Colorado

Deion Sanders and Colorado must ‘shake it off’ to finish the season

Published

1 year ago

November 28, 2024

Deion Sanders and Colorado must ‘shake it off’ to finish the season

Your correspondent was sitting at the Kansas City airport waiting to fly back to Denver after, the day before, witnessing the beat down the Jayhawks put on the Buffaloes. Dominant is one way to put it. This ol’ Denver TV sports guy is pretty active on social media. Buffs fans like to talk about their beloved bison.

The talk centered on how puzzling it was, considering the opportunity before Coach Prime’s team to really fashion a season to remember: Win out impressively and the door opens to win the Big 12 Championship, climb in the playoff rankings and secure a first-round bye. For a program that won a single game two years ago, four last season to now being the talk of college football?

Wow. Scenarios like this don’t come along frequently. The Buffs controlled their destiny and rolled over on their bellies in being battered. Kansas NEVER punted in the game. Scored each time it tried. The tackling was horrible. Especially Shilo Sanders who was taken for a ride a few times and couldn’t wrap up. Kansas controlled the clock and kept Colorado’s quick-strike offense grounded.

Deion Sanders to return Jim Thorpe Award after college football’s “Most idiotic” snub

One winning Jayhawk said after the game. “We (KU)) just had more intensity from the start.” What? Colorado came into the game against Kansas in Missouri with EVERYTHING to play for and didn’t bother to bring the necessary intensity? What the heck is going on around here?

Thoughts go to Gerry DiNardo. Now a television studio analyst, the 72-year-old analyst was offensive coordinator under McCartney including the 1990 national championship. The personable guy went on to coach Vanderbilt, LSU and Indiana. He’s a respected voice in college football. An All American long ago at Notre Dame, DiNardo’s got an opinion, most do, about the current state of college football with the NIL money and transfer portal. “One of the most difficult things for head coaches today will be building a sustainable culture necessary to rise to the occasion in the big moment.”

Nobody uses the transfer portal like the University of Colorado since Coach Prime showed up two years ago. It has worked in bringing far greater talent to the foot of the Flatirons and far more spectators into Folsom Field. No question. However, from what was witnessed in the disappointing loss? How is a transfer-fueled team gonna show up in the big games?

This was a big game. The Buffs seemed lethargic from the start. I can remember commenting to those close in the press box about players being substituted for on defense. Most jogged indifferent to the sideline. There was no fire in the belly of the Buffs. In a game of this magnitude? A head scratcher.

It’s going to be a new twist to college football moving forward. Experience in big games is invaluable. Colorado and most other big-time programs are going to, rather dramatically, turn over their rosters each year. It will be a real challenge to predict how all these yearly newcomers will mesh together when it’s time to shine.

Deion Sanders provides injury update for Oklahoma State matchup

Sanders after the game. “We got to reading about how great we are and did not come out and play Colorado football.” Amen coach. Now the question becomes, “How are the Buffs gonna react?”

Oklahoma State has been a mess all year. Disappointing season. Trust me, there’s nothing Cowboys’ head coach Mike Gundy would love more than throw more wet blankets on Colorado’s feel-good story of newfound relevancy. Gundy ain’t a big fan of the “Prime” earthquake and its foundational-rattling of the college football world.

Op-Ed: Big 12 should review officiating in Colorado’s loss to Kansas

Without question, the Buffs still have much to play for moving forward. But they had an open gate to stampede through and continue to grow together and play well when the stakes are high. With the defense leading the way that gate has been closed. They fell well short. The season finale and then a bowl game that Prime had promised to super fan Peggy Coppom? While wondering how the Buffs will respond to disappointment, maybe that could be a good rallying cry for finishing strong with two wins to finish 10-3.

“Let’s make Peggy proud.” Who knows, maybe that might ease the pain of Arrowhead being letdown for Colorado’s big dream season.

Source link

Colorado

Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Published

21 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Xcel Energy is warning its customers along the Front Range to be prepared for possible power outages this week as the risk of wildfire surges due to hot and dry weather.

“Due to the elevated risk of wildfire, enhanced powerline safety settings are active across out Front Range service territory,” according to a social media post from the utility. The settings make the powerlines more sensitive and prompt a line to stop the flow of electricity if an object touches a line.

The highest risk for wildfire danger will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when strong gusty winds are forecasted, according to the National Weather Service.

Humidity could be as low as 10% and winds may top 25 mph, leading to critical and extremely critical fire weather between Thursday and Saturday, forecasters said.

Tens of thousands of customers have lost power in recent months from planned outages during fire danger and powerline damage from high winds.

In December, 86,040 Xcel customers lost power because of a mix of planned shutoffs and downed powerlines from high winds. The decision led some customers to criticize the utility, asking it to fine-tune its weather responses.

Some schools in northern Colorado schools preemptively canceled classes in January after Xcel announced a planned power shutoff for 9,000 customers in the area.

