BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes began their 2017 season on Saturday. Coming off of a marvelous 2016 season where they went 10-4, going to their first postseason games in nearly a decade.
With the loss of many from that team, both players and coaches, and a preseason picking of fourth in the South amongst Pac-12 media, the Buffs were back down by Boulder Creek to start the season.
“It was a good day today and thank goodness the weather stayed away and we were able to get down on the fields,” Mike MacIntyre said. “For the first day we flew around really well, I’m really pleased with everything, I’m sure I’ll watch film and get a little mad but from the naked eye it looked good.”
This is a stark difference from when MacIntyre began in Boulder.
“Five years ago I was brand new running at it and we had a long way to go,” he said. “We wanted to work to get more depth, bigger and more physical. We wanted to get more athletic at our skill positions which we’ve done. We keep making strides in the right direction now we just have to do it on the field.”
The smaller strides, more relevant to 2017, including running back Phil Lindsay somehow becoming even more powerful.
“We made big strides in our size and strength,” the coach told. “We’re sturdier, we’re not as wobbly. We’re in so much better shape and we’ve got stronger. They’re in better shape.”
As for the team as a whole, “Everyone’s here and they’re rockin’ n rollin’,” MacIntrye said.
Will they be able to prove everyone wrong for a second straight season? Only time will tell, but the reports were generally good from their closed practice.
NOTES:
Everyone is pleased with junior corner Isaiah Oliver’s leadership. He stepped up big time this summer.
Sources said and MacIntyre confirmed that both starter Steven Montez and freshman Tyler Lytle threw the ball really well today.
Tight end Dylan Keeney is recovering from and injury and is expected to be back sometime during camp.
Freshman Jake Moretti and Chase Newman will not to be back during camp and are likely to redshirt. Read more here.
