BOULDER, Colo. -- It's not just Miami.
After this weekend's bye, Colorado begins a brutal four-game
stretch that starts with a road game against the 13th-ranked
Hurricanes and includes Big 12 contests at Oklahoma State, home
against Texas A&M and at No. 2 Texas.
"Victories are No. 1," coach Gary Barnett said when asked what
he's looking for in the four-game stretch. "They've got to have
themselves ready to play in this stretch. They can't feel sorry for
themselves. Guys have got to play hurt. They're going to get
everyone's best shot and they've got to give them our best shot.
It's mental preparation as well as physical preparation."
The Buffs (2-0) play at Miami on Sept. 24, their first meeting
with the Hurricanes since 1993, a 35-29 loss in Boulder.<
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^MR. EVERYTHING:@ Lawrence Vickers says he's fine as a
Colorado's V-back, a position that's more like a fullback in that
he doesn't get the ball as much as he would as a tailback.
With games like he had last Saturday, his attitude makes sense.
Even though he only touched the ball nine times, he scored three
touchdowns, two on runs and one on a reception.
"There were a couple plays set up for me to make things
happen," he said. "I'm always ready to do that -- being Mr.
Versatile, as they say."
His main focus, he says, is to turn into a dominant blocker --
opening holes for Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis.
"If you give them a little crack, they'll take it," Vickers
said. "I'm just so happy my number was called and I'm always ready
and willing to take advantage of the opportunity, and that's what I
did."<
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^MISSING CALHOUN:@ Brian Calhoun, the tailback who left Colorado
before last season, has 300 yards and six touchdowns rushing in two
games for Wisconsin.
Calhoun, who ran for 810 yards as a sophomore at Colorado,
mostly when Bobby Purify was injured, likely would have been CU's
featured back this season had he stayed.
He has said his departure had nothing to do with all the bad
news surrounding Colorado in the wake of its recruiting scandal and
more to do with the departure of running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.
"You knew wherever Brian was going to play, he'd be good,"
Barnett said. "He's got great speed, good work habits, he's an
explosive player. That doesn't surprise me a bit."
Clearly, though, there are some hard feelings about his
departure and the supposed reasons for it. Asked if Calhoun left
because the Buffs were considering moving him to receiver, as has
been reported, Barnett said, "I don't want to comment anymore on
that. That's not why Brian left."
Meanwhile, Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez called Calhoun the best
back he's ever coached, a comment that raised the eyebrows of
Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who's now with the Broncos.<
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^BUFF BRIEFS:@ Barnett said he expects LB Brian Iwuh (knee) back
for the Miami game after arthroscopic surgery last week. The coach
isn't as optimistic about the return of OL Brian Daniels (ribs).
... Barnett credits some of the success Charles has enjoyed this
season (36 rushes, 206 yards, two 100-yard games) on his ability to
practice a lot last season while Purify sat out with injuries. "He
and Byron (Ellis) took most of the reps in practice. They got a lot
of chances to get a real feel for our offense. He's not like a
normal sophomore who played a little last year," Barnett said. ...
The coach said at least one NFL scout has told him that the
snap-hold-kick combination of Greg Pace, Nick Holz and Mason Crosby
is better than what many teams in the NFL have.