Wheels come off, Patton desperate

So how does it happen?

A 67-55 defeat to a 1-3 North Carolina Wilmington team that was losing to junior varsity schools and allowing 90 points a game while doing so?

Colorado goes on the road and loses, but to the Seahawks?

That should have been a golden opportunity for the Buffs pounce on and devour, a big win where they got fat, offensively.

Instead, what happens is this:

37 percent shooting from the floor, 21 percent from 3-point range, 62 percent from the line.

9 assists.

Yes, nine!

Turn the ball over 20 times while only swiping it seven.

Getting outrebounded by a team not named Kansas or Texas by six (35-29).

My point?

Well, it's sort of like a joke. If I have to explain it, then it's just pointless.

Besides, you're too intelligent to need it lined out.

Ricardo Patton, and I'm surprised I'm saying this, but the man will not last the season running the CU basketball team.

Some were calling for the school to make a change immediately after he announced his resignation. That, I thought, made no sense to a school reportedly strapped for cash. Make Patton coach the final season, then make the changing of the guard.

So, back to the game.

How do the Buffs play so poorly against a team like North Carolina Wilmington?

Richard Roby scores 16, freshman Jeremy Williams busts out with 14 points but hardly rebounds, Jermyl Jackson Wilson is ineffective, and Dominique Coleman continues his slump.

The wheels, my friends, have come off the bus.

The performances of this team sound an alarm, youth not enough of an excuse, that maybe Patton, upset over not getting that extension, has lost his passion for making this year important.

Yes, you can argue he is coaching for his next opportunity, his next contract at some other school, but this is the worst start to a season in recent memory so how else are the black and gold following supposed to take this. Even the most strident Patton supporters have to be questioning, 'how did it get this bad?'

Win 10 games this season -- think that's a lock? I see blowouts a comin' in the Big 12, transfers if the right coach is not named. The next coach will more than have his hands full but at the same time will be lauded for any improvement in chemistry and confidence the program shows.

If you read the interview with Paul Clark from the CycloneReport regarding Iowa State's hiring of Texas assistant Gene Chizik as it's new football coach, I asked him, what happened to ISU this season. That program was once seemingly on the rise with former coach Dan McCarney before it blew up, especially this year.

His comments were telling.

He said that when you are a middle school or lower school in college football the margin for error is so small that when things go bad they can go real bad, and that's why the Cyclones were horrible this season.

So, let's transfer that theory to basketball and see how the Buffs are definitely an average program in the world of college basketball and how when it gets bad, it can get real bad, and losing, everyone, to NC Wilmington on the road, is real bad.

Will share this with you -- rumblings are happening within the team, according to a source close to it. Allegedly, Patton is tearing his team down with insults, responding to shoddy play by running the Buffs ragged in practice as opposed to teaching, never known to be his strong suit, and the players, once again allegedly, are said to be miserable with it all.

Roby, who's play has been unsteady, is said to be questioning his decision to come back because of constantly being verbally attacked in practice.

Yes, we live in a kindler, gentler time and old school methods are now questioned, making many wonder how soft we've become but how do you build up a group that has little confidence? By screaming and not teaching? Look at the play, look at the results, does teaching appear to be part of the equation?

There is no intent to start a firericardopatton.com web site, as once happened to former Florida football coach Ron Zook, but the man is not teflon, either. Coaches are meant to be questioned when it gets this poor.

Now, if all this is true, think about the message being sent.

A frustrated coach stooping to ugly name calling instead of taking the burden upon himself and realizing he has to teach. Taking responsibility for his shortcomings and not just lashing out at players, making them insecure on the floor.

John Wooden, a teacher, a leader, he's not, I realize, but Patton could be losing this team. It could get much more ugly.

The source also shared that the offensive philosophy is that any shot that goes in qualifies as a good shot, that driving the ball to the basket is discouraged, that any mistake on a youth-laden team is grounds for an immediate benching, and the players are wary of saying anything to Patton, the assistants or anyone else.

Hey, Marcus Aurelius once said it is better to be feared than loved, yet that only works if you're winning. I'm sure athletic director Mike Bohn knows exactly what is transpiring and is trying not to act in emotion. I'm also sure that he won't let the current state of chaos continue the season if the results on the court are so devoid of cohesion, if the program becomes an embarrassment.

Watch for a change, from Patton to anyone, before the season ends, and likely before Big 12 play.

Cyclones feeling confident with Chizik on board

Iowa State decided to raid the coaching staff of Big-12 power Texas for its' next boss.

In defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, they grab one hot name, a man who was the leader of dominating units on powerful teams in Austin and before that, Auburn.

On paper, it looks like an excellent hire for the Cyclones

Time, however, will tell.

Just ask Colorado fans about Dan Hawkins, a winning machine before jumping into the mess that was Buff football.

The Black and Gold Breakdown thought it important to know your enemy so it walked the streets to find someone close to the situation and bumped into Paul Clark of the CycloneReport, found at http://iowastate.rivals.com/.

Our discussion traveled the river of thought of how Iowa State got such a hot coaching commodity in Chizik, the initial reaction, the job ahead, and more. I think if you read closely, some parallels will appear between Boulder and Ames, between the football and basketball programs.

BGB: With jobs known to be opening up at Miami and then, Alabama and Arizona State, how did Iowa State get Chizik over those higher-profile schools?

Clark: Jamie Pollard, the athletic director, joked with Chizik he was sure glad he got him signed when he saw all the jobs that opened up over the last 24-48 hours.

Something you could see from talking to Gene just a little bit and hearing his public comments is he's a man of faith and he believes everything is a part of a bigger plan and it all came together this way for a reason. He and his wife prayed together on this decision.

BGB: Do you know if there were other candidates and who they were, Paul?

Clark: Jamie Pollard said there were six individuals who were interviewed.

Chizik was one of them, Jay Norvell, the offensive coordinator at Nebraska, Jim Harbaugh, the head coach at the University of San Diego also interviewed and Brian Kelly, the head coach at Central Michigan was also interviewed.

So those are four we know. The other two (names) would be speculation.

BGB: What is the early reaction in Ames, around Iowa and for you, personally, Paul?

Clark: I think the initial reaction has been great and it continues to get better as people begin to grasp this hire.

For myself, personally, I obviously think this is a great hire. Gene Chizik's name and reputation and the panache his name carries in college football, all that obviously makes this a great hire for ISU.

BGB: What sold Chizik on this job?

Clark: The university's growing commitment to not just have a football team but to be successful in football. He sensed that. He could see, whether it was something tangible, like
$ 100 in capital improvements planned for the next five years or whether it's a change in the culture at Iowa State.

In a tangible way, Iowa State showed Gene Chizik its' commitment. They're giving him $ 1.5 million per year to put together his football staff. That puts Iowa State in the top third of the Big 12 in terms of money they have to spend on assistant coaches.

When (former coach) Dan McCarney took the job, Iowa State was dead last by a mile in terms of what they paid assistant coaches.

BGB: What obstacles come to mind that Chizik is going to have to overcome that McCarney, no matter how hard he tried, simply couldn't?

Clark: He mentioned the relationship with high school coaches in Iowa. That was a tremendous strength of Dan McCarney. The next thing, he's going to have to adjust his perspective, his approach, adjust to not having Texas and Auburn-like athletes. He's going to have to become a better coach to be effective.

When I look at Gene Chizik's resume, I'm most impressed with, not by Texas or Auburn, but most impressed by the fact he was at Central Florida and he had a pretty good defense. That shows me he can do the same at Iowa State.

BGB: What happened to McCarney? He seemingly had that program on the cusp of really getting over the hump then the bottom dropped out, especially this season. What brought that on?

