The beginning of a new football season has always carried a particular kind of energy. It is a chance to move beyond what happened before, rebuild trust and begin believing in what might come next.
For the Colorado Buffaloes, the 2026 Big 12 Football Media Days marked the start of that process following a 3–9 season and the loss of a beloved member of their program, Dominiq Ponder. Throughout the day, players spoke openly about leadership, chemistry, their underdog mentality and the work required to become a different team this fall.
For BuffStampede, it was also a significant first.
This was our first major media event without longtime publisher Adam Munsterteiger, who passed away on May 19. Adam covered Colorado athletics for more than 20 years, and his absence was deeply felt throughout the trip. So was the love and support extended to our team by the Big 12, Coach Prime, the Colorado players and the larger CU community.
This video tells the story of two groups entering new chapters. Their circumstances are different, but both are learning how to carry loss, honor what came before and keep moving toward what comes next.
Not by forgetting the past. Not by replacing what was lost.
By moving forward, together.
