SB Nation - Toney Clemons

WR Markques Simas' Emergence Bodes Well for the Future

irish1611 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:20:15 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

For the past two years and most of year three, we heard the rumors of redshirt sophomore WR Markques Simas' potential. Apparently, he was making the first team defense look silly on the scout team and once he dedicated himself both on and off the field, he would be something special. After Simas was ruled ineligible last year and suspended for the first two games of this season for an off-the-field incident, many Buff fans wondered if this would be another one of those players who was highly recruited that wouldn't pan out.

Simas, in his third year at Colorado, finally caught his first ball and touchdown against West Virginia. The next four games, the 6'2" 215 pound receiver never had more than three receptions in any single game. But then November rolled around...and something seemed to click between the receiver and his quarterback Tyler Hansen.

The last three weeks, Simas has been everything Buff fans dreamed for and more, turning in performances that bring back memories of top flight receivers of the past. Colorado fans have been clamoring for a bona fide number one receiver for a while now. Going back to 2004, Colorado's leading receiver has not gone over 600 yards and in two of those years, the Buffs leading receiver had 226 yards and 449 yards.

Just in the month of November, Markques Simas has 25 receptions and 355 yards. If he kept that production up over a full season, he would total 100 receptions, 1,412 yards and 8 touchdowns. Now that is a #1 receiver. It is clear Hansen and Simas have developed a nice report.

As you can see from the chart below (for optimal viewing, click the "wide view" button on the top right of the page), Simas ranks 10th in the nation for yards/game in the month of November among all receivers. He is surrounded by some pretty good company as well:

Top Receivers for the Month of November
#	Name	Team	Yr	Pos	G	Rec.	Yards	Avg.	TD	Rec./G	Yards/G
1	Danario Alexander	Missouri	SR	WR	3	34	587	17.26	5	11.3	195.7
2	Damaris Johnson	Tulsa	SO	WR	3	41	475	11.59	1	13.7	158.3
3	Antonio Brown	C Mich	JR	WR	2	24	299	12.46	2	12.0	149.5
4	Greg Salas	Hawai'i	JR	WR	3	34	435	12.79	3	11.3	145.0
5	Freddie Barnes	BGSU	SR	WR	3	30	428	14.27	5	10.0	142.7
6	Jordan Shipley	Texas	SR	WR	3	27	427	15.81	4	9.0	142.3
7	Golden Tate	Notre Dame	JR	WR	3	27	368	13.63	3	9.0	122.7
8	Emmanuel Sanders	SMU	SR	WR	3	21	364	17.33	4	7.0	121.3
9	Shay Hodge	Miss	SR	WR	3	19	363	19.11	3	6.3	121.0
10	Markques Simas	Colorado	SO	WR	3	25	355	14.2	2	8.3	118.3

It would be disrespectful not to mention the stellar play of WR Scotty McKnight. He catches a bad wrap because he is not a game breaker but McKnight has been solid and has led the Buffs in receiving yards for the past three seasons, something that should not be forgotten. McKnight has put up some amazing numbers in his three year career at Colorado. He has caught at least one pass in 34 straight games, a Colorado record, meaning he has caught a pass in every game he has played in. He ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 779 receiving yards in 2009, which is 44th in the nation.

Combine McKnight and Simas with Michigan transfer Toney Clemons and next year, this looks like a potential unit of strength. Also, don't forget 2009 signees Jarrod Darden, Terdema Ussery, Will Jefferson and Andre Simmons should be up to speed and challenging for playing time next year. It is not known whether WR/CB Anthony Wright will remain on the offensive side next year but if he does, that is another athlete that could make a difference.

Gameday Buff Bites - Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Colorado Buffaloes

irish1611 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:21:47 -0000

Sorry the site has been a little slow this past week. Something about the combination of the Colorado Buffaloes being 3 - 7 and working 12 hours a day has killed the creative juices until this point in the week. The game thread will be live tonight at 5:30 pm in time for kickoff.

Here is what is going on around the web:

Woelk: Time for Buffs to play like they have nothing to lose - Boulder Daily Camera

Rather, what the Buffs must accomplish tonight is simple: prove to themselves -- not to their fans, not the media, not the nation -- that they can go on the road and play a competitive game against a Big 12 foe.

Paige: Shanahan to CU is fun banter, but not reality - The Denver Post

A high-ranking official at CU, who would not be named, asked me: "You know Shana- han well. Would he come to CU?" I think: Shanahan wouldn't go to CU, he much prefers the NFL, and CU won't pursue him. I also believe Hawkins will be given one more season. But, if Shanahan did coach the Buffaloes instead of Buffalo, he would be elected to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame twice.

About That Colorado Job - Inside USC with Scott Wolf

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates would not respond to that previously posted Internet report that said he could be a candidate at Colorado if Dan Hawkins is fired. ``I've learned being a coach's son you can't look ahead,'' Bates said. Colorado is currently 86th in the nation on third-down conversions but that is superior to USC's 100th.

Behind Enemy Lines: Colorado | OSU Cowboys Sports Blog

Brandon Chatmon: It appears Hawkins in on the hot seat. How hot is it?
Tom Kensler: Scalding. At this point, the feeling is that Colorado could win big over Oklahoma State (unlikely) and Nebraska, and that still might not be enough to save Hawkins’ job. The momentum against him seems irreversible.

Boise State fans should be pulling for Hawkins, Colorado on Thursday | Voices.IdahoStatesman.com

Oklahoma State could be the biggest obstacle to Boise State getting selected for a BCS game. The Cowboys have made just one appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, a 16-6 victory against BYU in 1974 so their fans are no doubt itching to get to a BCS game.

Robinson's backup getting reps at Oklahoma State practices - Sporting News

While there has been no official announcement about whether QB Zac Robinson will play in Saturday night's home finale against Colorado, reports have surfaced that Alex Cate has been taking most of the snaps in the Cowboys' closed practices. Robinson was knocked out of Saturday's game against Texas Tech by a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit from cornerback Jamar Wall, In addition to a suspected concussion, sources have told The Oklahoman that Robinson also is dealing with a sore throwing shoulder

Brooks: Buffs Say Focus Where It Should Be - CUBuffs.com

Dan Hawkins continues to say he has enough administrative support to return as head coach in 2010. His players continue to say they back him. "I'm with him," sophomore receiver Markques Simas said. "He and coach (Eric) Kiesau are the reasons I came to Colorado."

Buffs: Plenty of motivation - The Longmont Times-Call

"I’m playing for myself right now," said cornerback Jalil Brown, who’ll be a fifth-year senior next year. "Well, the team as well, but I look at it like I’m an athlete and I came to college to play football. "I’m trying to keep that (the coaches’ futures) in the background. I’m not trying to focus on that; that won’t help at all. We won’t know about that until after the season is over."

much more after the jump

What to watch for in the Big 12, Week 12 - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Colorado responds to its role as a spoiler: The Buffaloes are the only Big 12 team without any bowl hopes heading into this week's games. Dan Hawkins predicted before the season that his team would "win 10 games with no excuses." That dream has long been dashed, but can the Buffaloes ruin Oklahoma State’s BCS at-large hopes before a national television audience? In order to do so, they will have to play their best game of the season.

Weekend Forecast: Title chase takes backstage to rivalry games - USATODAY.com

No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m. (Thursday) Zac Robinson's uncertain status leaves the Cowboys potentially inexperienced at quarterback. Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins will take any advantage as he can while he fights to save his job. Oklahoma State 26, Colorado 16.

‘09 CU signee Moten coming aboard | All Things Colorado Sports

Good news for whoever the Colorado football coach is next season. Josh Moten, a 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback and member of Colorado’s 2009 recruiting class, told Scout.com that he finally has been accepted by the CU admissions office and expects to enroll for the spring semester. Moten starred in 2008 at Narbonne High School in Harbor City, Calif., but failed to gain admittance, reportedly over questions about his college entrance exam.

