State of the Union: Colorado
5 comments so far
January 23, 2007 by
The second in a 12-part look at the state of the Big 12.
Head coach Dan Hawkins walked into a tough situation. After being king of the Big 12 North for most of five seasons, the CU program has been sinking like the Titanic. The fallout of a recruiting scandal (among other scandals in recent years) has left Colorado hurting for talent. Hawkins track record at Boise State didn't help cool expectations. If anything, it suggested the Buffaloes wouldn't need a lot of talent to win.
Instead, the 2006 season was a disaster on the field. Colorado went 2-10, its first ten loss season in more than 20 years, which included a mortifying loss to I-AA Montana State. But the silver lining for Hawkins is that it may have reset expecations. If the Buffs had crept into a bowl at 6-6 or 7-5 last year, then going 5-7 in 2007 would be a step backwards. Now it becomes progress.
If Hawkins survives these early seasons, things may be looking up. The Buffs 2007 recruiting class is second to only Nebraska in the Big 12 North (it still lags behind South teams like Texas, A&M, and OU in terms of star power). But first, Hawkins must find a way to get it done with marginal talent, because CU appears to still be years away from having a roster that matches up with the better teams in the conference.
Hawkins may keep his job no matter how the 2007 season goes, but the schedule can be considered harsh or kind depending on how you look at it. CU's toughest opponents (OU, Nebraska, Missouri, Florida State) all travel to Boulder. But if these teams are still a lot better than CU in 2007, then that could mean four home losses. Likewise, teams like Iowa State and Texas Tech that CU beat a year ago in Boulder they now must face on the road. Also on the road are games at Arizona State, Baylor, and Kansas State (all teams that defeated the Buffs in Boulder in 2006). The Buffs also play Colorado State in Denver and Miami of Ohio in Boulder. If the Buffs are as bad next year as last year, that could mean 1-11. On the other hand, if they improve substantially they could be looking at a return to bowl eligibility.
In either case, they just need to grit their teeth and survive what's sure to be a rough patch for at least the next season or two. If Hawkins can clean up the mess he inherited, he'll deserve all the credit in the world. His 2-10 start won't matter if he can start going 10-2. The last guy to lose ten games in a season at Colorado was Bill McCartney after all.
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James Moore Jan 23 07
No empathy here. Anyone remember how happy they were when they beat us a few years back to cause us our first losing season and end our consecutive bowl streak?
doombob Jan 24 07
I'm just glad that nobody will take it seriously next year when I hear Buffs fans say that Nebraska and Colorado are "rivals"
Nick Jan 29 07
We are rivals, guys. Plain and simple. There isn't a doubt in my mind that the next decade will breed a Buffaloes program that will be a nasty thorn in Husker sides (a fear the Buffs undoubtedly suffer in return). It's good for the North and it's good for us. I think we'll come to excitedly and anxiously await the kinds of offensive battles Callahan and Hawkins will have against one another when both are fully loaded with their own recruits.
The "rivals" I scoff at are Wildcats backers. I can only hope we beat that team at least 9 out of 10 times in this same decade.
Dale Feb 02 07
This is a pretty weak column to be perfectly frank. I think the highlight of it is this.
"If the Buffs are as bad next year as last year, that could mean 1-11. On the other hand, if they improve substantially they could be looking at a return to bowl eligibility."
Really? Ya think? The whole article sounds like a conversation some moron might have after six beers at the local pool hall.
Steve Feb 02 07
Dale,
Thanks for your perfectly frank opinion. Your comment is not at all like what some moron who had six beers might write.
Let me ask, is your major issue that I didn't try to predict the future? I didn't realize keeping an open mind was a crime. I'm sure any prediction in January would be rock solid given:
1) Recruiting season hasn't ended
2) Hawkins won a bunch of games at Boise State and his team was horrendous in year 1 in Colorado. After one season in the Big 12, you're a moron if you don't know which is representative of the "real" Hawkins, I guess.
3) We still have the full "bad news" season of college football ahead of us. That's when the only news we get is of players quitting, getting suspended or kicked off the team. I'm sure it doesn't matter which players on CU or any of their opponents would be missed if they were no longer on their team.
Do you need bolder predictions? CU won't win the Big 12 or the national championship in 2007. Take that to the bank. Better?