Home › Buffzone Columnists
Woelk: Matchup with Tide spices up bowl game for Buffaloes
N o doubt, Colorado football fans who plan to go bowling with the Buffs would much rather be preparing for a trip to Arizona than contemplating a trek to Louisiana.
With all apologies to our new best friends from Shreveport, there's no question Tempe holds a little more sway in terms of travel destinations. Weather, attractions, convenience of travel — you name it, Tempe has the edge.
STORY TOOLS
More Buffzone Columnists
- Woelk: Hallucinations now in Karl's repertoire
- Woelk: Beijing Buffs provide nice reflection on Colorado
- Woelk: Buffs need to make 2009 CSU game a Folsom affair
Share and Enjoy [?]
But, when viewed from the impact the Independence Bowl could have on CU's program, there's plenty to be said in favor of playing in Shreveport.
Start with the opponent: You'd be hard-pressed this morning to find a more appealing matchup for the Buffs than Alabama.
If the Buffs had gone to the Insight, they'd be playing Indiana. If they'd gone to the Texas Bowl, they'd be matched up with Houston. Neither is a program that jumps to mind when you mention college football powerhouses.
But Alabama is simply one of the most-storied programs in college football history. It's where Bear Bryant coached (and lost to CU's Eddie Crowder in the 1969 Liberty Bowl). It's the school that produced Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler.
And today, it's the school that is paying its head coach, Nick Saban, the astronomicalsum of roughly $4 million per year. That's what you call taking your football seriously.
It gives Colorado the kind of matchup that will have people across the nation tuning in simply out of curiosity.
Did we say tune in?
There's another plus. For those of you who never had plans of following the Buffs to a bowl game, odds are you'll be glad the Buffs are in the Independence simply because of television.
The Insight will be televised by the NFL Network. In case you haven't heard, that's the network that a number of major cable carriers are refusing to include in their basic lineup. The NFL Network is currently available to about 35 million homes in America, less than half of the number reached by ESPN — which will be broadcasting the Independence Bowl.
That means far more exposure for the Buffs.
And, speaking of exposure, the date of the Independence Bowl couldn't be better.
For starters, it's the only bowl game on Dec. 30. It will be going head-to-head with an NFL game, but anyone with an interest in college ball will likely be tempted by Colorado-Alabama.
Nope, it's not a warm-weather site that will be luring fans to spend a few days for vacation. No doubt, Colorado's following in Tempe would have been much, much bigger. The fact that CU has a huge alumni base in California and Arizona would have guaranteed a good showing at the Insight.
But strictly in terms of football, strictly in terms of giving the Buffs a chance to end their season with a great game against a foe that drips in history, the Independence isn't a bad way for the Buffs to finish off 2007.
Posted by archalon on December 6, 2007 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent points - besides, SEC country isnt a bad place to recruit either. I preferred Tempe for selfish reasons, but all points above are valid.
Posted by trubuff on December 6, 2007 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully the local Louisiana fans will show up to root against Saban and help out the Buffs.
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on December 6, 2007 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This Saturday it will be 82 degrees in Shreveport, and 60 degrees in Tempe. Just throwing it out there
Posted by cumba06 on December 6, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The NFL game scheduled for Sunday 12/30 is the NY Jets vs the KC Chefs. The only people who will watch that game are gambling addicts, desperate fantasy football owners, and die hard fans of those teams. The Bama v Buffs game should draw a nice audience.
Posted by Ralphie2 on December 6, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BUFFS!!!
Posted by CaliBuff on December 6, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cumba, unfortunately the game will probably be switched to a more marquee matchup, NBC has the option of changing the Sunday night games and I'm sure they will. Regardless most playoff positions will already be decided and I'm sure a lot of people will be tuning in.
Good luck to Jordan tonight, I believe the Butkus award is announced tonight.
Posted by montanabuff on December 6, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It also doesn't hurt that Alabama is heading to Shreveport for the second year in a row, and third time this decade. Also, the Crimson Tide is rolling in on a four game losing streak. Indiana has more to play for (hasn't been bowling in years, "playing 13" for coach Terry Hoeppner), and will bring more enthusiastic fans. Hopefully, there will be a number of locals who are willing to show up just to root against Saban. Go Buffs!
Posted by neb_cu_buff on December 6, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Officially the ticket office is saying that there will be NO travel package for Buffs fans to get to the bowl game. What a shame! I would have went with a package deal, but now I probably won't want to dish out the extra money to go down there. But Go BuffS!
Posted by glx1747 on December 6, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After all of these years, the Buffs FINALLY get to play in Shreveport!!! It may not sound like much to most people, but as a Shreveport area transplant CU student ... I am thrilled!! I look forward to seeing alot of you down there.
BTW (local things to do while there)
Gambling - 4 Riverboats
Dining - Ernest's Supper Club is the best creole food on the planet.
Hotels - plenty of room at the casino hotles, but you must book early because the weekends fill up pretty quick.
Night Life - so, so ... the Riverwalk (across the river in Bossier City) is probably the safest area for people who don't know the area.
Weather - you never can tell. I have been to Indy Bowl games where I have frozen to death (one year it was a blizzard during the game - yes in Louisiana), but it could be warm as well. I would prepare for the cold though
Go Buffs!!! See you all there!!
Posted by Saheeb on December 6, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paul Vigo, OLB from New Brunswick, NJ just pledged. He's a one-star on Scout and a two-star on Rivals. But, he's got 4.5 speed and is 6'2 220pds. Bet they eventually put him at safety. Hope he brings his teammates Brandon Smith and Marquiss Hamm to Boulder with him!
Posted by extrapoint on December 6, 2007 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Besides Vigo, we have 3 other safties committed. We are also working hard on 2 others....the Blackmon kid from Texas besides Brandon Smith. It would be nice if a couple of them could play corner. I still remember Louis Wright, a 6 foot 4 all pro corner for the Broncos for many years. Anytime you can get a corner that big, especially with todays big receivers, that can move AND hit it is a double bonus.
All of these guys will have the additional bonus of being inspired by Walter's malicious hitting during his senior year.
We are getting close to that 18 scholarship mark and we still need a DE like Finau.
Posted by Saheeb on December 6, 2007 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
extrapoint: Agree. We have some really fast DBs who are going to be good, like Chapelle Brown, but they're all fairly short. This class looks like it has size and speed, if the times the recruiting sites list can be trusted. You're right, we do need a big body for the d-line. Finau would be awesome, or this massive 6'2 325pd 4-star Rod Davis, who is currently a soft A&M commit. Maybe Paul Vigo's buddy, Marquiss Hamm, will commmit. He's a DE, but he only weighs 240 right now, I think. I just noticed 10th ranked OT Bryce Givens, a Nebraska soft commit from Denver, is coming to Boulder next week. That would be a huge steal. Question on Blackmon. A recruiting site says he just set up two official visits. Is he soft on CU still/again? Any insights?
Posted by extrapoint on December 7, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
we are talking a second Blackmon, Justin Blackmon a defensive back from Ardmore OK. This kid was under the radar until this season.
Posted by Saheeb on December 7, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
extrapoint: thanks for clarifying. I know the WR Blackmon is getting a lot of attention now after a big season. Good to confirm he's on board with the Buffs.
Posted by LBCBuff on December 7, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The article misses the mark by not focusing on the recruiting pluses of playing down in Louisiana instead of Tempe. We already hit Tempe this year. This will be great exposure down in LA where we used to draw some big time recruits. Sounds to me like the weather and attractions are great. I'm guessing with Alabama as the opponent and being the only game on that night, a lot of SEC recruits will be tuned in! Go Buffs.
Posted by extrapoint on December 7, 2007 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They will have to be the class of 2009. I think we have 4 slots open to reach the guestimated mark of 18 scholarships for this year. We also have a whole bunch of excellent players we are looking at, including almost every blue chipper that has committed to UCLA. Now that Dorrel is gone, also considering leaving, according to Rivals is two 4 star defensive ends. Bagging both would be awesome.
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.