BOULDER — Eight-and-a-half months have passed since Colorado junior tight end Riar Geer last played in a game, the Independence Bowl. It seems longer than that, he said Sunday after a 90-minute practice.
On Thursday night, Geer gets back at it. The Buffaloes host No. 21 West Virginia at Folsom Field in a game to be televised nationally by ESPN.
Geer didn’t play in the spring game. He was suspended after his March arrest for participating in an off-campus brawl and said the suspension carried over to the first two regular-season games. Geer chose to undergo a knee scope to repair a torn meniscus and has been cleared to play Thursday.
“Having started the past two years and then to sit out was really tough,” Geer said. “What a great game to come back to, against West Virginia. Thursday night. ‘Blackout’ (CU fans have been asked to wear all black). National TV. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
In a plea deal last month, a second- degree felony assault charge was dropped in exchange for Geer pleading guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
“I feel so bad about it,” Geer said. “I put the university, my family and my teammates in a bad spot. I embarrassed a lot of people with my actions on one dumb night.”
Tight ends coach Kent Riddle said Geer will be in the rotation Thursday.
“It’s great to have his experience,” Riddle said.
Being Pat White.
Two true freshmen, quarterback Tyler Hansen and tailback Rodney “Speedy” Stewart, have been trying to imitate West Virginia senior quarterback Pat White during practices.
“We’ve got nobody like him,” CU coach Dan Hawkins said of White.
Footnote.
Seven CU coaches, including Hawkins, took advantage of the open weekend and fanned out to evaluate potential recruits.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
