The idea that the quarterback competition at Colorado was close throughout fall camp appears to have been a ruse.

    Colorado sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen said Monday he knew weeks before Sunday night's season opener that Cody Hawkins would be the starting quarterback. During that same period, coaches continued to characterize the competition as open and close.

    Cody Hawkins was asked during a press conference after Sunday's loss to Colorado State when he knew he had won the starting job. He said, “You guys will all feel really stupid if I tell you. So I'm not saying anything.”

    Reporters covering the Colorado program are not permitted to write about what they see in practice, including the number of practice repetitions particular players get with first- and second-string units. Players said Hawkins received the vast majority of time with the first team during the final two weeks of practices leading up the opener.

    Hansen said offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau approached him three weeks ago with the idea of redshirting if he didn't win the job. He said he liked the idea and believes Kiesau is looking out for his future, trying to preserve an extra season of eligibility.

    Hansen said the idea is for him to serve as an emergency replacement for Hawkins. At this point, the only scenario in which he would enter a game would be if Hawkins was injured and the game was still on the line.

    “I guess the whole thing is hopefully nothing happens to Cody,” Hansen said. “If something does, then I'm in. That's the whole plan.”

    In blowout situations when the team needs to protect Hawkins from risking injury, the plan is to use walk-on true freshman Seth Lobato, allowing Hansen and true freshman Clark Evans both to redshirt. Evans said he is definitely planning a redshirt season.

    The situation could get tricky if Hawkins suffers what appears to be a minor injury and has to leave a game which is still on the line for just a few plays or series. What would coaches do then?

    “It's a real tough situation right now because if something happens to Cody, my redshirt is blown again,” Hansen said. “It's kind of a little messed up situation, but hopefully nothing happens.”

    If Hansen is able to save a year of eligibility this season, he would still likely face another year on the sideline watching Hawkins play. Hansen would be a third-year sophomore next season if he redshirts this year. Hawkins will be a senior in 2010 with three years of starting experience.

    “I've just got to work a lot more harder,” Hansen said. “It's going to be that much harder. Three years starting. That's a lot of years, a lot of experience. And now with me redshirting and the possibility of not getting any experience this year, it's going to be hard, but then again, I'll be one year older, one year smarter.

    “I guess you can say I can learn a lot from this year, especially being the main guy signaling in plays and stuff. That really helps out because you're really in the game.”