Keep the sanity, check the cupboards

He's one of many Buffs fan's favorite whipping boy but the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla can write a story. Today's piece on the early season schedule of Colorado's shed light on some key points to remember.

Coach Dan Hawkins is seeing the big picture and CU fans, who were already predicting big things this year despite all the obstacles, including inexperience and a lack of top-shelf talent, are red, yes red, over the home loss debut to some outpost named Montana State.

He knows the job he accepted to leave Boise State is going to be a journey. It's going to take more than adding a personable coach to succeed. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier, both known to be able to coach a little ball, and both with a national title on their resumes, didn't exactly light it up out of the gate.

So look at what Kiszla, known to be one of the school's top public enemies due to his pointed, some say, negative coverage of CU, unearthed in today's article.

Try this one on for size.

"The same people who are cussing me right now are going to walk up and pat me on the back and say 'You're the greatest thing that's ever hit town.' And neither of them will be true," Hawkins said.

Yes, it is another fine quote from the Hawkins but it is also clarity for the rabid followers of the program. Hawkins is starting at a lower altitude in trying to accomplish something worthwhile than both former coaches Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett. You have to go back to legendary Bill McCartney to find someone who started with less than Hawkins.

If fans, boosters, and players don't have patience, they are going to be mighty unhappy.

Hawkins hasn't proven anything yet.

He hasn't proven he can coach in the Big 12 or against a higher level of competition.

And he hasn't proven he can't either.

Only time will tell.

Repeat that...time.

One week does not constitue sufficient time.

Some fans are already livid at Hawkins, humilated, stunned, offended. A loss to a Division 1-AA school will do that to you. But that wasn't Darian Hagan or Kordell Stewart lining up under center. Rashaan Salaam or Eric Bieniemy weren't ripping off long runs. I looked but didn't see Michael Westbrook or Charles Johnson dominating Montana State defensive backs.

Hey, I didn't even see Joel Klatt, much of Hugh Charles or even Joe Klopfenstein.

Hawkins doesn't deflect criticism as much as he remains confident in his ability to build the program, realizing that his timing coincided with a talent drain and the fact that he is going to have to create the magic on his own. He didn't replace Nick Saban at LSU, where Les Miles was the beneficiary of stocked cupboards.

In time, Hawkins will be receiving as many smiles and kind words as he gives out.

TheTruth

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