Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Know They'll Get CSU's Best Shot
August 31, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU players have plenty of respect for in-state rivals
BOULDER — Colorado tight end Sean Irwin may have said it best.
Asked to describe the annual Colorado-Colorado State game atmosphere, the Buffs' fifth-year senior didn't have to think twice.
"It's a beast," Irwin said. "The blood's flowing, and you always know one thing: you'd better come with your heart."
Indeed, over the last couple of decades, a once very-lopsided series has become much more competitive. While Colorado holds a dominating 63-22-2 lead in the all-time matchup, the CU edge is a much more narrow 6-4 over the last 10 years and 13-7 over the last 20.
As for the current Buffs, it's even closer. From the fifth-year seniors on down to the true freshmen, all they know is this: in the last four years, the series is a 2-2 tie, with the biggest margin of victory 14 points (one for each team) and the smallest last year's 27-24 Colorado win in overtime.
It's why CU head coach Mike MacIntyre isn't exactly buying what some folks have been trying to sell — that this is a down year for the Rams.
"They're a really good football team," MacIntyre said at his Tuesday press conference. "Their offensive line kicked our butt last year. (Running back Dalyn) Dawkins ran all over us. … Defensively, Coach (Marty) English knows what he's doing. Two years ago, when he was the defensive coordinator, they pretty much shut us down. Mike Bobo is an excellent offensive coordinator and head coach. …It's going to be a heck of a football game and our young men are excited about playing."
It's a similar storyline throughout the Colorado locker room as the Buffs prepare for Friday night's season opener against the Rams at Sports Authority Field in Denver (6 p.m., ESPN). While fans on social media are spending the week trading (usually) good-natured barbs, the theme from the Buffs has been nothing but respect.
"In my five years here, I've learned this: as Buffaloes, we need to prepare like we've never prepared before," said fifth-year senior Alex Kelley. "Those guys, they bring it every single time we play them. If you're not prepared, they'll jump on you."
That's not an understatement. The Rams have made a habit of striking quickly in recent years.
A year ago, the Buffs fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying to take the lead — only to see the Rams come back and force overtime, setting the stage for a winning field goal from CU's Diego Gonzalez. Two years ago, the Rams put 24 unanswered points on the board in the second half to erase a 17-7 CU lead and take a 31-17 win.
Buffs quarterback Sefo Liufau was the starter in both of those games. For seniors such as Liufau and outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert, it's their last appearance in a game that coaches from both teams admit is one of the most important of the year to their respective fan bases.
"As much as people want to look down upon them, CSU is a really tough team, especially on defense," Liufau said. "Those front seven guys that they have — last year they had some great guys, and every year they play us tough. It's a rivalry game. Up front they are strong and so I expect a battle. I expect us to do well and execute our operation on offense, but I expect a battle. They are not just going to roll over and let us win."
For Gilbert, the game is simply the opportunity to open the year with a win — something the Buffs haven't done for the last two seasons.
"It's about starting the season off right and on a winning note," Gilbert said. "It's year around bragging rights for the people who live here, but for us seniors, it's the last first game that we'll ever get, so we have to come out good."
One thing both teams know they must deal with is constant noise. Unlike a home venue, the relatively even crowd split means there's never a time when the stadium is quiet.
"It's really a super-special atmosphere," Kelley said. "It reminds me of a giant high school game with 60,000 people. You have their sidelines and our sidelines. We make a good play and our sidelines are cheering and they're booing — and then it's the opposite. The crowd is going back and forth. When we play at home and our offense is on the field, it's kind of quiet. But when we play at Mile High, it's always loud. Always."
In the 15 games in Denver (the first was in 1998), the Buffs hold a 9-6 edge. The current series between the two teams will go on "hiatus" after the 2020 game, and it's highly unlikely that the series — when it resumes — will return to Denver anytime in the near future.
Players, though, like the opportunity to play in a building they see regularly on television.
"It's awesome playing in an NFL stadium," linebacker Kenneth Olugbode said. "We got to play in Gillette Stadium (home of the Patriots) when we went to UMass. It's just different. They're generally bigger, more spread out. It's awesome to see what you see on TV all the time — especially if you have that goal of wanting to be there."
Still, as players and coaches — from sides — all agree, the venue really doesn't matter once the game begins.
"I love this game," Irwin said. "I think we all do. It's always special, and for the seniors, it means even a little more. This is it for me. I want to go out on top. I'm tired of hitting my guys and I'm sure they're tired of hitting their guys. I'm just ready to hit some green."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
