Opinion: Spirits show flaws in Buffs, Wildcats

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Cheng Sio (Courtesy)

This opinion by CU Independent Sports Editor Cheng Sio is part of a column swap leading up to the Colorado Buffaloes vs. Kansas State Wildcats football game. To read Kansas State Collegian Assitant Sports Editor Grant Guggisberg’s opinion, click here.

I looked at my mirror before going to bed on a chilly Wednesday evening and I jokingly said to it, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who will win this Saturday between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Kansas State Wildcats?”

The mirror cracked.

I scratched my forehead and had a puzzled look on my face wondering why the mirror broke. Fifteen minutes later, I stopped wondering and went to bed.

Or so I thought.

You probably wouldn’t believe me, but I was met by spirits in my sleep. It felt like I was in my own production of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel, “A Christmas Carol.” It was creepy.

The first spirit to fly through my bedroom window was CU sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen – the ghost of Buffaloes past.

Hansen smiled and then with the snap of his fingers, we were at last year’s game between the two schools at Folsom Field.

Hovering above the playing field, we watched Hansen burn his redshirt late in the first quarter and engineer two second-quarter touchdown drives as the Buffs rallied to beat the Wildcats 14-13.

It was great watching Hansen juke, stiff-arm and lower his shoulder on his way to 86 rushing yards and a touchdown pass. As I watched in excitement, I remembered what took place next game. Hansen started and the Buffs were embarrassed 58-0 by Missouri at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.

I asked Hansen why history won’t repeat itself. After all, he just wowed CU fans last Saturday in a thrilling 34-30 victory over then-undefeated Kansas in his first start of 2009.

“I’ve definitely thought about that,” Hansen said after Wednesday’s practice. “Last year, playing K-State, that was a real high. But then coming back against Missouri and that was really low. That was a horrible loss. It’s definitely gone through my mind.

“You got a whole week to prepare. You have to prepare the right way, you got to watch film, you got to watch practice, you got to get with the coaches and go over the game plan. I’ve been doing that. I feel like I’m prepared right now. The more you prepare, the more confident you’re going to be on Saturday.”

Well, knowing Hansen is starting is better than not knowing if Kansas State will start junior Carson Coffman or senior Gregory Grant.

When I returned to my bedroom, there was Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder – the ghost of coaches present – waiting.

Snyder led me to the living room of my apartment. We watched me listening to Monday’s Big 12 Media Teleconferences on Thursday night.

A couple of reporters asked Snyder various questions about the team’s performance in its last two games. Texas Tech demolished the Wildcats 66-14 on Oct. 10, but K-State blasted Texas A&M 62-14 last Saturday. That’s a 100-point swing.

Unbelievable!

“It probably tells us we’re a little goofy and we have no idea where we are or who we are,” Snyder said Monday.

Goofy? Is the great Bill Snyder coaching a bunch of Disney characters? Snyder said his team needs to handle prosperity better and addressed the issue.

“We talked about that immediately after the Iowa State game and we didn’t respond well in our preparation and our play against Texas Tech,” Snyder said Monday. “We revisited the issue immediately after the Texas A&M game for the exact same reason. Everything is responsive regardless of circumstances.”

To be honest, I’d rather have the Wildcats’ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine from game-to-game rather than the Buffs half-to-half version. In its last three games, CU has blown a pair of 14-10 halftime leads and almost blew a 24-10 halftime lead against Kansas. The Wildcats’ Jekyll and Hyde version is less likely to give me a heart-attack because at least I’ll know which Wildcats team will show up by the end of the first quarter. The CU version is just plain frustrating.

Once Snyder’s teleconference ended, he quickly flew out of the living room window and caused a whirlwind. Debris flew and a piece of paper smacked me in the face. When the wind died down, I unglued the paper off my face and the sheet showed both teams’ schedule and the Big 12 Conference standings.

Then, senior cornerback Cha’pelle Brown – the other hero in CU’s win over Kansas and the ghost of Buffaloes future – tapped me on the shoulder.

“I think we’re aware [of playing for first place in the Big 12 North], but that’s not our focus,” Brown said after Wednesday’s practice. “Our focus is K-State. That’s what we’re worried about. We’re going to go one game at a time and that’s it.”

If CU wins, they will have at least a share of first place despite its sub .500 record. If K-State wins, they will hold on to the division lead at 3-1. But after the Buffs, the Wildcats final four games are at Oklahoma, vs. No. 25 Kansas, vs. Missouri and at Nebraska.

Ouch!

Then, Hansen popped his head back in.

“That’s a tough spot,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “If that’s the case, they are definitely probably looking at this game as a must-win for them too. It should be a good game. It’s going to be a battle.”

Hansen snapped his fingers and in an instant, they were gone. I woke up sweating profusely at 3 a.m. Thursday and looked to my left. The crack in the mirror was not only gone, but it lit up and spoke.

“Colorado 20, Kansas State 17,” the mirror said.

Contact CU Independent Co-Sports Editor Cheng Sio at Cheng.Sio@colorado.edu.