The Quotable Dan Hawkins

So Rivals.com has jumped on the story of all of these arrests in college football and of course, CU had a big spot in that article. Hawkins had some great quotes and even pulled out some statistics. Rivals starts out the article calling for new football stats when talking about returning players- starters lost, returning starters and starters arrested. The article goes on to list prominent player arrests in college football this offseason and then states:

The NCAA tries to ensure that athletes aren't treated differently than ordinary college students. Yet ordinary college students often drink too much, smoke marijuana and get in fights.

Hawkins begins to chime in -

"I don't mean to get on a high horse, but 82 percent of college freshmen get drunk once a week. I guarantee you 82 percent of athletes aren't getting drunk. Show me an era in history where young men don't fight.''

He then goes on to say:

"There are way more kids that don't get in trouble than do. If you put every citizen that's arrested for DUI on ESPN.com, you could read that for 10 hours."

It may sound like Hawkins is making some excuses here but we all know that he is tough on his players (ask Jake Duren and Michael Sipili). He is absolutely right with his sentiments but the golden rule is that it is a privilege to play college sports. You can't have all the athletic success and praise and not get criticized for off the field incidents. Still gotta love Hawkins' colorful commentary.

The Last Day of June News

--Derek Tolan, the ace of the CU Golf team, won the Colorado Golf Association State Public Links Championship on Sunday at Fox Hollow Golf Course. Tolan, who represented the Buffs in the NCAA Golf Championships earlier this month, beat out Pat Grady, a fellow senior Buffalo and defending champion.

--In football news, 2008 recruit Paul Vigo, a 6’ 1”, 205 lb. athlete from New Jersey will not be on the field August 4^th when the full team is supposed to report to Boulder for the upcoming season. Vigo will enroll in January and will grey shirt his first year on campus. Details are hazy on this but an article at the Camera said it was not academically related. Vigo was one of those last second recruits to commit to the Buffs on signing day. He would have most likely red shirted anyway but hopefully Hawkins can get him in earlier than January to start getting him entrenched in the playbook.

--Check out all the Track & Field Buffs who are trying to or have already qualified for Beijing. Very impressive.

Rivals.com Ranks the Buffs, High Rollers Buying Up Folsom Suites

Rivals.com's annual Preseason Countdown cracked the top 40 last week and we were ecstatic and a bit apprehensive that the Buffs were rated this high. Last year, Rivals season ending rankings had the Buffs as the 56th team in the nation. With the recruiting class coming in and an extra year of experience for the current roster and coaching staff, Rivals feels that the Buffs are now the #34 ranked team in the nation. We were ecstatic because, once again, we see the Buffs on the up and up. Recruiting has been solid and youth is starting to turn into experience. We are a little apprehensive about seeing the Buffs crack the top 40 for a few reasons, though. First off, the Buffs had 20 freshman play last year meaning that we will have around 20 sophomores playing this year which is better than freshman but this is still a very young team. Second, as Rivals says, the schedule is like a "tough steak sandwich, its reasonably soft on the top and bottom but darn tough in the middle." Third, the Buffs lost two All-Americans on defense and as Rivals successfully notes, the secondary is a major concern for the Buffs. There is a lot of expectation for this team with a top 15 recruiting class coming in and a bowl appearance season last year. That bowl season was only attained by two major upsets against OU and Tech with embarrassing losses versus Iowa State and Kansas State. We just think the Buffs are still one year away. Hopefully we are surprised.

Rivals.com really likes the Buffs line on both sides of the ball with potential All-American George Hypolite anchoring the defense and Ryan Miller, Daniel Sanders and Nate Solder being solid offensive lineman. Darrell Scott has to like that. My favorite part of the piece was the bit highlighting WR Patrick Williams and DL Brandon Nicolas, two talented players with high expectations year in and year out who have consistently disappointed. Check out this blog by the Columbia Tribune detailing the best WR's and TE's in the Big 12. Williams in on the list but he has had 3 years of experience and he is consistently below players with less experience in terms of productivity. Williams has all of the physical tools to be a great player but I look for WR's Scotty McKnight and Josh Smith, both Sophomores, to be the go to guys. Also, look for Shaun Mohler, a JUCO transfer and stud, to make a big impact at LB. And they also mentioned that Darrell Scott guy a few times too!

