SB Nation User Blog: irish1611

Fourth of July Buff Bites

irish1611 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:06:23 -0000

Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Rivals.com College Football - Rivals.com Preseason 120: No. 41 Colorado
In one of the higher rankings we have seen, rivals.com has slotted the Buffs at #41 in their annual countdown to #1. Same old story as most of the previews: good potential at offensive line, linebackers, running back and cornerback. Concern over quarterback, wide receiver and defensive line. Here was rivals' overall outlook:

Colorado appears equipped to finish in the upper half of the North Division. The biggest key is the rushing attack; if the Buffs can run effectively, it takes a ton of pressure off the quarterbacks, who – truth be told – don't engender that much confidence. If opposing defenses know Colorado must pass, the Buffs will be in trouble. But if the running game gets cranked up and the Buffs can use a lot of play-action, the offense will be fine. When Hawkins arrived from Boise State, much was made about his powerful offenses. Those powerful offenses haven't been seen in Boulder and this offense won't be all that powerful, either. But it definitely can be effective, and an effective offense gets the Buffs to seven or eight wins and into a bowl.

Hawk viewing: CU coach to open 10 practices to public : Top Stories : Boulder Daily Camera
In good news for everyone, Dan Hawkins and the CU coaching staff has agreed, tentatively, to allow fans watch the first ten practices of spring ball, a smart decision to get the fan base excited about the 2009 season as well as a get a first look at some players like Nick Kasa, Edward Nuckols, Andre Simmons, Terdema Ussery, Jarrod Darden, Jack Harris and Clark Evans to name a few.

If you remember correctly, Coach Hawkins became perturbed that he was being "scouted" by internet sites this spring so he shut down practices.

Colorado football fans will be allowed once again to watch their beloved Buffaloes during the first week — 10 practices total — of fall camp in August. Coach Dan Hawkins and his assistants have approved a tentative schedule that could still be adjusted in the next month leading up to the first practice on Aug. 7. It will allow fans an early look from the sidelines at the team, including approximately 30 newcomers.

Coaching rivalries put aside at All-Poly Camp
Brian Cabral took place in the annual All-Poly Camp in Hawaii as one of the coaches leading the three day camp. This camp to Cabral is more than just getting in quality recruiting time for the Colorado Buffaloes in a quality football state:

But since its inception eight years ago, with only eight coaches and about 40 athletes attending the inaugural event, the All-Poly Camp is not so much about "who will go to what college" but more about all of them continuing their education, period. "The bottom line is we want all of these kids to go to college," said Colorado associate head coach Brian Cabral, a former standout at Saint Louis School who played eight seasons in the NFL. "We'll pass names around, a lot of it is finding a place for all of them. Division I is not for everybody, but there can be a college for anybody ... We want them to leave this camp a better football player and understand the importance of academics."

Big 12 Football: What the experts are saying. | Upon Further Review
The Kansas City Star takes a look at the preseason magazines and where every has the Big 12 teams ranked. Kansas just can't get over the fact that Phil Steele has them outside the top 50 while Colorado is ranked ahead of them. On an aggregate level, the consensus for the Buffs is third in the North.

more CU links after the jump...

The Doc's All-Up-and-Coming Team: Offense - Dr. Saturday - Yahoo!Sports
Matt Hinton takes a stab at naming a team that is made up of sophomores and juniors that we should see emerge this year. Darrell Scott (honorable mention) and Ryan Miller were mentioned.

Running Through the Big 12 Runningbacks | Fantasy College Blitz
FantasyCollegeBlitz.com runs through the Big 12's top runningbacks going into the 2009 season. Darrell Scott has come in at #9 and Rodney Stewart at #15. They also mention that while they like Colorado's potential at runningback, the lack of playmakers on the outside causes concern on how productive the running game could be: "Colorado has talent at the RB position and a creative coach who can design plays to open up the field… but star receiver Josh Smith is transferring, and with him go the Buffs’ ability to stretch the field."

2009 Colorado Buffaloes Preview - AthlonSports.com
Althon looks at every position on the 2009 team and gives their take.

Fairview standout Bell mulls offer from Colorado - Boulder Daily Camera
Do-it-all Fairview senior Kenny Bell recently received a football scholarship offer from the hometown Colorado Buffaloes but right now, Colorado might not be on top of his list.

