BuffsIn2009
New Member
We now go back in time, to a different era, with a different American president ... OK, I just want to go back three years, to 2006.
The Buffs had a three-way fight going for the starting QB job among the 2005 backup (James Cox), the player with the best arm who looked good in the 2005 bowl game in short duty (Brian White) and the best athlete (Bernard Jackson). And true freshman Cody Hawkins was ticketed to redshirt, which of course he did.
I set this up because in my four decades of being a CU fan, only twice have I felt an "uh-oh" moment when our starting QB was named. This year was one of them, when Cody started the CSU game after the offseason competition with Tyler Hansen. I really felt like CU would be better off with Hansen starting and Cody coming off the bench, which he did so well vs. Iowa State last year.
The other uh-oh moment was in 2006 when Cox beat out the other two returning QBs. Then in short order, White and the new coaching staff got crossways, and soon he was gone. And, of course, Cox's starting gig lasted one week: the infamous loss to Montana State, after which BJax did the starting in that 2-10 season.
Anyway, how do you guys feel like history would have been different if White won the job in 2006? I've heard Gary Barnett say White was being groomed to be the starter after Joel Klatt ran out of eligibility, but I've always wondered if that was the case, why did Cox, and not White, back up Klatt? Did anyone watch the spring/summer practices of 2006? Was White clearly the best of the bunch, or not necessarily? (That was one rare year when I did not attend a practice.)
I don't know if CU's offense is better off now that Hansen is the starter. Obviously, there will be growing pains as he gains experience. But I think it's best for the program that Cody is the backup for the rest of his career, and he may be very good in that role.
There was always too much drama (and not in a good way) with the coach's son playing QB. If things didn't go well, and they haven't, then the perception of nepotism can really mess things up -- even if it isn't true.
Oh, well. The Buffs will be interesting to watch from this point, in a similar way that they were in 2000 when Craig Ochs pulled off his redshirt after the season was basically in the tank.
The Buffs had a three-way fight going for the starting QB job among the 2005 backup (James Cox), the player with the best arm who looked good in the 2005 bowl game in short duty (Brian White) and the best athlete (Bernard Jackson). And true freshman Cody Hawkins was ticketed to redshirt, which of course he did.
I set this up because in my four decades of being a CU fan, only twice have I felt an "uh-oh" moment when our starting QB was named. This year was one of them, when Cody started the CSU game after the offseason competition with Tyler Hansen. I really felt like CU would be better off with Hansen starting and Cody coming off the bench, which he did so well vs. Iowa State last year.
The other uh-oh moment was in 2006 when Cox beat out the other two returning QBs. Then in short order, White and the new coaching staff got crossways, and soon he was gone. And, of course, Cox's starting gig lasted one week: the infamous loss to Montana State, after which BJax did the starting in that 2-10 season.
Anyway, how do you guys feel like history would have been different if White won the job in 2006? I've heard Gary Barnett say White was being groomed to be the starter after Joel Klatt ran out of eligibility, but I've always wondered if that was the case, why did Cox, and not White, back up Klatt? Did anyone watch the spring/summer practices of 2006? Was White clearly the best of the bunch, or not necessarily? (That was one rare year when I did not attend a practice.)
I don't know if CU's offense is better off now that Hansen is the starter. Obviously, there will be growing pains as he gains experience. But I think it's best for the program that Cody is the backup for the rest of his career, and he may be very good in that role.
There was always too much drama (and not in a good way) with the coach's son playing QB. If things didn't go well, and they haven't, then the perception of nepotism can really mess things up -- even if it isn't true.
Oh, well. The Buffs will be interesting to watch from this point, in a similar way that they were in 2000 when Craig Ochs pulled off his redshirt after the season was basically in the tank.