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Tuesday Buff Bites - Hawkins Talks About Mistakes Recruiting Son, Predicting 10 Wins

Colorado_mediumCU Buffs coach Dan Hawkins says he regrets bringing son Cody to Colorado - Boulder Daily Camera
No matter how mad you are about the situation in Boulder, writing messages on Hawkin's facebook page is a pretty cowardly thing to do.

Dan Hawkins said his son has been attacked by angry fans on his Facebook page and in messages on his cell phone this season as the Buffs have produced a 3-8 record. Cody Hawkins also was booed several times by the home crowd at Folsom Field earlier this season.

Colorado_mediumRingo: CU's Hawkins admits '10 wins' was too optimistic - Boulder Daily Camera

Guess it was just one of those days for Dan Hawkins on Monday. He has them occasionally, days when he decides to be a little more forthcoming and straightforward than usual. There weren't a lot of "We'll see," answers to questions when he met with reporters at the Dal Ward Center. Not only did Hawkins say he would not bring his son, Cody, into the Colorado program if he had it to do over, but he also acknowledged that he might have been a little too optimistic in the preseason when he challenged his team to win 10 games. Hawkins pointed to signposts that were there at the beginning of the season that he should have recognized as significant hurdles for the team just to get to the postseason, let alone win 10 games. He pointed to the overall youth of the roster and inexperience on the offensive and defensive lines as being the biggest problems that should have led him to a more cautious approach. Inexperience at wide receiver was another.

Colorado_mediumCoach, Kasa reveal conflicting plans - The Longmont Times-Call
Is this article telling at all? We have heard this before where position coaches and player have a differing take than what coach Hawkins says...

Coach Dan Hawkins said Monday that freshman defensive end Nick Kasa, the program’s highest rated recruit last February, is expected to play Friday in Colorado’s season finale against Nebraska (1:30 p.m., ABC). That was news Monday to Kasa. "I don’t know why he would say that," Kasa said following practice. "I really haven’t been practicing at all, and I’m trying to get that redshirt still. If I play, then definitely I’m not going to." Prior to the Missouri game on Oct. 31, doctors told Kasa he had mono and an enlarged spleen, and CU announced he would not play again in 2009. "(Bandison) knows I’m not playing," Kasa said.

Colorado_mediumCoach regrets recruiting son - The Longmont Times-Call

Speaking Monday during what might be one of his final days at Colorado, Dan Hawkins sounded more like a father than a head coach. Hawkins, whose future remains to be seen following CU’s finale Friday against Nebraska (1:30 p.m., ABC), discussed his program’s quarterback situation Monday. He revealed that if he had it to do over again, he would not recruit his son, Cody, to CU. His explanation was long, but it included his belief that Cody took too much of the blame when things went wrong. "It’s not fair to him," Dan Hawkins said. "Here’s a guy trying to do his best to win games and help his team, and he does everything right and he’s a good student, and he’s getting killed on Facebook and he’s getting killed on his cell phone. "The great thing about this job is, you meet some unbelievable people, great people. But you also see another side of humanity that’s not real fun.

Colorado_mediumKrieger: Father-son gig impossible to win - The Denver Post

Even Dan Hawkins now thinks it was a mistake to bring his son Cody with him to CU. That makes it pretty close to unanimous. Which is no reflection on Cody Hawkins, one of the most level-headed college kids I've met. In fact, I think he's more level-headed than his dad — and more accountable too.

Colorado_mediumBuffs Fall Short Against Gonzaga - CUBuffs.com

"I walked out of the locker room for the first time since I've been at Colorado and felt like our kids believed we were going to win that game," said Associate Head Coach Steve McClain. "I knew they'd (Gonzaga) come back and be even, and we would have to fight. But I give our kids lots of credit. I thought we showed passion. I thought we were prepared. They made a shot where we didn't."

Colorado_mediumWisconsin defeats Arizona 65-61 in foul-plagued game | www.azstarnet.com ®
Arizona (2-1) fell into a consolation bracket game against Colorado today at 2 p.m while Wisconsin (3-0) will face Gonzaga in the semifinals.

