Plati-'Tudes
April 25, 2000
A weekly notes column penned by David Plati, who is in his 16th year as Colorado's Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations.
A potpourri of "This-N-That" this week. And as usual, thanks for all your comments, E-mails and topic ideas! Got a good one debuting next week...
TRIVIA QUESTIONS... CU-With Colorado a contender for the Big 12 Men's Golf Championship this week in Hutchinson, Kan., this week's is on golf: The Buffs won the Big Seven meet in 1954 and the Big Eight title in 1968. What did both have in common? Godfather-What did author Mario Puzo and director Francis Ford Coppola originally want The Godfather, Part III to be called?
WYATT TO TEXAS A&M... Defensive Line coach Buddy Wyatt is moving closer to his native Victoria, Texas, as he has accepted the defensive line coaching position at Texas A&M (it will be announced April 25). The Aggies lost their DL coach to Arkansas shortly after signing day, replaced him, and then lost defensive backs coach Ron Milus to the Denver Broncos last month. Buddy came to Colorado with Gary Barnett last January and was an extremely popular assistant, but he cited the desire to return closer to his home. Barnett's timetable to fill the position is by the end of May, as he's considering all options and there's no rush to hire someone before June.
RENFROE TO TRY HAND AT FOOTBALL... Ernest Renfroe, a 6-7, 245, senior power forward on CU's men's basketball team, will come out for football this August. Barnett said Renfroe would get a look at both tight end and defensive end, and he is a junior in eligibility for football with two years remaining to play two. He's not the first to try football after coming to CU on a basketball scholarship: Brian Johnson did it in 1983 and Rodell "House" Guest in 1991. Both were forwards who wound up playing tight end. Renfroe averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 27 games (no starts) this past season, playing 6.3 minutes per, and plans on playing his senior year in hoops. Now if he should play in a football game, his scholarship then counts toward football's allotment of 85; if he practices and does not get into a game, then it remains as one of men's basketball 13.
UNIFORMS... Some of you have inquired about what the football uniforms will look like this coming season. The answer is exactly the same as last year, the solid white number with thin gold trim. The COLORADO will remain the same, slightly angled in block type, and once again, we will wear the Columbine patch. And there will be no changes in the pants or the helmet. Coach Barnett has come to really like our present look, so it's here to stay for awhile. There's a misconception out there that NIKE has full control over what we wear, and that's just not true. There has been input from both sides since we signed the six-year deal with them back in 1995. The gold uniforms we wore for the '97 Baylor game were included in that original contract-which was signed the year the NFL had its teams utilize "throwback" jerseys (remember what the Broncos wore for several games that season?). Though not well received publicly, most of the players that year did like them and got to keep them. They did look a lot better up close than they did on television, and in actuality, NIKE never forced us to wear them. It was up solely to the players, and the vast majority wanted to do it.
SPATTING... Speaking of uniforms, and a uniform look, the subject of player's "spatting" came up last week in a Colorado Daily article. What exactly is spatting? It's the practice of exterior taping, i.e., taping an ankle outside the shoe instead of the ankle itself. Studies have indicated that there is no medical benefit to taping the ankle outside of the shoe, and motor skills are likely to be adversely affected, though that's up for debate. Medically it is preferred that the ankle be taped directly and not over a show or even a sock.
The Daily raised the question about the player's freedom and rights to wear what they want. Athletic Director Dick Tharp's comment, which was omitted from the story, was as follows: "The Athletic Department does not allow 'spatting' or covering of any identifying marks on competition apparel, whether it be the CU, the Buffalo or the Nike Swoosh. We have a contractually binding agreement not to do so and we intend to always honor our commitments." Head football coach Gary Barnett cited the fact that his team is to have a uniform look and even one or a handful of players do not have the option of dressing differently than the rest of the team.
