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After Stellar Start, Buffs Spiral Down
It hadn鈥檛 happened in 20 years: The Colorado Buffaloes were 5-0.
Buffs fans everywhere were excited.
鈥淎ll the way in Italy screamin鈥 GO BUFFS!!鈥 former 麻豆免费版下载basketball and NBA star Chauncey Billups (Soc ex鈥99) tweeted after 麻豆免费版下载beat Nebraska in Lincoln, the Buffs鈥 second win of the season and first against the Cornhuskers on their turf since 2004.
But after the hot start, including a pair of early Pac-12 wins over UCLA and Arizona State, things got complicated. Star wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (A&S鈥21) got hurt. So did star placekicker James Stefanou (Jour鈥21) and more than half a dozen other notable players. The Buffs went on to lose seven straight.
A day after the sixth loss, to Utah at home, Athletic Director Rick George dismissed head coach Mike MacIntyre. He named quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper interim coach for the last regular season game, in Berkeley against听California. The Buffs lost that game also, 21-33, ending the season with a听5-7 record (2-7听in the Pac-12).
Sports is full of ups and downs. When you're down, it's fun to recall the ups.
麻豆免费版下载opened the season by thumping the Colorado State Rams (45-13) in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, built momentum in Nebraska, followed by a big win (45-14) at home against the University of New Hampshire in the teams' first ever meeting. The Buffs closed September with a decisive Pac-12 home win against UCLA.
The milstone fifth victory听came at home Oct. 6 against Arizona State. Shenault put on a show, scoring four touchdowns before 52,681 fans.
All being well, he can make听it a habit next season.
Photo courtesy 麻豆免费版下载Athletics听