I had an opportunity to sit down with head coach Mike MacIntyre today and I asked about him a wide variety of questions. I'll be splitting it up into multiple front page write-ups. Here are just a few notes:
- The football staff's current offices are littered with boxes. The staff is expected to move over to the new Champions Center this coming Monday. There was a short delay because of an air conditioning issue but that is being fixed this week.
- MacIntyre admits they are finally at a point where they will be able to redshirt the majority of their true freshmen: "There are always a couple freshmen that'll pop up and be ready to roll but I am glad we're not having to say, 'Okay, this freshman is going to have to be on our second team.' We don't have any freshmen (aside from punter Alex Kinney) penciled in on our first or second team right now. In the past that hasn't always been the case. But again, some of those freshmen can jump up there."
- True freshman Isaiah Oliver will get a look at both wide receiver and cornerback during camp to see where he fits in best. MacIntyre admits his track times in the hurdles this spring definitely got them excited about his explosiveness.
- As I posted in another thread, sophomore Connor Center is moving from tight end to offensive tackle. They decided to make the change after the conclusion of spring practices.
- While the Buffs will continue to host a majority of their official visitors after the season, MacIntyre said there will be some in-season official visitors. We're still in unofficial visit season and CU is expected to host a group of recruits on campus on August 1. I'll have more on the expected visitors as we get closer to the date.
- The Buffs are sticking with the "Uncommon" wristbands this season and "trust" is another word that is being used a lot by MacIntyre and his staff with the players. "One of the things we're talking about and emphasizing more is trusting each other, in every aspect of our team," MacIntyre said. "I think if you have trust between people and knowing they are holding themselves accountable, it builds confidence."
- MacIntyre confirmed junior Addison Gillam is getting 2,800 additional calories in shakes each day, special shakes created by CU sports nutritionist Laura Anderson.
- MacIntyre said he expects both Jonathan Huckins and Shane Callahan to see action at guard this season so he is not concerned about setting a timeline for the starting right guard spot to be decided by.
- He expects a heated battled for the starting free safety spot between Jered Bell and Evan White and called having that type of competition is a "good problem to have."
- MacIntyre continues meeting with Samson Kafovalu on nearly a daily basis to make sure he continues to stay on the straight and narrow.
