CU At The Game Podcast
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I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we begin by taking a look at some of the national stories surrounding Coach Prime this spring, including his book tour, the national story about his not taking off-campus visits to the homes of potential recruits, and his weighing in his players and the NFL Draft. We then shift back to campus and CU’s spring practices, with a review of the comments made by Coach Prime, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. We next discuss whether CU fans should be raving about men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle’s accomplishments ... or whether this season is further proof that the Buffs under Boyle have a glass ceiling of success. We finish up with a tribute to the remarkable tournament run made by the CU women’s team after a rough end to their regular season. It’s always great to be a Buff, but even more so this spring. But ... is this as good as it gets for CU fans, or are there even greater achievements ahead? Let’s find out ...
There will be plenty of fluff pieces on the progress the team is making during its closed practices. So, with these preview episodes we try to identify the storylines which are going to truly be worth your time to click on, and which stories are just column fillers with stories promoted from within the Champions Center. Colorado has a new defensive coordinator, Robert Livingston, who comes to Boulder by way of the Cincinnati Bengals. It seems clear that Livingston was not Coach Prime’s first choice to replace Charles Kelly at defensive coordinator, but will Livingston be the right choice? And what does Livingston have to work with? ... Has enough new talent been brought in along the defensive line to improve on CU’s rush defense, ranked 107th in the nation in 2023? ... Is it clear that the linebacker roster will still have to be a priority for Colorado in the Transfer Portal come late April? ... Are the pieces in place for the Buff secondary to become a dominant force, or will the CU defense, 124th in pass defense and 127th in total defense last season, continue to lag behind its Power Four brethren? ... Let’s find out ...
I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland. We open with a brief update on the decline of the NCAA and college football as we know it, perhaps summed up best as: “The only parties who have the power to put an end to the current chaos are the ones who are benefitting the most from the chaos”. We then turn our full attention to your Buffs and to stories we expect to see from the offensive side of the ball this spring. There will be plenty of fluff pieces on the progress the team is making during its closed practices. So, with this episode we try to identify the headlines which are going to truly be worth your time to click on, and which stories are just column fillers which are being spoon fed to the media. Which stories are which? What should CU fans be looking for when there is a story about the battle for the top running back and wide receiver positions? Is the battle for the backup quarterback position going to be settled this spring? Are there going to be any stories about the offensive line development which are not going to be must-read? Let’s find out ...
I am joined for this episode by Neil Langland, and we are here to discuss the disintegration - or re-invention - of college football as we know it. We take a brief detour into the history of litigation which brought us to the current chaos, from Jeremy Bloom’s case against the NCAA twenty years ago, to the landmark decisions in the O’Bannon and Alston cases, which lay the groundwork for the tectonic shifts taking place today. So ... With the Dartmouth case allowing players to vote on forming a union, and the Tennessee and Virginia lawsuit against the NCAA likely to bring about a stripping of almost all NIL regulations, where is the sport heading in the near and long term future? ... Will the Big Ten/SEC “advisory group” develop solutions, or are even the big boy conferences merely wholly owned subsidiaries of ESPN and Fox? ... And, most importantly for Buff fans: Will Coach Prime have enough time to salvage the CU brand, giving the Buffs a chair to sit in when the music stops? ... Or, is it time for schools like Colorado to accept, and perhaps even embrace, a future in a new mid-tier college football world where the Buffs can once again compete on a level playing field with its competition?
