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Buff catches bad break
Punt returner out 4-6 weeks with broken collar bone
You get the feeling Jason Espinoza would have been fielding punts using only his left arm if the doctors allowed him to practice.
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Instead, the redshirt freshman watched Colorado's two-a-day sessions Tuesday from the sideline with his right arm in a sling.
Espinoza, perhaps the leading candidate to be the punt returner, suffered a broken collar bone during Monday's scrimmage.
The medical staff told the Alamosa native he will be sitting out of the action for the next four to six weeks. That math doesn't work for him with the Colorado State set to kickoff in 18 days.
"I'm so crushed right now," Espinoza said. "I was fine, but after they took x-rays ... I pretty much started to cry when they told me I was out four to six weeks. I still really want to play in the first game."
Espinoza, a backup wide receiver, was injured after catching a short pass when safety Jalil Brown tackled him.
Rubbing dirt on it didn't work.
"I got up right away because I didn't want to be hurt. So I popped right back up, went over to the sideline and kind of moved it around a little bit," Espinoza said. "Then they called for punt return and I tried jogging out there and knew something was wrong because I could feel something moving around in there."
Josh Smith, Scotty McKnight, Daniel Dykes and Rodney Stewart fielded punts during Tuesday's evening practice.
All of the above are very talented players capable of getting the job done, but Espinoza seemed poised to be this year's Chase McBride during the early part of camp.
"That was a bummer," CU head coach Dan Hawkins said of the injury. "He was in the mix, certainly as a punt returner for sure. ... I think there's probably three or four guys that have the capability of returning punts, and he was one of them."
Espinoza isn't going to give up on suiting up at Invesco Field.
"I've been taking vitamin D and chugging glasses of milk like crazy," he said. "I'm going to be begging them to let me practice in two weeks."
Notable
After reviewing the film of Monday's scrimmage, Hawkins was still pretty pleased with how the Buffs performed. "Just a lot of little things to clean up," he said. "In general it was fairly clean." ...
Rick Neuheisel, who reportedly has some quarterback issues at UCLA, would probably love to join the Buffs this afternoon. Hawkins' team is going to take a break from two-a-day practices after today's morning session with a short road trip to Water World. ...
After Tuesday's morning practice, the Buffs cooled down with a water balloon fight.
Posted by montanabuff on August 13, 2008 at 6:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hang in there, Jason. Your attitude and competitive spirit are much appreciated. It's a long season, though, and we need you back at 100% - to shock West Virginia when the Mountaineers come to Folsom on Sept. 18th!
Go Buffs!
Posted by archalon on August 13, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tough break for a good kid
See you on the field for WVU, Jason
Posted by rnorthro14 on August 13, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its called "fun" tallispin. Remember, college football is a game and is supposed to be fun? (of course its more fun when you win) These guys need a physical and mental break. Believe me, they have been going hard (as I am sure the Huskers are as well). Its good for morale to mix things up like this.
Posted by extrapoint on August 13, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tall cant understand anything past his monitor, outside his basement or his vendetta obsession.
The fact he never strays outside of his cloistured environment speaks well for the safety of the Hawkins and now Bohn families. When he quits posting here for a while an alarm should go off
Posted by LVBuff on August 13, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rnorthro14, "small" can't understand what you are talking about, that would require him to have stepped on a football field.
Posted by seanspradling on August 13, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like your mommy never took you to a water park Talli...
Posted by neb_cu_buff on August 13, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hahaha. poor Talli. Mommy and daddy didn't love him. Talli should go join the Buffs at Water World.
Anyway, I would like to see Stewart return punts. I think he could be pretty explosive back there. Good luck to Jason Espinoza. GO BUFFS!
Posted by BlackAndGold on August 13, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawkin's comments seem to imply that he's not too concerned about filling the gap created by this injury....which is good.
Posted by oz_in_cali on August 13, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I case you haven't noticed (I guess EP makes a valid point about your need to get out of the basement) as great a coach as Bear Bryant was, his Navy Seals-type football training went the way of the style-sense that brought you that stupid little hat Bear used to wear. And by the way, I seriously doubt that Bear Bryant even believed in water.
That old-school crap just doesn't fly in today's sports world. Just ask Bobby Knight, Bobby Bowden or Joe Pa. Coaching today is a different ball game, and living in the past is a sure recipie for failure. Again, just ask Bobby Bowden, Joe Pa, or better yet any Husker fan (all of whom's programs are flailing along on the fumes of past glory). As for us true Buffs, we prefer to put on our shades and focus on a very bright future and the impending future glory.
Thankfully, we have enough decent guys to field punts that the coaching staff can make sure not to rush Espinoza back onto the field.
