Colorado Springs – Maybe fittingly, new Air Force coach Troy Calhoun was the one Tuesday who got the annual Colorado Springs Sports Corporation’s football kickoff luncheon going.
Former Falcons coach Fisher DeBerry usually provided the humor and always started the program – which usually is more high jinks and less football – by asking, “Where’s Sonny?” Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick generally avoided the luncheon, and did so again this year.
Calhoun came through in his first role in replacing DeBerry.
Calhoun was joined at the podium by Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, Northern Colorado coach Scott Downing and Colorado College coach Bob Bodor.
Calhoun talked some football, noting he thought the Falcons were “going to have some fun this fall.”
“I’m excited about the way we’re going to play defense,” Calhoun said. “We’re going to be aggressive. We have to do a better job stopping third-down plays.”
Hawkins spoke of last year’s 2-10 season being in the rearview mirror.
“We’re getting out of the survival mode and into the drive mode,” Hawkins said.
But he didn’t shed any more light on the Buffs’ quarterback position. He said his son Cody Hawkins, junior college transfer Nick Nelson and incumbent Bernard Jackson, who also is listed at wide receiver, will open preseason practice even.
“We’ll see how it emerges,” Hawkins said. “If one jumps out, he jumps out. If not, you wait a little bit. We’ll push all of them to see who can get out in front, but you don’t want to pull the trigger on somebody you’re not sure of.”
CU-CSU game time set
The Colorado-Colorado State game Sept. 1 at Invesco Field at Mile High will kick off at 10 a.m., the schools announced Tuesday.
The game will air on FSN beginning at 9 a.m. with an hour-long pregame show. Tickets will go on sale July 9 and can be purchased from either school.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