The Colorado 2024 Big 12 schedule was announced this past week. Buff fans have known for years who the non-conference opponents would be this fall, and we have known for some time which of the remaining 15 Big 12 teams would fill CU’s nine-game conference slate. But, it wasn’t until this week that the Buff Nation was introduced to the schedule for the Buffs’ first season back in the Big 12. This episode will be taking a deep dive into how CU’s fall lays out. Which teams have a bye week before playing the Buffs? Which teams will be coming off of a tough road contest or a rivalry game? Which teams may be looking past the Buffs to a “more important” game the following week? So … Will playing a top level FCS school, followed by two rivalry games on the road, derail optimism in the second season under Coach Prime, or will the non-conference slate be a springboard to a winning season? … Will the Buffs, replacing Oregon and USC with Baylor and Central Florida to open conference play, be able to take advantage of an easier opening schedule? … Will CU’s back-loaded conference schedule, with the potential to finish against three ranked teams, lead to another frustrating just-short-of-a-bowl-game finish? Or, as it did in 2016, when the Buffs vanquished ranked opponents on their way to the Pac-12 title game, use the tough slate of games to make their case as a Big 12 title contender? Let’s find out …
Tough as it may be to believe in January, what with the Transfer Portal commitments still flowing in and another Transfer Portal window coming in April, but the CU roster – as is the case for most Power Four teams – is already 80-90% complete. Yes, the CU coaching staff is still in the market for quality transfers, and yes, there will be defections at the end of spring practices, but, unlike 2023, there will not be a wholesale makeover of the roster between now and Fall Camp. What CU has right now is largely what you will see on the field this fall. So … Which units on the CU roster can be clearly considered as having Power Four conference quality and depth? … Conversely, which units remain in serious need of upgrades? … With new transfers coming in this spring, room will have to be made on the roster to keep CU under the 85-man limit. Which units are most likely to see attrition between now and the kickoff to the season on August 31st? Let’s find out …
Included in this episode: – Half of Coach Prime’s coaching staff, including both of his coordinators, have left for other opportunities. Should Buff fans look at these moves as a compliment - that CU has coaches worth hiring away? Or is it cause for concern that Coach Prime will have to reinvent his staff for the 2024 season?; – Only 11 scholarship players from Colorado entered the Transfer Portal in the first window. Is this number a surprise? Will there be a mass exodus come April? Or, is the Buff lineup of 85 scholarship players largely now in place for the fall?; – Now that there is a settlement - at least in principle - between the outgoing Pac-10 and the leftover Pac-2, will Oregon State and Washington State have enough resources to survive, and be relevant when the next round of realignment begins?; – The offensive line room is being completely overhauled. With the transfers coming in, and the signing of five-star phenom Jordan Seaton, does CU have enough quality starters and sufficient quality depth in the offensive line to compete in the Big 12?; and – What are our picks for the national championship game, and should CU fans have a rooting interest one way or the other? Let’s find out ...
We first discuss the overall look of the CU Recruiting Class of 2024, and whether it was a success - the most four-star recruits ever signed in one day by a Colorado coaching staff - or whether it was a disappointment, as the jewel of the Class failed to sign his Letter of Intent, and there were no surprise flips from other programs. We will then take a unit-by-unit look at the CU Class of ‘24, which was dominated by signees playing in the trenches on both sides of the ball. There were also a few talented skill position players joining the Herd, whetting the appetites of Buff fans looking for even more spectacular plays next fall. So ... Should the Buff Nation be alarmed that Coach Prime and his staff only signed five freshmen? ... Did CU bring in enough offensive line talent in the “Protect Shedeur” campaign to make sack reduction in 2024 a realistic possibility? ... Has the groundwork been laid for a winning campaign next fall, or is there still plenty of work left to do in the Transfer Portal between now and Fall Camp to make a bowl bid a realistic expectation? Let’s find out ...
We will open this podcast with a review of Year One of the Coach Prime era. It’s hard to believe the impact Deion Sanders has had on the CU athletic department, the City of Boulder, and upon college football as a whole, but it’s worth taking a few moments to look back at what the Buff Nation has ... compared to what might have been. Quick quiz: Which is the most unbelievable factoid from Year One of the Coach Prime era? •That CU sold out every home game for the first time in school history (not to mention the Spring Game)?; •That CU, after a 1-11 season, was nationally ranked in September?; or •That more viewers watched the Rocky Mountain Showdown (with a 10:30 p.m., ET kickoff) than watched the prime time Pac-12 championship game between two top five programs in Oregon and Washington? After our short trip down memory lane, we turn our attention to the reshaping of the coaching staff and roster, with a look ahead to how Signing Day might influence CU’s won/loss record next fall. So ... Was the loss of offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, with his “most likely” replacement being Pat Shurmur, a net loss or a net gain for the program? ... If Coach Prime brings in well-known names, like Warren Sapp and Brian Leftwich, who have no collegiate coaching experience, will that help or hurt the development of the roster? ... And ... Are there enough quality offensive and defensive line transfers out there, who can be counted upon to turn CU’s front lines into strengths instead of weaknesses? Let’s find out ...
