Mike MacIntyre (The Associated Press)
Here’s yet another indication that football and perhaps most sports are increasingly becoming a science.
Last fall, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre wondered why his team appeared to come out so flat and lacking energy in the 54-13 loss against Arizona State on Oct. 12 in Tempe, Ariz. The Buffs already trailed 25-0 after the first quarter and were behind 47-0 at halftime.
“I thought our worst start to a game last year was Arizona State,” MacIntyre recalled.
Colorado did a blood-test study on players that weekend. The results showed significant changes in the levels of lactic acid, MacIntyre said.
“That was mid-terms exam week,” MacIntyre said of the days leading up to the game. “That taught me a lot about that week. We’ll have to cut back on that (mid-terms) week and understand that.
“I used to think (pushing through) was a mental game. But with finals and mid-terms, all the papers due, it really does drain you.”
