October 20th 2024.
It was a beautiful Saturday evening in Tucson, Arizona, and the atmosphere was electric. Fans were buzzing with excitement as they waited outside the CU Buffs' locker room at Arizona Stadium. I was lucky enough to be standing with Erik Garcia, a die-hard Arizona fan who couldn't stop gushing about CU's potential in the Big 12. "They have a real shot," he exclaimed, "and I truly believe it."
But here's the catch: Erik is an Arizona fan through and through. Born and raised in Tucson, he has been a loyal supporter of the Wildcats for almost four decades. And yet, here he was, decked out in CU gear and eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of Deion Sanders, his kids, and the rest of the Buffs.
"You ever waited for a visiting team's coach before?" I asked him, curious. "No, never," he replied, "this is my first time." It was clear that something special was happening here. The Buffs had not only secured a dominating 34-7 victory over Arizona, but they had also captured the hearts of fans like Erik, who couldn't resist the pull of their impressive performance.
And speaking of impressive, let's talk about CU's defense. They put on a show for the fans, racking up seven sacks in a single game, the most by the team since 2010. They completely shut down Arizona's offensive line, which had only given up six sacks in their first six games. Defensive end Keaten Wade reflected on their strong performance, stating that they were "just playing together, rushing as one with the four of us on the line." It was a team effort, and it paid off in a big way.
But it wasn't just the defense that shined on Saturday. The entire team, led by Coach Prime, put on a clinic. They completely outplayed Arizona, who had a future NFL wideout in Tetairoa McMillan on their roster. The Wildcats could only manage 138 passing yards and 245 total yards, a far cry from their average of 273 passing yards and 414 total yards per game. And to top it all off, CU did all this without star player Travis Hunter, who was nursing an injury and only played the first half.
But even with Hunter on the sidelines, his presence was felt. Just the threat of him being on the field was enough to draw a pass interference call that helped secure a quick 14-0 lead for the Buffs. Coach Prime made the smart decision to rest Hunter for the second half, and his teammates stepped up to the plate, blanking Arizona after halftime.
It was clear that CU had out-schemed, out-planned, and out-adjusted their opponents. Even former President Obama, who endorsed Arizona during a visit to Tucson the day before the game, couldn't help but acknowledge CU's dominance. "You guys have beaten them twice in a row," he had said, "Don't bet against the Wildcats." Well, sorry Mr. President, but the Buffs proved you wrong.
And as for CU's future in the Big 12? Well, let's just say that even Erik, a die-hard Arizona fan, couldn't deny their potential after witnessing their impressive performance on Saturday. "They're a solid, fast, fun team to watch," he admitted. "I'd be dumb to say they can't do it after what they did."
The Buffs have certainly made a statement with their back-to-back road victories, and it's clear that they are a team to watch out for. Who knows, maybe we'll see a return to the glory days of the Rick Neuheisel era, with Coach Prime at the helm and players like Travis Hunter leading the way. But for now, let's just enjoy the ride and see where it takes us. After all, anything is possible when you've got a team like this on your side.
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