Colorado keeps win in perspective

Celebration for first win is brief as Buffs head to Oklahoma

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, October 16, 2006

BOULDER - With no idea when Win No. 1 might arrive, coach Dan Hawkins was asked two weeks ago to project how his Colorado Buffaloes might react.

Hawkins drew out what has become a trademark, "We-l-l-l-l-l," and answered: "We won't know until we get there, but I hope our football team would know, given what we've been through and the way we've been, there's not going to be a parade and we're not going to hand out game balls and

we're not going to be crying and hugging everybody. We'll be very much the way we've been."

Aside from a couple of immediate postgame exceptions that included Hawkins' family accompanying him on a gleeful walk off the field and students spilling onto Folsom Field and joyously slapping shoulder pads, the Buffs were pretty much "the way they'd been" after Saturday's 30-6 dismantling of Texas Tech.

Finally hearing his coach after a win instead of one of the six 2006 losses that preceded it, senior defensive end Abraham Wright said of Hawkins' postgame address: "I couldn't tell a difference. Well, I mean, his speech wasn't as long as after a loss. It really surprises me how much wisdom he has for us after we lose. I mean, he'll tell us an entire story - and it all makes sense. . . .

"(Saturday) his words were a little short. He was telling us, basically, 'Guys, don't get off on this win so much that you feel like you've won the Super Bowl. We've still got (Oklahoma) right in front of us.' "

And the new coach's CU résumé still reads 1-6. For Hawkins, it was as it has always been - all about daily, often hourly, improvement and maintaining perspective.

With his debut season in Boulder indelibly marked by home losses to a Division I-AA opponent (Montana State) and a traditional Big 12 Conference bottom-dweller (Baylor), Hawkins conceded there was no reason for going heels-over-head.

He wanted his team to celebrate, while remembering, "They need to get back to work; we want to finish strong. We stare at that (1990) national championship trophy up there. . . . I'd degrade the Buffaloes tradition if I was going to do a backflip over 1-6."

So Sunday, business was conducted as usual - albeit with spirits higher - as CU began preparing for this week's trip to No. 20 Oklahoma, which will be minus Heisman Trophy candidate/All-America tailback Adrian Peterson (broken collarbone).

Hawkins called Peterson's injury "unfortunate, and I really, really mean that. I'm a person before I'm a football coach, and the person feels bad for him."

In games in Norman, Okla., since Big 12 play began in 1996, CU is 1-1, winning 27-25 in 1998 and losing 27-11 in 2002. In all CU-Oklahoma games in Big 12 play, including two lopsided losses in league championship games, the Buffs trail 2-4.

With Peterson out, the Sooners might shift to more spread offense. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson relied on it at Northwestern, but at Oklahoma, he has depended more on Peterson in the I-formation, forcing defenses to "load the box" against the run.

Now the offensive burden might fall on quarterback Paul Thompson, who shifted from receiver.

The No. 2 tailback on last week's depth chart was junior Allen Patrick (18 carries, 62 yards this season).

Having faced spread offenses the past three games, CU defensive coordinator Ron Collins said after holding Texas Tech 25.7 points below its scoring average, "Our guys felt confident in being able to recognize plays."

Collins also said while strategy to defend Texas Tech was pared down, he stressed keeping inside linebackers Thaddaeus Washington and Jordon Dizon on the field.

"We just said we're going to play them (regardless of down and distance)," Collins said. "Those two guys need to be on the field."

Wright, one sack (nine total) from tying Division I-A leader Mkristo Bruce of Washington State, embraced CU's first win for its psychological effect.

"We were already confident, and I hate to say it, but just having that 'W' kind of lets you get your swagger back," he said. "Guys are a little bit more ready and they're realizing, 'We can do this.' "

CU: Answers to five key questions

1 Will CU snap a 10-game losing streak and get Dan Hawkins' first win as coach?

Yes. But Hawkins made good on his promise during the losing streak to treat win No. 1 as another step in a foundational season.

2 Has playing spread offenses in consecutive weeks sharpened CU defensively?

Yes. Buffaloes coaches and defenders said the Baylor game, a 34-31 triple-overtime loss, helped them prepare for the Red Raiders. However, CU's defensive scheme was pared down from previous weeks.

3 Will Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell rebound from a five-turnover day?

No. Texas Tech suffered another five-turnover game, with Harrell contributing three interceptions and one lost fumble. He was replaced by Chris Todd for two series in the second half.

4 Is Buffs quarterback Bernard Jackson over last week's game-ending interception?

Yes. Jackson continued his growth and gutsy play at the position, completing 11-of-17 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Hawkins acknowledged Jackson's performance with a post-news conference hug and kind words.

5 Can CU run as effectively as last week (276 yards, three touchdowns) using three backs?

The Buffs rushed for 228 yards, with Hugh Charles (17 carries, 119 yards), Mell Holliday (15 for 55) and Jackson (14 for 54, touchdown) getting the carries. Oddly, tailback Byron Ellis didn't have a touch.

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466