GO BUFFS!!!
Posted by LBCBuff on August 13, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I read the other day about UCLA's players complaining about how intense Neuheisels first practices were - I'm now waiting for the apocalypse. Fun is good Talli, good clean fun like a water park - not that naked Nebraska wrestling variety.
Posted by rodrigo on August 13, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a freakin' moron.
Posted by BuffTime on August 13, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobby Knight - Retired
Bobby Bowden - Should be retired (FSU not up to usual quality)
Joe Pa - Been retired for years. Never told anyone. Penn State not exactly a football machine lately.
Bear Bryant -RIP
All the glory is in the past. Hell, the Roman's were pretty tough way back when, maybe you should root for their football team?
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on August 13, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kenny- how long before Coach K is ahead of Bobby Knight??? I think Coach K has many team outings like this, Just like the coach of the Broncos takes the team bowling every year to break up practice (2 super bowls).
What has anyone on your list won in the last 10yrs???? Even Bob Stoops has team outings like this and he is the best coach ever.....
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on August 13, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since theres no water park close by NU players go cow tipping or bull milking
Posted by troutman5 on August 13, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i feel bad for the kid but i was seriously unimpressed with his performance in the spring game... hoping it would be stewart anyways
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on August 13, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Believe me Kenny i am a fan of old school coaches, but those that don't adapt get left behind (Penn State, Neb) Not one person with half a brain would call Urben Meyer or Pete Caroll old school. Isn't it Urben Meyer that has the coaches families to practice once a week and cuts practice short so the player can have fun and play games with the coaches kids???
Posted by RalphieRepresentah4 on August 13, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
can anyone tell me how 2 get 2 the scrimmage on sunday.ive only been 2 Folsom 1 time that was this last years spring game and as far as i know the scrimmage field is right north of Folsom,can anyone elaborate?
Posted by extrapoint on August 13, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Old school tall cant seem to get a coaching job. Tall....you can try caddying at one of those many golf courses in the Phoenix area. I'll even be down there in a few days. We can have lunch. Dont worry I'll pick up the check if you dont bring any of your bridge widows.
BTW have we played Joe Pa since that '71 thrashing?
Posted by extrapoint on August 13, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to disagree with troutman
Espinoza caught a touchdown pss in the spring game and made at least the first 2 guys miss on every punt return.
I suppose he had to take everything to the house or are you just digging for attention like tall?
Posted by buff4life on August 13, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe the huskers should have a lil more fun lincoln, all that serious "old school" football stuff has really created some memorable husker moments over the past 10 years...beating only colorado and michigan means that only "serious" football gets played in lincoln boy, they have no time for fun..really taligal is that kNowledge or Nincompoop???? i bet you have a masters degree from NU-what a quality edumacation you have, money well spent.
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 13, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cut tall a little slack, he's still trying to figure out the difference between varying numbers of players and how that relates to depth.
Posted by extrapoint on August 13, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
probably why tall is afraid of the water park. Water has depth.
water can also trap one in a basement
Posted by bzainthemd on August 13, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fellow Buffs,
We're letting a little dork (Kenny) who has nothing else to do dominate discussions on our message board. Reading this crap is annoying. We used to have good discussions before this idiot decided to try to stir the pot, and we keep biting.
Here's an idea, that seems to work with rswright...IGNORE TALL/KENNY. He is not worth our time. If he writes something, IGNORE HIM. He'll go away.
I'm excited for this season. It's going to be a ride. GO BUFFS!
Posted by reallifeshocker on August 13, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i think the water park is a great idea. methinks also that academic studies have shown that rest and relaxation, at the proper interval, is good, and allows one to refocus. this r&r fosters better concentration, and thus, more focused effort. likewise, this "collective fun" aids the group in becoming more cohesive and interactive, and this interaction and cohesiveness builds team spirit and comraderie. military men know this as "esprit de corps".
Posted by mtnboykev35 on August 13, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't Jeff Pitman come in and make players push wheelbarows full of dirt when they were injured and could not scrimage? That sounds old school to me. And didn't people like smallisal think this was a bad idea?
Any way this kid sounds like he will be good and have the heart and ability to make it back. May be the next Jeff Cambell.
Posted by houston_buff on August 13, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can 8/30 get here soon enough? I cant decide what is worse-the terrible Camera articles or the slappy posters. As momma said, "just show me the baby". Please cancel my subscription until the Sunday edition on 8/31. Go Buffs! BTW-one of my buddies here was a cadet back in the day called me out about the AF/CU game getting some warming interest. He was all for it! Sidebar-this was after he shot 68 on his own ball and cleaned out this Buff fan!
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