Colorado men's basketball team must get better on glass - Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado struggled with its interior defense and was out-rebounded 32-25 by Texas Southern during an otherwise impressive 88-77 victory at the Coors Events Center. "We`ve just got to rebound the basketball. We`ve got to rebound the ball so we can get out in the open court," Buffs coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We`re playing a dangerous game right now just trying to outscore people. We have to get some stops and rebound the basketball. We have to get better in those areas."

CU hoops 3-0 after win over Texas Southern - The Longmont Times-Call

Buffs don't feel heat that falls on Hawkins - The Denver Post

In an effort to reduce penalties tonight in Colorado's Big 12 game at No. 12 Oklahoma State, CU coach Dan Hawkins had some members of the program's operations staff wear striped shirts during practices this week. Yes, they threw flags. "I think it helped," Tyler Hansen said. "But it's funny, too. They'll throw a flag and we'll say, 'What? Are you kidding me?' But then coach Hawkins makes us pay for it by making us do up-downs or run."

Getting off the fence: Time for Hawkins to go | INDenverTimes

All necessary evils for the sake of the future. Keeping Hawkins just one more year would bolster the perception of CU football that is beginning to take hold nationally: These guys are cheap, ignorant or both. Human issues aside, the performance is just not there. A warm and loving 16-31 (Hawkins’ overall record) is still 16-31.

Brooks: Patience (And More) Link Simas, Clemons - CUBuffs.com

Markques Simas has learned the value of patience; Toney Clemons still is discovering it. There will come a time - spring practice first, then August camp, then the 2010 season - when they will be in the same huddle.

Buffs QB Hansen gets an eyeful of big hit on OSU's Robinson - The Denver Post

3. Can the Buffs avoid costly penalties? Colorado is battling Big 12 colleague Texas Tech for last among the 120 major-college teams in most penalties. But at least Texas Tech, with a 6-4 record, can overcome some of them. When CU shoots itself in the foot, it needs a wheelchair.

Tulsa World: OSU football: Class act
OSU seniors, combining for 407 career starts, savor unprecedented success

Colorado says credit fraud behind hundreds of football ticket sales - KDVR

University of Colorado police say stolen credit card numbers were used to buy more than 110 tickets to the Buffaloes' season opener.

Monday Buff Bites: Bryce Givens Gets Start at Tackle, Guard Spots Undecided

irish1611 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:08:29 -0000

Givens to Start for CU - The Longmont Times-Call
A lot of good information in Patrick Ridgell's article this morning. Some surprising news to say the least regarding the offensive line. OT Bryce Givens will get the start back at right tackle after missing last week's game due to personal issues. One would initially think that Ryan Miller would move back this his guard spot but both guard positions are undecided according to the coaching staff. The only players slated to start against the Mountaineers right now are LT Nate Solder, RT Bryce Givens and C Mike Iltis:

Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said redshirt freshman right tackle Bryce Givens will start Thursday when the Buffs visit West Virginia. Givens missed CU’s 24-0 defeat of Wyoming on Sept. 19 and some practices prior to the game due to "personal issues," according to offensive line coach Denver Johnson. Givens, who started the first two games of 2009, was not available for interviews following Sunday’s practice, according to CU’s sports information department. Kiesau said Givens shows no ill effects from the time he spent away. "He’s fine, doing good," Kiesau said. Kiesau said Mike Iltis will start at center and Nate Solder at left tackle, as usual. He said the guard positions remain undecided. "We’re going to move some guys around," Kiesau said. "Not necessarily because someone did bad, but just to get some guys in and get some fresh faces in there and create some competition, especially inside. It’s the same nucleus inside, we’re just moving them around." Ryan Miller started the first two games at right guard before moving to tackle in Givens’ absence. Johnson said last week Ethan Adkins, Matt Bahr and Blake Behrensare in the mix at guard, as well. Adkins started the season’s first three games at left guard. CU did not release a depth chart Sunday.

If you go to the percentage grades released on the Colorado Buffs website for offensive lineman, guards Ryan Miller and Ethan Adkins have been the worst performers of the five offensive linemen who started the year. Miller's high grade is 82% and Adkins high grade is 79%, both against an undersized Toledo defensive front.

This will be interesting to see who starts Thursday night. Nothing wrong with a little competition or a wake up call. It looks like Givens earned his spot back and now the guards will have to battle it out this week in practice. This is a good thing from my point of view. It increases practice intensity which results in a more focused unit. Hopefully, Adkins and Miller earn their spots back because their is familiarity between the group with those players.

Kiesau said "we will see" in regards to RB Darrell Scott being "sharp" for the West Virginia game but Scott is supposedly healthy and ready to play. Dan Hawkins said "we will see" about when freshman DE Nick Kasa will see action.

Brown brings balance to West Virginia offense - Boulder Daily Camera
You are going to hear a lot this week about how West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown brings a better passing game to the Mountaineers compared to Pat White. At the same time, though, Brown's decision making has been questionable in the early going of the season:

Entering this weekend's action, West Virginia ranked 116th nationally and last in the Big East in turnover margin (-7). Bill Stewart said after the loss in Auburn that his offense would continue to play aggressively with Brown breaking the huddle.

West Virginia: Brown should be fine by Thursday
West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown suffered a shoulder bruise in the fourthquarter of last week's loss to Auburn. He would have been questionable to play against Colorado if the game was last Saturday but with five extra days off, Brown is expected to start. The injury is on his non-throwing shoulder but if they get to Brown, it may only take one hit to re-aggravate it. Just more incentive for the defense to get after it again this Thursday. Also:

The nationally televised game (ESPN) Thursday night has been declared a "Gold Rush" for which fans are being asked to wear gold shirts.

CU cornerback Brown to square off against hot WVU receiver - The Denver Post
As mentioned above, West Virginia's now has a passing attack and the leading receiver is Jock Sanders who is ranked third nationally in receptions per game at 9.67. If you remember correctly, Toledo WR Eric Page torched the Buffs in week two from the slot position. If Colorado is going to pull of a major upset, the Buffs will need to account for Sanders and the middle of the field.

Brooks: Defense Up For Mountaineer Challenge - CUBuffs.com

"If you ask him, he'll probably say, 'I don't want to be Pat White.' He's a whole different animal," Burton said of West Virginia QB Jarret Brown. "Pat White was athletic and they had a whole lot of plays designed for him to run. It's no different now, but (Brown) is definitely a passer. The guy can use his arm or his feet; he's a football savvy guy when you watch his film."

But there are times when Brown appears not-so-savvy. During spring drills in Morgantown, coach Bill Stewart told reporters, "One scrimmage . . . I went over to him and told him, 'Youmake one more throw like that and you will never quarterback this football team . . . "He wants to make every play, but sometimes you have to learn to retreat. There is nothing wrong with a punt. Whenever I was an offensive coordinator in high school, college and the pros, I said, 'You've got to protect this football.'

Woelk: Expectations, reality don't always mesh at Colorado - Buffzone
I responded to this article in yesterday's post in case anyone wants to know my take. In a nut shell, no one is expecting the University of Colorado to field a top 10 team but the Buffs should be respectable on the field, go to bowl games and have winning records. That isn't to much to ask. The article feeds into the current administration's propensity to look at the negatives and provide excuses for them. Certainly there are obstacles and no one said it was going to be easy, it isn't easy for any school and frankly, that is why you get paid $1.0 million+ a year. I am tired of the excuses and I am tired of seeing teams in our region like Missouri, Kansas, Houston, Boise State, Utah, BYU and even Colorado State the last few years, who have similar obstacles in recruiting and athletic budgets outperform the University of Colorado.

Buffs wage battle with attrition - The Longmont Times-Call
Patrick Ridgell of the LongmontTimes has an interesting article on recruiting and the attrition that goes along with it. He takes a deep look at Hawkins' 2007 class and looks at what players are still on the team.

more links after the jump...

Double-T nation Daily Diatribe :: 09.28.09 - Double-T Nation
Some interesting things are brewing in Lubbock after their loss to Houston. OL Brandon Carter has been suspended indefinitely and LB Marlon Williams had a nice message to Mike Leach via twitter that should make for some nice discussion over on Doube-T Nation today.

