Hawkins might be in Boulder by Friday

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 28, 2005 at midnight

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ORLANDO, Fla. - University of Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said Tuesday he has not spoken recently with Dan Hawkins about the incoming coach's arrival in Boulder, but there are indications Hawkins will begin work before his official Sunday starting date.

CU receivers coach Darian Hagan said Hawkins messaged him Tuesday and told him to "be around the (football) offices on Friday. . . . Hopefully, that means there's some good news. I want to stay. This school has been good to me and I want to stay around."

Hagan said his son, Darian Jr., a highly sought safety from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, is "still open" in the recruiting process. Hagan said he spoke with his son as recently as two days ago.

Hawkins, who succeeds Gary Barnett, remains as Boise State's coach through the MPC Computers Bowl today against Boston College.

Bohn said he was "trying to be respectful" of Hawkins' busy schedule this week and would speak with him soon enough.

Also, Bohn said he was unsure when Hawkins would fill out his staff, but he is giving the coach complete autonomy.

"It's his call," Bohn said. "I won't let speculation run rampant; let him make his own decisions."

Hawkins already has named the offensive and defensive coordinators. Arizona State quarterbacks coach/ passing game coordinator Mark Helfrich and Boise State defensive coordinator Ron Collins will fill those positions.

Also joining CU's staff will be Boise State coaches Chris Strausser, assistant head coach/offensive line; Romeo Bandison, defensive line; and Kent Riddle, running backs/special teams.

BOWL BONUSES: CU assistants, who by state law are paid month to month, will receive what Bohn said would be the "maximum amount" in a bowl bonus.

That sum is expected to be at least three weeks' pay and as much as five weeks' pay.

Bohn also said he still was exploring a way to pay for the bowl travel expenses incurred by assistants' families.

CU assistants learned the afternoon before the team's departure Dec. 21 the school would not pay for their families' travel, an expense usually picked up as standard practice in Division I-A football.

When Hawkins finalizes his staff, Bohn said he would "find out who's here and who's not" - or which CU assistants, if any, were retained - and proceed "at the appropriate time" to try to finalize a severance package for those assistants let go.

COACH KLATT: During Joel Klatt's four seasons with CU, three as the starting quarterback, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson often referred to Klatt as a "coach on the field."

Tuesday, Klatt was dressed like one for his final college game.

Still not cleared to play because of concussion symptoms lingering from the Big 12 Conference championship game, Klatt spent the Champs Sports Bowl in Buffaloes coaching attire on the sideline.

Outfitted in khaki slacks and white shirt, Klatt was the only injured CU player wearing that attire. A handful of other injured Buffaloes players wore their black-and-gold trimmed CU sweatsuits.

Wearing a headset, Klatt's sideline bowl duty was to relay plays from Watson, who was in the press box, to starting quarterback James Cox and backup Brian White.

Asked how it felt to prematurely assume coaching duties, Klatt answered, "Terrible. . . . I'd rather be playing."

PRESSING MATTER: Pulled in favor of White with just more than 9 minutes to play, Cox said he "just came out and pressed too hard. . . . I wasn't myself (Tuesday) night, and that's frustrating to me because I know I can play a lot better than that.

"I feel like I let my team down in the first half, and in the second half, things just weren't there."

Hawkins undoubtedly will have open competition at quarterback during spring drills, eyeing Cox, White, Bernard Jackson and 2005 signees Mack Brown and Patrick Devenny.

TICKET COUNT: CU sold 580 of its 12,000 tickets allotment but used just more than 1,400 for players, families and staff. Clemson sold 9,808 of its 12,000.

The Big 12 Conference assists its members in paying for unsold bowl tickets.

ETC.: CU's bowl record dropped to 12-15 . . . The Buffs finished with an 0-4 record against ranked opponents . . . The series between the teams is tied 1-1. The Buffs beat the Tigers in the 1957 Orange Bowl . . . Clemson's 19 points were the fewest allowed by CU in a bowl since a 38-6 win against Oregon in the 1996 Cotton Bowl . . . CU's 124 yards was its second fewest in a bowl. The Buffs mustered only 55 during a 28-14 loss against Rice in the 1938 Cotton Bowl, the school's first bowl.

MPC Computers Bowl

Boise State (9-3) vs. No. 19 Boston College (8-3) 2:30 MST today (ESPN) in Boise

• Favorite: Boston College by 2.

• Coaches: Dan Hawkins (53-10 in fifth year at Boise State) and Tom O'Brien (65-42 in 9th year at Boston College).

• Payout: Each school receives $750,000.

• Bowl records: Boise State is 4-1. Boston College is 10-6.

• Most recent bowl appearances: Boise State lost to Louisville 44-40 in the 2004 Liberty Bowl. Boston College beat North Carolina 37-24 in the 2004 Continental Tire Bowl.

• Series history: First meeting.

• Stat that matters: Boston College's five-game bowl winning streak is the longest in the nation.

• Game facts: Hawkins is headed for Colorado after this game, with Broncos offensive coordinator Chris Peterson moving up to coach . . . After seemingly wasting their opportunity to win a fourth consecutive Western Athletic Conference title with a 27-7 loss Nov. 12 at Fresno State, the Broncos won their final two games and saw Fresno State lose against Nevada and Louisiana Tech, giving Boise State a share of the title with Nevada . . . Boise State's reward is getting to play in a bowl on its home blue turf at Bronco Stadium, where it has won 31 consecutive games . . . Boise State is 3-0 in bowls at Bronco Stadium, having beaten Louisville, Texas-El Paso and Iowa State . . . Quarterback Jared Zabransky (2,572 total yards; 17 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions, 10 rushing touchdowns) has been plagued by turnovers. He needs to be accurate because the Bulldogs running game (ranked second in the WAC in rushing, 215.7 yards a game) figures to struggle against the Eagles' tough front seven (second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and eighth in the nation against the run, 95.2 yards a game) . . . The Eagles are the first top-25 team to play in Boise . . . After taking over for senior quarterback Quinton Porter, sophomore Matt Ryan guided Boston College to victories against North Carolina State and Maryland by completing 24 of 40 passes for 415 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for two touchdowns . . . Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (9 1/2 sacks) is a pass-rushing force . . . A star cornerback until moving to receiver this season, Wil Blackmon (46 receptions, three touchdowns; 21.8 yards a kickoff return) needs 151 yards on kickoff returns to become the all-time Division I-A leader.Scripps Howard

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5466

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