Colorado football notebook, 11/24: Hawkins hopes Buffs can finish season strong
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins was being congratulated recently for his team’s Nov. 11 victory against Iowa State when someone threw out an adjective they thought Hawkins might find appropriate to describe the accomplishment.
“It’s hard to come out of this season with the word ‘happy’ attached to it,” Hawkins responded. “There’s a lot of other words in the dictionary before you get to that one.”
At 2-9, the Buffaloes will be trying to avoid just the third 10-loss season in school history by upsetting Nebraska today. For the 22 seniors, most of whom experienced two Big 12 North Division titles under former coach Gary Barnett, it’s been a rougher-than-expected road.
It’s been no easier on Hawkins, as in his five seasons as Boise State’s coach, he lost a total of 11 games. No wonder he labels this a growth year.
“It has not been fun, but at the same time, you’re going, ‘All right, I knew there was going to be some rough water,’” Hawkins said. “I knew that, so you got it and you’re here. You need to understand how to navigate the rough water. From that standpoint, I don’t really rank it as one of the tougher seasons because I have a little bit more perspective on it now than when I was a younger guy.
“The awesome thing about seasons like this is if they are done right, you never put them behind you. What it does is, it always reconfirms what it is that needs to go on, what things are important.”
OK, coach. But wouldn’t a win today actually put you in a happy mood?
“That thing (the last game of the season) is always big no matter who you’re playing,” Hawkins said. “I’ve had a few seasons where we’ve lost the last game and that thing just lingers with you. You cannot shake it until you get going again.
“It would send the seniors out on a good note, obviously. I’ve always measured a season in many ways. One of them is always finishing strong. I think that’s good in football and good in life — to finish strong. It leaves you with a certain sense of accomplishment that, ‘OK, we showed up and we did finish.’ So from that standpoint I think that’s always a plus.”
-- NO LONG-DISTANCE SERVICE: Colorado has allowed only five offensive plays of 40 yards or more this season, which would be the fewest since 1987, when the Buffaloes gave up four such plays.
-- QUOTABLE: “I know from experience there is no better feeling than going in there and getting a win. ... I don’t know if it can salvage the season, but it would sure make me feel better to go out on top and wreck Nebraska’s Top 25 standing. Being able to win there would go a long way in alleviating some of the pain from this year.” — Senior offensive guard Brian Daniels.
-- BAD BUFFS BRING IT TO NU: This will be the sixth time in the past 23 seasons that Colorado has entered the Nebraska game with a .500-or-worse record. The first five all had late-game drama.
NU won 34-32 in 2000 and 27-24 in 1997. In 1984, the Buffaloes led after three quarters before losing 24-7, while in 2003, the Huskers scored the final 10 points in the last 8:30 to win 31-22. CU’s shining moment came in 1986, when it beat third-ranked Nebraska for the first time since 1967, 20-10.
By the way, Colorado will be trying today to snap a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
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