Colorado University Athletics
MacIntyre Offers Positive Update On Buffs QB Liufau
July 06, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU coach discusses upcoming season at Colorado Springs luncehon
COLORADO SPRINGS — It is a question Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre has heard hundreds of times in the last six months, and one he will assuredly hear again — and again and again — over the next six weeks.
What is the status of Buffs quarterback Sefo Liufau's health?
Wednesday, MacIntyre had the question posed to him at the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation's annual College Football Kickoff Luncheon. His answer — while by no means 100 percent definitive — was still a positive response in terms of Liufau's rehabilitation process in the wake of a Lisfranc foot injury suffered in Week 11 of the 2015 season.
"He's way ahead of schedule," MacIntyre said. "He's doing really well. He's taken this time and reshaped his body some more and he's worked on his arm. I'm excited about where Sefo is."
Liufau, a three-year starter, suffered the injury early in the Nov. 13 game against USC. In the ensuing weeks, team officials said they hoped the quarterback would be ready to participate in fall camp when it opened Aug. 4.
Then, that was seen as an optimistic timeline given the nature of the injury.
Now, it seems very realistic, as Liufau has worked tirelessly in the rehab process. He's been throwing regularly and reports of his progress have been positive. If healthy, he'll almost assuredly line up as CU's starter on Sept. 2 when the Buffs open vs. Colorado State at Sports Authority Field in Denver (6 p.m., ESPN).
"He's a phenomenal leader," MacIntyre said of the quarterback who holds 75 CU records and has as many as nine more well within his reach. "He's been the head of our program, so to speak, and he's taken the brunt of it. Now that our team has kind of caught up with him, I look forward to him being able to have the success he deserves and he's earned. I think our people kind of rally behind him, and I'm excited to watch what he does."
Liufau — elected one of five team captains earlier this week — will join MacIntyre and defensive back Chidobe Awuzie at next week's Pac-12 Media Days in Hollywood, Calif.
Awuzie is a two-year senior starter who earlier this week was named to the national Bednarik Award watch list, given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. He has also been named to several preseason all-Pac-12 teams.
"I think he's probably the best secondary player in the Pac-12," MacIntyre said Wednesday. "He can play safety, he can play corner, he can play nickelback. He's a very bright young man who is going to graduate in three and a half years. I'm excited about what he's done."
Also attending Wednesday's luncheon were CSU-Pueblo head coach John Wristen (a former CU assistant), Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun, Northern Colorado head coach Earnest Collins Jr. and Colorado State offensive coordinator Will Friend (CSU head coach Mike Bobo was unable to attend).
Last year's CU-CSU game came in the third week of the season. This year, it returns to its season opening spot, a position it usually holds.
"I think it's great for the state of Colorado and Colorado football," MacIntyre said. "It's something we're talking about right now. If we weren't playing Colorado State, we probably wouldn't be asking as many questions about the opening game or vice versa for them. It's a lot of fun for our players to play in Broncos stadium. I think it's excellent for the state of Colorado football all the way around."
CSU's Friend, in just his second year in Fort Collins, said it will be the first time he's been with a program that has opened with a "rivalry" game.
"I think it's a great thing to be a part of," Friend said. "When you get into those 29 (fall camp) practices, there's going to be that wall that guys hit. When they have this game to look forward to, that will help."
MacIntyre was also asked about his team's defense, which took a big leap forward a year ago. With starters returning at virtually every position on defense, MacIntyre said he expects the unit to be improved again this year.
"I expect us to be in the top echelon in the conference in defense," MacIntyre said. "Last year I knew we would improve on defense because we had so many guys back who played as freshmen and sophomores. This year we have basically everybody back."
NOTES: While the CU-CSU game will take a break for at least a couple of years after the 2020 contest, CU will renew a series with the state's other Division I program in 2019, when the Buffs play host to Air Force. Colorado will then travel to AFA in 2022. … UNC is coming off a 6-5 finish a year ago, the first winning season in a decade in Greeley. The Bears will pay a visit to Folsom Field next season. … Wristen's Thunderwolves, who won the NCAA Div. II national championship in 2014 and advanced to the quarterfinals last year, open the season Sept. 1 at Colorado Mines in a game that will be televised by ESPN3. Mines is coached by another former CU assistant, Gregg Brandon. Wristen and Brandon worked together at CU under Gary Barnett.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