CU-South Carolina meet in No. 7 battle in Big 12-SEC series - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin continues on his mythical Big 12 vs. SEC series. The Buffs hold down the #7 spot in the Big 12, matched up against the #7 SEC team in South Carolina. Griffin picks Colorado to win the game because of the Buffs running game and the lack of playmakers on the defensive side for South Carolina. Griffin also hasn't bought into the offense for the Gamecocks.

The Ralphie Report Live: Interview With Buff Commit, QB Nick Hirschman

irish1611 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:19:48 -0000

Today, we had the great fortune of speaking with Nick Hirschman, quarterback from Los Gatos, California, who committed to the University of Colorado this past week. I couldn't have been more impressed with Nick. I have done many interviews with prospective Buffs and Nick knocked it out of the park. Coach Hawkins definitely seems to have gotten a kid who is very mature and has a great outlook on football & what he hopes to accomplish at the next level.

I couldn't have been more impressed about his desire to continue to improve in all aspects of his game as well as his "team-first" attitude.

I can't say enough about Nick, see for yourself below, and you will definitely be proud that he verbaled with the team you root for:

The Ralphie Report (TRR): Thanks for taking the time with us today Nick. I understand you were at a 7 on 7 passing camp yesterday, how did it turn out?

Nick Hirschman (NH): Really well. We won the team camp again, defending our title from a year ago, something that is always nice to do.

TRR: Great. Well as Buff fans, we are pumped to have your commitment. It looks like Colorado got you just in time as it seems your recruiting has taken off over the summer.

NH: I feel like I was lucky to go to a place like Colorado.

TRR: Well, it works out well for both of parties then.

TRR: So your junior year of high school, you throw for over 2,000 yards, lead your team to a 10 - 3 record and a section title championship. Things look to be going really well and you were obviously very successful. But then we read a few articles saying that you work with Bob Johnson and the Johnson family (they run a prominent quarterback camp and Elite 11 events) on becoming a more fundamental quarterback. What prompted that decision to work with the Johnson's (colleges, etc.)? Why go through all of these changes?

NH: Basically what prompted those changes is really you can never stop improving. We had a very successful year last year but there is no reason that each time you go out on the field, you can't be better and that was my train of thought. Coach Cattolico (Los Gatos High School Coach) does a wonderful job and he really encouraged me to go down to Coach Johnson's. Coach Cattolico told me anything that I can pick up from any coach I work with will make me a better player in the long run. So when I went down their Coach Johnson gave me a base analysis and he told me where I needed to work from there. I really thought he was incredibly accurate in his assessment. There was a lot of things I needed to focus on; quicker feet, better throwing mechanics overall, quicker release; all of which is going to make me a better quarterback. I think that was a big reason I was able to improve.

see after the jump for a lot more from the Nick Hirschman interview...

TRR: Along that point, we hear we shouldn't even look at your junior tape because your throwing motion is completely revamped. What sort of things were the Johnson's doing with your fundamentals? What were some of the drills and techniques were they having you do to improve?

NH: We did a lot of footwork drills but the first thing we really did, based on what Rob Johnson (former NFL quarterback) said, was I needed to lose a little weight. I played last year at about 238ish, that was too much weight for my body to carry around. Once I lightened up and I got leaner, my feet got quicker which is going to pay off in the long run. Also in Mission Viejo, where the Johnson's workout location is, Mark Sanchez (former USC and current New York Jets quarterback) was there when he was doing all of his pro-day stuff and just being able to watch and him and see the way he moves and the way he throws the ball helped so much in my preparation. When I got home I would YouTube all of his practices and study the tapes so I could mirror how he moved and how fluid he was in his workouts.

We did all the typical drills down at Mission Viejo and at my high school in Los Gatos. Targets, drops, roll outs, but both my high school Coach and what the Johnson's stressed were "we can give people the drills but they need to go out there and work on them or nothing will happen." That was something I took to heart. When I would get back from Mission Viejo, I would get with my high school teammates and coaches to work on everything that I learned, throwing to wide receivers for an hour or two at a time. All of it proved to be a great experience.

TRR: That is great to hear you are putting in the preparation in the offseason. You can't have it any better than to be learning from the Johnson's and having wide receivers on your high school team who want to prepare and work with you.

NH: Most definitely, I have developed a great relationship with the Johnson's over our time together and all that they have taught me has definitely made me a better football player.

TRR: Well, it's a testament to your desire to get better. It is not like you are close to Mission Viejo being that Los Gatos is some six hours (one way) away from the Johnson's camp. As Buff fans, we are very excited to hear that you are putting that much work into getting better. That sort of effort translates into watching film, learning the playbook...that is something we are very excited to hear about.