In other news...

--The High Rollers in Boulder want to watch the Buffs next year. All of the suites and a large chunk of the club level seats have sold out. Mike Bohn continues to go out and meet across the nation with alumni and donors. Hopefully the money keeps rolling in. Especially since this article shows that Texas has an athletic budget of $150 million, about 3 times the Buffs.

--Many of the Track & Field athletes are competing for a chance to represent the U.S.A in the Olympics. Former Buff Kara Goucher has already clinched a spot in the 10,000 meters.

Monday Summer News

Life is moving at a snails pace right now. Yesterday while conversing with a friend I was talking about Marian Hossa turning down a hockey contract and later on that day, I resorted to watching the Euro soccer thing which made me even more depressed. CU Buff players are getting arrested and the training camp is a couple months away. The Colorado Rockies are back to being dismal. The sports scene is definitely struggling. With that being said, here are some good reads by our friends at the Daily Camera.

-- It looks like the Buffs are finally taking the off-season serious and it couldn't have come at a better time. I guess having Texas, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Florida State on the schedule will do that to you. Plus I don't think any of the vets want these newcomers to take their spot. Looks like good player chemistry and leadership is starting to change the mentality up in Boulder...good news for the off-season.

-- Hopefully this 6'8" incoming frosh can bring some life into the basketball team this year...

-- On a more eventful note (sort of), Folsom Field in Boulder will be hosting the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Boulder Crocs Slam. Misty May and Kelly Walsh will be there...Soccer or Beach Volleyball with May and Walsh? These are the type of decisions we are making right now...brutal.

(Advertise Here) Stadium at Folsom Field

With the recent announcement that the University of Colorado is trying to find a suitor to purchase the naming rights to Folsom Field, we found that many Boulderites were a little disturbed that the evil corporation that is now Colorado athletics would do something as unthinkable as trying to make money to support the athletic department which includes sports other than football. We have come up with a list of names for the new stadium in which some of our Boulderite friends may find a logical addition to the name Folsom Field. Here at the Ralphie Report we are trying to stave off disaster, we don’t want a repeat of Cal-Berkeley last year with hippies camping in trees and basically embarrassing themselves and the University. Think of us as civil servants looking out for all.

On a more relevant note, I am a strong proponent of selling the naming rights. If someone is willing to pay, get it while you can. The program has a buzz about it right now and I assume some companies (especially those who have a local presence) would be all about trying to get an early inside track on a program that hopefully returns to relevance in the upcoming years. Plus it looks like a company would get a discount. Maryland and Texas Tech both sold their stadium naming rights for up to $20 million. Heck, Texas sold naming rights to their BASEBALL field for $13.1 million.

Without further adieu, here is our list of new stadium names –

Celestial Seasonings Stadium at Folsom Field – A Boulder-based company could give away a plethora of therapeutic treats to the Boulder natives prior to game time. The only challenging part is the fact that those early September games could get up in the 90’s and some hot Chocolate Caramel Enchantment Chai® samples could be poor form in trying to quench some later summer thirst. Nevertheless, hot chocolate may be in order for the West Virginia night game as we do live in Colorado and I have seen it snow at some crazy times.

Crocs Stadium at Folsom Field – One would think this name is a slam dunk. It’s also a Boulder-based company and you can’t go anywhere with seeing some guy in gray mesh shorts, a red cutoff shirt, high white socks and bright orange crocs. The handouts at games could be a reason to get there early and watch warm-ups. The only concern is that if Colorado where to ever upgrade the stadium with escalators and a kids' foot were to get stuck in that said elevator…I guarantee you would have more hippies in the trees after that little incident. Not so much of a slam dunk now.

