Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits

CALIFORNIA DREAMING, SCHEMING: The Buffs have a head coach who last worked in California (San Jose State), they recruit hard in California, and their largest out-of-state alumni base is, yes, in California.

But football wins haven't come easily in Cali.

CU's all-time gridiron record in the West Coast's most populous state is 2-18-1, with Saturday's trip to the Rose Bowl to play UCLA (1 p.m. MDT, Pac-12 Networks) offering another chance for a California breakthrough.A

"It would be a great win for us," Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said. "Definitely it would be a great deal for recruiting, but it would be a great win for our team and for our University. There's probably a reason that it's 2-18-1, there's UCLA and USC that you play and they're pretty good year-in-and-year-out in the Pac-12.

"That just shows you the power of the Pac-12 conference and what Colorado stepped into five years ago. They stepped into a 'man's league.' We're moving that way and we'll keep moving that way. There will be a day when you turn around see that we've caught up in that area a little bit. Hopefully we can do it Saturday. That's what we definitely want to try and do."

UCLA is 8-2 against CU and has won all four meetings since the Buffs joined the Pac-12 in 2011. They have lost eight straight in California since the 2002 Buffs won 31-17 at UCLA.

LATE TO BED, EARLY TO RISE: The Pac-12 and its TV network have adopted the phrase "Pac-12 After Dark" for some of its football coverage. "Pac-12 After Bedtime" might work better for some fans, but the Buffs are rolling with it.

Sort of.

Last weekend, CU played its fourth consecutive night game – the longest such streak in school history. After their 17-13 win at Oregon State, which kicked off at 8:30 p.m. MDT, the Buffs' traveling party arrived back on campus at 5:32 a.m. Sunday.

To help refresh his team, which by season's end will have played 13 games without a bye week, MacIntyre made Sunday and Monday days off. The Buffs returned to the practice field on Tuesday morning with a spring in their steps that might have been due more to breaking a 14-game conference losing streak than any extra shuteye.

Said MacIntyre: "Well, we didn't have a lot of extra pep in our step when we landed and went into our houses at 6:30 in the morning Sunday . . . Monday we kind of gave them some time to recover. But (Tuesday) I thought they had a pep in their step and I think they were excited.

"And of course, it doesn't hurt when you go outside and it's a gorgeous day in Boulder, Colorado . . . so that makes practice even more fun."

There's also the looming promise of a day game: The kickoff for Saturday's game in Pasadena is noon local time – and that pleases everyone.

"We had four night games in a row," MacIntyre said. "Our kids are excited about getting up and playing instead of waiting around the hotel."

Added QB Sefo Liufau: "We're excited not to sit around the hotel all day twiddling our thumbs."

NEW KID ON THE (BRUINS) BLOCK: In UCLA's 40-37 double-overtime win last season in Boulder, Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley broke the Buffs' hearts with an up-the-middle TD run in the second OT.

MacIntyre was glad to see Hundley's name no longer on the 2015 roster, but the Buffs won't catch a break with Hundley's replacement. Freshman Josh Rosen has passed for 300-plus yards in the last two games and is within one game of tying Hundley's school mark for consecutive 300-yard passing games.

Rosen ranks fourth among Pac-12 passers, having completed 158 of his 257 attempts for 1,968 yards and 15 touchdowns (seven interceptions).

"I thought, losing Hundley that they might take a step back with their quarterback spot, but I think Josh Rosen is an incredible freshman quarterback and I mean the word incredible," MacIntyre said. "He has great arm strength, sees the field, and makes all the right throws. (UCLA head coach) Jim Mora and (offensive coordinator) Noel Mazzone have done a good job with him and with their offense."

What to do to neutralize Rosen?

"We're going to try to put 13 guys out there and really confuse him on the coverages," MacIntyre quipped. "One of the things about spread offenses . . . it's harder to disguise (defenses) when it's going fast. We'll definitely try to disguise like a lot of teams have, but sometimes when the (offense) is going really fast, you just have to get lined up; you can't drop down late or see the time clock because they are snapping it so quick.

"We will do some things to try and confuse him, just like we have tried to do against all the quarterbacks (CU has played). He's a young man that came from a really good program, and of course he was there for all spring practices. But, his ability to adapt and make accurate throws within the pocket with the pocket moving he can just side step. He's made a couple throws off his back foot that you'll see NFL guys make, and really strong arm . . . we definitely have to confuse him, we definitely have to make him uncomfortable; if he's comfortable and he knows right where he's going, he'll make a lot of plays."

INJURY UPDATE: MacIntyre said the status of receiver Shay Fields (high ankle sprain) and linebacker Ryan Severson (high ankle sprain) should become clearer by week's end. He added that offensive lineman Gerrad Kough is likely to return, but was unsure about linemen Jonathan Huckins and Sam Kronshage. Safety Ryan Moeller (concussion) is definitely out.

QUOTABLE: "Our kids truly believe, and I think if you asked them they would look you in the eye and it wouldn't be B.S. anymore, they definitely think they can beat anybody they play. That's why they fight so hard and keep battling and believe that they can do it. That's our plan, is to line up and play and beat anybody that we play." – MacIntyre on the nearly weekly upsets in the Pac-12

NOTABLE: The Buffs' leader in unassisted tackles (42) is safety Chidobe Awuzie, a player MacIntyre has watched since the ninth grade in San Jose, Calif. Awuzie is among the most versatile defensive players in the Pac-12, and according to MacIntyre, is a deserving all-conference candidate. "He's a phenomenal football player who has gotten better and better every year," MacIntyre said. "He makes plays, he sacks, he covers, he rushes . . . he does a little bit of everything." . . . . Awuzie is second on the team in total tackles (49), trailing linebacker Rick Gamboa (55) . . . . UCLA running back Paul Perkins is fourth in the conference in rushing, averaging 107.7 yards (seven games). In four conference games, he's averaging 81.2 yards . . . . CU has been penalized 33 times in four conference games (ninth in the league), costing the Buffs 68.5 yards a game. Following Tuesday's practice, players who drew penalties in the win at Oregon State were penalized with extra running . . . . The Buffs are 4-4 overall, which MacIntyre contended was a milestone of sorts. "I don't know how long it's been since Colorado has been 4-4 late in October," he said. "We'd like to be 8-0 late in October, but it still gives us hope to reach some goals that they want to reach." . . . . CU fans in L.A. for Saturday's game can view "Football! The Exhibition" at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in nearby Simi Valley. The exhibit is in partnership with the Sports Museum of Los Angeles and found Gary Cypres . . . . ESPN Films' next 30 for 30 documentary will feature CU and former coach Bill McCartney. "The Gospel According to Mac" will air on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN. The network's press release calls it "an exploration of Bill McCartney and his provocative approach running the University of Colorado football program on the way to a national championship." . . . . CU's Nov. 7 game with Stanford at Folsom Field will kick off at 11 a.m. MST and be televised nationally by the Pac-12 Network.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU