Wanted to open a thread for discussion on the panalties levied against Ohio State.

Wow, i personally am a little underwhelmed at the "severity" of the mayhem brought down by the NCAA. 1 year bowl ban (not this year...), reduction of 9 scholarships, and 2 year probation.... Yawn. We've been through a 5 year bowl ban.

I just don't see missing one year of bowls (no GUARENTEE they would have even made one, but probably so.), a few less scholarships which basically means squat, and probation. I think if you look at recruiting they already have this year, and even what USC is able to pull off, their is no impact to recruiting based on these penalties.

To me, neither OSU nor USC will really miss a beat, sure they will lose a couple dollars, but they will still remain the football machines as before their infractions. heck, OSU probably got a coaching upgrade because of it!

Let me know when the NCAA decides to do something more than shaking their disapproving finger at these programs.

After enjoying the awesome win on Friday and afterglow of victory, I find myself feeling empty due to the realization that the College Football season is basically done.  Sure, there are Championship games next weekend and then bowl games in about a month, but the days of non-stop college football, campus atmosphere, and especially Buff Football are over for the next 9 months.  Yes, we have National Signing Day which is kinda cool, and Spring football which is also good, but somehow still seems a little unfulfilling.  

 Maybe its the post-Thanksgiving let down, or short days this time of year, but regardless the passing of another season of College Football sucks.

Geez, even my local High School Season (Southlake Carroll Dragons- JJ Drescher/Peyton Williams) is still going for potentially another couple of weeks.

Maybe i'll spend the off season practicing  my iPad typing skills which are pathetic, thank all of you for not pointing that out all season....

I'm sure most of you diehard Buff fans have heard Coach Embree's post game interview from this past Saturday meltdown versus WSU.  Sitting in my hotel room after the game, still pissed off, I booted up and was pretty shocked by his interview.  Shocked and extremely happy to hear him go off.

Some people (mostly in the media) have been making a big deal of it in recent days, and that offends me more than anything Embree had to say.  Fact is, he is an emotional coach, after an emotional loss, in an emotional sport.  That type of frankness has been long overdue in this program and I KNOW most fans and more importantly, the players were glad to hear some passion about our Buffs performance come out.  Fact is, we needed it, and I needed to hear it.

Any player that heard that and wanted to go cry to mama about it (I doubt there were any), should go do just that becasue we don't need them.  Dan Hawkins might have, but Embreee doesn't.  Anybody who thinks this kind of firely passion doesn't exist in football at the coaching level, has never played or been a part of a competitive football team.  Go watch golf it you want that type of post game/round discussion.

What really pisses me off is the media trying to make an issue out of it, and after listening to today's Press Conference, Embree sounded completely neutered.  Pity.  I hope that doesn't last because it suddenly sounded like DH again and I can't take that.

So, on the off chance Coach Embree reads the Ralphie Report, please know that true Buff fans appreciate your passion, honesty, and desire to bring us Buffs Back To Prominence.  Don't let that passion to win get squashed by a bunch of squeemish pu$$ies fans.  Remember,this is Divsion I PAC 12 football, not pee wee where everyone gets a trophy.

Enough is enough

OK, this one makes me giddy and can hardly type fast enough!!  3-Star WR Peyton Williams has reportedly committed to the Buffs this afternoon according to Rivals.  6'1" Peyton William from my very own neighborhood of Southlake, TX will be wearing the Balck and Gold in 2012.

From a personal note, I know this guy has been a big key to the Dragons passing attack that took them deep into the Texas 5A championships last year as a Junior.  This year should be even better with the majority of their offense returning.

I'm pretty sure his deciding factor was seeing yours truly around town in my Buff jerseys and other Buff clothing, so I'm pretty excited to have a home town boy playing for my alma mater.

Welcome to the Buffs, Peyton!

For some reason I had a bad feeling about this, and it turned out to be true.  Seems as though BJ Catalon has now given his verbal commitment to TCU (thus no longer headed to Boulder) according to Rivals .  Dissapointed for sure since I think he was being recruited by EB and was a little victory for us to get a recruit out of Texas.

I can't feel too bad though since we are way early in the cycle and commits to tend to come and go.  At 5'8" he certainly wans't going to be a power back, but as numerous Buff RB's from the past have shown us, height doesn't matter too much.

Just wanted to go "Off Topic" and wish everyone a Happy Holiday season and hope everyone can be with family and get some time off.

Along the lines posting my Christmas Wish List I respectufully submit the following, and encourage you all to do the same....

1. A soon completed football coaching staff that can get out there and bring home a respectful 2011 recruiting class

2. An NCAA berth for the Men's Basketball team this year because I'm sick of watching every other team/fan get pumped up about March Madness

3. Get to watch a Buff game on a real network (at a minimum no more Yogi Roth).

4. A 9 and 4 football record in 2011 (hey, it is a WISH list) with a "W" over Washington and USC/UCLA.

5. A defense that can stop the bubble screen

6. a quick medical recovery from Bo Pellini when he undoubtedly stokes out on the sidelines in the Big 10.

7. Texas to have another disasterous year because they deserve it

8. A return to having all college bowl game played on Jan 1 (Jan 2 at the most) and establishing a Play-off  all at the same time.

9. A Red Rider BB gun

Merry Christmas!! 

The Denver Post is reporting that Brock Burglund is keeping his commitment to the Buffs.  This is great news and I'm sure the Buff faithful apprecaite his words of encouragement.

