The recent Colorado football coaching shakeup that saw Pat Shurmur promoted to the offensive coordinator role at the expense of Sean Lewis “could have readily” included long-time Coach Prime confidant Brett Bartolone, the current wide receivers coach for the Buffs — this, at least, according to BuffZone’s Pat Rooney.
“…it was more than a curious move at this stage of the season,” Bartolone prefaced before saying, “Especially since any shakeup also could have readily included receivers coach Brett Bartolone, who called plays for Sanders the coach and worked with Sanders the player as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jackson State last year. Instead, coach Sanders turned to Shurmur. Whatever it was exactly that Shurmur sold to Sanders, it certainly wasn’t on display against the Beavers.”
Shurmur isn’t a popular figurehead with those close to the sport. The long-time NFL coach was accused by Denver Sports’ Jake Shapiro of having some of the most boring offenses across the sport, and was then shaded for a debut in Boulder against the Oregon State Beavers, a 19-point outing that didn’t see a touchdown until the second half, befitting of being called his “calling card.”
“The first-year head coach of the Buffs demoted Sean Lewis to co-offensive coordinator late this week, and Coach Prime’s genius solution was promoting offensive analyst Pat Shurmur,” Shapiro wrote. “The failed NFL coach is known for running some of the most boring offenses of the century across the sport and became the play-caller in Boulder ahead of the Buffaloes clash with Oregon State on Saturday. In Shurmur’s debut on the headset, he lived up to his calling card producing a pitiful offensive performance.”
Colorado Football, Coach Prime addresses media response to Pat Shurmur replacing Sean Lewis as Offensive Coordinator:
— NoSkoZone (@noskozone) November 5, 2023
"I got tinted windows and you can't even see in the house but you're making conclusions on what I should and should not do."#SkoBuffs #WeComing pic.twitter.com/wS5zCspRmP
Coach Prime’s Colorado football demotion may signal new role for Sean Lewis
If Coach Prime knows Lewis is leaving the program following the conclusion of the regular season, perhaps taking Michigan State’s head coaching job, it makes sense for Coach Prime to give someone new the chance to audition over the season’s final month.
Once seen as a potential Coach Prime replacement, Lewis could move on in the offseason to find a job he has ties to in the Midwest; perhaps at his alma mater, Wisconsin, whose offense ranks just ahead of Southern Mississippi’s and just ahead of Arkansas State’s through Week 10 of the season. Kent State would surely welcome him back at this point as well after blowing a 17-point lead to Akron on November 1.