Mile High Half Empty

PROPS and DROPS from Saturday's Buffs win in the Rocky Mountain Showdown and yesterday's Broncos win over the Bengals:

DROPS: Everybody wants to talk about whether or not the CU-CSU game should be played at Sports Authority Field, so the SG will speak the truth too. The announced attendance was 57K. If you believe that, then you might also believe there's no hippies in Boulder. I'd say the crowd was again in the 45K range. To put it simply, Ram fans didn't show up. Take away their student section and they'd be hard pressed to fill three sections in the lower bowl. This has to be a bit baffling for CSU admin types, given the teams' records going into the game. It wasn't only the game crowd, but the pregame was fairly tame (although props to the young CU lass who trampled past our setup, only slowing down to throw up. After a long search for some water, it kind of doused the vomit from the asphalt. Eh, who needed bottled water for ta hot day anyway?)

PROPS: If Willis McGahee didn't show the Bronco brass he should be getting the bulk of the carries for the remainder of the season, he may want to bribe Elway with picts of his wife as a Raider cheerleader. The veteran ran hard, and more importantly, straight north and south. Knowshon Moreno was seen on the sideline trying to figure out this straight line/quickest way between two points thing.

PROPS: The Bengals really had two golden chances to win this thing in the last four minutes, albeit for some suspect play calling, and some stout Bronco defense. Robert Ayers made his best, if not only, play as a Bronco on one late stop. Then some guy named Jonathon Wilhite (Gerald's son/nephew?) made a huge play on Andy Dalton to end the game. Much maligned with Dumervil and Champ out, the Donk D played ""bend all the way to small cracks start" philosophy all game long and it worked in the end.

PROPS: Back when we used to play NCAA Football on PS2, I'd always try to get the ball first and literally run the ball for the entire 1st half. Of course, I'd also pound three to six beers in that time and by game's end I would have trouble seeing the TV. That's kind of what the Buffs did to seal the game on Saturday: a 10+ minute drive to take a 14 point lead. And it was old-school-like fat-laces type drive: all runs and short passes. There were four 3rd downs on the drive and two holding penalties that gave the Buffs 1st and 20 starts and they still methodically moved the rock with a 5' 6" running back and his new backup Tony "Jerrrrrrrsey" Jones.

DROPS: Andy Dalton, good QB, but that dude looks like the evil attack clown from Poltergeist.

DROPS: Everyone loves when teams are in trouble and scrape and tape rosters together like the Broncos did at WR on Sunday. But you have to ask why were they in that spot? One, DeMaryus Thomas is on the active roster and will not play until November, which then will be risky. Then you have a banged up B Lloyd. Why not sign some out there WR this week on a short contract? Isn't that a better option then tight ends and Tim Tebow playing WR? By the way, did anyone really think Kyle Orton would throw Tebow a pass? The Bengals could've covered him with one of those halftime jump rope kids.

PROPS: The Buff corners manned up real well with the Goat wideouts and took away anything from Pete Thomas all day. Throw in Ray Polk (good to see you listen to the SG, Ray) and Anthony Perkins laying wood and the Ram receivers looked a little shook all afternoon.

PROPS: Good to see Donk favorite Ed Hochilu working the game. Also good to see the NFl still can't find him a non-form fitting ref uniform. Maybe his wife doesn't wash in cold water.

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