Metropolitan State College of Denver Stadium at Folsom Field (MSCDSFF) – If three years ago you said, “Hey I got an idea, lets name a stadium after a college, I would have walked away.” Today, I still may walk away but the Arizona Cardinals are trend setters, naming their stadium the University of Phoenix Stadium, after that goofy college that is everywhere and leaves you wondering, “Who really goes there?” Frankly, Metro State would be a slight upgrade, I mean it has to be right? Metropolitan State College of Denver Stadium at Folsom Field in Boulder would have to be the longest stadium name in the history of man-kind so we have that going for us, plus think of all the writers who would have to note that in every article about the Buffs. Other options could be The University of Colorado at Denver Stadium at Folsom Field, Red Rocks Community College Stadium at Folsom Field or Front Range Community College Stadium at Folsom Field.

New Belgium Stadium at Folsom Field – I think we may have something with this one. The Fort Collins based company brews delicious beer that everyone East of the Mississippi wants and can’t get. From Frambozen to Skinny Dip, these brewers have a way to capture every season. I am sure that they would pay $20 million so they can name their September through December microbrew Folsom or something creative. The problem lies in the student section. I fear for my life when I walk over there…do we really need to promote alcohol to an already imbibed and late arriving student crowd?

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Stadium at Folsom Field – This is the pick for all guys who have wives and unfortunately have to take them to the game. The free-bees and the booths around the stadium would be enough to satisfy any women. The added bonus is if your women is going through “that time of the month.” On any other Saturday you would be dreading the complaints about the heat or the uncomfortable bleachers but on this Saturday, you pop them $20 bucks and the magic of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory comes to the rescue, curing all cramps and bloating. The only catch is that hopefully you have season tickets on the second level so she can work off the chocolate.

We're Getting Closer...

So here we go...! Some of the first signs of the upcoming college football season are starting arrive and they couldn't have come at a better time. Less than 100 days to kick off and pre-season time killers are slowly filtering in:

-- The fantastic Excel helmet schedule is been completed by some anonymous super fan. Get your copy and save it to your desktop.

-- The first of the 6 or so College Football preview mags has hit the newsstands. Head on over to your local bookstore and pick your own copy of Lindy's.

-- Just under a month and a half until the release of EA's NCAA 09. Can you say online dynasties?

CU Has Been Nominated for a New Award by "LSU Fan"

Now, now LSU... slow down, take a breath and stop feeling like your team and the SEC gets an unfair shake on everything. Over the past couple of days since CU announced that it was going to place Fresno State on the 2011 - 2012 schedule instead of LSU, the Bengal faithful have been acting extra distraught. The comments have ranged from "these are the types of things that keep us from scheduling BCS out of conference games and why we get reamed for playing weak schedules" to wishing "all SEC teams beat those hippie bastards" to my favorite, "still, Colorado is now dominating the front running for gaping vajayjay of the year for dropping us for Fresno State. Dan Hawkins, this is Division One football brother, you don't like it, go play intramurals. And from the appearance of your scheduling, you should be playing girls lacross in Bossier, punk."

Makes me laugh every single time I read it.

First of all, nothing was really official with LSU and CU. The papers weren't signed and no one had officially committed to anything. Second, CU got a better deal. They got 2 home games from Fresno State. You would have to be stupid to not take that deal regardless of the team. Third, in all likelihood CU would probably get torched by LSU. I don't think there is a Buffs fan that would ever argue against that, even the most passionate would say that in 2011, LSU would win. That being said, "LSU fan" is acting like CU is the difference to a make or break their schedule in 2011. Hey "LSU fan", I thought the Big 12 was overrated...? Finally, I think the 2011 LSU non conference schedule with or without Colorado is in the running for this new "gaping vajayjay" award. Lets see, week 1 we have the powers of Northern Illinois coming in followed by the courageous Cougars of Houston and then the powerful waves of Tulane in the middle of the season. I can hear it now, "LSU fan" will try to rationalize the Tulane game as "trying to keep money in the state of Louisiana." Save it, Ohio State already used that one. Meanwhile, Colorado will be playing Colorado State (not scheduled yet), California and Hawaii. Not brutal but I am pretty sure no one will argue who is playing a non conference schedule closer to girls lacrosse or lacross, as "LSU fan" calls it, in 2011.