NH: You know, that is the next thing I need to get better at in this process. I was able to revamp my throwing motion and work on my feet, now I want to continue to learn the game. I know the game but there are always things to learn from the Johnson's and Coach Cattolico. I just want to continue to learn so when I get to college and into Coach Kiesau's offense, I am prepared. His offense is similar to what we run in high school but it is more complicated. So the more I learn now, I have a better shot when I get to Colorado. I am excited for that.

TRR: That sounds about right. The Buffs ran the spread last year and it didn't go that well. Now they are going back to the pro-style offense and based on everything we have seen on film, your offense is under center, taking three step and five step drops, going through progression reads so we are thinking that the staff couldn't have picked a better prospect considering this high school level is littered with spread offenses.

On to the next stage, how long had Colorado been in contact with you before the NIKE camp where they offered and you committed?

NH: Right when recruiting started, Coach Cattolico, Bob (Johnson), Rob (Johnson) all said what about Colorado, Nick? Honestly, I am not going to lie, I had never been to the state of Colorado, let alone to Boulder so it was a little foreign to me. I had a few other schools looking at me with pretty big names that I was more familiar with and closer to home. But I started looking into Colorado a little more and I figured out that (the Buffs) were a pretty big name out there. It was just the fact that we are from California and live in PAC 10 country. But when I looked into Colorado, their system and everything they built down there, it was amazing. Once we went on our visit, I completely fell in love with it; the college atmosphere, the town, everything.

The coaches also really made my decision easy. In Coach Hawkins, we sat in his office for about an hour talking about how you need to be a good football player to come to Colorado but just as important is character and the type of person you are. That was great to hear because it is a big thing that has been stressed in my life and at my high school. It has always been about the whole football player. It's about the team, not about the individual.

Then when I talked to Coach Kiesau and some of the things he wants to do on offense, I was just more pumped up that I was hopefully going to get a chance to be a part of that.

I was actually at the USC camp, we were on our lunch break and I received in an email to call Coach Kiesau. He said they were really impressed with what they saw at camp, they loved my family, they loved my commitment and he said, "We would like to extend an offer to you." I thought about it for about two seconds and then I committed.

TRR: That was going to be my next question. You're competing at one of the best high school football camps in the world at USC and then you get an offer and committed to the Buffs just that quick was really awesome to hear.

So at the USC camp, there were a plethora of good quarterbacks like Jesse Scroggins. How did you feel your camp performance was going and how did you feel your ability compared to the quarterbacks in attendance?

NH: I feel very good about where I am going into my senior season. Everything can be improved; there is nobody who can be perfect. At USC, you know, it's the University of Southern California, there are going to be a lot of great quarterbacks there. I thought I stacked up well. I played to the best of my ability. The other guys performed great as well. If they are participating for the USC football team, they have to be doing something right.

It was a good experience and I learned some good things but once I was able to pick up the offer from Colorado, my family and I talked about it and decided that Colorado was the place that I wanted to be.

TRR: So how has/was the recruiting process for you? It seems like your recruiting has really taken off and that you are being very active, participating in a lot of camps and Elite 11 workouts. Are you still going to those camps or are you just getting ready for your senior year?

NH: You know, it is sort of a back and forth thing with the recruiting process. It was so much fun to go around to these campuses. I was at UCLA, and I was at Stanford, which is close to home but a beautiful place. It was great to meet all of these new people. (UCLA quarterback commit) Brett Nottingham and I, even though we were competing everywhere, became really good friends. It was cool to meet someone out there that I know works as hard as I do. You don't really get that every day at your high school when there are only a few who can sacrifice that much to compete at such a high level. To be around people like that is just awesome.

But, on the other hand, there were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of stress. Overall, I was ready to be done. I got my offer from the school where I wanted to go and once I had that, I knew I was done.

TRR: You mentioned Stanford and UCLA as a few schools that were close to offering, what other schools were looking at you before you jumped on the Colorado offer?

NH: I had a lot of interest from a lot of schools. Stanford and UCLA. Oregon State was a school that I thought was fairly interested in me. USC was also interested. I had an offer from Harvard and Yale. My sister went to Yale so that was a hard thing to say "no" to but when we talked about it as a family, I decided that I wanted to play division one football at a great school, which is something I get to do at Colorado.

TRR: What kind of quarterback are we going to see on the practices fields in Boulder and on Saturdays for the next four or five years? What are some of your strengths?

