Football

Former football player pursues opera career.

The football team struggled during the non-conference portion of its schedule, posting a 1-3 record before starting Big 12 action.

The university’s first football team took to the field undisciplined and without a coach. The 1890 flannel-clad sportsmen lost every game.

The CU football team won just two of eight games against Big 12 opponents last season, but coach Dan Hawkins believes his Buffs have a chance to make a big jump in the conference standings in 2009.

When the Buffs host Colorado State on Sept. 6, Dan Hawkins will begin his fourth season as CU’s head football coach. He talked with Coloradan contributor Mark Wolf about football, music and kidney stones.

While the battle for CU’s starting quarterback job isn’t expected to be settled before August, one candidate broke his thumb in April and another bowed out of the competition.

The football team failed to earn a bowl berth for the second time in coach Dan Hawkins’ first three seasons as head coach, but he is aiming for a big improvement in 2009.