CU At The Game Podcast

Are you ready for some football? Okay, are you at least ready for the Buffs to don pads for the first time in the Deion Sanders era?The Buffs are opening spring practices with 96 scholarship players, already 11 over the maximum allowed come August, so competition for roster spots over the next five weeks will be intense. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will go through each unit of the roster, asking two questions: Who are the names CU fans should be listening for when the coaches talk with the press?; and Which questions about the roster and depth chart should the Buff Nation expect to have answered this spring?Pretty much everything Coach Prime has done since taking over the Buffs in December has moved the program forward, and CU fans will be expecting great things this spring. This primer will give you the names and position battles to keep an eye on as we work toward the nationally televised Spring game on April 22nd.What do you need to know in order to impress your fellow Buff fans with your knowledge of all things CU?… Let’s find out …

Welcome to a special episode of the podcast. I am joined for this episode by Tim Shannon, an attorney – and CU Buff! – from the Boulder law firm of Hutchinson, Black and Cook. The HBC firm specializes in sports law, and I am grateful to Tim for taking the time to talk with us about Name, Image and Likeness, and how the brave new world of NIL is affecting CU athletics.Tim opens with a brief but informative history of how we got to where we are today. He discusses the O’Bannon and Alston cases which led the NCAA to basically concede defeat and leave the schools and states to determine NIL marketplace rules.We then shift to how NIL has evolved from the opening bell on July 1, 2021, to the present day. It’s been a wild ride … with Texas offering its offensive linemen $50,000 apiece, Texas A&M basically buying the highest rated recruiting Class in the history of the recruiting services, with both of those stories being trumped by the Jaden Rashada $13.8 million contract fiasco.But how does all of this affect dear ol’ CU going forward? Coach Prime has insisted that CU is “not about the NIL, but the NFL”. Will that strategy work, or will it take contributions to CU Collectives like Buffs4Life, and Coach Prime’s own cache as a revenue generator to stay in the recruiting and Transfer Portal game? How is the law firm of Hutchinson, Black and Cook working to help CU student athletes to get the most of the ever-changing NIL landscape?… Let’s find out …

Welcome to our first Mailbag episode of the 2023 season. As we navigate the brief respite between the end of the Recruiting cycle and the start of spring practices, I am joined by Brad Geiger to answer some of your questions (If you have a question, comment or concern, just drop me a note at cuatthegame@gmail.com).Questions for this episode:– Coach Prime took a few moments during the NFL Awards show to “recruit”. Were his comments appropriate for the venue? Does his comment, “We don’t have no NIL money, either, by the way” come across as an admission that CU won’t be able to compete with the big boys, or is it a shrewd ploy to turn the NIL issue on its head?;– What’s up with the Pac-12 media deal? Is the Pac-12 destined to have a disappointing payout?; – What do you think of the possibility of San Diego State and SMU joining the Pac-12? A good deal, or a desperate move which will be mocked (trading the LA schools for two G-5 schools)?; – Are we getting over-hyped on all the transfers? Only five of the 25 CU transfer players are blue-chip recruits, which means the other 20 are three-star players. Didn’t CU just jettison 20-25 three-star players? Is CU really that much better off?; and– What do you make of the demand for spring game tickets (over 27,000 sold)? Why all of the hype for a glorified scrimmage? Are Buff fans getting ahead of themselves here, or is this proof that CU is a “sleeping giant”?How would you answer these questions? Will you agree with our responses?

Welcome to the 100th episode of the CU at the Game podcast. I am joined for this special edition by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will be discussing Signing Day II and the CU Recruiting Class of 2023.The CU Coaching staff was able to finalize its historic Class with the signing of five-star cornerback Cormani McClain, adding a late happy surprise with the commitment of four-star Alabama linebacker transfer Demouy Kennedy.Still, Signing Day II was mostly quiet, with the majority of the largest Class in CU Recruiting history already in place by Signing Day. A total of 42 new scholarship players - almost half of the 85-man limit CU will need to cut down to by August 1st - have joined the Herd. This Class will be remembered as having the most blue-chip prospects, the most undergraduate transfers, and the most geographically diverse assemblage of talent in CU history ... not to mention picking up two five-star recruits in the same Class for the first time ever, and a final ranking in the Top 25 in the nation.We will also spend a significant amount of time going through the quotable quotes from Coach Prime’s press conference ... Will CU’s Elite Underclassmen weekend lead to an even more highly ranked Recruiting Class of 2024? ... Is Coach Prime’s philosophy of building his defense from the “outside in” going to work in the Pac-12? ... Can Coach Prime turn CU’s relative lack of NIL “bags” to his advantage with recruits? ... Is Coach Prime’s bringing “hope to the house” going to translate to victories come September and beyond? ...... Let’s find out ...

