I expect a pretty big improvement from the CU Buffs this season.
It is often the third year of a coaching change in which a team finally breaks out.
I look to the University of Iowas hire of Kirk Ferentz in 1998 as what I expect for CU (or something similar). Below is an excerpt from Wiki illustrating a program and a coaching change for a program that was in a similar situation to CUs:
"On December 2, 1998, Ferentz was hired as Iowa's 26th head football coach to replace the retiring Hayden Fry. The team struggled during Ferentz's first two seasons with a combined 4-19 record, but the Hawkeyes earned their first bowl bid under Ferentz after a 7-5 season in 2001. They beat Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl, 19-16.
The 2002 season would prove to be memorable for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. The team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, with the only loss coming to in-state rival Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium. They shared the Big Ten Conference championship with Ohio State, as both teams finished 8-0 in conference play. Quarterback Brad Banks won the Davey O'Brien Award for best quarterback and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Carson Palmer of USC. Tight end Dallas Clark was that season's John Mackey Award winner, and placekicker Nate Kaeding was the Lou Groza Award winner. Ferentz was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press for his efforts. Iowa received its first-ever BCS invitation, losing to USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl 38-17.
Despite losing several seniors to graduation, the Hawkeyes compiled a 9-3 regular season record in 2003. They defeated Florida 37-17 in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, for their first January win since 1959. This earned the Hawkeyes a #8 national ranking in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll at the end of the season. Offensive tackle Robert Gallery was that season's Outland Trophy winner; after the season, the Oakland Raiders chose him with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Ferentz
If anything, the Buffs are ahead of this curve, with greater long-term potential.
Do the Buffs, even with a grueling schedule, see a similar breakout (9-3 or so) this season?
It is often the third year of a coaching change in which a team finally breaks out.
I look to the University of Iowas hire of Kirk Ferentz in 1998 as what I expect for CU (or something similar). Below is an excerpt from Wiki illustrating a program and a coaching change for a program that was in a similar situation to CUs:
"On December 2, 1998, Ferentz was hired as Iowa's 26th head football coach to replace the retiring Hayden Fry. The team struggled during Ferentz's first two seasons with a combined 4-19 record, but the Hawkeyes earned their first bowl bid under Ferentz after a 7-5 season in 2001. They beat Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl, 19-16.
The 2002 season would prove to be memorable for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. The team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, with the only loss coming to in-state rival Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium. They shared the Big Ten Conference championship with Ohio State, as both teams finished 8-0 in conference play. Quarterback Brad Banks won the Davey O'Brien Award for best quarterback and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Carson Palmer of USC. Tight end Dallas Clark was that season's John Mackey Award winner, and placekicker Nate Kaeding was the Lou Groza Award winner. Ferentz was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press for his efforts. Iowa received its first-ever BCS invitation, losing to USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl 38-17.
Despite losing several seniors to graduation, the Hawkeyes compiled a 9-3 regular season record in 2003. They defeated Florida 37-17 in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, for their first January win since 1959. This earned the Hawkeyes a #8 national ranking in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll at the end of the season. Offensive tackle Robert Gallery was that season's Outland Trophy winner; after the season, the Oakland Raiders chose him with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Ferentz
If anything, the Buffs are ahead of this curve, with greater long-term potential.
Do the Buffs, even with a grueling schedule, see a similar breakout (9-3 or so) this season?