BOULDER — In the midst of a football season buried under ugly losses, a locker room can splinter into more factions and agendas than a political caucus.
In light of the comments by Colorado coach Jon Embree after Saturday’s 48-14 loss to Arizona State — that some Buffs accept defeat too readily — it may follow that the first-year coaching staff is at risk of losing a portion of the team.
But Tuesday at his weekly media luncheon, Embree said he believes his policy of honesty and openness greatly reduces the possibility of a division among the ranks.
The Buffaloes (1-8, 0-5 Pac-12) play No. 21 Southern California (6-2, 3-2) on Friday night at Folsom Field.
“I have a great relationship with the guys on this team. They know I care for them,” Embree said of holding the team together. “I have an open door. The players know I don’t hold grudges. They can come in and say, ‘Hey, Coach. I don’t like this, this and this.’ We can talk about it, and it’s OK.
“I’m not one of these guys that’s the ‘King of the Kingdom.’ I’m just expressing to these kids (what I think), because the one thing I don’t want is for them to come back and tell me, ‘I wish you would have told me’ or ‘I wish I would have known.’ I feel like I have told them the truth and they know where I’m coming from and why I say what I say.”
Daniel Munyer, a redshirt freshman center, said players appreciate that forthrightness. “I know, for me, if I’m doing something wrong, I want a coach telling me to pick it up,” Munyer said Tuesday. “These coaches will call us out on that, and that’s OK. I love the honesty. I don’t know who Coach Embree is talking about (being complacent). But you can feel it. You see guys that work hard all week and practice well, and then they get into the game and freeze up. It’s like, ‘Do you really want to do it? Who are you playing for?’ You have to go out on the field and, no matter what happens, feel like ‘that guy across from me is not going to beat me.’ That’s what Coach Embree is trying to get across.”
With a chuckle, Embree said Tuesday he will never again answer a question from reporters about what he told the team in the locker room following a game because it comes across as harsh, especially after a lopsided loss. But the coach added that he will never stop trying to convince players that complacency leads to failure.
“When these guys do leave this environment and they enter the real world, whether you’re having success or not having success, complacency will get you,” Embree said. “If you don’t know how to handle adversity, you’re in trouble.
“I’m just trying to help these kids. We do have fun. But when it’s time for them to hear something, you have to hear it.”
Snow job.
Embree said he would love for the snowstorm predicted for Saturday morning to arrive early — on Friday in time for the game against USC. Cold weather can affect a team not accustomed to it, said Embree, who recalled his days as an assistant coach at UCLA (2003-05).
“I remember the first time we went up to Washington State,” Embree said. “We came out of the locker room like we were going snowboarding, and I’m like, ‘It’s (only) 40 degrees.’
“I know how the altitude affects things when it’s real cold. It can get your lungs good. We need it all. I hope we get that Denver Bronco-Green Bay Packer kind of snow, where we have to paint the lines yellow and we have to keep shoveling it off every TV timeout.”
Footnotes.
Embree on USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley: “He reminds me of Mark Sanchez, with (Barkley having) the bigger arm.” . . . Surgery on CU freshman tailback Malcolm Creer to repair a torn ACL and MCL will be in December. He should be fully recovered by August camp, Embree said.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