Big 12 power rankings: Week 5 - College Football Nation - ESPN

12. Colorado: The Buffaloes got the week off before a tough trip to West Virginia, which still remembers the Mountaineers'tough loss in Boulder last season. Rodney Stewart was the key in that triumph with a career-best 166 yards. He likely will be called on again against a tougher West Virginia run defense that ranks No. 14 nationally. Defensive improvement will be key this week for the Buffaloes as they gear up for a challenging West Virginia team led by multi-purpose quarterback Jarrett Brown and Jock Sanders, who ranks third nationally in receptions per game.

Hawkins aims to get Buffs to scholarship limit - Boulder Daily Camera

The Colorado football program has been operating well under the maximum allowable scholarship limit for major college programs for years now. But it`s inching its way back to fully loaded status -- 85 scholarships in any one season -- and might actually reach it on signing day in February. Coach Dan Hawkins said he plans to sign 21 players during the 2010 recruiting cycle. He has seven known commitments now, which means the next four months should be a lively time for CU recruiting junkies and the Web sites that follow the game behind the game.

MBB - Aussie Harris-Tunks aims to fill CU Buffs' void at center - Boulder Daily Camera

"He`s got good size. He`s an excellent defender. He`s intelligent and he passes well," is how Bzdelik describes his freshman big man. "He can score a little bit, too."Harris-Tunks is a product of the Australian Institute of Sport and has international playing experience as a member of Australia`s under-19 squad. He also visited Gonzaga and Vanderbilt before committing to CU last year.

Buffs quick to imitate W. Va. stars - The Denver Post

On the scout team, the freshman tailback from Denver East imitates West Virginia's electrifying runner, Noel Devine, so the CU defense will have some idea of what to expect Thursday night at Morgantown. Colorado coaches say it's impossible to replicate the speed of West Virginia, led by Devine and quarterback Jarrett Brown. But the 5-foot-8, 190-pound Hildreth is doing his part by impersonating Devine. CU wide receiver Toney Clemons has the task of mimicking Brown. Hildreth, an invited walk-on, is redshirting this season. Clemons, a junior, must sit out this season under NCAA transfer rules after leaving Michigan.

Practicegate: Allegations, Agendas and the Michigan Football Fanbase Doesn't Trust What It Reads

Maize n Brew Dave — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:16:04 -0000

You've read the article. Chances are, you've read most of the responses, too (Freep Reactions, Practical Matters, Mike Forcier and Mike Schofield, Toney Clemons and countable hours, and Stop bringing up Andrew Maxwell). On the off chance that if you've missed anything, here it is in summary. Mike Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has alleged, on the basis of several anonymous sources and players, that the University of Michigan under Rich Rodriguez intentionally violated NCAA practice rules, vastly exceeding the allowable mandatory practice time for student athletes. As you can imagine when allegations of this magnitude are leveled against a program with a fanbase the size of Michigan's, reaction was strong (see above). Perhaps the best summation of reactions by the Michigan faithful has been penned by Shawn Windsor of the Free Press, which I highly encourage you to read because of its objectivity. But Here at Maize n Brew, we're not happy. As much as we'd like to, we're not going to descend into name calling or insults. But we are going to make a short statement on this before we move on.

At best, Rosenberg's article is a superficial, one-sided take on how much time players are putting in during off and in season workouts. And even at it's best, the article is openly hostile toward Rodriguez and the Michigan Football team. At its worst, it's as if someone took out a hit on the program and the Free Press answered the call. It contains quotes and nameless allegations that cannot be verified independently. It says it interviewd 10 players, but only sites six of those players that apparently agreed with Rosenberg's thesis. It implies, without support, that Rodriguez and Barwis have been violating NCAA rules since they were at West Virginia. It does not contain a single quote from a current player supporting the program, even though two competing papers had them within 24 hours of the article's publication

This was a piece not designed to inform or persuade. It was a piece designed to take someone out.

(more after the jump...)

I'd be lying if I said there wasn't resentment and anger about the Free Press article. SCM was and is livid about this. When I first read the piece, I was so mad that I went all lawyer on it, taking it apart word by word. Beauford took the level headed approach, but is seething about portions of the article.

That said, all three of us agree on one thing: if there are NCAA violations, we want them stopped and punishment doled out. If something's wrong, we want to know. We don't want to bury our head in the sand and wake up one morning to find out that all of sudden Michigan has become the Oklahoma of the Mid-80's. This is Michigan after all.

But this is all smoke and no fire. There is no examination of what the alleged broken rules actually say. No examination of previous violations to give us an idea of what constitutes breaking the rules. There's nothing to support the contention that Rodriguez and his staff have been intentionally and knowingly been doubling or tripling the mandatory workout allowances since he was a coach at West Virginia. You'd think an opponent might have pointed that out before Rosenberg "stumbled" across it. But that's just window dressing.

What troubles me the most is that the article routinely takes the quotes of Michigan players out of context to support its flimsy contention. The fact that the quotes of Brandin Hawthorne and Je'Ron Stokes were taken out of context and manipulated to imply that they supported Rosenberg's contention is inexcusable. Manipulating the words of two 18 year-old kids who were not asked about voluntary or involuntary workouts, but were excitedly answering questions about their transition to the college level, is beyond reprehensible. The article takes quotes from Terrence Taylor in 2008 who was bragging about the work the team had put in preparing for a game, and twists them to imply the team broke rules. There isn't a single named quote in the article that isn't taken out of context. Frankly, this article was as dishonest a piece as I've read in a long, long time. This was exactly what the Ann Arbor News did with their "academic scandal" series. And this is the exact same reaction.

To me, the allegations leveled by the Free Press go against everything I've seen, heard, and know about the program that Rich Rodriguez is building. Maybe we've been duped. We're not so proud as to say it's not a possibility. But there's also the possibility that the Titanic will rise from the sea floor and make port in New York a century after its scheduled arrival time. Rodriguez knows the rules. Rodriguez has been doing this for 25 years. He's a Trustee of the American Football Coaches Association. Michigan's compliance office was present at off-season camps and training sessions, sometimes unannounced. As Rodriguez said at his press conference this morning, "I didn't leave my brains behind when I came to Michigan."

I've met Rodriguez. Sat with him. Talked with him. Both as press and as Alumni. He's a good guy. He cares about his players. He cares about doing things the right way. The results are there if you care to look. The allegation in the Free Press Article that players were being called out of class to attend practice, is contrary to the fact the team posted it's highest GPA ever last season. It's hard to succeed academically if you're not in class.

There is the potential that we could be shooting the messenger here. I won't deny that. But when the messenger sets your house on fire then pees on your foot, it's hard to take what he says at face value.

Unfortunately what this comes down to is that this story is not a referendum on Rodriguez, it's a referendum on opinion columnists such as Rosenberg. Put bluntly, people do not trust columnists anymore. We're tired of the personal agendas. We're tired of every columnists seeming desire to be the next Woodward or Bernstein. We're tired of the vendettas. But we keep getting more of the same. And that's why we don't trust them anymore.

Had this piece been even keeled, named names, contained even a single quote contrary to Rosenberg's thesis, and examined what the NCAA actually means be "voluntary", perhaps our reaction would not have been so resoundingly negative toward the paper. If you have critical information on potential violations, don't bury it under layers of resentment and innuendo. Give us honesty. Give us analysis. Give us both sides of the argument and think enough of us to allow us to come to the proper conclusion. Pieces like this are why we do not trust sports columnists when they do their investigations.

Perhaps the best article on the whole subject was penned by Jonathan Chait at The Wolverine. Mr. Chait is the senior editor of the New Republic Magazine.

In an article like the one he wrote, the readers have to place a lot of trust in the author. We have to trust that he interviewed the sources fairly, and didn't solicit answers that confirmed his prejudices. We have to trust that he granted his sources anonymity for good reason - not because they had an axe to grind. And we have to trust that he looked for evidence to undermine his thesis, and if it didn't appear in his article, it's because none could be found.