Clark: A couple of factors. The margin for error is pretty slim at Iowa State. When you're at any program in the middle range or lower range of college football, there is just very little room for error and when things go bad, they tend to go real bad.

Plus, I think it's missed opportunities. Iowa State had the opportunity the last two years to be the champion of the Big 12 North division. For Iowa State, the window of opportunity was only going to stay open for so long. Nebraska and Kansas State were only going to be in a down cycle for a few years. We knew that. Those are good programs. They're going to come back.

All the stars were lined up for Iowa State and they still didn't get the job done and once that window of opportunity closed again, the energy, the momentum, all the positive mojo the program had, you could feel it draining out.

BGB: What did you hear from Chizik at his press conference that hit you hard, most impressed you?

Clark: He didn't talk a whole lot about football. He just talked about what he was impressed about Iowa State was, yes, the commitment to winning football, but just how Iowa State is going to go about doing things and he was impressed about how Iowa State conducted the job search and how respectful Iowa State was of Texas and its' players.

I think that was pretty powerful.

And when he and his wife really had to make a decision, they didn't sit down and look at the paycheck they were going to get or things like that. They prayed, they prayed together and they felt led by God this was going to be the right place for them.

BGB: What can Chizik expect to accomplish in a conference with heavyweights like Texas and Oklahoma, and, as you mentioned, Nebraska and Kansas State rising again? Those teams and the rest of the difficult draws in the conference?

Clark: Iowa State is not an easy place to win. The record book bears that out.

I can tell you from knowing my school, knowing the history of Iowa State, it hasn't cared very much through the decades about winning.

Look at Kansas State, yeah, Bill Snyder was a great coach but that started with their president.
Look at Rutgers, Greg Schiano is a great coach, that started with their president. Once the university decides we're going to be good in football, that has to happen before the coach has any chance at all to be successful.

BGB: Thanks to Paul Clark spending some quality time with us and sharing the good news for Cyclones' fans, getting a coach and apparently, quality person in Chizik.

Here's what grabbed my attention from Clark's comments above. Humor me, if you will, as my mind rarely shuts down.

Chizik is really gambling on Iowa State when he may have been able to land jobs at other schools with his lights-out resume. SEC, Big East and Pac-10 jobs were available and known to be opening up. Iowa State jumping hard and fast to get him was astute, reminding me of another school's approach, Oklahoma, when they landed a fantastic defensive coordinator from the University of Florida, some cat named Bob, ah, what's his last name again, oh yes, Stoops.

Chizik doesn't have Oklahoma's tradition to build recruiting off of but he can be a serious name dropper in parents living rooms.

Did you see the money allocated for Chizik to hire assistants? That is something that will draw quality to Ames, especially working for a coach who is greatly respected. That is an area where CU can't compete thanks to a foolish law, at least for college athletics.

As Clark said, when you are a middle school in college football the margin for error is so small and well, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is what Colorado has become and why, in some part, they got pancaked this season in the won-loss column. The Buffs didn't get wiped out on the field often and the reason they couldn't pull off games was, as maddening as it was to continually hear it from players and coaches alike, was the details. The talent Texas has, USC or Ohio State has allows them to erase mistakes. CU is playing without an eraser these days. So was Iowa State.

Does this ring a bell for you? A defensive coach for a traditional powerhouse takes a job at a lowly school, is a devout Christian, big character guy, driven to succeed but not given much chance for success.

No?

Hey, only saying it sounds familiar to me. Not saying the result will be anything remotely similar, but interesting nonetheless, don't you think?

And what about Clark's comments on winning? If the university doesn't want it first, commit to the action necessary to achieve it, then baby, it ain't happenin'?

First thing that came to mind when I heard that from him was Scott Wilke, the former Buff center, who shared here at the Black and Gold Breakdown that he feels CU doesn't care if the school has a basketball program.

Hey, maybe Clark was only talking about Iowa State but a lot more than Gene Chizik came out of that conversation.

Food for thought.

Patton takes Buffs to run and gun with Seahawks

Maybe just what Colorado needs.

North Carolina Wilmington invites the Buffs over for some basketball Wednesday at its' place and I would assume, at 1-3 on the season, plans to play the role of good host.

The Seahawks beat Belmont to open the campaign before falling to Tennessee, Campbell and Charleston, not exactly anyone's Final Four.

Want more good news?

NC Wilmington is giving up an average of 90 points a game.

If Ricardo Patton's young team can't score the ball at will on these guys, then we need to launch an investigation. The question then becomes can CU slow the Seahawks just enough to leave town with a victory?

The Buffs' opponent does shoot the ball well and places four players in double figures, led by 6-foot-10, 255-pound Canadian center Vladimir Kuljanin, who posts a line of 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game.

Temi Soyebo, a slender 6-foot guard, averages 13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and six assists a contest.

It's obvious NC Wilmington can get good shots and knock them down from the perimeter. For CU to get the win, they will have to get back on defense, stay with its' man and, you know, crowd him just a little, to the point of smelling the shooter's breath.

Time for Richard Roby to bust out with a big effort, Dominique Coleman to "get his" and forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson to continue his strong all-around play. That trio rolls, then it's time for freshman point guard Kal Bay (pictured) to make strides offensively as well as starting to take control of the team when he's on the floor.

And also on the Black and Gold Breakdown's chalkboard is for the Buffs to start to develop a rotation and chemistry. It also wouldn't hurt to see some "big" make his presence felt.

If CU thinks this is nothing more than a scrimmage, it is going to get beat. If it sees the opportunity to pile up points with team play and getting a little dirty on defense and on the boards, it should get the much-needed victory and allow Patton to lose the pack of dogs chasing him with every lackluster performance.

Buffs honored

Three CU players have been recognized for their achievement on the field despite a 2-10 season.

Kicker Mason Crosby, defensive end Abraham Wright and cornerback Terrence Wheatley all get picked by Big 12 coaches as top-level talents at their respective positions.

Crosby, the Buffs' all-time leading scorer, is named to the team for the third-straight season.

Wright excelled as a pass rusher with 11 1/2 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures.

Wheatley came back from serious injury that could have ended his career to intercept five passes, break up 11 more and record 11 third-down stops.

CU had playmakers in 2006, just precious few of them. Crosby, Wright and Wheatley were the type of talents the Buffs needed more of to be a winner.

Jackson, receivers, recruiting in Moschetti, Part II

The Black and Gold Breakdown grabbed some time with former CU quarterback Mike Moschetti before Colorado played Nebraska. The part of the interview that talked about that game was posted. Here is the rest of the discussion.

Moschetti is currently the quarterback's coach and offensive coordinator at Mount San Antonio junior college in Walnut, CA, where he once played prior to heading to Boulder for two seasons.

In this interview, you'll immediately sense his continued passion for the program and how hot it runs. Honestly, after speaking with him, I think, no, I know he would be an amazing recruiter. Matter of fact, still trying to fudge some things on my athletic and academic resume to see if I can get to Mount San Antonio to realize my dream of playing quarterback again.

You'll read of Moschetti stepping forward to defend former coaches Gary Barnett and assistant Shawn Watson, he'll talk about playing quarterback, the problem with the receivers, specifics about some Buffs' recruits and he'll touch on Dan Hawkins, too.

Moschetti hits hard. He plays some Ronnie Lott-type safety in this space with his powerful honesty.

See what you think.

He was so excited to talk CU football, he started talking before I asked a formal question.

Here we go. Some how, Watson's name came up, talking about his coaching and all the complaints that came with it, especially the underneath routes on long down and distance plays.

