BOULDER — During his weekly news conference, Colorado coach Jon Embree said he was disappointed to hear that some CU players said the team had been “flat” in losing 45-6 to UCLA last weekend.
Colorado trailed 21-0 after 11 minutes.
“I don’t buy the ‘I’m flat,’ ” Embree said Tuesday. “That doesn’t register with me. It doesn’t make sense to me. I get excited every time we play. It’s a chance to compete.”
Embree and his staff tried to pump up the team by making the trip to the Rose Bowl feel like a real bowl game. Players were issued their offseason workout gear early, similar to bowl participants receiving bowl gifts.
And for the Friday night dinner, CU arranged for In-N-Out Burgers to send one of its mobile vans to the team hotel to personally serve the players.
“We talked a lot about playing in the Rose Bowl and all that,” Embree said. “The staff has done some things (during the season). But at some point, you have to go out and play.”
Embree said he has told his players, especially those with pro aspirations, that NFL scouts don’t want to see anything less than full effort. Embree served as an NFL assistant coach for four seasons before returning to his alma mater in December. Among his duties were evaluating former college players at the NFL combine and grading videotape of their games before the draft.
“The really good players, they play every game like it’s their last game,” Embree said. “I always say, ‘Put on the tape.’ That’s what the NFL cares about.”
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
