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Gundy, Hawkins on different paths

 
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/17/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/17/2009  12:15 PM
Go to Dave Sittler's Blog


MIKE GUNDY is a coach of the year candidate, and Dan Hawkins could be a dead coach walking.

Raise your hand if you saw that scenario coming in December 2005.

Yet that will be the setting when soaring Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1 Big 12) hosts beleaguered Colorado (3-7, 2-4) in a moved-to-Thursday-for-television contest at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Four years ago, after Gundy went 4-7 and 1-7 in his first season as OSU's coach, many wondered if the administration had been blinded by the favorite-son status of the former Pokes' quarterback, hiring Gundy before he was ready for the job.

"I'm not sure if I would have hired myself back then," Gundy said a few days ago about the misplaced confidence he had his rookie season about handling the steep learning curve.

While some OSU officials were having second thoughts about Gundy, people in the Rocky Mountain area thought Colorado hit the mother lode when it enticed Hawkins to leave Boise State to rebuild a badly damaged CU program.

Sports Illustrated called CU's selection "an inspired hire." The Sporting News labeled Hawkins "one of the game's best offensive minds and motivators."

The personable Hawkins even got caught up in the lovefest at his introductory press conference when he told CU fans he was ready to "throw a little 'Hawk Love' out there, and let's get going."

Now fast forward to the scene for Thursday's 6:30 p.m. contest on ESPN.

"Hawk" isn't feeling much love these days from CU supporters. He enters the contest against the No. 12 Pokes with combined records of 16-31 overall and 10-20 in the Big 12 with two games left in what many believe will be his fourth and final season in Boulder.

Nobody denied that Hawkins faced a daunting rebuilding effort when he was lured away from Boise State. He was replacing Gary Barnett, who departed in disgrace after an investigation revealed his football program had used drugs, alcohol and sex to entice potential recruits to sign with the Buffaloes.

After vowing to give Hawkins all the time he needed after his first team finished 2-10, the patience is reportedly wearing thin in influential circulation. Speculation is that CU alums with deep pockets are willing to help a cash-strapped athletic department buy out Hawkins' contract, which reportedly could cost nearly $3 million.

Hawkins' critics are convinced the program has regressed. Those rumblings started after a humbling season-opening 54-38 loss at Toledo and have continued to escalate.

Former OSU defensive coordinator Tim Beckman, in his first season as Toledo's head coach, told reporters after the game that he was surprised by CU's lack of athleticism. That's a condemning assessment of a coach who was supposed to be an excellent recruiter.

Other than a nervous laugh, Hawkins didn't seem concerned when asked during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference if he thinks he's trouble with AD Mike Bohn and chancellor Phil DiStefano.

"No, not at all," Hawkins said. "They've been awesome.

"Everybody wants to win more games. But in terms of helping get this place back on track after what it went through, I think we've had to take on a number of tasks and have done a great job with that."

His critics believe Hawkins is whistling past the graveyard with his persistent optimism. They're convinced his fate was sealed with last Saturday's 17-10 loss at Iowa State, which means Hawkins is the first football coach in CU history to start his career with four losing seasons.

Hawkins didn't help himself when he stubbornly continued to start his son at quarterback as the losses mounted up. He eventually benched junior Cody Hawkins in favor of sophomore Tyler Hansen.

Gundy, meanwhile, has continued to make steady improvement. His conference record has improved every season, and he has an outside shot at leading OSU to its first BCS bowl bid if the Cowboys can close out with wins over CU and at Oklahoma on Nov. 28.

He should be a strong candidate for Big 12 Coach of the Year for the way he's held his team together despite a myriad of problems, including missing two of his best players for most of the season because of injuries and suspension.

Conventional wisdom is that Kansas State's Bill Snyder is a cinch for the coaching honor if the Wildcats (6-5, 4-3) win Saturday at Nebraska to clinch the Big 12 North Division title. But if K-State loses, it won't even be bowl eligible because it can only count one of its two wins against I-AA teams.

Awards or not, Gundy knows he'll be back at OSU in 2010, while Hawkins awaits his fate at CU.

If you raised your hand to indicate you saw that role reversal coming four years ago, you're either psychic or have selective memory.

By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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6 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/17/2009 7:33:08 AM)
Sittler- "Meanwhile, Gundy has continued to make steady improvement"

I guess that about sums it up.
Report Comment
awatson23, (11/17/2009 1:04:48 PM)
Hey Dave - check your facts before reporting this garbage

"He was replacing Gary Barnett, who departed in disgrace after an investigation revealed his football program had used drugs, alcohol and sex to entice potential recruits to sign with the Buffaloes."

If you had any journalistic integrity - which you clearly don't - you would have done a bit of investigation before slinging such slanderous BS. The independent investigation found that he had NOT used drugs, alcohol or sex. In fact he was cleared 100% of these allegations. Its journalist like you who wrecked his career by NOT doing your job.
Report Comment
what now brown cow, (11/17/2009 1:17:54 PM)
i thought the quote was the program used drugs, alcohol and sex. Not GB directly. and I think the investigation actually uncovered incidents of drugs, alcohol, and girls with recruits. Now I will be the first to say it is impossibile for a coach to "know everything boosters are doing". at any school and especially now with agents and all. but the old story is it happened during his watch.
Report Comment
srosenberg, (11/18/2009 12:35:17 AM)
AWatson23 is correct...
There were "alleged" incidents but the fact is the Barnett era never produced a conviction of any kind or any material facts related to sex, drugs, or alcohol. People perceived the program (including Mr. Sittler) to be a mess based solely on allegations and a media frenzy. Some local media members are now apologizing to Gary and his staff directly for implicating him before the facts came out...and I assume also because they realize now he is a much better coach than Hawkins...PS- CU's season opener wasn't against Toledo it was against the CSU Rams...You may not have received this info in your time zone?
Sam-Hook em' Horns
Report Comment
ImfortyoneOSU, Tulsa (11/18/2009 2:14:31 PM)
Let the scorboard determine, the HawK's fate...it ain't pretty...
Report Comment
abcjr, (11/18/2009 10:16:30 PM)
I agree with some of the above comments. From what I remember Barnett got a raw deal, mainly because of muckrackers like you. GB was not found to have done anything wrong except get blown out in some games down the stretch and tell the truth about a girl kicker who sucked. I agree that Hawk is as good as gone, but check your facts before you slander next time.
 

 
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