Give Karl Dorrell credit.
With all the last-minute changes that have occurred this season, the head coach of the Colorado football team is able to maintain his sense of humor.
When another change was thrown his way on Wednesday, Dorrell began his post-practice virtual media session by joking, “I’m against it. I’m sick. I’m upset. I’m disappointed.”
After a chuckle, Dorrell said that the latest change is a good one for the Buffaloes.
Originally scheduled to host Utah on Friday night, the 21st-ranked Buffaloes (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12) will now host the Utes (1-2, 1-2) on Saturday at 10:05 a.m. at Folsom Field.
With the Michigan at Ohio State game canceled because of COVID-19 issues at Michigan, Fox Sports selected the Buffs as a replacement for its “Big Noon Kickoff” national broadcast. Former CU quarterback Joel Klatt and his broadcast partners Gus Johnson and Jenny Taft will be in Boulder for the game.
“I like that it’s going to give us more TV exposure on a bigger platform,” Dorrell said. “I’m glad that it gave us an extra day. I think this is a blessing in disguise for us that we were short practices getting ready for San Diego State (on Nov. 28) and now we got an extra practice to get ready for Utah.”
Before the season, the Pac-12 presented the idea of having games start at 10 a.m. MST (9 a.m. PST). While some schools were not thrilled about the idea, Colorado athletic director Rick George made it clear he’d be all for it. Now, the Buffs get the early slot and a prime spot on national TV.
“We were contacted (Tuesday) by the conference about our willingness to move the Utah game to Saturday morning and kickoff at 10 a.m.,” George said. “As we have previously said, we were very interested in playing at that time to get a nationwide audience in Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ window. Utah vs. Colorado is always a hard fought game and we are looking forward to hosting both Fox and the Utes at Folsom Field Saturday.”
Barring any delays, this will be the earliest kickoff in Folsom Field’s 97-year history – barely. The Nov. 23, 2007, game between CU and Nebraska kicked off at 10:09 a.m.
Dorrell said that moving the game helps the players academically, because they are in the midst of finals week, and they can now move those off their plate before hitting the field on Saturday.
“It’s been a challenging week, but an exciting week,” Dorrell said. “Our guys are excited to play.”
It’s been a challenging season, in terms of rolling with the punches. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to cancellations and postponements of practices, games, meetings, etc., since March.
Since hired in February, Dorrell has prepared for three different schedules; had the season canceled and then re-started; had two games canceled; and played a non-conference opponent with one day of preparation.
“Thank goodness that my approach has been what it is,” Dorrell said. “If I was a little bit more tempered, I think I’d be frazzled and (upset) and ornery and all those things by now. I think what’s helped me, though, and I want to be honest to goodness truthful in this, our team, whenever I tell them (about a change), they haven’t had an outcry about, ‘Oh my goodness this or that’ or this is taken away .
“They’ve taken everything that I’ve expressed to them really with, ‘All right, whatever we’ve got to do coach.’ That has kind of been the attitude, so it helps me to know that they are that way. They’re resilient, they’ve been very adaptive since I’ve been here. I think it’s helped me calm at least my emotions, too.”
Moving this game back a day might be one of the easiest adjustments for the Buffs. It gives the coaches an extra day to prepare and make some adjustments in practice, and it gives the players to heal some bumps and bruises.
“We’re gonna keep the process going,” Dorrell said, “get ourselves ready to play a great game on Saturday morning.”
