BOULDER — Destination Houston? Tem-pe? Shreveport?
The Colorado football team may not know where it’s headed for a bowl game until the official announcement Dec. 2, but will be happy wherever it winds up.
“No matter where you go, it’s a new town with a new team and you get to enjoy it,” coach Dan Hawkins said.
Colorado (6-6, 4-4 Big 12) had to beat rival Nebraska on Friday to become bowl-eligible with a sixth victory. The Buffaloes accomplished that mission in stunning fashion, scoring 34 straight points to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit for a 65-51 win.
“We didn’t want the season to end today,” junior cornerback Benjamin Burney said while receiving pats on the back from delirious fans as he floated off the field.
“Going to a bowl game is huge. The school gets the money, there’s presents, we get all those extra practices, it’s just a joy going somewhere with your teammates.”
Hawkins said the players are off until Saturday, except for running and weight room.
“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Hawkins said. “It’ll be great to get some extra practices in. It’s great for the fans.”
With Kansas State’s 45-29 loss Saturday at Fresno State, there are only eight Big 12 teams eligible for bowls. The conference has tie-ins with eight bowls. Had K-State won, they would have been the ninth Big 12 team with at least six wins.
Fiesta Bowl vice president Shawn Schoeffler said CU looks like a bowl-worthy team to him. At Friday’s game, Schoeffler was representing the Insight Bowl, which is conducted by the Fiesta Bowl organization. The Insight Bowl, played New Year’s Eve in Tempe, Ariz., pits a Big 12 team against a Big Ten team.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Colorado is a bowl team,” Schoeffler said Friday. “They’ve had a great season and Coach (Dan) Hawkins has done a great job with them. They have improved every week. They’ll certainly be a team on our list.”
Schoeffler was not about to reveal how high CU might rank on the Insight Bowl’s list, and it may be too early for those decisions anyway. Other possibilities for the Buffaloes are the Dec. 28 Texas Bowl in Houston or the Dec. 30 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
The Insight Bowl gets the No. 6 choice of eligible Big 12 teams. Following the Insight Bowl in the pecking order are the Independence Bowl and Texas Bowl.
At 6-6, Colorado didn’t finish with the sixth-best overall record among Big 12 teams. But adjustments can be made among bowls in the selection process. Each bowl seeks a good fit and does not make decisions based solely on a team’s record.
“We want the Insight Bowl to grow (in stature),” Schoeffler said, “so for us it’s about getting a matchup that’s intriguing.”
Colorado has a lot going for it. Whereas some 6-6 or even 7-5 teams had losing records in conference play, the Buffs went 4-4 in league play and finished with an impressive showing against their archrival.
Mid-level bowls look for something interesting to promote, and Colorado’s Sept. 29 win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma sets it apart. The father-son relationship of Hawkins and quarterback Cody Hawkins draws media coverage wherever CU plays. And the Buffs have some star power, with Butkus Award finalist Jordon Dizon at linebacker, all-Big 12 candidates Terrence Wheatley at cornerback and George Hypolite at defensive tackle, and running back Hugh Charles, who rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns against Nebraska.
Also, mid-level bowls love teams on the rise. In Hawkins’ second season in Boulder, the Buffs showed a marked improvement over the 2-10 record in 2006.
It remains to be seen whether Colorado’s reputation of lacking a fan base that travels in large numbers to bowl games will hurt its chances with the Insight Bowl. The fact that the Buffs have already played in Tempe this season (a 33-14 loss to Arizona State on Sept. 8) can’t help, either. On the other hand, Colorado is a western university, and CU officials have known Schoeffler and Fiesta Bowl president and CEO John Junker for years.
Colorado, which had lost four games during a five-game stretch before Friday’s win, will be happy wherever it goes. “We’ve definitely had an up-and-down season,” said Hypolite. “But 6-6 looks a whole lot better than 5-7.” And, he added, 7-6 with a bowl win would be even sweeter.
