Sacramento State Beats Colorado, Buffaloes In Trouble
By Kyle Kensing
Sept 08, 2012; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Terrel Smith (41) and defensive back Parker Orms (13) are unable to stop Sacramento State Roster running back A.J. Ellis (21) from scoring on this play in the second quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
Edgar Castaneda’s 30-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired, and Sacramento State beat Colorado 30-28 in Boulder. The once-proud CU program is in dire trouble, sitting at 0-2 with its two most winnable games both lost in the final minute.
Jon Embree took over a challenging situation when he accepted the vacancy Dan Hawkins left. Hawkins was criticized for his recruiting while in Colorado, and those proverbial chickens have come home to roost. Still, losses to a Colorado State team in full rebuild mode sans its best player of 2011 and a home defeat to a Big Sky opponent coming off a 4-7 season and 49-19 loss to New Mexico State is stupefying.
We are just two games into the 2012 season, and needless to say much football remains. But it’s not too early to ponder if Colorado is shaping up to be the worst BCS conference team since the system’s inception in 1998.
Such distinction is tough to dole out in early September. Remember, just four years ago Washington went 0-12. Then again, the Huskies’ spent much of the season without their star quarterback, Jake Locker, and lost non-conference tilts to Notre Dame, BYU (by a point after a ridiculous celebration penalty) and Oklahoma. That’s hardly comparable to losses against teams that finished near the Mountain West and Big Sky cellars.
And while close, the Hornets’ win — they second over a Pac-12 foe in as many tries — cannot be excused as a fluke. Sacramento State dominated, outgaining the Buffs by nearly 200 yards (480-293), recording 30 first downs to CU’s 17, and getting to quarterback Jordan Webb three times. Conversely, Sac State quarterback Garrett Safron operated without much pressure, and parlayed his protection into 311 passing yards. Weep for this CU defense when it sees USC and the nation’s best receiving corps.
The Pac-12 has been thoroughly unimpressive in the early season, front runners aside. CU should improve — it would be almost impossible not to. The possibility of 0-12 has to be discussed, though.