Just when we thought Colorado was starting to turn the corner under new offensive play-caller Pat Shurmur, the Buffaloes crapped the bed on Friday night in Pullman. They were roasted alive vs. a Washington State team that everybody thought quit on head coach Jake Dickert. Wazzu crushed CU to the tune of 56-14. This dropped Colorado to 4-7 on the year. Now they cannot even go bowling...
While Washington State is one Apple Cup victory away from getting to 6-6 and achieving bowl eligibility, Colorado only has regional rival Utah left to play this season. After going undefeated in the non-conference, Colorado has won one game since. That came over Arizona State, a team that might actually be in worse shape than what Deion Sanders inherited at Boulder. Kenny Dillingham is trying...
But because of the social media exploits put forth by Sanders and his team all offseason and well into September, the Buffaloes went from being on top of the college football world to getting toppled on. Sanders' son in starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders sustained an injury in the game, and that is when the wheels really fell off the Buffaloes' wagon. All that momentum has evaporated into thin air.
As expected, college football social media had a field day at the expense of Sanders' Colorado team.
College football world crushes Deion Sanders, Colorado after Wazzu loss
What hurt Colorado the most this season was a lack of depth, particularly in the trenches. At times, they were fairly explosive in the passing game, especially outside the numbers. However, injuries and attrition rendered the Buffaloes largely useless once conference play commenced. Given that the final year of the Pac-12 gave us one its best seasons to date only added insult to injury for Colorado.
Fans dissecting last night's Colorado loss to Wazzu: pic.twitter.com/AZmOcRjDRL
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 18, 2023
This is the type of hype Colorado was getting after starting 2-0 against TCU and Nebraska https://t.co/9iRwARVLvv
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 18, 2023
Waking up to Colorado having been blown out by Wazzu 56-14. pic.twitter.com/kJZxbmWG3h
— 🌽 BigRedKorner 🌽 (@KadeLight57) November 18, 2023
Deion Sanders showing Colorado fans which bowl game they're going to pic.twitter.com/9infn1L77x
— Jeffrey Walizer Jr (@JWalizerJr) November 18, 2023
There are three things that Sanders needs to do this offseason to prepare Colorado for life in an expanded 16-team Big 12 conference. First, they must recruit, recruit, recruit, especially in the trenches and at the high school level. Second, they need to dip heavily into the transfer portal once again to flip the roster more. And third, they may need to get better continuity with the coaching staff.
Tell me about Colorado during the month of September pic.twitter.com/7vTbyZGnN1
— Kevin Martinez (@ikevinmartinez) November 18, 2023
Deion Sanders' 1st Colorado team meeting: "I'm bringing luggage, and it's Louis."
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) November 18, 2023
The luggage: pic.twitter.com/OmDBG2NRCN
So Colorado ended up having the season most of us expected.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 18, 2023
Get destroyed on the lines, Shedeur gets banged up, Buffs get everyone's best shot, won't be bowling in a tough P12.
Still a big improvement from last year, but the nature of the TCU game warped everything.
Colorado reaching for bowl eligibility last night… pic.twitter.com/PcUlQFUFUm
— Brian Ross (@brewmeone) November 18, 2023
The first two points of emphasis are self-explanatory and ones that Sanders should have no problem achieving. As for the third, he needs to accept the fact that he is every bit a CEO-type of head coach and surround himself with the best coaches possible. While I applaud him for being able to poach former Kent State head coach Sean Lewis to be his offensive coordinator, Lewis is so gone now...
Front running clout chasing culture. All them celebrities vanished from Colorado games when it got muddy 😭
— Silkk (@Unksilkk) November 18, 2023
Said it all year.
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) November 18, 2023
It’s hard getting everyone’s max effort when you’re a bad team.
But that’s what Colorado gets every week because of how much it talked to start the year.
Every opponent knows it’ll be social media famous if they don’t show up.
Can we order one of these full of Offensive Linemen from the transfer portal for Colorado next year? pic.twitter.com/y2lbjl2ZPO
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 18, 2023
Last year Colorado won just 1 conference game. With a win over #22 Utah next week, Colorado has an opportunity to DOUBLE that total in Deion Sanders' first season with the team.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 18, 2023
If Sanders wants to keep Shurmur on as offensive coordinator, I would not hate that. He did a great job for years calling plays on defense-driven NFL teams, such as the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings. However, Sanders must look inside himself and figure out what he is doing wrong as a leader, as well as what it will take for the Buffaloes to start playing some complementary football.
The worst part in all this is Colorado will not have extra bowl practices to get better as a program now.