FanHouse Colorado Football

Colorado running back Thomas Perez will miss the 2007 season, not for Fulmer Cup-related hijinx, but instead due to poor classroom performance. Let this serve as a stark reminder of the importance of the "other" side of student-athlete. Perez was being counted on to help bolster Colorado's running attack. The coaches were hoping he would serve as the team's power back and offer a nice change up from the elusive running style of Hugh Charles.

Perez arrived in Boulder in the Fall of 2006 as a junior-college transfer from Compton Community College. After academic clearance issues delayed his availability, the coaches decided to redshirt him in 2006. Coach Dan Hawkins had been bullish on Perez last fall.

"I said when I watched him on tape that he's an angry runner. He's a violent runner," Hawkins said at the time. "We need that and that's a good thing."

Unfortunately, the Buffaloes will once again have to without the bruising play of the 6-1, 220-pound Perez in 2007.

I'm all for having a realistic outlook on life, and I understand the importance of doing one's best. That being said Nick Nelson, a junior college transfer at Colorado, might be taking things a bit too seriously. This is what he had to say about his battle with Cody Hawkins for the Buffaloes starting quarterback job:

"I think it's real crucial because this is my last chance," Nelson said. "If Cody starts, I'm pretty much done. I'm going to be a backup for the rest of my career. So that puts a little extra pressure on me, but that's OK. I can handle it. I like pressure."

Pretty much done? A little extra pressure? I'm pretty sure this is what psychologists call "catastrophisizing". I understand that you're facing an uphill battle in trying to beat out the coaches son, but relax Nick, you've only been campus since January. It should come as no surprise then that, while Cody and his dad were off spring breaking with Urban Meyer, Nelson was busy criticizing his own play.

"I've got to pick it up a little bit. I can't be making some of the mistakes I've been making."

Nick Nelson – he's so emo.

Spring break is traditionally a time for college kids to head to Florida. Its not surprising then that Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins did just that a few weeks ago. What is surprising, however, is that Hawkins took his father, Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins with him, and the two spent some time with Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators.

"I think it's really good to get out and just compare notes and see how other people do things," [Dan] Hawkins said. "It makes you think not so much what they do but what you do and why you do it. "It was nice. Went to a lot of meetings and just soaked it up."

No mention of beer bongs and wet t-shirt contests, and I'm shocked that MTV didn't bother to cover their exploits. But the trip sounds about right for a team coming off a 2-10 record in 2006. Sometimes its just good to get away and experience something new. You know, like a winning attitude.

"From those guys, I think probably the biggest thing you can learn is just the swagger and dedication to it," Cody Hawkins said. "...I was just noticing how dedicated the players were to everything. I mean, they were Gator football players and they really took pride in playing football for the University of Florida."

Coming off a disappointing 2-10 season, Colorado began spring practices with just six healthy offensive linemen. Included in that group are three players with considerable experience in tackles Tyler Polumbus (pictured at right) and Edwin Harrison, along with former guard Daniel Sanders who is moving to center in 2007. The coaching staff is hopeful that Erick Faatagi will also be cleared to join the group later in the spring. Despite the OL shortage, new offensive line coach Jeff Grimes is trying to remain upbeat:

"The positive part of it is that those guys are going to get plenty of work and they're going to get coached on every single snap," Grimes said. "And those guys will get better as a result of it."

While it is not unusual for teams to experience a lack of depth following a turnover in coaching staffs, the Buffaloes' offensive line situation seems especially dire. The CU spring game could be a logistical nightmare even if eight-man football rules are instituted.

The good news for Colorado fans is that the paucity up front should improve with eight offensive line recruits expected to arrive in the fall. The most notable member of that group, high school All-American Ryan Miller, should push for immediate playing time come August.

The Colorado Buffaloes are entering their second spring under Dan Hawkins with an improved attitude and a better understanding of expectations. Clearly becoming more familiar with the coaching staff and its system can go a long ways toward developing team chemistry, but what about memories of a dreadful 2006?

"I don't care who you are, 2-10 will wake you up," [defensive tackle George] Hypolite said. "Failure will wake any man up - and if you react to it correctly, it will bring you closer together."

So, CU fans can take solace in knowing that if nothing else, the players are at least bonding over the last season's double-digit losses. The team has also reportedly rededicated themselves to off-season workouts and some are actually staying after practice for extra work. Additionally this spring finds the Buffaloes working hard to develop trust with teammates in the name of chemistry. Coach Hawkins already sees a difference:

"You're starting to see these guys get steely-eyed. It's that merger, that marriage of souls."

With the off-season workouts now behind them, the Buffs will be looking to bounce back in 2007. Tight end Tyson DeVree thinks the key ingredient to making that happen might be shared humility:

"What we realized is actually pretty simple: No matter how much all the running and stuff hurt, it hurts more to lose. We're not going to go through that again."

Unless, that is, you fail to find a quarterback or guys on defense to replace Thaddaeus Washington and Abraham Wright.

