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Tag: Colorado college sports football

  • From gym class to game day: Denver East educator balances teaching and college football officiating

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    DENVER — Teachers are often known for wearing many hats, and that is no different at Denver East High School.

    By day, Andrew Wimbs teaches physical education. On weekends, he’s officiating college football games during one of the busiest stretches of the season.

    With the NFL playoffs underway, football is top of mind for many fans. While most attention stays on the players, Wimbs says there is another team on the field that often goes unnoticed: the officials.

    “People wearing the stripes,” Wimbs said. “That’s the third team on the field.”

    Wimbs’ path into officiating was not carefully planned. It began almost by accident during a high school championship game he attended with his father.

    “Denver South was playing Monarch, and the High School Football Association had a tent,” Wimbs said. “Someone called me over and asked me about football officiating. I wrote my name down, and they called me a few months later. I went to the first class and just fell in love with it.”

    That love has carried Wimbs to the college level, including a recent assignment officiating the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium.

    “That was a lot of fun,” he said. “Being inside SoFi Stadium was amazing.”

    Still, officiating comes with constant scrutiny and other challenges.

    “I like the physical challenge as well as the mental challenge,” Wimbs said. “We are actually our worst critics.”

    When asked if more officials are needed, Wimbs didn’t hesitate.

    “Absolutely,” he said.

    To help address that need, Williams plans to bring officiating into the classroom. Starting next fall, DPS will launch a new sports officiating course at Denver East High School.

    “The students will hopefully be able to leave the course with a certification,” Wimbs said.

    Lessons learned on the field also influence how Wimbs approaches teaching. He emphasizes discipline, accountability and the ability to accept feedback.

    “You have to be able to take feedback and apply it,” he said.

    From high school gyms to college gridirons, Wimbs is working to shape the future of football, one call at a time.

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    Bradey King

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  • Jackson’s three rushing touchdowns leads K-State over CU and to bowl eligibility

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    MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Joe Jackson rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas State defeated Colorado 24-14 and earned bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season on a cold and blustery day. The game-time temperature was 32 degrees with a wind chill of 24.

    Quarterback Avery Johnson was 10-of-17 for 115 yards in difficult conditions for Kansas State (6-6, 5-4 Big 12).

    Kaidon Salter was 14-of-25 for 172 yards for Colorado (3-9, 1-8), who got two rushing touchdowns from Micah Welch.

    Jackson scored his second touchdown of the day from 1-yard out with 4:32 left in the third quarter. The score capped a 56-yard drive.

    The Wildcats then made it a two-score game with a 35-yard field goal by Luis Rodriguez. The Wildcats stalled at the Colorado 19-yard line, but they burned 6:43 off the clock.

    Welch’s second rushing touchdown of the game capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive and brought the Buffaloes to within 17-14.

    But Jackson’s third touchdown, a 17-yard scamper with 2:34 left, extended the lead to 10 points.

    K-State used nearly half the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Jackson. The Wildcats used 7:13 for a 13-play drive.

    Neither team did much offensively for most of the rest of the half until Colorado marched 84 yards in 11 plays for the tying touchdown.

    Welch hurdled over the line from the 1 for the score. Colorado finished the half with 162 yards of total offense. K-State finished with 114 yards, with 74 of those coming on its opening drive.

    THE TAKEAWAY:

    Colorado: The Buffaloes didn’t look like a team with nothing to play for. They outgained the Wildcats 323-321.

    Kansas State: The Wildcats struggled to find its rhythm on offense. A week after gaining 574 yards, they gained just 321.

    UP NEXT:

    Colorado’s season is done. Kansas State will await a bowl invitation.

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    DAVID SMALE Associated Press

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  • Noah Fifita’s 4 TD throws, Arizona’s 5 takeaways help Wildcats crush Colorado 52-17

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    BOULER, Colo. (AP) — Noah Fifita threw four first-half touchdown passes and the Arizona Wildcats forced five turnovers in rebounding from two closes losses with a 52-17 rout of the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night.

    “This is a huge win coming off two heartbreaking losses,” said coach Brent Brennan, whose Wildcats had lost in double-overtime to BYU and by a field goal at Houston. “We’re gonna enjoy the plane ride home.”

    The Wildcats (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) raced to a 38-7 halftime lead by scoring on six of their first seven drives, and the Buffaloes (3-6, 1-5) trudged into the locker room with more penalties (nine) than points.

    For the first time in his three-year tenure in Boulder, Colorado, coach Deion “Prime” Sanders didn’t allow any of his players to talk post-game. He said that was because he was solely to blame for the bedraggled Buffs’ second straight blowout loss.

    “Don’t attack the coordinators. Come at me. Don’t attack the players. Come at me,” Sanders said.

    Sanders had no answers as to why the Buffs played so poorly again, insisting good practices had given no inkling another rout was forthcoming. He bristled when asked if his team had checked out: “I know a quitter when I see one. I haven’t seen that.”

