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Dan Hawkins' job is safe, at least for now.
Although it's widely assumed that Hawkins' days in Boulder are numbered, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn issued a statement following the Buffaloes' historic collapse Saturday at Kansas that gave no indication Hawkins' firing was imminent.
The Jayhawks scored the final 35 points to erase Colorado's 45-17 fourth-quarter lead, the biggest collapse in Colorado history, one fueled by poor coaching decisions such as throwing the ball with the big lead when running out the clock was in order.
Afterward, Hawkins walked out on his post-game interview with KOA radio, the Buffs' flagship station, when asked about not running the ball more in the fourth quarter to salt away their first road win since 2007.
The Buffaloes (3-6) are 0-5 in their Big 12 farewell tour and have lost 17 straight outside Colorado, yet Bohn is sticking with his embattled coach who is 19-39 in five seasons.
Hawkins' son, Cody, is the only healthy quarterback on the roster with starter Tyler Hansen recovering from a hard hit that hospitalized him two weeks ago.
It might be awkward for the athletic director to fire the quarterback's father with three weeks left in the season, including senior day in two weeks, when parents join their sons on the field for pregame ceremonies.
After returning to Boulder, Bohn issued a statement that said: ''It goes without saying that this game was extremely disappointing on many levels and obviously these developments do not meet our expectations. That's not to disparage Kansas' accomplishment in any way. While we share many of the same frustrations and serious disappointment as our fans, I have confidence in this group of seniors to represent this team and the university with both pride and a competitive spirit the rest of the season.
''I am cognizant and most appreciative of our fan support of the players during this difficult season,'' Bohn continued. ''Their loyal following will be integral to our immediate and long-term success.''
He said nothing about Hawkins' job status, although the two are expected to meet this week.
A Denver columnist on Sunday called for fans attending next weekend's game against Iowa State to protest the state of the program under Hawkins by turning their backs during the opening kickoff just as the coach turned his back last week on kicker Aric Goodman as the senior attempted a field goal at Oklahoma.
Hawkins was one of the hottest coaches in the nation when he took over at Colorado in 2006 after going 53-11 at Boise State. He replaced Gary Barnett, who lost his job after two scandal-plagued years and a 70-3 loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game after the 2005 season.
Meanwhile, Hawkins' former assistant, Chris Petersen, has built Boise State into a national championship contender, leading many critics to suggest that Bohn hired the wrong man away from the Broncos.
Bohn, Chancellor Phil DiStefano and President Bruce Benson took heavy criticism for not firing Hawkins after the Buffs finished 3-9 last season.
Hawkins also alienated alumni and former players by saying the program was ''burned to the ground'' when he got there even though the Buffaloes had reached the league championship game several times under Barnett.
This year, Hawkins moved practices from their traditional afternoon time slot to early mornings and took players' names off the backs of their jerseys. The culture of losing and Hawkins' curt public persona in the face of so much criticism has stayed the same.
After starting 3-1, the Buffs have lost five straight and will have to beat Iowa State and Kansas State at home and Nebraska on the road to avoid a fifth straight losing season.
Hawkins offered a surprising suggestion this summer in a meeting in the athletic department. According to the Boulder Daily Camera, a senior staff member asked him if there was one thing the department could do to help his program succeed this season and he responded by saying the school should give him another contract extension.
Although his contract runs through Jan. 31, 2013, Hawkins later told the Camera he was simply seeking stability. Hawkins already was awarded one contract extension in 2008 following his only bowl appearance in 2007 and signing a nationally ranked recruiting class that year.
Hawkins is making nearly $1.5 million this season in base salary and incentives, less than every coach in the Big 12 except Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads.
The Buffaloes are moving West next season, along with Utah, to the newly named Pac-12.