Rosenberg, with his deep connections to the anti-Rodriguez community, would be a good source of leads for an enterprising reporter to follow up on. Letting him write and report the article himself is journalistic malpractice.

This is why Rosenberg's article matters. Not because Rosenberg found something potentially violating NCAA rules. It matters because for sports columns to survive, let alone be relevant, pieces like this must cease. They should never see print if they are this one sided, this incomplete. The word "trust" appears over and over again in Chait's piece, and it is the one thing we just can't do when article's like this routinely find their way into print.

Saturday Morning Buff Bites - Andre Simmons Still Not Seeing the Field

Jon Woods — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:00:20 -0000

Brooks: Simmons Still On Hold - CUBuffs.com
Apparently it isn't just the transcript that is keeping Simmons off the field... Maybe it would be best if we set our expectations low to keep from getting disappointed.

But director of academics Kris Livingston said CU not having the transcript from his junior college is not the issue keeping Simmons sidelined. She could not discuss the matter further, citing Simmons' FERPA rights.

The Buffzone Blog - Rodney Stewart said he is not …
Rodney Stewart says that he wasn't injured during yesterday's scrimmage, he was just suffering some cramp issues.

CU football's offense holding back on breaking out - The Denver Post
For the only scrimmage of August drills that will be open to the public, the offense wasn't about to show any trick plays or new formations. Junior quarterback Cody Hawkins called the offense "vanilla." "A lot of our offense is installed, but we maybe ran 5 percent of it," Cody Hawkins said. "We didn't do anything today. We didn't do any of what we've been doing in practice. We have a lot of stuff we didn't want to show anybody else."

Buffs feel they have what it takes to win again -- chicagotribune.com
That "10 wins and no excuses" off season comment by University of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins? He said it wasn't a guarantee but an expectation, a holy grail for his talented but untested troops to shoot for.

Hawkins hands-on with CU wide receivers : Boulder Daily Camera
Sounds like Coach Hawk is getting down and dirty with the receiving core. Let's hope he can squeeze every last bit of production out of that group.

"Kiesau might be more of a disciplinarian at times. Hawk is more of a love 'em up type of guy," junior receiver Scotty McKnight said. "Especially with the young guys coming in and not having a lot of veterans, that's huge. Because these guys come out here for camp and practice 20 days in a row and they're like, 'What's going on?' "Coach Hawkins has been very patient and he's a players' coach and those guys know that going in. He's going to work with you and help you. And if you make a mental mistake he's going to take responsibility and say that's on him." Toney Clemons, a transfer from Michigan, said being coached by Hawkins is a breath of fresh air after what he experienced last season when Rich Rodriguez and his staff took over the program in Ann Arbor. "I was in a situation that wasn't as positive, and the negative can really mess with your psyche," said Clemons, who is practicing but must sit out the season per NCAA transfer rules. "When it's positive, it keeps you focused and lets you bounce back from bad plays because you know you have a coach that's not going to rip you about stuff. He's going to coach you before he cusses you out. You get a lot more confidence from that."

CU's Jefferson catching on quickly : Boulder Daily Camera
More solid feedback on Will Jefferson's first few weeks with the Buffs.

"The guy is very smart. He's very intelligent," Kiesau said. "He studies. He takes time. He doesn't go goof around and play Xbox all night. He sits there with the playbook and takes notes."

Brooks: Lights, Camera ... Lockridge - CUBuffs.com
Lockridge the model? This is pretty funny, but I'm sure the NCAA would find a way to make sure he couldn't make any money.

Burney's CU blog nixed after only one submission - Big 12 - ESPN
This is a very strange story that I haven't heard discussed anywhere else. Apparently Ben Burney was to write a blog for cubuffs.com but it was canceled after his first edition.

His introduction began with a description of him waking early Thursday morning next to a woman in his bed, and graduated to mention his libido as he commented that reporting day for players is actually viewed as the end of fun times and freedom.

Utah's quarterback derby takes a surprisingly fresh turn - Dr. Saturday
Matt Hinton gives his take on the Jordan Wynn at Utah announcement.

Coaches vote CU soccer third in Big 12 : Boulder Daily Camera
The Colorado women's soccer team was picked to finish third in the Big 12 Conference by the league's head coaches and two Buffs made the preseason All-Big 12 team on Thursday.

Colorado tabbed 10th in Big 12 volleyball poll : CU Sports : Boulder Daily Camera
In her first year at Colorado, volleyball coach Liz Kritza will have something to prove as her Buffaloes were picked 10th in the preseason volleyball poll.

Thoughts on the Buffaloes Scrimmage

Jon Woods — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:45:32 -0000

Both Irish and I are going to pretty hard pressed to make much of fall practice this season. Luckily BuffFiend87 was there taking in the action and was kind enough (thank you!) to send over some observations. Remember, if any of you go to some practices/scrimmages make sure and throw your thoughts into a fanpost and we will do our best to promote the work to the front page.

Overall

Defense looks good, particularly in the secondary and LB's. The defensive line needs some work but there is potential. If the Dline can play a little better than expected, I actually think we may have one of the best defenses in the Big 12. The offense and kicking game were concerning. Continued issues throwing down field, not much action from Ussery, Darden or the TEs. Far too many 2-4 yd. passes to the sideline like we've been seeing for years. Running game looks very good, hopefully the passing game can catch up. Kicking, punting, anything special teams related is a big problem area. I'm praying everything comes together on special teams behind closed doors over the next couple of weeks. One bright spot is that there is plenty of speed from Lockridge and other RBs to return kicks and Espinoza is solid at PR.

Quarterbacks

Cody is the clear starter. When he gets some time, he can make good throws. But there were plenty of times the passing game looked all too familiar to the last couple of years i.e. many incompletions (whether by dropped pass or bad throw) down field and too many screens and short throws. Hansen is such a great runner but he still struggles to go through progressions and make a throw. A little bit inaccurate as well but much improved from last year. If he can continue to mature as a passer he could become an extremely dangerous QB as a junior or senior. I was anxiously awaiting the opportunity to see Clark Evans. He's going to be a project. I hear he played shotgun in college so he looked a little awkward behind center. If he plays at any critical moments this year, we will be in trouble. He certainly looks a little raw but it's very early in practice for him. But he's tall and agile and I noticed he got better as the practice went on. The walk ons were pretty impressive. Seth Lobato looks good. He's big and has zip on his passes. Slota looks like more of a project and he may be moved to another position but I was still pretty impressed.

Running Backs

Scott looks awesome. He nearly got killed trying to hurdle over a LB and fumbled the ball. I don't know if the hurdle is quite as easy in college. Stewart looked good but then he looked like he hurt his hamstring and was slow for awhile before retiring to the bench. Sumler looks good and may be faster than last year. Lockridge is extremely fast and looks healthy. He should be good catching balls out of the backfield. The walk on from Denver east showed some promise and got a lot of PT.

Wide Receivers

Toney Clemons looked like our best WR. Too bad we won't have him this year. I didn't even see Simmons on the sideline! I am getting veryyyyy nervous that he's never going to play for CU.. This paperwork issue seems a little sketchy to me. Simas should be solid but I tried not to watch him too much since he won't be on the field until at least game 3. McKnight will be solid as usual but we look really small otherwise. Darden and Ussery didn't get much PT today. Darden almost made a long catch and both look big and fast so hopefully they're still learning and will get some more PT in the next couple of weeks.

Offensive Line

Beasts. The first team looked excellent and gave the QBs plenty of protection and show great potential on running plays. They are fast and agile yet gigantic. Solder and Miller look great out there. There were some problems with the snap, particularly in shotgun. Hopefully that will be mitigated. The second team OL got pretty much dominated by the second team defense. I don't know if the guys were tired or what but toward the end it got pretty sloppy.

Tight Ends

Where are they? I keep dreaming of a return to the Christian Forea, Matt Lepsis, Daniel Graham, Q Stpynewski, etc. era when the TEs were a bigger part of the offense. Maybe I missed it but I didn't see many catches or pass attempts to the TEs over the middle. We have talent and depth at the position so I hope I just missed something. Thornton got some PT and made a couple of excellent catches.