Moschetti: The whole thing with the west coast offense is you want to get receivers on linebackers so you want to run a lot of short routes. The offense is based on yards after catch (YAC).

Now, when the scandal hit at Colorado, Barnett and Watson wanted to continue being the type of team they were in 2001 where you have great tight ends, great backs and you pound teams and run the football. After 2001, after the scandal hit and I hate to say this, they didn't have any players.

After 2004, they didn't have the studs up front, they had no playmakers at wide receiver after (D.J.) Hackett and (Derek) McCoy left and they couldn't stretch the field.

What Colorado tried to do was run the ball and try to throw high-percentage passes because they couldn't get by anybody, outside of (Jeremy) Bloom, who could get by people.

BGB: Being a former quarterback, was a big problem this season for CU, a lack of receivers or simply Bernard Jackson's inexperience or lack of development?

Moschetti: I've read some things and I think this is so stupid that Bernard's struggling this year is due to the fact that he didn't play (until this season) and was playing different positions (prior to this year).

People don't realize how great a player Joel Klatt was and the reason he took every snap was he put them in the best position to win. He was a coach on the field, he knew the offense inside and out, he was a warrior, a leader.

In D-1 football, you don't think about the next year. You think about the next quarter, the next game.

Chad Henne at Michigan never took prior snaps before Division-1 football, myself, Bobby Pesavento and how many snaps did (Josh) Booty take at USC when Matt Leinart was there?

Not too many.

BGB: The D-1 practice philosophy -- Hawkins said Jackson was not getting practice reps. How do the reps break down in practice amongst the quarterbacks?

Moschetti: In spring ball, Bernard had plenty of times to get a lot of reps. That's just a lame excuse that he didn't get any reps.

Once the season starts, the no. 1 (quarterback) is going to get 95 percent of the reps. That's why it's tough being a no. 2 quarterback. You're not getting reps. You have to sit on the sidelines and you're always a play away (from playing).

BGB: The quarterback position -- you played it -- you were one of the best in school history at it -- what are the biggest challenges to overcome to play it well?

Moschetti: The biggest thing with being a quarterback, mentally, you have to be the toughest guy on the field and not only mentally, but I believe also physically, you have to be the toughest guy on the field.

Another thing is when I was playing, coach (Tom) Cable used to have a saying, 'you've got to be a flat line.'

If you're playing well in the first quarter, you can't get too high and if you're not playing well in the first quarter, you can't get too low. So if you throw a touchdown you just have to keep playing, forget about the past and play the rest of the game.

You also have to be a student of the game.

BGB: Why has Colorado, which has had some very good receivers in its' past, some NFL talent even, why, all of a sudden has it gone dry bringing in strong-enough players?

Moschetti: If you're a receiver in California and you're going to take a recruiting trip to Cal, USC and Colorado and you can spend three days at USC and Cal and you go to Colorado and you have one day with a curfew and can't be with the players, where are you going to go?

The recruiting restrictions have killed them the last few years.

Going to blame a little on Barnett, too, because the first couple of years he didn't get any big-time receivers.

They don't have a guy that Nebraska is saying 'we have to base our coverage because of this guy.' They're just a bunch of numbers, no. 80, no. 82.

BGB: Is Dan Hawkins going to be able to get those types of receivers in here?

Moschetti: One of the differences I see between Hawkins and Barnett is I'm really excited about the kids they have coming in.

There is an offensive lineman out near where I coach, Garth Gerhart. He's one of the best offensive lineman I've ever seen. I know he's only rated as a three-star but I've seen him play a couple of times and he's as good an offensive lineman as I've seen at the high school level.

(His team) was in a big game a week ago and I went and watched it and he had, at least, at least, 10 pancake blocks.

Hawkins and his staff are very aggressive and right now, early in his career, it looks like they're better recruiters than the previous staff.

They do have to get receivers.

BGB: They also recruited a junior college quarterback, Mike, from California. Nick Nelson and...

Moschetti: We played against him.

BGB: What did you think?

Moschetti: I just think (CU) needed depth and Hawkins wants to bring a JC guy in and all three guys (Jackson, Cody Hawkins and Nelson) can push each other and all that's going to do is make competition and make all three guys better.

I just don't think he's a great player. I think he's good but he's not a guy that is going to come in, win the job and lead Colorado to a national championship.

He can help them win games but he's not going to be a difference maker.

Now the tailback, P.T. Gates, he's as big time as it gets. He's big, fast, he can catch, he's physical, he can block. He's a guy who on third and one can get you two yards and he's a guy on first and 10, he can go 85 yards.

BGB: Is there a player you can compare him to, that you've played with, against or seen?

Moschetti: They call him little Reggie Bush.

He's a complete back. He's not a Chris Brown, he's not Hugh Charles, he's kind of both.

If they can get him and I've heard some things, that he's a soft verbal, he's a big-time player.

Hawkins airs it out on lost season

Dan Hawkins rubs some people the wrong way simply because he doesn't cry in his beer over a 2-10 failure. Personally, that kind of attitude would alarm me more than his upbeat approach.

Is the man really living a lie, as one Lou Holtz allegedly said of Colorado years ago or does Hawkins have a grip on reality while at the same time choosing to keep things in perspective and work towards better days in the future.

You know my answer and you know how you feel.

As Rodney King once said, "can't we all just get along?"

In Hawkins Monday press conference, his final one of the season, the boss let it all out again, devoid of ordinary coach speak that puts us to sleep like so many worthless classes from yesteryear.

Here's a taste...

What grade would Hawkins give the 2006 season?

Hawkins: F-minus. I think the critical thing is to know why you're 2-10 and how not to be 2-10 and I think that is important.

The Breakdown: Now how many coaches are going to shoot it to you like that, really? Shall I play the theme music from Jeopardy while we all come up with an answer like, say, zero. The man just flunked himself, flunked his team and then followed it up with the solution to making things better. Self examination, getting honest with yourself, getting naked emotionally and then building this program into a big dog in the neighborhood again.

On why the team went 2-10?

Hawkins: That's a long and complicated formula and to some degree a lot of it is not stuff you want necessarily in the front page of the paper.

The Breakdown: O.K., can you read between the lines there? There is much being said in few words. No, I can't say for sure what that is, but part of the fun is speculating. It's a dirty little thing we all do. So, Hawkins is inferring that is trying to protect his men, not call out names or troublesome areas. He knows what the problems are but during the season he couldn't change them. He had to play out the season and worry about becoming the team mechanic once the nightmare was over. There is a reason he's been a dogged recruiter and look for some more changes in the way the Buffs conduct business as coaches in the spring and fall.

On what he learned this season?

Hawkins: The reality, sometimes, in these situations is that you have to go through a little bit of a fire; you have to go through a little bit of a baptism to maybe really find out what everybody is about.

The Breakdown: Brilliant. You could argue Boss Hawkins is speaking nonsense or in code but it says here that there is something heavy in that comment. Building a program, a business, a relationship is learning about people, establishing an understanding of how things should be and will be done and finding out who you can trust in that foxhole with you. Hawkins learned much about his underclassmen, his coaches, his administration and the fan's expectations. The season wasn't a total loss. It only felt that way.

Spoiled Longhorns not smelling the roses

Think 2-10 is tough, check out Burnt Orange Nation, a blog for the University of Texas I mentioned last week.

At the top of the home page, is the following reality, especially being fresh off a national championship season.

"At Texas, 9-3 is depressing."

Think the CU faithful will ever mutter such lunacy?

Guess those Texans either have that huge sense of entitlement we all think they have or crazy expectations that they will win 11 to 12 games, annually.

A 2-10 season in Austin would have resulted in Buffs' coach Dan Hawkins getting a bus ticket (back row) out of town.

