Monday heat

That didn't take long.

Read between the lines, and that doesn't take much, and Bernard Jackson is through as a quarterback at Colorado.

Now, that's no surprise at the Black and Gold Truth, which had Nick Nelson pegged for the starter's job just until Cody Hawkins got warmed up last week in practice and before Saturday's scrimmage when Hawkins seemingly lapped Nelson to extend his lead to become the "Zabransky" in the Buffs' offense.

Jackson being forgotten like yesterday's newspaper has been an action in motion since the end of last season. His slow mental development in grasping the nuances of quarterback play and the offense has obviously frustrated head coach Dan Hawkins and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. And these days, coaches can't afford to be patient as school administrations, donors, other fans and media aren't tolerant of slow-cooked meals.

Jackson has done this to himself.

That's not a body slam. It is, instead, a sad reality about a guy who patiently waited his turn and has been a good soldier about it all yet couldn't get the car out of first gear.

Your depth chart reads as such -- Hawkins, Nelson and true freshman Matt Ballenger.

Jackson, despite the link above, will not make it as a wide receiver, which requires a little more than the standard playground "go deep" fare.

Running back?

Like he's going to play over Hugh Charles, Demetrius Sumler and Thomas Perez and P.T. Gates (if these final two decide school is cool).

Jackson is in his own episode of Lost. Disappointing really as he is a player with ability to make plays but where do you place him on the field?

The Pool

Now available: Gregg Marshall, Winthrop; Anthony Grant, Virginia Commonwealth; Tony Bennett, Washington State; Sean Miller, Xavier; Mark Fox, Nevada; Tom Crean; Marquette

Sorry, in a meeting: Todd Lickliter, Butler; Lon Kruger, UNLV; Chris Lowery, Southern Illinois; Jamie Dixon, Pitt; Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt.

Rumor Town

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings is on short list to fill the vacancy court-side at Minnesota, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

BGT: Is Minnesota a much better job than Boulder? Where would you rather live? Which conference would you like better? Stallings could be good at CU. Dan Monson was a winner until he got to that winter wasteland. Now, he will be coaching some chump school, his star fallen.

The Pioneer Press also reports that UNLV's Lon Kruger could end up at Minnesota or Iowa.

BGT: Forget what you think of me for one moment. Where does that newspaper get their information? Do they even bother to think about what's being said? Kruger is not going to leave Vegas for those two schools. Clem Haskins went Dirty to win for the Gophers and the Hawkeyes haven't been great since Lute Olson split for Tucson to coach Arizona.

Think the Pioneer Press believes Stallings and Kruger to be mentally deficient to believe them interested in those Big 10 jobs.

By the way, Kruger would sooner come to Boulder, being a Big 8/Big 12 guy by heritage.

Bank it.

Tommy Amaker's star is burned out after getting kicked by Michigan, where basketball's biggest sin is it ain't football, which is a cult in Ann Arbor. Amaker will resurface but the Wolverines could have serious trouble bringing in a replacement. And this may surprise you, but that job is no better than the one at CU.

New Mexico is the opening, off the top of my head, that bears watching. That is a place with great potential and one that could attract attention away from Boulder. Another school with potential is Utah.

That said -- THIS IS THE BIG 12!

Sorry coach Hawkins but felt it necessary to "borrow" your line to make a point

Big 12 representatives

Kansas is looking good and has now become the pick in this space to not only reach the Final Four but to play in the championship game. What was most impressive in the win over Kentucky on Sunday was that the Jayhawks' two best players finally played like it -- at the same time. Brandon Rush and Julian Wright, the Yo-Yo Brothers, looked like the stars they are against the Wildcats. If KU coach Bill Self can keep the engines of those two slackers turned on then he has a chance to do special things this season. Special. Maybe even roll into Atlanta to face an old friend.

Texas A & M has a pair of wins in its' pocket, having kicked Penn and Louisville out of the tournament, setting itself up for a matchup with athletic Memphis, which has taken down Creighton and Nevada.

Texas was able to get by New Mexico State but got ambushed by Tim Floyd's up-and-coming USC Trojans. Longhorns' coach Rick Barnes has to be stunned at how poorly his team played in Kevin Durant's last game in a UT uniform. This wasn't supposed to be the way it all ended.

Will also go George Washington here and admit I bricked it picking UT over SC. I assumed the balanced scoring of the Longhorns would break the Trojans, who wouldn't be able to keep up in the second half. I'm not like an ex-spouse or politician -- I can say "I was wrong" and I was -- wrong.

Local Side Roads

Aaron Cook has been name the Colorado Rockies' opening-day starter, which, sorry, isn't quite met with the same excitement as Johan Santana taking the ball one spring day. Not that Cook is a stand-up fellow and inspirational story but if a pitcher who is 28-28 lifetime is the best you can show your fans, well, that says it all about your work in developing and acquiring pitching.