    Sanders added that he’s confident he can coach Colorado back into winning ways, saying, “I don’t doubt me. Let’s get that straight: I. Don’t. Doubt. Me.”

    Buffaloes QB Kaidon Salter was benched late in the first half for Ryan Staub, who was also benched after both of his passes were intercepted in the third quarter. Freshman Ju-Ju Lewis came on and threw a 59-yard touchdown strike — the first of his career — to Omarion Miller. The pass also was 10 yards longer than the 49 yards passing that Salter managed while completing 11 of 15.

    Lewis left the game in the final minute with an injury to his throwing hand.

    Colorado’s two most damaging first-half flags wiped out a 75-yard touchdown catch and an interception.

    Fifita got the rout started just three snaps into the game when he threw a short pass to Tre Spivey, who eluded six tacklers and outraced two others to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown — his seventh TD in just a dozen touches this season.

    After a field goal made it 10-0, linebacker Chase Kennedy strip-sacked Salter and defensive tackle Leroy Palu recovered at the Colorado 12. On the next snap, Fifita found Kris Hutson for the score and a 17-0 lead.

    “A very big win,” Arizona defender Jay’vion Cole said, “especially on the road, on the road in the Big 12 at a challenging place like this.”

    The Buffaloes finally got on the board with Salter’s 8-yard strike to Miller that capped a 17-play, 75-yard drive which took nearly eight minutes and prompted returning alum Shedeur Sanders, now a backup QB for the Cleveland Browns, to pull up a folding chair at midfield along the Buffs’ sideline.

    The takeaway

    Arizona: Fifita directed the ‘Cats on eight scoring drives in 10 possessions before giving way to backup Braedyn Locke. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 213 yards. The Wildcats got touchdowns from seven different players. Their 18 takeaways are two more than they had all of last season.

    Colorado: The Buffaloes were still hung over from their 53-7 bashing at Utah a week earlier. Over their last two games, the Buffs have been outscored by halftime 81-7. They racked up 14 penalties against Arizona.

    Up Next

    Arizona: Hosts the University of Kansas on Saturday.

    Colorado: Visits West Virginia on Saturday.

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    ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

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  • Colorado Buffaloes look to rebound with youth-filled lineup after first losing season since 2014-15

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    Colorado (14-21, 3-17 Big 12)

    Tad Boyle, the all-time winningest coach in program history, and the Buffaloes try to rebound after turning in their first losing season since 2014-15. They have a solid but youthful nucleus led by big man Bangot Dak, who was seventh in the Big 12 in blocked shots last season. He also averaged 8.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.

    Colorado brought in junior transfer Barrington Hargress to add more scoring punch. Hargress was an All-Big West Conference player for UC Riverside last season after averaging with 20.2 points per game. He broke the school’s single-season scoring mark with 686 points.

    As a team, the Buffaloes averaged 69.7 points per game.

    “I like this team. I like the talent level we have. We’ve have great length and great explosiveness,” Boyle said. “We can shoot the ball. I think we can be a good defensive team. We’re certainly not there yet, but a lot of different weapons. I like the depth. It’s going to be a work in progress, though.”

    Players to watch

    Forward Sebastian Rancik earned the team’s most improved award as a freshman. He picked up steam in the second half of the season when he was moved into the starting lineup. He scored a career-best 19 points at Kansas in February. Elijah Malone also returns as he enters his sixth college year and second graduate season at Colorado. He was fourth on the team in scoring (7.9) and fifth in rebounding (3.2).

    Departures and arrivals

    The Buffaloes will have a lot to replace after losing Julian Hammond III, who led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He also led the league in free throw percentage.

    They added height by bringing in a pair of 7-footers. Fawaz Ifaola, who arrived in the U.S. from Lagos, Nigeria, in ninth grade, was a McDonald’s All-American nominee for the state of Arizona. There’s also Leonardo Van Elswyk, the 7-1, 245-pound center from Milan, Italy. He averaged 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in the Lega Basket Serie A NextGen Cup last winter.

    Top games

    Colorado opens the season on Nov. 3 by hosting Montana State. A big rivalry game awaits on Dec. 6 when the Buffaloes travel to Colorado State. The Buffaloes play in the Acrisure Holiday Classic in Palm Desert, California, on Nov. 27 (San Francisco) Nov. 28 (either Washington or Nevada) and against Stanford in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame series in Phoenix on Dec. 20.

    Facts and figures

    Boyle has 10 of Colorado’s 14 seasons of 20 or more wins. He’s led the Buffaloes to the NCAA Tournament six times. … Ifaola and fellow freshman Jalin Holland both went to Dream City Christian in Arizona. Holland scored more than 2,000 points in three seasons at Los Lunas High School in New Mexico before joining Dream City for his final year.

