CU At The Game Podcast

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Stuart Whitehair, Brad Geiger and Neil Langland are back, and we are gearing up for the 2022 season. The Pac-12 Media Day is in the books, and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff didn’t mince words when it came to the Big 12 and possible additional poaching of Pac-12 schools. Kliavkoff said, “Let’s be very clear. No Pac-12 school is joining the Big 12". Which, of course, is true until it isn’t true. We’ll break down the current options for the remaining Pac-12 schools, as well as what options Colorado has going forward.

We then turn our attention back to the Buffs and the opening of Fall Camp. Karl Dorrell, as you might have expected, downplayed the media’s projections of a last place finish for the Buffs, saying, “We know what’s there and there’s a lot of people who don’t know”. We take a unit-by-unit look at what’s expected from your Buffs out of Fall Camp, including the crucial decision of naming a starting quarterback. 

Will the Buffs be better than the experts project? Are there All-Pac-12 players in the CU locker room which the pundits missed? Will there be any news of note coming out of the Champions Center during Fall Camp, or will Buff fans be kept in the dark until TCU comes to Folsom Field on September 2nd? 

... Let’s find out ... 

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While the Buff Nation may not know right now what conference CU will be playing in come 2024, they do know the Buffs will be playing a Pac-12 conference schedule in 2022. In this episode, I am joined by Brad Geiger and Neil Langland as we break down the Pac-12, before turning our attention to how the preseason magazines are treating Colorado. 

The Transfer Portal, together with new coaches at the conference’s top programs, has created new uncertainties as to how the 2022 season will unfold:

- Will the addition of former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, together with a herd of transfers, be enough to take USC from a 4-8 team to a playoff contender? Or will Utah defend its title?;
- Has Arizona State turned the corner under head coach Herm Edwards, or is the program a “dumpster fire” ready to implode?;
- Why all the love for Arizona, a program which has lost 23 of its last 24 games?; 
- Is Oregon the runaway choice in the North? And do the Ducks have a chance of taking down Georgia in the season opener?; 
- What has become of the Bay area schools? You think Justin Wilcox is regretting turning down the Oregon job? Have the Transfer Portal and a refusal to participate in the new world of NIL rendered Stanford a program condemned to future mediocrity?; and
- Was there any positive press for Colorado in the preseason magazines? 

... Let’s find out ... 

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With this episode, Brad Geiger and Neil Langland return to the podcast. We will be getting to our Pac-12 preview and our Fall Camp analysis in short order, but we wanted to do a free flowing episode on the status of Name, Image and Likeness at the University of Colorado. 

Athletic director Rick George recently met with the CU Board of Regents, and some of his quotes are disconcerting to some members of the Buff Nation. 

“One thing that we’re not going to do”, George said, “Is we’re not going to induce student-athletes to attend here, we’re not going to tamper with student-athletes and we’re not going to have boosters involved in the recruiting process and other areas” ... even while other schools are having no problems with any of the above. 

Can CU wait for the NCAA to enforce its rules? ... Is it possible for Colorado to stick to its principles - and still be competitive? ... What are the odds that this is the beginning of the move in college football to a semi-pro league of the 24-36 teams which are willing to pay to compete? ... Are college football programs left in a position of “adapt or die” - with CU being left behind? ... 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. This is the last of our 20 interviews this spring. Back in February, with little seemingly going on in the world of Name, Image and Likeness - at least as far as CU was concerned - I posted a GoFundMe campaign to offer 20 CU student-athletes $500 each for a half-hour interview. The Buff Nation responded, raising $10,000 in three days. As a result, it has been my pleasure and honor to conduct 20 interviews, allowing us a chance to get to know some of CU’s student-athletes a little better.

In this episode, we are introduced to red-shirt freshman tight end, Caleb Fauria. Caleb is a CU legacy, with his father, Christian Fauria, a CU legend. Christian was a Buff from 1991-94, finishing with the third-most receiving yards by a tight end in Buff history. Caleb, however, was a big time recruit in his own right, with scholarship offers from at least one school in each of the Power Five conferences. Caleb, though, became a Buff for Life three days after his official visit to Boulder in the summer of 2019. 