Thankfully, while not as successful, there is a little more sense of reality in Boulder town.

Cyclones get it right with new hire

A new hire in the Big 12 as Iowa State gets highly-regarded defensive coordinator Gene Chizik to replace Dan McCarney, who resigned, to lead their football program.

Chizik earned the job based on his top-shelf work at Auburn and most-recently, Texas, two programs who have won big recently.

His star reminds me of Bob Stoops when he left Florida for his first head-coaching gig at Oklahoma. Stoops work at Kansas State and then for Steve Spurrier and the Gators had him on everyone's wish list. Chizik is special, too, it says here. Only difference, and it's a big one, but Chizik isn't walking into many years of tradition in Ames as Stoops did in Norman.

That said, I'm sure Tommy Tuberville at Auburn and Mack Brown of the Longhorns gave the new Cyclones' boss glowing reviews to go with the numbers that don't lie, numbers that show Chizik coaching dominant defenses.

Iowa State has always been more about offense than defense, even under McCarney, a defensive mind.

That will change.

A season ago, I thought Chizik would be one of a few men who would be a winning hire for Colorado but it wasn't an opening that excited him. Instead, athletic director Mike Bohn found Dan Hawkins' glittering credentials irresistable.

Look for the Cyclones to be much improved in two or three years. Chizik will, however, have to prove he can recruit to Ames. There is no doubt about his ability to coach.

A good day to be a fan of Iowa State.

Turgeon hunting, skiing naked with Doyel

If you read a Sunday post below, you'll see that this space is intrigued by Mark Turgeon as a possible candidate to replace Dead Man Walking (pictured to the right) on the CU bench as head basketball coach.

Turgeon has done an amazing job at Wichita State without the benefit of all-world talent. He is bright, driven, experienced at both the college and professional levels and has been around two accomplished basketball minds and teachers in the vagabond but big winner Larry Brown and another man with a ring, Roy Williams.

Had to get an opinion on my lust for Turgeon from someone I trust not to get up on stage and song and dance me, you know? Wanted someone direct, honest and can at least make me laugh as he punches me in the nose if he can't agree with me.

So knocked on the door of Gregg Doyel of cbssportsline.com, hoping he would answer. He and I had discussed Ricardo Patton's resignation and run at CU before so I thought, hey, why not keep that fire burning.

He answered the door, squinted out at me and mumbled something, not sure of it's content or intent, but ever the gracious guy he's been to me, he invited me in for a moment.

I asked Doyel what he thought of Turgeon as my generous gift idea to Buff hoops.

Now I know I can make girls laugh but grown men, another story. Guess I am funnier than I thought.

Doyel: I hate to be the bearer of such bad news, and this really does seem rude of me, but...hahahahahaha. If Mark Turgeon leaves Wichita State for Colorado, (A) he's not half as smart as I bet he is and (B) I'll ski naked down whatever the main street is in Boulder.

None!

Is that clear?

If Turgeon wasn't going to leave WSU for Arizona State (last spring), no way does he leave for Colorado. I think he's hoping for, and even planning on, winning another 25 games this season and then having his pick of jobs after the season. And believe me when I say Colorado won't be on his radar.

I know this is rude, but this is not my fault. Blame Patton, (Gary) Barnett and the ADs and presidents there who have conspired to turn the Colorado sports program into an absolute quagmire. And basketball was in bad shape even in the best of times.

Black & Gold Breakdown: Damn, Gregg broke my heart. The object of my desire is going to reject CU? A chance to return to the Big 12? To play his alma mater, KU and teams he grew up disliking like Missouri, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Iowa State? A chance to whip Texas?

At some point in life one has to remember that very old Clint Eastwood line in a Dirty Harry movie.

"A man's got to know his limitations."

And when it comes to women or basketball coaches at a certain Missouri Valley Conference school, I guess certain people are just out of my league.

So, after that cold shower, courtesy of Doyel, I'm off looking for new names to usher in some success here, do what John Thompson did at Georgetown or Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech, or even what Billy Gillespie is creating now at Texas A& M, which is making something out of nothing.

Thompson won big with the Hoyas. Very big, as in a national championship at a top-level academic institution.

Cremins took an engineer school to greater heights than it had ever seen by harvesting top recruits annually.

Gillespie is coaching at a place where basketball is only on the menu to fill out the athletic program.

If those guys can create basketball powers out of molehills then there has to be someone who can do the same at Colorado.

Monday update

A busy holiday in The Truth's home but now back to finding more stories, more interviews for you.

This week, Part II of the Mike Moschetti interview and I will also go back to digging for new ideas to bring your way. Have some thoughts brewing and will try to make them reality.

Buffs may have found something in loss to Wyoming

Much better.

CU may not have won Sunday and hey, that's still the objective but they didn't get buried as they did against New Mexico and Air Force, hardly looking competitive.

What's important is that Ricardo Patton's last team learned something about how to play the final minutes of a game.

Giving up a layup late, well, not acceptable.

That the Buffs were in the game late is definite progress.

You knew Wyoming was going to shoot it out and they did but CU mostly matched them as Dominique Coleman and Richard Roby combined for 34 points. I think the Buffs will take that most nights, don't you?

Unfortunately, Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones teamed up for 46.

Defense?

Think we've been over this before.

See the earlier post today about Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon. His team's survive only because they play defense.

Jermyl Jackson-Wilson (pictured) again looked like a man to me with 16 points and 14 rebounds. If Coleman, Roby and Jackson-Wilson can go into some dark room and agree to take over this team and pledge to become consistent, that's one fine trio to take the court with each day.

Develop Kal Bay at the point guard position, find a shooter off the bench and beg, bribe, do whatever to get someone to play to their size down low and CU could still develop into something interesting.

Patton can still leave one lasting positive impression on this progam. Develop those guys and create chemistry and at least consider defense as part of the practice routine and who knows what might happen.

Hey, it could happen.

Right?

Huskers version of RTD

Ah, the day Gary Barnett was introduced as the new head coach at Colorado. In his effort to help sell the program and stir the faithful into a frenzy, he uttered something about RTD and lifting football to the days of yesteryear.

Return to Dominance had a nice ring to it.

And, for a brief moment, one season, it appeared Barnett might deliver on that promise.

We all know the rest of the story.

So let's look East and see what's happening in Big Red Country these days and wonder if their fall might be coming down the road, too.

Check it out, friends, a link from Jon Johnston's Corn Nation.

http://cornnation.com/

Scroll down to the red t-shirt.

Patton replacement endorsement

For the time being, only Ricardo Patton can coach the CU basketball program to victories so supporting him and his cause is the thing to do.

However, there is no doubt he is a goner at the end of the season. Talking about his replacement, when Patton himself announced he is stepping down, is not in poor taste.

There will be many names mentioned, some well known, some not.

Here's one for today.

Mark Turgeon.

Head coach, Wichita State.

The resume shows he played at Kansas, worked as an assistant under Larry Brown and Roy Williams in Lawrence, coached as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach at both Jacksonville State and Wichita State. Led the Shockers to the Sweet 16 last season and just upset sixth-ranked Lousiana State. Equally amazing is Turgeon has his team ranked in the top-25.

Wichita State.

Ranked.

How does he do it?

On the defensive end. Accepts no excuses. Recruits players who buy into being coachable. 21 and 26 victories the last two seasons. All this and I still haven't seen an NBA player come from the program, yet he has done something that should make your eyes pop.

Ready?

Let the Wichita State media guide take it from here.

