Having attended CU during the scandal and the end of the Barnett era, I can tell you that the program was literally in shambles. Anyone remember the Big XII championship against Vince Young & Texas?? No respectable team loses a championship game 70-3.
Whoever took over after Barnett knew they had to rebuild the program from the ground up and don't forget the recruiting limitations put in place as a result of the scandal.
Hawkins has had to spend a lot of time rebuilding the fundamentals of this football program, and while it is vital to start there, the results aren't as pretty or tangible as W's and recruiting rankings. Nonetheless, look what has been accomplished:
*Consistently getting CO's top recruits to stay in state (something I never remember happening before Hawkins)
*Football team getting some of the best GPAs in a long time
*Accountability groups to minimize off-field problems.
These are all aspects that will lead to a cohesive TEAM that can win games. Lets be honest, CU ins't Florida State or even Texas in that we're going to have to win as a scrappy fighting team rather than on the shoulders of a few very very talented individuals.
That being said, CU is looking to recruit a special kind of student athlete, someone looking for more than just their easiest shot into the NFL - which is much harder to find, but I think what Hawkins is building is a sustainable program that once up & running will be strong for some time based on the quality of those in the program.
Don't get me wrong - I personally sat in the Florida heat & humidity just to watch us be humiliated by FSU last year. I'm as frustrated and angry as anyone about our performance last season and the seemingly unending drama each off season. But, in my opinion, Hawkins is safe for some time. I think the AD and University President are looking at much more than the W's - they're looking at the kind of student football players that are representing our program and things like the GPAs and accountability groups impress them much more than they impress us. If we win fewer than 7 games, there will be pressure and calls for his job, but he won't be going anywhere.[/QUOTE
Logic and facts and reason on this Board ??? Whiskey.Tango.Foxtrot?
Oh! Irony be thy name!