CU footballers try to distance team from last year’s 2-10 memories
The best teams know where to find motivation.
Finding the will, or fire to perform well, is something that separates the best from the rest.
“After last year, you have a little fire. You want to prove to the world that we’re better than a 2-10 team. We have a lot of fire under us,” said CU linebacker Jordon Dizon.
The 2007 Buffs have a lot to prove this year. It’s a new team with a chip on their shoulder, but the dreadful reminder of a 2-10 season last fall is hard to shake off.
“Last year was a learning curve for us, especially losing to Montana State the first game,” said tailback Hugh Charles. “It got our minds thinking. We weren’t confident at all. But this year is a different story-new team, grown team and we’re going to stick together all season.”
With a schedule that features powerhouses Florida State, Oklahoma and Nebraska, the Buffs have a chance to prove they can hang with the best. The team feels they know how to prepare for those big games this year.
“There’s no difference between one team from another. The all have a bunch of men. They all have athletic guys,” Dizon said. “The difference between a good team and bad team is some make less mistakes than others. You prepare a little bit stronger, you learn more details and the team that makes less mistakes is going to win.”
The Buffs’ offense probably has the most to prove in the fall. On 135 drives last year, only 19 of those drives, or 14 percent, ended in a touchdown.
But with quarterback Cody Hawkins marching the offense down the field in 2007, CU’s offense is looking more confident and capable. The players around Hawkins believe he is emerging as a positive, strong leader.
Defensively, the Buffs are returning players like Dizon and cornerback Terrence Wheatley. The defense is going to have to play well this season for the Buffs to have any chance at a bowl game.
Proving to students, fans and alumni that they are better than a 2-10 team is going to be a challenge this season. CU has the offensive firepower and the tough defense to beat the best teams, but mentally, they still need to prove to themselves that they are better than a 2-10 team.
“If we don’t beat ourselves, we’re going to win pretty much every game we play. Our worst enemy is us and if we beat ourselves it’s going to be a long year,” Dizon said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Kyle McDaniel at kyle.mcdaniel@thecampuspress.com.
