Woelk: Buffs Learn What It's Like To Be The 'Hunted'
November 04, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Notes, quotes and observations in the wake of Colorado's 20-10 win over UCLA on Thursday at Folsom Field …
One day later, the importance of the Buffs' win certainly hasn't diminished. Colorado will no doubt remain in the top 25 in both national polls as well as the College Football Playoff rankings. While the voters in the polls and committee members might not be inclined to award the Buffs style points for the win, the bottom line is it was still a win — and the Buffs are now 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Pac-12 with road wins at Oregon and Stanford and home wins over Arizona State and UCLA.
It's worth it to remember that most teams in those top 25 rankings have an "ugly" win or two. From Alabama to Clemson, Texas A&M to Washington, the majority have had to find a way to win a game when they weren't at their best.
The Buffs found a way Thursday. Now the key will be ensuring that they find a way to make sure Thursday's mistakes remain an aberration instead of a trend.
TEACHING MOMENT: One major lesson Colorado learned Thursday? The Buffs now know what it's like to be the "hunted."
For the first time in any of their college careers, CU's players had the targets on their backs in a conference game. They were the nationally ranked, division-leading team that was supposed to win handily while their opponent was the team that was battling to salvage a season.
It's not something they are accustomed to and not something that can be taught in practice. It has to experienced.
Not that the Buffs succumbed to the pressure of their newfound national status. But for the first time in their CU careers, Colorado players found themselves the target of more than the usual amount of "extracurricular" activity — and as is most often the case, the player who retaliates in such scenarios is almost always the player who is penalized. Thursday, it was a big part of 12 yellow flags on the Buffs.
In short, the Buffs got the Bruins' best shot in every regard, and it's something the Buffs need to expect from here on out.
Now Colorado players know what it's like to see a team fired up to play them. The Bruins were the team with nothing to lose, and they employed every tactic possible to produce the desired result.
The guess is that the Buffs will respond a little differently from here on out. They'll learn the difference between curbing their emotions and channeling their energy in the right way.
The guarantee is that the target on their backs is only going to get bigger. As long as they are leading the Pac-12 South and as long as they are nationally ranked, they're going to get every team's best effort — and then some.
It's why Thursday night's win could very well prove to be another significant turning point not only this season, but for the program in general. The Buffs learned a valuable lesson and still came away with the win.
Those are the best kinds of lessons.
RELATIVELY NEW FACES: Somewhat lost in the shuffle of CU's big-play heroes Thursday night was the play of some other Buffs who came up with some key plays at big moments.
With outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert out after a targeting call early in the game, the Buffs had to turn to some backups who performed admirably, including Christian Shaver, N.J. Falo and Terran Hasselbach.
Shaver, a junior who has played both inside and outside in his time with the Buffs, entered the game with five tackles this season and added two more to the list — both for losses. His third-down sack of UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul late in the fourth quarter forced a UCLA punt, which happened to be the punt that Isaiah Oliver returned 68-yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
Falo, meanwhile, had an up-and-down night that included two penalties, but also key pass knockdown and a tackle. Hasselbach was also credited with a tackle and put pressure on Fafaul several times.
The fact that they played well in Gilbert's absence is a plus. The fact that they will all be back next year is even better.
OLD RELIABLES: If you had to pick a defensive MVP for the Buffs, it wouldn't be easy — but three players who would certainly be in the conversation are safety Tedric Thompson, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and linebacker Kenneth Olugbode.
It's gotten to the point that CU fans expect big plays from the trio on a regular basis, and they didn't disappoint against the Bruins. Awuzie was credited with just two tackles, but he also had a big sack and a blocked field goal. Thompson had five tackles and two pass breakups and Olugbode had four tackles, one for loss. (Tackle statistics will be updated when coaches view game film.)
All three are members of Mike MacIntyre's original recruiting class, and all three have been stalwarts for the defense, both with their play and their leadership. They are players who have endured the difficult times and never wavered in the belief that they'll leave a legacy of success behind.
Safe to say, they'll do exactly that — and they will be sorely missed next year when they are plying their trade on Sundays.
MR. VERSATILE: Running back Phillip Lindsay continues to make his case as one of the Pac-12's most valuable offensive players. On a night when the Buffs were having trouble getting the ball to their wide receivers, Lindsay finished with 11 catches (all other CU players combined for just nine) and he added a workmanlike 24-carry, 78-yard effort running the ball.
Lindsay now has 818 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, along with 303 yards and one touchdown receiving. He's now fourth in Pac-12 rushing per game (90.9), third in total touchdowns (11) and seventh in all-purpose yards (127.4 per game).
KICKING UPDATE: CU kicker Chris Graham had a better night than his last outing, hitting two of his three field goal tries and both extra points. Meanwhile, MacIntyre said Davis Price, who has been out with mononucleosis, was cleared to play Thursday, will begin practicing next week and could be ready for the Nov. 12 game at Arizona.
REDEMPTION TOUR: Of CU's five Pac-12 wins, four have come against teams they had never beaten in conference play.
Heading into this season, the Buffs were 0-5 in Pac-12 play against Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA, and 0-3 against Stanford.
Also, MacIntyre's team has now matched the previous five years' Pac-12 win total in one season. Coming into the year, Colorado was just 5-40 in the conference they joined in 2011.
Next week, the Buffs will travel to Arizona. Colorado did beat the Wildcats in their first year in the league, but has since lost four in a row, including the last three under MacIntyre.
"Everybody we're beating has beaten us three years in a row," MacIntyre said. "This is new for us, but our guys will be ready to go next week."
PAC-12 THIS WEEKEND: The Buffs will have the luxury of scoreboard watching again this Saturday. The game that will impact the South the most on Saturday is the Oregon at USC game while next Thursday will see Utah travel to Arizona State. The Trojans and Utes are both 4-2, one game behind the Buffs in the standings.
TIDBITS: CU's 7-2 overall and 5-1 league record is the best since 2005, when the Buffs had the same record in the Big 12. … Thursday night marked an interesting anniversary of sorts. The Buffs' last 20-10 win came 30 years ago, when Colorado ended a 19-game losing streak to Nebraska with a 20-10 win in Boulder on Oct. 25, 1986. Meanwhile, Nov. 3 also marked another win over the Cornhuskers, as it was Nov. 3, 1990, when the Buffs scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to post a 27-12 win over Nebraska in what proved to be a pivotal moment in their march to a national championship. … Thursday's win was CU's 399th all-time home victory. … The Buffs are now 53-19 in November in their last 72 games against unranked teams. … When UCLA took a 10-7 lead, it was just the second time in the last five games the Buffs have trailed. Oregon State held a temporary 3-0 lead before the Buffs roared back for a 47-6 win. … The four turnovers by Colorado's offense (three interceptions, one fumble) were the most in any game this year. The Buffs hadn't had more than two prior to Thursday. … MacIntyre told the media after Thursday's game that the Buffs would have some extra running on Friday as a result of their 12 penalties — and not just the players who committed the fouls. "The whole team," MacIntyre said. "They need to understand that if we want to be Pac-12 champions, we cannot do that." MacIntyre made good on that promise Friday morning, as players reported for some extra running at 8 a.m., followed by a short weightlifting session. … The players will have the weekend off, then begin a normal week's practice schedule Monday.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
