Spring Practice Ass Kicks

I throw a screwball and strike out the MC
and if he temps me
I knock em out like Jack Dempsey...

What seems to be an emerging theme in the Republic of Boulder is the football team beating tons of ass. Not on the field, where they manged to do that 6 of 13 times, but rather off the field, where three players have been popped by Boulder 5-0 for wrecking shop.

The latest is backup linebacker Jake Duren, a walk on who saw action in every game last year and is a special teams' standout. In this Saturday's last scrimmage, Duren had an outstanding game, and was even singled out by the coaches.

Fast forward less than a day later, and Duren was found passed out in a hallway, bloodied, and a nearby truck window faced the wrath that Buff fans hoped opposing QBs would this fall.

Coach Hawk showed Duren no Hawk Love and promptly dismissed him from the squad. This ain't intramurals, indeed.

In what is a volatile mix of youth, stardom, an emerging team, alcohol, testosterone, and knuckleheads looking to test their own manhood, football players are under tremendous pressure. Not only to win, but to conduct themselves above the standard college tomfoolery.

Coach Hawk may be facing his toughest opponent yet- more than that of Alabama, Texas, Florida State, and West Virginia. As Hawk's teams improve, high school studs arrive with a greater sense of entitlement, and all the entrapments that come along with 18 and 19 year old egos. Hawk must face these kids as they become men, and convince them not to turn their back on the field, yet tread that line off it and take a high road.

With his dismissal of Duren, Hawk's gameplan is taking shape. Act like a buffoon off the field, you won't be a Buff on the field.