Buff Backers Newsletter Volume II Number IV

Greetings, Buff Backers! I have written this issue of the Buff Backers Newsletter several times today, beginning during my morning commute. What is finally coming out on paper (well, your monitor, actually), kinda describes my thought process through the day.

First, I thought about writing a position-by-position scorecard for the game. This is a well-worn and comfortable layout for most readers. But, I wear Black & Gold colored glasses and, as a result, my grades will be both too generous and too harsh at the same time. That idea is out.

Next, I, very briefly, considered a tirade (possibly expletive-laced) against the coaching staff and their failure to this one thing or another thing. This, too, is a well-worn, and vastly over-abused, reaction to a loss. It serves no positive nor worthwhile purpose -- other than making the author feel better -- so I tossed it out. Plus, since GoldenBuffLover & the boys have entered my life, I'm not very good at expletive-laced tirades any more (you gotta practice those things). So much for the tirade.

After mulling over the tirade, I pondered the worthiness of writing an overly optimistic, sickeningly sweet, I-Love-You-Buffs column. Yet another oft-used reaction to a loss that really does nothing -- again, other than making the author feel better. Well, that's not entirely true. They sometimes make the readers want to vomit. Violently. And since I do not want any of you to vomit after reading what I've written, unless it was from the bad sushi you just ate, I gave this idea the ol' heave-ho!

The next style that came to mind was a woe-is-me, our-team-is-horrible lament. I'm not big on pity-parties, especially of my own, so this one was quickly discarded.

So, what's my take on Saturday's game? The first thing that came to mind this morning was that our Buffs experienced a massive dose of Murphy's Law happening all at one. We even lost the opening coin toss!

Yes, the Buffs didn't look terribly prepared. Yes, some of the play calling was questionable (remember that we had a VERY green QB back there). Yes, play execution and tackling were atrocious and, yes, the Buffs played quite tentatively. But do not forget that USC simply blew us away. We did not belong on the field opposite USC on Saturday.

We have absolutely nothing positive to take from this game -- our one nearly shining spot, punting, was severely blemished by a blocked punt for a touchdown. Is there anything we can learn from the game? If there is, I haven't seen it yet.

Don't get me wrong. I'm embarrassed, hurt, disappointed & a little angry; however, I refuse to spend my time assessing blame for a debacle of that magnitude. The game, at this point, feels like a horrible, horrible nightmare that I can't quite get out of my head. And I'm going to keep looking at the game like that: a nightmare, something I can mostly forget, something from which the pain will eventually fade.

Keep the faith, Buff fans! We will be back!

Brian
96 Buff
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