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Tidbits from Practice No. 4

Posted April 1, 2008

Stick out the tip of your tongue just beyond your lips and blow. That's how Dan Hawkins described most practice sessions immediately following spring break.

The Buffs got back to work Tuesday afternoon in full pads and outdoors for the first time this spring. Hawkins wasn't dissatisfied but he wasn't thrilled with his team's performance either after 10 days off. He could be heard yelling at players several times during practice encouraging them to raise their intensity level and focus.

"I thought they were okay," Hawkins said. "...It wasn't bad."

Hawkins said all players returned from spring break safely and on time with the exception of defensive end Marquez Herrod, who was caught in traffic on snarled I-70 and a massive pileup Monday. Herrod was at practice Tuesday.

A handful of players missed practice because of class conflicts or coaches choosing to have players focus on academics rather than participating in drills. A few notable absentees were linebacker Marcus Burton and fullback Kai Maiava.

Center Daniel Sanders and defensive tackle George Hypolite, both seniors-to-be, are excused from all or part of Tuesday and Thursday work this spring because of class conflicts.

The Buffs will scrimmage Saturday at 1 p.m. in Folsom Field. Hawkins said there will be more live plays this spring in scrimmages because there are more linemen available. The team had just six offensive linemen available in spring ball last year. Hawkins estimated the first scrimmage will consist of 125 plays (50 for the first team, 50 for the second team and 25 for the third string).

Hawkins said he is still considering signing several more recruits later this spring or this summer. He said there is no date that serves as a deadline.

"We've got a few guys that are kind of in the hopper," he said. "...We're not going to burn them just to burn them."