Buffs Return From Spring Break

BOULDER?The University of Colorado football team returned from Spring Break and held its first padded practice of the spring Tuesday afternoon.

            "I thought that they were okay, probably better than I would have thought," head coach Dan Hawkins said. "I told them that the first day after spring break is usually bad, but they were okay."

            All players were present and accounted for, Hawkins said, including sophomore defensive end Marquez Herrod, who was stuck in the 50-car pileup on Vail Pass Monday night and did not get back to Boulder until Tuesday morning.

"It's good to be back, we're back in pads, back in school and just doing that football thing," senior linebacker Brad Jones said. "It's cool to be on break and relax but after three days I get bored and start getting antsy to get back to work and doing things. I'm excited to be back in the flow of things."

Jones said the new wrinkles the offense has installed this spring, including a no-huddle dimension, has made it hard on the defense.

"It's different to see the offense's new look," he said. "I've been practicing with Coach Hawk for three years and I was able to see their formations and know what they were going to do.  Now with the new offense that is a lot harder to do. But, I really like the new offense, it's much more confusing from a defensive point of view and I think that it is going to work."

The Buffs will practice twice more this week, on Thursday and Friday from about 4:00-6:30, before holding their first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday at 1:00 at Folsom Field. All practices and scrimmages are free and open to the public.