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CU report: Look for Ballenger?

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

Published October 7, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.

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Backup quarterback Matt Ballenger, left, could see some action this weekend vs. Kansas.

Photo by © AP

Backup quarterback Matt Ballenger, left, could see some action this weekend vs. Kansas.

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Coach Dan Hawkins left the door open Tuesday to give backup quarterback Matt Ballenger meaningful playing time and ramp up the competition for starter Cody Hawkins when the Buffaloes play Saturday at No. 16 Kansas.

"You always want to push guys - you always want to have that element in there that, 'Hey, you need to play or you're not going to play,' " Dan Hawkins said. "That's something we're getting better at in our program."

He indicated he was intrigued to "get (Ballenger) in there and see how he competes, see how he compares. Sometimes you never know. You bring another guy in and things happen and people respond. We'll see how that goes."

Dan Hawkins said when Ballenger, a redshirt freshman, replaced Cody Hawkins in the fourth quarter of the Texas game (the Longhorns led 38-7), "We were not doing that much anyway, and we needed to get (Ballenger) in and let him go and get his first-game jitters out of the way. . . . "

Ballenger said after Tuesday's practice he always prepared as if he were going to start but noted Dan Hawkins had told him playing early Saturday was a possibility.

"Playing against Texas, maybe against Kansas, it would be awesome," said Ballenger, who completed 3-of-4 passes for 61 yards and CU's final touchdown against Texas.

Cody Hawkins, who completed 13-of-33 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown against Texas, said he and Ballenger "are totally OK" with however they're used.

"Matt's a great friend, and a very talented guy," he said.

Help from defense

Defensive tackle Eugene Goree, a 6-foot-1, 295-pound redshirt freshman, is being given a look at offensive guard. Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes said while Goree's offensive experience is limited, "He's a big guy who moves well, and he's in a backup role (on defense). We'll see if he can help us." CU has lost two offensive line starters in the past two weeks, including guard Max Tuioti-Mariner.

Etc.

* CU's Oct. 18 home game against Kansas State will kick off at 5 p.m. and be televised by FSN Rocky Mountain. Athletic director Mike Bohn said 50,000 tickets have been sold for the Parents Weekend game.

* Dan Hawkins said CU's medical personnel believe freshman tailback Darrell Scott (sprained ankle) "will be fine" for Saturday's game and senior safety Ryan Walters (knee) will play.

Comments

  • October 7, 2008

    10:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    beerbuff writes:

    It is about time to give the prodigal son some competition. Hope he gets the hook early since Ballenger looks like the real deal and not a deer in a headlight.

  • October 8, 2008

    7:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverGold writes:

    Hey Coach...it's about time you saw how limited your son is as a qb. Giving Matt Ballenger an opportunity to play is the smartest thing you can do for yourself and the team. You have a two-year extension of your contract....make the RIGHT MOVES...and make it pay...after all, your extension includes payment for success above and beyond just being the CU coach. Make Matt the starter and let your son come in on trick plays...meaning both qbs in the lineup at the same time.

  • October 8, 2008

    8:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oklahoma22 writes:

    very smart move, let the talented youth play with each other. 2 years and CU will be playing with the big boys.

    Top recruits would not have signed if Cody stayed at QB.