NH: What I think Colorado will get when I go there is somebody who is going to go out and compete for them every week, every practice, every time I put on a pair of cleats. Also somebody that can help lead a team. That is something they stressed big at Boulder and I think that is a great thing; somebody that can step up and take charge of a team or an offense...it's about the team and not the player. I am just excited to get there and try to make Colorado better than it is already.

TRR: You already said that you wanted to continue to learn the game more and transition it to the field. What are a few other things that you want to work on this offseason and your senior year to get ready for the next level?

NH: Everything. Everything can always get better no matter who you are. Watching film and continuing to learn the game is huge for me. Once you know the game and are able to see things before they happen out there, everything slows down on the field and it makes it a lot easier for not only the quarterback but everyone else on the team.

TRR: So these recruiting sites and services have you listed anywhere between 6'2" to 6'5". What is your height and you said you lost some weight, what are you tipping the scales at right now?

NH: All my stuff on MaxPreps and Rivals was sent in my sophomore year right when I started playing on varsity so it is a little dated, saying I was 6'2". I am now 6'3", 6'3 ½" and I am about 215, 216 right now.

TRR: How much do you know about the current Buffs' team from a player perspective? Did you get to talk to any of them on your camp visit?

NH: I don't know a whole lot about the current team right now. When I was there I got to meet Cody Hawkins and he just seemed like the nicest guy. He seems like he loves to compete and loves just to be out there. I really respect that because that is the way I feel I am as well.

TRR: I think when you watch the Buffs this year, you are going to be happy with the size of the offensive line and I think there is a ton of talent that should make you feel good to be there.

NH: I talked with Coach Hawkins about that and he said they have some freakish athletes on the line. That was very nice to hear for both me and my mom.

TRR: Well, Nick that is all I have. Thanks for your time and we wish you the best of luck this season.

It's Raining Donations - Buff Bites

irish1611 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:29:23 -0000

Former Buff, TE Ryan Wallace, Set to Transfer to Kentucky | KentuckySports.com
Ryan Wallace has decided to transfer to the Kentucky Wildcats. If you remember correctly, Wallace and Josh Smith's transfer were announced on the same day. While Smith's transfer has been much publicized due to the University blocking his plight to everywhere except the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins, Wallace was able to transfer to Kentucky:

Tight end Ryan Wallace, a former All-State player from Bowling Green High, is transferring to the University of Kentucky. Wallace spent his freshman season redshirting at the University of Colorado before leaving after the spring semester. He was in Lexington on Wednesday to meet with the coaching staff and applied for admission to UK. Wallace is expected to walk-on in 2009 and receive a scholarship in 2010. He will have three years of eligibility remaining after he sits out this season as a transfer. Wallace was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com and performed mainly on the scout team during his only year at Colorado. Wallace's father, Kevin, who coached him at Bowling Green, said homesickness was the primary reason for his son's decision to leave Boulder. Wallace's grandfather passed away this past Thanksgiving. "Things happened personally within our family that had an impact on him, and he welcomes the opportunity to get closer to home."

Wallace also considered Western Kentucky but ultimately decided UK was the best fit. The Cats' top three tight ends, T.C. Drake, Ross Bogue and Maurice Grinter, are all seniors, which would give Wallace a chance to learn the system during his transfer year and compete for the starting job in 2010.

"The potential is there for me to get early playing time, and the fact that's it the SEC didn't hurt,"

Wallace said of his decision to attend UK.

"It's far enough that I can be myself, but close enough that my family can come watch me play." The 6-foot-5 Wallace said he gained 30 pounds during his redshirt year at Colorado and is now up to 245. He will report to UK in August and can began practicing immediately.

More cash comes CU's way : Top Stories : Boulder Daily Camera
Just a few weeks after the University said they were delaying the $10 million practice facility construction for basketball and volleyball, the athletic department has received a sum of $5.36 million in donations from three parties in the last few days. On Friday, we learned about Louise Bennett Reed donating $4.75 million to fund athletic scholarships. Today, two more gracious parties donated a total of $610,000 to the athletic department for various projects:

Colorado's energetic athletic director was even more atingle than normal on Tuesday while announcing that the department had recently received two private donations totaling $610,000. One of the gifts, an anonymous donation of $360,000, was given so the football offices in the Dal Ward Center would be renamed the Eddie Crowder Football Operations Complex in honor of the legendary CU football coach and athletic director who died last year. The funds also allowed the athletic department to immediately replace the 18-year-old floor in the Dal Ward Center weight room with a rubber tile sports performance floor. Installation of the new floor was already underway on Tuesday. The second gift, a donation of $250,000 from John and Debbie Raeder, was given in support of the student-athlete academic center in the Dal Ward Center, which is now named for the Raeder family.

