BOULDER — Trying to avoid becoming the first Colorado football team to complete a season without a conference victory since 1915 was not on the minds of the Buffaloes during their preparations for Saturday’s 11 a.m. season finale against Utah at Folsom Field, CU coach Mike MacIntyre said.
“We just want to win the football game,” he said.
MacIntyre doesn’t mean any disrespect toward the program’s history. But Colorado (2-9, 0-8 Pac-12) hasn’t experienced the joy of a victory celebration in more than two months — a 21-12 home victory Sept. 20 over Hawaii.
“A win over Utah (7-4, 4-4) would be big,” MacIntyre said. “It would show our young players there is a reward for their hard work.”
MacIntyre also said it would make the entire team feel good if the Buffs could send out Colorado’s 21 seniors with a fond memory of their final game.
The seniors feel the same way.
“There is no next game, there is no next week, there is not another shot for us,” said senior Kaiwi Crabb, CU’s starting left guard.
“I can’t tell you how fast it’s gone,” senior receiver Tyler McCulloch added. “I wouldn’t trade these last four years for anything.”
Crabb is among six fifth-year seniors who have played or redshirted under three CU head coaches: Dan Hawkins (2010), Jon Embree (2011-12) and MacIntyre. Joining Crabb in that group is safety Jered Bell, tailback Tony Jones, guard Daniel Munyer, tight end Kyle Slavin and safety Terrel Smith.
Bell intends to petition for a rare sixth year of eligibility, with a knee injury forcing him to miss an entire season for the second time.
“They’ve been through a lot,” said MacIntyre, who told the group of six that he too had three head coaches during his playing days at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech in the 1980s.
Colorado’s seniors have not experienced much in the way of football success, at least not on the scoreboard. CU’s combined record for the past five seasons is 15-45.
MacIntyre told the seniors that their mark on the program is not defined by the won-lost record.
“I told them, ‘We’re not building a little house that takes a small slab. We’re building a skyscraper.’ I told them they had to dig down deep,” MacIntyre said. “These (seniors) have started that foundation. They set a good culture. They gave everything we’ve asked. Their attitude has helped our guys keep battling.”
The seniors say the fact that CU became more competitive on the field with Pac-12 opponents this season was an important first step.
“I believe Colorado now has the mind-set to compete,” said senior defensive lineman Juda Parker.
Said Crabb: “As a senior, I can look back and say 2014 was the start of the new trend, of a new tone of Colorado football. Two years, five years, 10 years from now, I’ll be proud of that.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
Utah at Colorado 11 a.m. Saturday, PAC12
When the Buffs run
Colorado’s running game took a big hit when sophomore Michael Adkins II suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 10th game, at Arizona. Fortunately for the Buffs, redshirt freshman Phillip Lindsay is running with conviction (50 yards on 11 carries at Oregon), and junior bruiser Christian Powell had a 39-yard gain against the Ducks. Utah’s rush defense ranks 10th among Pac-12 teams, yielding an average of 162 yards per game. Edge: Colorado
When the Utes run
Colorado’s defense hasn’t been able to stop premier running backs all season, and here comes another. Utes junior Devontae Booker (5-foot-11 and 203 pounds) has rushed for 1,255 yards. He’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has scored 10 touchdowns. The Buffs rank last in rushing defense by a wide margin. Edge: Utah
When the Buffs pass
Colorado coach Mike Mac- Intyre reinstated Sefo Liufau as the starting quarterback for the season finale. With Liufau having suffered a concussion in the previous game, CU started Jordan Gehrke against Oregon and brought in Liufau during the third quarter. Utah tops the nation with 49 sacks, led by senior defensive end Nate Orchard (17½). Edge: Even
When the Utes pass
This isn’t Utah’s strength. The Utes have some athletic receivers, but huge junior quarterback Travis Wilson (6-7, 233) has thrown for just 1,701 yards and has completed less than 60 percent of his passes, which is below today’s standards. CU might have an edge if its secondary were healthy. Standout safety Tedric Thompson continues to be out as he recovers from a concussion Oct. 25 against UCLA. Edge: Even
Special teams
Utah leads the Pac-12 in at least six statistical categories for special teams. Senior speedster Kaelin Clay is the only returner at the FBS level with four touchdowns this year (three on punt returns, one on a kickoff return). Edge: Utah