Fauria was injured during the 2020 season, and saw limited action last fall. This season, there is only one upperclassman at the tight end position - senior Brady Russell - left on the roster. Fauria, who still has four years of eligibility remaining, will be one of four red-shirt freshmen tight ends looking to make a name for himself during the 2022 campaign. 

So ... Was there any pressure on Caleb to commit to Colorado, with his parents both being CU graduates? ... What does Fauria think of his new position coach - and new passing game coordinator - Clay Patterson? ...  What play during the 2021 season earned Caleb a notation in the final season stats sheet? ... And what does Caleb think of the play his father made in the 1991 Oklahoma State game, with dad catching a 20-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal in the final minute to defeat the Cowboys, 16-12? ... 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to senior wide receiver, Daniel Arias. While Arias, like many of his upperclass teammates, has gone through three coaching changes while at Colorado, his compelling story starts long before he became a Buff.

Arias was born in the Dominican Republic, and there were times when there was no electricity or running water in the house. Daniel’s mother moved to Washington state, bringing Daniel and his siblings to the United States when he was only six. 

Overcoming a lisp and a language barrier, Arias became an excellent student, with his speed bringing about his introduction to the game of football, and, ultimately, the University of Colorado. 

Setting a school single season record for forced fair catches as a freshman, Arias will likely become CU’s all-time leader in that category this fall. Now a starter at wide receiver, Arias has a goal of 1,500 yards receiving and 20 touchdowns in 2022. 

So ... How was Daniel’s first career touchdown, a 37-yarder against Washington his freshman season, quite literally “a dream come true”? ... Who is Reggie Moore, and what impact did coach Moore have on Daniel’s development at CU? ... And what is it about the current coaching staff that makes Arias say that “It’s fun to play football now”?... 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to sophomore placekicker, Cole Becker, Becker, from California, was one of the top rated kickers from the Recruiting Class of 2021, and originally was an Iowa State commit before joining CU’s Recruiting Class just before Signing Day. 

Earning a starting position as a true freshman last fall, Becker missed his first three field goal attempts of the 2021 season - and was almost benched in favor of Evan Price - before rallying to connect on 14-of-17 kicks the remainder of the year. Along the way, Becker was good on three kicks of over 50 yards, the most 50-yarders in a season since the great Mason Crosby turned the trick back in 2005. Becker also became just the third freshman kicker in CU history to lead the team in scoring. 

So ... What did it feel like to be recruited as one of the top kickers in the nation, and what went into his decision to turn down Iowa State in favor of Colorado? ... What was the pressure like trotting onto the field in Tempe to kick a 51-yard field goal against Arizona State just before halftime, knowing his job as starter may have been on the line? ... What was it like kicking the school freshman record - a 56-yarder against Utah? ... And why does Becker believe that there was more pressure on his extra point in the first overtime against Oregon State, than there was in the 43-yard game-winner in the second overtime? 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to sophomore cornerback, Nikko Reed. Reed, from California, was all-league as a wide receiver, defensive back, and special teams performer in high school. He was recruited by several schools at receiver, but chose Power Five conference Colorado, which saw his future as a cornerback. 

In addition to talking about his recruitment, Reed talks about how, even as a true freshman with a talented roster in front of him, that he was told that if he was good enough, he would get a chance to play. Reed wound up playing in all 12 games of the 2021 season, but got his chance to make a name for himself at the end of the season, with a fourth quarter interception to help preserve the win over Washington, and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Utah. 

