Dan Hawkins held his weekly press conference Tuesday at the Dal Ward Athletic Center and commented on his team and looked ahead to the match up with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Here are some of his better comments, courtesy of cubuffs.com and Nick Bernal, the student assistant in the sports information office.
Playing the Bulldogs and potential for disaster: "There's potential for disaster when you get out your car on to the freeway. I know when I left Boise State there was a potential for disaster. So that doesn't scare me and doesn't scare us at all. There is also potential for greatness. You can hide in the shadow if you want, but that's not living."
B & G Breakdown: Why was that question asked? Of course, CU is going to be in for a long day against Georgia. The game, however, is on the schedule. It has to be played. Hawkins, to me, is either one of the great speakers ever or he sees the big picture better than anyone. Personally, he is one of the most upbeat, optimistic, motivational quotes I've ever heard in sports. What differentiates him from Rick Neuheisel is that Hawkins seems sincere, that he's not putting on some Eddie Haskell show.
On Georgia: "They do (well) whatever they want to do. They are very talented, " Hawkins said, adding, "If you get them, you legitimately have to go beat them, because they are not going to beat themselves."
B & G Breakdown: Remember when the Buffs used to be such a program? UGA is a power under coach Mark Richt and CU is over matched. Hawkins knows that well. However, that doesn't mean some good can't come out of this game. CU can work on executing better, learning if the offense can make plays consistently, identifying who can make those plays, how well the defense can meet the challenge and whether Ralphie is the only one who runs in the clear on Saturday.
On support from other coaches during the rough beginning: "There isn't one great coach out there who hasn't gone through the valley, there isn't one great player that hasn't gone through the valley. If you're not willing to go through the valley you are never going to see the mountain; it's just not going to happen."
B & G Breakdown: The man is amazing. Can I be the "Rudy" for this team? Let me suit up. He's right, you know. Look at Joe Paterno, as one example. Everyone wanted to run his sorry, old body out of town...until last season. Tom Osborne couldn't win a national championship. Bobby Bowden couldn't win a national championship. Dean Smith couldn't win one at North Carolina for the basketball program. Roy Williams didn't do it at Kansas. Then, all of a sudden, those coaches broke through and the criticism melted away. Who knows what Hawkins will accomplish but I'm not betting against him. To me, he's easily the best potential hire since Bill McCartney. Not just for his words but for his success too. Brighter days will be coming to Boulder. The man ain't David Copperfield, though. Rome wasn't built in a day.
On expectations for the season: "I have extremely high expectations for the season and I'm never going to back away from that," Hawkins said, adding "You come in here, you dig hard, you dig as well as you can and that is what you do."
B & G Breakdown: Who's digging? Don't look at me. The digging is just starting right now and CU is beginning with the first shovel-full. I think, eventually, Hawkins will get something positive out of this year, regarding the development of players, instilling confidence, implementing his philosophy and preaching the culture of a new day for CU football.
On starting 0-3: "It hasn't been that long, we were 0-2 last year at Boise State. It's not bad times, and I know you think all of this stuff is Zig Ziglar kinds of stuff but you are defined by these moments. It is really why I came here. You find out who you are, how good you are."
B & G Breakdown: Hawkins may have been 0-2 last year at Boise State but he didn't have to play a Big-12 schedule afterwards. Tiny difference. What, are you kidding me? Did he use a Zig Ziglar reference? What football coach talks like that, I ask? CU sports information director Dave Plati says Hawkins is a cross between McCartney and Neuheisel and for me, I see some Phil Jackson (former Chicago Bulls and now Los Angeles Lakers' coach) in him, with his intelligence and deep-thinking nature. His comments show he is not afraid of a challenge and 0-3 doesn't faze him. His not barking at reporters, not shying away from the media and to me, all that is a great sign. There is no blame, either, no foolish excuses, Hawkins' enthusiasm seems genuine and the belief in his system is strong. Glorious days are comin' around the mountain, boys.
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