Already, Solich and his players have exorcised one demon by soundly spanking Kansas State, effectively ending the chirping from the Wildcats that they were ready to supplant Nebraska as the conference powerhouse. But there is one difference. Win or lose, the Huskers are assured of a bowl appearance. The Buffs have no such guarantee. With six victories, Colorado is bowl eligible.
Truth is, bowl eligible and bowl worthy are two entirely different animals.
An Independence Bowl berth following a loss to Nebraska would be more of a sentence than a reward. The Buffs don't need sympathy. Rather, the Buffs need to prove the program is headed in the right direction, that Barnett's promise of Return to Dominance is more than a T-shirt logo. Today, CU's seniors have the chance to leave a positive legacy. They have the chance to set the stage for a banner recruiting year, the chance to say they played a part in the turning of the tide.