Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Players Focus On Utes, Senior Day
November 13, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado football players shrugged off rumors surrounding the fate of head coach Mike MacIntyre and the CU coaching staff Tuesday, and said they will continue to focus on the task at hand: Saturday's home finale against Utah at Folsom Field.
"At the end of the day, it really doesn't change how we feel as players and how we feel about this season, and that is to win these last two games and get to a bowl game," Colorado quarterback Steven Montez said. "That is our goal right now at this point. We are going to go out there on Saturday and try to play our best football regardless of the situation."
CU Athletic Director Rick George issued this statement in response to reports that the CU coaching staff has been told they would not be retained after this season:
"We do not comment on speculation or unsubstantiated rumors with anonymous sources. Let me just say I have made no decisions regarding the future of the football program. As I've stated in the past, we continually evaluate all aspects of all of our 17 intercollegiate sport programs."
The Buffs (5-5 overall, 2-5 Pac-12) need one more win to become bowl eligible, a goal they would love to attain when they celebrate Senior Day against the Utes (7-3, 5-3). Kickoff is set for 11:31 a.m.
No doubt, players are aware of the reports, as they were widely circulated on social media. But, they said, those are issues beyond their control.
"You hear it all, (but) all that stuff is hype," said Buffs linebacker Drew Lewis, one of 19 seniors who will suit up for their last game at Folsom on Saturday. "People on the outside are talking about that stuff. We don't really consider it when we're taking the field, ever. ... You can take it how you'd like, but to me, I'm still 100 percent motivated and excited to play in my last game at Folsom. At the end of the day, Coach Mac says it himself all the time — players make plays and players win games. It's the players who are in control when game time comes."
MacIntyre did address the reports to the team Tuesday morning.
"We talk all the time about what we can control, our guys, our people, your situation," MacIntyre said. " … The buffalo is the only animal that walks into the storm. All the rest of them run away from the storm. If you walk into the storm, you're going to get through it faster. They walk in it together. We talked about that this morning. We've had a storm here the last few weeks and lost some close games. I talked to them about life and what that means, and that we're walking into it together. Then we went outside and practiced. I thought they were really enthusiastic."
After a 5-0 start, the Buffs have lost their last five. Now, with two games remaining, CU's players say they are focusing on what is still in front of them, beginning with sending their seniors out on the right note.
"The energy at today's practice was the best energy we've had all season," Montez said. "Guys went out there, had a chip on their shoulder and were hungry. We practiced really hard and really well today. We were outside even though there was a bunch of snow on the field. We have to be prepared for Saturday's game because it is going to snow. We are locked in and are ready to go for Saturday and for Utah to come down here to Folsom."
Linebacker Rick Gamboa, a four-year starter, is one of the seniors who will play his final game at Folsom on Saturday. Gamboa was a part of the 2016 team that won a Pac-12 South title and earned an Alamo Bowl berth — and said he doesn't want to leave CU with just one bowl game under his belt.
"Our goal is we want to make the bowl game," Gamboa said. "We don't want to leave here knowing we didn't make the bowl game and knowing we only made one bowl game our whole time here. I know the seniors and the rest of the team, we all want to win these last two. We want to give it all we've got and secure a bowl game and make sure we have a 13th game. All we can control is the next two games we have."
There is no doubt that the reports concerning CU's coaches could be a distraction — that much was apparent Tuesday morning. But, said senior Nick Fisher, the clear goal is still on the table.
"I think everyone is excited at the thought of winning this game and becoming bowl eligible," Fisher said. "No one is going to feel like we lost because this is all we did. Guys are still excited. We want to win. We don't want to go out losing seven straight. The attitude of the team is really excited. We are ready. Anybody who has lost five just wants to get a win."
Lewis, who started his collegiate career at Washington, then spent a year at Coffeyville CC before transferring to Colorado, said there is no doubt CU is "his" school.
"It's definitely going to be an emotional weekend," Lewis said. "Just because I didn't start my college experience here, I do consider Colorado as my school. With that being said, I don't know how I'm going to feel walking out there. I'm going to be excited to have my family out there and take the field and to do it for the last time. I know it's going to be a special moment that I'm going to have to really cherish. I'm definitely looking forward to it."
BROADCAST: The Pac-12 Networks will televise Saturday's game with JB Long (play-by-play), former Colorado standout Jeremy Bloom (color) and Camryn Irwin (sidelines). KOA will carry the radio broadcast with Mark Johnson (play-by-play), Gary Barnett (color) and Andy Lindahl (sidelines).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
