GAME TIME: 10 a.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High

Young quarterback's motto: be prepared

Butterflies are free, but Cody Hawkins isn't interested.

Believe him or don't, but Hawkins, scheduled to make his Division I-A debut Saturday at quarterback for the University of Colorado, contends jangled nerves never have been an issue for him at any level of football.

Of course, he has yet to play a game at his current level, but with a 59-game winning streak as a starter from youth league through high school, there might be something to his claim.

Hawkins believes thorough preparation is the antidote for game-day jitters — even for a redshirt freshman who also happens to be the coach's son.

"I'm a pretty relaxed guy," Hawkins said. "Like the coaches say, 'Confidence comes from preparation,' and I think we've done a great job of that. We're prepared.

"You only get nervous if you don't think you've done everything you can to win. If we've done everything we think we can do in our power to deserve to win that game, then all we've got to do is go out there and cut it loose."

On his most serious case of pregame jitters: "Last year before the Georgia game was the first time I can ever remember being nervous before a game. I thought I was going to play. (James) Cox's dad had died, Brian White had left the team, and with Bernard Jackson, as much as he was running (and being susceptible to injury), I thought I was going to play. Pat Devenney (a former quarterback moved to tight end) could hand the ball off ... but they had me on the ready-ready."

On winning CU's starting job: "Nobody dreams of being the starting quarterback. They dream of winning games as the starting quarterback. I haven't done any of that yet. ... I always expected to work hard and wind up being the starting quarterback. But that's not really something to be proud of just yet. We've got to win some games first."

On directing CU's No. 1 offense: "You definitely learn a lot more about yourself and the guys around you ... just interacting with people in different ways. I've grown closer with the O-linemen, getting to hang out with them. ... I got some great teammates around me and I'm really excited about the opportunity they're going to present me to live out those dreams."

Key matchups

CU offensive line vs. CSU pass rush

The Buffaloes will start two virtually untested guards (sophomore Devin Head, redshirt freshman Wes Palazzi) and a center (Daniel Sanders) who started at guard last season. Look for the Rams, who expect to rotate seven players among their four down positions, to initially bring blitzing pressure in the middle to see how the new linemen react. Memo to the Buffs: Account for defensive end Jesse Nading.

CSU running game vs. CU run defense

At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Kyle Bell is a load, and a hungry load at that. His return gives CSU more punch on the ground, which creates play-action pass opportunities. His backup — swift and shifty Michael Myers — offers a change of pace. But the Buffaloes played the run fairly well in 2006 and return the nucleus of their top run-stopping corps. Depth, though, is an issue in the line and at linebacker, where experience is nearly nil.

CU pass defense vs. CSU passing game

In last season's game, CU's secondary made CSU quarterback Caleb Hanie appear Montanaesque. Making the Buffaloes look like bobbleheads with the bubble screen, Hanie completed his first 14 passes and ended up 20-of-23 for 233 yards and no interceptions. His longest toss barely topped 30 yards, but then why go vertical? CU, which allowed its 2006 opponents a 66.9 percent completion rate, swears it's no longer a sieve.

CU return game vs. CSU special teams

The Rams remember Stephone Robinson, who returned a punt for a touchdown in each of the 2004 and 2005 seasons (one against CSU). A bigger question: Does Robinson remember Robinson? He opened 2006 as CU's No. 1 punt returner but lost confidence after a couple of bobbles and was replaced after only 15 returns and his lowest career average (5.1 yards a return). He's back, but CSU believes its coverage is better.

Sonny Lubick vs. Dan Hawkins

It's age and guile vs. youth and audacity. OK, at 46, Hawkins is no starry-eyed kid, but Lubick is a well-preserved 70 and is matching wits against his fourth Buffaloes coach. (Bill McCartney was 6-1 against the Rams, Rick Neuheisel 4-0, Gary Barnett 4-3, Hawkins is 0-1.) Make no mistake, this game means as much to Lubick as any on his schedule, and that emotion always is picked up by his players. And Hawkins picked up on it last year.

Seniors rule

Quarterback Caleb Hanie has several tough acts to follow as a CSU senior starter. Previously under Lubick, six seniors have returned for their final seasons as starting quarterbacks, with five of them directing the Rams to a postseason bowl.

Season's greetings

The Buffaloes and the Rams spent long, fretful winters analyzing the hows and whys of 2006 seasons gone bad. CU finished 2-10, CSU 4-8.

CU coach Dan Hawkins didn't want all of last season's bad memories totally wiped out as his team endured the most demanding winter conditioning work the upperclassmen can remember.

"Just going through what we've been through this past year — the (2006) season, the winter conditioning, spring ball ... the chemistry and camaraderie we built — it makes (Saturday's game) all that much more important," CU junior receiver Patrick Williams said. "I wouldn't say we're in real need of one, but it would nice to have (a payoff)."

If at first they don't succeed ...

... the Buffaloes probably won't over a season's long haul. CU's athletic media relations department reports in 82 percent of seasons when they win their opener, the Buffaloes have gone on to have a winning season.

He said it

"You've got so many things. You've got the first game, which I think is huge, no matter who you play. You've got your rival. You've got a team coming off a season like we came off of. There are a lot of factors that go into saying, 'You guys better have your horns out and be ready to go.'"

Dan Hawkins, on the 2006 opener being weightier than most.

Keeping it close

22 points have decided the past five meetings in the rivalry, with none of the decisions by more than a touchdown.

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