He led the Buffs on the ground

In Colorado's win over Georgia Tech, Damian Henderson II finished with the team high in rushing yards. That production was central to the result.

It started with a loose ball

In the first quarter, Henderson appeared to fumble. A defender came from nowhere, got underneath the ball and stripped it clean.

The ruling saved him

Officials decided his forward progress had already stopped before the strip, so Colorado kept possession. The call went the Buffs' way.

He took it personally anyway

The ruling let him off the hook, but Henderson refused to let himself off. He carried the moment into the rest of the game as fuel.

In tears on the sideline

Running backs coach Johnnie Mack watched Henderson wait for the ruling and saw exactly how much it was costing him.

“Like he was in tears on the sideline, so I knew that meant something to him.”

A senior with everything riding

This is Henderson's final college season, with his football future tied to how it goes. Opening the year with a fumble is about the worst start a back can have.

Mack is still mad

Days later, at his Wednesday press conference, the coach did not want the play brought up. Ball security is the whole job at that position.

“Don't even remind me of that, because I'm still mad about the ball being on the ground.”

No excuses, not even humidity

Mack's standard is flat. Atlanta was sticky, Henderson had two hands on it, and none of that changes what was supposed to happen.

“No excuses for humidity or anything. The ball is the ball. Protect it.”

He has played the position

Mack was a player himself, so he knows what runs through a back's head after a strip. He could be furious about the ball and still understand the kid holding it.

Put him back in there

The reaction is what earned the next carry. Mack's read was that a player who hurts that much over a mistake is the one you trust again immediately.

“He felt like he hurt the team, and those types of guys, man, you put them back in there.”

Play next play

That is the phrase the room lives on. Sending Henderson straight back out was the fastest way to get him past it.

“We always say play next play.”

He finished strong

After the early scare, Henderson closed the game as Colorado's most productive runner. The staff kept riding him and got paid back for it.

Weber State is next

Week 2 gives Henderson a chance to build on that finish. The way he handled adversity in Atlanta is the reason his coaches expect more of it.