Champ Sports Bowl Media Day Quotes
BOULDER? The University of Colorado held a Champs Sports Bowl media day press conference on Monday in which Interim Head Coach Mike Hankwitz and senior captain and quarterback Joel Klatt stopped by to take questions in reference to the team and its preparation for the Clemson Tigers. The following is a transcript of the session:
Interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz
GENERAL? “Today will be our fourth day of practice here. I’ve been pleased with our attitude and effort. We haven’t had exactly tropical conditions to practice in but the players have worked hard. Today will feel nice and balmy for them. Each day out attitude, effort and spirit have improved and our focus on the game and our setting out to make something positive out of this situation has made our players feel better. There has been some resolution, they know who their new coach is and they have had a chance to work through a lot of different emotions. Getting done with exams and focusing on the game itself has been very positive for them. We are fighting through some injuries?not a lot of people, but in some key positions. The depth in our offensive line will be a concern and Joel (Klatt)’s status has yet to be clarified to my knowledge. We will practice as if he won’t play and we’ll know pretty soon about his status.”
ON QB JAMES COX?“He has excellent potential and this is an opportunity for him. It gives him a chance to show what he can do and I know he’s excited about it. I know the players will rally around him.”
ON THE STAFF STAYING FOCUSED THROUGH THE UNCERTAINTY?“We are professionals. We try to do the right thing for our players all the way through this thing and be leaders to show them how to conduct business. We are going to finish that way. In reality, how we conduct ourselves in this period and how well our players play will be as good an interview as you can do?better than anything you could say. Even though it’s a difficult time, our coaches realize that. Our players need leadership and that’s up to us to provide.”
ON DEFENSE? “In the Nebraska game we gave up big plays and in the
ON CLEMSON?“They are a real combination of a lot of teams (we have played) and they are very talented. I’ve had people tell me that (QB Charlie) Whitehurst is taller, faster and throws it harder than it looks on game film. We have great respect for him?he’s a veteran quarterback. They have a tandem at running back. (James) Davis and (Reggie) Merriweather have gained about 1,500 yards. They have a receiver in (Chansi) Stuckey who was a high school quarterback?he is a quick guy who they get the ball to in a lot of different ways. They are a multiple offense and they try to give you a lot of different looks. They run a lot of the same plays but they spread the ball out a lot. Defensively?they won five of their last six games?and their defense played much better in the latter half of the season. They have an All-American cornerback (Tye Hill) and they have a defense that is playing well together much like we were toward the end of the season.”
ON RECRUITING?“We had 10 commitments and felt like we had an excellent base and interest from several key positions. We have been actively calling them and telling them not to make a decision just yet. Some of those kids will get pressured from other schools?that’s just a numbers game. I know a lot of kids will wait to reserve judgment. Now they know who (the new head coach is). You would think receivers we have been talking to would be excited given the way Dan Hawkins likes to throw the ball. A lot of them will wait to see which (assistant coaches) will be retained because they may have been recruited by them. I know Coach Hawkins can certainly sell his success and his record. There will be positive things that will come out of it. We are hoping that all the hard work we did recruiting will help carry over the interest of the kids and I know (Hawkins) will be contacting them.”
Senior Quarterback Joel Klatt
ON PLAYING STATUS? “The doctors and the training staff have done a great job being safe and taking this injury fairly slow. Hopefully we get some good results here in the next couple of days and I’ll be good to go. I have a little bit of dizziness, a pretty sustained headache and things of that nature.
“There is no way that would want to do anything else than try to get on that field and help my team win. Hopefully that opportunity will come my way and if not I’ll just have to deal with it.
“I doubt they will leave the decision in my hands because I think they know what will happen if they do. I’m pretty sure it will be a training staff and doctor’s decision.
“This decision for me is a lot different because I have a wife that I am thinking about. She always weighs heavily into any decision that would be left up to me. Having her around definitely gives me a different perspective about my future and obviously she has some feelings about what I should do. Any athlete would say that they just want to get out on the field as fast as possible?and I’m not different. Obviously with a wife it is very different.
ON STATE OF
“Whether it’s helping the scout team out with defensive looks for Clemson or giving as much advice as I can to the quarterbacks who are preparing, I’m just trying to stay involved and keep positive. I want to be a leader regardless of whether or not I’m in the huddle.
“Mr. Bohn is trying to do the best for this program. Saying that, Coach Barnett has been like a father figure to me. He has been passionate about not only this program, but for the players that play in it. I will be indebted to him for a long time for the opportunity he has given me here at the