Thanks to those three parties for their donations. In the arms race that is college athletics, donations like this are extremely important considering the Buffs are on the lower side of athletic budgets. Go Buffs!

K-State improvements on hold | CJOnline.com
The economy has also affected other Big 12 schools from going forward with their plans to improve facilities. Kansas State has put a halt on their $70 million facilities project.

There won't be quite as many NCAA handbooks and high school coaching directories lying around Kansas State's athletic department this year. That was one cost-cutting measure cited by new athletic director John Currie at an open forum for K-State faculty and students Monday. But for most Wildcat fans, the more significant revelation involves K-State's $70 million facilities project, which Currie said has been shelved pending further evaluation.

Early College Football Betting Lines | Barking Carnival
The Barking Carnival, a Texas blog, claims to have some early football lines from the Golden Nugget. Right now, according to the Barking Carnival, the Buffs are 13 point favorites over Colorado State and 6 point dogs to Nebraska. Again, I haven't seen it published anywhere else.

Baker's Dozen: Q&A with Colorado head basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik
Coach Bzdelik sat down with the Examiner to answer questions about his favorite food, superstitions, alternative jobs, hobbies, etc.

Fulton qualifies for worlds - The Denver Post
The Colorado Buffaloes will not be playing the Air Force Falcons basketball this upcoming season:

Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff Reynolds said Tuesday his team's 2009-10 nonconference schedule is close to completion. Reynolds declined to reveal any opponents because "we don't have any contracts back." But he confirmed one team that won't be on the schedule — Colorado.

"I've had some dialogue with (CU) coach (Jeff) Bzdelik about it," Reynolds said. "Nothing's really changed from our standpoint, and that's pretty much where it is." Reynolds, a former Bzdelik assistant, said he didn't want to play a Bzdelik-coached team again (the teams met in 2007) because they are best friends.

Huskers to Wear Throwback Uniforms against Louisiana Lafayette - Corn Nation

Hinder in passing lane at QB camp - The Denver Post

One of the most highly recruited players in the country at his position, the 6-foot-4, 182-pound Hinder has been selected for a quarterback challenge under tutelage involving Hall of Famer Joe Montana. At the Steve Clarkson Academy, Hinder will be one of the "Super Seven" competing Thursday through Saturday, along with other top-flight high school quarterbacks including Montana's son, Nick, who has pledged to attend the University of Washington.

The drills will be filmed for a potential reality series that will search for the next great quarterback. Clarkson, who has mentored Joe Montana, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart, Gino Torretta and Matt Cassel, among others, will be on the field for the challenge.

Recent CU Buff Grad, Derk Tolan, Wins First Professional Golf Tournament

irish1611 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:58:45 -0000

Recent CU Buff Grad, Derk Tolan, Wins First Professional Golf Tournament

Congrats to Derek on his first win:

Former Buff golfer Derek Tolan, who completed his collegiate eligibility last month and turned professional just four weeks ago, won his first tournament as a pro in record fashion here Sunday in claiming the 45th Annual San Juan Open.

Tolan capped off the win with a final round 67 for a 260 total, or a tournament record 24-under par on the 6,750-yard, par-71 San Juan Country Club course. He was tied for the lead after each of the first three rounds after posting scores of 64, 65 and 64. Gary Christian had the old mark of 22-under he set in winning the 2004 event.

Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of days, Woodrow and I both got back from vacations yesterday. We are hoping to talk with Nick Hirschman today for an interview so check back later.

The University of Colorado Athletic Department Receives $4.75 Million Donation

irish1611 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:07:27 -0000

The University of Colorado Athletic Department Receives $4.75 Million Donation

Per Colorado.edu:

Louise Bennett Reed, who passed away at age 103 last June, gave gifts totaling more than $4.75 million for University of Colorado at Boulder athletic scholarships, making her the largest individual donor to the CU-Boulder Athletics department.

The gifts will benefit the Louise Bennett Reed Scholarship Fund for football and men's and women's basketball, funding as many as 10 full scholarships each year in those sports in perpetuity.

Thank you Louise! Rest in Peace and Go Buffs!

