TUCSON, Ariz. — On a day when Stanley Burrell turned up to hang with Deion Sanders, CU put the (MC) Hammer down.
“CU has a real shot in the Big 12 (title race),” Erik Garcia told me, gushing, as we stood outside the CU Buffs’ locker room at Arizona Stadium early Saturday night.
Garcia believes, baby.
Did we mention that Erik is an Arizona fan?
Yep. Tucson raised. Tucson proud. Nearly four decades of #BearDown in his blood.
“You ever waited for a visiting team’s coach before?” I asked.
“No, never,” he replied. “First time.”
Garcia was one of a handful of folks decked out in Wildcats gear, red and blue, who joined the CU faithful in packing themselves, like sardines, outside the visiting locker room after the Buffs decimated Arizona, 34-7.
Just for an autograph. A selfie. A wave. A glimpse. Anything,
“The Buffaloes bring a lot of obvious reasons why,” explained Garcia, who waited for a chance to get up close with Deion, Shedeur or Shilo Sanders wearing a giant, comically over-sized red Arizona hat and a massive necklace with the Wildcats’ famous “A” dangling from the end of it. “(They’ve) got Deion, his kids.
“They’re a good team, quality team. I mean, they sell tickets. Being a loyal U of A fan, of course, I grew up watching Deion. I came to see him. Even if he’s on the (other) sideline.”
Colorado wide receiver Drelon Miller (6) celebrates with wide receiver Travis Hunter after scoring a touchdown against Arizona in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Remember the old newsreel footage of fans screaming at The Beatles, pressed against various fences, whenever they landed at airports in the early ’60s? It looked a lot like that. Actually, it looked exactly like that.
All the stars were out. Burrell, better known as the iconic rapper MC Hammer, made a point of seeking out Coach Prime during pregame warmups. Ex-Arizona QB Khalil Tate, a perennial Buffs-killer, was the Wildcats’ honorary captain.
But center stage on Saturday belonged almost entirely to CU’s defense. The Buffs (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) piled up seven sacks, the most by CU since 2010, and absolutely dominated an offensive line that had given up just six over its first six games heading into this weekend.
“Just honestly, (it came from) playing together, just rushing as one with the four of us on the line,” reflected Buffs defensive end Keaten Wade, who collected two of those sacks. “I felt like it was very important … (in) a game, we’re going to have to rush together and see how it comes out. I’m just glad we got the good (amount of) sacks.”
Colorado defensive end Samuel Okunlola (93) reacts after sacking Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
As impressive as CU’s 48-21 win at UCF was late last month, Saturday in Tucson might’ve topped it. Arizona, which features a future NFL wideout in Tetairoa McMillan, managed just 138 passing yards and 245 total yards on the day. The Wildcats came into the weekend averaging 273 passing yards, sixth-best in the Big 12, and 414 yards of offense per week.
Did we mention that they did all this, for the most part, without Travis Hunter?
Yep. After getting dinged up at Folsom Field against Kansas State last week, Hunter played the first half against U of A a little gingerly — at least by his standards.
But simply the threat of him being on the boundary on offense was enough to gift the Buffs a pass interference call that set up a quick 14-0 lead, but Coach Prime wisely elected to pull him at halftime with CU up 28-7.
No. 12 watched the last 30 minutes in sweats as his teammates methodically and clinically blanked the hosts after halftime, smothering QB Noah Fifita at almost every turn. Despite being down three scores, the ‘Cats somehow managed fewer passing yards after halftime (51) than they’d put up in the opening two stanzas (87).
Just like UCF” ‘s Gus Malzahn, new ‘Zona coach Brent Brennan got out-schemed, out-planned and out-adjusted by Sanders and coordinators Robert Livingston (defense) and Pat Shurmur (offense). The Wildcats’ decision to open the game with an onside kick — CU recovered, then scored in five plays and just 2:21 to grab a lead they never lost — seemed to be a particularly desperate touch.
“Kinda disrespectful,” Coach Prime noted.
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter talks to teammates after being taken out in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Speaking of disrespect, the elder Sanders appeared bemused by former President Obama’s endorsement of the ‘Cats during an appearance here this past Friday.
“I know Colorado’s got a couple good players, but you guys have beaten them twice in a row,” the former President had said. “Don’t bet against the Wildcats (on Saturday).”
Yeah, bad call there, my man.
“President Obama is everything to me, I mean I love him,” the elder Sanders quipped after the game. “I admire him, I respect him tremendously, but I heard what he said …
“Come on, man. You’re my man. I love you. I appreciate you. But come on, dawg. God bless you. I still love you.”
Before Saturday, CU hadn’t won two road league games by 20 or more points in the same season since 1995. First year of the Rick Neuheisel Era. Karl Dorrell was calling plays. Those were the days, my friend.
They might be here again. Just ask Garcia.
“They’re a solid, fast, fun team to watch,” the longtime Wildcats fan said. Then he shrugged. “I’d be dumb to say they can’t (win this league) after what they did.”
Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (5) avoids Arizona defensive lineman Nolan Clement (37) and defensive back Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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