Well, timing is everything! Just a few hours before sitting down with Brad Geiger and Neil Langland to tape our latest podcast, five-star cornerback prospect Cormani McClain verbally committed to play for Coach Prime at Colorado. While McClain, one of the highest-rated recruits in CU history, can’t officially become a Buff until February 1st, his verbal commitment gives us the opportunity to talk about what McClain means to the 2023 CU roster, what his announcement means to the national perception of the Colorado program, and what his signing could mean to help CU recruit additional star power for the Class of 2024 and beyond.We then move on to discuss the tidal wave of new talent coming to the Champions Center this fall. Coach Prime and his staff have now replaced over half of the roster from the 2022 season, with more additions - and subtractions - to come. How do the coaches keep the team from fracturing into an “us v. them” locker room? Can CU construct a starting lineup just from the incoming players? Are CU fans expecting too much from the transfers, many of whom are from Power Five conference schools, but few of whom were multiple year starters at their former schools? We also will lean into the question of the Transfer Portal, and how CU will find a way back to 85 scholarship players by the start of Fall Camp.Our final segment is a discussion about the recently released Pac-12 schedule. CU will open its conference schedule on the road against Oregon, then return home to face USC. Is this a move to punish CU and its flamboyant new head coach? Or is this just the Pac-12 grabbing for as much television revenue from the hiring of Coach Prime as it can early in the season?There are many adjectives to describe what has happened with the CU football program since Coach Sanders was hired on December 4th, but dull is not one of them. What impact will the latest commitment have on the future of the program? Is the CU 2023 schedule one of numerous opportunities ... or is it a Bataan Death March? ...... Let’s find out ...

Welcome to the first episode of Season Four for the CU at the Game podcast! I am joined for the initial installment of the 2023 season by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will be discussing the finalization of the CU assistant coaching lineup, as well as a unit-by-unit review of the current CU roster.Coach Prime has his coaching staff in place for the season. Half of his assistants have followed him from Jackson State - Is that too high a total? How will the offensive and defensive schemes play out under coordinators Sean Lewis and Charles Kelly? Is it just us ... or has CU made great strides in attracting quality recruiters to the coaching staff?As to the lineup ... Buff fans are excited about every new announcement of a commitment, but now they are coming at a defined cost. CU, like every other FBS school, will need to be down to 85 scholarship players come the opening of Fall Camp, and Colorado is already in the 90s in scholarship players.With that backdrop, we review each unit on the team, and decide whether CU is “Set” at that position, or “Still Searching”, using the guideline of projecting that any new recruit may be a good - but not necessarily great - prospect, and whether the addition will offset the loss of another good player already on the team.Which units does CU have enough talent to compete at the Pac-12 level? ... And which units are still in need of significant upgrades over the next few weeks and months?... Let’s find out ...

Signing Day, 2022, is in the books ... or is it? I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will discuss the day that was, as CU signed over 20 new Buffs into the fold. Coach Prime and his staff brought in a four-star quarterback, a four-star running back, and a four-star wide receiver, together with - literally - almost a ton of offensive line strength. On the defensive side of the ball there were pleasant surprises, including significant upgrades to the linebacker corps and the defensive backfield.So ... How will the Buff Nation receive the Recruiting Class of 2023? ... Is the final grade going to be dependent upon whether other high-profile recruits sign on to the Class, or will the upgrades made - including the signing of CU’s first NFL Draft-worthy quarterback in a quarter century - be enough to show that Coach Prime and his staff are ready to make significant inroads in the 2023 season? ... Let’s find out ...

So, how is your December going so far? In a bold move that the Buff Nation has been longing for, the University of Colorado has hired Deion Sanders to be its 28th head football coach. After a wait of several months, and a stressful final week as we waited for the anticipated announcement, Colorado fans have been given an early Christmas present, with Coach Prime coming to Boulder. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will go through one of the biggest off-season weeks in CU football history. We’ll start with the agonizing wait for the official announcement, with the fears that somehow, someway, the deal for Sanders would fall through. We’ll then talk about our reactions to the hire, and our thoughts on what Coach Sanders had to say to his team at Jackson State, to his new team in Boulder. We’ll finish with a look at national press reaction to the hire, and take a look at the details of Coach Prime’s contract. So ... Is this a pivotal moment in Colorado history, one which we will be celebrating for years to come? ... Will Sanders use CU as a stepping stone, moving on before the Buffs can reestablish themselves as a competitive program? ... Will Coach Prime’s personality prove to be an uncomfortable fit for Boulder, or will he become one of the most popular coaches to ever lead a team onto Folsom Field? ... ... Let’s find out ...

