CU Buffs Notes: Coordinators To Be On Sidelines
August 27, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When Colorado opens the season Thursday at home against North Dakota State (6 p.m., ESPN), both coordinators will be on the Buffaloes' sidelines.
More often than not, coordinators like to be in the coaches' box above the field during the game, giving them a bird's eye view of the entire field as each play unfolds. But both offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and DC Robert Livingston will be on the sidelines this year, giving them more immediate contact with players.
"At this level, communication with the players is a different operation and field than pro football," said Shurmur, who has spent the majority of his coaching career in the NFL. It's no-huddle and you can make quick changes on the field. Things change constantly when you're in no-huddle. And so that's why I felt like being down there instead of telling somebody to tell somebody. I'll be right there so that I can make those switches in real time."
That quick communication aspect becomes vital when plays are being run at a rapid pace.
"Typically in the NFL, it's a much slower game," Shurmur said. "A lot of the communication you can get through the communicator to the quarterback to do in the huddle. Here, it's all happening in real time. Everybody's spread out, so that's part of what went into it. Plus also, it gives me an opportunity between series to visit with Shedeur (Sanders) face to face. We can talk about things that we want to do moving forward."
Shurmur's communication with CU's starting quarterback is crucial, and the two have quickly developed a solid relationship.
"Just being a human being, It's just normal communication," Shurmur said. "I think we all understand that. I give respect and trust freely and so we talk that way and communicate. There's often times when things come up where I'm willing to talk to him about it, and it's easy for me to do that with him because he's always so prepared."
FCS FAMILIARITY: Livingston has first-hand knowledge of what it's like for an FCS team playing against an FBS squad.
Livingston played for William & Mary in 2009 when the Tribe went to Virginia and collected a 26-14 win.
"We opened up in Virginia and it was our Super Bowl," Livingston said, "I'll never forget that one young man named B.W. Webb came in his first college game, he had three interceptions, and we won. So I know exactly what it's like to be on the other side. It's burn the boats, we're coming hell or high water. So that's not lost on me because I was them."
Livingston also said he has talked to the Buffs about what to expect from the FCS Bison, who have a history of knocking off FBS teams.
"That's how we started our week," he said. "Talk about it and just know what it is. We're going to get everybody's best shot. We've got to strap it up and we're expecting a knockdown, drag-out fight."
O-LINE IMPROVED: One of the biggest priorities for CU in the offseason was improving the Buffs offensive line after yielding 56 sacks a year ago.
Shurmur believes this year's group is in much better position to protect QB Sanders.
"Very confident," he said. "I think those guys have worked extremely hard together. Fortunately, we haven't had a lot of injury so they've got a lot of time on task. I've got a lot of confidence in all these young men. I feel like we're going to put them in a good spot and let them do the things they do."