Friday CU Buff Bites - Losing Sucks; How's The Snow Today?

Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

Skiers Have Solid Day In RMISA Qualifier No. 3 - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado - Check out the ski-team's black helmet...why doesn't the ski team get pro-combat uniform alternates?

In the final tune-up ahead of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) Championships, the Buffaloes racked up a win and six total top 10 finishes in the giant slalom here Thursday in the RMISA Alpine Qualifier No. 3. Though securing just one podium (top three) finish, CU's six top 10 efforts were the most in the field, with Alaska and Utah netting four each, Montana State and New Mexico two apiece, and Denver and Westminster one.

RINGO: CU Buffs' loss belongs on Tad Boyle's shoulders - Buffzone

It's this simple. Tad Boyle didn't have his team ready to play. This one is on the coach. It would be too much to say Boyle was out-coached in the 74-50 loss by Stanford's Johnny Dawkins. After all, it wasn't Boyle getting beat down the court. It wasn't him shooting layups into the bottom of the rim, missing free throws or being completely out-muscled and out-hustled for rebounds to the tune of 50-26.

"I felt like maybe we were a little winded tonight," Boyle said. "Maybe I've been a little too soft on these guys in practices. I know we practiced the things we needed to practice to try to beat Stanford. I do know that.

"We didn't execute our game plan defensively at all or offensively for that matter. That's disappointing, especially at this time of year in a game that has this magnitude in the conference standings. We had a lot more to play for in the standings. We sure didn't act like it and play like it. I didn't see this coming. I'm surprised." Those are surprising words coming from a coach who rarely experiences games like Thursday. In fact, it's a first for Boyle in his time at CU.

Spring Practice Primer " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

Quarterback competition may be more heated than expected This spring, Colorado will be auditioning for the role of starting quaterback. For the first time in six seasons, the Buffs will open the fall campaign with a starter not named Hawkins or Hansen. Even though there are five quarterbacks on the roster – senior Brent Burnette, sophomore Nick Hirschman, sophomore Connor Wood, redshirt-freshman Stevie Dorman and red-shirt freshman John Schrock – many in the Buff Nation are ready to hand over the keys to the Buff offense to Connor Wood even before he has taken his first snap with the first team offense.

This sentiment was only enhanced when it was announced that Hirschman, Wood’s perceived chief competition (at least until Shane Dillon enrolls this summer), would be out for some if not all of the spring practices off-season foot surgery. Now, it appears, at least to Hirschman, that the competition to earn the starting role will be "on" from the first day of spring practices, March 10th.

A reported tweet of Hirschman, "So close to 100 percent rehab does the body good", lends credence to the report that the sophomore, who has one career start under his belt (a less than auspicious effort against Arizona State), will be a "full go" for most of the spring.

The Pac-12 is now officially the speediest conference around...

FULMER CUPDATE: OREGON MAKES PAC-12 THE SPEED CONFERENCE - Every Day Should Be Saturday

Finally, after much combing through of affidavits, the point total for TCU's weed bust is 37 points for all offenses. That's 11 felonies, three misdemeanors, and an almost cheeky bonus point dropped on top for a capper. The code regarding selling drugs in a school-zone really gets you, guys. It does every time. This places TCU in an outrageous lead for the moment, but remember that we're just one ill-advised group activity away from someone threatening their admittedly huge lead early in the Fulmer Cup. For the moment, second place seems to be the crown everyone else is scrambling for as TCU floats high on their own cloud in first place.

Doug Gottlieb's Bubble Watch - ESPN Video - ESPN - Gottlieb breaks down the Buffs' NCAA Tournament chances...

I'm guessing that our tournament chances have already broken down, ifyaknowwhatimean.

Pac-12 spring preview: North Division - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Ted Miller takes a look at the Pac-12 North Division prior to the start of spring ball.
It's been difficult for you, hasn't it? First, the college football season has the audacity to end, then national signing day slips by, leaving you with ... what? A whole lot of nothing. Almost makes you thankful for Davonte' Neal's ludicrous recruiting saga. But the Pac-12 blog has decided to help. Colleague Kevin Gemmell and I have invented something we're going to call "spring football"! (I wanted to call it "super awesome offseason football" but he insisted on "spring.") Wait ... it already exists. Well, that's OK, too.

Pac-12 spring preview: South Division - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Where to start (defense)? Last in this. Last in that. Last in almost every team statistic the Pac-12 has to offer. But there are some intriguing youngsters on the roster. Cornerback Greg Henderson was all-conference honorable mention as a freshman with a team-high nine passes broken up. Jered Bell also returns from injury after blowing out a knee last preseason. If healthy, he's expected to be a big contributor in the secondary. Linebacker Jon Major returns as the team's leading tackler, and if Doug Rippy is fully recovered from his knee injury, he'll look to build on what was a pretty good season last year before getting hurt.

Pac-12 Recruiting Update: Davonte Neal, Keyante Green Commit - Pacific Takes - Pac-12 recruiting update from Pacific Takes.

Oregon State Beavers' Malcolm Marable suspended indefinitely after going 104 mph - ESPN - Apparently there's something in the gasoline in the state of Oregon...

Oregon State cornerback Malcolm Marable has been suspended indefinitely by the Beavers after he was cited for driving 104 mph on Interstate 5.

I'm sure this is not what is meant when coaches say they want to improve team speed.

Mike Leach talks quarterbacks, philosophy - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

It's a rare moment when Mike Leach is asked a question about quarterbacking and he doesn't know the answer.

Ask him who was the best he ever worked with and he'll rattle off four or five names. Ask him about the origins of his philosophy and he'll go into detail about the wishbone roots and his days as a student at BYU. Ask him what he looks for in a quarterback and he'll hammer on how accuracy and decision-making are the primary characteristics.

Pac-12 chat wrap - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

If you missed my Thursday chat, you'll probably break out in a fungus. Or something more dire. But if you're up to it, you can read the entire transcript here.

Here are some handy highlights if you are in a hurry.

Rippy's recovery can make LB corps special

The Buffs will enter spring ball with strong senior leadership, talent and seasoned youth at linebacker. The unit looks strong and in Cabral we trust, but one knee holds the key.

Spring practice starts March 10th, first round of the NIT starts March 13th, St Patrick's day is March 17th.

Fight on, Buffs; fight on...