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Woelk: One last chance for CU to get some swagger for offseason
Conventional wisdom would suggest that the Colorado football program will be headed in one of two directions after today's matchup against Nebraska.
In terms of the immediate future, that's not an incorrect assessment. A win means bowl eligibility, an enthusiastic finish for fans and a good attitude for players when they begin their offseason workouts.
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A loss means you can erase all of the above and plug in the opposite.
But conventional wisdom doesn't take into account the long haul — and in terms of the big picture, today's game is more about the ongoing rebuilding process that Dan Hawkins started nearly two years ago.
Certainly, a win would expedite that process. A loss would no doubt throw up a detour.
But win or lose, Hawkins' rebuilding efforts will continue to move forward. Despite the crowing from fans that will accompany a win or the moaning from the same over a loss, the bottom line is this: One game won't make or break that process.
Want to know what the Buffs need more of than any of the trappings that come with the postseason?
It's one of Hawkins' favorite terms, that intangible he calls "swagger." It's that combination of confidence, cockiness and self-assurance that takes players and teams to the next level — and it's what the Buffs don't have.
Not yet. Not on a day-to-day, week-to-week, game-to-game basis.
Swagger is the ability to shrug off bad breaks. It's the mental mind-set that comes with long-term success, the cockiness that good programs exude every time they step on the field.
Most of all, it's something that's created over time, not overnight. It must be ingrained through experience. It can't be taught on the practice field.
And when a team has it, when a team possesses that swagger, it knows how to draw upon it when difficulttimes arise.
No doubt, Hawk has tried to accelerate the process. It's why he takes fourth-down gambles when conventional wisdom and common sense would dictate otherwise. It's why he goes for broke when playing it safe would seem to be the logical route.
Success breeds success. Confidence breeds confidence. And every time Hawkins has seen the chance to instill in his players a little of that confidence, he's jumped at the chance. He's tried to give them successful moments in times of adversity, the kind of moments that serve as a foundation.
It's been a season of gambles — and not all of them have paid off.
What Hawkins knows is that this is not a program that has experienced a great deal of success in the last four years. Start with the recruiting ordeal, move on to a pair of embarrassing Big 12 title game losses and continue with a 2-10 finish last season. Every positive moment has had an exponential polar opposite.
Simply, these Buffs are still a team that flinches when things go wrong. When adversity hits, these Buffs still have a tendency to wince, waiting for the next punch to land instead of throwing one of their own.
It's why Hawkins has pushed the envelope, perhaps more than has been prudent.
No doubt, how this season is judged will hinge greatly upon what happens today at Folsom Field. As Hawkins allowed earlier in the week, "No question, there's a lot of things at stake."
This is, after all, the coach who said when the year began that he'd consider six wins and a bowl bid a measure of success.
But today isn't just about bowl bids and warm fuzzies for fans. Most of all, today is about the Buffs having one last chance to gain a little swagger to take into the offseason.
All the rest is just icing.
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Posted by NJBuff on November 23, 2007 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's Go Buffs!!!!
How about a pasting of the Huskers to enchance that SWAGGER!
Posted by walto_clown on November 23, 2007 at 6:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BUFFS!
Posted by HoosierHusker1 on November 23, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You have to be kidding me! The CO AD has enough fear that he has to write the CO students not to riot and be rude? Well history has a way of repeating itself. I guaran D---tee you that CO students will riot and be rude especially if NU wins.
Posted by Ralphie2 on November 23, 2007 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LET'S GO BUFS!!!!
Posted by BigBuff on November 23, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Buffs! Let's start something today!
Posted by bzainthemd on November 23, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HoosierHusker,
Seriously, get some education before you post on our site. Sure, we have some bad fans. What happened in 2005 was horrible. I'm was embarrased by our students that game. But, before you go off talking about how bad CU fans are, please remember these great examples of NU excellence in being fans:
1. "Sal is dead, Go big Red"...you call that classy? That is probably the worst show of sportsmanship ever.
2. 2005 NU vs. OU at Nebraska...NU fans threw waterbottles onto the field during that loss and your soon to be gone coach gave a throat slashing gesture to the Ref over a no-call holding call.
3. Lincoln Nebraska, 2000, was harrassed by NU fans in a bar for wearing CU stuff. Had to leave to avoid getting in a fight. The so-called "Greatest Fans in College Football" have some bad seeds too.
Last, to all of you NU fans who complain about Folsom Field, don't come to CU to watch games. Stay home. We really don't want you here anyway, but if you do, I for one will treat you with respect. We all should, but so should you.
Posted by Huzkazwin on November 23, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting year for both teams.
Looking forward to the game.
Usually NU fans just consider the Colorado game as desert to a nice meal, but with parity in the land of college football, we now consider our Friends to the West more than just desert fodder, and suppliers fine drinking water and electricity, we consider them a suitable opponent to engage and respect.
I don't think Husker fans have ever been in a position where not only are they anxious about the football game, but they are also anxious about their head coach getting the ol' Lous IVX treatment - and to top it off, they are also looking to steal one of the best coaches in college football from a potential BCS championship team. I don't think Bo would leave LSU, but we can only hope.
Go Big Red!!!! Get us a win!!!!!
Go Away Bill!!!
Go Bo Pelini from LSU and come home to NEBRASKA!!!!
Posted by T1 on November 23, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here we go again. 21-17 huskers and the Buffs can't move the ball or play defense. Sweet. There's an article in the RMN titled "Hawkins, Bohn: CU on schedule"... schedule for what? This team is not good and next year's schedule is brutal (as usual) so what are they on schedule for? Hoping to win six games and go to the weedwacker bowl in bumsville idaho? Buffs football: Jump in.
Posted by T1 on November 23, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did I say they can't play defense? They've given up 35 points, 400 yards, and 19 first downs... in the first half. Outstanding.
Posted by GloryGloryColorado on November 23, 2007 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey huzkazwin, its dessert after a meal. You cant eat deserts. See ya corn fans. Another blow out. Start rebuilding your sorry program again. Hey T1. you posted a little too soon. I don't expect you to bring your sorry a$$ back here. Haha. Nebraska is a complete joke.
Posted by T1 on November 23, 2007 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GGC: you're right. My foot tastes like crow. Never been so glad to be wrong.
Posted by rodrigo on November 23, 2007 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope its yummy, t.
Hlads... congrats. Have a nice long offseason. Too bad it won't get any better any time soon. We'll see ya next November, stud!!!
Posted by T1 on November 23, 2007 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Man, I had a serious hangovoer from the iowa state loss. The way this game started out just depressed me even more. At this point I'm glad CU is winning but I can't say I'm very impressed with the D out there. 51 points is awful. Still, winning is winning. Looks like a basketball score. Ha. 65-51.
Posted by brobertson on November 23, 2007 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's all over now
Go away Husker fans. You've written enough about
poor sportsmanship and lousy attendance and all of that crap.The game is won or lost on the field, not in the stands. CU has beaten the Corn huskers again.It's a reality that you BUG Red fans have always had a hard time swallowing. I think the hubris of your fans is the thing that has always been the most bothersome thing to me. Look that word up . It describes the Nebraska football fan mentality perfectly. You just haven't ever had to get used to loosing. Now you do. Be good loosers like you've expected everyone else to be in the face of your victories. Now you can speak about fan loyalty. Where are your fans now?Screaming for the head of another coach? Try admitting that winning isn't everything.Then bad mouth our fans and our town and our stadium. Go away Husker fans. There are bigger fish to fry in college football, and Big Red isn't one of them. Bye Bye.Stay off of our turf if you don't like it here.Stay in Nebraska. You belong there. You deserve each other, Bye Bye.