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CU president: 'We're going to stay the course' with Dan Hawkins
By Vanessa Miller, Camera staff writer
Posted: 11/26/2009 04:26:54 PM MST
The wins will come.
In the meantime, top University of Colorado leaders are proud of the elite students that its head football coach — at least for one more year — recruits to play in black and gold.
Shortly after CU athletic director Mike Bohn confirmed on Thursday that Dan Hawkins will continue to coach the Buffaloes for a fifth season, CU President Bruce Benson praised the decision and Hawkins as being “exactly the right thing for the university.”
“I think he's doing the right things, and we're proud of him, and we're going to stay the course,” Benson said, noting Hawkins' recruiting standards. “We really want high-quality kids, and it will come. It's going to take a little while, but I'm a big supporter.”
Hawkins has been criticized this season by fans upset over mountain losses in what was supposed to be a turnaround year. The Buffs are 3-8 heading into today's rivalry game with Nebraska, and the team is 16-32 in four seasons under Hawkins.
Rumors swirled Wednesday about an announcement on Hawkins future. Media outlets reported Hawkins would keep his job, and Bohn confirmed those reports Thursday morning.
Although CU's record this season might not show Hawkins' success, Benson said, his players' academic performance does.
“The GPA on the team was the highest it's been in many many years, and the kids aren't getting into trouble,” he said. “We used to have a lot of that.
“We had a structural problem — we were bringing in kids we shouldn't have been bringing in — and all it takes it one bad apple and then you have a scandal,” Benson said. “I don't like scandals.”
Benson wouldn't speculate beyond next season to say whether Hawkins would keep his job through the end of his extended contract if CU continues to lose.
“I'm on a day-to-day contract myself, and I'm under scrutiny,” he said. “We go day by day and see how things are going.”
CU extended Hawkins' contract through the 2012 season last year. Had they decided to fire Hawkins after this season, it would have cost CU more than $3 million. If the program fails to improve next year, the university still would owe Hawkins over $2 million.
CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano said money partly weighed into the university's decision to keep Hawkins at the helm.
“I think it was part of the equation,” DiStefano said on Thursday. “You have to consider the cost of buying out a coach. But that wasn't a major factor.”
What was, DiStefano said, was Hawkins' ability to handle his student athletes.
“This year he had 19 football players who were on the academic all-American team in the Big 12,” he said. “He has a low tolerance for student athletes who get into trouble, and when you take everything together, I think it was a good decision to keep him.”
DiStefano said he's hopeful that Hawkins' success with his young players off the field soon will translate to success on the field.
“Everyone is disappointed in the wins and losses, but I think those wins will come along as well,” he said. “Next year — hopefully starting with tomorrow — they will come.”
CU graduate Chris Venne, 34, said he's not so sure and thinks the squad's lackluster season points to the need for a change.
“Dan Hawkins is clearly a bust,” he said, conceding that $3 million is a lot to pay to get rid of a coach. “Some times you have to ride it out and send him packing.”
Long-time Boulder resident and consummate CU fan William Brodie, 62, disagreed and said Hawkins' character and student standards are enough to keep him here for now.
“I've followed a lot of coaches, and I think they should give a guy like him at least one more year,” Brodie said. “I know it comes down to if a coach doesn't win the rich alumni want to get rid of him, but it shouldn't be like that.”
CU senior Stephen Pavone, 21, said aside from Hawkins' “bizarre” press conferences, he supports giving him one more year.
“I've been disappointed because the team has seemed heartless at games, but I don't know if it's the coach,” Pavone said.
The CU student's father, Chris Pavone, said he agrees and thinks it takes time to get rolling with a new system.
“I hate to see (coaches) get turned over that often,” he said.
By Vanessa Miller, Camera staff writer
Posted: 11/26/2009 04:26:54 PM MST
The wins will come.
In the meantime, top University of Colorado leaders are proud of the elite students that its head football coach — at least for one more year — recruits to play in black and gold.
Shortly after CU athletic director Mike Bohn confirmed on Thursday that Dan Hawkins will continue to coach the Buffaloes for a fifth season, CU President Bruce Benson praised the decision and Hawkins as being “exactly the right thing for the university.”
“I think he's doing the right things, and we're proud of him, and we're going to stay the course,” Benson said, noting Hawkins' recruiting standards. “We really want high-quality kids, and it will come. It's going to take a little while, but I'm a big supporter.”
Hawkins has been criticized this season by fans upset over mountain losses in what was supposed to be a turnaround year. The Buffs are 3-8 heading into today's rivalry game with Nebraska, and the team is 16-32 in four seasons under Hawkins.
Rumors swirled Wednesday about an announcement on Hawkins future. Media outlets reported Hawkins would keep his job, and Bohn confirmed those reports Thursday morning.
Although CU's record this season might not show Hawkins' success, Benson said, his players' academic performance does.
“The GPA on the team was the highest it's been in many many years, and the kids aren't getting into trouble,” he said. “We used to have a lot of that.
“We had a structural problem — we were bringing in kids we shouldn't have been bringing in — and all it takes it one bad apple and then you have a scandal,” Benson said. “I don't like scandals.”
Benson wouldn't speculate beyond next season to say whether Hawkins would keep his job through the end of his extended contract if CU continues to lose.
“I'm on a day-to-day contract myself, and I'm under scrutiny,” he said. “We go day by day and see how things are going.”
CU extended Hawkins' contract through the 2012 season last year. Had they decided to fire Hawkins after this season, it would have cost CU more than $3 million. If the program fails to improve next year, the university still would owe Hawkins over $2 million.
CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano said money partly weighed into the university's decision to keep Hawkins at the helm.
“I think it was part of the equation,” DiStefano said on Thursday. “You have to consider the cost of buying out a coach. But that wasn't a major factor.”
What was, DiStefano said, was Hawkins' ability to handle his student athletes.
“This year he had 19 football players who were on the academic all-American team in the Big 12,” he said. “He has a low tolerance for student athletes who get into trouble, and when you take everything together, I think it was a good decision to keep him.”
DiStefano said he's hopeful that Hawkins' success with his young players off the field soon will translate to success on the field.
“Everyone is disappointed in the wins and losses, but I think those wins will come along as well,” he said. “Next year — hopefully starting with tomorrow — they will come.”
CU graduate Chris Venne, 34, said he's not so sure and thinks the squad's lackluster season points to the need for a change.
“Dan Hawkins is clearly a bust,” he said, conceding that $3 million is a lot to pay to get rid of a coach. “Some times you have to ride it out and send him packing.”
Long-time Boulder resident and consummate CU fan William Brodie, 62, disagreed and said Hawkins' character and student standards are enough to keep him here for now.
“I've followed a lot of coaches, and I think they should give a guy like him at least one more year,” Brodie said. “I know it comes down to if a coach doesn't win the rich alumni want to get rid of him, but it shouldn't be like that.”
CU senior Stephen Pavone, 21, said aside from Hawkins' “bizarre” press conferences, he supports giving him one more year.
“I've been disappointed because the team has seemed heartless at games, but I don't know if it's the coach,” Pavone said.
The CU student's father, Chris Pavone, said he agrees and thinks it takes time to get rolling with a new system.
“I hate to see (coaches) get turned over that often,” he said.