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CU officially reinstates TE Geer
Buff aims to put offseason troubles behind him
Riar Geer wants to redeem himself.
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Colorado's starting tight end officially received word from the university Monday that he will be allowed to play this season. The school and coach Dan Hawkins suspended Geer during the spring semester after he was arrested and charged with felony assault for his role in an off-campus fistfight in March.
Geer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge last month in Boulder County Court and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 18. He could receive up to two years in jail, but it is likely he will avoid jail time in favor of probation because it is his first offense.
The CU office of Judicial Affairs reinstated Geer on Monday morning, but he could still face a suspension of a game or more as further discipline from Hawkins.
"It feels good to have this all behind me," Geer said Monday morning in a busy Dal Ward Athletic Center. "It was a great lesson, and hopefully everybody else can learn from my mistake. I think in the end, this is going to make me a better man and better person and hopefully a role model for other people."
Geer missed all of spring practices because of the incident. His absence was a setback for him and an offense trying to break in a new up-tempo style of play that will rely on calls being relayed through hand signals from the sidelines. Geer said he was allowed to attend team meetings during the spring and he learned signals then, but it isn't the same as understanding and implementing them on the practice fields or during a game.
Geer has made 38 catches in his first two years on the field for the Buffs, scoring five touchdowns. If spring practices are an accurate representation, there should be plentyof opportunity for big plays from the tight end this season.
Junior Patrick Devenny, the only tight end with any game experience on the roster during spring, led the team in receiving during the three main spring scrimmages with 12 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Getting Geer back gives coaches a little cushion when it comes to depth at the position. Three talented freshman tight ends joined the team this summer and will make their debuts today when the first practice of camp begins at 9:45 a.m.
"I think it's going to be fun," Geer said. "We've got a lot of really good tight ends coming in and they look promising. I'm going to teach them as much as I can and help them out as much as I can and try to be a good mentor to them like the previous tight ends were to me."
Geer said missing spring ball was a significant setback for him on the heels of a season in which he was hurt much of the time and unable to play at full speed. He said he is 100 percent healthy entering camp. He said he must make up for spring by working that much harder during training camp, focusing on technique, fundamentals, blocking, correct footwork and routes. He expects to be a little rusty but hopes to shake off the rust quickly.
"For myself, personally, I just want to come back and have a strong season and prove that what happened that night is not the real Riar Geer," he said. "I want to prove this season that I'm a hard-working guy. I'm a good guy. I want to show some people what the real Riar Geer is all about."
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Posted by montanabuff on August 4, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome back to the fold, Mr. Geer.
You are going to be an example for the program from here on out. Whether you are to be a positive example of the Colorado football program, or a negative one, is completely up to you.
Good luck!
Go Buffs!
Posted by mgmtgrad on August 4, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Montanabuff.
The fact that he is starting out by admitting his mistakes and hopefully won't repeat them is a start in the right direction.
I hope that he and Katoa can really instill in the new guys how important (through their own experiences) it is to be better then just a good citizen. The guys who represent CU and get a great education for free need to be a shining example of good citizens.
Think George Hypolite. We only have a few juniors and seniors on the team and really need these guys to step up, not only on the field but off too.
Here that Simas, get cracking on the books or give your free ride to someone that will!
By the way MontanaBuff, what part of Montana are you from? I’ve had the pleasure of taking multiple business trips to your fine state and have driven through most of it on one trip or another.
In any case, with all said above I still can't wait for the season to start.
Marcus J
Posted by neb_cu_buff on August 4, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like good news from Riar Geer. Glad he can come back and I'm very happy to hear him regret his actions outside of the football team. I agree that it should be a great example for the rest of the team, along with the other incidents that have occured. GO Buffs! Way excited for fall camp.
Posted by ruffemupbuffaloes on August 4, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny that the linebacker chasing him in the picture is carrot top. What a great story.
Posted by rodrigo on August 4, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For those ready with their condemnations of Hawk for not giving Geer the boot, or for booting a walk-on but not Geer or Katoa consider the following, both posted today:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sport...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/i...
The common denominator? Everyone - yes, rs, even college football players, deserves a second chance. Some - like Duren - choose to waste it.
The ball, so to speak, is in Geer's court.
Posted by montanabuff on August 4, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marcus J -
I'm from Bozeman, Montana, the home of Montana State University (yes, THAT Montana State University - try driving around with license plates with "RALPHIE" on them after your team gets beat by the home town 1-AA squad. 2006 was a tough, tough, season). It's a 700 mile commute for home games, but it's been worth it!
