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Duren was pushing for a starting job with Buffs
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Dan Hawkins appears to have had enough shenanigans from members of his football team.
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The Colorado coach booted linebacker Jake Duren off the team Sunday after the junior walk-on from Mullen High School was arrested by Boulder police in the wee hours of the morning for criminal trespass. Duren is the fifth player in the past two months to be either arrested or cited for breaking the law on a weekend night in Boulder with alcohol involved.
Hawkins has consistently advised his players to conduct themselves with integrity at all times or pay a price, and his punishments seem to be increasingly harsh.
Hawkins and athletic director Mike Bohn have stopped short of instituting a zero tolerance policy in the aftermath of previous incidents in which players were arrested, but at the rate inebriated Buffs are racking up jail time, things could be headed in that direction.
Duren's punishment was the most severe so far. It came less than 24 hours after he played mostly with the first-team defense in the second major spring scrimmage. Duren began his day with an impressive interception on a pass thrown by starting quarterback Cody Hawkins. He ended it in the back seat of police cruiser.
Hawkins suspended linebacker Lynn Katoa and tight end Riar Geer from practicing and competition just beforespring drills began last month after learning of their arrests on felony assault charges. Both players are due in court this week and must face punishment by the school's Office of Judicial Affairs, which is expected to deliver mandatory suspensions under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hawkins chose not to suspend fullback Kai Maiava and linebacker Nate Vaiomounga after both were ticketed for underage drinking earlier this semester, but both could miss playing time early next fall as punishment for their infractions.
It was not the first sign of problems for Duren. He was one of a handful of players who missed the entire second week of drills earlier this spring to focus on improving in the classroom in what Hawkins calls his "mentoring program."
In his first two years at the helm of the program, Hawkins has rarely dealt with players getting in trouble with the law or breaking team rules, but the rash of incidents this spring has spoiled that record.
Duren was in his third year in the program after transferring from Northern Colorado as a sophomore. He played a total of 82 plays from scrimmage last season over nine games, with most of that action coming in passing situations.
He has two years of eligibility remaining and two years to use it under NCAA rules. He could transfer to another Division I program but would have to sit out another season. The most likely option should he choose to continue playing football would be a move to a Division I-AA program where he would be eligible immediately.
Duren could not be reached for comment.
Posted by walto_clown on April 14, 2008 at 1:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Duren's punishment was the most severe so far. It came less than 24 hours after he played mostly with the first-team defense in the second major spring scrimmage."
I disagree with the overall assessment of this article. I believe the severity was situational rather than the result of some magic threshold the team crossed.
It's my suspicion (without any real information to draw from) that Coach Hawkins is relatively unaffected by the trends and continues to deal with these events on a case-by-case basis.
The Coach is the guy that sits on the couch across from the parents and assures them that he will provide advocacy when required. Of course, he has the the additional role of maintaining the standard and clarifying consequences for adverse behavior.
It appears that Duren's situation lacked the "gray area" associated with the other incidents. There was no provocation--only a really bad decision, and it doesn't sound like his first.
Good call, Coach...
Posted by archalon on April 14, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hate to see another guy in trouble, but the punishment is not severe. Good call by Hawkins.
Maybe the next player who thinks about getting in trouble will (finally) learn a lesson from this.
Posted by jakeh_77 on April 14, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if other schools are having these problems?
Posted by flabuff on April 14, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every school has this problem
Posted by CincyBuffFan on April 14, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jakeh_77,
Yes, all schools have similar "problems". It's just whether the university and community tolerate it or not. You don't think Ohio State players, with the infamous High Street area in walking distance, are doing wrong? It's just that alot of times the community and press will turn a blind eye to it.
It's like everybody wants the ultra priviledged heavily testosteroned guy to be the responsible one amongst a bunch of irresponsible people in a sexually charged atmosphere..it doesn't work that way.....
They're going to get into trouble. And with the media desperate for riveting storylines anything that athletes do is going to get press nowadays.
Posted by NJBuff on April 14, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Duren you fool! You should have known better and shame on you.
Posted by tallisall on April 14, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well, he was just a walk on. Good choice to finally set an example.
That way you may get to keep the four star players and still look like you're getting tough.
Posted by Saheeb on April 14, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with walto_clown in that I believe Hawk is treating these case by case. I think what did Duren in is that Hawkins just spent a week or two "mentoring" him and Duren demonstrates how well he listened by getting loaded and getting arrested. Good call punting him, despite the fact I hate to see him go. A kid works hard 2-3 years and is close to playhing a lot and has it all come undone by one stupid night. Dumb. Dumb. That story line repeats itself all too often.
Posted by dabuffs50 on April 14, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is unfortunate that these things keep happening, but it is not the end of the world. I think Geer will be suiting up for all games next year, while Katoa may face a semester out of school. It does seem that this situation was handled more severely due to the circumstances. I trust Hawk made the right decision. Let's go Buffs on Saturday!
Posted by SpokaneBuff on April 14, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawk is a coach filled with integrity and I trust his judgment on this and the other situations that have occurred recently. Just as with all of you, I'm disappointed to see any Buff make these kinds of poor choices, but I'm thankful for a coach that intends to develop these young men for the long haul. This is, correctly, Hawkins first priority.
Seeya for the Spring Game and GO BUFFS!
Posted by RWE on April 14, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, I agree. Sad to see this kid go. I referred to my roster a few times on Saturday to refresh my memory as he made a handful of plays (aside from the interception) and we need players like him. But Hawkins had to dismiss him, no question. Young people are going to go out and party, that's part of life. But hopefully the realization that they could get kicked off the team (and all of the ramifications that go with that), will now be tattooed on their brains even if they have one too many, and prevent them from doing anything stupid.
Posted by 20buff on April 14, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard psychologists suggest that a teenager's part of the brain that allows them to make reasoned judgments is not developed until they are well into their 20's. They make bad choices because they think they will not get hurt, will not get caught, etc. It's not that most of them are bad kids, it's just that they do not have the complete ability to understand consequences. I am sure Hawk is well aware of this and will begin to ratchet down their freedoms. He will have to limit their opportunities to make bad decisions. He will have to do as much parenting as mentoring. Go Buffs!
Posted by oz_in_cali on April 15, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good call. I trust coach's sense of fairness and while it's a shame to see all duren's hard work go to waste it is nobody's fault but his own.
by the way, is it just me or is tallisall an idiot?
GO BUFFS!
Posted by archalon on April 15, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tall is an idiot, its not just you. His negativity is a bore. This has nothing to do with talent vs. walk on.
A repeat conduct offender in the program for 2 years that very recently had been 'mentored' for indiscretions, and happens to be potentially a starter is booted from the program after other recent incidents were address by and to the team clearly. He had multiple strikes already.
A first time offender (Katoa), freshman 3 years younger that was involved in a retaliating against a hate crime is suspended, but because he happens to be highly rated prospect (that was trying to do the right thing by starting college early)and on scholarship, there is 'favortism' involved ?
C'mon Tall, this might be th stupidest thing youv'e said in quite awhile.
Posted by BuffNut99 on April 15, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a shame because this guy was going to play a ton this year and he seemed to have developed into a solid, every down type guy.
But Hawkins had to eject him from the team. He likely had used up all of his strikes having ended up in the mentoring program - plus, if you can't get it together when you're coached directly by Cabral, you may be beyond hope.
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