SB Nation - Luke Walters

Wednesday Buff Bites - The Talk Continues to Center Around Dan Hawkins' Job Status

irish1611 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:26 -0000

Hawkins Tells Staff He's Got One More Year - cbs4denver.com

Two sources inside the CU football progam told CBS4's Vic Lombardi that Hawkins recently met with Unversity Chancellor Phil DiStefano and came away from the meeting with the understanding that he's safe for another year no matter what happens on Friday against Nebraska.

What went wrong? - The Longmont Times-Call

The Colorado Buffaloes are already wrestling with their lack of success in 2009. Have been for weeks. But with the end coming after Friday’s Nebraska game (1:30 p.m., ABC) and expectations so far from being met, hard answers are expected soon. No one wants 2010 to resemble 2009. At all. So here’s the key question: What went wrong? Maybe coach Dan Hawkins shouldn’t have publicly said anything —– no matter what it was — about winning 10 games. Maybe changing offensive coordinators after spring drills hurt more than anyone could have expected; four offensive line coaches in five years shows. And maybe a less funky schedule will help. But the consensus is that this team’s biggest problem boiled down to one word.

Confidence.

Huskers Prep For Potent Colorado Offense
Colorado with a potent offense??? News to me.

"He is similar (to guys we've seen). He has a good arm and he's real slippery. He can find his way out of pressure and when he does he is always looking downfield. Again, you have to do a good job in coverage, but you still have to deal with him. That has kind of been the theme of the last few weeks. We've been facing quarterback after quarterback who can run and hurt you with their feet. You have to account for that all the time." Pelini noted that while they know there is a possibility of seeing quarterback Cody Hawkins, the offensive scheme as a whole does not change. He said Colorado boasts one of the biggest offensive lines they have encountered all year. "(They are) one of the better lines we've seen. They are big and athletic, too. They can move their feet really well. They get out and pull on plays and find people in space. It's a good offensive line, they've come a long way."

Much more after the jump...

What would Cody do? | All Things Colorado Sports

The player said he was positive that Cody will return to the Buffaloes for the 2010 season, even if his father, Dan Hawkins, is fired as head coach following this season. "Cody loves this place, and he loves Colorado football," the player said. "I don’t think he’d go anywhere."

Big 12 predictions, Week 13 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Nebraska 23, Colorado 10: These two teams have played some great games in recent seasons. But the Cornhuskers’ defense is too solid not to come prepared, even if it did clinch the North title last week. The Colorado team should be poised for an emotional effort in what could be Dan Hawkins’ last game. Despite Colorado’s ‘strong showing at Oklahoma State last week, the Nebraska defense will be ready to throttle Tyler Hansen and whatever offense the Buffaloes can muster. Look for Alex Henery to be a huge factor kicking in the high altitude in Boulder.

Commentary: Win or lose Friday, CU Dan Hawkins coach deserves one more year - KDVR
Stick to the telecasts, not articles...

Here is the reality, though: win or lose Friday against arch rival Nebraska, Hawkins will most likely return to coach CU next year and here is the kicker, the decision has very little to do with football. The bottom line in Boulder is this: wins and losses are secondary to the image of the program.

CU Buffs land 14 on All-Big 12 academic team - Boulder Daily Camera

Fourteen members of the Colorado football team were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team, the conference announced today. Colorado placed nine players on the first team and five on the second team. In order to qualify, a player must have maintained at least a 3.2 GPA and participated in at least 60 percent of his team's games for first-team consideration and a 3.0 GPA for second team honors. Colorado's first team members include Jake Behrens, Ben Burney, Patrick Devenny, Dustin Ebner, Will Pericak, Travis Sandersfeld, Devin Shanahan, Bret Smith and Nate Solder. Second-team Buffs were David Clark, Marquez Herrod, Jon Major, Tyler Sale and Luke Walters. The conference named a total of 170 players from all 12 programs to the team. Nick Florence of Baylor and Austin Cassidy and Sean Fisher of Nebraska were nominated with a 4.00 grade point average.

What to watch for in the Big 12, Week 13 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Dan Hawkins' possible last game in Boulder: The embattled Colorado coach’s job has been in question since a slow start after he boldly predicting his team would challenge for the Big 12 North title. Instead, the Buffaloes were the first team in the conference eliminated from bowl consideration. The Buffaloes showed some promise in last week’s narrow loss at Oklahoma State, although they repeatedly made critical mistakes and penalties that kept them from winning. Will the Colorado coach be able to circle the wagons and get his team to play one final strong performance? Or is it already too late for him to save his job after a disappointing 16-32 career record?

