Pressure? Buffs See High-Stakes Game Vs. WSU As Opportunity
November 18, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Every week this season, the stakes have increased for the Colorado Buffaloes.
This week is no different.
Mike MacIntyre's 8-2 Buffs, ranked No. 10 in the CFP rankings and No. 12 in both national polls, play host to 8-2 Washington State (No. 22 CFP, No. 20 AP) on Saturday in what is simply one of the biggest games at Folsom Field in years.
The 1:30 p.m. nationally televised game (Fox) pits two ranked teams at Folsom for the first time since early in the 2002 season and two Pac-12 division leaders — CU is 6-1 in the South, WSU 7-0 in the North — who both need a win to maintain their one-game division leads.
The game even pits two semifinalists for the Maxwell Football Club's coach of the year award, CU's MacIntyre and Washington State's Mike Leach.
It is indeed a big moment in what has been a big season.
But while Buffs fans are talking about a Pac-12 title game berth and what is no longer an unimaginable goal of earning a spot in the four team national playoff, the Buffs are keeping their focus on the task at hand.
In other words, while it's been a great ride and a moment definitely worthy enjoying, they would like to write a few more chapters to what has already been an amazing story — and it begins with going 1-0 this week.
"The farther we go, the better each game gets and the more fun they get," said linebacker Kenneth Olugbode, one of the CU seniors who has endured three (or more) difficult years to reach this point. "It's just a matter of all of us going out there and doing their job. Everybody's on the same page. We have one goal mind and everyone wants to reach it."
It won't be easy. Not only do the Cougars have what Leach's teams always have — a high-powered offense — they also have a defense this year. While the Cougars have been scoring points as they always do (44.3 points per game), their defense has been giving up just 24.3 per game.
In short, it has all the signs of a nail-biter, the kind that could keep what is expected to be CU's biggest home crowd of the year in its seats until the end.
One recurring theme all week during CU's practices was that the Buffs control their destiny. If they win their last two games, they win the Pac-12 South.
"We've got to do everything in our power to be prepared to go out there and basically play for a Pac-12 championship," quarterback Sefo Liufau said. "Basically everything is in our hands right now and if we let it go who knows what will happen."
CU's defense will no doubt be tested by a Cougars offense that begins with the arm of quarterback Luke Falk, the Pac-12's leading passer. But the Cougars also have a running game, meaning Jim Leavitt's CU defense has been busy throughout the week preparing for a new wrinkle in the Cougars' attack.
"Washington State's known for the Air Raid, and they like to move things around a little bit trying to get you caught off guard," outside linebacker/safety Ryan Moeller said. "You really have to start there, figuring out the different steps and different areas of where we think they're going to attack us. And then it all comes down to communication out there for us."
Offensively, the Buffs will attempt to produce the balance that has helped them score at least 40 points in four of their Pac-12 wins. They'll need another solid game from Liufau and the same from running back Phillip Lindsay.
"A team like Washington State's going to score a lot of points no matter who they're playing," Liufau said. "It's definitely important for us to go out there and have another good performance this week."
But while the Buffs know the stage on which they're playing has grown bigger and the stakes are no doubt much higher, MacIntyre has also urged his players to enjoy the moment. Instead of feeling pressure, he's told them to not forget the great opportunity they have in front of them.
"You've worked this hard, you just need to push the extra step," MacIntyre said. "That's not a pressure situation at all, just keep working and doing what you're doing and enjoy it. Really enjoy the moment.Then it's not an overwhelming feeling for you and our guys are excited about it. It's a great opportunity."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
