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By Stuart
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[h=3]Colorado Daily – Utah[/h]–
November 24th
Big plays the key in Arizona’s 42-10 win over the Utes
From the Deseret News … All year long, the Utah defense has bailed out the often-anemic Ute offense, which has led to several close victories.
The Ute offense struggled yet again Saturday against Arizona, but the dam finally broke on the Ute defense as it gave up a season-high 520 yards, including five plays that went 33 yards or longer, accounting for nearly half of the Wildcats’ total offense.
“We gave up too many big plays,’’ said safety Brian Blechen. “We made it too easy on them by blowing a coverage or missing a gap. That just gives them confidence to get rolling. Too many times we were shooting ourselves in the foot.’’
Coach Kyle Whittingham agreed that the Ute defense came up short against the Wildcats, particularly against the run, where the Utes allowed 298 yards, including 220 by Nick Wilson.
“In the running game we were soft on defense,’’ said Whittingham. “They’ve got a good scheme. We got reached on the edge three or four times, didn’t play that very well. They’re a good offense, but we didn’t play very well on defense either.’’
… When asked what the problem with the Ute defense was, Blechen said, “I don’t know what it was exactly. They were finding ways to crease us. Usually the box is solid with our D-line and linebackers and tonight they did a good job and when we gave them lanes, they capitalized on it and ran hard.”
…. In case you were wondering … Colorado has had just 42 “explosion” plays this year – offensive plays going for over 20 yards -*while giving up 65 …
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Attendance issues
It was noted, at the end of the Deseret News article above, that: “Although there were a lot of empty seats because of the weather, the official attendance was 45,824, Utah’s 31st-straight sellout”.
Which got me to thinking about CU’s attendance this fall. To date, the Buffs are averaging 37,503 per game at Folsom. With another early kickoff this weekend (11:00 a.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks), the students out of town for Thanksgiving break, and little in the way of incentive to attend, it is likely that the average is not going to go up after the season finale on Saturday.
If the average holds, it will be the lowest average attendance at Folsom Field in 29 years. In 1985, the Buffs brought in an average of 36,789 per game. If only about 33,000 show up this weekend, the 1981 average of 34,871 might be challenged.
At least the next lowest total – 25,940 in 1965 – is safe. Even if the Buffs played to an empty house this weekend, CU’s total would still be 31,252 for the year.
With one weekend of games to play, Colorado is 67th in the nation in attendance, according to NCAA statistics. Only Washington State, at 30,362 is lower (but then again, capacity of Cougar stadium is only 32,740).
In terms of capacity, Colorado is 87th in the nation in attendance. CU is just short of 70% of capacity through the first games of the season, worst in the Pac-12. Even USC, which plays in the cavernous Coliseum, played to 77% capacity. The only other school which has had disappointing numbers in term of capacity was Cal. The Bears have a new stadium, but played to only 76.26% of capacity.
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Pac-12 writers for ESPN weigh-in on CU’s season
Under the heading, “A 6-Pac of questions: Week 14“, ESPN writers were asked about the Buffs’ season.
It’s hard to argue with their responses:
What are your takeaways for Colorado’s season to this point?
Gemmell: Encouraging, though it’s tough to see. I think you hit the nail on the head, Kyle, in your power rankings Sunday when you said because the conference is so deep, you can’t see the results in the standings. Colorado has gotten better, but so has the conference. They just need to accelerate their improvement over the next couple of years if they want to pass some of these teams. But they were a lot more competitive this year than in season’s past. That’s something to build on going forward.
Bonagura: Coaches hate — HATE — playing “What If?” In Colorado’s case, it’s particularly frustrating, or encouraging, depending how you look at it. The Buffs led 10-win Colorado State (10-1) in the fourth quarter, they went to double overtime with Cal, they led Oregon State at halftime, they went to double overtime with No. 9 UCLA and led Washington at halftime. There were some not-so-close games in there, too, but the point is they were a few breaks from a more respectable record.