A little doom, a little gloom at the holidays for CU football | All Things Colorado Sports

What, you think the economy stinks? Check out what’s going on on the Front Range football front, where …
* The Broncos’ offense considers a field goal a moral touchdown. Or maybe you haven’t noticed that the Local 11 haven’t scored an offensive touchdown at home in November.
* CSU just lost to New Mexico, which hadn’t won a game since New Mexico was a territory. Or seemingly so.
* CU has lost 20 of its last 22 road games and hasn’t won a Big 12 North roadie during the Dan Hawkins era.

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Beleaguered Buffs won't back down

Colorado players say the uncertainty surrounding coach Dan Hawkins' job status hasn't been a distraction. "There's a lot of stuff being said outside of the program, but you step into our locker room or in meetings or in practice and it's hardly spoken of,'' CU tight end Devenny said.

Wideout Simas gives jolt to the Buffs' offense - The Denver Post

"The chemistry between the wide receivers and tight ends and Tyler has improved over the last few weeks," Simas said. "Tyler knows that if the defense gives us this look, I'm going to be here. And if the defensive gives us that look, I'm going to be there. It's a feel thing we're developing."

Brooks: Seniors' Legacy Better Than 3-8 - CUBuffs.com

The Colorado football program's 17 seniors have so much more to their collective resumes than a disappointing 3-8 record entering Friday's final game against Nebraska (1:30 p.m., Folsom Field, ABC). The Buffaloes' three senior captains - Marcus Burton, Riar Geer, Jeff Smart - are a storyline within the tale, each having persevered through individual hardships to reach the point where their teammates recognized and honored them.

CU's Hagan wants critics to stay patient - Boulder Daily Camera

Henderson: McCartney knows the heat under Hawkins - The Denver Post

Colorado comes up short against Arizona in overtime - KansasCity.com

For the second night in a row, not-so-lowly Colorado took a perennial powerhouse the distance. For the second night in a row, the Buffaloes barely missed a statement victory.

CU`s Higgins making name for self - Boulder Daily Camera

"Great player," Wildcats guard Nick Wise, an All-American candidate, noticed. "Before watching film on him I never really heard too much about him. He`s an All-Big 12 player and that says enough about him because it`s a great conference."

Buffs Drop OT Thriller in Maui - CUBuffs.com

Both teams protected the ball after halftime as Colorado committed zero turnovers in the second half and Arizona only committed two. Arizona's hot shooting from the three-point line proved too much for the Buffaloes to overcome though. The Wildcats shot 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) from beyond the arc as a whole, including a perfect 5-of-5 from Jamelle Horne. Wise went 5-of-9 from long distance and his 30 points were a career high. Horne was Arizona's second leading scorer with 17. Arizona's 14 treys today was the most for the program in a single game since the Cats connected on 14-of-23 attempts (60.9 percent) on Jan. 17, 2004, in a 97-72 win at UCLA. That covers a span of 189 games played.

Top Spring Ball Questions: Injuries, Injuries, Injuries

irish1611 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:17:35 -0000

Cliche statement: In football, injuries are a part of the game, you need to have the depth to survive.

Well, that blanket statement doesn't apply to the Buffs as they lost about 120 player games to injury in 2008 made up of starters and important reserves like TE Riar Geer, OL Ryan Miller, OL Max Tuioti-Mariner, RB Darrell Scott, DE Jason Brace, DB Daniel Dykes and DB Ryan Walters just to name a few. And as for that depth part of the statement, in most cases it consisted of first or second year players who weren't ready physically, mentally or experience wise. It was a perfect storm. Still, it is a tough subject for Buffalo fans (I know it gets me a little irked) as it led to another excuse from winning enough games to qualify for a bowl and enough to formulate an excuse/reason to go winless on the road and enough to still have questions coming into 2009.

Offseason surgeries, recovering from ACL injuries last year and a new injury to OG Max Tuioti-Mariner will have an impact on spring practices. The 2009 spring session definitely has a stronger sense of importance than in prior years because the Buffs are, once again, trying to learn a new offense, replace 3/4 of a defensive line and still develop young talent. There is also a heightened sense of pressure this year on the Hawkins regime to produce on the field results. No, that's not the blog world putting false goals on this team. To Dan Hawkins credit, he realizes it with his statement that he believes the Buffs can win 10 games. Yes, it was not a guarantee, but you don't make a statement like that, four victories over any total he has produced yet, if you don't realize that their is an anxious feeling around the program. But a big key to fulfilling his statement and getting to the eight win mark (we would settle on that, Dan) are keeping injuries to a minimum this year as well as praying for a full recovery for last year's walking wounded. When you lose starters like CU did last year, you always have to worry about how they will return to form.