"In 2005-06, Mark Turgeon became the first Wichita State head coach to improve the Shockers in the win column five-straight seasons with 15, 18, 21, 22 and 26 wins. His three 20-win seasons tie him for the lead with Gene Smithson, who had three from 1979-86."

Color me impressed and as one who thinks he could do special things in Boulder, if you could pry him away from the long-term contract he just signed.

Seems to me he has success written all over him and should be one of the very few names at the top of CU athletic director Mike Bohn's list.

Buffs have gunslingers on tap today

So which Colorado team is going to take the court today against Wyoming?

The one that was drubbed by New Mexico and Air Force or the one that actually won a road game, at Utah?

The Cowboys are 3-1 but are coming off their own big defeat, getting smacked by 21 at Alabama-Birmingham.

Wyoming has proven it can score the basketball, as small guards Brandon Jones, a six-footer from Marked Tree, Arkansas and Brandon Ewing, a 6-2 machine from Chicago, are lighting it up, averaging 23.8 and 21.8 points a game, respectively.

The scary part about those two shoot-out-the-lights players is that they get to the line a combined 17 times a night. Yes, they love to bomb away but they also attack the defense with the dribble to get their points.

Daaron Brown, a 6-9, 260-pound beast in the middle is the inside force with 8 points and 10 rebounds.

The Buffaloes would seem to be in over their heads today, with no one to play Brown and defensively inept against versatile guards.

It would appear Richard Roby would need to bust out for 25-30 points and CU to come up with some game plan that throws the Wyoming shooters out of rhythm.

Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, if matched up with the right Cowboy, could be a significant factor for CU. He didn't score or rebound big against the Utes but he did come up clutch to help his team win that game.

The Buffs have to prove to their fans today they are capable of playing a competitive game against a conference considered to be inferior to the Big 12/

Moschetti breaks down Huskers, Part 1

In the first of a two-part interview with former CU quarterback Mike Moschetti, the Black and Gold Breakdown talks Buffs and Huskers for today's tilt in Lincoln.

The fourth-leading passer in school history, throwing for 4,797 yards and 33 touchdowns after transferring to Boulder after two years in the junior college ranks. His accomplishments also include a school record 465 yards passing against San Jose State in 1999 and 382 and four scores against the Oklahoma Sooners.

BGB: The first thing that comes to mind when someone says Nebraska?

Moschetti: It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about Nebraska. So close. Such an exciting time, even now, me being out for so long. I just have this nervous feeling in my stomach. Colorado, for so many years couldn't get breaks and that's what good teams do. Nebraska has been a big-time program over the years. When I was playing, they were a thorn in my side.

Going into Lincoln is going to be tough on these kids. It's probably the toughest place to play in the Big 12. They're very beatable. This is a game you come to Colorado to play in.

BGB: Such a small difference between the two programs when you took the field. What was that difference?

Moschetti: I watched a lot of Notre Dame - USC football and Notre Dame went 14 years without losing to USC. If you think about that right now, you'd say, that has to be impossible.

Same way, in the '90s, Nebraska won 3 national championships and we battled them until the last play and we just seemed not to be able to get over the hump. They're a great football team and they always found a way to win.

BGB: What does a win over Nebraska win mean to the program and the school?

Moschetti: When you're 2-9, this is Colorado's national championship game. The players understand the rivalry, they know how much it means to the everyday fan, guys on Netbuffs, to the guy who works in a coffee shop in Boulder. They hate Nebraska.

BGB: You've coaching the Buffs this week, what's your approach against the Huskers? How do you attack them offensively and what are you trying to do to take them out of their rhythm?

Moschetti: Defensively, I'm going to make Nebraska throw the football. They have to stop the run. Offensively, try to shorten the game. By shorten the game, I mean break the huddle late, run as much time off the clock as you can, try the run the football and keep the game close going into the fourth quarter.

BGB: Can they run the football, Mike?

Moschetti: You have to try. You have to stay patient and try. If it gets into a game where Colorado gets behind and they have to throw the football, they're not going to win.

When I say run the football, I'm not saying run for 200 yards, I'm looking for 120, 130 yards rushing. If they can do that, not turn the ball over and stop the run, they're probably going to win the football game.

BGB: Do you think the Buffs will stay with the Huskers into the fourth quarter?

Moschetti: I do. I've watched Nebraska play a lot this year and they're a good football team but they're very beatable.

BGB: Where are they weak from a coach's eyes?

Moschetti: Offensively, I don't think they know what they want to do. Whether they want to run the ball or throw the ball. Sometimes, they look a little confused, offensively.

BGB: Could you share specifics about what you're doing right now?

Moschetti: Coaching at the junior college (Mount San Antonio in Walnut, Ca.) where I played at and I'm currently working on my master's degree and I'm the offensive coordinator, quarterback coach.

My second year in coaching. I love helping kids achieve their dreams, getting scholarships.

Right now, I'm happy and having a blast.


Part II of this interview, tomorrow.

The pilot of 62-36 talks quarterbacking & Nebraska

Bobby Pesavento may not have played in the NFL like Kordell Stewart or Koy Detmer and he may not have thrown for a school record 7,375 yards like Joel Klatt but he did do something those guys didn't - lead a whipping of Nebraska that sent a shockwave through college football.

62-36 is all that needs to be said and every Buffs' fan knows exactly what you're talking about.

The Black and Gold Breakdown had a chance to talk to the 18th-leading passer in school history this week, a guy that has the second-highest passer rating in school history, at 144.53, trailing only Detmer 148.95.

BGB: Bernard Jackson has had a rough go in his first year as a starter, Bobby. You played the position well; what are the biggest challenges that have to be overcome to become a quality quarterback?

Pesavento: The transition from playing high school quarterback to college quarterback is the speed of the game, the knowledge you have to have; a lot of stuff gets thrown at you, a lot more depth at the college level than at the high school level.

BGB: When did you first start feeling comfortable playing quarterback? What did you have to go through to get to that point?

Pesavento: It probably wasn't until my senior season when I started playing again until I felt I got everything and I could run (the offense).

BGB: What sort of pressure does a quarterback feel?

Pesavento: I think every quarterback (feels pressure), because he's in the spotlight, no matter what.

I'm sure Bernard's having a tough time. I hope he's not reading the papers. It's a big-time college football program and it's a pressure-packed situation playing there because the Colorado fans expect the best.

BGB: The Nebraska game -- how do the players look at that game -- do they get pumped as the fans do or is the approach more like, it's another game to play?

Pesavento: Five years ago, my answer to the media would have been 'it's just another football game.' Being out of it now and looking at it, it was always a huge game for us. When I was there, we hadn't won in 10 or 11 years, then in 2001 it was escalated even more because we needed to win that game to win the North (division) and get into the Big 12 Championship.

BGB: Obviously, you were part of a great moment in that series, and the program's history, Bobby. What are your strongest memories of that game?

Pesavento: Wow, that whole day was surreal. It was one of those days as an offense we couldn't seem to do anything wrong.

BGB: What sort of feeling did you and the team have going into that game? Did you feel we're really prepared or was it more thinking the game was going to be a major challenge?

Pesavento: I knew it was going to be a huge challenge. They weren't the no. 1 team (in the country) for no reason but we definitely had a quiet confidence about us that whole week.

We thought going in we could run the ball against them, right at 'em. We came out throwing early and I think that kind of spread them out a little bit and gave them something else to look at. Our offensive line and Chris (Brown) and Bobby (Purify) just took over the rest of that football game.

BGB: Thinking back to that football game, there seemed to be a calm, cool way in the manner in which the offense moved the ball. It seemed so easy. How do you remember it?

Pesavento: It really did seem easy.

