Colorado sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins likely will not have to wait until the second half to get into Saturday’s 6 p.m. home finale against No. 11 Oklahoma State.
When asked Monday on the Big 12 teleconference about the quarterback situation for this week, CU coach Dan Hawkins replied: “I don’t know, we’ll probably lean back more and more in favor of Cody.
“But we’ll still get Tyler (Hansen) in the action. He brings some stuff to the table.”
Cody Hawkins did not expect to play in last weekend’s 28-24 victory over Iowa State but took over for Hansen after halftime. Playing the entire second half, Cody passed for a career-best four touchdowns, on 20-of-29 for 226 yards, with no interceptions or sacks.
Hansen, CU’s most athletic quarterback, ran well in the first half, netting 48 yards on nine scrambles. But he struggled through the air, completing just four-for-12 for 48 yards, with one interception. Colorado trailed 10-0 at halftime.
Dan Hawkins was asked why he switched to his son in the second half.
“The fact that we got shut out in the first half, that’s probably the biggest reason,” Dan Hawkins said. “We moved the ball a little bit. And in Tyler’s defense, we missed a couple of field goals which would have helped him and our team.
“We’ve just kind of been a liquid group a little bit this year – staying on the move and continuing to find some answers. And we did.”
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said facing two quarterbacks requires more preparation.
You have to work on a few more things,” Gundy said. “Defensively, you break down what the other team does, just like every other team across the country. You have a feel for who’s in the game and what their tendencies are.”
STILL HIGH ON THE FUTURE
Colorado (5-5, 2-4 Big 12) will have to pull off an upset to become bowl eligible. The Buffs need one more victory, and Oklahoma State and Nebraska (Nov. 28 at Lincoln) remain.
Dan Hawkins was asked on the teleconference if he had learned anything about his team during a victory over Iowa State that was not decided until a goal-line stand by the Colorado defense stopped the Cyclones as time expired.
“We know (the Buffaloes) are a scrappy bunch, they are,” Hawkins said. “They’ve been doing a great job. You get nicked up and you’re young and you go through a tough schedule – it’s hard on you. They’ve done a nice job of battling back every week.”
Speaking of next season, Hawkins added: “We get a little help (in recruiting), a little time, get some bones healed up, some ligaments healed up, and get some guys experience, we’ll be fine.”
HERE COME THE COWBOYS
Colorado and Oklahoma State have not played since 2005, so this will be Hawkins’ first meeting against the Cowboys. OSU (8-2, 4-2) dropped three places in The Associated Press media poll this week after losing 56-20 at Texas Tech.
“Okie State, they’re a great team. They really are,” Hawkins said. “They’ve got some of the greatest players in the country. Unfortunately, they’re just like the rest of us, where they’ve had to play just a barn-burner schedule.
“I continue to vote them high (in the USA Today coaches poll). But when you’ve got to line up against Texas Tech and Texas it’s hard. But they’re an outstanding team all the way around.”
KICKING WOES
With the two missed field goals by CU freshman Jameson Davis against Iowa State, the Buffs now stand 4-for-14 on field goals this season.
Hawkins was asked on the teleconference what coaches can do to instill confidence in Davis and sophomore Aric Goodman.
“We do a lot of live stuff with them, we do a lot of mental stuff with them,” Hawkins said. “We continue to put them in pressure situations. At some point, the bubble will burst and they’ll get back in a groove.
“We’ve been doing this a while. We believe in our formula. You just have to hang in there, and one day it will bear fruit.”
COWBOYS ON THE RISE
The last time these two teams met three years ago, Colorado hammered Oklahoma State 34-0 in Stillwater. Oklahoma State finished 4-7 that season, Gundy’s first as head coach of his alma mater.
OSU improved to 7-6 in both 2006 and last year, both seasons concluding with bowl victories.
“We’re better overall as a group,” Gundy said Monday when asked on the teleconference about the progress made by his program. “We’re more mature. We’ve acquired more team speed over the years. Our players understand our philosophy on both sides of the ball.
“And we’ve been winning. You win two bowl games back-to-back and have success this year, it helps with the overall camaraderie of the team and it helps in practice, it helps keep guys in a good frame of mind.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
