Griese is the perfect QB to finish a perfect run

Sporting News, The, Dec 1, 1997 by Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin

"This senior class was committed to doing things the right way," Griese says. "and we've put Michigan back where it belongs."

Toughing it out

Go ahead, give Rick Neuheisel your best shot. You can't hurt him. Besides, he has heard it before. As Neuheisel has seen Colorado stumble of what may be its first losing season since 1984--a victory over Nebraska is needed to go 6-5--it seems everyone wants a piece of him.

"Criticism is part of this job," he says. "Certainly this is more excessive than I am used to. But even in the years we went 10-2, I was subject to a lot of criticism, Colorado is a tough town in terms of newspapers because there is a paper war here. So they compete to get a piece of you."

Many teams have taken a hunk out of the 5-5 Buffaloes. Injuries have played a big part, hitting the defense, offensive line and running-back corps especially hard. And quarterback John Hessler hasn't develop as expected. Those things have caused the Buffaloes' season to collapse after THE SPORTING NEWS had tabbed them as the preseason No. 1. Despite the disappointing campaign, Neuheisel believes his team merited the lofty expectations.

"There are a lot of of coaches who would go around and say, `No way,' (to that No. 1 tag)," he says. "But I'm not sure that's the correct approach. I think coaches do that to protect themselves, and I chose not to do that even though I thought we would have a hard time being as good as we were the year before.

"Be that as it may, I wasn't going to sound the alarm and tell people to hold on and be careful. I think, No. 1, when you things are possible they are possible. If you don't believe they're possible then certainly they are not. No. 2, as long as you're getting great work ethic, it's OK to think things are going to be fine."

Though the work ethic has pleased Neuheisel, he knows his team has been inflicted with more self-doubt after each loss. And why not? Losing was new ground for the Buffs. Entering the season, this was one of four programs to win 10 games in each of the past three years.

"I don't think we've quit one time." he says. "I think the kids have worked hard. I think their confidence is shot, given the early-season loss to Michigan and the inability of the offense to get things going in the early part of the season. And attrition played a big part on our defense.

"The most difficult thing to deal with this season was the confidence level, ... And that's what we have to keep combating. You know, we're down, but we're not out. And we're going to come back."

Up the gut

Why didn't anyone want to win the SEC West? Mississippi State had a great shot, but the Bulldogs inexplicably were flat and fell, 17-7 to a mediocre Arkansas team. Then, Auburn lucked out to beat a bad Alabama team, 18-17--at Auburn! The Tennessee team that Auburn almost certainly will meet in the SEC championship game can be beaten, but not if the Tigers play with the tentativeness they showed against the Crimson Tide. ... Hey, MAC fans, where are you now? Toledo, which some thought was the best team in the MAC, got spanked, 34-17, by a 5-6 Central Florida team last Saturday. Bottom line: The MAC is a nice league--but it certainly shouldn't be mentioned among the elite leagues--and it's not as good top to bottom, as leagues such as the WAC, Conference USA or even the Big East.