CSU Coach Steve Fairchild Calls CU "Silly" - Buff Bites

irish1611 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:29:00 -0000

First things first, I am with Dan Hawkins on everything he said yesterday at the annual Colorado Coaches Lunch in Colorado Springs yesterday. When looking over all of these topics that were discussed, keep these two questions in the back of your head, "Does it really make sense for CU financially, for national exposure, for recruiting and their ability to be successful (wins/losses)" and since their are always two sides to every debate, "Who really wins in the discussed scenario: the Colorado Buffaloes or the Air Force Falcons/Colorado St. Rams?" The main thing is college sports is not a charity, it is a business and Dan Hawkins is in the business of getting wins. That's not superiority complex, that's not CU being scared of in-state teams, that is the landscape of college football right now, get wins, give yourself every advantage you can possibly give yourself to be successful.

Steve Fairchild of Colorado St. provided plenty of sound bites that should provide Dan Hawkins a little more motivation to prepare his team for week one.

Fairchild Makes Another Push for Invesco Field Game - Boulder Daily Camera

"Dan's got the microphone next, but I'm going to say it again: The game should be played in Denver for the next 100 years," Fairchild said.

Fairchild then goes onto say this according to the Pueblo Chieftain:

"CU moving the game to Boulder (this year) is just silly. And it would be silly for us to play the game in Fort Collins," Fairchild said. "When it's in Denver, it's more than a game, it's an event. Walking out on the field and seeing 35,000 CU fans and 35,000 CSU fans is pretty amazing. "It makes a lot more sense financially for both schools to play it in Denver. I can't believe this was even an issue, but hopefully it will be played in Denver for the next 100 years."

Then I think Steve Fairchild compares the Colorado St. vs. Colorado game to Oklahoma vs. Texas, arguably a top 10 rivalry in all of sports. I really can't tell what he is talking about here but he has the microphone and his forum, so why not, right?:

"Moving the game back to Boulder makes no sense. I don't care if it's Oklahoma-Texas, there's not a better rivalry in college football. It's more than just a game. It's an event."

No coach, it makes A LOT more sense for Colorado St. financially as noted in this article back in early June by Kyle Ringo:

He said the difference between playing in Denver and playing in Fort Collins at Hughes Stadium (capacity 34,400) is approximately $600,000 to $800,000 depending on the year. CU also makes significantly more with the game in Denver.

Yes, the University of Colorado receives a boost monetarily but not as much as Colorado St. does. If you agree to give the Buffs a greater split of the money to represent the same percentage increase you receive from doing the game, then we are answering that question above: "Who really wins in the discussed scenario: the Colorado Buffaloes or the Air Force Falcons/Colorado St. Rams?"

Fairchild also threw in this jab about how CU wouldn't schedule CSU when he was a player:

Fairchild played for the Rams from 1978-80, but he said he never got to experience the rivalry from a player's standpoint.

"They wouldn't play us back then, I don't believe," he said. "They wouldn't schedule us."

Back to the Camera article:

Hawkins' preference is to make it a road game for the Rams every other year. He did play along with the routine a little bit, however, and quipped that perhaps the Buffs would be willing to scrimmage Fairchild's team in Greeley before the season. "Anytime you can play at home it's great. It doesn't matter if it's basketball or football, playing on the road is tough," Hawkins said. "Although for us it's a quasi-neutral environment at Denver, it's not your home spot. So I think there's always a little bit of a comfort level playing at home, no question. From that standpoint, it should be fun."

I understand playing the game in Denver, I like to go to the game in Denver but again, Hawkins needs to win, the Colorado fans want to win, if this gets us a better shot at winning, that is all that matters because that is all that matters in Dan Hawkins world right now.

Trivial Matters Stand in Way of CU-AFA Game | The Colorado Spring Gazette
Here we go with the handouts again. The Colorado Springs Gazette really, I mean really wants the Air Force vs. Colorado game to happen. This is one of three articles that have been their paper the last couple of months:

Fans want the game. The athletic directors want the game. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun wants the game. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins doesn't want the game, but we'll just ignore him.

"Are we," Hawkins asked, "obligated to play the two in-state teams and not have flexibility in our nonconference schedule?"

"Everyone wants us to play Air Force now. Guys, how many blows to the head can I take?" said Hawkins, who was seated next to Falcons head coach Troy Calhoun at the luncheon.

You better talk to your A.D. coach Hawk because he wants the game. Hawkins made it clear yesterday that he is none to excited about the potential of playing two in-state teams a year and I couldn't agree more. Count me in as one of those fans who doesn't want to play two in-state teams. There are more reasons not to like this situation than preparing for the triple option or losing to two in-state teams which the author confidently brings up as a possibility. Part of playing outside of Colorado is exposure on a national level, something that games against Colorado State and Air Force don't do as much as playing West Virginia, Florida State, California, Georgia...all geared toward recruits seeing the Buffs play the big boys.

