Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Take Aim At Strong Start Against Rival Rams
September 02, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU, CSU square off in Denver
DENVER — Time to play the game.
After 29 practices in 29 days and all the ups and downs that go with a monthlong training camp, Mike MacIntyre's Buffaloes are ready to open the season.
Same for Mike Bobo's Colorado State Rams.
The in-state rivals will tee it up Friday at Sports Authority Field in Denver, with kickoff for the nationally televised game (ESPN) officially set for 6:01 p.m.
While it is a rarity on a national scale for teams to open with a rivalry game, the Buffs and Rams are fairly accustomed to the scenario. It's been the opening game in their seasons 19 times previously, with the Buffs holding a 12-7 edge in those contests.
Overall, CU has dominated the series, owning a 63-22-2 record in a rivalry that was first played in 1893 (a year in which they actually faced off twice). But it's been much more even in recent years, with the the two teams having split the last four contests and Colorado holding a 6-4 edge in the last 10.
Neither team, though, is focusing on the past — in particular Colorado. While the Buffs took a 27-24 win in overtime a year ago, it was one of the few bright spots in a 4-9 season Colorado is anxious to put in the rearview mirror once and for all. They've spent the last nine months preparing to do just that, and Friday's game is a chance to start a season off on the right foot, something CU has done just once in MacIntyre's first three years at CU.
While most previous Colorado coaches have never been particularly fond of the series — especially as an opener to the season — MacIntyre has embraced the game, at least publicly. MacIntyre owns a 2-1 record against the Rams, including a win over CSU in his first-ever game at Colorado.
"The opening game is always a lot of fun; there's always a lot of hype for the opening game anywhere in the country," MacIntyre said. "That's always exciting, but when you play a rival in the very first game at a neutral site, it's a unique experience and puts a little more hype and emotion on it. Playing that football game is a big deal. It's one that our players hear about for 365 days a year. You don't hear about every other game 365 days a year. That puts a little more of an emotional tie to the game than most games."
While the Buffs have talked freely about some big goals this season — in particular, ending a bowl drought in Boulder that stretches back to 2007 — they've been in complete one-game-at-a-time mode in recent weeks. The fact that the opener just happens to be against a nearby rival, they say, really makes no difference.
"To me, it's just another game and it doesn't matter who you go up against in week one," said Buffs quarterback Sefo Liufau. "To me it is just another game. Not to disrespect anybody, but whoever you put in front of me, I'm going to go out there and do my best and treat each game like it's a championship game. Each week, you want to go 1-0 and do your best against whoever you line up against."
Liufau, ready to start his 30th game for the Buffs, will no doubt be in the spotlight. The CU senior is returning from a Lisfranc foot injury that forced him to miss the final two games of last season and all of spring ball. He's shown no signs of the injury throughout camp, but admits he's anxious to get on the field, take a snap and get the game underway.
"I think it will be a relief," he said. "To know that I made it is a great feeling. There will be some butterflies. I'm excited and want to go back out there and play, but for the most part I'll be locked in and ready to play with my teammates."
Liufau already owns 75 school records, and he could make it 76 in a hurry. With 7,397 career passing yards, he needs just 13 more to break the record of 7,409, held by Cody Hawkins. He's also in reach of at least nine more this year, but has said repeatedly that he would be glad to trade all those records for a winning season and bowl game in his final year with the Buffs.
A win in the opener would be a big boost in that direction, but it's not expected to come easily. The Rams, who won the statistical battle a year ago, have nearly their entire offensive line returning, as well as running back Dalyn Dawkins, who had 118 of CSU's 218 yards on the ground last season. Colorado State also has a veteran starting quarterback in Nick Stevens, but while MacIntyre has said that's who he expects to see, Bobo won't be revealing his starter until just before the game.
Bobo has also made sure not to offer anything resembling bulletin board material for the Buffs.
"We know the magnitude of this game," he said earlier this week. "We're looking forward to the challenge because it's going to be a big challenge. … We need to go out there and see where we're at. Hopefully, it's good enough to compete and put ourselves in position to win the game in the fourth quarter."
But while the Rams have been advertised as a young team, MacIntyre said he's not taking that bait.
"I've been hearing about how young CSU is, but they have 16 seniors on their two-deep (depth chart) and we have 16 seniors," he said. "I'm not buying that they aren't a good football team. They're a really good football team. It's going to be a heck of a football game and our young men are excited about playing."
But while the Rams' experience might be in question, nobody is questioning CU's wealth in that department. Of the 24 projected starters, 21 are upperclassmen, and returning Buffs represent 412 career starts, the most by any team in school history.
More than anything else, it's why MacIntyre, his staff and his players are entering this season with more optimism than in any previous year in his era.
"I really like this football team," he said. "I've said it a lot. I get excited when I talk about this football team. This is by far the most talent and the best football team we've had in the four years I've been here. Now we've got to go out and do it on Saturdays and Friday nights and Thursday nights."
PARKING: Fans from both schools are encouraged to give themselves plenty of time to get to the game, as traffic is expected to be heavy. The Colorado Rockies also have a home game Friday night, and A Taste of Colorado begins in downtown Denver on Friday. For complete information on parking and traffic for the game, go to http://www.cubuffs.com/news/2016/8/31/tickets-rocky-mountain-showdown-parking-and-traffic-information.aspx.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
