Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: With Michigan Now Directly Ahead, Buffs Start Week With Quiet Confidence
September 10, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes are still hungry.
"Starving," according to head coach Mike MacIntyre.
Thus, while the rest of Buff Nation is heaping praise on the Buffs after their dominant 2-0 start, Colorado players aren't listening.
In their minds, they really haven't proved a thing. All they've done thus far is take care of business the way they were supposed to. They dispatched rival Colorado State to the tune of a 44-7 thumping in their opener, then followed with a 56-7 rout of visiting Idaho State in Saturday's home opener at Folsom Field.
Simply, it's what good teams are expected to do — and this bunch believes they're a good team. But they also know that the schedule becomes exponentially tougher from here on out —beginning with next week's trip to No. 5 Michigan, where they'll see roughly 110,000 fans waiting to see if the Buffs are for real.
"We went 1-0 this week and now we move on to the next game, which is Michigan," said Buffs defensive back Chidobe Awuzie after Saturday's win. "They're definitely a great team — we were watching them play earlier today before our game. We had a lot of respect for Idaho State and we'll have all the respect in the world for Michigan. But what we won't forget is that the most important team on our schedule is Colorado."
But what the Buffs have done so far is hard to ignore, especially for a program that has endured 10 consecutive losing seasons and eight years without a bowl game. They've returned optimism and hope where both have been in short supply for the better part of a decade.
Thus, Saturday's performance shouldn't be underestimated. While the Buffs were heavy favorites, there was still a question as to how they would react one week after their opening win over their in-state rivals.
Their answer was clear: no loss of focus, no threat of losing sight of the task at hand. The Buffs went to work with a purpose. Their offense was crisp, efficient and effective; their defense was once again dominant.
"I was very impressed with what our staff did with our guys," MacIntyre said. "I liked how focused they were. Our upperclassmen did a good job of staying focused in practice and they kept working. That's what we talk about all the time, it's to worry about Colorado and nothing else. I'm seeing that in this group of guys."
For MacIntyre, it's a new twist to his job. After three years of attempting to keep the Buffs' confidence up through tough times, he must now keep their attention and not let success go to their heads.
"All those first two games say is that we're 2-0," MacIntyre said. "Those games are history now and we need to get ready for the next one. What we need to do is prepare and practice every day and then come ready to be Colorado."
But what is also clear is that there is a quiet confidence running through the Buffs' locker room that hasn't been there for … well, a long time.
"What you saw is what good teams do," said offensive co-coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. "I told Sefo (Liufau) that and he knows it. We're going to do what we do. It doesn't matter who we're playing, it doesn't matter what jersey they're wearing, it doesn't matter what helmet they're wearing. We're going to run our offense and do what we do. You saw the tempo early. That's our plan."
Of course, Michigan may have something to say about that next week. While the Buffs have been dominant on both sides of the ball thus far, nobody is going to mistake their first two opponents for a top-10 team. In fact, it can be argued that every team on the schedule from here on out will be tougher than either of the Buffs' first two foes.
But the only way to find out how good the Buffs actually are is to play the game. What MacIntyre will continue to impress upon his team is that the important work is done Monday through Friday.
The rewards are reaped on Saturday.
"The whole key of the first two games goes back to practice," MacIntyre said. "It doesn't go to what happened in the game, it goes to how we practice and how we focus and prepare. If we keep doing that, then when we show up on Saturday we'll have an opportunity to be successful. The guys are starting to understand that."
But a game that even a year ago would have had Buffs fans wincing at the thought now has them eager with anticipation. They've seen an up-tempo offense that Liufau runs with solid precision, one that also boasts a bevy of capable receivers. They've seen a defense that has a terrific front seven and an outstanding secondary. Both units are capable of big plays and both units are playing with a consistency that promises better things to come.
But most of all, they've seen a team that is playing with a quiet confidence that speaks volumes through its play — not in empty words.
"After we watch today's film, we have to put it in the past," Liufau said. "We have to focus on the next opponent and who you are going up against. It's easy to fall back on the success you've had in the past. We'll move on because there's a new team waiting for you and a championship game coming up. Each week, you want to go 1-0."
It's a goal the Buffs have accomplished twice this season. Next week will be a much better measuring stick when it comes to judging just how good this team might be.
But if they follow the plan they've outlined so far, if they continue to adapt the philosophy that has gotten them to this point, they'll have a chance.
"They understand that it's the work ethic, showing up every day, that makes the difference," MacIntyre said. "Last year, you could see they started to know what that really means. But this offseason, they totally bought into it. The upperclassmen took over and have really drilled that attitude into everyone. They know that nothing comes easy. To be honest, they know they really haven't accomplished anything yet, but they know they have another chance next week to do a little bit more."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
