BOULDER — The trash talking, unlike any such chatter in the fall, started immediately after four captains drafted two teams for Saturday’s Colorado spring game.
“It’s kind of team-unification trash talking,” said center Mike Iltis, one of the “quad” captains for the Black team.
It was trash talk, plain and simple, on the Gold team side, starting with running backs coach Darian Hagan, the Gold head coach. He said, “We’re going to hit them in the mouth.”
The Gold made a statement, winning the coin toss, and quarterback Tyler Hansen opted for top healthy receiver Toney Clemons. The Black team then went for offensive tackle Nate Solder.
“It was a lot of fun, a lot of trash talking,” said Hansen, again locked in a battle to start at quarterback. He agreed his group was like a well-prepared fantasy league draft team. “We were more organized. Me and (cornerback Jalil Brown) had it planned out. They were looking at the board and saying, ‘Let’s pick that guy.’ “
Not so, protested Cody Hawkins, the quarterback in the Black captain group.
“Like any good solid franchise, we went with a left tackle as our first pick,” said Hawkins, in his first comments to the local media since the middle of last season. “We put in quality time with preparing with (offensive coordinator Erick Kiesau.)”
Both quarterbacks liked the idea that they will be treated as “live” targets, but not as much as linebacker Mike Sipili, who said, “I love it.”
Cody Hawkins tried to limit the conversation to the draft and spring game. As for talking Thursday, he said: “It’s more helping the other guys out. I don’t want to talk about me. I don’t want it to be about me. It’s time to shut up and play.”
CU coach Dan Hawkins said he will stand at midfield and be in charge of quality control. He will not hesitate to make suggestions.
He insisted his colors will be split down the middle.
With the last real practice of spring, the CU coach said: “I think we’re probably a lot more physical than we’ve been. We’re playing faster. I like the leadership, by the older guys. The defense had a little more upper hand than the offense.”
Saturday’s spring game will be primarily for locker room bragging rights and a possible food wager.
Hawkins said players could still move themselves up or down the depth chart.
Footnotes.
Saturday’s game is 1:30 p.m. at Folsom Field. . . . Three incoming freshmen — running back Tony Jones and safety Terrell Smith of New Jersey and offensive lineman Daniel Munyer of Sherman Oaks, Calif. — attended Thursday’s practice.
Natalie Meisler: 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
