THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGIAN COLLEGIAN SPORTSFriday, August FRIDAY 31, 2007 66 9 Yards in his last outing against ranked 9th at his position KYLE BELL Colorado, a team high by Lindy’s Sports POINT-COUNTERPOINT JORDAN DIZON VITALS Position: RB 1288 137 VITALS Number: 34 Yards in his 2005 season, the most led the Buffs with 137 Position: LB Height: 6-2 in school history by a sophomore Will we ‘grill the buffs’? tackles in 2006 Number: 44 Weight: 232 Height: 6-0 Year: Junior 0 Don’t shoot the messenger, 15 Weight: 220 Career touchdowns vs. Colorado Coach Hawkins, the number one tackles against CSU in 2006 Year: Senior Major: Technical Journalism reason why CU will lose but CU is no pushover Hometown: Keenesburg Cody Hawk- Major: Economics You know ins, CU’s redshirt Hometown: Kauai, Hawaii your football freshman quar- team made a bad terback and son of Bell ready hire when its new Head Coach Dan Dizon coach loses to Hawkins, hasn’t a Division I-AA lost a game since team in his fi rst he started play- to run game, as was the ing in sixth grade. anchors Hawkins is unde- case for CU coach By MIKE DONOVAN By NICK HUBEL By SEAN STAR Dan Hawkins last feated for his life The Rocky Mountain Collegian year. and is one of three Hawkins went main reasons that CSU fans should be worried for the Rocky Mountain defense When facing a dominant defensive on to coach the Buffs to another defeat in his second player, there are often things that can be game, losing to a mediocre CSU team 14-10. Expect Showdown. By JEFF DILLON done to take him out of the game. Ends this year to be no different as long as Hawkins is 1. The mini Hawk The Rocky Mountain Collegian can be run around; corners can be thrown still the Buffs’ coach. However this time, the Rams When coach Hawkins announced that his son away from. But a dominant linebacker is should be better and Hawkins won’t be able to play would be the starting quarterback for this game, Jordan Dizon is the senior anchor tough to avoid, particularly one like CU’s the fi rst-year excuse card, either. CSU defenders were probably licking their lips to of the Buffs’ defense. His 137 tackles Jordan Dizon. Give the man credit, though; he rebounded with have a chance to bash around a player who’s never in 2006 were second-best in the Big 12. So, instead of beating around the bush a solid 2-9 fi nish after the Showdown loss. Even more taken a snap at the college level. He’s a big, physical, weak-side lineback- with bubble screens and short passes, the comforting for Hawkins was that his former team, However, many times in sports, a newcomer can er who fi nds a way to factor into almost CSU offense will run right at the Buffs this Boise State, went undefeated and won a BSC bowl in excel early because rookie athletes are unaware of every play. year. its fi rst season without him. So, what did the coach the giant microscope on them. One year ago, Dizon led all defensive Fortunately for the Rams, they just do to help his team improve this year? He named his Hawkins is no joke, which is indicated by his players with 12 tackles against CSU and might have the personnel to pull it off. son, Cody, the starting quarterback. Normally this win-loss record, and his teammates will be invigo- the Buffs defense limited the Rams to Junior running back Kyle Bell will spear- wouldn’t be that odd, as college football coaches rated by the fact that their quarterback can throw an just 60 yards rushing. head the ground game Saturday, behind from Lee Corso to Steve Spurrier have coached their accurate pass, something that simply did not hap- But that, of course, was without star an inexperienced but talented offensive kid. pen with Bernard Jackson at the helm. running back Kyle Bell, who returns for line. But Hawkins’ choice to name his offspring the 2. Jordan Dizon is freakishly good the Rams this year after suffering a sea- “I’m as excited as I have been in my starter is about as questionable as his attempts to CU’s best player, by a wide margin, is senior in- son-ending knee injury in 2006. entire life,” Bell said. make his 2-10 team better. side linebacker Jordan Dizon. Dizon, who has played “They’ve got Bell back, and he’s their Bell said that facing a preseason All- The coach has sent text