Colorado University Athletics
BUFFS KEEP ROLLING ON SECOND DAY OF SPRING
BOULDER ? The University of Colorado football team held another spirited practice Saturday afternoon, with interim head coach Brian Cabral saying that his players continued to build great momentum and chemistry during just the second day of the spring season.
“We are gaining momentum built on yesterday, which is good to see,” Cabral stated afterwards. “The challenge was for us to have as spirited, or more spirited, of a practice as we did yesterday, and we did that.”
As CU drilled in shorts for the second consecutive day, Cabral said the Buffs conducted another successful no contact session. However, after two energetic afternoons of mostly timing patterns and no hitting, the 15-year assistant coach also expressed that players are aching for full contact once again.
“We are ready to get in pads,” Cabral added. “The guys are ready to knock each other down. They were trying to knock each other around today.”
Fortunately for the Buffs, they won’t have to wait any longer, as Sunday’s practice will be conducted in full pads with standup contact. Though there will no tackling, Cabral said he feels his team’s progress is right on schedule, and that raising the level of intensity will continue to increase their overall energy.
“I feel like we have gone into this spring with momentum,” he said. “If we keep gaining momentum then this will be a great spring. This team, I believe, is going to do something special. These guys are drawing closer to each other and a lot of that comes from the enthusiasm on the field.”
Injury update: The Buffs have been pleasantly surprised by the early performance of senior defensive end Marques Harris. Harris, who suffered a season-ending broken leg last year in just the second game, continues to regain his form of old. Though he is not at 100-percent yet, Cabral noted that the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder remains on track and improves each practice.
“He is going to go with limited contact; we will protect him,” Cabral said. “As of right now he is very limited in terms of contact. We are glad to see him out there, though. I was a little surprised to see him do so much. But, we are all very pleased.”
Harris did leave practice early, however, as he went to attend the wedding of former Buff safety and 2003 team co-captain Medford Moorer.
Junior safety J.J. Billingsley, who continues to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery, also remains on schedule with Cabral thinking that “we’ll see him (play) before spring is out. We will be cautious with him, but we will see him.”