BUFFS GO LIGHT BEFORE SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE

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BOULDER - The University of Colorado football team held its 10th practice of the spring Friday, as the Buffs worked lightly in shorts and shoulder pads during the afternoon in preparation for a scrimmage that they will have Saturday morning in Folsom Field.

After holding no practice or meetings Thursday so what interim head coach Brian Cabral said his team could continue to "really stay up with their studies," the Buffs trained for almost two hours Friday.  Noting that players were happy to put in some light exertion after having nine tough practices in 13 days, Cabral said that he now anticipates his troops to hit the final spring stretch in strong fashion.

"We're expecting a big day (Saturday)," stated Cabral.  "Tomorrow will be a full-out scrimmage with some big effort.  We are really just looking to execute well on offense and defense."

In CU's only other major scrimmage held on the fifth day of drills, the Buffs conducted 102 plays with the respective depth units battling against one another.  Saying that he will stick to the same format for Saturday's scrum, Cabral believes that the first-team offense and defense have benefited from working against each other, just as the other strings have. 

"We want good competition," he stated.  "We need to work good competition on good competition.  Being in the stadium will also hopefully pick things up for our guys."

CU hopes to run around 100 plays Saturday morning in a session that is not open to the public.  Exactly one week later (April 24), though, the Buffs will open Folsom Field's gates to all fans for the annual spring game.

Injury Update:  Junior tailback Brian Calhoun (knee) remained sidelined Friday and will miss the scrimmage, however Cabral said he expects a return by Monday.  Junior linebacker Chris Hollis was also out during the day, as he continues to nurse a stress fracture in his foot sustained early last week.  Linebacker Thaddaeus Washington (shoulder) was also out, but Cabral thinks there is a possibility the sophomore could play Saturday.

The health of CU's talented young corps of wide receivers has not improved either, as Cabral predicted that sophomores Blake Mackey (lower leg) and Tyler Littlehales (back) might be back Monday.  Redshirt freshman Stephone Robinson will most likely miss the scrimmage, while he remains hampered by a hamstring pull.