Short night. Frustrating yet exciting game. Takes:
Michael Harrison - What a find. Kudos to the staff for approaching him to solve the TE issue. The young man has hands, smarts, and desire. Wearing that number 87 out there reminds me of Ed McCaffrey with his body type. A TE making a big difference in a game for the Buffs; a rare thing in recent years when once the Buffs touted their TEs.
Shedeur - Took over the game in the 4th and through both overtimes. Yes, he is not fleet of foot like the Caleb Williams types, but he is tough and stands in there when it counts. The 98 yard drive at the end is the stuff of legend. His throws in the face of Rams‘ onslaughts were pretty incredible a number of times. Once again, at the end, great percentage throwing numbers.
Travis - Really, really unfortunate. We need him most at corner, and he goes down with injury as a wide receiver. The early kinda crazy Heisman talk is over. Can’t win that trophy when not playing games. Of course we all hope he is ultimately OK.
Center position - How much did a freshman in there effect the blocking? The OL is questionable enough as it is.
CSU - Don’t know how much it came from the coaches, or just a player atttide, but it was clear that they wanted to physically intimate the Buffs and make CU’s stars pay the price. Mixed up in this were several very cheap shots by a several cheap-shot artists. In the first half, this was working for them, along with their plan to relentlessly get the ball to a couple WRs. The targeting hit on Shedeur in OT was shameful...and dangerous.
The “big” package - Didn’t work...twice. Should have called plays like the ones eventually called in overtime. Don’t know what the heck that was all about, but big fail for Coach Lewis in crunch times.
So glad the Buffs won, or the negativity and “told you so’s” from various quarters would have been insufferable.