First, a program note. The review/preview episodes have been posted on Tuesdays during the regular season. After this week’s podcast, we will be going back to posting every other week, with the new episodes being posted on Fridays. So look for the next podcast, talking about roster moves and recruiting, to be posted the first weekend of December. We will open this podcast with a review of CU's ugly loss on the road against Washington State. As is our custom for the post-mortem on a game, we give our grades for what about the CU effort was Excellent, what was Satisfactory, and what still Needs Improvement - and we’ll leave it a secret as to which category requires the most comment after the Buffs’ humbling loss in Pullman. We will then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against Utah. Our preview will look at the game from the perspectives of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for a game which will be played on a crisp Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City. So ... Will Shedeur Sanders play? And, even if he does, will the game be worth watching? ... Can the Buffs catch a down Utah team which has lost three of its last four games, or is it CU which has lost interest in the 2023 season? Will Coach Prime and his staff be able to rally the troops for one last push, or is it time for the Buff Nation to start looking forward to the 2024 season?
This is Stuart Whitehair, publisher and editor for the CU at the Game website, and your host for the CU at the Game podcast. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will open with a review of CU's hard-to-take 34-31 loss to No. 23 Arizona. As is our custom for the post-mortem on a game, we give our grades for what about the CU effort was Excellent, what was Satisfactory, and what still Needs Improvement for a tough loss - a game in which the Buffs never trailed the Wildcats ... until the clock read 0:00. We will then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against Washington State. Our preview will look at the game from the perspectives of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for a game which will be played under the lights on a crisp Friday night in Pullman. So ... In a game featuring two of the top ten passers in the nation, and two of the bottom ten rushing offenses in the nation - which team has the edge? ... Will the Court hearing on the dispute between the “Pac-2" and the “Pac-10" have an influence on the Cougar coaches and players, who are two weeks away from officially being orphans? ... Which team - the team which started out 3-0 and ranked 19th, or the team which started out 4-0 and ranked 13th - has enough emotional energy left in the tank to end their losing streak? ... Let’s find out ...
First, before we talk football, a tip of the CU at the Game hat to the Colorado women’s basketball team. The 20th-ranked Buffs opened their season with a 92-78 win in Las Vegas over the No. 1 ranked - and defending national champion - LSU Tigers. The win represents the second time the CU women’s team has knocked off a No. 1 team, with the other coming in 2021 against Stanford, and the victory certainly bodes well for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will review CU’s 26-19 loss to No. 16 Oregon State. As is our custom for the post-mortem on a game, we give our grades for what about CU's effort was Excellent, what was Satisfactory, and what still Needs Improvement. We will then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against No. 23 Arizona. Our preview will look at the game from the perspectives of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game which will be played before a sellout crowd at Folsom Field on Senior Day. So ... Can the Colorado coaching staff finally find a way to protect its most precious resource, quarterback Shedeur Sanders? Or, will the most sacked quarterback in the FBS continue to be harassed by opposing defenses? ... Is it possible that Arizona, which has played five straight games against ranked opponents, winning the last three, will be looking past the Buffs? ... Can the Buffs find enough defensive and special teams magic to assist CU’s struggling offense, enough to cobble together enough points to send the Buff Nation home happy, with a victory in the final home game of the season? Let’s find out ...
