The father-son conundrum
Rivals.com had an interesting story about Colorado coach Dan Hawkins and his quarterback son Cody, who went 41-0 in his high school football career.
Cody, who was redshirted during Colorado’s 2-10 season in 2006, will be in a three-way competition for the starting quarterback position.
If he wins it, there will undoubtedly be some who think he got it because he’s the head coach’s son and a few of them will probably be tactless enough to say something to that effect. Others will be more fair than that.
There is pressure in college football, especially at the quarterback position, and one would think that playing on your dad’s team would add to that. To Cody’s credit, he seems to be looking forward to that overcoming that pressure.
The coach is under significant pressure as well. Having one’s son on the team certainly changes the dynamics, making the spotlight a little hotter. If your son gets seriously hurt, you’re right there when it happens and a decision will have to be made. Do you go to be with your son, or do you continue coaching? That’s not a decision I’d want to have to make, but it’s something you’d have to be prepared for. You’d also have to be prepared for the calls of favoritism that may or may not be true.
Hopefully both father and son have prepared themselves for the pressure and the pitfalls that come with being family in the college football environment. If they can handle it, more power to them.
NCAA, college, football, Colorado, Dan, Cody, Hawkins
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