Tuesday Buffs Bits: Seniors Say They Plan On Writing Successful Finish

BOULDER — Colorado's seniors vow they aren't finished yet.

With a 4-4 record and four games to go, the Buffs' elder statesmen are making it clear they have every intention of writing a successful ending to a season that has thus far been a roller coaster of a ride.

"We still have a lot left to accomplish," senior running back Phillip Lindsay said at Tuesday's weekly CU press conference. "For a lot of us, it is the last four or five games left in our college careers, so the sense of urgency is we'll never play another down in black and gold after these five games. We want to go out with a bang. We want to leave everything out there."

The Buffs' next opportunity to do that comes Saturday when CU hosts 4-4 Cal (1-4 Pac-12) in a noon homecoming game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks). The winner will move one step closer to bowl eligibility; the loser will find attaining that postseason goal that much more difficult.

This is definitely not where the Buffs — in particular the seniors — expected to be two-thirds of the way through the season. After last year's breakthrough year, the general feeling was that they would continue to build on the foundation and momentum established in 2016.

But an up-and-down season that has been marked by inconsistency has put those seniors in an interesting position. Most were key players in 2016 and are familiar with what it took to produce that success — now, they don't want their legacy to be the class that slipped back a step.

"We're not very consistent and we're not doing what we thought we would be doing this season," senior wide receiver Bryce Bobo said. "We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and make something happen. We know what our record is. In our mind, we're going to win the next four games."

What has been perhaps most frustrating for the Buff this year is their inability to put together a complete game. They have had outstanding offensive performances and solid defensive performances — but never in the same game.

The result has been a 1-4 Pac-12 record that includes two losses by a total of seven points and two big losses that could have been much closer.

Making the equation even more interesting this week is the decision by the coaching staff to open up the quarterback competition. Regular starter Steven Montez — benched at halftime of last week's 28-0 loss at Washington State — and redshirt freshman Sam Noyer are receiving equal repetitions in practice this week.

"They know that at every position they've got to compete, they've got to play and you've got to perform," head coach Mike MacIntyre said Tuesday. "I think Bill Belichick always says, 'You've got to do your job and do your job well.' That's what we have to do. We're always going to try to find a way for us to be successful. Everybody's got to compete and has to keep playing. … .. Both of them have practiced well this week. I'll see what decision I make before we run out behind Ralphie."

Both Montez and Noyer have looked crisp in two practices thus far this week. Players say who gets the nod doesn't matter as much as the final result.

"We believe in both quarterbacks," Lindsay said. "At the end of the day, they're both here on scholarship for a reason and they're both out there competing and trying to win games. They need to continue to push each other, that's what it's about. For us, we just have to keep moving forward. We're not going to flinch because of something that we can't control."

But no matter who takes the first snap for the Buffs on Saturday against the Bears, it will be CU's seniors who know their legacy is on the line.

"You just have to keep plugging at it, you can't sit here and point fingers," Lindsay said. " What's done is done, now we move on. We still have a chance to win the rest of our games, and that's what we're focused on. You can't look back at the past because you can't change it now. For us it's about looking forward and getting ready for the next game against Cal."

THREE-WAY PLAYER: Colorado tight end/defensive end George Frazier has played 159 snaps on offense this year, 93 on defense and 54 on special teams. The CU senior has seven tackles and a pass breakup on defense, one tackle and a fumble recovery on special teams, and one reception for nine yards on offense.

But when asked about his favorite position, Frazier said he doesn't have one.

"I just love playing football," he said. "I love being physical and being out there where I'm able to hit somebody. I love tight end, I can get the ball in my hands and go try to make somebody miss and have fun. I love defense as well, you just kind of read and react and fly around."

MORE TIME FOR MATHEWES: Junior linebacker Michael Mathewes saw his most extensive playing time of the year last weekend at Washington State, playing 40 snaps after an injury to Derek McCartney.

"He's been doing a good job in pass-rush in our practices and in our one-on-one pass-rushes," MacIntyre said. "He's an excellent technician at it. He caused a few hurries and did a few things. He plays extremely hard. You'll probably see him a little bit more when the opportunities arise."

SALAAM CEREMONY SATURDAY: Colorado will officially retire Rashaan Salaam's No. 19 at Saturday's game.

Salaam, who passed away last December, is CU's only Heisman Trophy winner, collecting the award in 1994 after a spectacular season that saw him rush for 2,055 yards and score 24 touchdowns.

His number will be just the fourth ever retired by Colorado, joining Byron "Whizzer" White's No. 24, Joe Romig's No. 67 and Bobby Anderson's No. 11. Members of White's family will be in attendance at Saturday's ceremony, as will Anderson and Romig.

A number of Salaam's former teammates will also be present.

"It means a great deal to the program," MacIntyre said. "Getting to know Rashaan a little bit the last couple years when he was here was good. I just remember his smile. He always had a great smile on his face. … All the guys that played with him and all the people that were around and all the fans that watched him play at that time, I know it'll mean a tremendous amount to them and I know it'll mean a tremendous amount to his family."

BLUEBONNET MEMORIES: Also being honored Saturday will be the 1967 Bluebonnet Bowl champion team. That Eddie Crowder-coached team finished 9-2 (5-2 Big Eight) and climbed as high as the No. 3 ranking in the nation.

The Buffs finished ranked No. 14 after a convincing 31-21 win over Miami in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Safety Dick Anderson earned first-team All-American honors that year, leading a defense that allowed just 92 points in 10 regular season games.

50TH FOR RALPHIE V: Barring weather issues, Saturday will be the 50th time CU's current mascot, Ralphie V, has led the Buffs onto Folsom Field.

ONE TO REMEMBER: The last time Colorado and Cal met produced a memorable 59-56 Bears win in double overtime in Berkeley in 2014.

The Buffs outgained Cal 630-585 in the game and CU's Nelson Spruce caught 19 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Buffs QB Sefo Liufau was 46-for-67 for 455 yards and seven touchdowns.

"That was a phenomenal, phenomenal game," MacIntyre said.

Cal's quarterback in that game was Jared Goff, who was 24-for-42 for 458 yards and seven touchdowns.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu