Colorado University Athletics
Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits
November 22, 2016 | Football, B.G. Brooks
In truth, MacIntyre thought turnaround season might be 2017
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Most coaches don't like to be locked into timetables for success. Many athletic directors don't agree with them; the faster success comes the better.
As Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre entered his fourth season, he was well aware that 2016 could be a pivotal year for his future. But truth be told – which MacIntyre candidly did on Tuesday at his weekly media conference – he didn't expect the success that the Buffaloes are having this season to come until next season.
CU, which can win the Pac-12 South Division championship with a win against Utah on Saturday at Folsom Field (5:30 p.m., Fox), is 9-2 overall, 7-1 in conference, and enjoying at top ten ranking (No. 9) for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
High times for the Buffs – but a year early, thought MacIntyre.
"You always want to win right away, but I knew for a fact that we had to build a foundation, culturally," he said. "Everybody says that, but you have do that. We had to build a foundation physically and we had to build a foundation mentally, because we were deficient in all those areas and it takes a while to do all those.
"Different parts of them come at different times. It's all come together. If I had a timetable I would have said we're a year early to be honest. The great thing is with all those seniors and the culmination of a bunch of different things happened, we were able to hit it right now, which is awesome. That's why I'm so excited that those guys were able to do it."
MacIntyre's fourth CU team is top-loaded with leadership. Upperclassmen like quarterback Sefo Liufau, tackle Jeromy Irwin and others who persevered through three excruciatingly lean seasons (CU was 2-25 in Pac-12 play under MacIntyre entering this year) have provided a foundation for future success.
"It means everything," Liufau said. "To be able to help turn the program around with this group of seniors and everyone else, it's a great feeling. Usually at this time of the year we're moseying about on the field and playing for pride basically. I'm very happy and proud of the way that our team is playing. We just have to remind ourselves that there's a lot more we're playing for so this week is very important for us."
With a win Saturday, the Buffs advance to the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2 to meet either Washington or Washington State, who play Friday in the Apple Cup.
LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP: A couple of weeks ago, the Buffs freshmen got an early wakeup call – courtesy of Liufau. Among the things that he and members of this senior class, the team captains primarily, have emphasized to the newcomers are accountability and responsibility.
Adhering to both is paramount, and if one player doesn't everyone pays a price. Classes and tutorial sessions must be attended. Absences in either aren't overlooked.
"The freshmen hate me right now because I don't want this program to fall apart after I leave," Liufau said. "I'm pretty hard on missing tutors and missing class. We've been up together, the freshmen and the captains at 4:45 in the morning for punishment (running).
"There is a fine line. Some of them get really grumpy with me. But it's really important to stress that it's not just about football. Those things that are on the outside can really leak into football and football can really leak into life. So, I'm trying to stress to those guys that school is really important and if they're going to hate me for that, it'll probably be for the week. I'll take that. It's important for those guys to learn all of that at a young age."
Asked what Liufau has meant to the CU program, MacIntyre answered, "Everything. He's meant everything."
VOICES FROM THE PAST: The Buffs' success is being enjoyed by a broader base than players on the current roster. Liufau said he's heard from former teammates who've wished him and his teammates well and urged them to keep the train rolling.
"I've heard from a couple of players," Liufau said. "Daniel Munyer is one, Nelson Spruce is texting me and Jered Bell has been around. I've seen D.D. Goodson and Malcolm Creer. All of those guys are just encouraging me to keep it going, keep the guys ready to play and keep winning.
"They're really excited for us and that's something I really appreciate. I think it's easy for guys to be upset or jealous because we have something that they couldn't have. But those guys are a much a part of it as we are. They were great leaders for us when we were freshmen and sophomores. They were pushing us to be better and telling us to keep it going. They were a part of it as much as we are. It started when I was a freshman and those guys really helped build the foundation for the team."
OK, IS UTAH A RIVAL OR NOT? CU and Utah began competing in the Pac-12 in the same season (2011), and as same-year newcomers the conference hoped a long-dormant regional rivalry might be rekindled.
It has been. And it hasn't been. The Pac-12 even pushed a catchy label (Rumble In The Rockies) for the budding grudge games.
But since becoming Pac-12ers, the Buffs have defeated the Utes in football once – 17-14 in 2011. CU is 1-4 in the series with Utah as league members.
The 2011 game's scenario is eerily similar to Saturday's. Had Utah defeated CU, which carried a 24-game out-of-state losing streak to Salt Lake City, the Utes would have advanced to the Pac-12 championship game. The Buffs, with a win at Folsom Saturday, are in the 2016 conference title game.
CU finished the 2011 season 3-10, 2-7; Utah checked out of the regular season at 7-5, 4-5.
None of the 2011 history is weighing heavily on the Buffs now. And probably not any of the rivalry notions that the Pac-12 envisioned when CU and Utah were admitted.
"I've gotten asked that a lot (the rivalry question) this week, and I view them as the next game coming up," CU center Alex Kelley said. "It's the biggest game of the season because it is our next game."
"I wouldn't say that they're a rivalry game because of what we're about as a team," cornerback Akhello Witherspoon added. "We don't really see rivalry games, other than Colorado State. We just go out and play who ever lines up against us and whatever helmet you've got on we're going to come out and be ready to play."
But Liufau had other thoughts: "I definitely think the rivalry will continue. It's always a tough game when you play against Utah, even from my freshman year. We'll battle it out like we always do and if it comes to a to couple plays here or there, we'll have to do it just like Washington State where we have to make some plays and changes. If it comes down to that, we'll make some plays."
Not exactly a reaffirmation of it being a rivalry game as much as one the Buffs know they have to win.
EARLY RETIREMENT, WELCOME LATE RETURN: Utah running back Joe Williams' backstory is odd, bordering on unprecedented. Four games into the 2016 season, Williams, a senior who had earned one letter, tired of football and retired.
He fumbled twice in the Utes' first two games, rushed for a combined 75 yards, and was chewed on by coach Kyle Whittingham after losing the ball against BYU (a 20-19 Utah win). Williams told reporters his performance "was never the reason for me leaving."
Rather, his exit had to do with his waning enjoyment in the game, the cumulative toll of his sport's grind, and not wanting to be a locker room pariah. Utah's locker room mantra is "All In or In The Way."
Williams didn't want that, so he "retired." Then he unretired, returning to the team seven games ago. In those games he's rushed for 1,008 yards (155.4 average) and scored nine touchdowns. He's spearheading a Utah ground game that averages 213.4 yards a game – second in the Pac-12 behind Oregon (231.5).
It would have been fine with MacIntyre had Williams stuck with his original plan: "I wish he would have stayed retired," MacIntyre said. "I haven't ever heard of that before. He might have found a secret that other running backs will use out there, stay off your legs for a while . . . and come back fresh."
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
As Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre entered his fourth season, he was well aware that 2016 could be a pivotal year for his future. But truth be told – which MacIntyre candidly did on Tuesday at his weekly media conference – he didn't expect the success that the Buffaloes are having this season to come until next season.
CU, which can win the Pac-12 South Division championship with a win against Utah on Saturday at Folsom Field (5:30 p.m., Fox), is 9-2 overall, 7-1 in conference, and enjoying at top ten ranking (No. 9) for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
High times for the Buffs – but a year early, thought MacIntyre.
"You always want to win right away, but I knew for a fact that we had to build a foundation, culturally," he said. "Everybody says that, but you have do that. We had to build a foundation physically and we had to build a foundation mentally, because we were deficient in all those areas and it takes a while to do all those.
"Different parts of them come at different times. It's all come together. If I had a timetable I would have said we're a year early to be honest. The great thing is with all those seniors and the culmination of a bunch of different things happened, we were able to hit it right now, which is awesome. That's why I'm so excited that those guys were able to do it."
MacIntyre's fourth CU team is top-loaded with leadership. Upperclassmen like quarterback Sefo Liufau, tackle Jeromy Irwin and others who persevered through three excruciatingly lean seasons (CU was 2-25 in Pac-12 play under MacIntyre entering this year) have provided a foundation for future success.
"It means everything," Liufau said. "To be able to help turn the program around with this group of seniors and everyone else, it's a great feeling. Usually at this time of the year we're moseying about on the field and playing for pride basically. I'm very happy and proud of the way that our team is playing. We just have to remind ourselves that there's a lot more we're playing for so this week is very important for us."
With a win Saturday, the Buffs advance to the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2 to meet either Washington or Washington State, who play Friday in the Apple Cup.
LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP: A couple of weeks ago, the Buffs freshmen got an early wakeup call – courtesy of Liufau. Among the things that he and members of this senior class, the team captains primarily, have emphasized to the newcomers are accountability and responsibility.
Adhering to both is paramount, and if one player doesn't everyone pays a price. Classes and tutorial sessions must be attended. Absences in either aren't overlooked.
"The freshmen hate me right now because I don't want this program to fall apart after I leave," Liufau said. "I'm pretty hard on missing tutors and missing class. We've been up together, the freshmen and the captains at 4:45 in the morning for punishment (running).
"There is a fine line. Some of them get really grumpy with me. But it's really important to stress that it's not just about football. Those things that are on the outside can really leak into football and football can really leak into life. So, I'm trying to stress to those guys that school is really important and if they're going to hate me for that, it'll probably be for the week. I'll take that. It's important for those guys to learn all of that at a young age."
Asked what Liufau has meant to the CU program, MacIntyre answered, "Everything. He's meant everything."
VOICES FROM THE PAST: The Buffs' success is being enjoyed by a broader base than players on the current roster. Liufau said he's heard from former teammates who've wished him and his teammates well and urged them to keep the train rolling.
"I've heard from a couple of players," Liufau said. "Daniel Munyer is one, Nelson Spruce is texting me and Jered Bell has been around. I've seen D.D. Goodson and Malcolm Creer. All of those guys are just encouraging me to keep it going, keep the guys ready to play and keep winning.
"They're really excited for us and that's something I really appreciate. I think it's easy for guys to be upset or jealous because we have something that they couldn't have. But those guys are a much a part of it as we are. They were great leaders for us when we were freshmen and sophomores. They were pushing us to be better and telling us to keep it going. They were a part of it as much as we are. It started when I was a freshman and those guys really helped build the foundation for the team."
OK, IS UTAH A RIVAL OR NOT? CU and Utah began competing in the Pac-12 in the same season (2011), and as same-year newcomers the conference hoped a long-dormant regional rivalry might be rekindled.
It has been. And it hasn't been. The Pac-12 even pushed a catchy label (Rumble In The Rockies) for the budding grudge games.
But since becoming Pac-12ers, the Buffs have defeated the Utes in football once – 17-14 in 2011. CU is 1-4 in the series with Utah as league members.
The 2011 game's scenario is eerily similar to Saturday's. Had Utah defeated CU, which carried a 24-game out-of-state losing streak to Salt Lake City, the Utes would have advanced to the Pac-12 championship game. The Buffs, with a win at Folsom Saturday, are in the 2016 conference title game.
CU finished the 2011 season 3-10, 2-7; Utah checked out of the regular season at 7-5, 4-5.
None of the 2011 history is weighing heavily on the Buffs now. And probably not any of the rivalry notions that the Pac-12 envisioned when CU and Utah were admitted.
"I've gotten asked that a lot (the rivalry question) this week, and I view them as the next game coming up," CU center Alex Kelley said. "It's the biggest game of the season because it is our next game."
"I wouldn't say that they're a rivalry game because of what we're about as a team," cornerback Akhello Witherspoon added. "We don't really see rivalry games, other than Colorado State. We just go out and play who ever lines up against us and whatever helmet you've got on we're going to come out and be ready to play."
But Liufau had other thoughts: "I definitely think the rivalry will continue. It's always a tough game when you play against Utah, even from my freshman year. We'll battle it out like we always do and if it comes to a to couple plays here or there, we'll have to do it just like Washington State where we have to make some plays and changes. If it comes down to that, we'll make some plays."
Not exactly a reaffirmation of it being a rivalry game as much as one the Buffs know they have to win.
EARLY RETIREMENT, WELCOME LATE RETURN: Utah running back Joe Williams' backstory is odd, bordering on unprecedented. Four games into the 2016 season, Williams, a senior who had earned one letter, tired of football and retired.
He fumbled twice in the Utes' first two games, rushed for a combined 75 yards, and was chewed on by coach Kyle Whittingham after losing the ball against BYU (a 20-19 Utah win). Williams told reporters his performance "was never the reason for me leaving."
Rather, his exit had to do with his waning enjoyment in the game, the cumulative toll of his sport's grind, and not wanting to be a locker room pariah. Utah's locker room mantra is "All In or In The Way."
Williams didn't want that, so he "retired." Then he unretired, returning to the team seven games ago. In those games he's rushed for 1,008 yards (155.4 average) and scored nine touchdowns. He's spearheading a Utah ground game that averages 213.4 yards a game – second in the Pac-12 behind Oregon (231.5).
It would have been fine with MacIntyre had Williams stuck with his original plan: "I wish he would have stayed retired," MacIntyre said. "I haven't ever heard of that before. He might have found a secret that other running backs will use out there, stay off your legs for a while . . . and come back fresh."
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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