The Colorado Buffaloes arrived one year early, even Mike MacIntyre admits it

Close your eyes (don’t, you should read this), think about Colorado Buffaloes Football, think about the glory years, think about all the men and their dedication it took to achieve that prestige. That’s what Mike MacIntyre does.

Not only does MacIntyre look back at the late 80s and learn a lot, he sees a lot of his team in those teams.

It took Bill McCartney four years to get to a bowl, the same amount of time it has taken MacIntyre. But it took McCartney seven and eight years respectively to achieve a Top 25 ranking and for that number to be within the top ten. MacIntyre’s first class, now seniors achieved all of those marks.

“Of course you always want to win right away, but I knew for a fact that we had to build a foundation, culturally but also physically and mentality,” MacIntyre described. “We were deficient in all those areas, and it takes a while to do all those, different parts of those facets come at different times. But if I had a timetable I would say we are a year early, to be honest, but the great thing is that all those seniors and accumulation of things happened. We were able to hit it right now, which is awesome. That’s why I’m saying I was so excited that those guys were able to do it.”

No matter how many times it has been said, it can’t be understated that this team, lead by 56 upperclassmen, is historic. The 2016 Buffs forever changed the football program.

“It means everything that this group of guys was able to get it done in their time,” MacIntyre described. “Some of them have redshirted or have had different injuries and will be a part of it next year and keep it going but it’s really unique to me that these guys hard work, all their blood sweat and tears, body parts getting put back together to keep fighting and keep believing, these guys get to do it. Not often in life does that get to happen, we finish this like we want, it truly is a dream come true.”

“I’m just thankful that they’ve stayed and fought with a positive attitude, that’s what turned it,” he added. “They stayed, they fought, and they had a positive attitude. They learned and unbelievable life lesson, I’ve said that a few times but they really have. I’m thankful they cared enough about each other, cared enough about me, cared enough about me the university that they’ve stuck it out. Now, the realize in life if you keep fighting and pushing and hoping and keep believing things can come true because a lot of time you quit before you ever have the chance to get there. I took them on a climb couple of years ago, about 18 months ago and you’re climbing a mountain and there are different peaks, and you think you’ve made it to the top. You realize you haven’t and usually you have to go down a bit then you have to go back up, and that’s kind of how life is, and that’s how our turnaround is going to be. That was an example right there in their face that they could look at every day. I think a lot of them look at the mountains every day and think about that.”

As for their legacy, MacIntyre is proud that the class has ensured that there will be one with this team. This season is not a one time deal.

“They’re passing it down, they’ve changed the culture, and it will stay, because they’re not letting anything slide,” coach touted. “They police themselves, set standards and hold guys accountable. I haven’t had a group like this that has done that. It’s been special watching this. The seniors have told the younger guys that they want to see this when they’re sitting in their den or hanging out with a buddy four years from now they want to Colorado ranked 10th in the country or higher and they know they can establish that and pass it down.”

And, of course, that foundation reminds MacIntyre of the same one McCartney had before he took his team to a championship.

“They’ve developed such a great bond that they’ll remain close, a lot like the guys from the end of the 1980s,” Mac, the second, said. “Not the 90s team, anytime you win a national championship that is a little different, but this group of guys is a lot like the guys that I see who played in 1988 and 1989. You can see in their eyes and faces that they were the ones that got the wheel turned and everyone else took the baton and ran with it and took it to another level. I think that’s what this senior class has done.”

As senior center Alex Kelley noted, though, it will be all for naught if they don’t win Saturday.

“They’re not coming here for their last game,” MacIntyre said. “There coming for a chance to play at Levi’s Stadium.

“It’s a send-off, but it’s not an end off.”