Op-Ed: The TCU upset win provided vindication for two specific CU Buffs

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The TCU Win Provided Vindication For Two Specific CU Buffs

Deion Sanders and his new look Buffs put together one of the best, most exciting games in the last 20+ years of CU Football. When Prime announced he was “coming” not everyone fully understood the gravity of what that meant.

There has been a concentrated effort with this program from the moment Deion accepted the offer to not only be successful, but to be successful right away. As they say, it all starts at the top. With the hope that it trickles down. The college football world was captivated watching Colorado execute the first stage of this momentous turnaround by beating the team no one thought they could beat.

They walked into Amon G. Carter stadium with the swagger and intention of doing exactly what they did. The Buffs proved every doubter wrong. It was banner day for Sanders, (both father and son), Travis Hunter, Dylan Edwards and all the Buffs on that field.

There are two names that are flying under the radar though. The first name is Colorado athletic director Rick George. Maybe this was a “had to be there” situation, but George looked like a man who was fighting back emotion following CU’s performance against TCU. Both on the field and leaving the stadium to a sea of Colorado fans cheering the team. A sight I’m sure he did not see last season. One has to believe that a program like Colorado deciding to pursue such a polarizing figure as Deion Sanders to take over the program could not have been an easy sell.

Where we sit today, it seems like it should’ve been. If we were to go back to October, November, or even December before the announcement, I’m sure the process to get everyone on board was not as easy a task as we might think. It was George that Prime often thanked for his opportunity and he seemed the proudest of the hire when Sanders was introduced. It was also likely George, who felt the most pressure for this move to work.

No one in the sports world actually believed Sanders had to be successful right out of the gate for this to ‘work’. Most people around the country were almost banking on Prime not being terribly successful until year two or three.

Anyone who understands Prime knew he was not going to wait years to be relevant. In the conversations that lead to Coach Prime’s hiring, George absolutely had to be one of those people. However, it’s one thing to be optimistic and hope for the best. It’s something else entirely when the whole world is watching with a large amount of them betting on failure, only to see your program ascend to relevancy in their first meaningful matchup.

After the game, George was almost glowing. He and Coach Prime met in the middle of the field to share an embrace. One that could’ve gotten emotional for both men. It was clear that at least one of those men was fighting back the emotion of the moment. George and everyone who supported his decision to bring in Prime, were absolutely vindicated by the time the game clock reached double zeroes.

The other name that deserves his moment in the sun is Buffs safety Trevor Woods. We've highlighted the CU holdover previously, but this is different. He was absolutely vindicated as well on Saturday.

Woods was one of the many players left with a decision to make directly after Coach Prime’s introductory press conference. Do you stay and compete or do you leave for an easier path?

This was the now famous “Louis Luggage” speech where Sanders informed the team that everything was about to change and that included bringing in players the existing players would have to compete against. If they weren’t willing to work at a level to meet Prime’s standard, they should jump in the transfer portal now. Woods heard that speech and understood the assignment. He had no intention of transferring. 

To our knowledge, at no point was that even an option. So, Woods did what Coach Prime hoped those 2022 players would do and compete for their spot. The Katy, Texas native kept his head down and simply did the work. Even with discussions around Shilo Sanders, Camron Silmon-Craig and other safeties brought in, Woods did not waver. He met the expectation and the standard Prime set.

By the start of Fall Practice, Woods was still in line to be the week 1 starter. In doing so, Woods has earned the respect and admiration of his teammates. Most of which were not here last year. Even when Trevor faces the media, there is always a barrage of his teammates in the background cheering and talking him up.

That comradery and affection from the men he shares the field with was on full display right around the midway point of the first quarter. TCU was driving just outside the redzone with QB Chandler Morris dropping back to pass. It was a fraction of heartbeat before the ball reaches the receiver before Woods jumps the route and picks the ball off in the end zone. By the time he’s able to get up and realize what he’d just done a significant portion of his Louis Luggage teammates rushed him in celebration.

Ten months ago, Woods most likely had some uncertainty of what the future holds. I’m sure a number of people expected he would not be long for this team based on the hype around the new transfers coming in. But Woods got his moment in arguably the biggest CU game to take place during his lifespan. Just like the other eight remaining players from the 2022 team, he has earned his place on this team. In doing so, the work he put in played out in real time on national television. Like George, Woods and his contributions to this team were vindicated.

This is only the beginning of what could be the best CU Football era since Bill McCartney. It’s only one game, but in that moment two men who were there before Prime have been vindicated after the first big test of the new era.