CU quarterback Sefo Liufau was sacked eight times Saturday night at Arizona State (Associated Press)
Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre has delivered the message over and over again: The Buffs cannot lose the turnover ratio, make other costly mistakes, and expect to beat teams in the Pac-12. They did both Saturday night and suffered another blowout loss, 48-23 at Arizona State.
Quarterback Sefo Liufau was sacked eight times. For the second week in a row, he fumbled on a sack. He also had an interception. The Sun Devils had 14 points off CU turnovers, CU none. The Buffs also lost the penalty ratio, if you will, 88 yards to 19.
“Again, we cannot shoot ourselves in the foot and expect to win a Pac-12 football game,” MacIntyre said. “We’ve got to stop doing that. So we’ve got to find a way to coach it better and a way to play it better. You’re not going to win with that many turnovers, thatap the bottom line.”
After the Buffs gave Oregon a good game into the fourth quarter eight days ago, they were adamant about not calling it a “moral victory.” Still, that game suggested they were good enough to compete this year in the Pac-12. But Oregon lost at home Saturday to Washington State and now has two home losses. The ASU game may be a better indication of where the Buffs are right now.
But how would we know? They make big plays, and they obviously have talent. What would happen if they did eliminate the costly mistakes?
“Everything we work on in practice and the kids, got to go do it in the game,” MacIntyre said. “If we don’t do that in games we’ll win games, if we do that in games we’ll lose games. It all goes back to turnover ratio. We just gave them plays today. We’ve got to quit shooting ourselves in the foot to be able to have the opportunity to win against good football teams.”
