Colorado’s blowout loss to Arizona reportedly came with a different coach calling the offensive plays.
According to USA Today, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur did not call plays against the Wildcats. Shurmur was demoted after the Buffaloes’ loss to Utah and replaced by tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone.
“I might have already changed it and you don’t know,” Sanders said during his Tuesday news conference when asked about potential staffing changes. “I don’t do stuff and blow the whistles and then make major announcements, ‘Hey!’ I don’t do that kind of stuff. I do it and let you guys still take shots. You don’t even know you may be shooting at the wrong target.”
Bartolone’s debut wasn’t auspicious. After Colorado had 140 yards on 68 plays in the 53-7 loss to Utah, the Buffaloes had 299 yards on 77 plays and turned the ball over five times in the 52-17 loss to Arizona. That defeat dropped Colorado to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12.
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Shurmur has been on staff since Sanders was hired as Colorado’s coach. The former New York Giants head coach initially served as a quality control coach before he became the team’s offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season. The man he replaced as the team’s play-caller, Sean Lewis, is now the head coach at San Diego State. The Aztecs are 7-1 this season.
The Colorado offense averaged 5.2 yards a game in 2023 as the Buffaloes went 4-8. In 2024, as Colorado went 9-4 and Travis Hunter won the Heisman, the Buffaloes averaged 6.1 yards per play. This season, Colorado is back to 5.2 yards a play though the team’s rushing stats are the best they’ve ever been since Sanders was hired.
Since the Buffaloes are 3-6 with three games to go, they need to win their final three games of the season to make a bowl game. Colorado plays West Virginia on Saturday before finishing the season against Arizona State and Kansas State.
