Colorado University Athletics
BUFFS ZONE IN ON BIG RED, BOWL GAME CHANCE
BOULDER ? After taking the last two days off in the midst of a bye week, the University of Colorado football team (5-6, 3-4 Big 12) returned to the practice fields Wednesday afternoon focused on finishing strong and beating No. 23 Nebraska in the final game of the regular season (Nov. 28, 10:00 a.m., ABC).
Knowing they are only one win away from becoming bowl eligible, the Buffs practiced with good intensity during the session, having completely turned their attention to preparing for the showdown with the Huskers (8-3, 4-3 Big 12). Feeding of momentum earned in a 44-10 win over Iowa State last week, CU feels it has been playing its best football as of late, and that it is ready to carry the solid play into next week.
“This team has been through some tough stretches this season, and it would have been easy for us to quit at anytime,” sophomore wide out and return specialist Jeremy Bloom stated Wednesday. “But we’ve played pretty well in the last three or four games. We started to play for each other and just began to come together. We definitely have a lot of confidence coming into (this game).”
Though CU wouldn’t usually have started preparing specifically for an opponent this early during a bye week, this is not a typical bye week for the Buffs. It is Nebraska week, which the players look at as an extended time to prepare for a “red letter” challenge. Instead of going back to basics and concentrating on becoming a tough team ? much like they did during the first bye week this year ? the Buffs have shot strait to the point and zoned in on the Huskers.
“Earlier in the season, the bye week was used to get us to be tougher,” head coach Gary Barnett said after practice Wednesday. “This (week) is preparation for Nebraska.”
Though Barnett admitted that his squad “was a little rusty” after not playing for three days, many of the Colorado players felt they began the week of work on a good note. Unlike games from the last two seasons, this year’s contest will not have any effect on whether the Buffs or Huskers get to the Big 12 Championship. However, every Buffalo player knows the magnitude of the CU-Nebraska setting, and that next week’s face-off is all about getting the chance to play in a bowl.
“We understand what we have to do and the position that we are in right now,” sophomore quarterback Joel Klatt said Wednesday. “This game is for us to get to a bowl, and it just happens to be against Nebraska. You couldn’t ask for any better situation.”
“Coming into Nebraska week, everybody is really excited,” Bloom added. “It’s a bye week and everybody is getting healthy and ready to hone in on the Big Red.”
Bloom Update: Bloom, who practiced during the day, will travel to southern Colorado Wednesday night to train at a U.S. Ski Team camp, being held at Wolf Creek. Having worked out his skiing/football schedule with Barnett, the dual-sport star will return to football practice on Monday.