Dan Hawkins was absolutely correct when he said he was "fortunate" to retain his coaching position at Colorado for the 2010 season.

He said so following a 28-20 defeat against Nebraska, in which breakdowns again cost the Buffaloes, who finished 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12.

The bottom line at Colorado proved to be the bottom line. Hawkins would have been owed more than $3 million in buyout compensation had he been fired. Colorado did not want to spend that kind of money with its athletic department swimming in red ink and job cuts recently enforced on campus.

Hawkins needs to make the most of the opportunity, but questions abound whether he can. The Buffs often committed dreadful mistakes, sometimes missing assignments that led to big plays by opponents, ...More