Cary Edmondson-US Presswire
Thud.
That is the sound the Colorado Buffaloes made when they hit rock bottom in central California. Maybe there was a glimmer of hope as Jon Embree’s team prepared for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Hope is a funny thing. It either becomes elation or depression. For football fans in Boulder, the current emotion is the latter. A final score of 69-14 is enough to make the even most cynical CU fan question their eyesight.
Believe it.
A select few picked a Colorado win in Fresno. For anyone who follows the Mountain West, Fresno State is a viable program that is well coached with a good quarterback. Derek Carr is more than capable of leading the Dogs offense. New head coach Tim DeRuyter brings a gifted defensive mind. In other words, they were and are better than CU.
On the social media platforms, especially Twitter, Buff fans asked if their team was really that bad after seeing the halftime score of 55-7. The answer is yes. It is this bad.
Good thing #CU is a basketball school. If they were known for football this would be embarassing.
— Rob Wagner (@The_Rob_Wagner) September 16, 2012
Last weekend I watched with amazement as the Sacramento State Hornets kicked a last second field goal to down Ralphie on his home field. Tonight, the loss was expected, but it was the lack of effort that left me speechless.
If CU is a member of the Pac-12 and a storied FBS program, you wouldn’t know it by watching them. Reality has become uglier than a Buffaloes backside.
I’d like to formally apologize for ever defending John Embree, #CU is officially a basketball school! #SadDayForBuffs
— Josh Dover (@JoshuaDover) September 16, 2012
I don’t want to blame Embree. He inherited a bare cupboard last season and has more freshman on his two deep than an English 101 course. Where is the pride? Losing to an FCS squad and letting a Mountain West team hang 69 on the scoreboard is unacceptable. Even for Boulder.
If it were up to me, and it isn’t, Embree would get another year. He needs to build at least a three years worth of recruiting classes. But (fortunately it isn’t) up to me. I do not hold Embree’s future. A group of underachieving 18 to 22 year-olds do.
You’ve got to be kidding me #CU… #putmeincoach
— Cole Glommen (@Glory_Cole) September 16, 2012
Colorado Athletic Director Mike Bohn has a tough decision to make. Before the season he expected a six win effort. How about two boy scouts in roller skates? Would you believe zero wins?
Don’t believe it; expect it.
Next week CU is at the Washington State Cougars. That would be the easiest game left on the schedule. If the Buffs lose, and there is no reason to think they will not, sniffing a victory in 2012 will become as likely as a hitting a fly with a pebble at midnight.
Bohn dug Embree’s grave before the season started with his much too lofty expectations. He will soon have to put his money where his mouth is and look elsewhere for a new coach. Or what is the point of expectations? After an 0-12 Buffs season, no one would blame him.
I think CU will be better next year regardless. They can’t get any worse. Unfortunately for Embree, he won’t be there to see it.
James Gomez is a Pac-12 and Mountain West columnist for Rant Sports and member of the Football Writers Association of America
You can follow James on Twitter as well.