Kickers/Punters

Inconsistency is the word. I'm confident that Goodman can make 3/4 of kicks from 40 yards or less. Beyond that I'm thinking 1/3 or so. DiLallo didn't look great at P. Grossnickle was played a lot at P and struggled but he showed some potential at K. I'm not sure he's a better option than Goodman right now. The other kicker (James Davis?) only kicked off a couple of times. Not great protection during FG attempts but solid kick return coverage.

Defensive Line

They're definetely the "weak link" on defense but there's a lot of promise. Herrod is big and fast. Goree is huge. Kasa (pronounced Kay-suh I learned today so say it correctly so you don't get made of by your friends like me) and Bonsu (ed. note - Allen representing) looked good. Kasa is enormous along with Miller and Solder as the biggest looking players out there. I think Kasa will get a lot of PT this year and should start by next year at the latest.

Linebackers

So much talent at this position! Everybody looks good. Burton should be awesome. It was great to finally see Rippy in person. He looks as good as advertised. I hope they can really carry the DL for awhile and be difference makers in stopping the run.

Secondary

They look solid. It was hard to gauge though because the offense isn't capable of many pass attempts down the field so it's hard to know how they will fare against pass happy spread teams. but they're big, fast and seem organized. The young guys (Mahnke, Orms, etc.) look like they're full of potential.

Finally, Will Jefferson actually got some PT and made a couple of catches today. He looks pretty good out there for being so new to the program. Dustin Ebner and Espinoza got a lot of PT with the first team offense. I don't know who #33 is (maybe a FB?) but he kind of reminded me of Brandon Drumm - big, bruising blocker with nice hands out of the backfield.

- BuffFiend87

Monday Buff Bites - Hot Seats, Experience Talk, Storylines...Football Season is Getting Closer

irish1611 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:23:35 -0000

Orlando Sentinel - Phil Steele's NEW AND IMPROVED Experience Chart by Phil Steele
Phil Steele's most recent chart looking at experience returning for 2009 has some bad news for Missouri and Nebraska. Missouri, based on Steele's combination of senior experience, returning offensive yards, returning letter winner, % of tackles returning and career offensive line starts, has the least "experience" returning in all of college football. Yes, that is out of 120 teams. Nebraska also ranked 112th, so they aren't much better. This is all good news for the Buffs, who shouldn't be bragging as they ranked 60th in the nation in Steele's returning experience equation but Kansas State, Missouri and Nebraska all had less returning experience from the North. Kansas ranks 53rd and Iowa State 25th.

Bruce Feldman on the top 10 college football storylines for Media Week (07/27/09) - ESPN
Is Coach Hawk and the Buffaloes one of this week's biggest stories? Bruce Feldman tends to think so...

10. Hawk Love or Hawk Heat? Almost everyone who spends time around Colorado coach Dan Hawkins becomes a believer. (Hawkins' son, CU QB Cody Hawkins, is equally affable.) The elder Hawkins, who recently had a medical scare dealing with complications from kidney stones, hasn't been shy about boosting expectations, talking about winning 10 games this season, doubling the win total from last year in a conference that might be stronger than it was a year ago. The pressure is on, as you can tell from this Q&A with B.G. Brooks. The good news? One-time blue-chipper Darrell Scott, the nation's top RB recruit two years ago, is ready for a breakout season, Cody Hawkins says. Scott was overshadowed last year by unheralded frosh RB Speedy Stewart as Scott played through some injuries and struggled with conditioning issues. Now Scott is healthy, leaner and stronger, and might be primed for a 1,500-yard season and carrying his coach's team to those 10 wins.

Buffs still short on scholarship players | The Buffzone Blog
Kyle Ringo did something we have done in the past couple of weeks breaking down the number of scholarship players. Right now, the active scholarship total for the Buffs in 2009 will be 63 assuming that 10 freshman won't play this year. Currently 73 players are on scholarship not including Josh Moten, Sione Tau, Toney Clemons, Shaun Simon and Edward Nuckols. If your keeping track at home, that is 12 scholarships below the allowable amount, 7 if you can't the current inactives. The best news of the day is that the Buffs are being proactive, taking a self enforced penalty for their NCAA APR performance, something that we have hoped would happen since they have scholarship wiggle room this season:

Coach Dan Hawkins is also taking a scholarship penalty this year for poor performance under the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate system. That penalty could be as many as five scholarships. Basically it means that CU could have signed more players than it did in February, if not for the penalty.

There are 73 active scholarship players and 15 of them are true freshmen. It’s safe to assume about 10 of those players won’t play at all this season, which takes the number of active scholarship players down to 63. That’s not a horrible number, but it does mean CU really needs to avoid the injury plague that killed it last season.

A lot more links after the jump...

Orlando Sentinel - Phil Steele's Coaches on the Hot Seat
Phil Steele puts Coach Hawk at number 4 of coaches on the "hot seat". That's way too high as I think we all agree that it would take a complete failure of a season for Dan to be going anywhere, like 2 or 3 wins failure.

4. Dan Hawkins – Colorado – CU fans were happy with the hire of a successful coach but the first 3 years have produced 3 losing records. They did get to a bowl in 2007 but when they lost the Independence Bowl they dropped to 6-7. Last year Nebraska needed a 57 yard FG at the end of the game to keep CU from 6-6 and a 2nd straight bowl. Hawkins has said 10 wins, no excuses. I do see 8 wins for CU and I see him escaping the hot seat.

Analyzing Michigan's transfers (and dismissals) since Rich Rodriguez came to town - The Diag
The more and more I read about Clemons, the more pumped I am about the guy and player the Buffs got. Even Michigan fans don't want to rip him for transferring. I just wish we had him in 2009.

Toney Clemons: I was always a Clemons fan, especially when I realized that he was Terrelle Pryor's cousin (ca-ching, ca-ching). But everyone knows how that turned out. Clemons went out with class, and you can't fault him for wanting to be a big time guy in a pro-style offense. Matthews is still the pro-style guy trying to succeed in the spread offense, so that role is taken. But having Clemons couldn't have hurt, especially when RichRod has five or so wideouts on the field at a time.

List of top party schools by Princeton Review | The Courier-Journal
The Princeton Review has released it's annual list of the top party school in the nation and the Buffs come in at 11, second in the Big 12. I, for one, am damn proud...

The State of the Big 12: When will the North rise again? - Dr. Saturday
The great CFB Blog Dr Saturday is starting it's Big 12 week with a post about the South's dissonance of the North over the past few years. The site will have a ton of stories on our favorite conference this week so check back often.

Who’s the boss in mysterious North? - ColumbiaTribune.com
The Columbia Tribune looks at 12 or so questions in the Big 12 for 2009

6. Thin ice in Boulder: Entering his fourth season at Colorado, Dan Hawkins told reporters he expects to win 10 games this fall — a bold statement considering CU has won just 13 under Hawkins the last three seasons. The North appears ripe for the taking, but the Buffs don’t figure to come close to 10 wins as long as their quarterbacks are completing 56 percent of their passes, as co-QBs Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen did last season. CU has no excuse not to reach a bowl game, but if Hawkins’ team struggles again, will his blustering days be done in Boulder?

11. Darrell Scott, take two: He was widely considered the crown jewel of Colorado’s 2008 recruiting class, perhaps the biggest-ever catch for the Buffs. But injuries and offensive line issues contributed to a dud of a debut season for Darrell Scott last season. He logged just 87 carries and produced only 364 yards and a touchdown, getting eight or fewer carries in seven of CU’s 12 games. Scott had just six runs of 10 yards or more. It won’t take much to eclipse last year’s production, but will Scott ever live up to the expectations that followed his celebrated recruitment?

Tulsa World: Twelve questions for the Big 12
The Tulsa World does something similar to the Columbia Tribune:

9. Will Colorado finally get going under Dan Hawkins? They'd better. Hawkins' motto this season is "Ten wins and no excuses." This is a team that went 5-7 overall and 2-6 in league play and now, apparently, has uncertainty at quarterback. Buff fans won't rest over another underachieving season.

