BOULDER — Fifteen Colorado players will leave Folsom Field Friday night for the last time as players, but one will leave a trail of memories encompassing the program’s struggle with mediocrity longer than any of the others. Because of medical redshirt seasons, safety Jered Bill has been at CU six years.
Colorado was 5-7 (2-6 in the Big 12) when Bell played 12 games as a true freshman in 2010. He missed the 2011 and 2014 seasons because of ACL injuries suffered in summer training camps, meaning he watched CU’s entrance to the Pac-12 on crutches.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” said Bell, a safety from Ontario, Calif. “I’ve seen the program go up and down, and now it’s back up again, rising. The fans are there supporting us at every game, they’re not leaving in the second quarter anymore, so we’re grateful for that.
“The overall unity on the team has been increasing, it’s more of a family now.”
Friday night will be Senior Night with Southern California the opponent in a game televised by ESPN.
“Anytime it’s the seniors’ last game, that’s always special,” coach Mike MacIntyre said. “You get there as a freshman and you think it’s going to last forever. Your sophomore year, ‘When’s this ever going to end?’ After you’re out about three years, you wish you could go back. The exams aren’t really that tough compared to real life.”
Nelson Spruce will leave with a host of , perhaps .
“It’s going to be, I feel, like a weird feeling,” Spruce said. “You don’t really see the end coming when you’re younger, but now I’m going to be actually playing in Folsom for the last time. It’s going to be special, obviously — a night game, I’m going to have my family down there, it’s probably going to be pretty emotional.”
CU’s fans will miss the well-known names — Spruce, running back Christian Powell, left tackle , defensive lineman Justin Solis, defensive back Ken Crawley — but MacIntyre will miss the players few fans know, too. Players such as Vincent Arvia and Ed Caldwell, offensive linemen who play on the scout team. Caldwell, a graduate of Highlands Ranch, is a chemical engineering major.
“Ed Caldwell and Vinnie Arvia, they’re walk-ons that give everything they’ve got, love the place,” MacIntyre said. “Both of them did internships this summer and worked out and came back, paying their own way to school. Offensive linemen are always the most unselfish people on the team, but I would say a scout team offensive lineman has got to be one of the most humble people. They’re both very bright, they both already have jobs set up.”
Nobody is happy with CU’s record this year (4-6, 1-5) or for the five seasons this senior class has been in Boulder (14-45, 5-37). Spruce said he has no interest in moral victories but takes pride in the fight the Buffs have shown,
“Obviously I didn’t get the wins here that I wanted, but looking back on my time, that’s a legacy I want to leave — setting the foundation, because I think this program is heading in the right direction,” Spruce said.
USC (6-3, 4-2) has won three consecutive games despite the turmoil caused by coach Steve Sarkisian’s firing on Oct. 12.
“Hopefully we go out there and get the job done,” Bell said, ” so I go out on top in a victory in my last game at Folsom Field.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or @johnmeyer
