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Buffs earn a day off, late practice Wednesday

Posted August 13, 2007

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has been impressed with how his team has handled the first week of practice and he rewarded them tonight with a day off Tuesday. Hawkins also said he wanted to give players a day to get their legs back.

The Buffs will have a brief walk-through on Tuesday morning along with weight-lifting and will go paint-balling with coaches in the afternoon. They had been scheduled for a 21/2 hour morning practice.

The team will practice twice on Wednesday at at 9 a.m. and again from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Two of the first three games this season begin at 8 p.m. and coaches want playersto get used to being on the field at night.

...Freshman tailback Brian Lockridge has made a name for himself with his constant hustle. Hawkins used Lockridge as an example Monday while talking with the team about having the right attitude and frame of mind and doing everything on the field at full speed.

Hawkins said he thinks Lockridge could earn some playing time on special teams, but he will probably find it more difficult to break into the logjam at running back.

...Freshman wide receivers Josh Smith (neck and shoulder) and Markques Simas (shoulder) missed all or most of the afternoon practice Monday with injuries. Both are expected back Wednesday. Freshman defensive lineman Lagrone Shields and junior linebacker Brad Jones were pushing wheelbarrows as well.

...Bernard Jackson missed practice again because of an independent study class conflict.

...Former Colorado tight end Tennyson McCarty dazzled the Buffs with some magic tricks after practice Monday.