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    Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | October 29, 6am

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    The Associated Press

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  • Colorado’s live mascot Ralphie VII earns nickname ‘Brandy’ after classic rock hit by Looking Glass

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    BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado’s live buffalo mascot Ralphie VII appears to be a big fan of a certain yacht rock song. So much so that it inspired her new nickname of Brandy.

    This is a fine buffalo, too.

    The 1-year-old bundle of 700-pound energy earned her moniker after the Ralphie Handlers squad noticed she took a liking to the 1972 hit tune “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass.

    A release from the school Tuesday said that “in addition to enjoying the tune, Brandy, clearly a fine girl, strongly identifies with the lyrics.”

    A classic-rock nod to one of college football’s most iconic traditions. Colorado’s live buffalo mascots have been part of the school’s fabric for the past 58 years.

    • Denver7 traveled 160 miles to the Coalmont, Colorado, ranch that donated Ralphie VII. Learn more about Eagle’s Wing Ranch in this story or the video player below

    ‘Surreal’: Meet the Colorado ranchers – and CU alums – who donated the newest Ralphie mascot

    Ralphie VII made her first appearance on Sept. 20 against Wyoming at Folsom Field as she took over for Ralphie VI, who retired after showing an indifference toward running.

    The newest buffalo was an instant hit.

    As custom dictates, a mascot receives her nickname sometime after the first run. The names of Ralphies before Brandy include Moonshine (Ralphie II), Tequila (Ralphie III), Rowdy (Ralphie IV), Blackout (Ralphie V), and Ember (Ralphie VI).

    The band Looking Glass originated from New Brunswick, New Jersey, and started out performing at frat parties. Their biggest — and catchiest — hit, “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” shot up the music chart to No. 1. It’s a tune about a barmaid pining after a sailor whose true love remains the sea.

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    Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer

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  • Jay Norvell tackles cystic fibrosis off the field with $50K gift to CSU

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    FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State head football coach Jay Norvell is building more than a football program. Off the field, he and his wife, Kim, are tackling a fight that hits much closer to home: cystic fibrosis.

    The Norvells recently donated $50,000 to support cutting-edge lung research at Colorado State University, advancing development of electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a radiation-free lung imaging technology.

    “We’ve always been involved in fundraising everywhere we’ve been for cystic fibrosis,” Jay Norvell said.

    The research is led by Dr. Jennifer Mueller, who is developing EIT. This real-time lung imaging method utilizes low-frequency electrical currents applied through electrodes, thereby avoiding exposure to ionizing radiation.

    For Kim Norvell, the cause is deeply personal. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby.

    “Dr. Mueller talks to me like a person, not just a patient,” Kim said. “She explains things in a way I can understand.”

    The Norvells’ donation is also funding hands-on experience for eight undergraduate students, allowing them to participate directly in lung imaging research.

    “People who have this disease have had their lives improved by research,” Jay said. “Kim is a walking example of that. Our lives have been affected directly, and the research is the key.”

    The couple’s contributions extend beyond financial support. Each spring, they host the “Grit Run,” a community 5K in Fort Collins that raises awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis research. The event has drawn widespread support from CSU, the Fort Collins community, and across northern Colorado.

    “It’s just been a really special feeling from the community — how they’ve all supported us,” Jay said.

    Dr. Mueller said EIT could be in hospitals within five years, aiding not only cystic fibrosis patients, but also premature infants and people living with muscular dystrophy. Thanks to the Norvells’ support, that timeline may arrive even sooner.

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    Bradey King

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  • Colorado to debut new live buffalo mascot against Wyoming

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    The latest recruit on Deion Sanders’ roster weighs in at 700 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash as fast as she wants.

    Colorado’s new live buffalo mascot will make her debut at Folsom Field on Saturday night against Wyoming. She’s officially named Ralphie VII, although a unique nickname is soon to come after her first run.

    Ralphie VII is the latest in a string of field-storming live mascot buffaloes, a storied tradition and one of college football’s most iconic. The running of the buffalo has been a must-glimpse event at the school for the past 58 years.

    The 1-year-old bison steps in for Ralphie VI, who went into retirement before the start of season after showing little enthusiasm toward making the gallop around the field.

    “We’re excited to be adding a new Ralphie to the lineage of incredible buffalo that have represented the University of Colorado and have elevated the fans’ passion for our student-athletes,” said Taylor Stratton, the director of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program.

    A version of Ralphie has been missing from action the past two home games. Ralphie VI — nicknamed Ember — showed a reluctance to make the trip around Folsom Field to the roar of the fans. The plan for Ember will be to join Ralphie V — known as Blackout — on the ranch and do one of her favorite things — take it easy.

    The newest member of Sanders’ squad is “definitely not indifferent to running,” the release from the school said.

    Ralphie VII was a gift from the Beauprez Family, supporters of the university and owners of Eagle’s Wing Ranch located near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

    “Ralphie’s run is iconic and our fans, students, faculty, staff, and alumni take an incredible amount of pride in this tradition which transcends sports,” Stratton said.

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    PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

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