Boulder – It has become a fashionable slogan in the sports world, but it is functional nonetheless: Don’t let the last loss beat you twice.
Since Colorado, which lost Saturday to Montana State, has a need for the slogan, the Buffs have adopted it as theirs in preparation for Colorado State. Because, why let Montana State drive your entire season into the ground?
The Buffs say the past is past and they will be a different team Saturday in their game against rival CSU at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“A loss is a loss. You can’t do anything about it now,” center Mark Fenton said. “So, we’ll make sure we don’t start 0-2.”
Colorado has lost five consecutive games over two seasons by a combined 168-42. But none of that matters, players said after two practices this week.
“It’s hard to put a loss like that behind us, but it’s something that we have to do,” quarterback James Cox said. “The guys are going to come out and prepare this week with a chip on our shoulder.”
If Colorado loses Saturday, it would be the Buffs’ first 0-2 start since 2000, when they lost to CSU in Denver, then at Southern Cal. The Buffs started off 0-4 that year and finished 3-8.
“It’s tough to lose to anybody, for the players and coaches alike,” Cox said. “Any loss, you’re going to struggle with. That being Montana State, and a game that I think the players felt we could have won and should have won, that hurts a little bit.”
Fenton said the team, especially the seniors, won’t lose sight of the preseason goals.
“We have a lot of seniors on this team. We’re still a good team,” Fenton said. “Everybody believes we’re a good team. So we’re not going to let Montana State beat us twice.”
Signals crossed
Buffs coach Dan Hawkins usually uses two players to signal plays from the sideline, making it harder for opposing teams to steal plays.
But in a miscommunication, CU had only one player (freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins) signaling plays against Montana State.
“I’ve got to be a little bit firmer and little more assertive (in communicating),” Dan Hawkins said. “As the game went on, I didn’t panic and freak out about it, because in the first game it’s not going to cause you any problems.
“But down the road, it’s going to cause you problems. I know guys, and I know guys that have been in this conference. They film the signal guy.”
Footnotes
Hawkins says he has admired Sonny Lubick and the Rams from afar while at Boise State. “I’ve always looked at them as sort of a model-type program,” Hawkins said. “Over the years we always enjoyed getting tape on Colorado State and watching it because they are so well- coached and they do a lot of really good things. That is still prevalent now when you watch them.” …
Running back Hugh Charles has been slowed with an elbow injury. He is considered day to day.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
