“Go west young man,” was the mantra of Americans picking up their lives and starting anew in the West. Now it’s the attitude the Colorado Buffaloes are hoping to bring to the gridiron.
In an off-season full of changes, none may be bigger than CU’s move out west to the Pac-12 after more than 60 years as a founding member of the Big 12 and Big Eight Conferences. CU has left the Big 12 North and joined the newly formed Pac-12 South along with Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, USC and UCLA. The consensus among preseason magazines and reports picked the Buffs as last in the division.
The men in charge of lighting up those dreary forecasts ride in with NFL experience and a whole arsenal of fiery attitude. After five years without a winning season, CU fired Dan Hawkins shortly after the team blew the largest lead in school history en route to a 52-45 loss to Kansas. Since his much-hyped hiring in 2005, Hawkins posted a 19-39 record and made only one bowl appearance.
While Hawkins won’t have a chance to remix his rant to the tune of “It’s the Pac-12 brother!” his replacement has sparse experience with division I football. Jon Embree returns as head coach to the school where he starred as a tight end in the 1980s. Embree previously held the tight end’s coach position for the NFL’s Washington Redskins, and this will be his first head-coaching job.
Embree will have to replace several key players on both sides of the ball. On offense, CU will have to replace All-American tackle Nate Solder and two players who hold numerous CU career records in receiver Scotty McKnight and quarterback Cody Hawkins.
On defense, the departure of draft picks Jalil Brown (Kansas City Chiefs) and Jimmy Smith (Baltimore Ravens) will leave CU vacant at the cornerback position, while defensive end Marquez Herrod and linebackers B.J. Beatty and Michael Sipili will also need replacements.
Of the returning players, none are under as much pressure as quarterback Tyler Hansen, who missed six games when he needed surgery to remove a ruptured spleen he suffered in a home loss to Texas Tech. He impressed coaches during spring scrimmages and has secured the job for his senior season.
Hansen will be handing the ball off to senior Rodney Stewart, who tallied a career high of 1,318 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010. Sophomore Paul Richardson returns as wide receiver after coming on strong late in the season with two 100-yard receiving games.
The Buffs will have a tough test to begin their 2011 campaign, especially considering their poor record on the road during the Hawkins’ years. CU will fly more than 3,000 miles to play Hawaii at Aloha Stadium to kick off the season.
With games against USC, Stanford and Ohio State, the Buffs’ trip to Hawaii may be the closest they come to a vacation this season. The trip to start fresh out west wasn’t easy for settlers 150 years ago. Why should it be easy for the 2011 Buffaloes?
