Colorado University Athletics
Jay MacIntyre Turns First Catch Into Touchdown
September 26, 2015 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado wide receiver Jay MacIntyre made his first catch as a Buffalo a memorable one Saturday, hauling in a 38-yard touchdown pass in the Buffaloes' 48-0 win over the visiting Nicholls Colonels.
Not bad. Your first career receptions goes for six. Nice work young @Jay_Macintyre #GoBuffs https://t.co/g2zDxRiHu3
— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) September 26, 2015
"It was a blur. I was just in the end zone," MacIntyre, a redshirt freshman, said. "The feeling was one of the greatest feelings that I've ever had."
The son of CU head coach Mike MacIntyre finished with three receptions for 53 yards and also had two punt returns for 35 yards. The two returns more than doubled CU's previous punt return yardage for the season (14 yards on nine returns).
"He is one of the hard workers on our team and I really appreciate that," quarterback Sefo Liufau said. "It showed on the field today. I am happy for him and I expect him to do it consistently now."
MacIntyre has not had an easy ride with the Buffs. He had issues with his ankle in his first season where he redshirted, but said Saturday it was not bothering him.
"Today was awesome to see my ankle doing well," he said. "I tweaked it a little bit but then it was fine."
MacIntyre stepped in to replace Nelson Spruce on the punt return team midway through the game, and his first attempt resulted in just a 4-yard gain. But his second produced a 31-yard return, the longest by a Buff since Travon Patterson returned one 45 yards against Texas Tech on Oct. 23, 2010.
"It was really good to be back there returning punts," he said. "It felt like high school again."
Being the son of the head coach has not allowed MacIntyre any special treatment and he has had to work just as hard as any other player for his playing time. Even after his first career touchdown, the wide receiver said his father mostly kept his distance, but gave him a "good job."
"I've always looked up to players that my dad coached," MacIntyre said. "I feel like my whole family is going to be pretty pumped."
After the game, Mike MacIntyre said, "It was fun to see and it was a big play in the game for us."
CU coaches haven't decided if Jay MacIntyre will replace Spruce as the Buffs' No. 1 punt returner, but Mike MacIntyre said it would be good to reduce some of the hits Spruce absorbs.
"He did make some good plays," the elder MacIntyre said. "Honestly, he got that from my dad. My dad played at the University of Miami and he was extremely quick and fast. He got all his looks and all his intelligence from his mom. He didn't get anything from me."
Saturday's performance also helped ease the pain a bit from the Hawai'i game, when Jay MacIntyre let a pass thrown his way slip through his fingers and fall incomplete.
"I know my role but you never know how many balls you're going to get," he said. "You just have to run your routes to the best of your ability and block as hard as you can. When the ball comes your way, make something happen which I happened to do today. It was awesome."
Next up for the Buffs is Oregon, a game that will kick off at 8 p.m. and be nationally televised by ESPN. The Buffs are calling the game the #SilverAndBlackAttack and are asking fans to help "stripe" Folsom Field. Even sections are asked to wear black and odd sections silver or gray. CU and the football student section, the Folsom Frenzy, is asking all students to wear silver or gray.
