BOULDER — Do not expect to see Colorado quarterbacks Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen rotating in and out of the lineup by quarters or series for Sunday’s season opener against Colorado State, CU offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said Thursday.
Colorado won’t go into the game with a predetermined rotation in mind, Kiesau said. He added it’s not even certain both quarterbacks will play in the game.
If the starter is hot, he could stay on the field for the entire game, the coach said.
“We’re going to see how the game goes and what (CSU) is throwing at us,” Kiesau said. “If we need to use one, we’ll use one. If we have to use the other, we’ll use the other. If we have to use both, we’ll use both.”
Kiesau said CU still plans to withhold any announcement about the starting quarterback until game time.
Cody says he’s fine.
An “undisclosed injury” kept Hawkins from taking snaps Saturday in a closed scrimmage, and apparently it’s still undisclosed, although Cody said Thursday he is good to go for Sunday’s game.
“I can’t tell you that,” he said when asked Thursday about the injury. “I had something that, I could either rest it for four days and not play in the scrimmage or (take a chance).”
Kiesau said not to read anything into the fact Hansen took all the snaps in the tuneup rehearsal.
“That had nothing to do with where we are in the decision-making process,” Kiesau said regarding the selection of starting quarterback. “Tyler had been out sick (for two days), and I wanted to give him some reps.”
Hawkins said he has practiced this week with no problems.
Footnotes.
As of midafternoon Thursday, approximately 1,800 tickets were available for Sunday’s game. . . . CU will have at least four more scholarships to offer for 2010. Sophomore kicker Jameson Davis has ended his football career because of recurring knee problems, and three members of the 2009 recruiting class — quarterback Josh Moten, defensive tackle Edward Nuckols and offensive lineman Shaun Simon — failed to qualify academically and may go the junior college route. . . . Former CU linebacker Sean Tufts is back at CU in pursuit of an MBA and will be a handler this season for Ralphie, the school’s live mascot. Tufts played two NFL seasons with Carolina. . . . Larry Zimmer, the longtime voice of CU athletics, will be honored during Sunday’s opener as the 2009 recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award for a lifetime commitment to excellence in broadcasting. The Schenkel Award will be presented to Zimmer in December in New York.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
