Rooney: Familiar refrain in CU's shortcomings

Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre, right, speaks with an official during the second half of Saturday's 41-24 loss to Oregon at Folsom Field. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)"The gap has closed," proclaimed University of Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre in the wee hours of Sunday morning, not long after his Buffaloes trudged off a sodden Folsom Field on the wrong side of a 41-24 decision against Oregon.

Certainly by any definable number, that assessment is true. Particularly when compared to the Buffs' two previous attempts at toppling the mighty Ducks during MacIntyre's regime.

In MacIntyre's first season, CU lost by 41 points to Oregon while allowing 580 yards. That gap closed to a…