It's possible the Colorado football team could lose one of its team captains — the starting quarterback last year — before this season even starts because of academic problems.
It would be an unfortunate ending to a career filled with plenty of twists and turns for Bernard Jackson. But if the bad news comes, fans won't hear coach Dan Hawkins railing about academic responsibility or making an example of Jackson.
Jackson is a father trying to care for a 2-year-old son who lost an eye to cancer. He played most of last season concerned about his father's health as well. Jackson's father lives back home in California and requires regular care from Jackson's siblings.
This is one situation in which Hawkins just has to shake his head at the difficulty of what his player is facing in his personal life.
"Bernard, he's got some extenuating circumstances that would be tough on me," Hawkins said. "We always talk about life not being fair in a sense, but he's got some obligations and some other things that are tough on any person. And then you're a person that's a student, and then you're a person that's a student playing football.
"That's not necessarily an excuse, but my heart goes out to the guy. He's got a lot of irons in the fire."
Jackson has missed the majority of training camp tending to those obligations as well as trying to pass several independent-studies classes. He did not practice again Thursday and Hawkins said it is doubtful Jackson will play against Colorado State.
Jackson said he believes he will pass his classes and play his senior season this fall. He took one final Wednesday and has a final test remaining. He could know sometimes next week whether he is academically eligible for his senior season.
He said if he is not able to play, he will move on with no regrets.
"It's part of life," Jackson said. "You learn from it and move on to more opportunities. It will just be another route to doing what I've been trying to do all this time."
Hawkins said he is waiting to find out what Jackson's final grades will be. That could be a week away.
"He took a final (Wednesday). I think he has another final in a couple days so we just have to wait for all that to sort out," Hawkins said.
Jackson was chosen to be one of three team captains by his teammates during winter conditioning. The others are linebackers Jordon Dizon and R.J. Brown. Hawkins said tackle Tyler Polumbus has been filling Jackson's shoes in practice, leading warmups and rallying the offense.
Polumbus hasn't been a named a captain, but he is the most likely candidate to serve as the offensive captain against CSU and for the remainder of the season if Jackson is not part of the team.
Polumbus said he felt strange even talking about the issue Thursday because he considers Jackson the offensive captain. But he also acknowledged he is trying to provide leadership to his younger teammates.
"It's a good feeling to know that I've gotten myself into a position where guys respect me enough to listen to what I have to say," Polumbus said.
Hawkins said he does not believe any of the three quarterbacks on the roster — including his son Cody, the starter — are ready to serve as captains at this point. Hawkins said in a perfect world, quarterbacks, centers, linebackers and safeties make the best captains because they have the most responsibility on the field.
Jackson earned the starting quarterback job last season going into the second game of the year against Colorado State. He held the position the remainder of the year as the Buffs struggled to move the ball and score points in a new offensive system.
Jackson was shifted from a full-time quarterback to a 'slash' role during spring practices. He is expected to play quarterback, wide receiver and running back as well as kick returner if he plays this season.