Saturday Buff Bites - It's Been More Bearish, Less Bullish For the Buffs This Week

irish1611 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:41:35 -0000

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Offseasons definitely have their ups and downs and the 2009 one is no exception. The highlights have included signing Nick Kasa and 18 other future Buffs, receiving the pledge of former Michigan wide receiver Toney Clemons for the 2010 season, learning wide receiver Andre Simmons is progressing nicely in summer school and has a shot to be eligible, and staying relatively healthy across the board (my apologies to Max Tuioti-Mariner who suffered his third ACL tear - file under the low lights category). Optimism also formed around the additions of offensive line coach Denver Johnson (and his possible connections to Texas recruiting although that might take a year or two to bear fruit) and offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau who has been given the keys to the 95th ranked offense from a year ago. Everyone likes Kiesau now and everyone will love him if he can limit the number of end-around play calls and get the ball into the end zone, something the Buffs have done very little of the last three years.

But like any college program and especially for the Buffs in recent years, the offseason always has its challenges. The official Big 12 sports site has a cool piece up where the media ranked the top 10 games from 2008. At #10 was Colorado vs. West Virginia. Sign up for an account and you can watch the game. Check out the first two drives against West Virginia. I think former Colorado wide receiver Josh Smith touched the ball ten times. Then in the second half, he was on the bench, for any number of reasons that never made sense to me last year, but the guy had the potential. Not to go down that worm hole again of how big a loss you thought Josh Smith was but losing TE Ryan Wallace, WR Chance Blackmon, OL Devin Head, QB Matt Ballenger and Smith this offseason were definitely some of those tough moments. Missing out on potential wide receiver commits Markish Jones, Emory Blake and Diante Jackson at the time were downers. The Buffs also had turnover in the coaching staff with offensive line coach Jeff Grimes going to Auburn and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich to Oregon. Although, seen as a net positive in most minds as to who we got out of the deal in Johnson and Kiesau, change is stressful and unknown.

I am sure I am forgetting some other negatives and positives but you get the point. Yesterday, we received some more troubling news that in addition to 2009 commit OL Shaun Simon not qualifying academically for the upcoming season, heralded commit DT Edward Nuckols has also been deemed ineligible for next season. Who knows if Edward will re-up with the Buffs in 2010 after gray shirting (a nice term for sitting at home, not working out with teammates in Boulder) but we do know he won't be helping the defensive line in '09, something many felt he could do from day one. Let's face it, we were bound for letdown anyway if we expected Nuckols to be all-world as a freshman and anchor the defensive line. No freshman should be counted on as a "big piece" to the puzzle and in most people's minds, he had the potential to be a big piece.

No more for Nuckols. At least for 2009. 2010, we will see. Pouring salt on an open would be if WR Andre Simmons doesn't qualify. Once again, it is troubling to have to rely on the unknown and project greatness on the field the first week against Colorado State but that is what we wanted to believe with both Simmons and Nuckols. It would be bad cap to the offseason if Simmons is told "sorry, come back next year." Again, though, the problems at wide receiver and defensive line should have been addressed in 2007 and 2008, not counted on in 2009 but as fans, it's easy to believe the unknown "highly ranked by stars" player will transition those stars on the field and go for 10 sacks and 1,000 yards receiving in year one.

Then, here comes the preseason predictions. Yes, my grandma can give a preseason prediction and because of that, their is no merit to any of this hoopla that has been sweeping the papers. But it would be nice for a little more optimism going into the season. With the exception of Phil Steele who has been called "insane" by about every Kansas Jayhawks' fan for picking them fourth in the Big 12 North (the Buffs were picked second in a tie with Kansas State, making Missouri fifth), the general consensus is Colorado will be on the bottom side of the North, a fourth place finish has been deemed. Not that it was a surprise, it's just when you look at it all on paper, this should be the Buffs year to show results. Missouri and Nebraska return the fewest starters of any team in the Big 12. They are both breaking in new quarterbacks and have holes to fill on both sides of the ball. Kansas has the gauntlet schedule. On the flip side, Colorado has it's easiest non-conference schedule in years and it's easiest for the foreseeable future. They play Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas at home in Folsom with revenge on the mind in all three: they could have beat Kansas last year, should have beat Nebraska and Missouri has used the Buffs as a stat padding game the last two years but now have to reload and look a little more vulnerable.

But not many are buying what our Buffs have to offer. I can see why based on past results, winning only twice on the road in the past three years (one legitimate against the Texas Tech Red Raiders), question marks at a few positions and an overall lack of flash, firepower, identifiable commodities like a Sam Bradford, Dez Bryant,etc. I am more bullish on Cody Hawkins than most, more bearish on the our issues at a position called play makers, wide receiver and defensive line.

Most think six wins, some think seven, plenty think five is more likely than eight and above. I have seen as low as three wins. Everyone is playing on the safe side with the Buffs and that pick is look at the past and project to the future...five to six wins. Vegas has Colorado pegged at 6.5 wins, I can't say I am drooling on either side of that line.

No one has ever won a national championship in the offseason or in the preseason media poll, every one is 0 - 0. That is the positive for the Buffs.

Stating the obvious, it's time to buck the mediocre trend that has become the expectation for Colorado outside the state of Colorado and it's fan base around the nation. This is the year to do it or is it? One can hope.

Tons of great Buff Bites after the jump including articles on why it is crazy to think Nebraska is back, how Cody Hawkins feels this upcoming season could be special, WR Terdema Ussery and WR Jarrod Darden impressing and why five years of eligibility makes sense.

Cody Hawkins feeling good about 2009 | The Buffzone Blog
Kyle Ringo had a chance to catch up with Cody Hawkins.

"So I’m excited about that. Finally, you know, when you take talent, depth and experience are really important to winning ball games, and any time you can put those three together, you’re going to have a chance to win. Last year we had a lot of talent, but, I mean, depth and experience are hard to find. This year I think we’re going to be in great shape and I’m excited about it.

Two FB Recruits' Enrollment Delayed - CUBuffs.com
Just in case you haven't read the article on Josh Moten and Edward Nuckols not making it through the clearing house yet and in Nuckols case, being deemed ineligible for the 2009 season. It looks like Moten might be okay but he cannot participate in offseason drills until the paperwork issues have been cleared up and has officially deemed eligible.

Brooks: Frosh WRs Eager, Able - CUBuffs.com
According to B.G. Brooks at cubuffs.com, true freshman wide receivers Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden have made a good impression on their teammates thus far in offseason camps, including Scotty McKnight who takes a shot at former Buff wide receivers when comparing them to the newbies:

"Both guys have really taken in trying to learn everything, unlike other receivers in the past. These guys are really kind of entrenched already, trying to get as much of the offense in as they can before camp. "Both of them look physically ready to be playing college football – big, strong, fast kids. The mental side usually is the toughest part, but it looks like both are taking it in stride – and we’re going to need them. Hopefully that keeps going through camp.

Hawkins Wins Accuracy Competition At Elite 11 Camp - CUBuffs.com
In some tough competition, Cody Hawkins won a pretty cool competition among quarterbacks at the Elite 11 Camp.

Media pick OU-UT tie and Nebraska to win Big 12 divisions - Big 12 - ESPN
As noted above the Buffs were picked fourth in the Big 12 North by the media.

2008 Greatest Games - Big 12 Conference
A great way to get you excited for the 2009 season is to watch the first couple of series against West Virginia. That was a good couple of minutes, going up 14 - 0 on the Mountaineers on our way to a week three victory.

Woelk: Important numbers for CU this year - Boulder Daily Camera
Neill Woelk thinks it is time for the Buffs to show results on the field, not just off the field. He also highlights a few important numbers for the 2009 season like selling out games, not losing contests by 20+ points and finding more season ticket holders.