SPRING SURGERY UPDATE... Six football players had post-spring practice surgery last week and trainer Steve Willard expects all to be fully recovered by the start of fall camp (the varsity reports the evening of August 10). TE Rudy Hage (stress fracture/foot), LB Joey Johnson (shoulder-AC joint resection), SS Michael Lewis (arthroscope to remove scar tissue in ankle); FB Scott Nemeth (diagnostic arthroscope to check both shoulders, both of which revealed no further damage) and CB Donald Strickland (cartilage repair in shoulder) all had surgery on April 18. WR Eric McCready had another arthroscope on April 20 to mend an "articular wear" in a knee (just when you though the trainers were out of names to call procedures, there's a new one!). All the surgeries went well and as expected and Willard is confident for 100 percent recovery for all, noting that McCready will have the most rehab ahead of him.
Other important fall dates include August 7 (newcomers report), August 10 (first newcomer/freshman practice), August 12 (first varsity practice), August 16 (practice hits full gear: the pads go on) and August 28 (first day of classes). The first game is Sept. 2 against Colorado State at Mile High Stadium in Denver.
SOCCER SATURDAY... The Colorado women's soccer team will close out its 2000 spring season in style this Saturday, April 29. The Buffs will take on Santa Clara, an NCAA Final Four participant last December, in a 4:00 p.m. contest at Mile High Stadium. Colorado, 11-8-1 last fall, returns all its starters and boasts a roster that features 68 percent Colorado prep products, while Santa Clara (23-1-0) has three returning All-Americans. The game precedes the Colorado Rapids hosting the Kansas City Wizards in a pivotal, though early MLS West Division match-up at 7:00 (the Rapids are 3-3, the Wizards 5-0-1). Ticket information is available through the Colorado Rapids ticket office at 303-299-1599 or through Rocky Mountain Soccer (2767 Iris Avenue, Boulder, 303/938-9166).
WHERE THEY ARE NOW... Ever wonder what J.J. Flannigan has been up to? He has been residing in the Phoenix, Ariz., area for quite some time now, as he works as an "at risk teacher" helping students through both academic as well as social problems. He is the father of four: James IV (14), Mackenzie (7) and twins Marcus and Makaila (4), and wants Gary Barnett to stay at CU at least until his eldest can play football for him in 2004. J.J. says his main aspirations are to finish the 15 hours of school he needs to get his degree and to get back into sports in some form or another (preferably scouting or coaching). He last visited Boulder for the '97 Nebraska game.
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS... Are 1:28.52, :38.81 and :12.63. That's the damage CU junior Kara Wheeler wreaked on the record books when she ran the 5,000-meter run in 15:28.79 at the Mt. SAC Relays earlier this month. In slicing almost a minute-and-half off her previous personal best of 16:57.31, she set a school record in topping Muffy Raveling's 16:07.60 time in the event, which she set at the '96 Mt. SAC meet. It was also a Big 12 record, wiping out an 11-year old mark that belonged to Oklahoma State's Jackie Goodman (15:41.42; the old Big Eight records are cited by the Big 12). Wheeler qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in Sacramento this July with the performance, and did so with an "A Standard." That means all her expenses are covered ("B Standard" qualifiers have to pay their way). It was the second best time in the United States this year and the best in the NCAA by some 30 seconds. Kara will be featured on the next edition of the Big 12 Showcase (airing on FOX Sports Rocky Mountain), which originated this week in Boulder. Check your local listings.
TRIVIA ANSWERS... CU-Both the 1954 Big Seven and the 1968 Big Eight meets were held in Boulder; the '54 event was held at the old Boulder Country Club (now Flatirons Golf Club), the '68 one at Lake Valley. CU and Oklahoma tied for the 1955 title in Lawrence. Godfather-Both went into the project wanting The Godfather, Part III to be entitled, The Death of Michael Corleone.
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"Plati-'Tudes" features notes and stories that may not get much play from the mainstream media; offers CU's take on issues raised by those who have an interest in the program; answers questions and concerns; and provides CU's point of view if we should disagree with what may have been written or broadcast. Have a question or want to know CU's take on something? E-mail Dave at david.plati@colorado.edu, and the subject may appear in the next Plati-'Tudes.