4 more days Buff fans...4 more days until we get a glimpse into the future. It is definitely hard to contain the excitement, the apprehension or whatever you are feeling right now. Yes, it is crazy to get wrapped up in this like we do but it is fun, suspenseful and gives a reason for hope.
Speaking of the future: Byron Moore, enjoy the 60 degree weather today. Yes, on Jan 31st, it is 60 degrees in Denver/Boulder. South Bend on the other hand, a high of 29 degrees with 25 - 30 mph winds making it feel like 14 degrees. Currently at 10am CT, the temperature feels like -2 degrees in South Bend. In Colorado, 51 degrees right now...do it!
I found this pretty interesting from the Denver Post. The talent coming out of Central Denver has definitely not aided the Buffs effort in rebuilding or ever, in fact. The signings of two Denver East players to the University of Colorado defied recent history. Get this amazing note:
According to records, tight end DaVaughn Thornton and kicker Zach Grossnickle will be the Angels’ first CU football signees since 1964.
East athletic director Wes Ashley checked with CU sports information head Dave Plati, who indicated the last East footballer to sign with the Buffaloes was Dave Sidwell, once the head coach of the Angels.
Think about it — the public league in Denver hasn’t sent a football player to CU since right after the JFK assisination.
I am trying to think about the last few players that came out of the DPS to do anything successful at the next level. I can think of DT Calais Campbell (playing in the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow) from Denver South who went to the University of Miami but at a loss for anybody else in recent memory.
8. 1990 CU football
I know what you're thinking - this team should be ranked higher because it won a national championship. OK, a share of the national title. Georgia Tech won the coaches' poll. Too many weird occurrences around the Buffs. A fifth-down win in Missouri. A one-point loss at Illinois. A season-opening tie against Tennessee. Still, the Buffs, led by Darian Hagan, above, reached the Orange Bowl in Miami, where their undefeated season ended against Notre Dame the previous year. In a rematch against the Fighting Irish, Ronnie Bradford's blocked extra-point attempt, and the clipping penalty that nullified Raghib Ismail's punt return for a touchdown, helped CU win 10-9. The state of Colorado turned upside down in celebration.
The Buffs basketball team will take on the Kansas Jayhawks today (2:00 PM MT, ESPNU) in a rematch of the earlier season Big 12 matchup in which the Buffs contested for over half of the game but Kansas pulled away at the end. Colorado was within two points, four minutes into the second half but then the Jayhawks went on a 16 - 4 run to seize control of the game. Coach Bzdelik's team should be riding on a high note after getting their first Big 12 win this past week against Iowa State. Also, Colorado has found a second scorer in Dwight Thorne that will hopefully take some pressure off the Buffs leading scorer in Cory Higgins, who scored 20 in the last meeting with Kansas.
Last game against Iowa State, CU won the offensive rebounding and turnover battle, something they have struggled with all year. It is not a coincidence that winning those categories won the game for Colorado. Today, the Buffs will need to do the same thing times ten but with bona fide middle man in Cole Aldrich, I don't see the Buffs being able to rebound with the Hawks. In the earlier meeting, Kansas won the rebounding battle by 12 (31 - 19). That won't work today especially on the road where Colorado has yet to win a game (0 - 5). The oddsmakers have Kansas favored by 21.5. Oh, and by the way, Kansas doesn't lose at home either:
The Jayhawks remain one of two Big 12 teams and one of 13 teams nationally that are unbeaten in league play (Oklahoma is 6-0). Kansas will be seeking to extend the nation’s longest home-court winning streak to 36 games
For more information on today's game, check out these articles:
Kansas City Star: KU-Colorado Basketball Preview
Scout.com: KU and CU Hook It Up
BDC: History Not on Buffs Side