The football team’s annual spring game is upon us. We finally get our first nibble of football that has been so passionately missed during the offseason.
I know what you’re thinking: “I’m going to have to buy tickets and pay for parking! All for a meaningless scrimmage?” Fear not, Buffs fans. Both are free. And the weather for Sunday is set to be sunny in the low 70s, so there are now zero excuses to miss this game.
Keep in mind that fans of schools like Penn State and Alabama go absolutely nuts over their spring games. Last year over 72,000 fans attended those schools while only 6,350 Buffs fanatics graced Folsom Field with their presence. Come on, people. Get to the game and see for yourself why the Buffs are going to improve this year.
Expect sophomore quarterback Sefo Liufau to be as cool as a cucumber in the pocket Sunday. He undoubtedly has been working like a dog this offseason to improve from last year when he led the Pac-12 Conference with 15 interceptions.
In addition, you’ve got to get pumped about coordinator Jim Leavitt’s new defense. Hopes are high for the defense that ranked 111th among NCAA FBS teams.
The defense is definitely where my eyes will be focused this Sunday. Keep an eye out for sophomore defensive back Tedric Thompson, who played exceptionally well last year at strong safety. He held the secondary together and averaged 7.4 tackles per game in 2014, which led the team.
Junior linebacker Addison Gillam will also be under my microscope come Sunday. He led the team in tackles as a freshman in 2013, but had a disappointing 2014 season due to many injuries. Expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder Sunday, and expect it to remain there for the rest of the season.
For as much attention as the defense is getting, it wouldn’t be right to not get excited about the offense. The fact that fans get to watch junior wide receiver Nelson Spruce play is rewarding enough. After a monster season in 2014, where he had 1,198 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns and was a favorite target of Liufau, Spruce is sure to impress on Sunday.
Keep an eye on freshman wide receiver Shay Fields. He made an immediate impact on the Buffs’ offense last year, and was the second leading receiver in yards, receptions and touchdowns behind Spruce. It seems probable that he’s going to have another big season, and the experience he gained last year makes him an even more attractive target for Liufau.
So get up, get excited and get yourself to the spring game this Sunday at Folsom Field. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the game is set to start at 2 p.m.
Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on twitter: @TheHungry_Hippo.