These are the players that Big 12 teams can't afford to lose - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin of ESPN think LB Jeff Smart is a player the Buffs cannot afford to lose for the upcoming season:

Colorado: LB Jeff Smart. The Buffaloes could withstand the loss of a quarterback like Cody Hawkins or a running back like Darrell Scott because of the depth at those positions. But the Buffaloes would be hard-pressed to replace Smart, considering their lack of senior leadership on the defense.

With all due respect to Tim and Jeff, I think the Buffs have great depth at linebacker, enough to feel confident in a 3 - 4. There is even hints that Jeff Smart might be in a tough competition for a starting job due to the depth. It is a tough job to place a player under the category of "can't lose" for this team but I think better choices would have been either of our safeties (who else do we really have behind them that is ready - I don't think Ray Polk is ready), Ryan Miller, Cody Hawkins, Scotty McKnight probably would have been a better choice considering our lack of proven commodities at wide receiver.

Nebraska Isn't Back Yet | Campus Corner
Mike DeArmond of the Kansas City Star still thinks Nebraska has a ways to go before they should be considered the Big 12 North favorites. Here’s where I shake my head in wonder at anyone picking Nebraska over Missouri but over Kansas as well. The Cornhuskers have an inexperienced quarterback, lost just as much as Missouri on offense, don’t have a running back of the caliber of MU’s Derrick Washington. Shouting The Blackshirts Are Back! seems based more on the hope that Bo Pelini is a defensive genius rather than a first-year college head coach that was simply better than Bill Callahan.

Woelk: Five years of eligibility makes lots of sense : Top Stories : Boulder Daily Camera
I've always thought that moving to five years of eligibility was a good idea. More degrees, less confusion with medical redshirts. I'd love to see it happen. For the last couple of years, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has been trying to marshall support for a proposal that would give college football players a fifth year of eligibility.

Jaguars sign veteran defensive tackle, cut rookie tackle | Jacksonville.com
Former Buff DL George Hypolite was cut by the Jaguars.

The Jaguars also waived rookie defensive tackle George Hypolite, an undrafted rookie from Colorado who signed with the team following the April draft.

College Football Countdown: Nos. 51-55 - Washington Times

No. 54: COLORADO After three losing seasons, a 13-24 record and one bowl berth (an Independence Bowl loss to Alabama in 2007), just what has Dan Hawkins learned about coaching at Colorado? Well, it's Division I football. It's the Big 12. It ain't intramurals. Fun rants from coaches in the heartland aside, the Buffaloes should be better and could well be a sneaky division contender if they can survive a brutal early October stretch. The Buffaloes finally have some experience at quarterback. Their tailback tandem of Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott is superb. And they get Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri --- the three presumptive favorites in the Big 12 North --- in Boulder. If the defense gets better --- and not having to contend with Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas Tech for the second straight year won't hurt in that regard --- Colorado might just outdistance the mediocre prognostications it is receiving.

CU releases schedules for women's, men's hoops - Boulder Daily Camera
The Buffs basketball team has released its schedule for the upcoming season. It is highlighted by a trip to the Maui Invitational, with the big boys, and 11 conference games in all slated for television so far, including eight on Big 12 Network syndication, two on ESPNU and one on ESPN2.

Rams picked sixth in Mountain West | Out of Bounds
The Colorado St. Rams were picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West.

Boise State to the Mountain West? Perhaps - ESPN

When Did Linemen Turn Into Such Pansies and Other Thoughts on Wermers Departure From Michigan

Maize n Brew Dave — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:05:24 -0000

Scene: Departing Underachieving Lineman approached by reporter from Podunk newspaper

Que: Family values eroding meme

Sound: Sobbing

Lights: Spotlight the departing, disgruntled player as if he speaks for everyone on the team.

aaaaaaaaaaannd ACTION!

In the last two weeks Michigan has said goodbye to two sophomore linemen. Both linemen were buried on the depth chart and unlikely to see playing time before 2010. Both players were high-to-mid level recruits for offensive line. Both players didn't pan out. What's the difference between these departing players? One player left gracefully, quietly, with his mouth shut.

The other?

Yeah. Cue the "Days of our Lives" music.

"But it's not fair......"

Michigan is not unlike any other school. There are transfers. As it happens, quite a few this past year. But there are those who say the right things (Threet, Clemons, O'Neill, McGuffie) and those that don't (Wermers). When the first set of players departed, they stated the obvious, "I love the school. This is a business decision for me. I want a shot at the NFL. I'm not going to excel in this offense," or they said nothing at all. These players seemed to get "it."

"It" being that the last thing you say or do will be the thing you are remembered by. There is a great saying that I try to live by, "It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." I may not be as successful as I would like in following this, but it is a consideration before anything goes up on this site.

No matter what happened on the inside, to those external and internal, departing a program or job by taking pot shots leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouths. For the place you left, it makes them have to answer questions from people with no stake in the program. For you, it just makes you look bad. A whiner. A quitter. For the place you're going, it makes them wonder, "Is this kid going to put in the work or just try to skate by?" "Am I going to have to baby this kid?" Put bluntly, if you want a friendly, non-threatening group to hang out with, go to a church choir not a football team.

(The rant continues after the jump...)

Call me nuts, but football isn't a place where players shouldn't be coddled. It is an insanely violent sport where large men collide with one another at high velocity, and high intensity over and over again. And it's not just on Saturdays or Sundays. It's a full time job. To train your body to take that kind of physical punishment requires insane amounts of repetition, physical strength, desire, and pain tolerance. If you're going to put on a helmet, play at a BCS college level, get a free education, room and board, well, dammit, you'd better be up for that kind of a challenge.

Maybe football's changed? Maybe I'm on the outside looking in on a culture I only know through the periphery. I played hockey. I've got a plate and five screws still in my ankle. I've had more concussions than I currently have toes. Ripped up shoulders, knees... hell, my other ankle is worse than the one with the plate in it. But I still play. That stuff comes with the territory when you're going full-out in pads and the guy without the puck wants it back. It's a contact sport. A tough sport. So are the coaches. They yell. They scream. They drop the f-bomb here and there when you're not busting your ass the way everyone else is. But they also know if you half-ass it in practice, you'll probably half-ass it in a game and get yourself or someone else hurt; or, you're gonna make the mistake that costs your team the game.

But these same things happen in football. Hell, they happen in any other kind physically demanding enterprise. My brother was in the Airborne and looks back at his basic training days as some of the best and worst times of his life. The worst was the lack of sleep, the exhausting physical requirements, the constant stream of abuse. The best was the shared experience with his classmates/teammates. Pushing one another to be better, faster, stronger. To be the best. And those guys were and are family to him.

This applies to football too. I've met Rodriguez. I've heard his cornball jokes. I've talked with him. He legitimately cares about his players. His team is a part of his family. Further, his current and former players continually repeat that this team is a family. Even recruits are saying that.

"I was with Vladimir (Emilien)," CB Recruit Tony Grimes told Sam Webb. "That's my boy. He told me one difference (at Michigan) is once you get there, you are not just a piece of meat, you are a part of the family. That's something I can believe because he didn't play none of his senior year after he tore his ACL, but they didn't just cut him off. They kept his offer and he committed there. "

Rodriguez is not some foul-mouthed robot who tries to squeeze blood out of turnip. He's actually a lot like, wait for it, Lloyd and Bo.

Yes. You read that right.

While their methods might differ, Carr was not the patron saint of codling we might like to think of him as. For that matter neither was Bo. Ask anyone who played for either man. Carr threw transfer papers at players and could scream and sneer with the best of them. Watch any tribute to Bo and marvel at their impressions of the old coach including, "If I ever recruit a player like you again, shoot me in the head." Yeah. That's a reassuring statement to a young player. Know who did that impression? Jamie Morris. Both Carr and Bo motivated or alienated players through different methods, but they were harsh on their kids too. They pushed them hard and without yield. They knew that if they didn't push them, someone else wearing an opposing jersey would. Rodriguez understands that. And just like Carr and Bo he pushes these kids in the way that will make them better players and people.

