Again There is No Sound of Panic
By Michael Krumholtz
Familiar words buzz through the microphone-loaded room
“Obviously I’m disappointed with our performance on Saturday,” said CU Head Coach
Jon Embree. “But I was pleased with how our younger kids played.”
A few days removed from his team’s tumble against Colorado State, Embree speaks to a
group of reporters and fans with a doubtless tone at his weekly luncheon. And though he
seems more ragged and tired than the day he took this job, like a doomed ship’s captain
who has grown wise after years of sailing menacing tides, his attitude beats constant.
Embree remains optimistic, almost to a stubborn point, about building his Alma Mater
up to a competitive stature. He said he still believes this will be a bowl-eligible team by
season’s end.
“Trust me it’s personal with me about this job, about getting it right,” Embree said when
asked what he could say to his fans upon the 0-1 start. “I’m not going to change my
standard, I’m not going to change my expectations. We should expect to go to a bowl
game every year.”
If that prediction is to culminate into reality, then a win against FCS opponent
Sacramento State would seem a necessary step. The Hornets lost by 30 last week to
New Mexico State and might find it a little tougher to breathe in the fourth quarter while
playing 5,400 feet above sea.
Embree’s Buffs have worked all week to fine-tune the conspicuous weaknesses that
marred a beat-up from little brother.
To begin, the offensive line needs to find motivation from a performance in which it’s
running backs averaged two yards per carry. Especially since the athleticism on the
offense’s edge continues to be a loud weakness, the offensive line must find ways to push
opposing lines backwards.
“If you can’t run the ball, it’s going to be hard to win,” admitted Embree. “I think we’ve
run the ball effectively two times now in 14 games. That’s not good enough.
On the opposite end, the stoic but thin front-seven will be key to working in a youthful
secondary, helping to pressure Hornets quarterback Garrett Safron, who is apt to
scrambling. The defense’s faculty to pressure Safron will prove vital to getting the Buffs
a mark in the win column.
Embree notes that his long history with CU, both as player and coach, has challenged his
football faith with riddling results. An 18-28 record while excelling at tight end under
Bill McCartney has carried over to a 3-11 record as the program’s main man. Persistent
in his philosophy and calm in his restless want for a winning team, the head coach continues
to believe in a hardworking group.
“If you start changing your goals and your standards you’re not going to be successful
in anything you do,” said Embree. “I learned that early as a player going through some
of the things I went through here. It was difficult times. To me it’s a no-brainer, you just
keep grinding.”
A young crop of 13 freshmen, who are a major part of the project for success, got their
first game action in Denver. How much improvement comes from players like Kenneth
Crawley, Gerald Thomas, and Marques Mosley will be telling for the substance of the
Buffs 2012 story.
Embree still has a lot of fight left in him. His army of black-shirted buffaloes (which,
keep in mind, is one of the youngest teams in all of the FBS) may be impressionable
enough to mirror his will.
“It’s OK to be disappointed,” Embree told his players after the Rocky Mountain
Showdown. “But don’t be discouraged. Discouragement leads to failure.”
By Michael Krumholtz
Familiar words buzz through the microphone-loaded room
“Obviously I’m disappointed with our performance on Saturday,” said CU Head Coach
Jon Embree. “But I was pleased with how our younger kids played.”
A few days removed from his team’s tumble against Colorado State, Embree speaks to a
group of reporters and fans with a doubtless tone at his weekly luncheon. And though he
seems more ragged and tired than the day he took this job, like a doomed ship’s captain
who has grown wise after years of sailing menacing tides, his attitude beats constant.
Embree remains optimistic, almost to a stubborn point, about building his Alma Mater
up to a competitive stature. He said he still believes this will be a bowl-eligible team by
season’s end.
“Trust me it’s personal with me about this job, about getting it right,” Embree said when
asked what he could say to his fans upon the 0-1 start. “I’m not going to change my
standard, I’m not going to change my expectations. We should expect to go to a bowl
game every year.”
If that prediction is to culminate into reality, then a win against FCS opponent
Sacramento State would seem a necessary step. The Hornets lost by 30 last week to
New Mexico State and might find it a little tougher to breathe in the fourth quarter while
playing 5,400 feet above sea.
Embree’s Buffs have worked all week to fine-tune the conspicuous weaknesses that
marred a beat-up from little brother.
To begin, the offensive line needs to find motivation from a performance in which it’s
running backs averaged two yards per carry. Especially since the athleticism on the
offense’s edge continues to be a loud weakness, the offensive line must find ways to push
opposing lines backwards.
“If you can’t run the ball, it’s going to be hard to win,” admitted Embree. “I think we’ve
run the ball effectively two times now in 14 games. That’s not good enough.
On the opposite end, the stoic but thin front-seven will be key to working in a youthful
secondary, helping to pressure Hornets quarterback Garrett Safron, who is apt to
scrambling. The defense’s faculty to pressure Safron will prove vital to getting the Buffs
a mark in the win column.
Embree notes that his long history with CU, both as player and coach, has challenged his
football faith with riddling results. An 18-28 record while excelling at tight end under
Bill McCartney has carried over to a 3-11 record as the program’s main man. Persistent
in his philosophy and calm in his restless want for a winning team, the head coach continues
to believe in a hardworking group.
“If you start changing your goals and your standards you’re not going to be successful
in anything you do,” said Embree. “I learned that early as a player going through some
of the things I went through here. It was difficult times. To me it’s a no-brainer, you just
keep grinding.”
A young crop of 13 freshmen, who are a major part of the project for success, got their
first game action in Denver. How much improvement comes from players like Kenneth
Crawley, Gerald Thomas, and Marques Mosley will be telling for the substance of the
Buffs 2012 story.
Embree still has a lot of fight left in him. His army of black-shirted buffaloes (which,
keep in mind, is one of the youngest teams in all of the FBS) may be impressionable
enough to mirror his will.
“It’s OK to be disappointed,” Embree told his players after the Rocky Mountain
Showdown. “But don’t be discouraged. Discouragement leads to failure.”
