Starting quarterback Cody Hawkins is one of more than a dozen Colorado players who will be honored this weekend on Senior Day. Hawkins’ father is, of course, Dan Hawkins, who was fired earlier this month as the Buffaloes’ head coach.
As the parent or parents of the players have the opportunity to walk out onto the field with their sons during the pregame ceremony, there’s a chance the elder Hawkins could walk back into the same stadium from which he was booted less than two weeks ago. Or not.
Cody Hawkins was asked Wednesday afternoon if he thought his father would walk out onto the field with him during the ceremony.
“I don’t know, if he wants to, he will,” Cody said. “We’ll kind of see how it goes. I know my mom will be there, and that’s all that matters.”
According to the Denver Post, it was then suggested to Cody Hawkins that his father belonged there.
“Yeah, I think he does,” Cody said. “But at the same time, I don’t want to expose him to all the (negative) stuff that he has had to deal with.
“He wants it to be a happy day. Even if he doesn’t walk me out on the field, I know he’s still there for me. He’s always been there for me. He’s always put family before football.
“That’s always what I’ll love him for and respect him for. So whatever is present at senior night, I know he loves me to death and will be there whenever I need him.”
Certainly there’s plenty of negative feelings on the part of fans toward Hawkins, but this is family; Dan Hawkins needs to be there for his son. And the fans need to put aside whatever bitterness there is, and realize that this once-in-a-lifetime moment is bigger than their football team’s record in four-plus years under Hawkins and any lingering anger they may harbor toward the former coach.
Regardless of how awkward it might be to some.