messages to his players, in every game in his career and been a thorn in the top dog,” Dizon said. “We know they’re American like Dizon will not change the taken them paintballing, gone sky-diving with them Rams’ side ever since his debut in 2004. going to run it hard on us.” team’s offensive strategy. and brought them to Invesco Field last week just to Dizon tackled CSU running back Marcus Hous- In 2005, the two faced off in the “I have no doubt in my mind that I “visualize” a win among other bizarre rituals that ton on the goal line with 30 seconds left to play in his Showdown, with Bell gaining 66 yards could go out and get 30 carries,” Bell said. won’t work. His promotion of his son, Cody, doesn’t fi rst game. and Dizon fi nishing with four tackles. “We’ve got to attack the running game the come as much of a surprise though, as Hawkins’ de- Since then, Dizon has simply dominated oppo- Dizon said Bell is a rare combination same way no matter what. As long as we cision to name Bernard Jackson the starter last year nents, putting up ridiculous numbers, including 15 of physicality and speed, which makes do what we are capable of doing and do proved to be a terrible choice. Hopefully the Buffs tackles against CSU last season. him diffi cult to contain. what we are supposed to do it doesn’t re- have a backup quarterback ready because baby Dizon will most likely be blocked by recently con- “Whenever you have a running back ally matter who we are going up against.” Hawkins is built like a kicker. verted fullback Gartrell Johnson III. Johnson, who is that’s big, powerful and elusive, that’s Offensive coordinator Dan Hammer- At 5-foot-11, the Idaho native can barely see over a great pass blocker, may not be able to handle the huge,” Dizon said. “He breaks tackles schmidt said that the team will rely on the the line and his 190-pound frame isn’t exactly proto- sheer athleticism or skill of this preseason all-Big 12 but he can also break off big runs in the running game during the Showdown, but typical of an impact player at his position. linebacker. open fi eld, too. It’s tough.” that he feels like the team will be best if With a defensive line that has started a com- 3. Payback Dizon said the Buffs have to keep it they are able to mix things up. bined 80 games, the Rams pass rush should be all Dan Hawkins has never defeated CSU and in his simple and avoid big mistakes against “We’re obviously going to run it a lot over the fi rst-year player. And if the Hawkins family fi rst chance last year, the “offensive” genius was able Bell and the entire CSU offense. If so, better than we did last year,” Hammer- isn’t reason enough for why the Rams are going to to put up 148 offensive yards on the Rams. Hawkins Dizon said, it should be a CU victory. schmidt said. “We hope to get 150-plus.” win Saturday, there’s plenty of others. and CU need a win to legitimize themselves this sea- “They’re a bunch of blue-collar guys Senior quarterback Caleb Hanie is ex- In contrast to the Buffs, the Rams have a senior son and want to make up for last year’s loss in addi- and they always come out and work cited about the potential for a return of quarterback with 17 career starts under his belt - tion to their dreadful 2-10 season. hard,” he said. the running game, saying that it will open that’s 17 more than Hawkins if you’re counting. CU players believe they should have won last “I just want to come out and do my up the playbook for the team. CSU also has one of the best receiving corps in season’s match-up and Saturday will be a chance to job, and that’s what we all have to do. “They better put eight guys in the box the region and 20 returning starters. exorcise the demons of last year. Whoever makes the least mistakes is go- because we are going to run the ball on And remember fans, this isn’t intramurals, it’s And payback may be the most important thing ing to win.” them,” Hanie said. the Rocky Mountain Showdown, brother. on the Buffs’ minds. CAMPUS VOICE CSU-CU RIVALRY TIMELINE A brief history of the battle for the Centennial Cup: CSU QB What is your 1893 University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado Hanie looks to prediction for Agricultural College (later Colorado State) play the fi rst game in the rivalry’s history.