Colorado Football: Eastern Washington Presents More of a Challenge Than Expected

On paper, Eastern Washington is the easiest game on the Buffs’ 2008 schedule. As the Buffs discovered in 2006, however, the games are not played on paper.

Without further adieu, then, the T.I.P.S. for this weekend:

T - Talent.

Fine. This is an easy one (enjoy it, Buff fans, this category will not be as flattering the next few games), but perhaps not as clear cut as it may first appear. Eagle quarterback Matt Nichols is the real deal.

As a sophomore last season, Nichols was the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year, setting five school season records, including touchdown passes (34), pass completions (280), and—keep an eye on this one—rushing yards for a quarterback (392). Against Texas Tech in the opener, Nichols completed 36 of 61 passes for 335 yards in a 49-24 loss. The Eagles were in the game, at 35-24, at the end of the third quarter.

But will it be enough? No.

While it is true that the Eagles never gave up (a lesson to keep in mind if and when the Buffs get up by a score or two), it is also true that the Red Raiders were up 21-0 before Eastern Washington had a yard of offense (116-0 near the end of the first quarter). Had the Eagles not intercepted Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, subsequently scoring after a drive of a mere seven yards early in the second quarter, the game could have gotten completely out of hand.

Eastern Washington had only 23 yards rushing against Texas Tech, and gave up 639 yards of total offense. The Buffs’ offense should be able to move with ease against Eastern Washington. Cut out the penalties, and the Colorado offensive talent will shine in Folsom this Saturday.

I - Intangibles.

Will the ghost of Montana State ever go away? The loss to MSU in the 2006 opener was harder on me than almost any other loss in my 28+ years with the Buffs.

Being a lifelong resident of Bozeman, Montana, home of the MSU Bobcats, I am constantly reminded by Bobcat fans of the 19-10 loss handed to the Buffs by the Cats to open the Hawkins’ era in 2006. The first game Colorado ever played against an FCS team (1-AA to most of us), and the Buffs lost?

Apparently, rehashing the MSU loss is a common theme. A Denver Post headline this week: "Montana State memories still fresh for Buffs". The Boulder Daily Camera: "Buffs have learned lesson from Montana State loss".

How will the memory of that game affect the Colorado/Eastern Washington game?

An argument that it will be a plus for the Buffs:

There is NO WAY that the Buffs’ players will look past the Eagles. The majority of the players suiting up this Saturday were on the team in 2006, and there is absolutely no chance that the Buffs will take this game lightly.

"It’s almost surreal when you look back and you think about it," said senior defensive tackle George Hypolite of the loss to MSU. "The thing that really sticks out to me is the preparation. We didn’t prepare to beat them. We prepared just to play."

If the players start to lose focus and slack off in practice this week? Here’s guessing that the coaching staff is not overlooking the Eagles, either.

An argument that the memory of the CU/MSU game will be a plus for the Eagles:

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