Another November game; another lopsided loss. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will give you a (mercifully quick) recap of the 54-7 loss to No. 15 Washington. CU’s defense surrendered three touchdowns on Washington’s first three drives, and the Huskies never looked back, sending the reeling Buffs to their tenth loss of the season. On the brighter side, Brad and I have a report from ESPN GameDay’s trip to Bozeman, Montana. The iconic show was in town for the 121st “Brawl of the Wild”, with No. 3 Montana State dominating No. 12 Montana, 55-21. It was cold, it was fun, and it was an experience Buff fans have been longing for since ESPN’s last visit to Boulder ... back in 1996. There is also a discussion about recent quotes from CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano, and whether there will finally be some movement on transfer policies at CU (spoiler alert: Don’t hold your breath). We will also, of course, bring you our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming season finale against No. 14 Utah. It will be Senior Day, but the Buffs are once again heavy underdogs, with Las Vegas pegging the Utes as a 29.5-point favorite. So ... Can the Buff defense be proud of the fact that they held the nation’s leading passer, Washington’s Michael Penix, Jr., to his lowest output of the season? ... What was it like hanging out in single digit temperatures, watching Sir Nick Faldo and ESPN’s Lee Corso pick the Bobcats to take down the Grizzlies? ... Is there any hope for change - or at least the conversation about change - of CU’s transfer policies? ... And do the Buffs have a chance to hold back the Utah offense, the 7th Top 25 offense the Buffs have faced this season? ... Let’s find out ...

Another week, another lopsided loss. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will give you a recap of the USC game, a 55-17 final, including a discussion of how the Buffs managed to have the lead after the first quarter, and the sportsmanship - and gamesmanship - involved in USC’s final score with 36 seconds remaining in the game. But, before we dive into the post-mortem of the USC game, we will discuss ESPN Game Day. It’s been a quarter of a century since CU was involved in a Game Day visit, but Stuart and Brad will be taking in the ESPN pregame program this weekend nonetheless, as ESPN will be broadcasting from the site of the “Brawl of the Wild”, the rivalry game between Montana State and Montana, coming to the world Saturday morning from Bozeman, Montana. It will be cold, but the University of Colorado will be represented in the early morning crowd.We will also, of course, bring you our “T.I.P.S.” for the upcoming matchup against No. 15 Washington, and CU’s chances as a 31.0-point underdog. So ... Do you know how many times CU and Boulder have hosted ESPN GameDay? ... Can you name the last time CU played a game, albeit on the road, before the Game Day crew? ... Did you know that the Buffs, fresh off of facing Bo Nix and Caleb Williams, will now be facing the nation’s No. 1 passer in Michael Penix? ... Is there one chance in a thousand that the CU game will be a trap game for the Huskies, coming off of a rivalry win over Oregon, and a week before the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington State? ... Let’s find out ...

Considering the 31.5-point spread, the 49-10 loss to No. 8 Oregon was all too predictable. The Ducks showcased their Heisman trophy candidate quarterback, Bo Nix, and generally had their way with the Buffs. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a recap of the Oregon game, including a discussion of the trick plays the Ducks used to score, and the quotes from CU defector Christian Gonzalez after the game.Next, before diving into our “T.I.P.S.” for the game against the new No. 8 team in the nation, USC, we will discuss the interview given by CU President Todd Saliman, and whether there is enough going on behind the scenes to improve CU’s chances at improving its transfer rules, and to hire the right coach to give the Buffs a chance at a quick turnaround in 2023. There is also a discussion of how the interim coaching staff under Mike Sanford has, despite all of CU’s shortcomings, managed to bring in three new commitments to the CU Recruiting Class of 2023. What’s even more impressive is that these new recruits are some of the highest-rated in CU’s current 19-member Class. So ... Can CU, which has never beaten USC in 15 previous attempts, make a game of it on Friday night on national television? ... Can the Buff offense, without star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, exploit the nation’s 95th-ranked defense? ... Will the Trojans, who have big games against UCLA and Notre Dame to close out the season, be looking past Colorado, at least enough for the Buffs to cover the 34.0-point spread? ... ... Let’s find out ...

It may have been CU’s last best hope for a victory last weekend, but the Buffs fell at home to Arizona State, 42-34. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a recap of the loss to Arizona State, including the failings of the defense to get off the field, which were only slightly offset by CU's best offensive output of the season, and some special plays by the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, Jordyn Tyson.Next, before diving into our “T.I.P.S.” for the game against No. 8 Oregon, we will debate the pros and cons of sitting freshman quarterback Owen McCown. McCown has played in four games this season, and, if he sits out the last four, will preserve his redshirt, and still have four years of eligibility remaining. If he’s healthy, should he play?There is also a discussion of the creation of the Buffs4Life NIL Collective. CU fans have been clamoring for the past 16 months for a Collective, a pool of dollars to lure high school recruits and transfers to play at CU, and now one exists. Will this Collective be the light at the end of CU’s long dark tunnel?So ... Can the Buffs find a way to beat the 30-point spread that Las Vegas has put on the game? ... Or will the Ducks, playing before a national ESPN audience with a 1:30 p.m., MT, kickoff, be looking to impress the College Football Playoff committee with an eyebrow raising rout? ... Will J.T. Shrout be CU’s quarterback the remainder of the season, or will Owen McCown be allowed back onto the field when he’s able? ... Is the Buffs4Life Collective a breath of fresh air in an otherwise suffocating fall for the Buff Nation, or is this going to prove to be yet another example of Colorado - and its fan base - failing to compete in the new age of college football?

Rain was in the forecast last weekend when CU took the field against Oregon State, but, like the rain, the Buff offense failed to materialize in a 42-9 whitewashing by the Beavers. Stuart Whitehair is joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and they start with a recap of the lopsided loss in Corvallis, including a discussion on who should be the CU starting quarterback the remainder of the season. Interim head coach Mike Sanford previously stated that Owen McCown was his quarterback, and would be the starter when he returned from injury ... but has J.T. Shrout earned the right for a home start? Or, from a more practical standpoint, would it be better to sit McCown, both to preserve his redshirt year, and to protect his slight body from the impacts he will take against Arizona State and the formidable defenses CU will play in November? We will then present our “T.I.P.S.” for the Arizona State game. The Sun Devils are 2-5 on the season, fresh off of a disappointing 15-14 loss on the road against Stanford.So ... Can the Buff offense finally get past the 20-point mark, facing a ASU defense which is ranked 98th in the country in total yards allowed? ... Can the CU defense finally make a statement, playing against an Arizona State offense ranked 99th nationally? ... Can the Buffs get enough healthy running backs on the field, so they are not handing the ball off to a converted freshman walk-on defensive back - like they did against Oregon State? ... Can the Buffs find a way on Homecoming to post victory No. 2, playing a game which might represent the last best chance at a win this season? ... Let’s find out ...

Well, it was a great day to be a Buff last Saturday, with Colorado picking up win No. 1 on the 2022 season with a 20-13 overtime win over Cal. I am joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a recap of the Buffs’ big victory, including thoughts on what interim head coach Mike Sanford, who has rejuvenated the CU locker room, would have to do to earn an interview for the full time position as CU’s head coach.We will then present our “T.I.P.S.” for the Oregon State game. Oregon State is 5-2 on the season, and the Beavers are coming off of a high of their own - their first win over Washington State since 2013.So ... What is it about Oregon State, a team which is not great at anything, but good at everything? ... How will the forecast for a wet Saturday night in Corvallis play into the strategies for the game? ... Can the CU offense, not noted for its red zone prowess, get into the end zone against one of the top red zone defenses in the country? ... And the real question: Was the CU victory over Cal a “one-and-done” for the 2022 Buffs, or will the momentum carry the Buffs to more wins in the second half of the season? ...... Let’s find out ...

With the bye week behind us, it’s time to resume our regular review/preview episodes. Neil Langland gets the week off, so Stuart Whitehair is joined for this podcast by Brad Geiger. To start, there is a quick recap of the 40-23 loss to Arizona, before moving on to our “T.I.P.S.” for the CU game against the Cal Bears.Cal is 3-2 on the season, and is coming off of a 28-9 loss to Washington State. The Bears have been inconsistent this fall, with a dominating performance on offense against Arizona before falling flat against the Cougars.So … Can the Buffs rally, and post a victory against arguably the easiest opponent left on the schedule? … Will Colorado – and its weary fan base – get a “Interim Coach Bump” like other Power Five schools who have fired their coaches so far this fall (a surprising 6-3 overall record, including two wins over ranked teams)? … Will the Buffs show improvement – or at least some creativity – on both sides of the ball, coming into the game with the 129th ranked scoring offense, and the 130th ranked scoring defense, or will the Buff Nation be left searching for moral victories for the rest of the season? …… Let’s find out …

