Coach Dan Hawkins speaks at a press conference after the 2010 Rocky Mountain Showdown at Invesco Field at Mile High Saturday, Sept. 4. This Saturday will be the Blackout game against the Georgia Bulldogs. (CU Independent/Lauren Walter)
For two coaches, the outcome could determine their careers. Georgia’s 1-3 start has head coach Mark Richt buckled into the hot seat. In Boulder, coach Dan Hawkins has been feeling the heat for quite a while. The CU head coach said he sympathizes with Richt after Georgia’s third conference loss of the young season.
“I felt bad for Mark because I have tremendous respect for him,” Hawkins said. “He’s a great person and a great coach. It’s been hard for them because they just can’t get on track.”
The Bulldogs have dropped their last three games, but star wide receiver A.J. Green returns just in time for the showdown under the Flatirons.
Green, who is projected by many to be a first-round pick in next April’s draft, is done serving a four-game suspension.
His presence will present a challenge for a secondary which ranks last in the Big 12 in terms of pass efficiency defense. Senior corner Jalil Brown said he and senior Jimmy Smith plan to play Green man-to-man.
“They have guys who can play,” Brown said. “We have guys on our team who can play, too.”
At his weekly press conference Hawkins said that junior Patrick Mahnke will start at nickelback because three players in the spots ahead of him are out with injuries.
Coming off a bye week should prove an advantage for CU, which is 20-15 in games after byes since 1985. Hawkins noted that a few nicked-up players finally had some time to get healthy again.
Junior quarterback Tyler Hansen was not one of those aching, thanks in large part to an offensive line that did not allow him to be sacked against Hawaii. In his best game of the year, the junior completed 73 percent of his passes for 200 yards and two scores.
Hansen fittingly predicted Saturday’s game to be a “dog-fight,” and said his team could gain much from back-to-back wins.
“Since I’ve been here we haven’t really put two games together,” Hansen said. “We’ve gotten a big win then the next week we haven’t played so well. Our goal is put two games together and get 2 back-to-back wins.”
During his presser before Tuesday practice, Richt had only words of praise for the Buffs starter Hansen.
“He’s a very athletic guy – he’s actually rushed for over 700 yards in his career,” Richt said. “Got a very good arm. He’s certainly got an ability to run and throws it real well.”
On paper, it seems the Buffs’ best chance to get points will be through the air. According to the NCAA’s website, the Bulldog secondary ranks even lower nationally than CU’s in pass efficiency.
Hansen’s foil is redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray. The dual-threat from Tampa is averaging over 200 yards passing per game. Richt, who coached two Heisman quarterbacks during his days as offensive coordinator at Florida State, claimed his freshman is “growing up pretty quick.”
Hawkins gave a similar assessment of the opposing signal-caller.
“I think he is getting consistently better,” Hawkins said. “I think he has done a nice job for being a young guy. He can run a little bit, and that wide receiver corps comes back into what they were expected to be at the beginning of the season.”
A third head coach, known as a legend in Boulder, can be spotted on the sidelines on Saturday. Former CU coach Bill McCartney and his 1990 National Championship team are set to be honored halftime at the game.
This year marks the 20-year anniversary of the school’s only football national championship. As they did in their first game at Folsom, the Buffs will wear throwback jerseys from 1990 for every home game of the season.
Hansen said the team’s company is motivation for the current squad.
“Having those guys and the amount of pride they show just because they’re a Buff – it makes you want to win because of that,” Hansen said. “To have them in here and to have them tell stories to you and what it was like when they were playing. It makes you want to have that experience. Once you’re a Buff, you’re always a Buff.”
There are many apparent parallels when comparing the Buffs to the Bulldogs. They both have one national championship, both have the most recognizable mascots in the country, and both have their head coaches in desperate search of a season-saving win.
“They have a lot of pride and a lot of tradition there,” Hawkins said. “Mark is a great coach. I don’t think they are going to panic by any means, but certainly they are going to screw it down a little tighter. I fully expect that we are going to get their best shot.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.
