Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Return To Work, Focus On Saturday Home Finale Vs. Washington
November 18, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — With a much-needed bye week now in the rearview mirror, Mel Tucker's Colorado Buffaloes got back to work Monday morning, turning their full attention to Saturday's 8 p.m. home finale against Washington.
Not that the Buffs took a week off. They were on the practice field three days last week and also hit their regularly scheduled weight room workouts, as well as putting in some film session work.
But the weekend without a game also afforded Tucker and his staff a chance to hit the road recruiting, an opportunity of which they took full advantage, while also offering some banged-up Buffs a little extra time to heal.
"We had a very productive bye week," Tucker said after Monday's practice. "Toward the end of the week we were able to get out and recruit from Colorado to Louisiana, Texas, California … we hit 18 to 20 schools. We saw a lot of good football players and are evaluating who the guys are out there that have what it takes to be a Buff."
But now the Buffs' full focus has been shifted to the Huskies. Colorado (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) needs a win to remain in the hunt for bowl eligibility; Washington (6-4, 3-4) needs a win to guarantee coach Chris Petersen his sixth winning season in as many years as UW's head coach.
"I see a very strong Washington team," Tucker said. "They're strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They're able to run the ball and do a great job stopping the run and they have playmakers at the skill positions on offense. Quarterback, Jacob (Eason), I've known for a long time. Tremendous arm talent and can make all the throws. He can do some special things with the football."
But the most consistent side of the ball for Washington has been its defense. The Huskies are currently third in the Pac-12 in points allowed (21.2 per game) and yards allowed (349.7).
"Defensively, on the back end they're a ball-hawking group," Tucker said of a secondary that has nine interceptions this season. "They do a good job playing tight coverage. They're coordinated with their front seven and their back end, and they do a good job pressuring. Special teams, they're extremely solid. Coach Petersen does a great job. They're very well coached and that's no surprise to anyone."
The Buffs are coming off one of their best overall performances of the year on Nov. 9, a 16-13 win over Stanford that saw CU's defense play its best game of the season. CU's offense also had an efficient day in the win and the Buffs special teams were outstanding, right down to a game-winning field goal from Evan Price as time expired.
"There were a lot of positives that we took from the Stanford game," Tucker said. "The effort on both sides of the ball and special teams, playing complementary football. There were also some things we need to build upon and make some adjustments. That's what the bye week was about and also this week of preparation, building on our positives. We had a very strong practice today. It was very focused. The guys were into it and I felt like we got better today as well."
A SHOUT-OUT TO BUFFS FANS: Tucker and the Buffs are hoping for another full house Saturday for the home finale. CU is averaging 50,563 per home game this year, which is actually slightly above Folsom's official capacity. Colorado and Utah are the only two schools in the Pac-12 to be averaging above capacity for the season.
"Our fans have been tremendous throughout this entire season," Tucker said. "Our stadium has been rocking. An electric atmosphere. Buff Nation is just so strong. Our players are energized by it and look forward to playing at home."
The crowds, Tucker said, play a big role not just for the present, but for the future as well.
"It's very, very impressive to our recruits and their parents," Tucker said. "Everyone who sees us in action at Folsom just comes away with a strong understanding that the Buffs are serious about football and this is a football town. I just encourage everyone to come out and support our team. We're looking forward to this opportunity against Washington."
HOME FINALE FESTIVITIES: Saturday's game, to be nationally televised by ESPN, will be the final home game for 17 CU seniors, and it will also be the last public appearance at Folsom for mascot Ralphie V, who will retire after this season.
"It's important to our seniors," Tucker said. "There will be some emotion involved. We'll take it as it comes. It will be the last opportunity for our seniors to be in Folsom in front of our home crowd. Ralphie, it will be her last public appearance in Folsom. That's going to be special."
Also Saturday, former Buffs great Kordell Stewart will be on hand for a special recognition of the 25th anniversary of the "Miracle in Michigan." Stewart threw the 64-yard touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook on the final play of the game that gave Colorado a 27-26 win over the Wolverines in 1994.
"It's going to be a big day for the Buffs," Tucker said.
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY: This year also marks the 30th anniversary of a memorable CU-Washington game.
In 1989, the Buffaloes opened the year 3-0 and had risen to No. 5 in the country, but were faced with their first road game of the year in traveling to No. 21 Washington. CU had a bye on Sept. 23, but that day turned sad when early in the evening its senior quarterback, Sal Aunese, lost his six-month battle with stomach cancer. The memorial service was Monday on campus and then the team got to work, preparing for the Huskies.
It was a dogfight at the beginning as two UW field goals sandwiched an Eric Bieniemy 35-yard TD run. But the Buffs then scored the game's next 31 points, all in a sub-14 minute window.
The surge started with another Bieniemy run, this time from a yard out with 1:41 left in the half to cap a 76-yard drive. CU scored again less than a minute later, converting a turnover into a 3-yard run by J.J. Flannigan, with Bruce Young's interception setting up the score. CU then salted things away with a 17-point third quarter, scoring on a 43-yard Ken Culbertson field goal and runs by Darian Hagan (3 yards out) and Jeff Campbell (a 56-yard reverse).
The Buffs were in total control at that point, 38-6. UW put up 21 points in what was essentially garbage time and when all was said and done, CU left Seattle with a 45-28 win.
Before the game, the Buffs had met on the field for a pregame moment of silence, when the entire team pointed one finger to the sky, a moment that has become iconic in CU history.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
