BOULDER — Although Colorado appeared lackluster in its first two games, Buffaloes junior receiver Nelson Spruce said during preparations for Saturday night’s home game against No. 16 Arizona State that he remains optimistic about CU’s season.
He believes 2014 ultimately will reflect a growth in the program. That includes a much better performance in Pac-12 games.
“It’s just a matter of improving over last year,” Spruce said. “I think we’re just more competitive as a team. We didn’t play as well last week (in a 41-38 win at Massachusetts), but we learned how to fight for four quarters.
“Coaches have been putting us in good situations. If we can play at a high level, this is a team that can do some damage in the Pac-12.”
Colorado (1-1) wasn’t finding a ton of success against Big 12 foes in the Buffs’ last half-dozen years in that conference. But since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, CU has struggled to even make games competitive.
Under Jon Embree, a first-year head coach, the Buffs showed some life at the end of their inaugural Pac-12 season, finishing 2011 with two conference victories (over Arizona and at Utah) in their last three games. But Colorado notched only one victory in 2012 — at Pac-12 member Washington State — and Embree was fired following the 1-11 season.
Last year, new coach Mike MacIntyre guided CU to a 4-8 record. That included just one Pac-12 victory — at home against California.
The Buffs couldn’t have drawn a much tougher opponent for their conference opener Saturday night. Arizona State (2-0) is the league’s defending South Division champion.
And third-year Sun Devils coach Todd Graham has said that this year’s ASU offense is the best he has ever coached — evidently including his two Tulsa teams that topped the nation in total offense.
Considering that Arizona State buried Colorado 51-17 in 2012 in Boulder and 54-13 last fall in Tempe, any improvement in the Sun Devils’ offense couldn’t be good news for the Buffs.
But give MacIntyre credit for getting his team to believe.
“I think (facing Arizona State) can be a measuring stick,” CU sophomore quarterback Sefo Liufau said during the week. “We’re not going into the game to see how close we can be.”
Even during losing seasons, Colorado has pulled off some headline-grabbing victories — particularly during night games at Folsom Field. Defeating West Virginia in overtime under the lights in 2008 and surprising Georgia at night in 2010 are recent highlights.
Arizona State’s Graham sounded during the week that he wasn’t about to take anything for granted Saturday night.
“I think Colorado is a lot better (than in 2013),” Graham said. “Offensively, they’re a lot better. Coach (MacIntyre) does a great job. Their scheme is similar to what our offensive scheme is.
“We can’t give up any cheap touchdowns. We have to win special teams. And obviously where we have the big advantage is our offense against their defense. We have to score points.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
