Buff Bites: An early signing period and new Buffaloes in the NFL

Back by “popular” demand, Buff Bites is a weekly column getting you caught up on the week that was involving Colorado Buffaloes sports. Let’s get it going with some big changes on the football recruiting trail.

BETTER EARLY THEN NEVER!

Finally! Last Monday, an NCAA proposal for an early signing period for Division I football was approved by the CCA (Collegiate Commissioners Association). Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre has long been a proponent of an early signing period and told CUBuffs.com the move was a “good step forward.” Here’s a great column by CBS Sports Writer Ben Kercheval breaking down the impact this decision could have on college football for years to come.

BUFFS IN THE PROS

These former 11 Buffs were once recruits themselves, now they’re participating in rookie minicamps hoping to make their respective NFL teams. Here’s a breakdown by CU Associate SID Jason Clay.

Chidobe Awuzie, whose number 33 jersey is already being sold in the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, missed a day of rookie minicamp this week. Why?

He was on hand at Folsom Field to receive his degree (which he earned in 3 and a half years) from the Leeds School of Business. Congrats to Chido and ALL the CU Student-Athletes who received their degrees on Friday.

FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING

“He was a kid overlooked by virtually everybody,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said of guard Derrick White. Now, as my colleagues Jack Barsch and Sam Metivier found, the 6’5 star from Parker, Colorado is capturing national attention and could be a first-round pick in next month’s NBA Draft.

Five years ago, the Colorado Women’s Lacrosse team didn’t even exist. On Friday, they concluded a record-setting season with their first NCAA Tournament game, a 13-7 loss to

UMass in the first round. Here’s a great video from Pac-12 Networks which aired last month detailing just how far the team has come in the last four years under Ann Elliott’s guidance.

I BELIEVE THAT SHE CAN WIN!

What a month for Colorado soccer player Taylor Kornieck. On May 2, the midfielder took home the #CUSPY (CU Sports Performers of the Year) for Female Freshman of the Year. Less than a week later, Kornieck was added to the U-20 United States Women’s National Team roster for two upcoming friendlies against Japan. Congrats Taylor!

EVERYONE’S INSPIRATION

Colorado Nordic racer Jesse Knori was one of three finalists for the Honda Inspiration Award, honoring athletes who have overcome adversity, injury, illness or personal sacrifice to achieve success. If you’re unfamiliar with Jesse’s story, this column by The Denver Post’s John Meyer is well worth the read.

CU-CSU TRASH TALK OF THE WEEK

Typos happen and when their pointed out via twitter it can make for some fun trash talk between fans of Colorado and ‘that other state school.’

That was a pretty solid retort Ben. It’s just too bad CSU couldn’t comeback from a 31-0 halftime deficit against CU last September. Here’s the ‘OFFICAL’ box score.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Couldn’t agree more Mayor Garcia.