BOULDER — Stretching his opening remarks at Tuesday’s media luncheon to about 25 minutes, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins turned introspective and said he is “up to the task” to get the CU program headed in a winning direction.
“I’m going to be here a long time,” Hawkins said.
“I’m not a quitter. I am a fighter. And I’ve been through this before, in a lot of different places,” he said. “And we’ll see it through, and we’ll make it happen. I have 100 percent confidence in that, 100 percent confidence.”
Hawkins said that, despite the team’s records of 2-5 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 Conference play, “there are a lot of pieces in place. We just have to keep growing and growing up and learning. The old guys have to coach the young guys about being on the road. We’ve just got to firm it up just a little bit more.”
After saying Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference that sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen “is the guy,” Hawkins took it a step further Tuesday. The coach said the staff is working hard toward Hansen playing the entire game. Hawkins said that may well happen Saturday in the homecoming game against Missouri (4-3, 0-3) at Folsom Field.
Cody Hawkins was used for three series last weekend in the 20-6 loss at Kansas State, each time when CU went to a no-huddle, hurry-up offense.
“I’m very supportive of Tyler and what he’s doing and trying to get him in the game for the full 60 minutes and let him run the show,” Dan Hawkins said.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