Source link

Colorado

An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Published

12 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers (31-25-8) @ Colorado Avalanche (43-10-9)

8 p.m. MT | Ball Arena | Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After back-to-back shootout victories, the Avalanche concludes its two-game homestand on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. This game is an Avalanche Cup Classic, presented by KeyBank, which will honor the 2022 Avs team that won the Stanley Cup and defeated the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. Tuesday’s game is the second of three regular-season meetings between the teams, as the Avalanche won 9-1 in Edmonton on November 8th, and they’ll play in Alberta on April 13th.

Sunday Success

The Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon and Nicolas Roy both scored for Colorado while Nazem Kadri posted an assist in his second Avs debut. In net for Colorado, Scott Wedgewood stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced. MacKinnon opened the scoring at 12:19 of the second period with his 43rd goal of the season via a right-circle one-timer set up by Kadri, who began the play with an interception below the offensive-zone goal line. Kirill Kaprizov tied the game for Minnesota with a power-play goal at 4:17 of the third period when his pass from the right circle deflected into the net. The Wild took a 2-1 lead at 7:01 of the third period when Nico Sturm scored a shorthanded breakaway. Colorado tied the game at 12:39 of the third period when Nicolas Roy scored his first goal as an Av and sixth of the season via a net-front deflection on Brett Kulak’s slap shot. In the shootout, Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado in the first round, Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota in the second round and MacKinnon tallied the winner in the fourth round.

Leading the Way

Nate the Great

MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (43) while ranking second in points (104) and third in assists (61).

All Hail Cale

Among NHL defensemen, Cale Makar is tied for second in points (66) while ranking fourth in goals (19) and assists (47).

Marty Party

Martin Necas is tied for seventh in the NHL in points (76).

Series History

In 135 regular-season games against the Oilers, the Avalanche has a record of 74-49-6-6. The teams have met three times in the playoffs, with the Avs winning the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals in five games and the 2022 Western Conference Final in four contests.

Sunday in Sin City

The Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday. In the second period, Trent Frederic opened the scoring for Edmonton at 3:21 before Vegas’ Noah Hanifin tied the game at 13:09. The Oilers took a 3-1 third-period lead after goals from Vasily Podkolzin at 2:34 and Leon Draisaitl at 11:53. Jack Eichel cut the Golden Knights’ deficit to one with a shorthanded goal at 16:43 of the third period. Edmonton took a 4-2 lead when Kasperi Kapanen scored an empty-net goal at 18:03 of the third period.

Producing Offense Against the Oilers

MacKinnon has posted 39 points (13g/26a) in 29 regular-season games against the Oilers, in addition to five points (3g/2a) in four playoff contests.

Makar has registered 13 points (5g/8a) in 13 regular-season contests against Edmonton, in addition to nine points (2g/7a) in four playoff games.

Kadri has recorded 25 points (12g/13a) in 30 regular-season games against the Oilers, in addition to four points (1g/3a) in three playoff contests.

Edmonton’s Elite

Connor McDavid leads the Oilers in points (108), goals (35) and assists (73).

Draisaitl is second on the Oilers in points (92), goals (34) and assists (58).

Evan Bouchard is third on the Oilers in points (73) and assists (55) while ranking fourth in goals (18).

A Numbers Game

34

The Avalanche are 34-0-0 when leading after the second period this season.

85

Colorado leads the NHL with 85 second-period goals this campaign.

.806

The Avalanche’s .806 points percentage at home this season is the best in the NHL.

Quote That Left a Mark

“Emotional seeing the support I get here. It’s absolutely incredible. It makes me want to play harder for these fans and this team.”

— Nazem Kadri on the support he received from Avalanche fans at Sunday’s game

Source link

Colorado

Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 17 thread: Kyle Freeland vs. Jedisxson Paez

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 17 thread: Kyle Freeland vs. Jedisxson Paez

In his first spring training action of 2026, Kyle Freeland faced the daunting task of pitching against Team USA in an exhibition game on March 4. He gave up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in a two-hit, one-strikeout performance in one inning.

Today, Freeland and the Rockies (8-6-1) will take part in his first Cactus League action against the White Sox (10-7) at Camelback Ranch. The Rockies are 5-2 on the road this spring vs. 3-5-1, including the showdown vs. Team USA, at Salt River Fields.

Today’s game represents a rematch of a Feb. 23 showdown where the Rockies beat the White Sox 5-4. Chicago will send Jedisxson Paez to the mound to start the game. The 22-year-old RHP will be making his third spring appearance. He’s posted a 23.14 ERA in 2 1/3 innings over two starts with six earned runs, six hits, including one homer, three strikeouts and one walk. Former Rockie Drew Romo will be starting at catcher for the White Sox.

On Sunday, four pitchers combined to throw five scoreless innings and Kyle Karros and Tyler Freeman each had two-hit performances in the Rockies 4-4 tie with Cleveland. Even though it’s only spring training, the Rockies offense has been much improved thus far. The Rockies rank among all Major League teams this Spring in: on-base percentage (.381, T-1st), home runs (23, T-4th), average (.287, 3rd), HBP (14, T-2nd), slugging (.492, 3rd), OPS (.871, 3rd), runs scored (98, 5th), RBI (91, 6th) and total bases (254, 6th).

Earlier on Monday, the Rockies released a new motto for the 2026 campaign: “New era. At altitude. We are here for the climb.”

Source link