The CUI sports mailbag is back this semester to answer all your CU sports-related questions. In our first mailbag of the semester, we make predictions for the Buffs’ football season, discuss two CU runners who will likely be All-Americans this season, and tell you about a new standout recruit to the men’s golf team.
(CU Independent Graphic Illustration/Josh Shettler)
1) How many games will the Buffs football team win this year?
The CUI Sports staff’s original prediction for the season was four, but after last weekend’s loss against Colorado State, our prediction is down to two. Our predicted win against the Rams didn’t materialize, and if the team doesn’t improve its play drastically after that loss, it’s unlikely that the Buffs will be able to come out on top against Fresno State, especially considering the team’s inexperience in the Pac-12 Conference and tendency to lose on the road. That said, our two predicted Buffs football wins this season will be against Sacramento State this weekend and against Arizona State on Oct. 11, both at home in Boulder.
2) Will we have any All-Americans in any varsity sport this year?
Shalaya Kipp, a senior on the CU cross-country team, represented Team USA at the London Olympics this summer in the 3,000m steeplechase. While Kipp did not advance beyond the first round in London, her teammate and CU student Emma Coburn placed ninth in the final. Kipp has strong potential to make the All-American team for cross-country as well as for track in the steeplechase come next spring, especially after training and racing alongside Coburn this past spring and summer. Coburn, while still a CU student, is ineligible to run for the team as she has already earned four varsity letters.
3) Who is this men’s golfer from Denmark we keep hearing about?
The CU men’s golf team has a new recruit from Denmark this year, freshman Philip Juel-Berg. He played his first collegiate tournament on Tuesday against the Air Force Academy at the Ballyneal Challenge, finishing second overall behind senior teammate Jason Burstyn. Juel-Burg showed he can handle windy conditions on the golf course, as his round-two score on Tuesday was the only round in the 60s. To put that in perspective, the average score that afternoon was 77. Juel-Berg hails from Denmark’s Soelleroed club team, and he placed 34th at the 2012 Danish International Amateur Championship. Expect this new standout to lead by example for the Buffs this fall.
Have a question to ask the CUI Sports staff? Tweet us @CUISports or email sports editors Caryn Maconi and Ryan Sterner at Caryn.maconi@colorado.edu and Ryan.sterner@colorado.edu.