I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will review CU’s final trip to the Rose Bowl as a member of the Pac-12. The Buffs fell to No. 23 UCLA, 28-16, and we will do the post-mortem on the game, giving out our grades for what about the CU effort was Excellent, what was Satisfactory, and what still Needs Improvement. We will then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against No. 16 Oregon State. Our preview will look at the game from the perspectives of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game to be played before a sellout crowd at Folsom Field for Homecoming. So ... Can the Colorado coaching staff find a way to protect its most precious resource, quarterback Shedeur Sanders? Or, will the most sacked quarterback in the FBS continue to be harassed by opposing defenses? ... Will the Buffs come up with a defensive game plan to stop Oregon State running back Damien Martinez, who has been a force for the Beavers this season - and who had over 170 yards and three touchdowns rushing the last time CU played Oregon State? ... Will the Buffs be able to regain a little Folsom Field magic, and restore the nation’s faith in Coach Prime and Co.? Or, will the national narrative about the Buffs continue to sour as the calendar turns to November? Let’s find out...
The Buffs have been nursing their injuries, both physical and mental, as they begin their preparations for the second half of the 2023 season. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will take a look back at the first half of the season, and give you our midterm grades for CU’s offense, defense, special teams, and coaching staff. We’ll then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against No. 23 UCLA. Our review will look at the game from the perspectives of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game to be played before a sellout crowd in the Rose Bowl. So ... Does CU’s prolific passing game, behind record-setting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, deserve an “A” for the first half of the season? Or does the lack of a running attack tarnish the Buffs’ overall grade? ... Does the sieve of a defense give the CU defense a failing grade? Or does the talented secondary give the Buff Nation hope for a more productive second half? ... Can the Buffs find a way to resurrect its rushing attack against one of the best run defenses in the country in UCLA? Or will it be "Shedeur or bust" for the Buffs in Pasadena? ... Let’s find out ...
So ... Did you take CU and the over six weeks ago? Vegas prognosticators had the over/under for CU at 3.5 wins for the season, so if you bet on your Buffs and took the over, you can cash in your ticket. Midway through the 2023 campaign, the Buffs are 4-2, with CU traveling to Tempe and coming home with win No. 4, taking out Arizona State, 27-24. I am joined for this podcast by Neil Langland, and we will present our review of the ASU game, using categories of Excellent, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement to sift through yet another comeback win in the first year of the Coach Prime era. We will then turn our attention to the upcoming Friday the 13th matchup against Stanford. Our “T.I.P.S.” will take you through the categories of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game against the Cardinal. So ... Will the bye week for Stanford before facing the Buffs prove to be a positive for the Cardinal, as it did for the CSU Rams a few weeks ago? ... Can the Buffs find a way to exploit one of the worst pass defenses in the country? ... Will the Buffs, a double-digit favorite for the second time this season, take care of business early against Stanford, or will this game be another fourth quarter nail-biter for the Buff Nation? ... Let’s find out ...
When does a loss feel like a win? I’ll tell you - It’s when 54,000 members of the Buff Nation witness a furious comeback against the No. 8 team in the nation. The Buffs came up short against USC, falling 48-41, but did build some momentum for the rest of the season as the gauntlet of CU’s September schedule is finally behind us. I am joined for this podcast by Neil Langland, and we will present our review of the USC game, using categories of Excellent, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement to sift through yet another exciting game in the first year of the Coach Prime era. We will then turn our attention to the upcoming matchup in the desert against Arizona State. Our “T.I.P.S.” will take you through the categories of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game against the Sun Devils. So ... Will Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet, who had over 400 yards passing and three touchdowns against the Buffs in Boulder last fall, be able to duplicate his numbers against Coach Prime’s defense? ... Will the CU players be able to handle the afternoon heat of Tempe, with a forecast high at kickoff of 100-degrees? ... Will the Buffs find a way to play a solid first half, and not have to rely on a second half comeback - again? ... Will the Buffs take the positives from the USC game, and turn them into win No. 4 of the season? ... Let’s find out ...
