Buff Riffs

Man, look at Terrence Wheatley's body -- 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds. Who knew the guy could be one of the toughest, most irrepressible players on the team. Wheatly has a furnace of desire fueling his game, playing with a cracked titanium plate in his wrist and, well, not just playing but excelling.

The ballhawking cornerback, who missed the 2005 season with a wrist injury, has five interceptions in this lost season, nine in his career and has pulled it off in three years of playing mostly with one arm.

Think about that.

Think it's time to name a team award after that cat.

He won't follow Deon Figures and Chris Hudson in winning the Thorpe Award at CU but he might be one of the best stories in the history of the program.

Coach Dan Hawkins continues to pile up recruits like cord wood, just chopping and stacking, and his efforts get a high grade from noted analyst Andrew Friedman of BuffaloSportsNews.net (see interview from Tuesday) but he needs to get some more grade-A lumber in that group, as in a couple more difference makers, as in NFL-caliber. Eddie Crowder said it here, you need more of those guys on the roster if you're going to be a power program.

Did you see the Hawkins' quote on recruiting in Patrick Ridgell's article in the Daily Times-Call, discussing why parents and recruits aren't as scared off by the Buffs' frightening record as you might imagine?

"There's not the same trepidation of 'Oh, my goodness, you're 1-9' when you can lay out the scenario of why that is and why that won't be the same."

I had wondered and had even asked Friedman how Boss Hawkins and his staff had pulled players nationwide despite such failure. This quote only reiterates how smart, or not dumb if you will, the coach is, wouldn't you say? The man is not only a top salesman but he has a deeper insight than most. He can sell it on many levels with his intelligence and enthusiasm. Hard to doubt he's going to end up as Chuck Fairbanks' roadkill with his approach and faith. I just don't see it. Save your caning of me for at least a few more years.

If ever an opponent was ripe for picking, it could be Iowa State this weekend. Difficult to think CU could beat anyone these days but Dan McCarney has announced he is done in Ames at teh end of the season, the Cyclones have played worse than CU most of 2006, despite more victories and their best players, quarterback Brett Meyer and wide receiver Todd Blythe have been disappointments.

Like I said, can't pick the Buffs to win, but ISU can be be had, especially if CU can jump on them early. If that happens, look for the Cyclones to curl up and go to bed.

Colorado ripped Regis in an exhibition game inside the CEC that drew under one thousand fans. Don't you see, that's part of the problem. I don't have numbers here in front of me but I'm guessing North Carolina or Kansas could play donkey basketball team with the school janitors and draw more than a thousand fans.

The story I keep hearing from those connected to CU is this -- that blood is on the hands of both Ricardo Patton and the attitude on campus, that no one cares enough to reach out and make basketball important here.