Lunch with CU’s Dan Hawkins

Took a break Saturday from high school Ultimate Frisbee in Boulder, CO, and went to lunch at Pei Wei. Since it was crowded, I picked the only table in the restaurant and looked up to see CU Football Coach Dan Hawkins at the table next to me. If I had lifted my arm to the right, I would have karate-chopped him in the neck.

Note, that this occurrence is on the same day that the Denver Post headlines that Hawkins job is under review. And the day after ESPN radio played the top five worst predictions of the college football year. “I guarantee 10 wins, no excuses,” Hawkins told the CU Football Patrons.

Well I am here tell you that Dan looked sad at lunch. I did not ruin his lunch with his wife and relatives by peppering him with questions, but this is what I noticed:

– distracted eyes…barely kept in the conversation and looking down;
– constant texting;
– picking at his food, and since he and I ordered the same thing, I know the food was good.
In general, he looked like I feel when my heart is in my stomach.

If I had talked to him, I would have told him I like his ‘character.’ (Many Nebraska fans would not have liked this.) Noticeably, no one came up and talked to him, and I was glad that people let him be in public without pestering him. I commend he and his family for going out to such public locales during this time.

Of course, this chance meeting was ironic six days before the Nerbaska-Colorado showdown. With Nebraska’s win over Kansas State and the Big 12 Championship, the media will calm down over the Friday game. However, both teams still want to win badly. It could mean alot to Hawkins’ job, I think.

And I am wondering about the prospect of an Iowa-Nebraska bowl game match-up.

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