The Buffs took one on the chin last weekend, falling on the road to No. 10 Oregon, 42-6. I am joined for this episode by Neil Langland, and we will do the post-mortem on CU’s first loss in the Coach Prime era, and speculate as to what lessons, if any, the Buff players and the Buff Nation can take from the defeat. We then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for CU’s last chance as a member of the Pac-12 to take down the Trojans of USC. Using the categories of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, we break down what the eighth-ranked Trojans are bringing to breakfast in Boulder, and what the CU coaches and players might exploit in their bid for an upset. So... Will the 9:00 a.m. body clock kickoff work to USC’s disadvantage? ... Will former Buff Brenden Rice be featured in his return to Folsom Field? ... Will the CU coaching staff follow the Arizona State template, and throw in every trick play in the playbook in an attempt to stay with the high octane scoring machine which is the USC offense? ... Will the Buff players rebound from their first loss at CU with renewed swagger, or will this turn into a second consecutive rout, a game which is out of reach by halftime? Let’s find out...
Well, it’s never easy being a Buff fan, but it continues to be rewarding, as Colorado pulled out a double-overtime win over Colorado State, 43-35. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will discuss the Buffs’ late night comeback, and what the win means for the program going forward. We will also give you our grades for the game, breaking down the Rocky Mountain Showdown into what was Excellent, what was Satisfactory, and what still Needs Improvement. We then turn our attention to CU’s trip to Eugene to face the tenth-ranked Oregon Ducks. Our “T.I.P.S.” discussion will do a deep dive into categories of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation and Statistics. So ... A week after failing to hold a CSU freshman quarterback in check, how will the CU defense fare against Heisman trophy candidate Bo Nix? ... Can Buff quarterback Shedeur Sanders find a new security blanket, now that all-everything Travis Hunter is out for the next several weeks? ... Can the CU defense, which leads the nation in turnovers, continue to produce opportunities for the CU offense, giving the Buffs a chance to defeat yet another ranked three-touchdown favorite on the road? ... Let’s find out ...
So, are you still savoring the Buffs’ 36-14 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, or are you ready to move on the Rocky Mountain Showdown? I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we are going to take a few extra minutes on this episode to revel in CU’s huge win over the Big Red from Lincoln. We will also break down the game against the Cornhuskers into what elements of CU's performance we feel could be rated as Excellent, what was merely Satisfactory, and what are areas which still Need Improvement. We will then move on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the renewal of the rivalry against Colorado State. The Buffs have won five straight in the series overall, but the teams haven’t met since 2019. We will review the Blackout game in terms of Talent, Intangibles, Preparation, and Statistics, before giving you our predictions for the game. So ... Are the handful of first-team All-Mountain West performers in the CSU lineup enough to make it a game? ... Will the Rams have a big enough chip on their shoulder, or will the Buffs have too great of a hangover, to give CSU a chance at an upset? ... Will the extra week of preparation - yes, CSU had a bye week last week - give the Rams an added advantage? ... And are there any stats from the games played to date which could lead you to believe that the 23.5-point spread is way too great? Let’s find out ...
So... How was your Labor Day weekend? If you are a Buff fan, it was one for the books, as Colorado, a 20.5-point underdog, went on the road and upset No. 17 TCU, 45-42. I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we take a little time to talk about and savor one of the most significant CU victories in years. But, Coach Prime, his staff, and his players don’t have time to relish the season opening win and all of the accolades, as rival Nebraska is coming to Boulder for Coach Prime’s Folsom Field debut. We will dissect the upcoming roster matchups, using our “T.I.P.S.” process - analyzing Talent, Intangibles, Preparation and Statistics - before giving you our predictions. So... Will the Buffs continue to shine on offense? Will the CU coaching staff be able to make corrections on defense and special teams? What will be Nebraska’s game plan, coming off of a disheartening 13-10 season opening loss to Minnesota? What will be the emotional levels for both teams, in a rivalry game which means so much to both fan bases? Can Coach Prime coax another winning performance from his Buffs? Let’s find out...
