25 hours of course work in six months in order to become academically eligible to play at CU.

That is what linebacker Shaun Mohler did at Orange Coast College this spring and summer to just have a chance to come to the University of Colorado. He passed all seven of those classes and still had to wait for the NCAA Clearinghouse to tell him he was eligible.

What LB Shaun Mohler did was truly amazing. One thing that hampers the Buffs especially in recruiting junior college players, is the admission standards that comes with playing in Boulder. No, its not Stanford or Notre Dame but it is close. That is why he was the only junior college transfer to become a Buff last year. Let's just say what happened at Kansas State last year with 19 JUCO's signing would never happen at the University of Colorado. That total might not happen over the next 10 years!

Mohler, a one time Nebraska commit, would have coasted easily into Nebraska but after Bill Callahan got fired, he wanted out of Lincoln and visited Colorado. The rest is history.

Shaun Mohler has always been a favorite of The Ralphie Report. Fans want players to immerse themselves into their respective universities as much they do. We want to believe that every player bleeds the colors of the university. Shaun Mohler made us feel that way. When he was taking 25 hours of course work, he still found the time and motivation to work out to be in top shape when he arrived in Boulder. Some other big time recruits had to take one class and couldn't find the time. So it is easy to make Shaun Mohler a favorite.

He wasn't just a feel good story either. The Buffs knew they were getting a player out of Orange Coast College. Rivals.com ranked Shaun as the best Junior College outside linebacker prospect in last year's recruiting class. Mohler was named Orange Coast's most valuable player both of his seasons, he was first-team All-American, All-State and All-Mission Conference, earning the league Player of the Year last year. His highlight film showed why he received all of the accolades.

Mohler saw playing time from day one with the Buffs. A reserve at first, the coaches couldn't keep him off the field. Once he was on the field, he become one of the Buffs most consistent defenders.

Against Colorado State, Mohler did not start and in the Iowa State game, he was hurt. Other than those two games, he was a very consistent defender. The best part is Mohler got better as the year went on. To his own admission, he had a tough time adjusting to the speed of the game. Looking at these stats, I think he adjusted pretty well.

Looking at the overall defensive team stats for the Buffs this year, Mohler excelled.

If Shaun starts against CSU and doesn't get hurt against Iowa State, he is probably the team's leading tackler this year. Finishing second on the team in both tackles (97) and tackles for loss (7.5) right out of junior college is an amazing feat. Mohler was rewarded for his play today as he was named by the AP, Honorable Mention All Big 12. He also might be the overall best story of the year in the Big 12.

Great find by Hawkins, Cabral and the staff on this one. An offseason of aggressive training and lifting will also do wonders for Mohler. Next year, he will once again be a stud and with Jeff Smart, B.J. Beatty, Jon Major, Doug Rippy and Lynn Katoa back, linebacker is one position the Buffs don't have to worry about.

Shaun Mohler is a player that makes you feel good to root for the Buffs!

see the best of and worst of list so far after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

Click after the jump to see the first, second and honorable mention teams along with some  commentary...in my opinion, Josh Smith got screwed.

Continue reading this post »

Damn, this weather was supposed to come tomorrow at 6pm. Buffs can't catch a break. Forecast for tomorrow is a high of 52, low of 37. Not exactly what we were hoping for! Maybe this weather will stick around.

The Buffs need a Boone Pickens...badly. This article describes some of the amenities that Pickens is updating for the Oklahoma State Football Athletic program: hydro-pools, rehab pools, $60,000 suites, a 20,000 square feet  weight room and $850,000 of equipment, a 200-person theater with leather seats will host Friday night movies for the team during the season, and two smaller theater rooms will be used as offensive and defensive meeting rooms.

Oklahoma State has a lot of respect for the CU defense.

Tonight, Jeff Bzdelik and the Colorado Buffaloes will give everyone a look at the young but supposedly talented team. This year will be a struggle with the youth on the Buffs team but there is optimism around the program, the first time in a long time.

For the last time this Saturday, 15 seniors will play in Folsom Field. This group of Buffs have had a roller coaster of a ride that will only end bittersweet if they win one of the last two games. These guys went through the 70 - 3 loss to Texas, the Gary Barnett Scandal, the loss to Montana State, a coaching change, the upset wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma, and the injury riddle senior season. Hopefully the Buffs can win one and send them out the right way. Here are the 15 seniors who will be playing there last game:

College football ratings have increased this year with the major reason being the success of the Big 12:

College football television ratings are on the rise, and the Big 12 is a big reason."Saturday Night Football" on ABC is running 33 percent ahead of last year’s ratings pace, and if you’ve tuned in lately, all you’ve seen in that slot is a Big 12 game.