Thursday Tidbits

-- In regards to yesterday's post on the Bzdelik to the Bulls rumors, CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn is already playing the spin doctor.

"Our high-quality, marquee coaches' names will always be speculated with openings across the country"

-- If Buff golfer Derek Tolan is going to finish in the Top 5 of an NCAA Golf Event for the first ever, than I know of no better place the National Championships.

-- Here's to hoping that the Colorado's entire D-Line is scary next year (to opposing teams, not Buff fans)...

-- I just hope I'm not building myself up for a let down as my excitement over Darrell Scott's arrival continues to build.

-- Seems like the Sooners (as well as every other college in the country) should have done this a long time ago. You can skim over the article, but make sure and read all of the crybaby comments.

-- Last but not least, 3rd Saturday in Blogtober has a post on the new and innovative ways that SEC coaches are getting around the "Saban Rule".

Wednesday Quick Hits

The Big 12 Spring Meetings run today through Friday in Colorado Springs (good to see they traveling on the cheap, staying at the Broadmoor and all...) and the main topic on the agenda is the possibility of adding two more conference games to the basketball schedules. I'm all for for it as long as the South teams that CU plays twice every year are Tech and Baylor only...

Big 12 Mulls Adding Two More League Games

This post-spring practice article from the Colorado Daily talks about the offense having an injection of much needed speed...
"After a spring full of changes, the one clear issue is that the name of the game on offense is speed. Fast players and faster execution, the new no-huddle offense, that would be led by quarterback Cody Hawkins if play began tomorrow, promises to keep opposing defenses on its heels and should rack up the points."

and a lack of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

"During the spring, no one player has stood out as the true playmaker that CU lost with the graduations of Terrence Wheatley and Jordon Dizon. If someone on the Buffs' defense is going to step up and fill that role, they will have to do so with speed and athletic ability."

Buffs Leave Spring Practice...

Finally, it looks like ESPN still hates us because they are subjecting us to yet another season of "Coming to Your City"... Ugh...

Gameday Intro to Be Taped

Darrell Scott Already Running Wild

No its not the real Darrell Scott and he doesn't play for CU per se but every Buffs fan is wishing that this will happen.

11 games, 912 yards, 10 TD's, 5 y/c...sign us up!

Can you picture a 51 yard touchdown vs West Virginia right now on that Thursday night on ESPN. For now you will have to imagine it through a Beta Game

Buffs in NCAA 09

The football geniuses (heavy sarcasm intended) at EA Sports have released some screen shots from NCAA 2009 that show the top seven rated players of each team in the game. Once again, you have to take what they come up with with a grain of salt but it's fun to look at and argue about when there's nothing else football related going on...

Maurice Lucas - DE - 91
Brad Jones - OLB - 87
Ryan Walters - FS - 86
Jeff Smart - MLB - 86
George Hypolite - DT - 85
Brandon Nicholas - DT - 85
Brian Lockridge - HB - 85 (I guess this is Lockridge and not Scott but Im not sure.

Top six guys are defense huh.... we shall see...

Livin' the Dream through the 'Net...Sorta

Are you a sideline coach during a CU game? Think Hawkins was crazy for calling that double reverse on the 2 yd line? Do you need a little more for your football fix that Madden can't offer? Want to compete against others both on and off the field or be an owner of a team that controls ticket sales, free agency, trades and game plans. If so, the pure geniuses behind Goallineblitz.com have your solution. I believe the phrase "if you can dream it, you can do it" applies here. You have the ability to create players the way you want them to be. You can call plays like you would want to call them. Check it out, grab your buds and create a team in the image of the way YOU want the Buffs to be in the 2008 season.