We had a big number of seniors that year and coach Barnett kind of took the attitude of letting us run the team. He had confidence in us. I think with that leadership and the group we were, I think that's what led to that (result).

We expected to win and then when it was one big play after another, we just got on a role and we just kept it rollin' and they couldn't stop us.

BGB: This week, what is it going to take for the Buffs to hang with the Huskers in Lincoln?

Pesavento: I think the defense will have to play as they have all year and the offense, I think, is going to have do something early. They can't put the defense in too many tough situations because Nebraska has a pretty good offense.

The offense -- scoring early would be great but they, at least, have to put a couple of drives together and keep the defense off the field and put some pressure on the Nebraska defense.

BGB: These days, what is Bobby Pesavento doing?

Pesavento: I was playing arena football for four years and now I've come back to coach Indiana high school football.

I tore my MCL twice so I've been rehabbing. I was thinking of playing again but I decided not to. I'm returning to Boulder in January to come back to school. I have three classes left to finish my degree (communications).

BGB: What do you desire to do with that degree?

Pesavento: I'm going to pursue coaching at the college level.

Plati Flashback on Huskers and Buffs

Here is Colorado sports information director Dave Plati's top 10 most memorable Colorado and Nebraska games.

Working backwards to no. 1, in his own words.

1984. Nebraska 24-7. I remember this one as it was my first as CU's SID, though I had been to the previous six. What I recall most is when we ended the third quarter with a 7-3 lead. I couldn't remember taking a lead into the fourth quarter against them. But we couldn't hang on.

2004. Colorado, 26-20. We finally did to Nebraska what the Cornhuskers had done to us - pinned a season-ending loss on them that kept them from being bowl eligible. They did it to us in 1997 and 2003, but when the Buffs did it, it ended NU's 35-year run in the postseason.

1991. Tie, 19-19. More points than the temperature, and then some. Minus-8 wind chill. CU was dominating until Leonard Renfro left with a knee injury. Also, (remember) the lumbering 85-yard defensive extra-point return by Greg Biekert. Quick, who blocked the kick? Answer: Jeff Brunner.

1983. Nebraska, 69-19. I know, I know. But seeing that great Husker offense in person was special. (Turner) Gill and (Mike) Roxier, (Irving) Fryar, others. But we were down 14-12 at the half and those there were witness to a 48-point third quarter. In a word, ouch.

2000. Nebraska, 34-32. Going in, very much like this year. We were 3-7 and the ABC guys hardly gave us a sniff in all the pregame stuff. But this was a game from start to finish. The gutsy 2-point call by Gary Barnett that Craig Ochs and Javon Green converted to give CU a 32-31 lead. What I didn't like about this game is that the naysayers always say we blew it by squibbing the kickoff and Nebraska got great field position to start its' winning field goal drive. In actuality, on a second and 10, Eric Crouch, smarting from an injured shoulder, completed a heckuva pass downfield. We challenged him to make a play and knowing his condition, and the kid made it. Give him credit.

1999. Nebraska, 33-30 (OT). What would have stood as the greatest comeback in school history, had a 33-yard field goal been good (or as some would say, should have been called good) at the end of regulation. Still, CU bounced back from 27-3 down in the fourth quarter.

1986. Colorado, 20-10. The so-called "turning point" in (Bill) McCartney's early years, it ended a run of 19-straight wins by Nebraska in the series.

1990. Colorado, 27-12. This was the essence of Eric Bieniemy. He fumbled five times, losing three I believe, in the first three quarters, but he came back with four scores in the fourth. And people forget Mike Pritchard had a great acrobatic catch to set up one of the scores and David Gibbs sniffed out a fake punt on the Nebraska 30 to set up another. That was one upset on a crazy college football Saturday in which I think four, maybe five top-10 teams lost.

1989. Colorado, 27-21. Basically clinched the league title and Orange Bowl berth. Remember celebrating on the Pearl Street Mall as a bunch of us changed the words to Dayo (or however you spell it) to "CU's goin' to the Orange Bowl."

2001. Colorado, 62-36. Jumping to a 35-3 lead, watching Nebraska battle back to 42-30, and then watching Chris Brown ice things, with NU defenders getting out of his way on his final TD run because he beat them to a pulp all day.

Corn Nation says Buffs dangerous

In an effort to always try to bring you something new, I went East to talk CU and Nebraska football with Jon Johnston of Corn Nation, a Huskers' blog added to this site's Hot Links (left margin).

Black and Gold Breakdown: Bill Callahan -- pretender or the architect of a future national champion in Lincoln?

Corn Nation: There's a public perception of Callahan as a bad coach, probably because of the drubbing the Raiders took in the Super Bowl and then the collapse the following year.

Personally, I like Callahan - it's been interesting watching him become a head college football coach.

Put it this way - he didn't come wrapped up in a pretty package like Dan Hawkins. Hawk was a darned successful moving up to run your program. Bill Callahan had a lot of public baggage coming into Nebraska trying to replace two men (Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne) who were legends.

Pretender? I don't think so. Look how long it look Tom Osborne to win a National Championship - Callahan won't have that long. Who does these days? But I believe he'll be good. Osborne good? That's unfair to Callahan.

BGB: Do Husker fans like Callahan, his offense, what he's doing as coach?

Corn Nation: It's split. There are still plenty of Husker fans who think that Frank Solich will come back, or Tom will come back and bring us back to complete domination - kind of like. Then you have this other part of us who realizes that those days are gone, time to move on.

BGB: Do Nebraska fans have any concerns about CU coming into town or have they marked it up as yet another "W" over a "wanna-be rival?"

Corn Nation: No one I know has marked this up with a "W." We remember the rise of (Bill) McCartney and the idea that this means a lot to Buffs' fans. Screw what everyone else thinks, I'm worried. Hawkins is a good coach - you guys obviously play to the end of every game - this isn't the Nebraska of old this year - we get big leads and lose them.

BGB: Beating CU is in your blood, but can and will you beat Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game?

Corn Nation: Poor pass defense. Texas has one of the worst pass defenses in the nation. People don't realize that - but they do. Nebraska somehow can't shake the national perception that we can both run and pass, but when you look at the numbers at http://www.cornnation.com/story/2006/11/22/141154/40 - we do both very well - it's not like the old days. We're diverse. Imagine that!

BGB: Which is more fun for Nebraskans, beating CU or OU?

Corn Nation: Depends on age, I guess. I'm older and remember most of the Thanksgivings during my "coming to age" years as everyone being disappointed by another loss to Oklahoma. We miss the Oklahoma rivalry - there's no doubt about that, bu like earlier, those days are gone. Best we regard them as a fond or not so fond - memory.

Now, it's beating CU. Then there's that game in 2001, the beginning of our downward slide. You don't think that Nebraska fans want to beat CU every year for the rest of our lives?

New Hot Links

Some new links are coming your way. Feel free to share any you think worthy of this space and other's time to read.

Today's new Hot Links (left-hand margin) are Burnt Orange Nation, a blog for the University of Texas and Corn Nation, for those lovable Huskers to the East.

Will add more when I can find them.

Will speak to former CU quarterback Mike Moschetti on Thanksgiving morning and then later post an interview with him and one done today with another former QB, Bobby Pesavento.

Happy Thanksgiving

TheTruth


thebuffalotruth@yahoo.com

Quarterbacks back to throw strikes at the BGB

Some Buff wisdom comin' your way this week, courtesy of two men who once lined up under center for CU. I'll be pass rushing both of them today and they seem willing to, at least this once, getting caught so they can share their memories and opinions. Look for them to throw on-the-money bullets your way.

Check back.

Wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and family.

Thursday, it's turkey. Friday, it's Husker.