Well, the 2023 season is finally here! Joining me for this episode are Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will be previewing CU’s trip to Ft. Worth to take on No. 17 TCU. For those of you who are new to the podcast, we break down our preview into four segments. Our “T.I.P.S.” for the game includes a discussion of TCU’s “Talent”; which “Intangibles” will impact the game, the effect “Preparation” will play; and which “Statistics” are the most important for the 2023 season opener. So ... How well has TCU overcome the loss of eight players to the NFL draft? ... How well will each team be able to handle the first signs of adversity? ... What role will the 100+ degree weather play in the outcome? ... Which will be the crucial statistical categories to track, as CU hopes to defy the oddsmakers, with Vegas listing the Buffs as 20.5-point underdogs? And, most important ... Will our predictions for the outcome match yours?
For this preview episode, I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland. We will be taking you through the 2023 CU campaign, and giving you our game-by-game predictions. Vegas has the over/under for Colorado at 3.5 wins, and the Pac-12 preseason media poll has CU finishing 11th in the conference. Meanwhile, there are many in the Buff Nation who have declared that anything short of a winning season and a bowl bid in Coach Prime’s first season must be considered a disappointment. Who's right? So... Can the Buffs overcome a brutal September, which includes three ranked opponents and two games against bitter rivals? Will the Buffs be able to overcome inevitable losses to injury, which may be suffered by players at key positions? Will Coach Prime lead the Buffs to only their third winning season as a member of the Pac-12? Let’s find out...
For this special episode, I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we divide the podcast into two segments. First, we take a look at “Black Friday” - August 4, 2023 - when the Pac-12, for all intents and purposes, ceased to exist. There were plenty of actors who played a role in the demise of the conference, but it wasn’t until the media deal offered to the schools was found wanting that the 108-year old conference fell apart. Who bears the brunt of the blame for the mass exodus? And who were the winners and the losers when the dust settled? We then move back to talking about actual football. CU’s Fall Camp is underway, and we take a unit-by-unit look at the Buff defense, rating each unit as to whether it rates as being in the top half of the Pac-12 ... or the bottom half. So ... Is there enough heft in CU’s interior defensive line to keep opposing offenses from running straight at the Buff defense? ... Is there enough speed and talent at the edge to wreak some havoc on opposing quarterbacks? ... Are CU star cornerbacks ready for prime time, or are they still a few games - or even a full season - away from being dominant? ... Is this the best back end CU’s defense has had since 2016? Let’s find out...
Welcome to a special episode of the podcast. I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we discuss CU’s decision to rejoin the Big 12. We address the criticisms of the move, including leaving the AAU-rich “better fit” of the Pac-12 for the “Truck stop conference” of the Big 12, and CU’s audacity to make the move before the Pac-12 media contracts were announced. We then respond to the pundits, including Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, who have taken their shots at the Buffs as they abandon the ship which is the floundering S.S. Pac-Whatever. We then, armed with at least an outline of what the Pac-12 media contracts will look like going forward, take a look at the future of the two conferences. Did Colorado make the right move, choosing the stability of the Big 12 media deals over what appears to be the Pac-12’s streaming-centric deal with Apple-Plus? Will the Buffs’ move incite a stampede of realignment? How will the CU programs – including its basketball teams – fare in the newly configured Big 12? Let’s find out …
You know that football season is getting close when we start in on our Fall Camp previews. I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we work through a unit-by-unit preview of the Colorado offense. Our yardstick for success? Whether each unit should be ranked as one of the top six units in the Pac-12, or whether each room is still inferior by Power Five standards. So... Is Shedeur Sanders one of the top six quarterbacks in the Pac-12? Will the improved quality of the running back room produce a “bell cow” back to carry the load, or will CU ultimately choose to go with a running back by committee approach? Are the wide receivers too similar in size and style to produce breakout players, or should this be considered one of the most talented rooms on the roster? Does CU even consider tight ends to be a part of the team? And... Ultimately, the most important question: Can the Buff coaching staff cobble together an offensive line which will allow CU’s highly rated skill position players to shine, or will ineffective play along the line prove to be CU’s Achilles heel in 2023? Let’s find out ...