Here is the list of players (please switch your view to wide in the top left hand side of the blog to see the chart correctly) that had injuries in 2008 or in the offseason and their status this spring. I have added production numbers from last year. (source: Dave Plati and the Sports Information Department):

Pos	Name	Injury	Last Year Production	Status
OG	Blake Behrens	*shoulder surgery	769 plays (12 gms), 3rd most on OL	Limited
FB	Jake Behrens	*knee surgery	Played in 12 gms, 2 TD, 75 yds receiving	Full Go
CB	Cha'pelle Brown	*shoulder surgery	starter, 4th in tkles, 1st in int, best DB in 08	Full Go
CB	Jalil Brown	*shoulder surgery	started 12 gms, 7th in tkles, 4 break ups	Limited
CB	Ben Burney	shoulder surgery	2007 starter, 2008 injured	Full Go
DT	Curtis Cunningham	*shoulder surgery	Productive true frosh, 12 games, 2TFL, 1 int	Limited
PK	Jameson Davis	*knee surgery	Kickoff guy and limited FG action	Out
WR	Jason Espinoza	broken collarbone	Potential special teams returner	Full Go
TE	Riar Geer	*shoulder surgery	Starting TE, 13 receptions, 2 TD's	Limited
OG	Devin Head	*shoulder surgery	Played in 11 games, 4th most plays on Oline	Limited
OG	Mike Iltis	knee surgery	Potential starter, hurt in offseason drills	Limited
ILB	Jon Major	knee surgery	Blue chip recruit, injured offseason drills	Limited
WR	Ryan Maxwell	shoulder surgery	Walkon	Full Go
OT	Ryan Miller	broken fibula	Starting RT before getting hurt in FSU game	Full Go
S	Ray Polk	shoulder surgery	Blue chip recruit, redshirt last year	Out
WR	Markques Simas	*finger surgery	Ineligible last year, talent to be big time player	Full Go
RB	Rodney Stewart	leg/ankle	08 leading rusher as a freshman, 669 yds	Full Go
OG	Max Tuioti-Mariner	torn ACL	Starter as a true freshman, hurt in practice	Out
TE	Luke Walters	stress fracture	Walkon	Out
QB	Cameron Wright	*shoulder surgery	Walkon	Limited
*denotes offseason surgery

20 players! Almost one fourth of the team is on this list and when you have a fourth of the team mentioned, there are going to be many players that played a big part or were expected to play a big part in last year's team as well as the 2009 team. So the million dollar question is how will each of these players recover and perform coming off of some pretty serious injuries? The tough news is that only eight of the wounded will be full go come spring practice so getting a gauge on most of the lot will not happen until fall ball.

Still, three players catch my eye as guys that will receive a ton of attention this spring and will have the most questions surrounding their performance: starting RT Ryan Miller, starting RB Rodney Stewart and potential star WR Markques Simas. All three will be in "full go" mode and all three might be the best player in their respective offensive units.

Ryan Miller's injury in 2008 was one of the last major setbacks this team had but it was a big one. His injury coincided with MTM's and left two offensive line starters out for the year. Miller, thought of as a potential first round NFL draft pick, will be critiqued on his feet and his ability to maintain his athleticism, something that was a point of needed improvement to go along with his 6'7" frame.

As for RB Speedy Stewart, their is nothing you can hope for except a full recovery. Already a fan favorite for his diminutive size but amazing production as a true freshman, Speedy was one of the only playmakers on the 2008 team before breaking his leg in the Texas A&M game. He is a lunch pail guy who outworked other running backs to get on the field. He figures to play a big part in the 2009 season as the Buffs seem to be switching the offense to feature Stewart, Darrell Scott, Demetrius Sumler and Brian Lockridge in the offense.

Now to WR Markques Simas. It isn't so much about the injury with Simas but his eligibility and off the field focus. Boy, are we really going to depend on him and hopefully we don't get let down. The news out of Buff camp is that he has matured and dedicated himself to his academics. No one is questioning his football skills but we will have to wait and see if he can juggle both starting on a Division One football team as well as maintain his grades. if he does, Simas instantly becomes the most talented wideout on the team and hopefully with fulfill that void in the playmaker role. Plus he will be Hawkins/Hansen/Ballenger/Evans' new best friend.

As I said before, this week's injury to Max Tuioti-Mariner was very disheartening. It was MTM's third ACL tear and is another offseason injury that has plagued the Buffs during "non contact drills." What is even more troubling is why Tuioti-Mariner was even out there doing this sort of work coming off two ACL injuries when he was supposed to be limited in spring ball. You wonder now if MTM will ever be the same. Not many people recover 100% from one ACL injury, let alone three at 300 pounds. That is a lot of stress on those knees.

There is no doubt in my mind, the first week of news reports will be about how players are recovering from injury and how injury has kept players like MTM, Ray Polk, Blake Behrens, Devin Head, Jalil Brown, Jon Major and others from being able to go at full speed.