BOULDER — One day after dismissing Jake Duren from the team when the junior linebacker was charged with criminal trespass, Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins said Monday after a spring practice session that he “longed for the day” when there are no off-the-field issues.
At least five CU football players have faced legal issues since the current semester began.
“It never helps,” Hawkins said of the distractions. “But I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and it always seems like there’s something.”
Entering his third season, Hawkins said he has spoken to the team “since Day One” about doing the right things. Don’t look for an across-the-board “zero tolerance” policy to be enacted, whereby one incident of any kind would result in an immediate dismissal.
“We’re only human, and we’re in a world that does not support zero tolerance,” Hawkins said. “We do have zero tolerance on some things that can’t be tolerated. There are other things that people would consider more in the scope of college behavior or youth behavior.”
Hawkins pointed out that in the fall semester the team posted its highest grade-point average in six years and several football players were among those honored for academic excellence Monday at an athletic department recognition luncheon.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