Star-divide

Colorado_mediumWoelk: If Hawkins knows future he`s not showing it - Boulder Daily Camera

If you believe in numbers, history and trends, Friday`s Colorado-Nebraska game will turn out to be bad news for one of the coaches involved. It`s not hard to make an educated guess as to which one that might be. Since 2003, every Colorado-Nebraska game in Boulder has proven to be the last regular season game for one of the coaches involved: In 2003, Nebraska`s Frank Solich coached the Huskers to a 31-22 win in Boulder to improve NU`s record to 9-3. Nevertheless, he was fired soon thereafter. In 2005, Colorado`s Gary Barnett`s Buffs fell 30-3 to the Huskers at Folsom Field in the regular season finale. Barnett did coach in one more game -- a 70-3 loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game -- but he also was fired a few days after that. And, in 2007, Bill Callahan brought the Huskers to Boulder, where they absorbed a 65-51 defeat. A couple of days later, Nebraska was again looking for a new coach. Which, of course, brings us to 2009 and another game at Folsom Field.

Colorado_mediumCU's Barringer fails in title bid - The Denver Post

Colorado_mediumCU impresses in Maui opener - Boulder Daily Camera

Bzdelik put the Buffs through some intense practices and had the game plan for Gonzaga in place before his sudden departure. CU was the sharper team and led by as many as 15 points in the first half after executing the offense to near perfection. "I thought Colorado did a phenomenal job preparing for us," Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. "Steve McClain knows us and they were ready. It was obviously a game they were pointing towards. They spread us out and made shots."

Colorado_mediumColorado, Gonzaga Quotes - CUBuffs.com—Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

On Colorado's performance "We love our young players. (Cory) Higgins is going to be a really good player. Alec's (Burks) going to be a very good player. Again, our young players looked like they belonged out there. They weren't intimidated by it. Alec got a couple charges that I felt could have gone either way. But you know what, I know this: you expect your team to compete and leave it all on the court and I think our kids did that. We got a nice run going early, our kids kept their composure and got up, yet you knew they'd come back. I think Cory knows he's got help out there and it probably came down to one play. We pushed it, we had Casey (Crawford) wide open here, but the ball goes in and out. If we go up three it might have changed the whole thing. But he at least shot the ball like he believed he was going to make it and you live with the misses. I'm not going to fault our effort. We played like we believed in CU today."

Colorado_mediumPlayers seek success for CU coach Hawkins - The Denver Post

"The only thing we can do to help him, if his job is in jeopardy, is to go out and win on Friday," senior cornerback Cha'Pelle Brown said of the Buffaloes' home game against Nebraska. "I don't think he's doing a bad job," running back Rodney Stewart said. "I think he's doing a great job. I don't think Coach should go anywhere." Added wide receiver Scotty Mc-Knight: "It's kind of crazy to think about. If we're affecting so many people, we should take it as a pride thing and say if we're going to affect people, let's affect them in a good way. So let's win football games."

Colorado_mediumLunch with Bo: Colorado is Nebraska's rival

In part, Pelini decides what a rivalry game is based on the fans. "I know this is a special game to our fans and to Colorado fans," Pelini said Monday during his weekly news conference. "The two states are close together and this game is important to our fans in western Nebraska, and they want bragging rights. They make a lot of sacrifices driving a long way to see us play, and we’ve got to have their back this week."

Colorado_mediumBrooks: When Bo Shouts/Chews, Huskers Listen - CUBuffs.com

Bo's answer: "I don't even want to talk about that. I know what we have in front of us. I know it's going to be a challenge. I know we have to play good football. I fully expect to go win this football game. "Texas - that means nothing to me right now. The only thing that matters to this football team is Colorado. I told our people in the offices (and) the coaching staff I don't want to hear about plans, about travel plans, about tickets or anything else about the Big 12 title game. "That means nothing. That time will come. Our full focus is on Colorado."

Colorado_mediumPelini focused on Colorado game > The Independent > Sports > Huskers Hq

Colorado_mediumIf game vs. Neb. is Hawkins' last stand, Huskers' Hickman knows what Buffs going through - KDVR

Center Jacob Hickman said he remembers the turmoil well. He said there's probably a split between players who like Hawkins and those who don't. Hickman says no matter how the players feel about their coach, it'll be an emotional game for them. Hickman said CU played tough in a 31-28 loss at Oklahoma State last week and that he expects nothing less than the Buffs' best effort Friday.

