BOULDER — Travis Sandersfeld will hear something Saturday he never has before in his college football career: “Starting on defense for Colorado . . .” And then his name.
“Growing up in Colorado, I always dreamed of being a starter here,” Sander- sfeld said. “This is my time. So I’ve just got to do the best I can do.”
The junior will start at nickel back when CU plays Saturday at Cal. The Hugo native took over the nickel back duties not long into the season opener against Colorado State after starter Parker Orms suffered a season-ending knee injury.
“(Sandersfeld) played great,” CU coach Dan Hawkins said. “He’s a very steady player and he does a nice job, and he’s been in the mix at safety too. This day and age, everybody wants everything to happen overnight and ‘I want to start today and I want to play right now.’ That’s great, but sometimes it takes a little while. All he does is show up and work, and make plays and be humble.”
Sandersfeld, a walk-on who graduated first in his class at Limon, would have preferred to have gained the starter’s job without the misfortune of another.
“I hate to see Parker go down. That’s a bad deal,” said Sandersfeld (6-feet, 205 pounds). “It’s a little different mind-set now, getting a few more reps, but really it’s mostly the same in practice.”
Sandersfeld intercepted a pass and had five tackles in the win against CSU.
“I made some mistakes (Saturday) that need to be corrected,” Sandersfeld said, “but I made some plays and was pleased for the first time coming out.”
Many in Sandersfeld’s family will make the trip to California to see his first start.
“I’m blessed with the opportunity I’ve got and just have to keep going and give all I have to give,” he said.
Clean air.
After Wednesday morning’s two-hour practice, Hawkins was asked whether any restrictions had been placed on the workouts because of the smoke from the nearby Fourmile Canyon wildfire.
“You know, actually we ran an air-quality (test, on Tuesday),” Hawkins said. “And the air was better here than in a lot of metropolitan areas around the country, even with the smoke.
“We talk to the docs about it. If you have an asthmatic guy, you have to keep an eye on him. But nobody (has had any problems).”
Footnotes.
Colorado has lost 12 straight true road games and has dropped 13 in a row outside Colorado. Quarterback Tyler Hansen said he’s growing more than tired of quiet trips home after road losses. “I’ll tell you what, that plane ride home is no fun,” Hansen said. . . . Hawkins said “about eight guys, roughly” have been added as walk-ons after the season opener.
Adrian Dater and Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