Welcome to our Potluck Podcast. This episode was to be about the new Pac-12 media contracts, but the Pac-12 continues to disappoint. Instead, I am joined for this podcast by Neil Langland, and we will touch on a number of topics... First, we will try and make sense from the lack of any announced Pac-12 media contracts. When conference fans can expect some answers... and whether the deal will ultimately be sufficient to keep the conference together. Up next: The messy “divorce” between San Diego State and the Mountain West conference, and how the posturing between the two sparring parties will likely play out for the suddenly orphaned Aztecs. Also: Name, Image and Likeness has been part of collegiate athletics for two years now. How is it working out? What does the future hold for CU, the school which is “not about NIL, but the NFL”? Preseason magazines can’t make up their minds about how the 2023 season will play out for the Buffs. Which prognosticators are closest to getting it right? And... What should Buff fans make of USC and UCLA, as the Trojans and Bruins play their final season in the Pac-12? Let’s find out…
I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we discuss the latest news on San Diego State and it’s perilous position as it tries to maneuver its way into a Power Five conference. We also discuss the commitment of journeyman transfer quarterback Gavin Kuld, and what his addition could mean to the CU quarterback room this fall. The main topic of this podcast, though, is a new “Yea or Nay” segment. In this episode, we take on the following questions about your Buffs: – YEA OR NAY: Shedeur Sanders will set a new school record this fall for passing yards and/or passing touchdowns (current records: 3,200 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns, both records set by Sefo Liufau in 2014); – YEA OR NAY: CU’s Recruiting Class of 2024 will rank in the Top 30 in the nation; – YEA OR NAY: The Buff defense will surpass last season’s sack total (a nation’s worst nine) in the first four games of the 2023 season; – YEA OR NAY: CU will add a scholarship quarterback to the roster before the start of Fall Camp; – YEA OR NAY: Travis Hunter will lead the team this fall in one of the following categories: receiving yards; touchdowns receiving; or receiving yards per catch; and – YEA OR NAY: Shedeur Sanders will be CU’s starting quarterback in 2024. How would you answer these questions? Do your answers match up with ours? ... Let’s find out ...
It’s been almost a full year since USC and UCLA shocked their Pac-12 brethren with the announcement that they would be leaving the conference for the Big Ten in 2024. Which means it’s also been almost a full year that Pac-12 fans have been waiting for the conference to decide on expansion, and to sign new media contracts. The long wait may soon be over, as it is being reported that one hurdle - equal revenue sharing while making allowances for post-season success - has been cleared. I am joined for this episode by Neil Langland, and we discuss the status of the Pac-12 media contract negotiations. We then turn our attention to the current buzz about Colorado leaving the Pac-12 and rejoining the Big 12. We go through the pros and cons of leaving and staying, and what it would take for it to make sense for the Buffs to rejoin their former conference. So ... Could disappointing Pac-12 media contracts force CU’s hand? Could grant of rights negotiations still prove to be the sticking point which splinters the conference? Is expansion into southern California and Texas a panacea which could keep the Pac-12 from falling further behind other Power Five conferences in revenue distributions? ... Let’s find out ...
With the Pac-12 media contracts still in limbo, and CU’s roster largely in place for the 2023 season, it’s a good time for a mailbag episode (questions always welcome at cuatthegame@gmail.com https://gmail.com). I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we discuss the burning CU questions of the day: – Dan Patrick at Fox Sports says Coach Prime and his Buffs could go 0-5 in September, and yet could still be considered successful. Is that a realistic assessment, or national media hyperbole?; – With the roster largely in place, and no transfer backup quarterback in sight, is Coach Prime going to need to have Travis Hunter in a Wildcat formation as Plan B for the 2023 campaign? Or will it be Shedeur Sanders and a prayer for his health be CU’s best hope for the season?; – Will the Pac-12 media contracts ever get done? Will it contain a number of games which will be exclusively aired by streaming services (and could that actually be considered a good thing for the Pac-12)?; – Did CU overreach when it came to pricing the single game tickets for the Nebraska game? Will sticker shock help to keep The Red out? Or will the high prices help CU’s bottom line, but only serve to guarantee more Cornhusker fans in the stands on September 9th? Let’s find out ...
