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CU report: Cody's close call

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 27, 2008 at 9:42 p.m.

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Colorado receiver Cody Crawford fumbles as Oklahoma State's Jacob Lacey, bottom, makes a hit on Nov. 15. Turnovers have been one big reason CU's offense has struggled in Big 12 play.

David Zalubowski / Associated Press/David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Colorado receiver Cody Crawford fumbles as Oklahoma State's Jacob Lacey, bottom, makes a hit on Nov. 15. Turnovers have been one big reason CU's offense has struggled in Big 12 play.

Colorado at Nebraska

When: 1:30 p.m. MST today.

Where: Memorial Stadium (81,067) in Lincoln.

* The records: CU is 5-6 overall, 2-5 in Big 12 Conference; Nebraska is 7-4, 4-3.

* The series: Nebraska leads 46-18-2, including 24-8 in Lincoln.

* TV/Radio: Channel 7; KOA-AM (850).

* Who's favored: Nebraska by 16.

* Injury update: CU - TB Darrell Scott, ankle, day to day; S Ryan Walters, ankle/knee, doubtful; S D.J. Dykes, health issues, out. Nebraska - none reported.

* Scouting report: Nebraska is on a roll, CU is in danger of being rolled. The Cornhuskers have won four of their past five games; the Buffs have lost three of their past four. If the Buffaloes can't somehow generate enough offense to capitalize on any scoring opportunities off turnovers and stay with a Cornhuskers offense that's come to life under quarterback Joe Ganz, CU can kiss its slim postseason hopes goodbye. Nebraska is playing harder under first-year coach Bo Pelini, and CU will have to start fast to quiet (silencing is out of the question) the crowd at Memorial Stadium.

* Stat that matters: Nebraska is coming off a season-best 610 total yards in its 56-28 win at Kansas State. By comparison, CU accounted for 353 total yards in its 14-13 win against Kansas State. The Buffs are 0-4 in true road games this season and have won in Lincoln only eight times in 32 visits.

He Said It

"Win, and we get to play another game. Lose, and we're done for the season. We all want to play."

CU's Jake Behrens, on winning a sixth game and becoming bowl eligible.

Numbers Game

4-4 is the record in the CU-Nebraska series in this decade.

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Quarterback Cody Hawkins made the trip to Nebraska in 2006 as a true freshman, figuratively outfitted in the redshirt he'd worn for the season's previous 11 games.

But the redshirt was very close to coming off in the second half of the Buffaloes' 37-14 loss.

CU's starting quarterback in that game was senior Bernard Jackson, a capable runner and an average passer who, even at that late point of the season, had hardly mastered first-year coach Dan Hawkins' new offense.

But after Jackson and the Buffs closed the Cornhuskers' margin to 17-14 in the second half, Jackson suffered a slight concussion. CU's coaching staff began telling Cody Hawkins he might have to play if Jackson didn't emerge from the fog.

"I was on the sidelines telling him what to do - and I hadn't played all year," recalled Cody Hawkins, who will make his ninth start of the season today. "I'm glad I didn't have to play and burn the redshirt for one game."

Hype? What hype?

Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz and guard Matt Slauson sounded off this week about the Buffs - Ganz saying he hopes to send them home for the postseason and Slauson painting them as "irrelevant."

Cody Hawkins contends it all went right past him.

"I don't watch TV unless I'm watching Entourage or South Park, so I really haven't heard any of the stuff," he said. "I guess somebody said something out there (in Nebraska). . . .

"(Slauson) can say that, but I think the best way to go about it is speak softly and carry a big stick. Obviously, he's from Colorado and chose to go somewhere else. So he doesn't feel the same way about this program that a lot of guys here do.

"I know all of our guys are really pumped up and excited about this rivalry (but) people aren't throwing out bulletin board material. Our coaches have made no mistake about how important this game is; they've been talking about it since the preseason. So it's one we're really looking forward to."

Ready for Red

Anthony Perkins, a redshirt freshman safety, figures to be in CU's starting lineup today, opposite true freshman safety Patrick Mahnke.

Both are Coloradans, and both know the significance of Nebraska.

"It's a rivalry game," Perkins said. "I grew up a (CU) fan, so every year on the day after Thanksgiving, I'd turn on the TV and watch CU-Nebraska. I'm pretty aware of the whole thing."

Subbing for senior Ryan Walters earlier in the season, Perkins has played significant minutes against West Virginia, Florida State, Texas and Oklahoma State. He said he merely is "trying to take advantage of every opportunity. . . . Really, just being able to go against the different situations that are going to happen in the course of the game, it's made me better prepared for this week."

Shifting into 'D'

Since late September, CU's offense has lurched more than cruised. The Buffs are last in the Big 12 Conference in every major team statistical category.

"It's been pretty tough," junior fullback Jake Behrens said. "A lot of the time we are moving the ball and feel like we have that capability. Then something happens - a dropped pass, a penalty, something that kind of kills our drive.

"We know we've just got to put it all together for one drive and get in the end zone. It's definitely been frustrating at times, but we try to keep regrouping."

Cody Hawkins believes a good game plan has been installed for Nebraska: "The coaches have done an awesome job - this week more so than others. We've had two weeks to prepare and our guys were able to do some different things.

"I think we've got run-pass plays that will get us in the right position to make plays. Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence."