Woelk: For Tucker And Buffs, Season Finale Just The Beginning

SALT LAKE CITY — Minutes after the Colorado Buffaloes' season finale Saturday night, a 45-15 loss to Utah, CU coach Mel Tucker made one point extremely clear:

The finale was just the beginning.

"Our (5-7) record doesn't necessarily reflect everything about this football team," said Tucker, who opened his post-game press conference by thanking the CU seniors who helped set the foundation for the culture change Tucker has been implementing. "Moving forward, we know what we need to do."

Indeed, Tucker's first foray through the Pac-12 only confirmed what he knew when he arrived. The Buffs have to improve in virtually every area, and the man whose entire philosophy rests on "relentless" will pursue those improvements with that approach.

"We know what we need to do in recruiting," Tucker said. "We know what we need to do in our offseason program and our fourth quarter conditioning program and our nutrition, in the weight room, our scheme evaluation. We know exactly what needs to be done. And we're not gonna take any days off in getting that done. This is just a starting point for us."

The changes Tucker has already made in Boulder became evident over the last three games of the season. In the wake of a five-game losing streak — a stretch that could have easily spiraled into eight in a row — Tucker instead willed his team to not give up.

The Buffs snapped out of the streak with a win over Stanford. They followed it up with a win against Washington. Then, matched against the nation's sixth-ranked team, his Buffs battled the Utes on their terms for the better part of a half.

The Buffs, Tucker stressed, weren't outmatched physically by the Utes. But when it came to execution, big plays in big moments, the Utes had the players who made the difference.

That's something Tucker will continue to address on the recruiting trail, in the weight room and in the meeting rooms.

Tucker knows what needs to be done for the Buffs to get to the next level. Asked if the Utes provided an example of the standard Colorado needs to reach, Tucker was bluntly honest.

Tucker has been part of great programs. He knows what is required to get to that level. He has coached in three national championship games with three different programs.

He didn't need Utah to provide a blueprint.

"I already know what we have to do," Tucker said. "That's not the first time I've seen a good football team. As a matter of fact, I'm used to seeing that type of football team week in and week out. I knew what to expect and I know where we need to go. I knew where we needed to go before I got here."

That path, Tucker made clear, is no secret. It is not a magic formula possessed by only a chosen few. It involves recruiting, structure, discipline, work ethic and accountability.

In short, it involves the culture Tucker is trying to instill.

"Our culture is starting to take hold," he said. "You can see the shift. Being able to run the ball, stop the run — you see flashes of what we can what we can do on defense … We have the right coaching staff here to be able to get the job done with our players, on and off the field. We have the right coaching staff to be able to go out and recruit and get the players that we need to be able to be able to win championships here."

But that process has just started. It's why, in the wake of a disappointing season finale, Tucker refused to lament what had transpired — and chose instead to look forward to what he believes the future holds.

"Our players see it and they now know what is required," Tucker said. "They see this is what we need to do. We're going to compete at the highest levels in this league and throughout this country … This is really just the beginning for us."

A year ago, Colorado closed out its season with its seventh straight loss and a coaching change. The future was in limbo.

Today, that outlook is much different. Tucker's culture is indeed taking hold — and the future for Colorado football is once again promising.

Tucker won't allow it to be anything else.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu