BOULDER — The Class of 2020 Colorado football signees share a group text message that buzzed nonstop Wednesday morning when Gerad Lichtenhan, committed to CU since June, assumed it was typical banter among soon-to-be teammates. He was wrong.
Lichtenhan opened the message thread and scrolled through expressions of shock, anger and disbelief.
Was it really possible that head coach Mel Tucker would bolt to Michigan State just one day after reaffirming his commitment to the Buffs?
“This can’t be real,” said Lichtenhan, when asked for his instant reaction to the news. “He made the promise to us that he wouldn’t leave and that it would be a great couple of years coming up.”
Reality set in slowly for Lichtenhan and members of CU’s 2020 class (24 signed and 8 enrolled early) with an uncertain football future ahead in Boulder. The group ranks No. 35 nationally, , and was expected to further Tucker’s push into Pac-12 relevancy after a 5-7 debut season.
“The recruiting class is tight and we talked about it,” Lichtenhan said. “A bunch of us thought it was a joke right when we saw the first text. … A lot of them are feeling betrayed or feeling completely tossed to the side.”
Yet Lichtenhan — a 6-foot-8, 345-pound offensive lineman from Davis, Calif. — has already made a decision about his future that is sure to make Buffs fans happy.
“I’ve weighed out all my options and the University of Colorado is still my number one choice,” Lichtenhan said. “I’m still committed to them 110 percent. I’m not worried about it. I don’t want to speak for everyone, realistically. But from the vibes I was getting earlier, everyone is going to put their heads down for a little bit and just keep grinding and working out, because we know we’re going to be a top school soon.”
Several members of the 2020 CU football signing class showed frustration on Twitter and hinted at their still-solid future in Boulder.
RB Ashaad Clayton (Warren Easton HS; New Orleans)
For the outsiders,i did not sign to Colorado for Coach Tuck,I did it for me and my future,to put myself in the best position,of course the ppl are gonna have irrelevant things to say,but don’t speak on a situation you don’t know.I wish Coach Tuck and his family the best,GodsPlan
— SCJ2 (@shaadhunch0)
WR Keith Miller (The Colony HS; Texas)
https://twitter.com/KeithMillerIII/status/1227585778408181760
WR Brenden Rice (Hamilton HS; Arizona)
https://twitter.com/BrendenRice/status/1227715476878430214
But all won’t be solved by simply hiring a new coach to fill Tucker’s shoes. Lichtenhan said the class will suffer from “trust issues” until a new staff reestablishes itself and a winning culture.
Lichtenhan understands that college football, at its core, is big business. While that might soften the blow from Tucker’s unexpected exit, it doesn’t immediately heal the wounds of earning a relationship with a head coach — and watching it disappear overnight.
“I definitely looked at it from the perspective that (Tucker) was looking at. Itap great for him and his family,” Lichtenhan said, and then paused. “But 14 months is a short time to be at one school.”