Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits

THE FINALITY OF IT ALL: Colorado finishes its 2015 football season on Saturday at Utah (12:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).

The Utes (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) will go bowling somewhere, the Buffs (4-8, 1-7) will go back to Boulder. And whatever happens in Salt Lake City will stick with them through the winter, into spring drills, through the summer, and until they launch the 2016 season.

“You definitely want to win every game,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said, “but the thing about being the last game, it's kind of final, it stays with you longer. You want to win it for your seniors.”

“Our mindset is to get the seniors a win,” echoed Buffs redshirt freshman quarterback Cade Apsay, who will make his second career start against the Utes.

“It's rough knowing we don't get a bowl game,” said defensive lineman Jordan Carrell. “Now it's all about doing it for the seniors, their last time in Buffs uniform.”

Plus, said Carrell, “I want to be able to go home to family friends, knowing we ended the season with win . . . we'll talk about this game until next year. I know we can end on a good note.”

The Buffs are on a four-game losing streak, having last won on Oct. 24 at Oregon State (17-13). They've lost seven of their last eight games while the Utes have lost three of their last five after starting the season 6-0.

APOLOGY DELIVERED, NOT NEEDED: Some of Apsay's postgame comments toward CU's receivers and offensive line after the 27-3 loss at Washington State might have been interpreted as caustic. In reflection, Apsay called them “harsh (and) I didn't realize I was being harsh.”

So he apologized to his receivers, whose drops made Apsay look more for Nelson Spruce as a favorite target, as well as his O-linemen. Apsay, who was sacked four times, said the Buffs didn't get the push they needed in their running game.

“When I apologized,” said Apsay, “they really didn't care – they said they didn't read all that stuff. We're all pretty close anyway.” He added that if he “did say something bad,” it wouldn't bother his teammates – particularly the O-linemen.

MacIntyre said he wasn't aware of Apsay's comments, but noted, “I'm glad he came back (and apologized). That's the kind of kid he is.”

CLEARING THE HUMP: Three of Buffs' Pac-12 losses have been by 7, 4, and 3 points. Breaking free of the coming close, near miss syndrome has raised the frustration level for a second consecutive season.

MacIntyre was asked Tuesday if he was surprised at his third team's difficulty in learning to win.

“We just have to keep maturing,” he said. “We knew it would be tough. There are a couple we should have won and gotten over the hump. Next year we'll have a bigger group of seniors and juniors to help us get over the hump.”

By his count – which could change in the off-season – there will be 22 seniors and about 25 juniors.

INJURY REPORT: MacIntyre said safety Ryan Moeller (concussion) is definitely out Saturday, as is running back Michael Adkins II (hamstring). Adkins has not played early September and has a redshirt season available. Receiver Jay MacIntyre (concussion) and safety Ryan Severson (ankle) will be game-day decisions.

QUOTABLE: “It made a lot of people over the years happy to hear that voice.” – MacIntyre on longtime KOA Radio announcer Larry Zimmer, whose game on Saturday will be his last on a CU broadcast

NOTABLE: Apsay said the offense wasn't scaled down for him last week and he doesn't expect it to be this week. “It was the same as for Sefo (Liufau) but tailored toward my strengths,” he said. “And we stayed away from my weaknesses. The game plan was pretty much the same.” . . . . Injuries have made CU's offensive line a patchwork puzzle this season. Guard Jonathan Huckins won't be available Saturday. “All the different injuries every week has made it tougher to be consistent,” MacIntyre said. “The flip side of that is all the guys except Stephane (Nembot) are coming back . . . hopefully we don't have that many injuries next year.” . . . . MacIntyre pins Utah's late drop off on the Pac-12's strength and parity: “The Pac-12 is a good football league, that's what we see. We play nine games in league, other leagues play eight.” . . . . Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has an 8-1 postseason record, tied for the best bowl percentage in NCAA history. The Utes are bowl eligible for the 10th time under Whittingham . . . . Utah and CU joined the Pac-12 in the same year (2011). The Utes are 3-1 against the Buffs as Pac-12 members and have won the last three meetings, including 38-34 last season in Boulder. CU leads the overall series 31-27-3 . . . . Is it a rivalry – as the Pac-12 intended? Said MacIntyre: “It's the last game of the year, when rival games happen . . . they usually are at the beginning or the end.”

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU