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Colorado vs Missouri Football
University of Colorado played the University of Missouri at Folsom Field.
Games to remember are played in November?
This is one the Colorado Buffaloes would love to forget.
But the guess here is that Dan Hawkins won't allow them that luxury, at least not until they've looked closely at the mistakes that led to a 55-10 whipping by Missouri on Saturday at Folsom Field.
Hawkins, however, also won't let the Buffs wallow in their misery. The man who treated a win over Oklahoma as simply a solid step forward for his program displayed virtually the exact same demeanor after his team's worst loss in his two years at Colorado.
Never too high, never too low.
"It's part of the process," Hawkins said. "It's not always going to be Oklahoma, and it's not always going to be Missouri. The question is whether we can get our guys to put it in the right context. Can we make sure our guys take the pain and manifest it into future success?"
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If they can, there's a lot of success in the future. Saturday was certainly painful. The Tigers rang up nearly 600 yards in total offense while scoring the most points by an opponent at Folsom Field in 24 years (Since you asked, a 59-20 Missouri win in 1983, Bill McCartney's second year with the Buffs).
Meanwhile, the Missouri defense — believed by some to be the Tigers' "weak spot" — held Colorado to 196 yardstotal offense, CU's lowest total of the year, while also holding the Buffs scoreless over the last three quarters of the game.
"We're a good football team that played an awful game today," said CU quarterback Cody Hawkins, who had his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown halted at nine by the Tigers. "We have to be able to bounce back."
Most perplexing is how quickly the Buffs fell apart. Colorado actually led, 10-7, after the first quarter. A crowd of 51,000-plus sniffed an upset. By the fourth quarter, however, the Folsom was almost empty, with the hint of an upset replaced by the reality of a thorough Buff kicking.
The Buffs have been good at times this year, but Saturday, they looked thoroughly overmatched on both sides of the ball. As Hawk said, the Tigers have the complete package: good personnel, good scheme and the experience to run it.
The Buffs couldn't match them in any category. And, to compound the problem, the Buffs also committed the litany of football sins that have contributed to each of their other four losses this year: three turnovers, a season-high 12 penalties and an abysmal 3-for-17 effort on third-down conversions. In a year in which they have shown fairly steady improvement, they played maybe the worst game of the Hawkins era in the 10th week of the season.
Thus, CU fans everywhere will have one request this morning: Will real Colorado Buffaloes stand up?
Certainly, it's hard to remember a more roller-coaster season for any Colorado team. The same Buffs that beat No. 3 Oklahoma and won on the road at Texas Tech have looked equally befuddled in losses to Kansas State and Missouri.
Weird stat of the day? This year, the Buffs actually led Arizona State and Missouri after one quarter, and Kansas early in the third quarter. Those three teams all entered Saturday ranked in the top 10, and have a combined record of 25-2 this morning.
Now, the Buffs have to remember that there is still a carrot at the end of the stick. With two games remaining — at Iowa State next Saturday and home against Nebraska on Nov. 23 — Colorado can guarantee bowl eligibility with one more win and put itself squarely in the bowl picture with two more victories.
"You can't let yourself be defined by one win or one loss," said Buff defensive tackle George Hypolite. "We still have a lot to play for."
But whether the Buffs can bounce back from Saturday's pratfall remains to be seen. A team that has measured progress with two steps forward for every step back took a major tumble in a game they believed they had a chance to win.
It will be yet one more test for a coaching staff that has coaxed plenty out of a team whose talent level from top to bottom has not been a match for their opponent more often than not. Now, they'll have to quickly rebuild a team's confidence.
Games to remember are played in November?
The Buffs have two games left this month. If they're going to remember it fondly, they'd better learn how to bounce back in a hurry.
Posted by maui172 on November 4, 2007 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bad plan and bad execution. They should have watched the tape of the Oregon game at the Fiesta Bowl. By only rushing 3 down lineman (non of whom can put heat on the quarterback) they allowed the QB to have all day and throw bombs to his wide receivers (who are good). The prevent defense only prevents you from winning
Bill
Posted by badbuff on November 4, 2007 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow is Missu a good ball club......
This CU team can not afford any mistakes if they want to compete with these elite type of teams....let alone 12 penalties....dropped passes...3 turn overs.....
But now comes 2 terrible clubs.....iowa st and little red....
I want to crush both and go bowling!!!
Posted by MarquetteBuff on November 4, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems like this is a good time for the "You're not as good as you look, and you're not as bad as you look" cliche. They've got to win two more games against teams that they are better than. The extra practices and the extra game that a bowl game brings are critical for a program like CU's.
Posted by mewag28 on November 4, 2007 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Iowa St just beat a K-State team that beat CU badly, so don't consider a victory there in the bag. They gave Okalahoma all they wanted and are much improved so CU will have to be ready and play well to win. Also Nebraska will be looking to salvage some little pride and a win at CU would help that, and admit it or not they do have some very good players, (as does Notre Dame-how have those two programs, with good recruiting, fallen so far???, what hpeened to the black shirts???)
Posted by bznBuff on November 4, 2007 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fellow Buff fans - we are in a TWO GAME SEASON RIGHT NOW! Who cares what has happened to this point - win these last two games, play in a bowl game, and set the foundation for years to come. These next two contests, against teams we CAN AND SHOULD beat, will set the tone for the Hawk era in Boulder. If anyone would have told me we would have a shot at 7 wins this year, I would have been hard pressed to believe. But believe is what we must do now - and take care of business between today and the Friday after Thanksgiving. GO BUFFS!!!!!!
Posted by cubuffone on November 4, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Neil! we are tired of your tired old excuses! We got beat plain and simple and we have a long way to go before we can be good. Any objective analysis will tell you that the OU game was an anomaly. If we played them 10 norw times this year we probably would lose 8 out of ten. Hence this year's team is closer to last year's 2-10 team than you really think.
Posted by elwayforpresident on November 4, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawk's Buffs don't seem to lay eggs against teams they should beat. 7-5, bowl game, continue to improve next year, national contenders in 2009.
Posted by rodrigo on November 4, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm more bznBuff than cubuffone. This team is young, plays schizoprhenic, doesn't have the big-play guys to overcome inconsistancy and mistakes, but they are light years from 2-10. Kansas was winnable right to the end. While I agree with 8 out of 10 against OU would turn out different, I think 5 of 5 against FSU would turn out different as well. I also think KSU and Missouri were somewhat anomolies. No doubt both teams are better than the Buffs, but I think both games got away in a way that reeks of youth and inexperience.
Negativity gets no one anywhere. Two wins - neither a given - to end the season and maybe a bowl game, what's looking like another strong recruiting class...the future looks good.
On another topic, does anyone really want to play Oregon right now? Dixon looks like Vince Young's skinny younger brother.
Posted by buffman30 on November 4, 2007 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone noticed these Buffs are 5 and 0 in games played in the morning or early afternoon and 0 and 5 in games played in the late afternoon or evening? Is this a game day preparation problem? With those kind of numbers, it's a good thing they play their next 2 games early in the day.
Posted by MDBuff on November 4, 2007 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cubuffone - the only stat that matters now is 5 wins and 5 losses, so how are we closer to last year? I think they're light years ahead of last year, and the Buffs need to take care of business in the next two games. I actually think ISU is a tougher opponent than the Huskers the way they handled KSU and KU trounced Nebraska.
Posted by SnowBuff on November 4, 2007 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every now and then the stars align against you, and they did yesterday.
BAD Coaching on both sides of the ball. We never challenged their defense down the field (offensive line problems probably), and on DEFENSE
it was said early... the prevent defense only prevents you from winning. The problem with the prevent defense we were running is that it couldn't even keep the other guys in front of it.
I am amazed that Scott has us out in front after last night... Glad we got Josh Smith with us!
Everyone send some good thoughts to Walters, getting stretchered off the field is never a good sign..
Posted by mtnboykev35 on November 4, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
buffman30 I am with you. Glad the last two games are early. Seems waiting all day has the Buffs playing flat.....
Yesterday looked like last year but the team is much better....just a very off week against a very sound team. Two games left and a bowl game
Hoping for the Sun Bowl as I live in Las Cruces!
Posted by maui172 on November 4, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if we go 6-6 we do not deserve to go to a bowl game.
We need to recruit some d linemen that can rush the quarterback. Easier said than done (see Denver Broncos)
Posted by ParkerBuff on November 4, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the NCAA, 6-6 does mean you deserve a bowl bid. Will gladly take it too. The young Buffs need the extra practices and a bowl bid is evidence to recruits of progress.
Posted by GoldenBoy on November 4, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MAUI172: If any 6-6 team deserves a bowl game its the Buffs. They have the 3rd toughest schedule in the nation..... that doesnt even matter though cause were gonna win our last two games.
Posted by SnowBuff on November 4, 2007 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I worry about our suddenly weak pass D against NU. But that program is in full destructo mode. If we can avoid the upset against ISU (and we should!), things will be looking up. CU has played an insane schedule, and it would be unfortunate if we frittered those performances against top level teams away by going 6 and 6 and losing a bowl bid to Baylor or some other crap school...
Posted by mulder1010 on November 5, 2007 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
6 will get them a bowl bid. OU and either KU or Mizzu will get a BCS berth. With as many times CU has been on national TV this year it is obvious CU is an attractive team again. I still think that CU goes to the Insight Bowl. Honestly the ISU game will be the tougher of the 2 games. KSU left a lot of chances to win that game and ISU tries to find ways to lose this year. Meyer is a really up and down QB.
Posted by ColoradoPaul on November 5, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I disagree with Snowbuff the defenders were in position to make the plays, Chase Daniel put the ball on the money and their big receivers made the catches. On a couple of plays the Mizzou receivers literally ran over the Buff DB's who were playing bump and run.
This team has a fragile psyche, when something gets them down they get rattled. Daniel Dykes lost his cool and it seemed to multiply. They need more resiliency, to get up after getting knocked down, play more aggressively. Mizzou just was a more physical team on Saturday.
I don't understand the lack of a running game on Saturday. The coaches played right into the Tigers hand by passing too often, and extending the game (which was nearly four hours long). Hugh Charles is averaging over 5.5 yards per attempt this season, do the math. Missouri couldn't stop him except when the Buffs tried that poorly designed direct snap play. I also don't see enough quick pitches, swing passes or screens. Missouri just pinned back their ears knowing that Cody was going to pass, this opened up screen possibilities.
The Buffs need to go and play more efficiently at Iowa State, this isn't a gimme.
Posted by GoBuffs05 on November 5, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What struck me about this game isn't that the Buffs lost (Mizzou obviously is a VERY good team, and we are not at their level yet), but that they seemed to give up midway through the second quarter. This was clear when the Buffs started the second half with dumb mistakes and penalties. They looked like they wanted to go home, instead of battle to the end like last year's team. I hope Hawk has a plan to get this team focused, because with an effort like that, we'll get run out of Ames real quick.
Posted by buff_01 on November 5, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can't give a talented QB like Daniels all the time in the world to throw the ball. Horrible defensive planning - horrible. The Buffs did not come to play on Saturday.
Posted by SnowBuff on November 5, 2007 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thats what I mean bout the defense. You cannot give a good qb time to make the right throw. If he is going to kill you on quick reads when you blitz, so be it. HE DEFINITELY will kill you if you let him pick you apart. The thing was that all those extra defensive backs we had in sure didn't seem to be keeping everything in front of them....
The only time the D was successful was when we got pressure. Period. Sometimes he scrambled out of it, but at least we were preventing 50 yard pass plays.
Posted by nhilo32 on November 5, 2007 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with buff_01 and SnowBuff. Sure you want to keep the QB from chewing up yards on a scramble or on shorter pass routes opened by the blitz, but if you have to choose between that or letting an accurate QB t-off on your DB's on the long ball, bring the pressure. If he scrambles for yardage at least he is also chewing up the clock. Even if they score on a long sustained drive, that's better than scoring on 3 quick drives. Keeping it a low(er) scoring game also gives the offense a chance to win without moving outside its game plan. Which in turn helps on the turnover battle. Live and learn I guess... Not happy with the results or game plan of this game, but still very happy with this coaching staff and the direction of the program. Go BUFFS!
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on November 5, 2007 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We all know that if CU can't win at ISU and at home against 1-AA Nebraska, there is no way the Buffs deserve to play in a bowl game. Just thoroughly beat both teams and we will play in a legitimate (Alamo?) bowl game.
Posted by extrapoint on November 6, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont mind San Antonio at all. Good food. Close to some good gulf fishing. 3 hours South to Mexico for shopping. Scenic hill country to the west etc
Posted by Realist on November 9, 2007 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Parker Buff...6-6 doesn't mean you DESERVE a bowl bid, it only means that you are ELIGIBLE for one. The way Buff fans travel you may not receive a bid even if you are 6-6. As a BIG XII fan, I say good luck.
Posted by extrapoint on November 9, 2007 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh boy
realist has really narrowed it down
he is a Big XII fan
Some how the "good luck" sounds a wee bit sarcastic.
One of the toighest schedules in the country makes 6-6 deserve a bowl, ace.
"Realist"ically speaking, TV trumps traveling and Buffs are all over the country. 10 bucks says a lot more people will watch a Buff game on the tube than Okie State, Kansas, Missouri or Kansas State.
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