Well, so much for the bye week ... Welcome to a special edition of the podcast. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will discuss the dismissal of Karl Dorrell as the head coach at the University of Colorado, as well as the future of the program.We start by taking a look back at the Karl Dorrell era. Dorrell had an 8-15 record at CU (6-9 in Pac-12 play), earning Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2020. Yet, after a 4-0 start in Boulder, things went south in a hurry, with the start of the 2022 season setting records ... historically bad records.We then move on to the press conference conducted by CU athletic director Rick George, Chancellor Phil DiStefano, and interim head coach Mike Sanford. So eyebrow raising - and discouraging - were the comments from George and DiStefano that Sanford and the remainder of the 2022 season quickly became afterthoughts.So ... Is Rick George really going to go forward with his next hire without any outside consultation? ... Is Phil DiStefano so out of touch with regard to present day recruiting and transfer needs that the next head coach is doomed to failure even before he is hired? ... How important will the debate over Progress Toward Degree (PTD) become in the next two months? ... Should the next head coach at Colorado have head coaching experience - or is a hot young coordinator the way to go? ... Should previous connections to CU be a prerequisite for the job - or a disqualifying characteristic? ... Which names on the compiled lists of potential candidates jump out as the most enticing? ... ... Let’s find out ...

"T.I.P.S." for CU at Arizona / Plus - Owen McCown: Savior, or Hail Mary by CU Coaching Staff?

Welcome to our weekly review/preview episode. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a quick, yet somehow still painful, review of CU’s 49-7 road loss against Minnesota. The Buffs were behind 35-0 at the half, and only scored their first touchdown in two games against the Golden Gophers after Minnesota had run up the score to 49-0.We will then discuss the far more interesting news of the weekend, that being the firing of Herm Edwards by Arizona State. The timing of the move, coming early in the season and with an NCAA investigation still looming, is curious. We will talk about the repercussions of the terminations of Herm Edwards and Scott Frost, before turning our attention to how long the Karl Dorrell era will last at Colorado. Athletic Director Rick George issued a statement Sunday, and we’ll sift through the language of that statement, and talk about how much longer CU can tolerate having what has become the worst team in Power Five conference football.Not neglecting our duties, we also will go through our “T.I.P.S.” progression for the CU/UCLA game, reviewing the Talent for both teams, what Intangibles may be in play, how Preparation will play a role, and then look at which Statistics will factor in in deciding the winner.So... Do the Buffs have a chance at keeping Bruin quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson - who has almost 1,200 career yards of total offense in four games against the Buffs - in check? Is it no longer about victories for the Buffs, but keeping it respectable? Will Karl Dorrell make it out of September with his title of head football coach at Colorado intact?Let’s find out...

Welcome to our second review/preview of the 2022 season. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a post-mortem of CU’s 41-10 loss to Air Force. The Buffs had their chances against the Falcons, but blown opportunities late in the first half and early in the second half doomed the Buffs to a second straight defeat.We will then turn our attention to CU’s upcoming game against Minnesota. Going through our “T.I.P.S.” progression, we will look at the Talent for both teams, what Intangibles may be in play, how Preparation will play a role, and then look at which Statistics will factor in in deciding the winner.After that - just for fun - we will take a look at the biggest news item of the second week of the season, the firing by Nebraska of their head coach, Scott Frost.So, can the Buffs overcome the plethora of mistakes they made in the rain in Colorado Springs, and put forth a competitive effort against the Golden Gophers? Will CU offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, formerly Minnesota offensive coordinator, have a triumphant return to Minneapolis - or will the Golden Gophers have the last laugh? And will our speculation about candidates for the new head coach at Nebraska soon be turning to speculation as to candidates for the new head coach at Colorado?Let’s find out...

Welcome to our first review/preview podcast of the 2022 season. I am joined for this episode by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland, and we will start with a post-mortem of CU’s 38-13 loss to TCU in the opener. The translation from the Latin of post-mortem is literally “after death”, and that’s what it felt like in Folsom Field, as the Horned Frogs turned a 7-6 halftime advantage into a 38-13 rout.We will then turn our attention to CU’s upcoming game against Air Force. Going through our “T.I.P.S.” progression, we will look at the Talent for both teams, what Intangibles may be in play, how Preparation - especially for the Falcons’ option offense - will play a role, and then look at which Statistics will factor in in deciding the winner.So... Who will be CU’s starting quarterback against Air Force? Has Karl Dorrell, based upon player comments after the TCU game, already lost the locker room? Can a Buff defense, which was gashed by TCU’s rushing attack, find a way to stop the nation’s leading rushing offense? Can the Buff offense find a way to match the Falcons score for score?Let’s find out...