To the writer of the article and anybody who thinks Hawkins and Co. are shying away from competition, look into the future, look into that past three years and tell me if their is a Big 12 team who played a harder non-conference slate. This thought process isn't driven by playing weaker schedules.

The Buffs only have four games out of conference, fixing two of them allows little wiggle room for the Buffs to be creative with scheduling in the future plus their will always be the debate as to where the Buffs will play these games (Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins). Drop Colorado State and then we can play Air Force. I am with Coach Hawkins on this one. I am an Air Force fan but in this situation, what do the Buffs gain by playing Colorado State and Air Force in the same season? Nothing compared to what Air Force and Colorado State gain. Remember my questions above.

Second point, can we get Mike Bohn and Dan Hawkins to present a united front? I think it is embarrassing that the athletic director is not in agreement with the head coach on where he wants his football team to play his games. It makes Dan Hawkins look like a bad guy when the athletic director takes the "politically correct" approach. Again, I am glad coach Hawk didn't cave to the pressure and logically spoke about these issues as what is good for his team.

Hawkins: Buffs Can Make Big 12 Title Run - Colorado Daily

Despite a 13-24 record through his first three seasons in Boulder, Hawkins didn't shy away when a reporter asked him Thursday if the Buffs were in position to make a run at the Big 12 title .

"Do we have the potential to do that? Yes, we do," Hawkins said after a long pause. "But you've got to get hot, you've got to get some confidence going, you've got to avoid injuries. And then you never know how those things will go. But I think we're definitely getting closer to knocking on the door."

more Colorado Football links after the jump...

Dan Hawkins Refuses to Answer Questions About Josh Smith

Is there any chance Smith could change his mind and return to CU? "I'm not going there," Hawkins said. So, you don't expect to have Smith on the roster? "I'm not going there," Hawkins said.

Big 12 RB Profiles - AthlonSports.com
We are here to provide Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart more and more bulletin board material for this season. AthlonSports put out their Big 12 fantasy football ratings for runningbacks which has Rodney Stewart at #10 and Darrell Scott at #15. Ahead of both players included Roy Helu Jr (Nebraska Cornhuskers), Baron Batch (Texas Tech Red Raiders), Jake Sharp (Kansas Jayhawks), Jay Finley (Baylor Bears), true freaking freshman Christine Michael (Texas A&M Aggies). Ahead of Darrell Scott at 11 - 14: Cody Johnson (Texas Longhorns), Alexander Robinson (Iowa St. Cyclones), Keith (who?) Toston (Oklahoma St. Cowboys) and Mossis Madu (Oklahoma Sooners).

Here is what they said about Stewart and Scott:

10. Rodney Stewart, Colorado Buffaloes (SO) — Bye Week — 4 — No. 76 overall RB A freshman back was expected to steal the show in Boulder last year, but his last name was supposed to be Scott, not Stewart. As a five-foot-seven freshman, not much was expected of Stewart, but he ended up leading the team in rushing. He produced three 100-yard efforts, notching 107 against Florida State, 141 against Kansas State and 166 against West Virginia. The Buffaloes were hindered by offensive line struggles last year and with more stability up front, Stewart and Scott should have a better season. Stewart gets the nod as the starter, but don't be surprised if Scott eventually assumes the No. 1 role. If you draft one, be sure to grab the other as a handcuff.

15. Darrell Scott, Colorado Buffaloes (SO) — Bye Week — 4 — No. 87 overall RB Scott entered last year with high expectations, but was a disappointment. The California native was the No. 3 player in the 2008 Athlon Consensus 100, but battled through injuries and was unable to unseat Rodney Stewart as the team's No. 1 back. However, 2009 is a new season and hopes are high Scott will blossom in his second season on campus. There's plenty of potential with this sophomore, but Stewart is still in the mix. Expect Scott to be better in his second year and he's a solid sleeper pick for those looking for an intriguing RB4 or RB5 pick.

CU gashes Nebraska for 380 rushing yards in No. 12 memory - Big 12 - ESPN
Ah yes, the 62 - 36 game finally makes it on Tim Griffin's list of top moments in the Big 12 history.

CU gashes Nebraska for 380 rushing yards in No. 12 memory

The Pueblo Chieftain :: CU coach tells youth to set a goal, reach it

Dan Hawkins, the often jovial and boisterous head football coach at the University of Colorado, spoke to some 100 kids and staff Thursday at the Boys and Girls Ranch in El Pueblo.