Defensive lineman Latu Heimuli enjoyed his visit to Colorado. No timetable has been set for his decision as he is trying to decide his 5th and final visit. It is going to be a great recruiting class on the defensive line if the Buffs can get one or two of Latu Heimuli, Colton Nash, Nick Kasa, Edward Nuckols and DeAndre Coleman.

Mizzou week. Most fans circled this game as the most difficult challenge that faced the Buffs this year on the schedule. After two loses and a #1 Texas team, that thought process has been changed...sort of. Although I am officially off the Chase Daniel and Missouri bandwagon for the "not focused enough for the matchup with the #1 team" excuse they have been throwing out there with this new 5:30 mantra, it doesnt make this week any easier for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Read more after the jump...

National	Big 12	Actual	Category	Actual	Big 12	National
Rank	Rank				Rank	Rank
70	9	133.71	Rushing Offense	151.43	5	58
92	12	182.57	Passing Offense	369.43	3	4
96	12	316.29	Total Offense	520.86	3	5
87	12	21.29	Scoring Offense	45.86	4	T-5
80	9	160	Rushing Defense	123.14	6	45
47	4	116.75	Pass Efficiency Defense	136.63	10	95
66	7	361	Total Defense	410.86	10	100
65	7	25	Scoring Defense	26.29	8	71
68	6	34.71	Net Punting	36.89	4	32
60	7	9.19	Punt Returns	8.94	8	63
33	7	22.97	Kickoff Returns	22.26	8	41
74	9	-0.29	Turnover Margin	0.43	7	42
54	1	201	Pass Defense	287.71	12	114
79	12	115.28	Passing Efficiency	171.7	4	5
65	9	1.71	Sacks	2.29	4	34
T-81	7	5.14	Tackles For Loss	8.14	2	7
T-85	10	2.29	Sacks Allowed	0.86	4	8

Continue reading this post »

It has been a busy week on The Ralphie Report so far...Woodrow and I have put up a lot of information from recruiting to round tables to an exciting podcast that we did with Burnt Orange Nation. But now it is time to get down to business. All the work has been put in during the week. The film has been studied, the game plans set, the schemes understood. Most people aren't giving the Buffs a chance and the popular opinion among Texas blogs is that this Colorado team is a joke, a mediocre team who will be lucky to go to a bowl game this year. Personally,  I like the Buffs position right now. Its like Coach Hawkins said yesterday "So if you want to spend time handing out game balls 'cause you beat West Virginia or having a funeral 'cause you lost to Florida State, that's wrong. You just keep re-pooling, re-tooling, working it out." One bad game against FSU doesn't make a season and I fully expect this Buffs' team to respond against Texas in a strong manner. In either a win or loss result, I believe this team will take a step forward. One thing is for sure, Hawkins has a way to get his team motivated and ready for these types of games (look at Georgia & Texas Tech in his first year and Texas Tech & Oklahoma in his second). Now the keys to the game and The Ralphie Report's prediction! I think the keys of the game sections is the best of the year so far!

CU's Defensive Keys to the Game:

1) Texas has scored 73 of their 198 points (37%) in the second quarter this year compared to only giving up 20. On the flip side, Colorado has allowed more points in the second quarter  (40 of the 94 or 43%) than any other quarter this year. What does this mean...the Buffs need to do a better job with the in game adjustments. Watch for the second quarter points. Last week against FSU, the Buffs gave up 12 points while not putting any on the board. The Buffs were down 12 at half time and never could recover. We talk about half time adjustments being important but this week it is about making the correct in game adjustments once Texas understands the schemes CU's defense is throwing at them.

2) Texas has had 31, count'em 31 plays over 20 yards this year. The Buffs must limit the big play. Texas has good wide receivers on the outside with Shipley and Cosby. Colt McCoy is also a threat to break a big run as he has 5 for over 20 yards. Momentum is going to be a big intangible in this game and nothing quiets a crowd or deflates a team early than a big special teams, defense or offensive play.

Continue reading this post »

The Ralphie Report ranks the good and the bad (majority) from this Saturday's Colorado Buffaloes vs. Florida State Seminoles game.

Continue reading this post »