All these things drew the players closer together, made them a family. These shared experiences. Helping one another be the best. Raising their friends up, supporting them. The flip side is, you have to want to do it. In the Airborne you can't hack it, you get sent to the infantry. On a hockey team, you don't put in the time and effort, you get cut. On an NCAA football team, you end up at the bottom of the depth chart. It's not like you can fire a scholarship athlete. When was the last time a non-Clemson coach yanked a scholarship? It doesn't happen. So they do what they can to motivate you to be your best or you find the door on your own.

But, and this is critical, you can't play favorites with someone who doesn't want to be there. You can't come down soft on a guy who is dogging it and then come down hard on your running back, just the same way it doesn't work in the reverse. College players must be treated equally. Favoritism breeds discontent, derision, cliques. You can't have a team if people are treated differently. You can't be a family if people aren't committed to one another. And it's clear Wermers wasn't.

"They were bringing in a lot of different kids that were not my kind of crowd."

Kurt, that's life. You adapt or you move on. You chose the latter. And I hope you find what's best for you. But if you're going to make a decision to leave something, in the future, do it with grace or silence.

Silence would be best.

More on the Newest Colorado Buffaloes' Commit, QB Nick Hirschman

irish1611 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:21:18 -0000

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Dan Hawkins and the CU football program have had a pretty good run the last eight days. In somewhat of a rarity for the Hawkins era during the dog days of summer, he has received verbal commitments from three players (Kyle Slavin, Mister Jones and Nick Hirschman) bringing the total to four this cycle, five if you include Michigan Wolverines transfer, Toney Clemons.

For a week, we now had a taste of what some other fan bases experience during the summer. Combine the fact that all of the newcomers are offensive players, with two being potential quarterbacks and a big time transfer in Toney Clemons, this class has been fun to analyze so far.

The most recent and second quarterback in the 2010 class is Nick Hirschman, who verbally commited to coach Eric Kiesau yesterday after receiving his first division one scholarship (also granted acceptance to Harvard to play football). Most Buff fans might read that and be skeptical of the offer considering national names like Austin Hinder and Brett Nottingham were being thrown around the internet as potential quarterbacks for Colorado. Fear not, I think the Buffs got a good player with strong upside.

Why do I say that? A couple reasons, all which lead me to believe that Hirschman is serious about playing at the next level and doing whatever it takes to be successful.

1) The kid is smart. He had the opportunity to play/go to school at Harvard and his sister attends Yale. At the most cerebral position on the football field, anyone who can attend Harvard gets an A+ in this category.

2) Hirschman is 6'3" 220 pounds similar in size to Clark Evans, a 2009 Buffs commit and Danny Spond, another 2010 quarterback commit. Yes, you can be a successful quarterback at 6'0" or 5'10" but size doesn't hurt. No one will mistake Hirschman for a running quarterback but he has games with success running the ball. He also plays in a pro-style offense, not a shotgun spread-based offense, which is the new fad across high school sports. He is used to taking normal 3 - 5 step drops, reading defenses in a progression and playing in a timing-based offense. That is a big plus right away as the Buffs are transitioning back to that style of offense in 2009:

The new pro-style offense that Kiesau has announced he will implement this year also made Hirschman's decision easier.

"I do like how I fit in their offense. They run my style, and I enjoy that," Hirschman said. "I'm just ready to get a playbook and go down there and compete for a spot. Their offense seems very similar to what we do in high school, we run a very sophisticated offense and it will prepare me for the next level."

ESPN.com also had a nice recap that should be music to our ears in CU's offensive transformation:

Hirschman is a pocket passer with prototypical size, bulk and arm strength. In an era of the spread offense and very quarterbacks having to work from under center, it is refreshing to see a guy work entirely from under center and possess sound footwork and excellent ball handling skills. He has a thick, sturdy build and is capable of standing in the face of the rush and delivering strikes.

More on why I am impressed with Hirschman after the jump...

3) He has made the commitment to work with a very successful quarterback's coach in Bob Johnson and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, modifying his throwing motion which, if you watch his junior tape, needed some work on becoming more fluid, getting the ball on a higher release plane and overall, shortening the motion to eliminate inconsistencies in his passing. Here is more information on Bob Johnson's "camp quarterback" located in Irvine, California about six hours from Los Gatos, California making Hirschman's desire to improve that much more impressive due to the distance he had to travel. Last year, Nick had a 59% completion percentage throwing for 2,191 yards. With his new throwing motion, many evaluators feel Hirschman is light years better and should expect the completion percentage to rise dramatically. Max Olson of Yahoo!Sports documenting Hirschman's development:

Nick Hirschman knows the junior year highlight tape he sent out to schools doesn’t do himself justice. This month, he’s setting out to prove it. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound pocket passer has improved dramatically under the tutelage of respected quarterbacks coach Bob Johnson.

...

"I’ve worked to change all my bad habits," he said. "Now that I have, I’m excited to show my skills off and show schools that what I am now is a whole lot better."

4) Because of this work ethic to not only become more mechanically sound but prepare himself physically for the next level, Hirschman has recently gained more notoriety along the recruiting trail at Elite 11 and Nike camps. UCLA, Tennessee, Oregon State, USC, Stanford, Oregon, Cal, Arizona State and Nebraska have all inquired about his services especially since he re-evaluated his throwing motion.

Even more impressive, when asked about the verbal of Colorado prep QB Danny Spond prior to his commitment, Hirschman, in a refreshing response, said:

"I don’t know what’s going on with that but I have no issue with it," he said. "I have no probably with going out and competing for a position. I’m really excited about going to Colorado and excited that they want me to go there."

Plus, it never hurts when you hear things like this from the "experts":

Colorado may have gotten one of the bigger steals in this class as Hirschman has terrific upside for the multiple set scheme Dan Hawkins employs. He has size, arm strength, accuracy and with further development could become a powerful passer from within the pocket. This is a kid that we were a bit surprised did not get more attention than he's gotten to this point, but that is Colorado's gain now.

Tell me you don't want this kid even more now.

Again, the work that Nick has put in to become a more successful quarterback shows his competitiveness and desire to be great. We hope to talk to Nick in the next couple of days but if I am a college coach and I see the changes he has made for the better and the time he has put in to better himself, you immediately make the connection that this kid will practice hard, study film with the best of them and live in the gym. Hirschman has definitely set the foundation for future development and getting better. The more and more I read and watch highlight videos, the more and more I like this pick up.

Here are a few more links on the newest Buff:

Section Sports - A New Brand of Los Gatos Football in 2008
Previewing the Los Gatos football team before the 2008 season, many had questions about how Hirschman would replace the graduating quarterback but current Buffalo Bills' quarterback and former Los Gatos star, Trent Edwards, validated Nick's ability:

6-foot-2, 210-pound junior Nick Hirschman will take the snaps this season and from his time under center in '07 and his performance this summer, he is already getting the same kind of attention that former Wildcat and current QB for the Buffalo Bills, Trent Edwards had received at Hirschman's age. In fact, Edwards himself told Coach Cattolico after watching Hirschman perform this summer, "This kid's really got it, coach." "That's a pretty big thing to hear," Cattolico said. "That's coming from an NFL guy." "He can drop back and throw the ball, but he can also run you over," Cattolico said of his junior QB.

Hirschman is one of 21 players at his position on the ESPNU 150 Watch List. Scout.com has him rated as the No. 60 quarterback (3 star), standing at 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He threw for 2,119 yards and 15 touchdowns, while completing 114 of 192 passes as a junior.

MaxPreps Sta ts - Nick Hirschman Los Gatos High School Stats for Football 08-09.
Passing: 114 - 192 / 2,191 yards / 168.5/game / 59.4% / 15 TDs / 5 INT / QB rating 114 / 10 - 3 record.
Rushing: 27 attempts, 136 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Punting: 45 punts for a 36 yard average.

Scout.com: Nick Hirschman Profile
Helped lead Los Gatos to the CIF-CCS Medium School Championship and was named Game MVP. All-DeAnza Division First Team.

For more on Nick's current high school team, check out this site dedicated to their football team.