Buffs Begin Preparation For Huskers

BOULDER — Asked Monday morning whether he planned to "play up" Colorado's one-time rivalry with Nebraska ahead of Saturday's game in Lincoln, CU head coach Mike MacIntyre had to smile.

"We don't have to play it up at all," MacIntyre said. " Everywhere (CU players) go they hear about it. They see it, they hear it, they hear about it, people talk about it. They're excited about playing in this game. It's going to be a lot of fun for us to play in it. … They understand the rivalry of Nebraska."

There was a point in time when such a question would have been unnecessary. Colorado and Nebraska were part of the same conference for 63 years, dating back to 1948, when CU joined the Big Seven, through 2010, when CU left the Big 12 for the Pac-12 and Nebraska joined the Big Ten.

But, as MacIntyre pointed out, the vast majority of CU's current players were in elementary school when the two schools parted company and conferences. The last time the two teams played was 2010.

Thus, many of CU's players learned about the history between the two programs only after arriving in Boulder — and it is likely a similar story in Lincoln. Players from both schools have grown up with the two programs playing in different conferences, and any rivalry has not been on their radar — until this year.

"Most of these kids were in fourth and fifth grade (the last time they played)," MacIntyre said. "So it's hard for them to really comprehend all of that. … They do know it's a big game, they do understand. They hear about it all the time. But as far as them growing up watching it … I think it's pretty new on both sides as far as the kids playing in it."

But make no mistake, CU's players are well-aware of the opportunity ahead. A nationally televised game (1:30 p.m., ABC) against a Power 5 opponent is a chance for for the Buffs take another step forward in a season that started out on a very promising note.

It is also a chance to play another game on a big stage. One week after CU opened the season with a 45-13 win over rival Colorado State in front of 70,158 fans in Denver, the Buffs will be playing in front of a sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd, expected to be in excess of 90,000.

That, MacIntyre said, is an opportunity to be embraced.

"It's all about us playing in between the white lines," he said. "The environment's going to be exciting, but when you get out there on the field, you just play. That's what they have to understand and I think they'll handle all that fine. We've played in some tough places. It will be exciting for them to go there and play. It's a big Power 5 game, national television. Those are the things both teams' kids dream of playing in. Kicked off in the afternoon like it should be. I think it's a fun thing to happen."

Along with last week's game against the Rams, the Buffs last year played in front of two crowds in excess of 60,000 — against CSU (73,932), and at UCLA (61,338). And, it was just two years ago that CU played in front of the biggest crowd ever to witness a Colorado game, 110,042 in Michigan.

Colorado junior Aaron Haigler not only played in that game, it was his first-ever start at CU as a redshirt freshman, with last week's game against CSU marking his 17th career start. He is one of 17 players on CU's current roster who played against the Wolverines.

"For players who haven't played in front of that many people, it's a spectacle — but I honestly think you can go in and feed off that a little," Haigler said. "Guys are going to love that, love playing in front of a sold-out crowd and all that energy. It's a big atmosphere, but the best way to win those games is not ride the highs and lows."

One key, Haigler said, will be to follow MacIntyre's advice — stay focused on what happens on the field.

"Really, you just worry about what happens inside the white lines," Haigler said. "Obviously it's a big game and Nebraska is a really good team. It's going to be a great experience. We just have to do what we know and we'll be all right. I think it's something everybody's excited about."

GAME PREPARATION: As the Buffaloes began preparation in earnest Monday for Saturday's game, they delved into Central Florida film from last season.

It is their best — and virtually only — option.

Thanks to Saturday night's thunderstorm in Lincoln, which canceled Nebraska's season opener against Akron, the Buffs have no game film on Nebraska from this year. Because the Huskers are under the direction of a new coaching staff, CU's best bet of dissecting tendencies and trends is to go back to last year's UCF team, where current Nebraska coach Scott Frost (a former Nebraska quarterback) and his staff were leading the Knights to a 13-0 record.

Meanwhile, the Huskers will have plenty of film to study on the Buffs, beginning with Friday night's season opening 45-13 win over Colorado State.

"We've never seen them play at Nebraska," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said after Monday's practice. "So, that's all we've watched is Central Florida film and some of their spring game. I was hoping to get a little film on them. They have a little film on us on some different things we're doing. But overall, we'll go out there and play and should be fine going into it."

One thing the Buffs do expect is a high-powered, fast-paced offense. Under Frost's direction last year, UCF went 13-0 and finished fifth in the nation in total offense, averaging more than 530 yards per game while scoring 77 offensive touchdowns (second in the nation). The Knights averaged nearly  200 yards per game on the ground and more than 330 in the air.

CSU REVIEW: After looking at the CU-CSU game film, MacIntyre said there were plenty of good things, but also some areas the Buffs were correcting Monday morning.

"We had a few substitution errors that happened on special teams that we have to correct," MacIntyre said. " … I felt like on defense there were a couple things we could have done better on some rush lanes. We kind of let the quarterback get outside a few times. That's going to happen every once in a while, but I thought our pressure was good there."

MacIntyre also said he liked CU's play in trenches on both sides of the ball.

"I thought our defensive line played stout," he said. "I thought our offensive line played well, picked up a lot of different things they were trying to do."

One thing with which MacIntyre was particularly pleased was the downfield blocking from CU's receivers. Those efforts turned potentially short gains into big plays.

"I thought our receivers on the perimeter blocked the best they've ever blocked since I've been here," he said. "That allowed a lot of those big plays to happen. Guys made great runs, but there weren't five guys closing in, there was one or two, which makes a huge difference. I thought that was excellent."

And, MacIntyre said, he was pleased with quarterback Steven Montez, who finished with a 22-for-25, 338-yard, four-touchdown night.

"I thought Steven did a good job of knowing right where to go with the ball and understood his decision making, which was good," he said.

MCMILLIAN ON DEBUT: Buffs senior running back Travon McMillian, who carried 10 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in his Colorado debut, said it was simply good to get back on the field.

"I haven't played since last year because I didn't get a spring," McMillian. "It was just great to be back out there with my teammates and get my debut as a Buffalo."

McMillian's big play of the night was a 49-yard touchdown run. He bounced the play outside, the left a CSU safety stumbling in the middle of the field when McMillian faked going inside, then headed for the sidelines and end zone.

"When I first got the ball, everybody crashed in so I jump cut to the outside," he said. "I burst it upfield and it was just me and him. I told myself, 'I'm about to make this guy miss.' That's what was going through my head as I was running."

McMillian, who said CU's line was opening up big holes all night long, also marveled at the weapons the Buffs have at their disposal.

"We have studs in a lot of places," he said. "That receiving corps is unbelievable, and that opens it up for us. When those guy like Winfree and Laviska (Shenault) and K.D. (Nixon) get the ball, they stretch the defense. That opens up the game for the running backs as well."

BROADCAST CREW: Saturday's ABC television crew will consist of Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brock Huard (color commentary) and Alison Williams (sidelines). Handling the call for KOA radio will be Mark Johnson, Gary Barnett and Bobby Pesavento.

COACHING CONNECTIONS: Both Colorado and Nebraska have an assistant coach on their current staffs who once worked at the other school.

CU outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Ross Els worked at NU from 2011-14 under Bo Pelini. Meanwhile, current Nebraska offensive coordinator Troy Walters worked at Colorado as MacIntyre's receivers coach from 2013-15.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu