BOULDER, Colo. -- Mike MacIntyre has the reputation as a turnaround artist. Give him a program, any program, and he will transform it.Colorado, though, had the looks of being the sort of program that not even MacIntyre could fix.After three years that resulted in a grand total of 10 victories, MacIntyre led the 11th-ranked Buffaloes to a 10-win season, a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game and even onto the fringes of the national-title conversation for a week or two. Colorado also will make its first bowl appearance since 2007.For that, MacIntyre is The Associated Press college football Coach of the Year. He received 109 points and 25 first-place votes from the AP college football poll panel, while Penn States James Franklin was second with 98 and 16. Alabamas Nick Saban was third with 57 and 13.We played a lot of young guys and they worked hard and got better, explained MacIntyre, who became the first Colorado coach to win the award since it began in 1998. They grew into their talent and kept right on going.To comprehend just how far Colorado has come, its important to know where the Buffaloes were before MacIntyre arrived. In 2012, they led the nation in games started by true freshmen, got outscored by a 552-214 margin and lost a school-high 11 games that ultimately cost coach Jon Embree his job.MacIntyre realized he was inheriting a program that had fallen on hard times. But the depths of that decline caught him off guard.Overall, to be able to compete, to be in the Pac-12 Championship game, we werent very close, MacIntyre said.MacIntyre gradually revamped the program -- just like he did at San Jose State when he inherited a 2-10 squad and in three seasons turned the Spartans into a double-digit win team.All he needed was time and a chance to develop his talent. After going 2-25 in conference games over his first three seasons at Colorado, some publications listed him on the hot seat heading into the season.Now, hes one of the hottest coaches in the business.Its been remarkable, whats occurred this season, said former Colorado coach Gary Barnett, whos now a radio analyst for Buffs football games. Theyve acted like theyve been there before, acted like a mature team thats used to winning. They have this resiliency to find a way to win, every single game theyve been in.The Rise -- as Colorado has labeled it -- has been no surprise to his players. They bought in from the beginning. Take junior running back Phillip Lindsay. He was recruited by the previous regime and didnt know if his scholarship would still be honored after suffering a serious knee injury in high school.MacIntyre visited him and assured Lindsay that one day he would play a role in leading this team back to prominence. Lindsay rushed for 1,189 yards and 16 scores this season. He wont forget that trust from MacIntyre.He believed. His teammates believed -- even as the Buffaloes struggled.Rome wasnt built in one day. He just needed time to build a program, Lindsay said. Hes a big reason we are where we are today.And thats a program trending in the right direction -- with big crowds showing up again at Folsom Field. They appeared in their first conference title game -- losing 41-10 to No. 4 Washington -- since 2005, when they were in the Big 12. Theyre also heading to the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma State -- with a chance to become just the fourth team in school history to win 11 games.Weve been making steps. Some of them were baby steps, but we were moving forward, said MacIntyre, whose late father, George MacIntyre, was the coach at Vanderbilt from 1979 to 1985. We werent going backward at all.This helped, too -- upgrades to the athletic facilities, including a new indoor practice field. Recently, MacIntyre took the team over to their old digs, just as a reminder of how far theyve come.Those young freshmen were like, `Whats this? MacIntyre recounted. You cant kick it high, the lights are weird. But this is what it was for us all the time.There might be some times we go back down there and do some morning drills like we used to and make them realize how nice weve got it.MacIntyres always been an emotional coach. After a win at Oregon, MacIntyre hugged his son Jay, a sophomore receiver, as he wiped away tears. His players appreciate that side of him.A lot of ups and downs, a lot of heartbreaks, a lot of happy times, a lot of crying over the years, Lindsay said. We are a figure of him. Now, youre seeing the final product.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgCheap Kd Shoes . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Kd Shoes On Sale . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. http://www.cheapkdshoes.net/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Buy Cheap Kd . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Kevin Durant Shoes Wholesale . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With Colin Kaepernick dealing with tightness in his throwing shoulder and Thaddeus Lewis out for the season with a knee injury, the 49ers signed free agent quarterback Christian Ponder on Tuesday.Ponder, 28, hasnt appeared in an NFL game since October 2014 with the Minnesota Vikings.San Francisco was down to two healthy quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert and Jeff Driskel, as the team traveled Tuesday to Denver for two joint practices with the Broncos ahead of their preseason game Saturday.Kaepernick hasnt thrown during practice since Aug. 10 and was held out of the preseason opener Sunday against the Texans. Prior to the injury, he was competing with Gabbert to start under first-year coach Chip Kelly.Its really a day-to-day thing, Kelly said of Kaepernicks injury. Its nothing thats a long-term thing. Its just a day-to-day thing. He says he feels better as we go, but were not going to push him so that we can make a proper evaluation of him.Ponder becomes the third quarterback from the 2011 draft class on San Franciscos roster. He was taken 12th overall by the Vikings, two spots behind Gabbert and 24 selections ahead of Kaepernick.In 2015, Ponder played in the preseason with the Oakland Raiders before his release Sept. 5. He was signed by Denver on Nov. 25 and released Dec. 8 after being inactive two games.Lewis suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the second half of the 24-13 loss to Houston and was placed on injured reserve to make room for Ponder. Againsst Houston, Lewis led 49ers quarterbacks with 97 yards passing while completing 12 of 21.ddddddddddddWith Kaepernick out, Lewis replaced Gabbert after three possessions.Im just really disappointed for (Lewis) because I thought he played well yesterday and was really starting to come on, Kelly said Monday.With Minnesota, Ponder appeared in 38 games and made 36 starts. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes averaging 175 yards per game with 38 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. The Vikings used the 32nd overall pick in 2014 on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who started 12 games as a rookie and all 16 last season. They finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs.Kaepernick said the tightness is a result of his return from three surgeries that limited his participation in the 49ers offseason program.Taking it day-by-day, he said. Made a lot of throws, especially coming back from three surgeries, so want to make sure that were staying ahead of things.Kaepernick had a procedure on his left shoulder in November that landed him on injured reserve. In January, he had two more on his left knee and throwing hand. He wasnt cleared to participate in full-team drills until the start of training camp July 31.My arms always snapped back quick, so not too concerned about it, Kaepernick said.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '