For starters, CU needs to get going early - The Denver Post
I am absolutely disgusted at all of this talk about a lack of energy for the Buffs. I thought the Missouri game was a revenge game. The last two games against Kansas State and Missouri the Buffs had many things to play for but "guys weren't jacked up?"
The slow starts Colorado has had in some games this season make it appear its opponents are sprinting out of the blocks in track shoes while the Buffs give chase in flip-flops. Some ugly numbers: CU has been outscored 64-27 in the first quarter and 130-80 by halftime. In a season-opening 23-17 loss to Colorado State, the Buffs trailed 20-3 at halftime. In a 54-38 loss at Toledo in Week 2, the Buffs were down 30-3 at intermission. In Saturday's 36-17 loss to Missouri, CU had fallen behind 33-3 at the half.
"Especially last week, guys were tight. And a few guys weren't jacked up, for whatever reason," junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight said. "I don't know what you've got to do, but it didn't seem like there was a big energy before the game. "We had it the second half, sure. But you have to play this game with passion and energy. We didn't do that in the first half."
Woelk: Lack of emotion still a puzzle with Buffaloes - Boulder Daily Camera
It`s been hard to figure exactly what -- if anything -- inspires this CU team. One of the major criticisms from fans throughout the season has been what appears to be a lack of emotion on the sidelines. Hawkins is a coach who preaches a steady approach, but all too often, the team`s demeanor has been one that seems almost alien to the passion most people associate with the game of football. Hawkins insists that he and his staff have done their best to inspire that passion. "It does come from us," Hawkins said. "I`ve stood at the pulpit and been pretty demonstrative. But you don`t need to be a screamer. It has to be something inside that compels you to bring your 'A` game."
Being demonstrative at the pulpit, eh? Call me excited...
Since 1980, 82 Division I-A coaches have come to a school and had losing seasons in their first four years. However, those who survived much longer are few and far between. Of the 82, 24 were fired soon after the season, or, in the rare case of Vanderbilt's Gerry DiNardo — who scored a job at LSU — went elsewhere. Of the 58 who survived past Year 4, 34 were fired after their fifth year. Why the attrition? Well, only eight of the 58 survivors posted winning records in their fifth season.
Buffs want to start fast, fix woes - The Longmont Times-Call
Patrick Ridgell of the Longmont Times picks a blow out in favor of Texas A&M. Who can blame him.
When CU has the ball: Something has to give. The Big 12’s worst offense in points and yards gained faces the Big 12’s worst defense in points allowed and yards allowed. While the Aggies have had their struggles, they’ve improved lately, holding Iowa State to 10 points and forcing five turnovers to win at Texas Tech. Miller’s pass rushing will cause CU problems. Advantage: Texas A&M
Prediction: The Aggies historically have struggled in Boulder. They play lots of freshmen and sophomores, and only three weeks ago they lost 62-14 at Kansas State. It’s not like they’re Supermen or something. But the results of the past two weeks for each program make them seem super compared to the Buffs. Texas A&M 41, CU 14
Who has the edge? | AggieSports.com | Bryan/College Station, TX
This is a first. The Colorado offense and special teams has the edge according to Robert Cessna over the the Aggies...really?
CU Buffs set for high-powered Aggies - Boulder Daily Camera
A team really can produce with young players? What a concept.
Speaking of youth, a season-long alibi in Boulder actually hasn`t been a huge problem for today`s opponent. Texas A&M (5-3, 2-2) is playing 18 true freshmen this fall andsome of them have been difference makers. Of the Aggies` 65 plays of 20 yards or more, 54 of them have been made by freshmen or sophomores. The Buffs face an explosive Texas A&M offense today. The Aggies are the only team in the Football Bowl Subdivision to rank in the top 25 teams in the nation in all four major offensive statistical categories: rushing offense, passing offense, scoring offense and total offense. They rank third in total offense, averaging nearly 500 yards a game. Coach Mike Sherman`s team is eighth in the nation in scoring, averaging 36 points. "They`re kind of hitting on all cylinders offensively right now, and are certainly starting to gain some momentum the last couple weeks," Dan Hawkins said. "It will be imperative again for our defense to play real well and for our offense to establish some continuity and get going that way." The Aggies have needed much of that production because the defense has been shaky. They are allowing 30 points a game and are 98th in pass defense and 91st in total defense.
