BOULDER — Every loss is painful, but Colorado’s 28-20 season-opening defeat at Hawai’i was especially so, for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost is the obvious fact that the Buffs needed a win to get off on the right foot. Winning breeds confidence, and the Buffs no doubt could have used a win to provide a little affirmation of what they’ve believed since Day One of fall camp: that they are an improved team.
But equally painful is the fact that most of the momentum-shifting plays, those moments that swung the tide, were self-inflicted mistakes.