CU Buffs not quite ready for the big stage

The stage was set, the headlines were loaded up, ‘Two programs headed in different directions,’ it was Colorado’s chance to show the world, and their fans, who were beginning to believe, that Colorado Football was back, that they would no longer be the team who Pac-12 opponents could get right against.

They simply weren’t ready to make it happen.

The Buffs came out hyped, but they also came out tight and mistake prone, turning the ball over on each of their first two possessions, and misaligning on defense to allow the Ducks first score. It could have been expected though, it was the first time many of these players had been on such a stage, the first time they were in a position. Like the first iPhone or the first round of Xbox 360’s, the first version of the big game Buffs had some bugs that need fixing.

But that’s the thing, the Buffs were finally iPhone quality, it was just the bugs that kept them from winning the game, their Android days are behind them. Colorado was not completely outclassed across the board, they weren’t beat simply beat because the Ducks had more talent, and while this is not the best Oregon we have seen in recent years, Oregon is still a program that has out-recruited Colorado in a big way recently.

The Buffs lost because of their own mistakes and while it’s understandably frustrating for Colorado fans, it’s okay. We are not far removed from the days when Colorado lost because they never had a chance, this time they had their chances, and they had plenty of them, but they weren’t ready to take them. All of this is new for the Buffs, they have to learn how it feels to be in these situations, full stadium, under-the-lights, ESPN. It’s nothing for a team like Oregon, it’s everything for a team like Colorado, and the difference showed.

“[We didn’t need to] make more plays, just eliminating some mistakes I think would be the big thing. I don’t think at one time we felt like we were outmatched by them.” -Nelson Spruce

“We just limit to limit mistakes in specific defenses. We don’t feel like we were outmatched by any means, we just have to limit some mistakes.” -Derek McCartney

“We definitely shot ourselves in the foot… That’s basically the facts of life, you can’t do that.” -Mike MacIntyre

“The one big run they hit on us… I think we lined up wrong and miss-fit it.” -Mike MacIntyre

“We’ve got to win the turnover ratio, you’re going to have a hard time winning Pac-12 football games if you don’t win the turnover ratio,” told Mike MacIntyre. “A lot of that was on us.” -Mike MacIntyre

Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes they’ll kill you, and they did. But there’s good news for Buffs fans, mistakes are correctible and while progress can be slow, Mike MacIntyre and his staff have shown that they are proficient at correcting those mistakes, what may have been one or two misalignment errors last night was six or seven just a year ago.

“In no way, shape or form do we take any type of moral victory,” MacIntyre said. “But I do believe our program is growing, and I do believe we’re going to win our fair share of Pac-12 games this year.”

Colorado is no longer in the era of moral victories, and a loss, is a loss, is a loss, is a loss, but as they continue to grow as a program, as they continue to become more comfortable in big-time situations, they will have more success in these situations.

Colorado was not quite ready for the big stage last night, they had chances to win the game and they failed, but it’s all part of the process.