Published: June 1, 2012 By

Paul Richardson

Football practice starts Aug. 7, but with Paul Richardson out for the season with a knee injury, the 30 newcomers to the roster will have their work cut out for them.

Ideally, spring practices are supposed to resolve many issues for a college football team. But for CU, the spring produced almost as many questions as answers.

Most notably, loss of big-play junior wide receiverĀ Paul RichardsonĀ to a knee injury and uncertainty about who will start at quarterback in 2012 left much to be settled when practices start Aug. 7.

The Buffs suffered a major setback during spring practice when Richardson tore a knee ligament during a noncontact special teams drill. Heā€™s expected to miss the entire 2012 season and redshirt.

ā€œObviously, itā€™s a blow to our team, but itā€™s a part of the game,ā€ coachĀ Jon EmbreeĀ (Commā€™88) says. ā€œItā€™s a shame because heā€™s worked real hard and was doing a great job both on and off the field, leading by example and improving on all the things he needed to work on.ā€

Richardson made a big impression last year, especially in setting a single-game school record with 284 receiving yards and tying another with 11 receptions in an overtime loss to California. During the last two years, heā€™s accumulated 1,069 yards receiving.

One thing that is clear is many of the roughly 30 newcomers to the roster will play a key role in the upcoming season after 28 seniors wrapped up their careers.

A familiar name will join the Buffs in August. T.C. McCartney, grandson of former Ā鶹Ćā·Ń°ęĻĀŌŲhead coach Bill McCartney, will be an offensive graduate assistant for the coaching staff in 2012.

Former PGA Tour playerĀ Tom WoodardĀ (Mktgā€™78), director of golf for the Foothills Park and Recreation District, was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. And three-time U.S. Open championĀ Hale IrwinĀ (Mktgā€™67) earned the Nicholson Award for a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf.
Burdie Haldorson (PEā€™55), a Ā鶹Ćā·Ń°ęĻĀŌŲstandout in the 1950s, was inducted into the Pac-12 Menā€™s Basketball Hall of Honor in March. He led the Buffs to two straight Big Seven titles and earned first-team All-America honors as a senior.