Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: For Shenault And Buffs Teammates, This Season Still Matters
November 08, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Long after the Colorado Buffaloes had wrapped up practice Thursday morning, two players remained on the otherwise empty CU Indoor Practice Facility turf.
Quarterback Tyler Lytle threw passes. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. caught them. Pass after pass after pass, route after route, the two worked on their craft, putting aside injury issues that have plagued them both in recent weeks and instead focusing on their job: get better and find a way to beat Stanford on Saturday in a 1 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).Â
For those who wonder about the current state of CU football, it was a revealing look into Mel Tucker's program. Â
This year — this week — still matters. While the long-term future is no doubt critical, the immediate task at hand is still of the utmost importance. Despite a five-game losing streak, despite a raft of injuries and setbacks, Tucker's Buffs are still determined to squeeze some positives out of their three-game home stretch.Â
There may be no better example than Shenault.
We all know the ultra-gifted receiver entered the season with sky-high expectations, only to find himself battling injury for much of the year.Â
But instead of taking the "safe" route, instead of shutting his season down and beginning his preparation for the next level — he is still a consensus NFL Draft first round projection — Shenault continues to concentrate on the here and now. He has fought through injury, played as much as possible, and done his best to carry every load the Buffs have placed on his shoulders.
It matters.
More than once this season, Tucker has reminded the media that "there's nobody tougher than Laviska." Tucker knows that when it comes to Saturdays, Shenault will give everything he has.
It is an example of the culture Tucker is trying to build in Boulder, one that places an emphasis on performance, work ethic and teamwork.Â
Cold hard fact? If the Buffaloes were 8-1 or 9-0 and playing for a division title and a high-level bowl game, there would be no question about their motivation. The potential rewards would be obvious.
But as we all know, the Buffs are not in that position. Instead, they are riding a five-game losing streak. The potential rewards are limited.Â
Yet, Shenault and Lytle were on the field Thursday morning, getting in some extra work. Their reward will be the opportunity to win a game Saturday, end a losing streak and get the Buffs back on the right track.
Nothing more — but it still matters.
Just last week, Shenault was asked why he didn't run out of bounds more often. Why, when he is battling injury, didn't he give up those few extra yards and save a little wear and tear on his body?
"That's one thing I've been doing my whole life," Shenault said with a shrug. "I don't like to run out of bounds. I'm going to try to get the most out of everything, out of every play, after every catch."
Every play matters — and despite the current circumstances, the season and the program still matter to to Laviska Shenault and his Buffs teammates.
That is the culture Mel Tucker is building in Boulder.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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