Colorado University Athletics

Quotes From Friday's Bowl Practice

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Colorado Head Coach Dan Hawkins

 

On Friday’s Practice
“It was a good effort today with practice.  They did a nice job with having a good, positive practice today.”

 

On the Academic Eligibility of the Players

“Everyone is eligible.  It’s interesting, grades add a whole new dynamic to college football.  It is also interesting to see how different schools go about reporting grades, some are less pressing than others.”

 

On the Bowl Trip

“The people here have been great, they really have been awesome.  The great thing at Colorado is that we recruit down here and play everyone everywhere so it’s a great opportunity.  It is a great experience for our team.”

 

On Recruiting in Louisiana

“We have some great relationships down here, we had Kordell (Stewart), but it takes the right kind of kid.  Some people want to stay close to home and that is fine but others come up to Boulder and see the flatirons and just love it.  Those kids who want to expand their horizon and get outside their comfort zone, and we welcome them.”

 

On the Development of QB Cody Hawkins

“Clearly he is playing better down the stretch than he did at the beginning of the season.  Staying at the Hilton, they have a channel that shows a highlight video of our season.  I woke up the other morning around 5 a.m. and couldn’t sleep and saw the highlights.  We normally don’t get to see highlights because we’re always looking for what they can do better but I saw some plays that he made that I thought were very nice plays.  Not just from Cody but from a bunch of our guys.  We want all of our kids to keep progressing the way they’ve progressed this season.”

 

Colorado Players

 

TB Byron Ellis

ON RECEIVING AN ACADEMIC AWARD TODAY?“It means a lot to me.  I am glad that people acknowledge the hard work I put in, especially with my major: pre-med.  It was just really nice to know that people recognize the time I put in and the time management that I have to use and the hard work I put in to have success on and off the football field.”

 

ON HIS GOAL FOR THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL?“I just want to win the game, plain and simple.  I want to win for the team, help them propel into next season with some confidence.  It is not about me, I just want the team to succeed and we can do that by winning the game.”

 

ON FRIDAY’S PRACTICE?“Practice went great today.  The guys are ready to get out and go battle with Alabama.  Alabama plays in a very difficult conference (SEC) but the Big 12 is tough too and we want to prepare and show them what the Big 12 can do.”

 

WR Josh Smith

ON FRIDAY’S PRACTICE?“We have done a lot of preparing and had some good practices.  Practice has only gotten better as the week has gone on.  I feel like things are starting to seem more simple for me and as a team I know we are prepared.  It just comes down to going out there and how we execute and our performance on Sunday.”

 

ON ALABAMA’S DEFENSE?“They are a very physical team, but we are used to that because we play in the Big 12.  We know they are going to come out and give us their best shot.  The game is going to come down to who wants it more and who wants to have a winning season more.”

 

OT Tyler Polumbus

ON ALABAMA’S DEFENSE?“They’re a 3-4 defense and that is more of an NFL philosophy and we’re more used to seeing 4-3 defenses.  With the 3-4 it’s almost like they’re lining up and saying we’re bigger and better than you and it’s on you to stop them.  We’ve been preparing for them for a month now, so it seems like we might be over-prepared.”

 

ON HAVING THE COACH’S SON AS THE QUARTERBACK?“I think it is a blessing in some ways.  Being the coach’s son, Cody knows what he is doing and knows the system.  He’s only been here for two years but he knows the offense as well as anyone.  He also brings his fathers leadership skills onto the field.”

 

OG Edwin Harrison

ON ALABAMA’S DEFENSE?“They run a 3-4 defense but they run some four down (lineman) as well.  They do a good job of mixing up their defenses, but hopefully we’re prepared to the best of our ability and we’ll give them a good showing.”