Campus Press

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports

Junior wide receiver Patrick Williams bounds over junior defensive back Nic Harris, in the final minutes of the Buffs vs. Oklahoma Sooners football game, on Sept. 29, 2007. Williams was named on of the team captains, along with fullback Maurice Cantrell, free safety Ryan Walters and center Daniel Sanders for the 2008-2009 football season. (CP File Photo/Bill Drumm)

With spring football seemingly in the distant past and fall camp nearly over, the Buffs are eagerly preparing for their first game against Colorado State just three days from now. Last week, the team completed what is possibly the final step in solidifying their identity as a team- they named their captains.

In a vote by the players, four fifth-year seniors, fullback Maurice Cantrell, center Daniel Sanders, free safety Ryan Walters and wide receiver Patrick Williams, were named the team captains for the upcoming 2008-09 football season.

Each entering his fifth year in the program, the four captains have a distinguished understanding of what it means to be a Buff and what it takes to succeed in Division I football. Each expressed great pride in that fact and credited their tireless work ethic and die-hard team mentality as the qualities that make them suited to lead.

Head coach Dan Hawkins said each of his new captains has displayed all the abilities a leader should have, as football players and as individuals. He said that throughout camp, each has been a constant example for the younger players on the team to follow.

"Those guys have done an exemplary job," Hawkins said. "To me, they really typify what it is to be a leader. It's about being a great person, being a great student and being a great football player. It's about balancing all that stuff and taking all that stuff seriously."

Hawkins added that aside from the example each sets on the football field, each of the four super-seniors possesses invaluable qualities as teammates that have brought the team closer throughout the preseason.

"You have to have enough guts to say something, have enough compassion to hug somebody, and have enough concern to reach out to somebody," Hawkins said. "You have to be able to evaluate, take the pulse of, and be responsible for everybody, and have the courage, fortitude and insight to go out and do all those things. Those guys can do that."

Continued...

Page 1 of 4 next >

Article Tools