Looking ahead to 2008
Quarterbacks
Who’s back: Starter Cody Hawkins (sophomore next season), Nick Nelson (Sr.), Matt Ballenger (redshirt Fr.). Who’s not: None. Comment: Ballenger has size (6-5) and a strong arm, but it’s unlikely Hawkins (2,693 yards, 19 TDs) will lose his job.
Offensive line
Who’s back: Three starters — C Daniel Sanders (Sr.), OT Ryan Miller (Soph.), OG Kai Maiava (Soph.). Who’s not: Two starters — OT Tyler Polumbus and OG Edwin Harrison. Comment: Two or three 2007 freshmen redshirts could make an impact, including OG Mike Iltis (6-3, 285) and OT Sione Tau (6-6, 310).
Running backs
Who’s back: Brian Lockridge (Soph.), Demetrius Sumler (Soph.), fullbacks Jake Behrens (Jr.) and Maurice Cantrell (Sr.). Who’s not: Hugh Charles, Byron Ellis. Comment: Lockridge showed some flash, and help is on the way with the arrival of former junior-college star P.T. Gates and four-star oral commitment Ray Polk of Phoenix.
Wide receivers
Who’s back: Josh Smith (Soph.), Scotty McKnight (Soph.), Patrick Williams (Sr.), Kendrick Celestine (Soph.), Cody Crawford (Sr.). Who’s not: Dusty Sprague, Stephone Robinson. Comment: Smith and Celestine provided an infusion of speed and athleticism.
Tight ends
Who’s back: Riar Geer (Jr.), Nate Solder (Soph.), Patrick Devenny (Jr.). Who’s not: Tyson DeVree, Joe Sanders. Comment: Look for Geer to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2007; coaches love Solder’s potential.
Defensive line
Who’s back: Three starters — DE Maurice Lucas (Sr.), DT George Hypolite (Sr.) and DT Brandon Nicolas (Sr.). Who’s not: DE Alonzo Barrett. Comment: Likely a team strength, with Hypolite a potential All-America candidate.
Linebackers
Who’s back: Two starters, Brad Jones (Sr.) and Jeff Smart (Jr.). Who’s not: Jordon Dizon. Comment: Wild cards are whether Michael Sipili (suspension in 2007), R.J. Brown (concussion) and Marcus Burton (academics) will return.
Defensive backs
Who’s back: Three starters — CB Benjamin Burney (Sr.), FS Ryan Walters (Sr.) and SS Daniel Dykes (Sr.). Who’s not: CB Terrence Wheatley, S Lionel Harris. Comment: This will be a veteran unit, but the loss of Wheatley’s speed will be a concern. Coaches love freshman redshirts Anthony Perkins and Anthony Wright.
Special teams
Who’s back: P Matt DiLallo (Jr.), PK Tyler Cope (Soph.), snapper Justin Drescher (Jr.). Who’s not: PK Kevin Eberhart, returners Chase McBride, Wheatley. Comment: Cope will battle newcomers for starting job.
Colorado (6-6)
Sept. 1 Colorado St. W 31-28 OT
Sept. 8 at Arizona State L 33-14
Sept. 15 Florida State L 16-6
Sept. 22 Miami (Ohio) W 42-0
Sept. 29 Oklahoma W 27-24
Oct. 6 at Baylor W 43-23
Oct. 13 at Kansas State L 47-20
Oct. 20 Kansas L 19-14
Oct. 27 at Texas Tech W 31-26
Nov. 3 Missouri L 55-10
Nov. 10 at Iowa State L 31-28
Nov. 23 Nebraska W 65-51
2008 schedule
Aug. 30 * vs. Colorado State TBA
Sept. 6 Eastern Washington TBA
Sept. 20 at Florida State TBA
Sept. 27 West Virginia TBA
Oct. 4 Texas TBA
Oct. 11 at Kansas TBA
Oct. 18 Kansas State TBA
Oct. 25 at Missouri TBA
Nov. 1 at Texas A&M TBA
Nov. 8 Iowa State TBA
Nov. 15 Oklahoma State TBA
Nov. 28 at Nebraska TBA
* at Invesco Field at Mile High
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
