Buffs Notes: Sanford Proud Of Team's Fight To The End

BOULDER — Colorado interim head coach Mike Sanford wrapped up his stint in that role Saturday as the Buffaloes came out on the short end of a 63-21 decision at the hands of No. 14 Utah.

But Sanford, who finished with a 1-6 record, still called this season one of the most memorable of his career, due in large part to a group of players who never quit on the program.

"This profession is really hard," said Sanford, who became emotional in his postgame press conference. "There's a lot of challenges with it. To have a group of players do what they did and continue to fight, I'll never forget this. I'm so grateful to this group of players. It really has been the most enjoyable season of my life."

Sanford was named the interim head coach Oct. 2, with seven games still remaining in the season. He led the Buffs to a win in his first game at the helm, but the ensuing six games included five against teams currently ranked in the nation's top 25.

After a coach is removed in midseason, players have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal. But only one player decided to leave.

Sanford said the Buffs never showed signs of quitting.

" I told them before the game one of my favorite scriptures is, 'I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. And I've kept the faith.'" he said. " I don't think there's anything that could define this group of players, coaches, and everybody inside of these walls more than that."

KOPP GETS START: Freshman transfer Maddox Kopp saw his first collegiate action of his career when he became CU's fourth different starting quarterback this season. While he had a rough early go, he finished 15-for-28 for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Sanford said they decided to go with Kopp early in the week after J.T. Shrout, the starter in the last five games, wasn't healthy enough to go this week.

"When I found out I was starting on Wednesday I wanted to get hit right now," Kopp said. "I was just excited. I was ready to play football. I've been dreaming of this my whole life, to go out and start." 

Sanford said when the season started, Kopp may have been as low as No. 6 on the depth chart after enduring what he called a major case of the "yips."

But over the last few weeks, Sanford saw significant progress. When it was deemed Shrout wouldn't be ready to go, they turned to Kopp.

"He managed the game admirably," Sanford said. "Think about this: he's playing his first college snap in game 12 against the best defense in our conference … But what I loved about it is that you watched him kind of grow into the role as the game went on. They they blitzed us back to the Stone Age in the first half. And in the second half, they kept blitzing us, but I was really proud of just how he competed."

TD FOR FILLIP: The Buffs designed a short-yardage play for offensive tackle Frank Fillip and it resulted in a fourth quarter touchdown. Fillip lined up at tight end, curled toward the right back corner of the end zone and hauled in a 1-yard scoring pass from Kopp.

"I told (offensive coordinator Clay) Patterson before the game, 'If you don't call the Frank Fillip pass in the game, I'm going to fire you after the game,'" Sanford joked.