After another challenging practice ahead of the TCU game, senior defensive lineman Shane Cokes met with the media in Boulder. Cokes was asked about his leadership during his days at Dartmouth and how he’s grown in that area.
“At Dartmouth towards my senior year especially. I think I grew as a leader from there. And now here, now I can really just, you know, jump into that role. Early on in my career, I wasn’t so outspoken. So I was just more to myself, more lead by example than vocally. But here, I think, especially with everyone coming in, there’s a new group of guys like, I have to do that, but we’re also leading by example,”
But even as a leader Cokes felt much like a kid again earlier this week when Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin stopped by practice.
“When I saw him come, it was just like, I feel like a little kid, Like all the stories my dad told me, seeing all his like speeches that he gave, even when he does like the commentating stuff like that. His speeches before the game always got me, so I just had to go up and shake his hand yesterday.”
Defense coming around
Fandom aside, the Buffs are winding down to just one week before the season opener against TCU. Cokes thinks the defense is rounding into shape just in time.
“Coming in the summer with a whole new group of guys basically, and trying to understand each other how everyone plays, trying to build that chemistry has been the biggest thing for us and it was definitely a little bit of growing pains. I’ll say that beginning in summer and then fall camp. I think now we’re starting to understand each other, sort of play more as a group rather than individuals. So I think just keep it on the same path, just building days, every single day and getting better. That’s a plan for us.”
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