Originally posted by CU At the Game
Click here to vie
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[h=3]Colorado Daily – Utah[/h]–
November 24th
Big plays the key in Arizona’s 42-10 win over the Utes
From the Deseret News … All year long, the Utah defense has bailed out the often-anemic Ute offense, which has led to several close victories.
The Ute offense struggled yet again Saturday against Arizona, but the dam finally broke on the Ute defense as it gave up a season-high 520 yards, including five plays that went 33 yards or longer, accounting for nearly half of the Wildcats’ total offense.
“We gave up too many big plays,’’ said safety Brian Blechen. “We made it too easy on them by blowing a coverage or missing a gap. That just gives them confidence to get rolling. Too many times we were shooting ourselves in the foot.’’
Coach Kyle Whittingham agreed that the Ute defense came up short against the Wildcats, particularly against the run, where the Utes allowed 298 yards, including 220 by Nick Wilson.
“In the running game we were soft on defense,’’ said Whittingham. “They’ve got a good scheme. We got reached on the edge three or four times, didn’t play that very well. They’re a good offense, but we didn’t play very well on defense either.’’
… When asked what the problem with the Ute defense was, Blechen said, “I don’t know what it was exactly. They were finding ways to crease us. Usually the box is solid with our D-line and linebackers and tonight they did a good job and when we gave them lanes, they capitalized on it and ran hard.”
…. In case you were wondering … Colorado has had just 42 “explosion” plays this year – offensive plays going for over 20 yards -*while giving up 65 …
–
Attendance issues
It was noted, at the end of the Deseret News article above, that: “Although there were a lot of empty seats because of the weather, the official attendance was 45,824, Utah’s 31st-straight sellout”.
Which got me to thinking about CU’s attendance this fall. To date, the Buffs are averaging 37,503 per game at Folsom. With another early kickoff this weekend (11:00 a.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks), the students out of town for Thanksgiving break, and little in the way of incentive to attend, it is likely that the average is not going to go up after the season finale on Saturday.
If the average holds, it will be the lowest average attendance at Folsom Field in 29 years. In 1985, the Buffs brought in an average of 36,789 per game. If only about 33,000 show up this weekend, the 1981 average of 34,871 might be challenged.
At least the next lowest total – 25,940 in 1965 – is safe. Even if the Buffs played to an empty house this weekend, CU’s total would still be 31,252 for the year.
With one weekend of games to play, Colorado is 67th in the nation in attendance, according to NCAA statistics. Only Washington State, at 30,362 is lower (but then again, capacity of Cougar stadium is only 32,740).
In terms of capacity, Colorado is 87th in the nation in attendance. CU is just short of 70% of capacity through the first games of the season, worst in the Pac-12. Even USC, which plays in the cavernous Coliseum, played to 77% capacity. The only other school which has had disappointing numbers in term of capacity was Cal. The Bears have a new stadium, but played to only 76.26% of capacity.
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Pac-12 writers for ESPN weigh-in on CU’s season
Under the heading, “A 6-Pac of questions: Week 14“, ESPN writers were asked about the Buffs’ season.
It’s hard to argue with their responses:
What are your takeaways for Colorado’s season to this point?
Gemmell: Encouraging, though it’s tough to see. I think you hit the nail on the head, Kyle, in your power rankings Sunday when you said because the conference is so deep, you can’t see the results in the standings. Colorado has gotten better, but so has the conference. They just need to accelerate their improvement over the next couple of years if they want to pass some of these teams. But they were a lot more competitive this year than in season’s past. That’s something to build on going forward.
Bonagura: Coaches hate — HATE — playing “What If?” In Colorado’s case, it’s particularly frustrating, or encouraging, depending how you look at it. The Buffs led 10-win Colorado State (10-1) in the fourth quarter, they went to double overtime with Cal, they led Oregon State at halftime, they went to double overtime with No. 9 UCLA and led Washington at halftime. There were some not-so-close games in there, too, but the point is they were a few breaks from a more respectable record.
Originally posted by CU At the Game
Click here to vie