Just found you guys recently - I've been hanging around buff message boards for years. Here's some notes I took on the interview:
Klatt: we talked to cabral and he's expecting breakout year for the buffs. he usually doesn't get that excited. what do you think?
Hawkins:
The thing that is cool about our guys is that so many really get it. We have alot of leadership. We started on summer workouts Monday. Coach Pittman said Monday and Tuesday were "the two best summer workout days since I've been here"
We have alot of guys that know what it takes. Our young guys are doing orientation. We are starting to build up our talent base. Love our offensive line. Need to build up our wide receivers.
On Defense we are young up front with good depth at linebacker and db. We'll do some things to help out the young defensive line.
Klatt: what about all the transfers in college football?
Hawkins:
There is so much more info out there now. You get in a situation if a guy can't play, you leave. Back when I played you stayed and tried to get better. A certain side of me doesn't like it. It's the nature of the business these days. There's more flexibility now for kids to transfer.
Klatt: Do you take this into consideration when you recruit?
Hawkins:
We have certain standards we look for. That bar is always high, and I try to tell the kids exactly what that bar is. When you see somebody transfer, we don't want to lower our standards. Once they get here you never know - lots of things can happen. Kids aren't different but there are so many things peppering them. Their lives are more complicated than when I played.
Klatt: how's the offense with helfrich out, kiesau new oc?
Hawkins:
Our guys love Kies. I've had 3 or 4 schools try to steal him as a coordinator. Mark was a good coach and a good friend of mine. Kies will be fine, he'll bring alot of new things to the table. There's alot of new enthusiasm. Denver has brought alot to the table as well at the oline spot.
Klatt: Your team is the offensive line. The offensive line sets the tempo for practice - you've got a good group, the best I've seen since 2001. Are we going to see more running this year?
Hawkins:
When I came here people said they'd see a "high flying offense". We've always been a good running football team. Even in 2006. As you start losing guys you got to throw smoke and mirrors to give you a chance.
Every team starts with how you run, and how you stop the run. We have 8 guys up front with starting experience. And we are still pretty young. I look forward to us being a physical running football team.
Klatt: Rodney stewart and Daryl Scott? How do those two mix?
Hawkins:
We're going to be very multiple for those guys. Brian Lockridge had a great spring and is probably the fastest guy on our team. Daryl is like Eric Dickerson - rhytym runner we need to get him the ball. You
may see all three of them in the game at the same time.
Klatt: quarterback position?
Hawkins:
I thought they both had a really good spring. I could see a scenario where we play both. The great thing is that they both get along with each other, want to win. Tyler broke his thumb, but he didn't miss any spring ball. He'll be throwing next week. Tyler has a strong arm good wheels, Cody more intangibles. If we played today we would play both.
I think it is healthy to have competition for a position.
Klatt: Defense - most hurt from graduation, especially on dline. what are we going to see on the dline?
Hawkins:
Will perichak will be a real nice player - brandon nicholas type. blue collar type. Herrod will have good moments. Kaynor had a good spring. We'll see what happens with the young guys.
Klatt: redshirt on Kasa?
Hawkins:
We'll see. I don't promise them. Have to be mentally ready, emotionally ready, and physically in shape. Rodney stewart surprised us last year - we'll see what happens.
We have a ton of guys here already, even our freshman and walkons. The California guys we'll see later (they don't get here until July)
Klatt: what do you think of the schedule change? CSU Sunday night, toledo friday night. How tough will that week be?
Hawkins:
I don't like it necessarily but that's life. We have to do what we have to do. We'll flip the switch and get it going. It'll be like a Thursday game. Being on national tv will be great - great for recruiting.
Our record on short week games has been very good -we have a good formula (at boise and here)
We've also had a great semester in the class room. highest gpa in the past 12 years in the fall. 30 guys over 3.0. that never gets on the front page. very proud of that.
Klatt: YOu have some camps coming up?
Hawkins:
We have a camp that starts Monday - pretty much full. It's been a great thing. Our players can work it (unlike a few years ago). The following week 1200 high school guys will be here. Father/child camp coming up around fathers day.
Klatt: what are you doing this summer?
Hawkins:
I'm the wide receiver coach - I'm going to get them ready to go. I am very fired up to get back in the trenches. I am going to spend a week over the 4th in Idaho with my grandkid. Most of the time I'll be here. I'll know when it is time for me to retire -not now, I'm excited!