Contact CU Independent Copy Editor Cannon Casey at Cannon.Casey@colorado.edu
Simply put, the University of Colorado football team’s win at Oregon State means nothing. Colorado should have won that game, and almost let it slip away. Thanks to a Chidobe Awuzie interception, the Buffs’ bowl hopes are still alive.
But, realistically, Colorado isn’t going to win three more games. They have games against No. 24 UCLA, No. 8 Stanford, a better-than-their-record USC team, a Washington State team that has taken down Oregon and Arizona this season and No. 13 Utah.
So, no, the win doesn’t mean much. Head coach Mike MacIntyre was on his knees crying with elation for a win against a team that is now 2-5. I can’t imagine the emotions that came with that win, as he won just his second Pac-12 game, snapping a 14-game conference losing streak. I love the heart, emotion and relief that is shown those kinds of moments.
However, to me, it shouldn’t have even come to that.
If anything, the win at Oregon State shows that we are far from being a Pac-12 power. Look at how coaches at better programs react to wins. It’s business as usual, they act like it was supposed to happen. They act like they’ve been there before.
MacIntyre and the Buffs can learn a little something from the phrase ‘fake it till you make it.’
Fake it in the way that you are supposed to win these games, you are supposed to be a top team in the Pac-12. Fake that belief until you actually make it there. You’d be surprised at the results that come from this philosophy.
The game did show a new wrinkle in Colorado’s offense. Quarterback Sefo Liufau ran the ball 18 times for 44 yards and a touchdown.
He converted on some key third down and short situations and kept drives going, including both touchdown drives.
Liufau’s legs gave the offense the extra boost it needed to push itself over the top for the win. A quarterback that can run not only helps convert first downs and keep drives going, but also gives the defense another thing they have to defend and think about, opening up other options for the offense.
If Liufau and the Colorado offense can keep defenses off balance, the Buffs might be in better shape than they are as of now in their upcoming games.
They are currently a 21-point underdog in their upcoming game at UCLA. Here’s the odd stat of the day: UCLA is Colorado’s first ranked opponent this season. That’s in part because the Pac-12 is beating itself up every week in conference play.
We’ll see if the Buffs can get revenge for last year’s heartbreaking 40-37 double overtime loss vs. UCLA as they take on the Bruins in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 31 at 1:00 p.m. (MST).