If you're interested, I have a website at: http://www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by mgmtgrad on August 4, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been to both your website and Bozeman many times. Bozemen was one of my favorite stops. I went there to audit the Ford/Lincoln/RV dealer on 7th street and the Bobcat dealer in Belgrade, along with the equipment rental business on the edge of town. I love the views from your town, looks like a great place to live.
Back to the Buffs, Thanks for the time you put into your website and the support for the team.
Marcus J
Posted by icfantv on August 4, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Geer, and I like my Buffs, but the kid screwed up - big time. Maybe he's sorry and maybe he isn't. Maybe he's paid for his mistakes and maybe he hasn't. I won't be the judge.
The fact is, these guys live for football and thus, the only real punishment for them is to take it away. I'd venture to guess football players would rather spend time in jail than miss a football game.
The two links posted above refer to two programs that are miles above the Buffs in results and talent so tossing one guy or suspending 5 isn't that big of a deal because their entire roster is filled with playmakers. CU's is not, not yet. And like it or not, CU's football program is under a huge amount of scrutiny based on the many fiascos and lengthy fallout of the previous administrations at both an administrative and athletic level.
Deep down, I'm glad he was cleared by the school to play, but I'm torn because I want Geer to REALLY learn his lesson and I don't see any way of that happening unless you take away some actual playing time.
Just my two cents.
Posted by BigBuff on August 5, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
icfantv - If you think a player would rater be in jail than miss a game, you must be a complete and total moron. Football is a game, and yes, many of them love it. But it's JAIL! Pull your head out of your arse.
Posted by SpokaneBuff on August 5, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gang, I appreciate these posts, and I'm glad to hear Geer will be back.
On this matter of his reinstatement, there is definitely only one person who really knows whether or not he's "learned his lesson," and that is Mr. Geer. Those around him who are entrusted with his care (like Hawkins) are not able, nor should they try, to ensure he's "learned his lesson." Truthfully, it's impossible to control someone else like that.
Discipline should always be designed to be redemptive, to allow an individual to look inside and choose their path...toward the easy road of blaming others and not taking responsibility...or toward the hard road it takes to reestablish a positive life direction. We need to trust that Hawk has created the situation designed to force Geer into that choice, and then hope (and pray) that Mr. Geer is wise enough to respond appropriately.
Isn't it this way for all of us?
Mr. Geer, if you're reading this, welcome back to the opportunity to play. Choose wisely. Learn from your mistakes, as you said you will, and lean forward on a positive life direction.
GO BUFFS! Can't wait!
Posted by LGDAF on August 5, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
On a side note the RMN reports...
"On some of the runs, we would do twice as many hills," said the 6-foot-8 Solder, who has reached his offseason goal of 300 pounds."
The depth chart article recently posted had Solder listed as 6-8, 280, So. and Ryan Miller at 6-7, 315.
Hmmm...run left or run right? With their size and ability it doesn't matter. Just run baby!!
Posted by MDBuff on August 5, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So how many games will he be suspended for?
Posted by extrapoint on August 5, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a feeling Mr. Geer has learned his lesson. If he plays like he has in the past as a freshman his name will be called in the draft. I doubt if he would choose to throw that away.
Posted by TallyBuff on August 5, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Spokanebuff---nicely put!
I'll say this, Hawk certainly has these guys talking the talk. Instilling genuine accountability in a football program is tough, and most coaches don't even try. Mac did it, and Hawk looks like he is getting it done. Props to Geer! It is good to have him back.
Posted by mntbyker on August 5, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
montanabuff: I just mailed you to enlist on your site. Lot's of great information and pretty neat site! Thanks. Look forward to the season and your lowdown of the games and season as it unfolds.
Posted by Rswright on August 5, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rodrigo said "Everyone - yes, rs, even college football players, deserves a second chance."
At whose expense? It is the students paying for these criminal's scholarships after they get arrested while our tennis facilities are the worst in Div 1 sports. Learn your facts.
Posted by Rswright on August 6, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fla, prove me wrong. Put up or shut up. Obviously, you can't figure it out.
Posted by PeabodyFaust on August 7, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RSWRIGHT - I'll prove you wrong. The men's tennis program before it was abandoned had a budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year of $324,975, not including additional costs absorbed by other budgets (sports medicine, academics, equipment, sports information, etc.) that bring the total closer to $350,000.
Figuring that the women's program has comparable costs and brings in absolutely no revenue, where is the justification to upgrade our tennis facilities.
Let's then compare, cost to run the tennis program and upgrade the courts, stands, etc. versus a year of one reformed student's tuition. I think Geer's tuition is going to be slightly cheaper and might actually bring in money in the end. Screw tennis.