CU nose tackle finds niche after changes left him spinning

Pat Rooney, Special to the News

Published October 6, 2006 at midnight

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BOULDER - Brandon Nicolas feels like he has been snakebitten. Twice.

The search for stability has proved to be a difficult one for the University of Colorado sophomore nose tackle, an odyssey that has taken Nicolas more than halfway across the country from his home only to shove him halfway back again.

He had endured two coaching changes at two renowned programs undergoing transition phases that are taking their fortunes in extremely different directions. And still, despite the sudden changes and thousands of miles he has logged to play the game he loves, Nicolas believes he finally has found a home.

Nicolas is scheduled to make his sixth consecutive start at nose tackle for winless CU when it hosts Baylor on Saturday, a streak that, on the surface, appears mundane but has provided Nicolas a sense of continuity that has been elusive since he first set off for the University of Notre Dame after high school.

"It's been a little frustrating," Nicolas said. "I'm really surprised it happened to me twice right in a row. But it's fine. I'm doing fine here. I love it here and I feel totally adjusted to here."

It didn't take much for Nicolas to feel at home after his college career began with a series of false starts and stutter steps.

Nicolas, a standout two-way lineman with Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., followed the footsteps on one of the school's most famous graduates, 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, to Notre Dame.

But after the Fighting Irish suffered through a 6-6 season in 2004, coach Tyrone Willingham, a heavy influence in Nicolas' decision to go to Notre Dame, was fired.

New coach Charlie Weis barely had begun putting his staff in place before Nicolas started feeling uncomfortable with the new regime.

Opting to transfer, Nicolas landed at CU, which was on his radar coming out of high school. Nicolas was ineligible last season because of NCAA transfer rules but toiled dutifully on the scout team at practice, biding his time.

Then, naturally, the wheels of Nicolas' fresh start came off, as CU let go of Gary Barnett after the Buffaloes lost their final four games by a combined 149-32.

After transferring once, Nicolas had little choice but to remain in Boulder. The Buffaloes are glad he did, as Nicolas has developed into a key contributor on a defense that has played stronger than is reflected by the team's 0-5 record.

"It's his first year of playing college football. Obviously, he has practiced against some really good players, but games are different," defensive line coach Romeo Bandison said. "He's done a great job of preparing himself and giving himself a chance to be successful."

Nicolas ranks eighth on the team with 24 tackles and has posted six tackles in three of five games. Nicolas has been an anchor in the middle of a defensive front that has allowed 100 rushing yards or fewer in four of five games and ranks 19th in NCAA Division I-A in rushing defense (80.2 yards a game).

"When we as a defensive line have a good game and do our jobs, we have a pretty good game on defense," defensive tackle George Hypolite said. "When we make a lot of mistakes, it affects the whole defense the same. We have to set the tone. We have to do our jobs every play. We have to be as close to perfect as we possibly can."

Baylor at Colorado

• The game: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Folsom Field (53,750 capacity), Boulder.

• The records: CU is 0-5 overall, 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference; Baylor is 2-3, 1-0.

• The series: CU leads 8-5, including 5-2 in games played in Boulder.

• TV/radio: No television; KOA-AM (850).

• Who's favored: CU by 5.

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