Things are only getting tougher for the Buffs.
At this point, it’s hard for anyone to deny the season is essentially a wrap. A conference schedule includes upcoming dates with USC, Oregon, Arizona St, and this week’s opponent—No. 7 Stanford.
Senior Tyler Hansen looks downfield during the first half of Colorado's 28-14 win over Colorado State. The Buffs travel to California this Saturday to battle undefeated Stanford. (CU Independent/James Bradbury)
After the defense got a bit too relaxed with a ten point lead against Washington State, the Buffaloes find themselves sitting at a dismal 1-4 record. In these past weeks, inconsistency, injuries, and more recently, suspensions have beaten Colorado into submission. And to make matters worse, they’ll be facing Stanford’s Heisman candidate quarterback, Andrew Luck, next.
Luck is regarded as one of, if not, the best player in college football. He is a likely candidate for first pick in April’s NFL draft. If you’ve watched any sports highlights this past year, you’ve seen what Luck can do to defenses with his arm via his sheer power and precision.
“He’s kind of like the Peyton Manning of college football,” said CU quarterback Tyler Hansen.
So far this season, Luck has thrown for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns. At the rate he’s going, he’s on pace to surpass the numbers he put up last year. Luck leads an offense that racks up 45.8 points per game behind 471 yards total offense.
“He has all of the things you look for and then if you talk about the intangibles,” said Coach Jon Embree. “Being at a school like Stanford, and what he does academically and then the overall grasp of the offense and what they ask him to do makes him a pretty complete package.”
There’s no doubt that the locker room has seen the hype that surrounds Luck, and it’s impossible to say if it hasn’t affected them in some way mentally, while preparing this week. Embree knows this, and he says he’s been upfront about it.
“I’ve been honest the whole time with these guys,” Embree said. “I believe it, he is, but that also doesn’t mean that he can’t be beat, he has been beat. I think it is important to understand who you are going against and everything that I’ve said about the kid is true and it is validated over time anytime you watch him play. He is a very good player.”
Beyond Luck and Stanford’s potent offense, Colorado will be taking on one of the best defense in the conference.
CU, which is a run-oriented team at its core, will find themselves running into a brick wall against the Cardinals, who rank fourth nationally by allowing only 62 rushing yards a game.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge. We’ve played against a lot of other great teams and quarterbacks in my career,” said wideout-turned-cornerback Jason Espinoza.
“They’re more of a balanced team than WSU was,” Espinoza said. “They run and throw the ball. They’re very sound; they execute everything. The big thing for us is that we get in the film room, know ours plays, and execute what our calls are.”
For CU to have a chance at winning, everything will have to click. Hansen will need to have the game of his career, Rodney Stewart will have to channel his inner Chris Johnson (circa 2009), and the defense will have to step up to levels they’ve never dreamed of.
If the Buffs manage to pull off a win and shock the world, perhaps one can say all isn’t lost for the team and Embree’s expectations. Rumor has it that his most recent speech was his most passionate yet.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Espinoza said. “He came here to win and he’s very passionate about that. That just shows he’s sick of losing and I am too. I’ve been here a long time. There’s been a lot of ups and downs. I think it’s a good thing. He’s so passionate, and him showing that will help our players be more passionate and want to win.”
Hopefully the team can channel that passion into a win.
The Buffaloes will face the Stanford Cardinals in their first Pac-12 road game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on Versus.
Contact CU Independent Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu.
