The only thing more consistent than Colorado’s inability to move the football so far this season is the players’ belief that things are looking up.
There was frustration at the loss to Colorado State on Saturday, but pointing fingers and expressing a lack of confidence in the new coaches and a new system was nonexistent. Though the Buffs have started 0-2, with tougher games in the next two weeks against Arizona State and Georgia, the reaction is quite the opposite.
“You’re never going to be successful unless you walk through the fire, and that’s what we’re doing right now,” linebacker Jordon Dizon said. “You learn the most when you walk through the fire.”
Said running back Byron Ellis: “It’s hard to lose to an in-state rival, but we’ll swallow the pill. We feel like we’re going to get better. We took some strides today.”
Added defensive end Abraham Wright: “I can tell you one thing: The defense and offense – we’re regrouping. We’re not questioning this team, coaching staff, or nothing. And we’re ready to take on Arizona State, Georgia, Missouri and on down the line.”
Nice stats, no celebration
Wright wanted to celebrate a three-sack game, but found it difficult in light of his team’s loss.
“It’s hard to talk about an individual game when the team doesn’t pull out a win,” the senior defensive end said. But it was a good performance. Wright had four tackles overall, all for losses.
“Abraham Wright seemed to have an outstanding game,” defensive coordinator Ron Collins said. “He had a couple of sacks on a three-man rush. Anytime you do that, you know things are going well for you.”
Dizon was just as good. He led the team with 12 tackles and added two sacks.
“The defense played great,” Dizon said.
TV money
Colorado will receive $380,000 from the Big 12 in television revenue from Saturday’s game. That money was initially in jeopardy because the broadcast didn’t have a scope wide enough to satisfy the Big 12’s parameters.
The game was going through College Sports Television (CSTV), which didn’t reach the amount of national viewers mandated by the Big 12 in order for the payout to kick in. But when the Outdoor Life Network stepped up and agreed to broadcast the game as well, it pushed the national telecast to more than 70 million homes, well over the 42 million the Big 12 uses as its limit.
As per the contract agreement, Colorado will give $50,000 to CSU for providing a national TV audience.
Footnotes
There were no reported injuries for CU in Saturday’s game. Cornerback Gardner McKay didn’t play because of an ankle injury….Byron Ellis got the start at running back. It was the second start of his career…. It appears CU has settled on Matthew DiLallo as the punter. He had six punts for a 42.3-yard average…. Freshman defenders Jason Brace, Cha’pelle Brown and Michael Sipili played. Collins said he expects those to be the only freshmen on defense who will not redshirt this season.