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Disagree with Woelk

Listening/reading what Hawkins has said over the past few days, I think Hawkins knows the immediate outcome of his future as the Buffs head coach.

Does kind of bum me out many of the players feel they are losing a coach they want and beleive in. Thats one of the tough things about it.

by BuffnBigD on Nov 24, 2009 9:14 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

agree

saying you made a mistake for recruiting your son to Colorado and telling everyone that 10 wins was a mistake sounds like something you would say on the way out

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by irish1611 on Nov 24, 2009 9:23 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I almost feel bad

But these are things he should have been saying before the season started. Nice to see him finally take a little responsibility. Though blaming the season on youth again was pretty weak. I mean this is his team after 4 seasons, if they are young and come on they are not THAT young, whose fault is that?

by NYCskibum on Nov 24, 2009 10:03 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Totally agree (with the Cody part)

I do feel bad for Cody. While he might have been a little lacking on natural ability, he always played with heart and as best he could. I don’t recall seeing him slide after a run, and always went for the extra yard. Never any attitude on the sidelines when he was pulled, nor any “me, me, me” when things did go right. Regardless of his success/failures on the field (keeping in mind there are 10 others with him on the field at all times), he is a good Buff who deserves our respect.

I don’t imagine its easy seeing/hearing the whole world crtisize your Dad over and over either.

Whatever happens to Dan, I hope Cody stays with the Program, we need that

by BuffnBigD on Nov 24, 2009 11:42 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Reading between the lines

Anyone else catch the he said/he said between Hawk and Kasa about his stauts for Friday? Hawk made it sound like the redshirt was a dead issue in the press conference and that Nick was practicing in full in preparation for Friday. When asked about the possibility of playing Friday later, Kasa was basically like, “huh?”

by Eforceone on Nov 24, 2009 9:34 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

nothing new...

Kiesau says Hansen will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the year after Texas, Hawkins says they will mix in Cody
Hagan says Darrell Scott had his best week of practice and will get a chance to show it, Hawkins says he is “dinged” and never played
Kasa gets hurt in the offseason and all of a sudden he is playing against West Virginia after a week of practice with very mixed results
Andre Simmons touches the ball twice this year, starts last week supposedly but has not been put in any situation that is worthy of a lost year of eligibility.

It is player mismanagement my friends. It is especially embarrassing when Kasa says OL coach Bandison knows I am not playing and the head coach says Kasa is available…do we not talk to eachtother? All of these player mismanagements just shows you the Buffs are not running a tight ship…

The Ralphie Report - Go Buffs!...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/

by irish1611 on Nov 24, 2009 10:30 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

No doubt

I just wish they would pull the trigger, having a lame duck coach is doing nothing for the program, I am guessing Bohn may hold out hope that somehow CU stomps Nebraska and that justifies having another year. But Hawkins has shown he really doesn’t have a clue about his players, I am guessing he really could care less about Kasa’ eligibility and wasting a year, he has wasted everyone elses’s eligibility for minimal gains.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Nov 24, 2009 10:37 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

Isolation

My understanding is that most of these players at the D1 college level are actually isolated from the head coach once they arrive on campus. And they have a basic chain of command style much like the military where if a player wants to talk to the head coach, first he has to talk to his position coach, then his offensive or defensive coordinator. It’s not like high school where you just walk into his office and start talking. So maybe it’s not so surprising the head coach doesn’t know what’s going on with his players. It’s obvious from Nick Kasa’s “Bandison knows I’m not playing”, quote he hasn’t spoke to Hawkins lately. Sounds like Hawk love is from afar?

by TraderJesse on Nov 24, 2009 11:39 AM MST up reply actions   0 recs

special teams

so my friend is from vanderbilt and he claims they have one of the worst offenses in the country so i decided hey colorado is pretty bad offensively so lets see whose worse right now. As i was looking over the standings on espn I couldn’t help but notice we are somehow ranked 2nd when it comes to returning (mostly bc of kick return). every time i watch special teams here i cringe cuz its so bad. how is this possible?

by hisnamewas on Nov 24, 2009 11:02 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

just like Josh Smith's all purpose peformance last year

sure he got a ton of yards but overall, he just had more attempts than anyone

The Ralphie Report - Go Buffs!...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/

by irish1611 on Nov 24, 2009 12:10 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

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