"I have spoken with coach Kiesau and I have an understanding of what the process of finding a new coach looks like," Berglund said. "I am confident that (CU athletic director) Mike (Bohn) will make the decision that is in the best interest for the program while going through this difficult process. I also have confidence that (interim) coach (Brian) Cabral can step in and do a great job until a permanent decision is made."

On Rival.com he is listed as a new commit.  He visited this weekend and according to rivals didn't have an offer unitl this weekend.  He is from LD Bell here in the DFW area.  Sorry, but I don't know much about him.

Need 75 words, so I'll just post a quick gripe: Given the results of the 2010 Buffs so far, I just feel bad for the players.  What pisses me off the most is that we had several kids transfer into the program and come to us for an opportunity to play (specifically WR's) and showcase their talents.  It was clear that we lacked depth and talent at this postion, so they came and improved our postion.  Now here was are half way throught the season and its the same old, run, run, and then maybe a dink pass.  We actually did better this game in going down field, but its still a pretty weak effort and I just feel bad for those players.

OK, its taken me until Monday afternoon to collect myself enough from Saturday’s (déjà-vu) collapse to put some thoughts into my take on what is going on with our Buffs.

There is absolutely no other explanation for the repeated dismal performance on the road than coaching.  Period.  Every possible tactic excuse that the coaching staff has come up with in the prior years are no longer valid, i.e. team maturity, leadership, and experience.

My biggest complaint revolves around the passing game.  We have actually assembled an impressive group of receivers lead by two seniors (McKnight and Patterson), additional experience in Clemons and Jefferson, along with some talented new blood in Richardson that we just cannot seem to get involved in the game for more than 5 yard pass plays. I just can’t understand how we have SO MUCH difficulty in establishing a passing attack.  Why are our fast and talented receivers never open?  Poorly designed routes, unexplained phenomenal coverage, loafing, Hansen/Hawkins- can’t see/hit the openings??  WHAT IS IT??

Just imagine what this does to recruiting WR’s!

Its obvious that Hansen does not have a gun, so I can only hope Hirschman does and can stand in the (short lived) pocket and get the ball downfield with some authority next year.

Back to my original issue- this leadership has been given more than ample opportunity to correct issues, motivate, and game plan for winning results, but have proven it’s beyond their capability.  Done, over, time for a change in leadership. 

Exception being Collins, Cabral, and possibly Ambrose (Because he is so new).  Certainly Collins will be poached next year, and I couldn’t blame Cabral for bolting if he isn’t named Head Coach because he has certainly earned that opportunity somewhere if he wants it.

Go Buffs (obligatory)

Good or bad, like it or not, long term or short term, Dan Hawkins has achieved a 3-1 non conference record and has at the least made it difficult to make a coaching change decision.  Fortunatley, there is a lot more season to go that will undoubtedly chart his future as the Buff Head Coach, but even the most anti-Hawkins fan must feel a little conflicted at this point.  We all want our Buffs to win, the question is how/who can get us there?

I guess I'm just venting here (and late to the party on this one), but I am astonished at the complete lack of respect we are receiveing across the board in pre-season predictions.  Everybody from ESPN to SI to every twit that can write a blog (some Kansas dude, who has ZERO room to spout off) seems to be going out of their way to write off our Buffs.

Now I understand that based on last years results, we deserve nothing but abuse.  However, I would expect REAL College Football experts to go a little deeper than simply applying last years results to this years predictions.

Fact is CU is a different team this year with more depth, talent, and experience.  In my real opinion, we lost several games last year for some bizzare reasons (other games we simply sucked and deserved to lose) that I just can't see happening again this year.  Also people are quick to forget that we did beat A&M, Kansas, and gave UT and OKSt a pretty tough time on thier own field.

I hope I can bring this post up again in November and tell ESPN, SI, and the other morons with a blog (not this blog of course) where they  can "stash" their predictions.

Looks like its official, he's on board.  Hope he appreciates this second chance and makes the most of it for a long career here at CU.  Now just get Patterson cleared and we'll be good to go.

Hopefully they can create some quick chemistry with Hansen and the offense and really lite it up.  Looks like we're building a small tradition over the past few years at picking up some last minute recruits and transfers.

http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3843&SPID=255&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=204974608&DB_OEM_ID=600

Happen to stumble across an ESPN Classic showing of "The Catch" and watching this makes me cringe at how far we (and Michigan too) have fallen since those glory years.  Names like Kordell, Salaam, Westbrook, Johnson (Ted), Lepsis, Fauria, and even Carruth  bring back memories of better football days.  Even had the legendary Keith Jackson calling the game!

Hopefully we will one day get back to this level of play and national prominence.

At the risk of dating myself, I remember the game well watching it from a sports bar near Sea-Tac airport in Seattle, WA with my brother who was visiting for the weekend.  About 10 of us went absolutely nuts at the end and I vividly remember the loud mouth MI fan who couldn't shut up the entire game, just sitting there staring at the big screen with his mount open (and nothing coming out)

For those of you old enough, what was your story?

Definately an interesting story from the Denver Post.  Lots of things happen in the recruiting world that most people never see or hear about.  I think we tend to underestimate the "other than football" factors that go into a kids decsion process when selecting a college to attend.  CU has a lot going for it compared to other schools, so I think its  possibly a little narrow minded of us CU Football faithful to completley discount CU's attractiveness just because of some rough seasons in the Big XII.


Here's to hoping Danny wears Black and Gold  come signing day.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_14289326#ixzz0e1uIfBKw