Fourth quarter, and Colorado is losing to Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Breakfast/Brunch Bowl, and Hawkins the Younger has just been intercepted, and Hawkins the Elder is precariously close to seeing his nonconference and overall records at CU fall to 0-5 and 2-11, and his 2007 season is in danger of being … what’s the word I’m looking for?
With 10:41 left, during a TV timeout, an extremely large toilet ran onto the field. Seriously. Two questions: How does someone sneak a 5-foot commode into the stadium, and how does a person dressed in a white toilet costume get onto the field?
After the toilet circled for a while, as Buffs and Rams players and a crowd of 60,000 watched, finally, a fake security guard chased the porcelain god 40 yards and tackled it, removed it and, apparently, arrested or scrubbed it. Game officials claimed the big bowl was part of a sponsor’s ad campaign. Stupid toilet joke.
“Flushed” is the word I’m looking for.
Last year, coach Dan Hawkins’ first in Boulder, the Buffs went in the tank in the opener against Montana State, then drowned against Colorado State and dropped out of sight in the Big 12.
This year the Buffaloes have won one in a row.
“We’re back,” Hawkins shouted and ran a gantlet of students, slapping hands along the way after the overtime win.
It’s premature to announce that the Buffs are back as a legitimate contender in the Big 12 Conference, but if the Buffs can beat the other “States” and a Miami of Ohio on their schedule, they would play in a traditional postseason “bowl.” So let The Hawk & The Buffaloes rejoice. It’s been awhile.
Hawkins should invite Mr. Toilethead back for every game.
The Buffs tied the Rams at 28 in regulation, then won with an interception and a field goal in overtime.
CU actually is a fun and entertaining, and worthwhile, team to watch again on offense. They’ll have to score big, like in 1994 (Bill McCartney’s last season) and 1995 (Rick Neuheisel’s first) when they were putting up large numbers (40 or more 11 times, including games of 66, 55, 51 and 50), because they may have problems stopping people.
The Buffs showed us a little of this – a flea-flicker – and a little of that – direct snap to the tailback, with the quarterback lined up at wide receiver – and a little of these – reverses and ends-around – and a lot of those – passes (32) – and some sleight-of-hand and fake-of-feet.
“A coach has to be like a musician. … You got to play all the old favorites, but you got to give ’em some new stuff,” Hawkins said.
OK. Dan and his all-Buff band were playing more Boise Ball on Saturday morning when they zipped and zapped in their first two possessions of the season 129 yards for a pair of touchdowns before the audience settled in. In 2006 Hawkins didn’t have the athletes or the guts to pump up the volume. CU scored 15 points or fewer in eight games.
Hawkins is more proactive now. He can be “creative” with this bunch, led on offense by his son Cody, who started his first game and finished 18-of-31 for 201 yards and two touchdowns with an interception (on a gadget play).
“I’m really just a philosophical person,” Hawkins said. THIS IS DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL. IT AIN’T INTRAMURALS. “There a few principals in philosophy that you have to adhere to become a champion. … You have to finish. … You have to be able to lay it all on the line and let it happen.”
It helps to have more talent, more skill personnel, more depth, an improved offensive line and a young quarterback who plays old. Hawkins the Younger has been hanging onto Hawkins the Elder’s pants tails on the sideline of bowl games since he was eating Gerber’s.
On Colorado’s fourth offensive play No. 1 tailback Hugh Charles strained his hamstring and didn’t return. But the Buffs adjusted their “groupings” (Hawkins’ term), and used five rushers and seven receivers effectively.
Down by three with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, Colorado was confronting fourth-and-4 at the CSU 28. First, CU tried the unoriginal “draw ’em offsides” ploy and called a second timeout, then threw and drew a pass interference on the Rams. The Buffs kicked a field goal for a tie, then eked out the victory on another field goal.
The shame of the game between CU and CSU is that either has to lose, but the Rams will recover and become a factor in the Mountain West. The Buffs have Arizona State, Florida State and Oklahoma this month. Hawkins will have to be creative and philosophical and patient to win six and get to the Texas or Independence bowls.
But at least the Buffs aren’t toilet bowl jokes anymore.
Staff writer Woody Paige can be reached at 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com.