So ... What did it feel like to hear the cheers of 50,000 Buff fans with his game-saving end zone interception against Washington? ... What did he see in game film which gave him confidence he could return a kickoff for a touchdown against Utah? ... What was it like to lose his position coach - and then three starters in the defensive backfield - over the span of just over a month this past off-season? ... What does he appreciate about his new position coach, Rod Chance, who “tells us the truth”? ... And what CU school record did Reed set in the 2021 season finale that he wasn’t aware of until we talked? ... 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to outside linebacker, Devin Grant. Grant, who will play as a redshirt freshman this year despite being on the field in both 2020 and 2021, introduced himself to the Buff Nation late last season. Thrust into the starting lineup for the final two games due to injuries, Grant had eight tackles in the season finale against Utah, a taste of what CU fans can expect from Grant for the 2022 season and beyond.

Grant talks about his recruitment, and the “fake love” he got from schools other than Colorado. Grant breaks down how his role as an outside linebacker has changed as CU transitions from a 3-4 to a 4-3, and what it’s like to have his new position coach (Chris Wilson) also be the defensive coordinator. Finally, Grant talks candidly and openly about the players who left Boulder through the Transfer Portal, NIL opportunities (or the lack thereof) for CU student-athletes, and the mood of the locker room as the preseason magazines roll out, predicting another losing season for Colorado. 

So ... What’s it like to be an outside linebacker in the film room, with Grant breaking down his off-season preparation into three stages? ... What makes Grant believe that the leadership is there in the CU locker room to overcome past adversities, and that the 2022 team is “tired of losing”? ... And which personal goal has Grant set for himself, one which, if achieved, will all but guarantee All-Pac-12 status? 

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to CU’s starting defensive lineman, Jalen Sami. A lightly-recruited player out of Colorado Springs, Sami was asked by the Mike MacIntyre coaching staff to gray-shirt, delaying his enrollment until the spring of 2018.

Sami made a splash when he did take the field in his freshman season in 2019, recovering a fumble in his very first game, a rout of CSU in Denver. Later that season, Sami saved the day against Washington, making a play on - of all things - special teams.

Now on his third head coach and sixth position coach, Sami still has two years of eligibility remaining. Sami already has 24 career starts under his belt, but believes he just had his best spring since he arrived in Boulder in 2018, and can’t wait, as he put it, “to shock the world”. 

So ... What was it like being 6'6", 320-pounds in high school, and being lightly recruited? ... What does Sami think of CU’s move from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense? ... Why does Sami think that, even though he’ll have a year of eligibility left for the 2023 season, he may be playing elsewhere next fall? ... And what was Sami’s motivation in playing against Washington in 2019 which may have helped him make the play which saved the day for the Buffs? ..

... Let’s find out ... 

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Welcome back to our CU at the Game NIL Interview series. In this episode, we are introduced to CU’s starting offensive left tackle, Jake Wiley. Though only a sophomore in terms of eligibility, Wiley has already been through a great deal in his time in Boulder. Recruited by Mike MacIntyre’s staff as a member of the CU Recruiting Class of 2019, Wiley was already on to his third head coach by the time he was able to take to the field for the first time in 2020.

Wiley earned a spot in starting lineup during the 2021 season, but the campaign did not open well. Offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue was let go mid-season, with quality control coach William Vlachos stepping in to coach the rest of the year. After the middle of last season, offensive line improved, and that upward trend has continued with the hiring of offensive line coach Kyle DeVan, giving Buff fans reason for optimism about the line in 2022.

Jake talks about the revolving door of coaches he has been through, and what Coach DeVan brings to the table. He also discusses how, through the adversities of the 2021 season, the offensive line has grown closer, and is excited about leaving the past in the past, and making the Buff Nation proud this fall. 

So ... What was it like growing up in Colorado, wanting to be a Buff, only to see the coach that recruited you leave before you were ever able to set foot on campus? ... What does Jake think about Coach DeVan’s quote about him that “his approach this off-season has been freaking unbelievable ... You talk about a guy that loves the game, loves the work, loves the development side of it ... I’m really excited about him” ... And what are the odds that Jake will report as a tackle eligible this fall, and get his chance to score a touchdown in Folsom Field? 

... Let’s find out ... 

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