Change of hands

Behind Scotty McKnight is a black wall that lines CU’s practice fields. In big white letters are the words “1990 National Champions.”

In front of him, and the rest of his Buffalo teammates, is the 2010 football season. Twenty years removed from the program’s only National Championship sounds even longer considering last season’s dispiriting 3-9 campaign.

“Winning three games – that hurts,” McKnight said. “That hurts when you’re home for Christmas and other teams are playing, that hurts the whole offseason. Every single workout you do you can feel that pain.”

Though they don’t arrive with MDs in hand, two new additions to the Buffs wide receiver corps are trying to doctor McKnight’s scars from last season.

One of them is Toney Clemons, a speedy 6-foot-2, 210-pound deep threat who transferred from Michigan.

The other is new passing game coordinator and receivers coach, Robert Prince. Prince coached with head coach Dan Hawkins for three years at Boise State until 2003.

“There’s been an improvement in these first four practices with adding those two guys,” McKnight said. “[Offensively] we’re better than we’ve ever been since I’ve been here.”

Clemons was ranked in Rivals’ top 100 players coming out of New Kensington, Penn. in 2007. After sitting out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, Clemons cited opportunity as the reason he ultimately wound up in Boulder.

“I want to come in and be able to be a catalyst for an offense that’s struggling,” Clemons said.

The junior receiver had 12 receptions for 106 yards and no touchdowns during his two years at Michigan. In his last year wearing the blue and gold, Rich Rodriguez was hired and brought his run-happy spread offense to Ann Arbor.

Clemons was accurate when alluding to a better chance for playing time in Boulder. Last season CU threw the ball 144 more times than the Wolverines.

Another reason Clemons figures to be a major factor in the passing game is the hiring of Prince in February. Prince is coming from a one-year stint in the NFL as the receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

Only a month on campus and Prince has already logged countless hours of work.

“I’ve watched every game that they played last year,” Prince said. “We’re always working on the details, and that’s kind of the key to the passing game.”

Details, such as preventing turnovers, are what the quarterbacks and receivers now have to worry about. After committing 31 turnovers last fall, which ranked 115th out of 120 FBS teams, there has been a clear focus on protecting the ball.

To battle turnovers, the coaches implemented a new rule this spring. An offensive player who turns the ball over once sits out the remainder of the drill. If he turns it over again, he is out for the rest of practice.

“If you’re not holding on to the ball, you’re sitting on the sidelines the whole day,” McKnight said.

This “no mistake” attitude from Prince and the other offensive coaches is their way of saying that 3-9 is not alright. But, that doesn’t mean these coaches are glum and not supportive.

“I’ve had three different (coaching) staffs,” Clemons said. “Each staff wants to motivate their players, but at the same time some guys are more positive and some are more negative. These guys are positive. On the field they just encourage you.”

Prince was obviously having fun on the field at Friday’s practice. During red zone drills, newly reinstated wide receiver Markques Simas caught a touchdown in the corner of the end zone and Prince immediately ran over, leapt into the air, and bumped chests with his player. At the conclusion of practice, Prince ran sprints with the whole team.

Clemons and McKnight both pointed out that their new position coach is a detail-oriented motivator. McKnight was also adamant in saying that the hiring of Prince is a “gift” and a “blessing.”

That hiring never would have occurred had Hawkins not been here.

“The reason why I came here was Coach Hawk,” said Prince. “I know what kind of man he is, the integrity he has, and I know what he’s about. That’s a good thing to be a part of.”

The fall season is still long off; in the meantime the receivers will be working everyday of the spring and summer to better themselves. Help has arrived in the form of a game breaker and a mentor.

After Friday’s practice was over, an evident sign of these changes showed itself. Hawkins was walking tiredly up the pavement hill from the practice fields back to the Dal Ward Athletic Center. Behind him, his good friend and fellow coach from Boise came running up. Prince slapped Hawkins on the back and yelled teasingly, “Are you kidding?” in reference to the head coach’s apparent lack of hustle.

Hawkins grinned and said something back then began to run the rest of the way, step-by-step with Prince. The new coach is even able to motivate the motivators.

“I’ve coached at college, coached at the NFL, and I coached flag football,” Prince said. “The way I am out here, the way I coach – that’s how I am at every level.”
Notes from Spring Practice:

Junior WR Markques Simas, who was suspended for a DUI in early February, was allowed back to practice with the team on Friday. Simas had 43 receptions for 585 yards last season… Junior OG Ryan Miller is out for the rest of spring with a broken plate in his right arm. Miller re-injured the arm during the team’s first practice and has been wearing a sling, while watching from the sidelines. He is expected to return when summer practices begin… Former QB Clark Evans has been working at the tight end position during practices. Another former QB, Josh Moten, has been moved to cornerback.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.