Dan Hawkins on Hot Seat at Colorado

Fourth-year coach Dan Hawkins, 13-26, is showing up on national coaching “hot seat” lists after opening with losses to Colorado State and Toledo, games most CU fans had chalked up as victories before the season. Saturday, Colorado hosts a Wyoming team no doubt brimming with confidence after leading Texas late in the first half last week. Then the meat of CU’s schedule arrives, with a trip to West Virginia followed by Big 12 opponents. CU was favored in its first two games but fell behind early and never recovered. The Buffs couldn’t stop the pass, or the run, and didn’t show much firepower on offense until falling far behind in the 54-38 loss to Toledo last Friday. There’s much to be done — in a hurry. Team captains have called for a players-only meeting this week. And Hawkins said Tuesday the defense will be simplified for Saturday’s game. “You get tied up in knots a little bit with trying to do too much,” Hawkins said. – Denver Post

Dan Hawkins feeling heat in Colorado

While criticism of Colorado’s Dan Hawkins appears to be growing, behind closed doors, the players are in full support of their head coach, junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight said late Friday night following the Buffaloes’ 54-38 loss at Toledo. Colorado, which talked about aiming for 10 victories, has begun a season 0-2 for the third time this decade, joining teams in 2000 (3-8 final record) and 2006 (2-10). – Denver Post

Dan Hawkins Feeling Pressure at Colorado

Is Game 2 of any football season too early to trot out the “must win” angle? And at Toledo, of all places? Perhaps not for the Colorado Buffaloes, who enter Toledo’s Glass Bowl Friday night (7 p.m. MDT, ESPN) hoping to reveal to themselves and a concerned fan base that what happened six days ago on their home turf was not a portent of their 2009 season. Stunned by a 23-17 opening loss on Sunday to rival Colorado State, CU faces another non-BCS school shouldering that same aggravating chip. After watching tape of CU’s insipid start against CSU, Toledo, a Mid-American Conference member, might view its visitors as the soft filling in a BCS cookie. After opening with a 52-31 loss at Purdue, the Rockets play No. 8 Ohio State next week in the Cleveland Browns Stadium. – CUBuffs.com

Toledo to Begin Search for New Coach

University of Toledo football coach Tom Amstutz plans to step down from his position today, The Blade has learned. Mr. Amstutz and UT Athletic Director Mike O’Brien are scheduled to announce at a news conference this morning that Mr. Amstutz will be reassigned to a job in the university’s alumni relations department. The move would take effect at the end of the football season. Mr. Amstutz, 53, is 57-38 in his eight years as head coach of the Rockets, with two Mid-American Conference championships. But UT is 2-6 this season and is likely to have a losing record for the third straight year. UT is 0-4 at the Glass Bowl this year. A Toledo native, former UT player, and Rockets assistant coach for 21 years, Mr. Amstutz’s contract runs through 2009, when he is scheduled to be paid a base salary of $190,000. Reached last night, Mr. Amstutz said he preferred to wait until today to comment. UT plays at Akron Wednesday night. – Toldeo Blade

The University of Toledo has scheduled a news conference for 10:00 am Monday at which time it is expected that Rockets head football coach Tom Amstutz will announce that he is stepping down as head coach effective at the end of this season. Amstutz, currently in his eighth year as head coach of the Rockets, has been under increasing fire recently for the Rockets’ plummeting football fortunes. Toledo is currently 2-6 and winless in four games at home this season.  On the verge of a third consecutive losing season, it is expected that Amstutz will be retained by Toledo but reassigned to a capacity outside of the athletics department when the official announcement is made jointly by Toledo Athletics Director Mike O’Brien and Amstutz at the Monday morning press conference.   During Amstutz’s tenure the Rockets have compiled a record of 57-38, have won two MAC titles (2001, 2004) and made four bowl appearances. But coming off of consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2006 and 2007, the amiable head coach had fallen out of favor among Toledo supporters. – MAC Report

BREAKING NEWS: Amstutz Out at Toledo

ESPN reports Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz will resign at the end of the season…

Tom Amstutz has taken Toledo to four bowl games in eight seasons as the Rockets head coach, but the man affectionately known as “Toledo Tom” will be stepping down as the school’s coach in a Monday morning press conference, sources have confirmed. Amstutz, who is in year four of a five-year deal, will announce his future plans at a joint press conference with Toledo athletic director Mike O’Brien, according to a source inside the program. The 53-year-old former Toledo offensive lineman is being re-assigned within the school’s athletic department, sources say. – ESPN.com