Let’s talk about the three quarterbacks.
Not those three quarterbacks.
The destinies of the Falcons, the Buffaloes and the Rams — who open their seasons Saturday — will depend on these three quarterbacks.
Tim Jefferson — “Airplane.”
Tyler Hansen — “T.”
Pete Thomas — “Pistol.”
Jefferson, a senior, can finish with the most victories as a starting quarterback in Air Force history and become the first to start in four consecutive bowls.
Hansen, a senior who finally can escape from the cloak of Hawkins the elder and Hawkins the younger, will, as Jefferson, start games at quarterback in all four of his years at Colorado, and can push the Jon Embree Era in the proper direction.
Thomas, a sophomore, became a starter, like the other two, in his freshman year. Pete can prove he is an elite college quarterback and could save Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild’s job.
Fascinating challenges for the three T’s — Thomas, Tim and Tyler.
When was the last time Air Force, CU and CSU played in a bowl in the same season?
2002.
When was the only time a school from this state played in a BCS bowl?
Colorado, 10 years ago.
Could either or both happen in 2011?
Check back Thanksgiving weekend.
Jefferson and Thomas will go against each other in a Mountain West Conference game in Fort Collins on Saturday, Nov. 26. The day before, the Buffaloes and Hansen will end their regular season in Salt Lake City vs. new Pac-12 rival Utah. Hansen and Thomas will be matched up Sept. 17 in Denver.
With Tim, who intends to be a jet pilot, the Falcons have more than just a whimsical chance of being invited to a BCS bowl.
Troy Calhoun is the most successful college coach in Colorado — and is among the premier coaches in the NCAA. He passed on potential opportunities to coach Tennessee, Colorado and, perhaps, the Broncos.
The young men of Troy know how to play winning football. They had an impressive 9-4 record and a trip to the Independence Bowl last season — and actually could have won three more games. Oklahoma (ranked No. 1 in this year’s preseason coaches poll) got everything it didn’t want from the Zoomies — and barely won by three. AFA lost to San Diego State by two and to Utah by five. Only TCU fried the Falcons (38-7), then hammered Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
The Falcons return a dozen starters, including, of course, the talented bone-back runner-thrower Jefferson (who should surpass 2,000 career yards in both rushing and passing).
The road schedule has four difficult stops — Navy, Notre Dame, CSU and new conference member Boise State. Air Force begins 2011 rated No. 35, and a revenge victory over the Horned Frogs and triumphs against the Irish and the Broncos would get the Falcons in the top 12.
The Falcons likely will win 10.
Thomas was a sheep-in-the-headlights quarterback with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, but did complete 65 percent of his attempts while the Rams were a wretched 3-9. They’ve got a tempting schedule that should produce a bowl-worthy seven victories — New Mexico, Northern Colorado, Utah State, San Jose State, UTEP, UNLV and Wyoming.
Then, there’s CU with the schedule from Hades. Because they added a 13th game (against Ohio State, not East Cupcake State), the Buffs must win seven to receive a bowl summons. A sub-.500 record won’t qualify.
Good luck to Tyler (who is fully recovered from a ruptured spleen last year and injured feelings for three years while having to deal with the awkward Hawkins situation). No more Shakespearean QB to Not QB.
But, I can find six feasible victories at the most, optimistically, so I reached out to former Colorado quarterbacks Charles Johnson and Joel Klatt, who traded in their football uniforms for cheerleading outfits and radio and TV microphones. One, whose nickname should be C.U., not C.J., thinks 13-0. The other is slightly more rational. Just give me seven, guys.
“Hawaii, Cal, Colorado State, Washington State, Arizona, UCLA, Utah,” the comedy team said.
It’s conceivable that the Buffs and the Falcons (who called off their 16-game series in 1974) could meet in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque on Dec. 17. And Jefferson and Hansen could wind up their careers in the same game.
These three all will play . . . and maybe against the other two.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
