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Thursday CU Buff Bites

Colorado_mediumBrooks: Cody Hawkins Makes An Ironic Full Circle - CUBuffs.com

Life brims with ironies, and in the college football world this one will be hard to top. For the final five games of his college career and perhaps the final five of his father's CU career, Cody Hawkins will quarterback the Buffs. Cody said, "I do know this: I've given it everything I had and my dad's been the same. I really don't care what's being said about me as long as they don't rip my effort."

Colorado_mediumPreview – Oklahoma " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

While the assumption is that the Dan Hawkins’ era is all but over, the calendar still says that Colorado has a game against Oklahoma this weekend, so let us turn our attention toward the Sooners.

Here are this week’s "T.I.P.S." for the Game:

T – Talent Until Oklahoma lost to Missouri last weekend to fall from the No. 1 spot in the BCS rankings, sophomore quarterback Landry Jones was a poor man’s Heisman trophy candidate...

Colorado_mediumBuffs must pick up pace against OU - Buffzone

Up-tempo offenses have given Colorado trouble the past two weeks, and now the Buffs must face one of the adept units in the country at speeding things up.

The Oklahoma offense is averaging 85 plays per game through the first seven games of the 2010 season. "Guys got to get back and get lined up and it`s very hard to get a call in," CU defensive coordinator Ron Collins said. "They wear you down...."

Senior cornerback Jimmy Smith said the Sooner offense is a big challenge because of its playmakers more than its pace. He said he is confident that the Buffs are in good shape, especially training at altitude. "They`re so fast. It`s kind of like watching the (Indianapolis) Colts," Smith said. "They`re just so fast at doing it that we`ve got to be lined up and ready to go so they don`t get quick, easy plays."

Colorado_mediumCU Buff Nate Solder up for 'academic Heisman' - Buffzone

...even more positive information to add to Solder's already brimming resume on Thursday when the National Football Foundation announces its 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the academic Heisman.

The NFF presents the award annually to college football's top scholar-athlete. It is the most prestigious academic award in college football. Players at all levels of NCAA football are eligible for the honor and Solder was named one of 121 semifinalist last month.

Colorado_mediumWoelk: Foundation has improved, but CU's next step is vital - Buffzone

More than once over the past few seasons, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has said privately, "I`m either going to get this thing up and rolling -- or leave the table set for the next guy."

Colorado_medium’90 Buffs Slide Past Sooners, Turn Focus Toward Huskers - CUBuffs.com - CU had not defeated Oklahoma in back-to-back seasons since 1965-66, and when the Sooners arrived on Boulder on the final weekend in October the Buffs were geared up to make history.

Colorado_mediumThe Dan Hawkins Countdown " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair - Stuart Whitehair has initiated the countdown...

It's a Double Anniversary!! - One looking back; another looking forward ...

Yes, it was on this date, just three short years ago, when Colorado actually won a football game on the road. On October 27, 2007, Cody Hawkins led the Buffs into Lubbock, and CU came away with a hard-fought 31-26 victory. Terrence Wheatley interecepted three passes to tie a school record, and linebackerr Jordon Dizon returned a pick 42 yards for a touchdown to lead the defense. On offense, Hugh Charles scored two touchdowns and Cody Hawkins set new freshman records for passing yards and touchdowns. Those were the days!

Not anxious to live in the past? Well, then it’s time to look forward. A month from today, Saturday, November 27, 2010, should bring about the official end of the Dan Hawkins’ era in Boulder. Colorado plays at Nebraska on that Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, so there shouldn’t be much drama as to what transpires after that game. While it is possible that the CU administration may wait until the following Monday to hold a press conference, the fate of Dan Hawkins should be well known on that Saturday.

After the jump: Mack Brown blames entitlement, and Derek Dooley compares his team to the Germans in France on June 5, 1944.  In actual news, CU's Athletes of the Week are both freshmen, and CU's Cross Country goes to Oklahoma (St.) looking to win the Big 12.

Colorado_mediumManzi Tenorio & Richardson Earn CU Athlete of the Week - CUBuffs.com - Football wide receiver Paul Richardson (freshman) and tennis player Carla Manzi Tenorio (freshman) were both named Athlete of the Week for October 18-24.

Colorado_mediumDanger ahead for Oregon Ducks, Auburn Tigers, Michigan State Spartans and Missouri Tigers - ESPN
There will be mayhem this weekend. Chaos in the air. Students on the field. Goalposts in the streets. Again. By Halloween we will be down from the current seven unbeaten teams to four at most. Possibly three. Maybe even two. If every Saturday has to have a name these days, I'm going with this one: Total Anarchy Saturday.

Colorado_mediumTennessee coach Derek Dooley compares Volunteers to Germans during WWII - ESPN

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on Monday compared his young, inexperienced team's struggles to that of the German forces during the Allies' invasion of Normandy during World War II.

"Right now we're like the Germans in World War II," Dooley said. "Here comes the boats, they're coming. You have the binoculars, and it's like, 'Oh, my God, the invasion is coming.' "

Colorado_mediumTexas Longhorns coach Mack Brown: Problems stem from feelings of 'entitlement' - ESPN

Mack Brown could see the warning signs back in August. After Texas' first training camp scrimmage, the coach privately noted a lack of passion among his players and it worried him.

Brown called out his players and assistant coaches on Monday. "I do think there's some entitlement with this team. They sit around thinking it's just going to happen," Brown said.

"They played hard, but I mean [play] with passion, fun and excitement. It's all about confidence and passion. ... I can handle a loss if we are playing with passion. I can't if we're not. "

"I told them if one of your guys is playing bad, I can change them. If three of your guys are playing bad, I change you," Brown said. "I am ready to play each week."

Colorado_mediumThweatt Earns Third Academic All-Big 12 Honor - CUBuffs.com - University of Colorado senior Laura Thweatt earned her third selection to the Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country team on Wednesday afternoon. In total, 21 Buffs were honored with the academic award to lead the Big 12.

Colorado_mediumCU harriers aim for Big 12 title - Buffzone

There is a good chance the Buffs could leave the state of Oklahoma with a historic victory on Saturday. In Stillwater that is. Colorado`s cross country teams are focused on winning Big 12 championships before running west to the Pac-12.

The CU men won the first 12 Big 12 titles before Oklahoma State, the host team this year, won the 2008 and 2009 championships.

"I definitely think there is a little extra emphasis to go out as champions," junior Christian Thompson said. "Okie State has been our big rivals the past two years and they`re the only ones besides us that have won the Big 12s. The CU women have won 11 Big 12 titles, but Texas Tech has captured the last two championships.

"I think we`re all really excited going into this," senior Laura Thweatt said. "We`ve been training well the last couple weeks and we`re all fit. We`re trying not to put a lot of pressure on ourselves, we just want to run to our ability and have fun."

Go Buffs!  Win the Big 12!