CU, A&M go in opposite directions the last 3 weeks - The Denver Post
CU desperately needs a win, but Hawkins knows the Aggies present a major test. "We're facing a team in Texas A&M that's really electric," Hawkins said. "They have one of the best offenses in the Big 12 — one of the best offenses in the country — and one of the best quarterbacks. They're doing a great job running the football. Cyrus Gray is a very good tailback. They've got some juice at wide receiver." The key, Hawkins said, is for the Buffs to short-circuit Texas A&M's mojo in the early going. "They've certainly started to gain some momentum the last couple of weeks," Hawkins said. "So it will be imperative again for our defense to play real well and for our offense to establish some continuity."
Mile high anxiety: A&M 1 win from being bowl-eligible | AggieSports.com
The thing Colorado could use most to beat A&M, which is a three-point favorite, is a solid game from the offensive line. Colorado had a season-low minus 14 yards rushing on 24 carries against Missouri, which also had eight sacks, the most allowed by the Buffaloes. For the season, CU is averaging only 2.4 yards per carry -- last in the Big 12. The Buffs also have allowed 28 sacks, the league's most.
Big 12 mailbag: How the Big 12 coaches rank - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin ranks the coaches in the Big 12 from 1 - 12. Here is #12
12. Dan Hawkins, Colorado – Burning Hansen’s redshirt and then taking him out of the game two weeks later was the sign of a desperate coach.
Waiting for the revival at Folsom Field - Travel - ESPN
As a football mecca, Boulder is a bit of a boomtown gone bust, yet hope is resilient here
Texas A&M at Colorado preview - Dallas Morning News
Key matchup Colorado's OL vs. Texas A&M's DL: Texas A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines rattled off the imposing dimensions, both height and weight, of the Colorado offensive line this week. He left off one key number, probably on purpose: the eight sacks the Buffaloes allowed last week in a 36-17 loss to Missouri. Colorado better regroup against A&M. Junior DE Von Miller, who leads the nation with 13.5 sacks, could boost those numbers and his All-American candidacy today.
Miller's sights set on Aggie sack record | AggieSports.com | Bryan/College Station, TX
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Miller leads the nation with 13 1/2 sacks as the Aggies (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) head into Saturday's game at Colorado (2-6, 1-3). He needs seven more sacks to pass the Texas A&M single-season mark of 20, set by defensive end Jacob Green in 1979.
A&M's Miller a one-man sack attack - Boulder Daily Camera
Who's hot and not around the Big 12 - Big 12 - ESPN
Hot: Texas A&M, who have outscored opponents 87-40 in their last two games. Not: Colorado’s offensive line, which yielded eight sacks and produced minus-14 yards rushing last week against Missouri -- only two yards removed from the lowest production in school history.
Offensive line doesn't want QB, season sacked | CU Independent
Brooks: Cabral's 300th Game Deserves A Picture - CUBuffs.com
Scott's departure could hurt Buffs' future - Dallas Morning News
At first, Hawkins decided to stay silent on the matter. But on his weekly radio show, he said: "I like Darrell and he's a good kid, and any time a kid leaves, I feel bad for a number of reasons. One is I don't think that quitting is always the answer. ... I feel bad when I'm not able to touch a kid or reach a kid and there's those things that happen. "Now again, I'm not perfect and I'm not going to save everybody. But our kids are great. They understand the nature of it and they practiced great and we wish Darrell nothing but the best and he's a good kid and you know I want him to go on and be successful in life and football," Hawkins said.
Los Gatos rallies past Wilcox - San Jose Mercury News
Showing no ill effects from a hairline fracture suffered two weeks ago, Los Gatos quarterback Nick Hirschman was in top form Friday night while leading the host Wildcats to a 26-14 De Anza division victory over Wilcox. After sitting out a league loss at Palo Alto last week, Hirschman returned wearing a plastic molding to protect his left lower leg, where he hurt his fibula in a win against Saratoga. Hirschman picked up where he left off, continuing his torrid season by completing 16 of 24 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He has 25 scoring passes without an interception on the year.