Boulder – Brian White’s performance in Colorado’s first scrimmage wasn’t horrific, just average.
He completed 7-of-9 passes for 41 yards and an interception, just bland enough play from the junior quarterback that senior James Cox was able to steal the show. Consequently, Cox got additional repetitions with the first team this week.
Tonight is Round 2. Colorado’s second scrimmage is at 6 p.m. at Folsom Field, and White intends to make more of this opportunity. Whoever plays better tonight could be the starting quarterback in the Sept. 2 season opener against Montana State.
“I’m just going to go out there, be as focused as possible and make as many plays as possible,” White said, “and prove to the coaches and my teammates that I’m the right guy to win this position.”
A decision on the starter is likely to be made by Sunday, coach Dan Hawkins said.
White doesn’t seem too concerned about what transpired in the first scrimmage. Asked what he would do differently, he said, “I think I’d just sharpen the package overall – just making sure we’re in the right formation, guys are in the right positions, and that I’m making the right reads and delivering the ball on time.”
He hasn’t gotten down about the situation.
“I think he’s been about the same,” offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said of White’s approach this week. “Brian always had a good approach to things, and trying to learn new things. He wasn’t the worst quarterback in history in the first scrimmage.”
Said White: “Whether I’m the starter or not, my work ethic is not going to change. There’s always guys behind me that are going to want to be in my position, or in the No. 1 position.”
Lately, he and Cox have been making plays at a similar rate, so much so that it’s making the decision much tougher than the coaches had hoped. There doesn’t figure to be much difference between the starter and the player he beats out.
“We’ll try to seat somebody in there as best we can,” Hawkins said. “It might be a razor-thin seating, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
That guy won’t be Cody Hawkins. The plan, as it has been since he revealed he would enroll in classes this fall, was always to redshirt the coach’s son. But Cox has caught Hawkins’ eye.
“It’s kind of that ‘Moneyball’ theory a little bit, when you kind of just start looking at some numbers,” Hawkins said. “That’s not everything, but he’s just done a nice job when he’s been in there of getting calls right and getting things done right and getting ball to the right guy and moving the club. That’s a lot of it. You can’t deny him on that aspect. He’s done a good job.”
Footnotes
Hawkins, frustrated with Wednesday’s practice, was much more pleased with Thursday morning’s session. “The attitude you can always control,” he said. “And I thought that was much better on both sides. Much better tempo and enthusiasm.” …Offensive lineman Edwin Harrison (shoulder) is not expected to play in today’s scrimmage.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
