Tied to the whipping post, notes and quotes

Is it time for a wake for the Colorado football program?

Losing to Baylor?

At home?

To CSU?

To Montana State?

And where was help when I needed it this week, picking the Buffs to send the Bears home with a bloody nose for all their pre-game-Rodney-Dangerfield-we-get-no-respect act?

No one told me to reign it in, take some pills and sleep it off.

Thought we were friends?

Colorado continues to do some things well, like run the football, with quarterback Bernard "One-Trick Pony" Jackson,
Hugh "Underused" Charles, Mell "I'm E.B.'s boy" Holliday and Byron "Out-of-the-witness-protection-program" Ellis, but the passing game, well X-rated, boys and girls, as in not-for-young-people's eyes. Is it Halloween yet? Frightening, how horrible that part of the attack has been and remains. Sorry, but just not buying excuses for that anymore. Six weeks in, inexperienced or not, Jackson and CU should be making strides forward, not sticking the car back into neutral or reverse.

Do my eyes look glassy to you?

Seventy-five yards?

Three picks?

Did Ryan Leaf transfer to CU?

Everyone knows the number-one guy to cover is tight end Riar Geer, that Jackson struggles to get the ball to the outside receivers. Honestly, why quit trying to fool everyone and just put offensive lineman at those positions or all the tight ends on the roster or the guys used to block for the punter and have them knock heads and throw bodies around and give up the facade of calling guys split out, "receivers."

Right now, Michael Westbrook, Charles Johnson, and even jailbird Rae Carruth are laughing so hard at it all.

James Cox is sitting somewhere right now, asking himself, "do I suck that bad?"

Brian White is in the Pacific Northwest, breathing easier, saying "I might not be in the Big 12 but I'm playing. Hmmm....wonder how James is doing these days?"

Hey, love B-Jack and think he will improve by next season but even his most ardent supporter has to wonder, well, can't use those three letters here. Let's just say, what's going on? This is not quantum physics or thermo-nuclear whatever or any other course all the brainiacs on campus are studying.

Defensively, I think the Buffs' early season success was a mirage, as the last two weeks showed this unit has some serious holes. Missouri and Baylor, while not powder-puff teams, are not, ahh, offensive juggernauts.

Yes, J.J. Billingsley is pissed right now, and coach Dan Hawkins is asking "why, now, J.J.?"

Still don't think CU can o-for-2006 but who knows.

Think Lou Holtz went through this at first with South Carolina so maybe he's another guy, scandal-ridden as he might have been, for Hawkins to talk to next. Or some fading dude like Bobby Bowden who's getting whipped up on by his son and now his former employees. Remember, though, Florida State used to be a chick school before he got his mitts on it.

More later, amigos.

My condolences.

Notes from "The Boss"

Hey, anyone a certain age, won't say what that is, knows Bruce Springsteen is known as the boss. Anyone who knows sports information and CU knows no one works harder and is more passionate than Dave Plati. Not only does he have an affinity for digging up interesting bones on the Buffs, he does it quickly.

Quick post-game hitters, hope I can complete a few....

Defensive end Abe Wright has become addicted to sacks. With two today, he now has eight on the season, and is likely setting himself up to be drafted in the first couple of rounds of the draft if he can maintain any sort of the pace that he's on. Dude is just so selfish about devouring QBs.

Terrence Wheatley bagged a couple of interceptions, that little ballhawk, and now has eight in his career, tying him for 16th on the all-time Colorado list. If he isn't careful, he could find himself a draftable body come next April.

Quotes, from The Boss' press machine

DT George Hypolite: "We have to take away the postives, keep improving, get in the film room and come back next week and try and get the win."

BGB: O.K., George, can't argue. Dwelling on the negative ain't helpin' anything so focusing on the positives is a productive approach but come on, big fella, don't we have this same conversation each week?

Hypolite: "I don't think it's (the loss) that disappointing. We made a lot of big plays in big situations. I think it would be more disappointing if we weren't this close. We played too well and made too many big plays to be disappointed."

BGB: Must say, George has a unique perspective on things, and I really like him, but the loss, and I think I speak for at least, oh, I don't know, two people, maybe three, or ah, four, think the loss, any loss is disappointing, and six, well, pass the Tums. What to look for in Hypo's words are this...how Dan Hawkins is programming his player's minds to think forward, think positively and not lose confidence, not let the outside world tear down his plan, his guys, this program. It's easy to rip now but one day, the program will remember these days for what they are, a stepping stone.

Hugh Charles: "We have to stay positive. We're a good team and we know that. Coach Hawkins is good about picking us up and getting us back on the positive side."

BGB: High-C, as a friend I say this, 0-6 does not make you a good team. Not hatin', just saying. I know what you mean, I really do, but sooner or later, wins have to be the only acceptable outcome. As far as your coach, I, too, think he's a rare bird, a good guy, teaching you not only about football and climbing a mountain, but also about life. You're getting something special here in B-town to be coached by him. Think it will pay off for many years. Tell your friends. Especially the talented ones.

Thaddaeous Washington: "We have to let each other know that we need to work even harder. You can't get down on your teammates and you can't get down on yourself. You have to keep on going, it's just like life."

BGB: Wow. Here's a cat who gets it. T-Dub, you know you are wise beyond your years. You win in life by encouraging others and grinding it out, never losing confidence, and not forgetting to be introspective and ask yourself how do I get better and live a more abundant life?

Head Buff, Dan Hawkins: "Ultimately, life comes down to some values and morals, and whether life tells you if you're a winner or loser, it's up to you ultimately to decide what happens. No matter what happens, we've got our pride and our dignity and integrity and we're going to continue to do things right. We don't know why something like illness, or loss of job, or death or divorce, no matter what it is, sometimes life keeps serving it up and not like we want it to serve it up. But we are determined what our response is going to be to that, and you have to say, "Hey, you're never going to knock me out."

BGB: Perspective. Not only on football but life. And like I wrote above, the players on this team are getting an education from Hawkins that will serve them well for many years. Reminds me of Bill McCartney. I'm sure Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett did wonderful things and I know they both have strong supporters, but this guy now, this dude named Hawkins, just has that special feel about him. Hey, I'm nobody to you, so listen to Eddie Crowder's support or Mac's, and look at who those two men are, and then ask yourself, "if Big Eddie and Mac both are in Hawkins' corner, maybe they know something, so why am I questioning Confucious of the Flatirons?"

This story, friends, is going to have a victorious ending. The question is, are we patient enough, faithful enough, to wait for it?

Yes, like most everyone else, the losses weigh heavy and I desire a winning effort, but I limit my frustration to the game, and bounce back with positive expectation because I know, as in really know, this program is going to take off, surpass some teams currently ahead of it, and remain consistently good, and it's going to be a model program. Not perfect, but a model program that parents are going to feel comfortable having their children be a part of, no doubt. Watch the lessons learned now, see the little victories in recruiting, with each one building to a greater whole, a few program changers signing on, too, and the support growing and growing until winning becomes commonplace again.

TheTruth