Colorado University Athletics
Tuesday Buffs Bits: CU Seniors Played Role In Implementing Tucker's Culture
November 19, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's home finale Saturday against Washington (8 p.m., ESPN) will also serve as the final appearance at Folsom Field for 17 Buffaloes seniors.
The seniors have left a positive mark on the program. They have set records and played in big games. Seven of the group played on the 2016 Pac-12 South title team.
But they will also be noted as being as members of Mel Tucker's first CU team — and they will know they played an instrumental role in helping lay the foundation for the culture change Tucker is instituting.
It is a legacy of which they should be proud.
Seniors, obviously, are important to every program every year. They are expected to provide leadership and guidance, to set the tone and standard for younger players.
But in the first year of a coaching change, they have an additional task — to keep the team together and help make the transition a successful one.
While CU's current 4-6 record doesn't scream "success," the seniors have still played an important role in helping institute the culture change Tucker has been implementing since the day he arrived in Boulder. They have been instrumental in helping put down a foundation that will pave the way for future success.
The culture shift was apparent in Colorado's Nov. 9 win over Stanford, a physical game that required solid performances from all three phases — and a fourth-quarter gut check that produced a key defensive stand, a long offensive drive and a game-winning field goal.
Those are the changes Tucker has wanted to see, the non-negotiable principles that will become the foundation of Colorado football.
"Attention to detail, sense of urgency, discipline, hard work, drive, having a relentless attitude and mindset," he said at Tuesday at his weekly press conference. "All of those things along with consistency and performance, that's how you become successful, by being consistent in everything that you're doing."
Tucker has seen those elements start to take hold this year. The win over Stanford — which halted what could have been a disastrous tailspin — was concrete evidence.
"The culture shift is taking place and we'll continue to build on it and we're going to get there," he said forcefully. "We're going to get it done."
The seniors to be honored Saturday:
— CB Delrick Abrams Jr.
— SN J.T. Bale
— TE Beau Bisharat
— WR Tony Brown
— S Lucas Cooper
— OLB Nu'umotu Falo Jr.
— QB Josh Goldin
— OL Arlington Hambright (graduate student)
— TE Jalen Harris (graduate student)
— P Alex Kinney
— C Tim Lynott Jr.
— QB Steven Montez
— S Mikial Onu (graduate student)
— PK Davis Price
— OL Jack Shutack
— OLB Davion Taylor
RALPHIE'S LAST HURRAH: Colorado mascot Ralphie V, whose last game day run came Oct. 5 against Arizona, will make her final public appearance at Saturday's game as a "spectator."
CU officials last week announced her retirement after the better part of 12 seasons leading the Buffs onto the field 76 times in her career. That included 65 homes games, 10 in Denver and the 2016 Alamo Bowl. Her handlers noted that she is especially proud of her 8-2 record against Colorado State in games in Denver.
Tucker has no doubt enjoyed being part of one of college football's great traditions.
"We're waiting for that garage door to open, and there's a countdown and the music is playing," Tucker said of the pregame and halftime run onto the field. "They raise up the garage door and you walk out and you see the handlers right there and Ralphie is in there ready to go. My whole deal is I just want to make sure I can get a good stride and get a good burst and not get run over, and then veer off to the left and then let her do her thing. It's really the Ralphie show at that point. It's one of the great traditions in all of sports and I just feel very blessed and fortunate to have experienced that."
Several seniors were asked Tuesday if it was disappointing that they wouldn't get to run behind Ralphie one last time.
But CU quarterback Steven Montez said it was all about CU's famous mascot.
"Whatever's in Ralphie's best interest, that's what's in everybody's best interest," he said. "She's ran out for a lot of games and she's beloved by the fans. So if she says she needs some downtime, some off time, then that is what she's absolutely going to get and we'll be happy about that."
MONTEZ'S FOLSOM DEBUT: CU's senior quarterback remembers his first game at Folsom quite well.
As a redshirt freshman backup, he stepped onto the field in the second quarter of a 56-7 Colorado win over Idaho State in Week 2 of 2016. His first pass as a Buff was a 69-yard touchdown throw to Kabion Ento.
"It was a comeback route that he ended up taking to the house," Montez said.
"So yes, I definitely remember my first time being out on Folsom. Great, great place to play — probably the best place I've ever played."
With a 4-6 record and two games remaining, Colorado is still mathematically in the hunt for bowl eligibility.
At the same time, Montez is just one touchdown pass away from breaking the all-time CU record for touchdown passes (60). He also needs just 300 passing yards to break the school's career record, and just 316 yards total offense to break that school mark.
But given his druthers, Montez said he'll take a 'W' this week.
"Win," Montez responded to a query of what his goal is down the stretch. "That's really the most important thing to me. I can go out there and throw for zero passing yards and if we win, I really wouldn't care. I just want to get these games and and put put some wins next to them and and see what happens from there."
Overall, Montez already holds 28 school records and is tied with 14 others, and has a chance to reach 12 more. Among his records are most 300-yard passing games (13), most 300-yard total offense games (17) and most consecutive starts at quarterback (34).
TUCKER ON HUSKIES: For the last several years, Washington has annually been among the elite of the Pac-12. Chris Petersen's team has won at least 10 games in each of the last three seasons, including a 12-2 mark in 2016 when UW played in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
CU has lost nine in a row to Washington, including the last seven in Pac-12 play. Thus, even though the Huskies are 6-4 this year, a win over UW would be a big moment for Colorado.
"We all know Coach Petersen is one of the outstanding coaches in this country and in this business, college or pro," Tucker said. "Washington is known for playing darn good football and this year is no different. It's going to be a challenge for us and we'll be up for it. We're going to prepare for this opportunity. You only get so many chances and so many games. For our seniors it's winding down and this is the last opportunity in Folsom for our guys, it's going to be special."
PETERSEN ON BUFFS: While Petersen has never lost to the Buffs, he says he can already see a change in CU under Tucker's influence.
"The one thing that jumps out to me is those guys play hard every game," Petersen said. "You hear a team's record and you put the tape on and it's, 'Oh, this is different than you think.' That's probably the one thing that really grabbed my attention. I think Coach Tucker's done a nice job getting those guys to play inspired."
Petersen also isn't overly excited about playing in Boulder in late November.
"That's a tight venue, where the stadiums right on you and they've had good crowds the whole season," he said. "I think they play well at home. So late, cold, night, grass — all those type of things make it a good challenge."
RECORD WATCH: Senior punter Alex Kinney last week tied the CU record for most games played in a career when he played in his 52nd game, tying the mark set by former tight end Quinn Sypniewski in the early 2000s. If Kinney appears either as a punter or holder for place kicks this week, he will own the record outright.
Senior long snapper J.T. Bale, meanwhile, is the new record holder for most plays by a specialist with 480.
BROADCAST CREW: The ESPN crew for Saturday's game will be Jason Bennett with play by play, Rod Gilmore with color commentary and Quint Kessenish from the sidelines.
KOA 850 will carry the radio broadcast with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson (play by play) and former CU head coach and Hall of Famer Gary Barnett (color commentary).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
