BOULDER — They have gone through three head coaches in four years. They have gone through 34 losses in four years, 43 in five. And they never have gone to a bowl game.
Colorado’s 15 seniors make their last appearance at Folsom Field on Saturday night. They will try to accomplish what the last five CU football teams could not, by making it to a bowl game. To do so, they need to beat No. 23 Southern California (8-3, 5-2 Pac-12), a 22½-point favorite over a school the Trojans have beaten — most of the time badly — all seven times they have met.
The Buffaloes (4-6, 1-6) need to win their final two games to have a chance at their first bowl game since 2007. And it’s senior day. Strange things can happen on senior day.
“I hope it helps us,” said first-year CU coach Mike MacIntyre. “The senior days I’ve been around lately have always helped us.”
On MacIntyre’s three senior days when he was San Jose State’s coach, his Spartans beat a 9-2 Louisiana Tech team last season 52-43, upset Navy 27-24 in 2011 and nearly beat Louisiana Tech (a 45-38 loss) in his 1-12 inaugural season in 2010.
CU’s seniors can’t think of a better way to exit Folsom Field for the last time than ending USC’s magical run with interim coach Ed Orgeron. A victory over USC would put CU a win at Utah from bowl eligiblity.
The CU seniors have special places in MacIntyre’s heart after his first season in Boulder. Chidera Uzo-Diribe is an undersized defensive end who leads the Buffs in sacks, linebacker Derrick Webb ranks second on the team in tackles, tight end Scott Fernandez is a former walk-on who has made six starts this year, and offensive linemen Jack Harris and Gus Handler have combined to make 48 starts.
Then there is safety Parker Orms. The former Wheat Ridge High School star suffered a knee injury during the opening game of his sophomore season with the Buffs, and a hamstring injury and a concussion last year. He is expected to play Saturday after sitting out last weekend’s 41-24 victory over California because of a stinger.
“Parker is the ultimate fighter,” MacIntyre said. “His heart and soul goes into every game and everything he does. … I go up to him right after the (Cal) game. After I kind of shook (Cal coach Sonny Dykes’) hand, I saw Parker over by the stands and I see tears in his eyes.
“And he’s just so happy that we won.”
It will be a chilly sendoff for the CU seniors. The game-time temperature is forecast to be in the mid-20s, but it will be dry. If you think the USC players will be affected by the cold, listen to CU wide receiver Paul Richardson, who’s from Los Angeles.
“Most of the players on our team that play are from areas that don’t get very cold either,” Richardson said, “so it is going to be tough.”
What will be tougher than the cold will be USC’s defense. It may have depth issues, but it doesn’t have talent issues. USC’s defense starts two five-star recruits, senior linebacker Devon Kennard and freshman safety Su’a Cravens, and eight four-star recruits.
“There’s not one guy to key on,” MacIntyre said. “There’s 11.”
On the CU team Saturday night, there are 15.
Footnote. The grass fields next to the stadium will be closed for Saturday’s game because of recent snowfall. No parking will be permitted on Franklin Field just east of Folsom Field, and all pregame activities scheduled for Duane Physics Lawn and Benson Field have been relocated or canceled. The Alumni C-Club tailgate will move to Boedecker Gym at the Coors Events Center. Ralphie’s Corral has been canceled. Fans with permits to park at Franklin Field may park in lot 494 near the Coors Events Center. All surface parking lots will open at 3:30 p.m.
John Henderson: jhenderson@denverpost.com or