During the afternoon session word filters around the sideline that Hirschman has bailed on the...

irish1611 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:39:31 -0000

During the afternoon session word filters around the sideline that Hirschman has bailed on the camp. (Internet reports say he checked his e-mail -- one assumes he did so during the camp's lunch break -- to learn he had received a scholarship offer from Colorado, which he promptly accepted.) Scratch another QB from the derby.

Buffs' commit Nick Hirschman was supposed to audition for Pete Carrol at USC's Rising Stars camp for their one quarterback scholarship according to ESPN's Bruce Feldman. I'm telling you, this kid was on the rise in the recruiting world before the Buffs nabbed him.

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

irish1611 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:25:29 -0000

View full size photo uploaded June 25, 2009

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.

Colorado may have gotten one of the bigger steals in this class as Hirschman has terrific upside...

irish1611 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:37:13 -0000

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.

Tom Luginbill - ESPN Recruiting Analyst

Colorado Buffaloes Land Fourth Commitment, California QB Nick Hirschman

irish1611 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:38:05 -0000

Nick Hirschman has verbally committed to the Colorado Buffaloes

View full size photo uploaded June 25, 2009

According to the rivals.com player pages, 6'2" 212 pound QB Nick Hirschman from Los Gatos, CA has committed to the University of Colorado. Rivals.com has not evaluated him fully but ESPN.com has and they really like him. Scout.com has Hirschman listed at 6'4", a three star prospect and the 60th ranked quarterback in this class. ESPN, lists Hirschman at 6'3", has him in their ESPN150 watch list. Here is what they said in their review:

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. Primarily works out of the three and five step passing game as well as short rolls to both sides and a heavy dose of play-action. Is often asked to turn his back to the defense, flip his hips around off play pass, plant and throw. Does an excellent job setting his feet and is a balanced guy in the pocket. Drop speed is sound and consistent and he has proven he can plant and throw off his 5th step and also reset when necessary without over-striding or throwing off balance. Possesses an excellent intermediate range arm to make all the necessary throws to the sideline and down the middle of the field including the skinny post, hash seam and comeback along the sideline. Is very crisp off play-action throwing deeper posts and drag routes with good timing and anticipation. He shows very good command of this scheme, knows where to go with the ball and can throw to a spot with confidence his target will be in stride. Hirschman is not going to be a dual-threat guy that creates a lot of plays with his legs, but he shows very good pocket presence, awareness and the feet to sidestep and avoid the rush to buy a second passing chance. Is always keeping his eyes downfield when rush or flushed and makes a lot of plays in the passing game at the last second as a result. He has a very strong, over-the-top release that at times can appear to be a bit rigid or robotic, but he consistently delivers the ball with power and good overall velocity-- particularly in the underneath and intermediate passing game. It is obvious that Hirschman has had significant drop and pocket work drill-wise and he is a polished guy. He does not play in a wide-open scheme and this offense requires him to develop timing, anticipation and rely upon footwork and progressions to be successful which will better prepare him for the collegiate level than many guys who are now playing in the spread offense. As mentioned, there are times when Hirschman's methods can be mechanical in nature and he will show some tension as a passer, but is sharp nonetheless. Overall, Hirschman possesses both the necessary tools and measurables to be a very successful pocket passer at the next level. We feel he needs to be protected to be at his finest, but he is a well-groomed guy that displays good command, leadership knowledge of the game.

Hirschman was also offered by Harvard and recieving interest from Oregon State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, Arizona State, California and Oregon. There is also a video on the ESPN site.

Yahoo!Sports Max Olson broke the news of Hirschman's commitment to coach Eric Kiesau today:

“I called him (Kiesau), and he offered, and it took me all of 4 seconds to accept,” Hirschman said. “He was very excited and seemed pumped up, but there’s no way he was more excited than I was.”

“We decided that Colorado was where I wanted to be, and I was lucky enough to get an offer from them,” he said.

After a recent visit to CU’s campus, Hirschman fell for all that the Buffs had to offer.

“When I went up, I fell in love with their coaching staff, the whole atmosphere, the school and the stadium,” he said. “I loved it so much and it was really an easy decision. I’m very, very excited.”

Littleton (Colo.) Columbine athlete Danny Spond is also committed to CU and could play quarterback when he gets to Boulder. The competition doesn’t bother Hirschman.

“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.”

Welcome to the Black and Gold, Nick!!!