BOULDER — Although the regular season is two-thirds complete, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is not about to discuss bowl-game possibilities with his football team. Or with anybody else, for that matter.
Hawkins doesn’t want his players to look even one day past Saturday’s game at Texas Tech.
“Right now we are playing in the ‘Red Raider Bowl’ in Lubbock,” Hawkins said earlier today during his weekly media luncheon. “And we’re excited about it. I’m not concerned with all that (bowl talk).”
Colorado (4-4, 2-2 Big 12) needs two victories in its final four games to become bowl eligible. However, a record of 6-6 would not guarantee a bowl bid if the Big 12 ends up with nine or more bowl-eligible teams, which could happen. The Big 12 has tie-ins with eight bowl games. After those spots are filled, other Big 12 teams would compete with bowl-eligible teams around the country to fill open bowl slots.
Following Saturday’s game against Texas Tech (6-2, 2-2), the Buffaloes play at home against Missouri (6-1, 2-1), on the road against Iowa State (1-7, 0-4) and at home against Nebraska (4-4, 1-3).
“You never know what can happen,” senior cornerback Terrence Wheatley said. “You just have to take it game by game, day by day.
“You just need to think, ‘If we win every game from here on out, then we don’t have to worry about it — we’ll be in a bowl.” But if you’re thinking that we need to win two more games, you put stress on yourself.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