Oh yeah, can't say that, can I? Those "N" boys will get their feelings hurt and need to use it have a reason to play and compete against those mean schoolyard bullies, Dan Hawkins and Darian Hagan.

I mean, what is Mike Bohn paid to do?

Can't he keep those two after school, maybe make them apologize?


Patton Boys Bust Utes

Give CU credit. Embarrassed in its' last two games, losses to New Mexico and Air Force, the Buffaloes picked themselves up, grabbed their pride and decided not to lie down like dogs.

They then went on the road and beat Utah, 60-59. Nevermind the Utes are now 0-3, winning on the road, at a basketball school has value. If CU would have beaten an intrumural band of fraternity brothers it would have been big, but Utah, I hear, is an NCAA school.

Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is proving coach Ricardo Patton a prophet, as he lauded the forward while the Ohio State transfer sat out a year. Wilson hit the game winner, a free throw with 2.1 seconds remaining.

Richard Roby rose from the dead to drop 22 points on the Utes while also chasing down seven rebounds.

Freshman guard Kal Bay was the only other black and gold in double figures with 11.

Not pretty but still much more beautiful than leaving the court with two black eyes, like the school did against los Lobos and the Falcons.

Giving credit where credit is due to Patton and his Buffs.

Huskers get panties in a wad

Amazing to me that any team would need quotes from opponents to motivate itself to play well and win a game.

Amazing.

Yet, read the Omaha World-Herald and writer Rich Kaipust's article and that's what you hear Nebraska coach Bill Callahan and wide receiver Maurice Purify stand up and say about CU assistant coach Darian Hagan's comments that the Buffs are going to play hard and hit hard against the Huskers. Then, their feelings were hurt over a video showing coach Dan Hawkins trying to be school proud and lift his program when he proclaimed the down days of this season were still better than the best days at the program in Lincoln.

"Hmmm" Callahan smirks.

"We laughed and felt kind of mad" Purify followed.

Really, like Nebraska thought CU was going to show up playing flag football this week? They're shocked by the Buffs wanting to play physical? That no one East of the Colorado border knows what Hawkins' intent was when he spoke those words?

And that's what they need to huff, puff and get focused to lay an ass kickin' on the black and gold?

Come on, now. The Huskers have a lot to play for, both fan expectations and a shot at a better bowl matchup. Do you really believe that Hagan's and Hawkins' quotes are going to stir up superhuman efforts out of many Big Red players?

If it were me in a helmet with the "N" for "nowledge" I'd have to fake being upset over what was said. I'd likely respond by saying, "so? I'm trying to get ready for a football game, quit wasting my time with that high-school nonsense."

Big deal.

But if it gets the Huskers, Callahan and their fans all foamed at the mouth to hear such a declaration from CU, hey, take it and run.

The Buffs would be wise to ignore it all and just strap it up and execute consistently.

Ringo on slow learners, missing Roby, magic potion

The emotions are runnin' hot and many are ready to knock down athletic director Mike Bohn's door after yet another poor show on the court by Ricardo Patton's team.

Needing some insight myself, I didn't stop at Bohn's office, deciding instead to chase down Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera.

BGB: What's going on right now in Boulder, Kyle -- is it all youth and inexperience or have the wheels just come off the program?

Ringo: No, it's not entirely youth. I think it's a combination of youth, not being properly prepared, not playing hard enough, and not putting out the kind of effort, particularly on the defensive end that's required to win these kinds of games.

And I should add, in these past two games (New Mexico and Air Force), you're also playing pretty experienced teams and teams that are very well coached (Ritchie McKay and Jeff Bzdelik).

BGB: Should fans be patient and relax and think this is a process or is what we're seeing a glimpse of what the season will hold, will be.

Ringo: It's definitely a glimpse of what the season will hold. There is not anyway you can take a 41-point loss and a 39-point loss and be optimistic about it at all.

BGB: This team doesn't seem devoid of talent but how do you see it? Is it a talent issue or is it more the chemistry hasn't developed?

Ringo: It's a team that doesn't know how to play at this level right now. You have one player, who essentially has any experience in Richard Roby (picture) and he seems lost at this point. I think a lot of that has to do with so much being put on his shoulders. A lot of expectations for that guy right now. I kind of feel sorry for him.

BGB: You mentioned not being prepared to play, not playing hard enough. Who's responsibility is that, Kyle?

Ringo: You know as well as I do who's responsibility that is. Somebody is making an awful lot of money to make those decisions and make sure a team is properly prepared. This is an awkward position because it's kind of calling out coach Patton and I don't know how I feel about that.

BGB: If I'm reading between the line's of Patton's postgame comments, I get the impression he doesn't have the answers to his team's poor play, he doesn't know what actions to take. Is that accurate at all?

Ringo: There's some truth to that -- when I talk to the kids right now, they seem lost. They don't seem to have the answers. They consistentally say we need to play harder, do better, but what does that really mean?

BGB: Do you see this team over the course of the next several games finding a comfort level and greatly improving its' play?

Ringo: I don't know if it will be a lot better unless Ricardo Patton has a magic potion, so I don't know if this team will get dramatically better, no.

Late night call brings news

Former Buff quarterback Mike Moschetti dialed my number at 1:30 a.m. Saturday night after working late, saying "I don't care if I wake him up, I'm gonna call him" to set an interview time for us next week.

The fourth all-time leading passer in CU history did take the time to tell me before hanging up that Nebraska tight ends' coach and former Buffs' assistant Shawn Watson told him "he's petrified of CU" saying they are so much better than their record shows. Watson also said the Cornhuskers' staff is real wary of quarterback Bernard Jackson and all the things he can do.

Moschetti mentioned Watson also alluded to some comment running backs coach Darian Hagan made, which has conveniently found its' way into the locker's of Big Red players.

Will catch up with Mike early this week to learn much more, as well as getting some clock with yet another memorable Buffs quarterback, Bobby Pesavento.

The end might come sooner rather than later

Oh my, how much worse can it get?

New Mexico, Air Force, what's next?

The Lobos in the Pit, no easy task. The Academy under coach Biz, well prepared but CU is getting punked and honestly, youth or not, it's making coach Ricardo Patton's cries for a new contract and his surprising preseason resignation show how little faith he had in this team and himself.

The Buffs have black eyes and bruises and it isn't even in conference play.

84-46?

34 percent shooting from the floor? 42 percent from the line? No one in double figures?

And worse than that, 57 percent shooting by Air Force, including 52 percent from 3-point range?

Someone isn't even trying out there. No effort. No heart.

I'm not calling for it but it is becoming apparent Patton will not last the season on the bench. To get beat this bad out of the gate shows that Patton's stated fear of becoming a distraction to his team led to his abrupt resignation has come anyway.

The 2-9 football program is looking like its' in better shape than this team.

Patton is going to put the pressure on athletic director Mike Bohn to make a move sooner than the end of the season. Right now, it doesn't appear CU is capable of winning 10 games.

This winter might be the same as this fall. Groundhog day.

Buffs challenge is to avoid getting zoomed

Still nursing wounds from a 41-point alley beating at New Mexico, Colorado packs up its' pride and hits the floor against well-coached Air Force, led by former Denver Nuggets' coach Jeff Bzdelik.

The Falcons are 3-0, beating Arkansas-Little Rock, Long Beach State and a sub-par Stanford team. However, the road gets tougher now, playing the Buffs, then perennial power Duke, followed by Radford, then another battle with an ACC foe, Wake Forest.

To win, Colorado will have to slow 6-foot-6, 225 pound forward Jacob Burtshi, of Chickasha, Ok., who is off to a strong start to the season, averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds on 58 percent shooting from the field, including 56 percent from 3-point range. The good news is Burtschi, despite his rebounding prowess, is more a jump shooter as he only gets to the line three times a game.

