Buffs Deal With Snow & Cold
BOULDER - University of Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins is getting used to the ups and downs when it comes to Colorado weather, his Buffaloes practiced for the fifth time this spring, reaching the one-third mark of his first spring practice as CU's 23rd head coach.
Monday was the most daunting of the five sessions, as it took place in temperatures in the lower 20s with light snowfall throughout. But the ever-positive Hawkins didn't let it deter from what he wanted his team to accomplish.
"You gotta show up and go, and you can't let outside things inhibit you," he said. "It's life as we know it, so you deal with it. It's not always what you want ? people in hell want ice water ? so it doesn't mean you're going to get want you want."
He said he did not consider canceling the practice or moving it indoors into CU's antiquated Balch Fieldhouse, often the site when the weather outside makes practicing next to impossible. Usually when that has happened, because of the limitations of the building, very little is ever accomplished.
Thus, the Buffaloes battled the elements for two-and-a-half hours, finishing the session with a "belly-slide" competition between he offense and the defense. Hawkins said it was still productive, as the coaches were able to utilize the planned 30 5-minute periods in "shells," where tackling is limited.
The Buffs practice again Tuesday and then will have their first full scrimmage of the spring on Thursday.
NOTES: Hawkins announced that senior TB Brandon Caesar has taken a medical redshirt, as despite surgeries on both knees, he has not been able to fully recover from the multiple injuries he has suffered in his career... S J.J. Billingsley returned to practice after sitting out last week for violating team rules... About 15 players have been "rolling" between offense and defense, as the coaching staff takes a look a possible position changes, though none have been formally discussed, as well as to help shore up the depth in practices. Players moving around have included CB Gardner McKay, TB Hugh Charles, CB Terrence Wheatley, TB Byron Ellis, TE Riar Geer and DT George Hypolite.