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Hawkins in withdrawals

Posted August 7, 2007

CU football coach Dan Hawkins is fighting an overwhelming urge when he's not on the practice fields this week. It's tearing him up not being able to grab his cell phone and send text messages to recruits and even some members of his current team.

The NCAA banned the use of text messaging in recruiting earlier this year to the dismay of most Division I coaches. The organization will reconsider the new rule Tuesday at its board of directors meeting.

The board could rescind the rule and it could uphold the rule until at least January.

Hawkins has always been a big proponent of texting not just recruits but players already in his program. Hawkins can text scholarship players this month during training camp, but he can't text walk-ons until the first day of classes Aug. 26.

And he can't text recruits at all. So he has turned to e-mail instead.

"I've just been so trianed that every time I have a break, who am I hittin' now, who am I hittin' now, who am I hittin' now," Hawkins said "...Sometimes I just pick it and rub over the things wishing I could text somebody."

Hawkins said he is hoping for some modification to the rule this week. He said e-mailing recruits is not as effective because most kids don't receive e-mail on their cell phones.

"It hurst me cause I like to stay in touch with guys," Hawkins said.

Tuesday morning notes...

I was impressed this morning by true freshman defensive back Anthony Perkins. He made a couple nice plays on passes in his direction and intercepted one of them. He has a ton of athletic ability. I'm not sure if he will play this year but I think he probably has as good a chance as any other freshman.

There is a ton of athleticism in both the secondary and at the wide receiver position all of a sudden. Anthony Wright and Lamont Smith also are impressive true freshmen defensive backs and Markques Simas, Josh Smith and Kendrick Celestine are the types of players that have been in short supply at wide receiver in Boulder in recent years.

Celestine was in camp Tuesday morning after travel complications forced to report a day late to camp. Celestine lives in Mamou, La., just a little off the beaten path.

Hawkins said it is obvious that the three freshmen receivers will push for playing time immediately.

"Clearly, you've got three guys who are knocking on the door," he said.

Walk-on safety Jason Espinoza hasn't been able to practice the first two days while he awaits results from his Sickle Cell Anemia test.