The Buffs will be facing a proficient offense, one that gets -- and makes good shots, connecting at a 56 percent clip. Get sloppy defensively, as they did against the Lobos and CU will lose another game to a conference that is considered lesser than the Big 12.

Colorado is led by junior Richard Roby, averaging 16 points and five rebounds a contest, but who is only shooting 32 percent from the floor. Dominique Coleman (13.5) and Jermyl Jackson-Wilson (11) are the other Buffs averaging double figures in scoring. Jackson-Wilson is notching a double-double, ripping down 12.5 rebounds.

Kal Bay, Xavier Silas and Jeremy Williams, three freshman, are playing significant minutes and learning as they make mistakes and experience success.

It says here the Buffs have the athleticism to make this game miserable for the Falcons but not the experience or chemistry to beat Air Force. Unless CU shoots lights out and smothers the Falcons into turnovers, it gets knocked down for another loss.

The Buffs are 16-2 against the men from Colorado Springs, including a perfect 8-0 mark in Boulder.

Roby, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, is now the 24th all-time leading scorer in program history.

Air Force is 27-8 under Bzdelik since he was hired in May, 2005.

Brooks breaks down Buffs recruiting efforts

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins and his staff are exploring and blazing paths in outer territories in it's effort to upgrade the talent base. The lands traveled to may not be familiar to past years, yet this might be the way of the future.

The Buffs have secured verbal commitments for the 2007 recruiting class from players in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and South Carolina, places the program doesn't normally pull talent from, instead choosing to expend its' resources in locales like Colorado, California and Texas.

So what's going on, how is CU getting it done?

The Black and Gold Breakdown chased down B.G. Brooks of the Rocky Mountain News to ask him those questions.

Read on and see what he sees, recruiting comparisons, an athlete he sees as a player on the rise, what the Buffs still need and more.

BGB: Colorado continues to secure verbal commitments from areas outside the norm, B.G. What's happening in Boulder, what change?

Brooks: They've recognized the need to spread out, where as previous staffs looked primarily at California and Texas.

I know (assistant coach Darian) Hagan left for Cleveland (Thursday). They've really bounced all over the map. You've got to give them credit for at least getting the map and compass out and going to work on it.

BGB: What are we seeing from Hawkins and his staff as recruiters?

Brooks: The word that comes to mind is tireless. They have really, really gotten after recruiting.

You mention the star system to (Hawkins) and stand back; he'll really go off on it, say stars, schmars.

Take a guy like (running back) Ian Johnson from Boise State (1,466 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in 10 games). If he had a star, if he was even recognized, (Hawkins) was not aware of it. He turned into a fairly decent running back. He's a guy a lot of schools would like to have in their backfield.

BGB: Is it more the responsibility of the player or the coaches to develop talent once they set foot on campus?

Brooks: If a coach sees a player might be considered marginal by other schools, it is really incumbent on the coach. If he offers a guy a scholarship, it's imcumbent on him to develop that talent.

Now, a lot is going to go into the coach forming an opinion before the offer is made -- talking to a high school coach, watching tape, the whole bit.

They have to make good on their gambles and maybe that's what we're going to see from Hawkins. Too early to tell.

Michael Sipili, the freshman linebacker, for example. I think he's going to be a terrific player. Not sure what he was rated by the recruiting analysts but I think that guy's really going to be something.

BGB: Are the Buffs going to get those wide receivers that they need in this class?

Brooks: (Hawkins) has got to. They've got to address the receiver position or they'll find themselves in a similar situation as this year. If they can't get the ball deep and they wind up with the same kind of passing game as they've had this year, they're going to have to make some adjustments they don't want to make next year.

(Derek) McCoy and (D.J.) Hackett, remember those guys? They made (Joel) Klatt a terrific quarterback. Not that he was short last year but he didn't have the receivers last year, he had tight ends.

So Hawkins has to to get some big-time, high-profile receivers in here and nobody has to tell him that; he and (receivers coach Eric) Kiesau are very aware of it.

I think B-Jax has done well considering the circumstances -- learning the position, learning the scheme on the fly and he doesn't have terrific receivers to compliment him there.

BGB: Are there any other positions that are evident to you, outside of receiver, that Colorado still needs to add to its' recruiting class?

Brooks: I think they need depth in the defensive line.

I think (George) Hypolite has exceeded expectations. I think (Brandon) Nicolas has done the same. I think CU is very happy with those guys but they need depth at that position.

They're going to need for someone to step in at defensive end as Abe Wright leaves.

However, I think the interior will be key for them.

BGB: I send out thanks to B.G. for sharing such quality insight with us, as always. As a closing note, in one man's opinion, it appears CU wants a presence in all parts of the country, where in the future, if it sees a player they want, the school is not an alien walking in, requesting access. It will always be a longshot to bring talent from certain regions of the country to Boulder, but it can be done. Nebraska has done it, even schools like Kansas State and Iowa State have brought valuable assets to their campuses. No reason the Buffs can't do the same, similar to when Bill McCartney was mining Louisiana for Kordell Stewart, Shannon Clavelle, Vance Joseph and more. Or going South for a running back named Herschel Troutman.

This is an enlightened approach by Hawkins. How it turns out remains to be seen but the man does bring fresh thinking to the program, one desperately in need of it. It is also important to go back to something Brooks said about Hawkins, labeling him as tireless as a recruiter. The coach and his staff are not afraid of work, realizing that success is a byproduct of work, and as Eddie Crowder told us once, as Scott Wilke reiterated, building relationships.

Hawkins is putting the effort in on the front end. If it is consistently good work, the results will be tangible and positive on the back end in a couple more years.

Also of note is Jay Leeuwenburg's comments in the past in this space about repetitions in a new scheme. CU is getting that this year. If the talent base can increase, the reps continue and if the off-the-field shenanigans (did I really use that word?) of the past do not resurface frequently, there is no reason this program can't rebound and rise again.

Buff Notes on CU, Nuggets curse

It must be in the air.

Down the road in Denver, Kenyon Martin is out for the season for the Nuggets and Nene is on the shelf temporarily. Now in Boulder, CU has lost a big man, too, as freshman center Marc Van Burck is out for four to six weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, according to a Daily Camera report.

It's not like the Buffs have Marcus Camby or Joe Smith in reserve either. Losing the opportunity to develop Van Burck in practice is not what coach Ricardo Patton needs on the heels of a 41-point thumping at the hands of the Miami Heat, um, I mean New Mexico Lobos.

CU might have an exciting, successful season, but it's starting out in a manner where it looks like it could replicate the football team's year.

CU plan is there to see

Do you see it happening?

It seems subtle but something is happening up in Boulder, something good.

In a story in the Rocky Mountain News, B.G. Brooks writes that a BuffaloStampede.com report shows CU picking up another verbal commitment, this time from Devonne Quattlebaum, a quarterback/defensive back from Monetta, South Carolina.

Did you see it?

From Monetta, South Carolina.

Coach Dan Hawkins and his staff are recruiting places the Buffs just haven't recruited. Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia and now South Carolina.

CU is establishing a presence in new territory, fertile soil.

That the program is getting anyone from the South is amazing. To get players from Pennsylvania is also shocking, in a great way.

Funny thing is, this is not new to the Buffs competition, just CU. Nebraska has long been able to pull talent from the South, Kansas State has been there, too.

Who knows the quality of player that Hawkins and his staff is getting in those new areas but know this, the plan is likely to be getting a base for the future, which can only help this program.