Buffs Host Washington On Senior Day
November 23, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Seventeen Colorado seniors and one very beloved mascot will make their final Folsom Field appearances Saturday when the Buffs play host to Washington in an 8 p.m. game (ESPN).
For the seniors, it is a chance to keep alive their hopes for extending the season. Currently 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Pac-12 play, the Buffs need a win Saturday and another next week at Utah to become bowl eligible.
For mascot Ralphie V, who has maintained the tradition of leading the Buffs onto the Folsom Field turf for the last 12 years, it is an opportunity for fans to send her off into retirement in style. She will not run, but will be there before the game.
But while Ralphie V spends her golden years contentedly enjoying a lavish ranch lifestyle, there will be a Ralphie VI to take her place.
For CU's seniors, this will be their last hurrah at Folsom.
"We've had a fantastic showing for every single home game we've had," said CU's Steven Montez, who will make his 35th consecutive start, a program record for quarterbacks. "I'm just extremely thankful for the fans that come out and support us and cheer us on. It really means a lot to us because we know we didn't have the beginning of the season that we really wanted. And they still they still came out and supported us and got Folsom rocking. It's only right that we that we try to come out here and pay them back by by playing good football and hopefully executing at a high level."
The Buffs have indeed enjoyed great home support this year. Average attendance for five home games this year has been 50,563, which is actually slightly above the stadium's official capacity of 50,183.Â
CU head coach Mel Tucker and his players are hoping for one more big crowd to welcome the 6-4 Huskies (3-4 Pac-12). While UW has been eliminated from the Pac-12 North race, Washington still needs one more win to guarantee head coach Chris Petersen his sixth winning record in as many seasons in Seattle.
A win for the Buffs would end a lengthy losing streak against the Huskies, one that stretches back nine games, including seven in Pac-12 play. And, while this year's Washington team isn't quite up to the level of those that have been division title contenders for the last several years, it would still mark a quality win for Colorado.
 "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. Playmakers at the skill positions on offense … Defensively, on the back end they're a ball-hawking group. Coach Petersen does a great job. They're very well coached and that's no surprise to anyone."
To get that win, Tucker's Buffs will likely have to come up with a defensive performance similar to the one that paved the way for a 16-13 win over Stanford in their last outing. They will also need the offense to grind out more long, time-consuming drives and special teams to reproduce their outstanding play.
"Our guys have worked hard and we've had a good week of practice," Tucker said. "We understand what our challenges are and what our opportunities are. Our guys are really coming together in terms of playing complementary football … We're looking forward to putting our best foot forward in front of our fans and our students in Folsom."
Senior nights are always emotional for those players who will be playing their final games at Folsom. But they have vowed to keep those emotions in check and do their best to find a way to make sure their last Folsom memory is a winning one.
"This is my last one," said CU linebacker Nu'umotu Falo Jr., who played his first game at Folsom in 2015. "I know a lot of guys have been through this spot that I'm in right now. I just don't want to have any regrets. I just really want to go out there, play for my teammates, play for my coaches, and do the very best I can."
One of Falo's duties will be to disrupt the UW passing game by putting pressure on quarterback Jacob Eason. Washington's offense has been inconsistent at times this year, but the Huskies are still averaging 33.3 points per game. They are particularly effective when they establish a ground game behind running back Salvon Ahmed, who is third in the Pac-12 with 886 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Huskies are allowing just 21.2 points per game, third-best in the Pac-12, and they are allowing just 132 yards per game on the ground.
Along with keeping their bowl hopes alive, a win would also help CU's seniors leave a positive legacy. Washington is one of two teams in the Pac-12 the Buffs have not beaten since they joined the conference in 2011 (USC is the other).
"(A win) would be huge for us," Montez said. "It would definitely just show that that we're taking steps in the right direction, if not for this year, definitely for next year as well and for the guys coming back. Going out and finishing the season strong will definitely be some momentum going into the offseason and going into next year."
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
MATCHUP TO WATCH: Colorado's secondary vs. UW quarterback Eason. The Huskies junior has thrown just seven interceptions this year, but has four in his last two games, including a pair returned for touchdowns. If the Buffs can produce one of those game-changing moments, it will be a huge boost.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Colorado's offensive line. If CU can win the battle in the trenches, the Buffs can control the clock and the tempo. That's not a game Washington likes to play.
THE SERIES: Washington has won nine straight in the series and owns a 12-5-1 all-time lead, including a 5-1 edge in Boulder and seven straight since CU joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Colorado's last win in Boulder came in 1990 by a 20-14 score.
NUTS AND BOLTS:
Kickoff: 8:10 p.m. (MT), Folsom Field (50,183).
Broadcast: ESPN will carry the telecast with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (color) and Quint Kessenich (sidelines). KOA 850 will carry the radio broadcast with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson, Gary Barnett and Andy Lindahl.
In-game live blog, stats: A live in-game blog as well as continually updated statistics will be available on www.CUBuffs.com
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
Â
Â
