BOULDER — Colorado freshman wide receiver Shay Fields insists he will treat the Buffaloes’ game Saturday at No. 22 Southern California the same as any other date on the CU schedule.
But because Fields originally committed to the Trojans, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre intends to make sure Fields does not allow emotional scars to get the best of him.
“Shay does need to stay in the moment,” MacIntyre said Tuesday.
Fields, who ranks second on the team in receptions (33), has a reason to make this game personal. Fields had committed to the Trojans last fall, but said he was told, through his high school coach, “to look elsewhere” after Steve Sarkisian replaced interim USC coach Ed Orgeron.
Fields earned all-California honors at state champion St. John Bosco in Bellflower, a Los Angeles suburb. He said revenge will not be on his mind Saturday afternoon.
“Colorado was a better choice for me,” Fields said Tuesday after practice. “This weekend, I just want to go home and perform in front of my family and try to get this win for my teammates. I’m not even going to be thinking about the (USC) coaches.
“(Revenge) makes no sense for me, especially as a freshman. I have too much on my plate.”
MacIntyre said he is “a little bit” concerned about how Fields will handle things Saturday but believes the L.A. native can focus on the task at hand.
“If you know Shay, he is very confident and he’ll play really hard,” MacIntyre said. “He will do really well.
“He knows a lot of those (USC) guys, so I’m sure there will be a little bit of fire after him and him after them. I look forward to seeing Shay run around in the Coliseum.”
Thinking of “Zim.” On Saturday, longtime CU broadcaster Larry Zimmer will miss his first Buffs football game in 21 years, and MacIntyre said his thoughts will be with “a real icon.”
Zimmer, 78, collapsed and lost consciousness at his home in the Lookout Mountain area Aug. 5. He was admitted to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood and has been undergoing tests. MacIntyre said he received “disturbing” news earlier Tuesday that Zimmer had been moved back to the intensive care unit.
Overall, Zimmer has called CU football games for 41 years, all for KOA radio. Zimmer also called Broncos games for two decades.
“If you’re a praying person, which I am, I’d like you to pray for Larry Zimmer,” MacIntyre said. “He’s in ICU fighting. I think the world of Larry, and we’ll miss him not being there (in L.A.). I’d like nothing better than to win it and send it back to him to make him feel better.”
Injury report. CU sophomore linebacker Addison Gillam and junior running back Christian Powell have recovered from concussions and are probable for Saturday’s game, according to the school.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
