Colorado University Athletics
BUFFS FOCUSED ON BRIGHT BEGINNING, APT ENDING
BOULDER ? Ever since the University of Colorado learned it would be playing Texas-El Paso in the Dec. 29 EV1.net Houston Bowl (2:30 MST, ESPN), head coach Gary Barnett has made it clear that the matchup must not serve as a 2004 season finale, but rather a 2005 campaign kickoff.
Barnett and his Buffs have drilled seven times over the past two weeks ? with some time off in the midst of university finals ? preparing for their showdown with UTEP. After resting Sunday, CU returned to the gridiron Monday afternoon continuing to focus fully on the future. While the Buffs (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) would like nothing more to end the year with a victory over the Miners (8-3, 6-2 Western Athletic Conference) and send their seniors off on top, Barnett has continuously preached that CU will not utilize its time by simply looking at getting to a bowl as a reward.
“This is a ?Let’s get the work done game,’” Barnett stated following practice. “The reward is winning the game.”
With that mindset, Barnett and his staff have conducted recent practices that many players have compared to fall camp, which was a grueling stretch back in early August. Looking to not only prepare his team for a UTEP squad that finished second in the WAC, one of Barnett’s main goals has been to make sure his younger troops pick up as much experience as possible heading into the bowl.
Because of this CU has continued its normal practice routine with great fervor, just as if it was about to embark on the season, while at the same time coaches have created opportunities for the underclassmen to scrimmage daily.
“We’ve had really good work, especially last Saturday,” Barnett added. “You can really notice our second team guys getting better. With the bowl, we have 15 extra days to prepare. It literally will have been an extra spring ball for us.”
And that bodes well for the Buffaloes, as they return 17 starters next fall, a majority of which will be veteran players looking to lead CU to its fourth Big 12 North title in five years.
“It’s been tough, but we’ve really got some great work in,” junior wide out Evan Judge said Monday. “Obviously, we feel it’s imperative to win this game, and everybody has really invested a lot in doing so. We also realize how important it is to get the practice for our young guys, and how the right preparation can vault us into next year.”
“This game is an integral part of our future for so many reasons, and that’s why we are working so hard,” junior quarterback Joel Klatt continued. “There is a fire and mindset on this team to finish strong, which ultimately puts us in a position to start off well next year. We’re here to get the job done; we’re here to make sure this is the first win of 2005 and to realize that our hard work these past weeks has paid off.”
The Buffs will drill again early Tuesday afternoon, and then head home to spend Christmas Eve with their families before reconvening in Houston late Christmas night. CU will then hold two drill sessions from Dec. 26-27, and cap off preparation with a light walkthrough the day before the game.