How Karl Dorrell plans to save his job

Karl Dorrell’s seat is nearly boiling hot.

After the Buffs lost their third and final nonconference game on Saturday 49-7 to the Minnesota Gophers, University of Colorado Athletic Director Rick George put out a statement to Buffs fans.

“I want you to know that I hear you. I recognize and understand your disappointment and frustration and perhaps, even anger. We have not come close to meeting our expectations this season and we own that,” George wrote.

Statement from Athletic Director Rick George. pic.twitter.com/phAD5UkjXq

— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) September 19, 2022

The fallout from the statement seems only to have agitated fans and rubbed salt into the wound in what’s been a disappointing season to this point.

On Monday, head coach Karl Dorrell spoke to the media and talked about George’s statement and how their most recent meeting over the weekend went.

“We’re on the same page,” Dorrell said. “We know we’ve got a lot of work to do. We know that we can do it. We know we are capable of having a really successful offense and defense and doing things well.”

Buffs’ fans have been loud and clear that they are not happy with how the program has been run lately under the current athletic director and head coach.

Colorado football social media timelines have been set ablaze since the second half of the season opener against TCU and things have only gotten worse since.

When asked about how Dorrell and the team are handling the outside criticism, the Buffs head coach explained that he’s been through this before.

“That’s part of the job. I think when you go into coaching we know that there’s risk [involved],” Dorrell said. “We’re going to work harder when things are hard until we get our play into a position where it’s effective.”

Dorrell and the Buffs are welcoming the UCLA Bruins to Folsom Field this week as both teams begin PAC-12 conference play.

The third-year Colorado head coach was the head coach at UCLA from 2003-2007 compiling a 35-27 record in those five seasons before he was fired before the Bruins’ 2007 bowl game.

Dorrell was asked about his feelings about playing against UCLA this week but retorted that he hasn’t thought about that.

“I’m not even thinking about those things, to be honest with you,” Dorrell said. “I’m concerned about the moment which is right now, what I’m doing right after this press conference, getting back into the film room, finding ways to play better offensively, defensively and special teams so we can get a win.”

The only positive to come out of last Saturday’s game was Owen McCown getting his first collegiate snaps under his belt late against Minnesota. McCown outgained both J.T. Shrout and Brendon Lewis in terms of passing yards 52-38.

Coach Dorrell spoke about Owen’s performance and if he will be in play to start this week against UCLA.

“He played well, I was very encouraged by that,” Dorrell said. “We know we’re going to turn over every stone about this quarterback position and try to figure out what’s best for us moving forward.”

Before McCown entered the game, Shrout and Lewis were playing a game of musical chairs at quarterback. Dorrell had Shrout and Lewis taking turns on drives just like they have been during practice.

When looking back on his strategy at quarterback, Dorrell admitted that it didn’t work out how he planned.

“It wasn’t a very effective way, because they both couldn’t quite engineer the consistency that we’re looking for,” Dorrell said.

Zach Barnett of footballscoop.com recently wrote about the structure of Dorrell’s contract that included a detailed excerpt.

Unless the Buffs and Dorrell can make things work before Dorrell’s contract ends in 2024, it looks like the university will have to pay a hefty amount before beginning the search for CU’s 28th head football coach.

Dorrell understands the pressure he’s under and has remained confident that he can turn this year’s Buffs football team around.

“We understand that we’re in a hole,” Dorrell said. “But we have the opportunity right in front of us to get it fixed.”

The Buffs have been outscored 128-20 in their first three games. Offensively, Colorado is only ahead of Iowa, New Mexico State, Colorado State and Massachusetts in total yards per game. Defensively, Colorado is the 13th worst FBS school in terms of yards allowed per game.

It’s getting late early for the Buffs and Dorrell this season and it appears that it will take more than a win against UCLA this weekend for Dorrell to retain his position beyond 2022.