The dusty remnants of the temperance movement may have found modern inspiration in the sadness that is Colorado's football program. After just two home games, 11 "drunken" Buffalo faithful have checked into the school's 'Addiction Recovery Center' according to the Associated Press. At the center, sauced fans are held until the fog lifts and a hint of sobriety returns to their ailing bodies.

Keep in mind these numbers are reported simply from Saturday check-ins related to Colorado's football home games. Last year, six such people were treated during the school's five home games and eight for 2004's slate of six home games.

Wow.

Who knew Boulder would take on the feel of modern day St. Petersburg or Moscow?

The fan base clearly isn't buying into the sunshine being pumped by new coach Dan Hawkins, but they should. It's better for their livers and he's a winner who will help that program overcome its many obstacles in recent years. In the meantime there are probably a few more fans who won't escape stomach-pumping good times awaiting them in the coming weeks.

The Buffaloes travel to Georgia for what should be an ugly beatdown this weekend and must face Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Nebraska before the season is over. Their next home game is October 7th against Baylor at which point they may very well be 0-5 and looking for their first win.

More fun facts:

A reported 68 ejections were made last Saturday, the most at a single game in the past two years.

Nearly as many people, 60, were ejected from the home opener.

I'm Kind of a Big Deal--people Know Me

In case you haven't heard, there's a little skirmish happening in Austin this weekend. In fact, it's a rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle, the earliest point in a season a one versus two game have ever been played.

The defending national champion Texas Longhorns will go it without that Vince Young guy, but feel confident in taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes with young buck Colt McCoy seven yards behind center.

Ohio State vs. Texas (8:00 p.m.) ABC, ABC HD

Former Power Faces Declining Power

In a game that's flown under the radar and has the feel of Spain taking on France for global supremacy, the Washington Huskies travel to Norman for a fun intersectional battle with Oklahoma. This would have been more festive in the 1980's, but we'll take it anyway.

Washington vs. Oklahoma (3:30 p.m.) ABC, ABC HD, ESPN360, ESPN GamePlan, DirecTV 775, Dish Network

A Team May Die, But Its Rivalries Live On

Colorado vs. Colorado State (5:00 p.m.) CSTV, OLN

Takin' on the ESS EEE CEEE

Mississippi vs. Missouri (12:30 p.m.) FSN, FSN HD, FSN Regional Affiliates, Turner South, Comcast Mid-Atlantic, Philly and Chicago

Mountain West Showdowns

UNLV vs. Iowa State (7:00 p.m.)
Texas Tech vs. UTEP (9:00 p.m.) CSTV, CollegeSportsDirect.TV

The Sun Belt is Your Personal Whipping Boy--Commence The Beating

Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Texas A&M (7:00 p.m.)
Kansas vs. Louisiana-Monroe (7:00 p.m.)
Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas State (7:05 p.m.) ESPNU
Florida Atlantic vs. Kansas State (7:10 p.m.)

Fishing in I-AA Waters

Nicholls State vs. Nebraska (1:30 p.m.)
Northwestern State vs. Baylor (7:00 p.m.

If I ever get into a West Side Story styled street fight and I'm threatening to "drop kick" some greasy-haired rival, I want Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in my posse. You see, Sepulveda is the nation's best punter. Sepulveda simply won the Ray Guy award as the nation's top punter as a sophomore in 2004 and was more than deserving with his performance last year.

Check out this factoid on Sepulveda's abilities:

Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda recorded his 70th career punt of 50 yards or more (last weekend against against TCU), which extended his school record

Seventy times he's boomed a punt over 50 yards! That's incredible. My only question is this: I know he's the punter and all, but do you think he still gets the girls?

Not to be outdone, there's another big-legged guy hanging out in the thin air of the American Southwest and Plains region: Colorado kicker Mason Crosby. How about this factoid:

Senior Mason Crosby is now Colorado's all-time scorer as a kicker with 235 points. He ranks second overall – for now – behind running back Eric Bieniemy, who scored 254 points from 1987-90. Crosby is also tied for the school record for most field goals with 48

If you've ever seen this guy kick, he's amazing. It doesn't even matter if he's kicking in thin mountain air or at more normal heights, the guy can boom it. Colorado's new coaching staff has such faith in him they let him try a 63-yard field goal just before halftime of last weekend's loss instead of going for it on 4th down.

Both players are seniors and I would be shocked if either missed out as finalists or even winners for the nation's two kicking awards: the Ray Guy and Lou Groza Awards.

Data/nformation via Olin Buchanon's Big 12 Notebook at Rivals.com

College football is serious business in the nation's midsection, so let's get to it looking back at the weekend that was in the Big 12 conference.

National title contenders Texas and Oklahoma took different paths to victory in their cupcake openers, with Oklahoma struggling against UAB and Texas crushing North Texas. Nebraska easily dispatched Louisiana Tech and Iowa State outlasted Toledo in a wild three-overtime 45-43 victory. The one real surprise this weekend was Colorado's 19-10 loss to Division II Montana State. In a strange bit of irony, Colorado was one of the lone D-I holdouts yet to play a school from another division until Saturday's battle.

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