@MarkKnudson41
Strike One: There was a time not that long ago when the Denver Broncos were a model professional sports organization. Under the ownership/leadership of Pat Bowlen, the franchise was well run and highly productive, with a singleness of purpose – winning championships. It wasn’t about making or saving money. It was about doing things the right way and getting the right results. The rewards followed.
Bowlen’s illness and subsequent passing has led to steady decline, as the results on the field prove. Personnel moves have become much more about money than in the past. Transparency with the (majority of) the media has been lost – the company line gets promoted by some, but not adhering to it gets you cast aside – and a certain unwarranted arrogance – that wasn’t there a decade ago – now permeates the entire operation.
It may not be a big deal that the Broncos (and the Los Angeles Rams as well) have decided not to bring any assistant coaches to the annual NFL Draft Combine workouts that commence this week in Indianapolis. OR…it may be a signal that the Broncos still think they know better than the rest.
This move is sort of a diss to the Denver assistant coaches, who have to stay home and watch the event on TV like the rest of you. (No, I won’t waste one second watching the Underwear Olympics. Sorry.) It’s basically telling them that their opinions don’t matter as much, if at all. It’s another example of VP/GM Elway and his front office flunkies thinking they’re smarter than everyone else, including the coaching staff.
Not having your entire staff watching the workouts is a departure from the normal way of doing things, and is designed, we are told, to streamline the evaluation of potential draft picks and limit the amount of info that “leaks.” Only Elway and Head Coach Vic Fangio will be there in person…along with possibly CEO Joe Ellis, who might be in town for collective bargaining talks and just happen to stop by Lucas Oil Stadium. (Despite his complete and utter lack of knowledge or experience in the game, Ellis does think he knows football…and because he signs the checks, believes he has reason to input his under-educated opinion.)
There’s been a lack of accountability within the walls at Dove Valley since Bowlen’s departure. The late owner would hire good people and let them do their jobs – and hold them accountable for the results. That hasn’t been the case in the past half dozen years. The scoreboard doesn’t lie.
This latest example of “we know best” may not be a big deal. Maybe it will lead to a better draft for the Broncos. We don’t know yet…and neither do they. But it’s yet another signal that regardless of the outcome on the field, Ellis, Elway and company will keep on thinking they’re smarter than everyone else.
Strike Two: The national TV audience was treated to a spectacular setting and a fun outdoor hockey game last week when the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings got together at the Air Force Academy. Unfortunately, the “studio audience” as it were – those who choose to attend the game in person – weren’t treated to anything but severe headaches.
Logistically, the event was a disaster. Getting to and from Falcon Stadium for a football game has always been a challenge. If you’ve driven that direction on Interstate 25 anytime in the last two years you know what a mess that never-ending highway construction causes. Might be the worst stretch of I-25…ever.
Security is understandably tight at the military academy, so once you get there, it’s one car in at a time, and then navigating your way around the grounds once you are in – and finding a place to park on the large grass, unmarked fields – can be tough in the best of circumstances. All the snow we’ve had recently made this less than the best of circumstances.
The result was long waits to see the game and long waits to leave. And a lot of unhappy customers. Safe to say they won’t be doing outdoor hockey again at the Academy any time soon. Interstate 25 will eventually, someday, not be under construction. But some of the other issues – like the security lines – can’t be changed.
But something can be. Like the venue itself.
Air Force needs a new football stadium.
For starters, this is very very unlikely to happen, because government spending – and that’s what this would be – probably won’t allow for it. It’s taken more than a year to get work that was approved long ago done on the Falcon’s baseball field. Those wheels turn really slowly.
None of this changes the fact that AFA needs a new football facility – in the exact same way Colorado State did. In fact, Falcon Stadium closely resembles old, dilapidated Hughes Stadium (gone four years now and not missed one bit) in many ways – including the unmarked dirt parking lot. It’s outdated and unfit for major college football (and NHL hockey.)
IF they ever really wanted to, there’s plenty of land closer to I-25 where the government could build a newer and better version of Falcon Stadium with easier entry via car and easier entry for fans. (A newer, updated press box would be nice, too.) It can still be in close proximity to the Academy grounds, but perhaps the security lines wouldn’t be necessary if things were designed properly. It could be a multi-use facility, perhaps shared with teams from nearby Colorado Springs. It could actually be a revenue generator for the Academy.
Something to consider???
Strike Three: Speaking of Colorado State…
The Rams and new head coach Steve Addazio were neutral observers during the sudden departure of University of Colorado Head Coach Mel Tucker and the drawn out hiring of his replacement, Karl Dorrell. But CU’s whole hiring process was actually eerily reminiscent of the way Addazio got his gig last December: The Buffs passed up the obvious “bleeds black and gold” choice in Darrin Chaiverini, and instead opted for a retread, “lets just get this over with” hire in the well-traveled Dorrell. Meh.
This isn’t an upgrade for CU, not by any stretch. If Dorrell is able to hang on to a few assistant coaches and the Buffs aren’t hit hard by defections, they could salvage the coming season to some extent. But what was going to be a lean year even if Tucker had stayed now looks even bleaker. It could be really tough to duplicate last season’s 5-7 record.
This is where it gets interesting for CSU. The final “Rocky Mountain Showdown” series game between CU and CSU is set for Saturday September 5th at Canvas Stadium. It will be the Buffs first visit to the Fort since 1996. The Rams haven’t beaten Colorado since 2014, and that’s one of the failings that cost Mike Bobo his job. The way things had been trending, it didn’t look like CSU was ever going to take down their in-state rival again.
Now Addazio has his chance. The Buffs are wounded. Depleted. Unorganized. Yes, it will be the first game for the new Rams coach as well, but he and his staff have a head start. They have an experienced quarterback in Patrick O’Brien and all-everything wide receiver Warren Jackson. (Colorado has neither.) They have the game at home.
If CSU is ever going to beat Colorado in football ever again, this would be the year.
Had Tucker not bolted, the pressure would be on he and his team to easily dispatch of the little brother Rams while preparing for a September slate that includes games against Texas A&M and Oregon. But Tucker’s departure changes everything. Expectations for Dorrell won’t be the same. They can’t be, not given the circumstances of his hiring. The way the Tucker departure happened, Buff fans should just be happy to have landed a coach they’d heard of and hope he can build a winner over time.
Now, the pressure is squarely on Addazio and his Rams. CSU won’t be favored, but they should be. It’s far too soon to place any coach on any sort of hot seat, but Ram fans know that this is their best chance in a long time to take down the Buffs on the football field. Losing at home to a CU team that will just be trying to find its way early in the season would not be a good way to start the Addazio Era.
So, can we consider the coach’s seat to be, shall we say, “warmish?”