BOULDER — Fielding a veteran team, Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said Monday, should help the Buffaloes avoid a repeat of their terrible start a year ago.
Colorado, 3-9 last season and a loser in four of its first five games, returns 15 starters, including its entire offensive and defensive lines.
“We’re just a little more acquainted with what we are trying to do,” Hawkins said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “We have guys that have done that. I think experience is a big factor there.”
Colorado opens it season Saturday at noon against Colorado State at Invesco Field at Mile High. After losing 23-17 to CSU in Boulder in the 2009 opener, Colorado was blitzed 54-38 at Toledo five days later.
Having to travel across the country for a Friday night game in Toledo after playing CSU on Sunday evening couldn’t have helped matters. But there were other factors for the slow start, Hawkins acknowledged.
“We did not run the ball very well against Colorado State last year, to be sure,” Hawkins said, referring to CU netting just 29 yards rushing on 21 carries, including 38 yards lost on four sacks against Buffs quarterback Cody Hawkins.
“And then, we (allowed) some huge gasher plays (to CSU and Toledo). Momentum was not in our favor the first couple of games. That dented us a little bit. We’d done a few things different defensively, and it took us awhile to settle in that way.”
Starting fast.
During the teleconference, Hawkins dismissed any notion that facing Colorado State is always a “no-win” proposition for the Buffs because CU fans expect a victory.
“I never think of it like that. I just don’t,” Hawkins said. “It’s a big game and a great rivalry. That’s the way we look at it.”
Hawkins was asked during the teleconference about catching grief from alumni and boosters following last year’s opening-game loss to CSU.
“Anytime you lose a rivalry game, or any game, it’s not fun,” he said. “And all those things can be cumulative. But there’s certainly a lot riding on it when it’s your opener and it’s a rival.”
Footnotes.
After Saturday’s scrimmage, Hawkins said true freshmen who definitely will play this season (rather than redshirt) include tailback Justin Torres, defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, wide receiver Paul Richardson, snapper Ryan Iverson and cornerback Jered Bell. Injuries to players on the existing two-deep could force other freshmen into action, Hawkins added. . . . Hawkins said Justin Castor, a true freshman from Arvada West, will be the backup place-kicker, behind senior starter Aric Goodman. Castor could be redshirted, because junior walk-on Marcus Kirkwood may handle kickoffs. . . . Monday was the week’s mandatory day off for CU players.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
