BOULDER — Colorado football fans are bound to be restless and grumpy, with the team having lost five of its past six games and in danger of not qualifying for a bowl game. Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said Tuesday he respects the fact that people have opinions, but he can’t allow himself to get caught up in it.
“I am a people guy,” Hawkins said during his weekly media luncheon, “but what you have to do a little bit in order to maintain your sanity is, you’ve got to kind of go, ‘OK. Let’s not listen to them.’ Because that’s an extreme voice.
“People want us in the shotgun. People want us to be in the I-formation. People want Tyler (Hansen, at quarterback); people want Cody (Hawkins). . . . The vast majority of those people, they really care and are concerned about the program, and that’s great. But they don’t really know all the ins and outs.”
Coming off a 24-17 loss at Texas A&M, Colorado (4-5, 1-4 Big 12) must win two of its last three games to become bowl eligible. The Buffs host Iowa State (2-7, 0-5) on Saturday, then face eighth-ranked Oklahoma State at home before finishing at Nebraska.
The combination of youth throughout the roster and key injuries on the offensive line have impeded the progress that coaches had hoped to make this season, although the schedule was expected to be challenging in any case for a team dependent on so many youngsters.
Although it has not translated enough to the scoreboard, Hawkins said the program has made improvements in many areas during his three years in Boulder. He cited gains from weight training and conditioning, higher academic standards, leadership off the field, bigger crowds at home games, the refurbished locker room and practice bubble.
“I know when you’re sitting here 4-5, people wonder, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Hawkins said. “We know what’s going on. There’s a plan. There’s a process in place. . . . The road is never easy.”
Slowing down.
Colorado’s offense set up from a huddle more often against Texas A&M. Early in the season, CU almost exclusively used a hurry-up, no-huddle approach.
“The thing with (using) the huddle is trying to simplify,” Hawkins said. “Also, with the nature of our offense, we’re trying to be a little more complex in our look and disguise some things.”
Footnotes.
Look for the dual-quarterbacks system to continue. Dan Hawkins said Cody Hawkins and Hansen will play Saturday against Iowa State. Hansen, the coach said, is not yet comfortable with all of the system and Cody’s experience remains an asset. “Nobody likes the two-quarterback thing, including me, but it is what it is,” Dan Hawkins said. . . . Kickoff for the Nov. 15 game at home against Oklahoma State has been set for 6 p.m.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
