Disheartening. The word continually ruminated after the Buffs' opening-game loss at home to Georgia Tech. The loss of confidence has nothing to do with a porous rush defense, terrible clock management and questionable play calling.
Nope. It has everything to do with the continued lack of enthusiasm to honor the glory years of Colorado football. Coach Prime’s tenure has led to a resurgence of nationwide interest in the Buffs, has done wonders for the university’s coffers and recruited a more diverse student population to Boulder. All good stuff.
However, the fixation on everything “Prime” seems, well, disheartening.
Admittedly, this 67-year-old is not as objective as journalism ethics would expect. My lame excuse is hanging around a football program for almost 40 years, developing deep relationships with many and wondering, “Isn’t there enough room to celebrate the Prime present and still honor the glorious past?
Two examples from Friday night at Folsom before a sellout crowd. Kudos to Prime for “dressing up like Coach Mac” in honor of the school’s most successful football coach who passed in January. It was a nice gesture from him and Nike.
Why not allow the crowd a moment as well? Would it have hurt anyone for the public address announcer to ask the crowd to rise for a moment of silence in honor of McCartney? The patch on the jerseys is appropriate but with more than 50,000 jammed into the stadium, many long-time season ticket holders, how about allowing them to salute Billy Mac from Hackensack?
The patch is great, Prime’s gesture appropriate but, one man’s opinion, opportunity was missed to create a special moment. Perplexing? Yes. But not surprising.
Here’s number two. From what I understand, new Buff quarterback Kaiden Salter is a fine young man. Played okay in his debut. But why in the world is the Liberty-transfer wearing jersey #3? I checked, Salter wore #7 at Liberty before heading west. Why #3?
Here’s just another opinion but NO QUARTERBACK at CU should ever wear #3. That’s Darian Hagan’s. Now and forever until someone else accomplishes this: In three seasons as a starter from 1989-91, the magic man NEVER lost a Big. 8 conference games, won three straight league titles and led Colorado to its only national championship.
Why did the football program allow that to happen? Hagan’s number should have been retired long ago. Many of his teammates back then too. I know it hurts deeply in the heart and soul of Buffs zealots watching Shedeur Sanders being retired before Hagan.
Georgia Tech put a hurt on the current Buffs. However, it may pale in comparison to the bruising CU administered to the disheartened wondering exactly what is the cost of Prime?
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