Hirschman Set To Graduate, Transfer

BOULDER GÇö University of Colorado junior quarterback Nick Hirschman informed head coach Mike MacIntyre Friday morning that he was foregoing his final two years of eligibility as a Buffalo and would transfer to another school to continue his football career.

Hirschman, who stands 6-foot-4, weighs 230 pounds and hails from Los Gatos, Calif., will graduate next month in just three years (and three summers of coursework) with a B.A. degree in Communication. He would then be eligible to compete immediately this fall at another school per NCAA rules.

GÇ£I felt at this time that it has been three years, a great three years, but with no decision made at the end of spring ball, it was personal choice that it was time for me to move on,GÇ¥ Hirschman said.

GÇ£I am hoping for the best for each and every teammate, and each and every coach. ItGÇÖs been a wonderful experience here, IGÇÖm still really happy about my choice to come to Colorado and I made a lot of good friends here. I will never regret my decision coming out of high school to become a Buff and IGÇÖm hoping everything will work out for everyone.GÇ¥

Hirschman, who announced his decision to transfer midday Friday on Twitter, also said, GÇ£I am definitely looking to continue my football career where I can earn my graduate degree.GÇ¥ He said he is at looking at something else in the communications field or in business and marketing.

Hirschman ended the spring tied atop the depth chart with Connor Wood. In the four main spring scrimmages including the spring game, he completed 32-of-50 passes for 433 yards, with seven touchdowns and one interception, a passer rating of 178.9; Wood was 36-of-56 for 589 yards, with five TDs and no picks, a rating of 182.1.

MacIntyre said Hirschman and Wood, GÇ£were tied at number one on the depth chart and were set to continue their competition into fall drills. GÇ£NickGÇÖs a phenomenal young man, a great team player, and I was looking forward to watching him mature this fall and to see how he would do in the battle for starting quarterback job.

GÇ£We hate to lose him, but we do wish him the best.GÇ¥ MacIntyre granted him a release from his

scholarship to all schools other than any other Pac-12 Conference school or an opponent on CUGÇÖs 2013 or 2014 schedules.

He played in eight games, including two starts, as a sophomore in 2012, completing 55-of-93

passes for 589 yards, with two touchdowns and seven interceptions. His best game came in the season finale against Utah, when he was 30-of-51 for 306 yards (1 TD, 4 interceptions) in a 42-35 loss. Overall, he engineered 40 drives, leading CU to 10 touchdowns and a field goal in 227 plays from scrimmage.

The Buffs started the spring with six quarterbacks, but are now down to four with the departure of Hirschman and the season-ending knee injury to senior Jordan Webb, who suffered a torn ACL in the last week of spring drills and underwent surgery on Thursday. The others on the roster are sophomores Stevie Joe Dorman and John Schrock and redshirt freshman Shane Dillon. They will be joined in the fall by freshman recruit Sefo Liufau.

Colorado University Athletics