Buffs Spring Practice Recap (April 7)

-Drew Suppes

Day 5 of practices.  Helmets, shoulder pads, shorts and no tackling.

Today was the first time the Buffs practiced outside.  The weather was nice and sunny (65-70 degrees), with some wind coming out of the West.  The advantage for the players and coaches in practicing outdoors is that they are more spread out, and capable of having more room for drills, as opposed to being bunched up in the dome.  The disadvantage for spectators, like myself, is that it is twice as hard to see everything that is going on.

Nonetheless, here are some observations from practice:

• Players, coaches, and fans were greeted with a big banner that read “PASSION” when walking through the gates onto the practice field–a reminder of why these student athletes play this game.
• The Defense looked very sharp throughout most of practice.
• Defensive coordinator Ron Collins has shown various formations, which has given the defense the ability to bring pressure from all over.  Marquez Herrod, Marcus Burton and Patrick Mahnke all recorded sacks, and Mike Sipili batted down a pass. 

Buffs Spring Practice Recap (April 6)

-Drew Suppes

Day 4 of spring practice in the bubble.

The $3 million facility has been getting a lot of use by Hawkins and the Buffs, and why not?  With Colorado weather being so unpredictable, I don’t blame the fourth year coach for holding practice in a controlled environment.  Also, the soft playing surface in the bubble is a lot more forgiving than the thawing ground of the outside practice fields.

After the weekend, the young CU team was in full pads again today, picking up where it left off on Friday.

Here are some of my observations from practice:

• The Buffs didn’t mess around today and went to an 11-on-11 no huddle, two minute drill immediately after team stretches.
• The offense moved the ball well, and Markques Simas made a nice grab (approx. 20 yards) down the field for a TD on one of the plays. 

Buffs Spring Practice Recap (April 3)

-Drew Suppes

Day 3 of practices.  Again in the bubble.  First day of full pads.

Here are some observations from todays practice:

• If I were to place a theme on today’s practice it would be special teams and urgency.
• Like they’ve done all spring, the offense worked out of a huddled offense.  However, there was  a sense of urgency in breaking the huddle and sprinting to their spots for a quick snap.
• Special Teams have been an emphasis all spring, and today was no exception.  Hawk has also made it an emphasis to get the best players on the field as much as possible.  Point in case:  Nate Solder (6’9″) and Ryan Miller (6’8″) lining up on the field goal blocking team.  Miller showed off his size as he was able to get his hand on a field goal attempt from Aric Goodman.  To Goodman’s defense, it could have been a kick from Mason Crosby, and Miller still would have blocked it with the penetration he created.  

Buffs Spring Practice Recap (March 31)

-Drew Suppes

January 8, 2010, Pasadena, California. Book your flight, reserve your hotel room, and buy your tickets.  The Buffs are going to the National Championship.

D-a-r-r-e-l-l  S-c-o-t-t make sure the sophomore’s name is spelled correctly when he’s handed the Heisman in December.

Dan Hawkins: unanimous choice for National Coach of the Year.

I hope Jimmy Smith doesn’t go pro after winning the Thorpe Award.

Ok, so maybe I got a little ahead of myself…after all, it was just the first practice of the spring.

Dan Hawkins expects a 10 win season in 2009

Gutsy.  Overly confident.  Asinine.  Right on!

All appropriate words used to describe CU football head coach Dan Hawkins’ comment last week, “10 wins and no excuses,” in reference to the upcoming 2009 season.  Those throughout the country may have found this comical, following a 5-7 season, thought by many to be a disappointment.  But those close to the organization know that the Buffs are close to getting over that hump to becoming one of the top caliber teams in college football.

This season reminded me a lot of the 2000-2001 season, when the Buffs went 3-8.  That year, the Buffs burned a redshirt on a true freshman quarterback (Craig Ochs) halfway through the season to give the team a spark; lost to Nebraska after a game winning field goal in the closing seconds; battled injuries throughout the season–including injuries to highly recruited freshmen tailbacks Marcus Houston and Bobby Purify, and LB Jashon Sykes; graduated only 8 seniors; played a brutal schedule: USC, Washington, and K-State (all top 10 teams) in successive weeks; and sat at home for the holidays after missing a bowl game.

How did, then head coach, Gary Barnett respond?  By guaranteeing a Big 12 Championship.

Gutsy.  Overly confident.  Asinine.  Those were the reactions that Barnett received for his comments.

How did the ensuing season turn out?  The Buffs went 10-3, won the Big 12, and finished a few tenths of a point in the BCS rankings short of playing Miami in the National Championship game.

Now lets take a look at the 2008-2009 CU football season:  Hawkins, burns a redshirt on QB Tyler Hansen to spark the team to victory over Kansas State; the Buffs lose to Nebraska because of a last minute field goal; battle injuries throughout the year (10 season ending), including injuries to highly recruited freshmen Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart; graduate only 15 seniors; played a brutal schedule: West Virginia, Florida State, Texas, and Kansas in successive weeks; and also celebrate the holiday season on the couch, by missing a bowl game.

How did Hawkins respond?  By raising his expectations for the team–10 wins for 2009.

The similarities are almost scary.