach has no reservations about Polk's potential. "From Day 1 to Day 3, his improvement has been unbelievable," Colorado secondary coach Greg Brown said of Polk's transition from running back to safety. "He's still not doing everything right; he's still learning," Brown continued. "Some of his calls aren't right and he's not lining up right every time. But he's fast and strong and can hit."

College Football Odds Week 1
The early odds are out and the Buffs are 10.5 point favorites over Colorado State. Always tough to lay 10.5 points against a rival but considering the game is in Boulder against a team that losses some playmakers from a year ago, a 10.5 win should be do-able especially if we are a 10 win team.

August Plati-'Tudes - CUBuffs.com
Dave Plati put out his must read Plati-Tudes that has Dan Hawkins full transcript from the infamous December banquet when he may or may not have guaranteed 10 wins.

"But I believe one hundred percent, I put it on our team, I am going to tell you right here publically, I expect to win 10 games next year; I expect to win 10. You might say, "Geez, coach. Isn't that kind of steep?" No, it's not.

CU counting on young wideouts - The Denver Post
Like Jim Armstrong says, it would be nice if Simas could be on the field to back up these statements:

"I'm tired of hearing that word 'potential,' " Simas said. "I want to get out there and prove myself. I know what I'm capable of doing. I definitely have confidence in my ability to help us to our goal, which is 10 wins."

Simmons wouldn’t be rushed : All Things Colorado Sports Colorado

When Andre does come back, we have to put him in a situation where he can be successful," Kiesau said. "We can’t just throw the whole playbook at him and say, ‘You’ve got to know all of this stuff and then go out and do it and execute correctly.’’’

More Buff Bites after the jump...

Brooks: Buffs Raring To Run - CUBuffs.com
CU has a stable of good running backs who compete fiercely with one another, but also care for one another.

Buffs First Fall Scrimmage Open To Public - CUBuffs.com
The University of Colorado football team will partake in the squad's first scrimmage of the fall camp Thursday and it will be open to the public. The scrimmage will begin at noon and last until approximately 2:30 p.m. at Folsom Field.

Whatever happened to the Big 12's Heisman winners? - Big 12 - ESPN
1994: Rashaan Salaam (Colorado) -- Promotes martial arts fights in China. Currently resides in San Diego, Calif. (age 34).

Top 200 Quarterbacks - AthlonSports.com
Athlon sports ranks the top 200 college football quarterbacks in 2009. In a shocker, they rank Colorado State's Grant Stucker, who might not even be the starter at 71 and Cody Hawkins at 106. Huh?

The Longmont Times-Call - Colorado defensive line starts to rebuild

Bowl Projection - College Football - ESPN
ESPN thins the Buffs will play in the Independence Bowl this year, like they did two years ago against Alabama. This time they think it will be either Kentucky or Auburn. I don't know how I would feel if that were to happen. I think we are setting our sights a little higher than the Independence Bowl.

Record-breaking nine bowl teams predicted for Big 12 - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin of ESPN.com predicts the Buffs squeak into a bowl game playing in the Independence.

Colorado Buffaloes Bowl bid: Possibly. Best case: In a nod to soothsayers everywhere, the Buffaloes indeed live up to Dan Hawkins' preseason "prediction" and win 10 games, claiming a surprise Big 12 title game and ending up in the Holiday Bowl. Worst case: The Buffaloes don't settle on either quarterback and tumble out of bowl contention for the third time in the last four seasons under Hawkins, making his seat extremely toasty this winter. Prediction: Independence Bowl.