Fact or Fiction
filed in Features on Oct.20, 2006
Matt over at the Crimson and Cream Machine has sent over some statements for arguments sake. And because we are college football fans, we are always up for a discussion; otherwise how could we put up with the poll system?
Colorado fans are losing faith in new head coach Dan Hawkins.
Fiction – When Hawkins was first announced as the new head coach for the Colorado Football program, many fans were confident that Hawkins’ success, especially on offense, would directly translate into continued success for the Buffs. While the patience of many fans is being tried, I think that most fans believe that Coach Hawk will ultimately prove to be an effective coach here.
The Colorado offense is one dimensional.
Fiction – If your offense can’t complete a pass, it is by default, one dimensional. However, Jackson’s performance against Texas Tech showed great improvement. Going 11 of 17 for 151 yards, 2 touchdowns and no picks, Jackson may have turned the corner. While those stats aren’t exactly lofty, they were effective enough to keep the defense honest and allow Charles, Holiday and Jackson to combine for 228 rushing yards on 46 attempts. The group averaged 4.9 yards a carry with Charles leading the way boasting a 7 yard average.
Colorado’s defense is underrated.
Fact – In a year when offensive scores of any kind have been few and far between, the Buff’s D has kept them in every game. Culminating in their best show yet, holding the vaunted TT passing game to 245 yards on 45 attempts. (One of those completions, a screen, went for 54 yards.) Throw in three drive killing picks and the Red Raiders didn’t have much of a chance. Oh and by the way we held TT to 31 yards rushing
Without Adrian Peterson on the field the Buffaloes have no idea how to defend Oklahoma.
Fiction – Any college football fan hates to see a star player go down. On the bright side for Peterson, this isn’t a career threatening injury and his future is still very bright.
Without Adrian Peterson of the field, the Sooners have no idea how to run their offense. The Sooners will have to find a way to replace 177 ypg of offense (not even counting special teams play). The buffs have 5 games from the 2005 season where Peterson did not start to look at. This is one situation where game planning for the unknown may be easier than planning for the known.
Colorado will have to run the ball to beat Oklahoma
Fact – Absolutely the Buffs will have to run the ball, and well, to beat Oklahoma. The trick to accomplishing that will be the buffs passing efficiency. In order to keep OU from stacking 8 men in the box, the Buffs will have to be at least moderately successful on some quick passes to the flats and the occasional medium range pass down field. If the Buffs can spread the defense, look for Hugh Charles to have great success with the running lanes up the middle.
The Colorado football program is better off now as opposed to a year ago.
Fact – This is the though question. If the only measuring stick is on the field success, then the program is obviously far, worse off. However, very few people are so myopic as to believe that winning is the only goal of a college football program. The very fact that CU has had no on or off the field disruptions this year speaks highly of Hawkins ability to coach these young men in matters of character and life.
The winning will come, but it should always be a secondary goal. Go Buffs!
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October 20th, 2006 on 5:32 pm
Thanks for your comments Coach Hawk or, er, Katfish (love the nickname, Hawk)! Glad to see you have access to this site and pay attention! I agree with you on most of your points, but us fickle fans in Colorado are starving for some wins. I’m happy that you care so much about producing well rounded young men who stay out of trouble and move on to more meaningful things in this zen world. Hats off, Coach Mac was the last one who did that successfully. However, Coach Hawk, please don’t underemphasize winning. You need to win here if you want to succeed. Boulder is different than Boise – we actually have many other things going on Saturdays than your fans in Boise did. I know the town shut down when their beloved Broncos played. Here in Boulder (and Colorado for that much), teams have to win to keep us interested. The Broncos learned this in the 80′s and have continued to make us happy. Mr. Lacroix and the Avs also know this and have been wildly successful. Win at all costs. If you don’t, we could care less. Take, for example, the Rockies. Monfort, McMorris and gang thought that they could guarantee fans just because they offered a product which was untapped before – not true. We actually have more Cub fans attend games than Rockies fans. The Rockies are horrible and have no business playing in the National League. Fans can’t even give their tickets away. The Nugs are back, but any Colorado sports fan could tell you what attendance used to be like – you almost thought you were in confession. Yes, it was that bad. So, Coach Hawk, before you downplay winning, and you make some good points, please understand that we believe in you, but you have to at least guarantee us some wins. For example, you have to promise us that you won’t lose to anymore Div. 1-AA teams anymore. The fact that we were embarrassed at home against Montana State is just unacceptable. Shouldn’t we expect to beat teams like that? Please say its true. And another thing, Coach Hawk – can you please come up with a game plan to beat CSU? During my college days, CSU was simply a tuneup game. These are the players that weren’t recruited to go to CU, so they settled and went on to Fort Fun. Why do we continually lose to these guys? Clearly, we are intimidated by them the same way CSU is scared of Air Farce. Could you at least consider putting lightning bolts on our helmets and bringing back the blue uniforms for the CSU game, that way we have a mental edge? Coach, just guarantee that we won’t lose to Div. 1-AA schools and that we beat CSU, and you will have a majority of the boosters back and rooting for you. Nebraska, Texas, OU – irrelevant, as long as you give us a product we can be proud of. Also, just some more food for thought – planning an easier non-conference schedule doesn’t hurt, either. At this stage we have nothing left to prove – we play in the Big 12 conference, against some of the best schools in the nation. I’m not saying we should drop to Nebraska’s ranks by playing Texas School of Horticulture, Oklahoma A&I or Nicholls State, but would Utah State, UNLV or Indiana State really hurt? On a final note, I’m glad you pay attention and write on this site. We are all pulling for you Coach!
October 21st, 2006 on 12:27 am
Hey guys, you are all invited to come over to the Machine to join us in our game predictions thread. Good luck and enjoy the game!
http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/story/2006/10/21/22016/803#commenttop