Hello All,
Now that the Buff Football team is down to it's final two games for the 2022 season, I'd like to take a moment and get a couple of things off my chest. First, I have nothing but respect and appreciation for every player that chooses to sign a letter Of Intent to play Football at CU. I know these young men work hard 12 months a year. Nothing I write in this post is pointed directly at any specific player, for now. If and when CU is paying out significant money via NIL deals, this will quickly change. At that time I will consider those players making a living playing college football to be be professional athletes, thus open to the same type of analysis professional athletes receive from fans & the media. I can't think of a single Buff Football player that isn't in favor of using these, "prime years" to make money. Fair enough, welcome to the ,"other side of that coin". Full Disclosure : I have only heard, or read, what a few players think of NIL. Those I know about are in favor of a robust NIL presence at CU. I have not heard any player speak of the negative consequences such a presence MIGHT cause.
Second, CU Football will likely be awful next year ( 2023 ). It is beyond clear that the last 5 years of horrific recruiting has left CU with a barren cupboard. The Buffs have not established a go-to QB, RB, TE, or Offensive line. The Buffs do have some young talent at WR, but without a solid O-Line and an above average QB, it might be hard to hang-on to CU's talented group of young receivers. Sadly, CU's Defense might be worse off than their Offense. Every single position group on CU's defense needs a massive infusion of talent. Buff Defensive Backs appear to be only slightly below average. D-Line & Linebackers are among the weakest units in the PAC-12. These guys have had to adjust to multiple position coaches, new defensive schemes, and playing from behind in roughly 80% of their games over the past 2 years. Not an excuse, just a fact. Frankly, neither the O-line, QBs, D-Line, & LBs have the talent to be good in a G5 Conference in my opinion.
I know I have been boring everyone with these recruiting posts for roughly 3 years now. It is so abundantly clear that CU has a lack of competitive talent. On average this year, including the 1 OT win, CU is losing by a ten game average of 26 points per game. Yep, 26 points. Points forged 157. Points allowed 417. In an amazing display of awful coaching throughout CU's ranks, the Buffs have managed to avoid getting any better as the season moves forward. I can only imagine how discouraging it must be as a player to know your team is out manned every game. ADRG sat by and watched as every returning starter that had transfer talent left the Buffs last year. As some on this board have suggested, it's possible ADRG also thought the Buffs "MIGHT" get better through attrition. NO, No, no, no, no. 2021 Buff Football was really bad. Subtract the 6 best returning players from that team and convince me it's going to be better this year. Please.
If ever there was a time to clean house, this is it. CU tried the "baby steps" approach with HCMM. There isn't time to take small steps. ADRG also has to stop planning for failure and stop allowing his coaches to self-impose limitations. Oh no, what if the HC decides to move on ? Well Rick, put in place a nice, competitive contract, find a way to stress recruiting and go get the very best candidate CU can afford. Here is a free tip, any Head Coach that revives CU Football will be a hot candidate for other HC jobs. They should be. Try to plan for that and set aside some money in case you want to try and keep the guy. Nothing could have prepared CU for the Midnight fiasco. Forget that ever happened and go get the Buffs a guy that can recruit, coach, and identify the staff he can win with. And please, find a Head Coach that will tell the fan base what he expects from the University, his staff, recruits, players, and the fan base. Find a guy that can keep CU football alive most of the year and it will be easier to raise money. Any way we cut this cookie, we are starting from about as low as a program can get. I think ADRG knows the type of man he needs at CU's helm. Make it so Rick.