SHREVEPORT, LA. — Colorado football players appear to be anything but nervous as they prepare for Sunday night’s Independence Bowl game against Alabama.
“We’ve got that ‘relaxed focus’ going on,” CU senior cornerback Terrence Wheatley said this morning after practice. “This is a lot more fun than last year when we sat around and watched other teams play in bowl games.”
Players consider a bowl game to be a reward, Wheatley said.
“This is a game that you worked hard for and ultimately deserved,” he explained. “You want to win, but you can also relax.
“It’s not like the regular season when you feel each week like you have to win to get to a bowl game. You’re already here. You can just play hard and not worry about anything.”
But, Wheatley added, the Buffaloes are taking their preparation seriously.
“Alabama is a great team with a great coach and great athletes,” he said. “We have to be ready for them.”
Wheatley said the foot injury (hairline fracture) that forced him to miss the final two regular-season games has healed and he feels no pain.
The only thing that is suffering, Wheatley said with a chuckle, is his expectation for playing a bowl game in Louisiana. The temperature was in the low 40s for CU’s practice Wednesday and it remains cool again today.
“Coming from Colorado to here, you don’t expect that,” he said.
The high temperature for Sunday is expected to reach into the upper 50s or low 60s.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
