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CU Games of the Day – October 22nd
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October 22nd … CU has a 3-3 record on this date over the past 40 years … 1983: No. 1 Nebraska scored 48 points in the third quarter, setting a Big Eight record. By the time the dust had cleared, the Huskers looked like a No. 1 team, posting a 69-19 victory … 1988: A 22-yard field goal by Oklahoma kicker R.D. Lasher with 8:14 remaining proved the difference as the No. 8 Sooners held on to defeat Colorado, 17-14 … 1994: No. 2 Buffs take it to No. 19 Kansas State, 35-21, to set up a winner-take-all matchup with the Cornhuskers … 2005: Joel Klatt passed for four touchdowns, becoming the Colorado all-time touchdown pass leader in the process, leading the Buffs to a 44-13 win over Kansas … 2011: The No. 9 Oregon Ducks made quick and light work of the under-manned and out-talented Colorado Buffaloes, sprinting to a 29-0 first quarter lead before settling for a 45-2 victory … 2016: Colorado became bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 with a hard-fought 10-5 win over Stanford …
- 1983: No. 1 Nebraska 69, Colorado 19 … The 48 points in one quarter was just a missed extra point away from tying the all-time NCAA record for points by one team in one frame. Nebraska’s 55 second half points broke the mark of 48 set by Oklahoma against Colorado in the infamous 1980 game … Essay: “Another Record Day” …
- 1988: No. 8 Oklahoma 17, Colorado 14 … In the first night game in Folsom Field history, 49,716 were on hand along with a national ESPN audience to see the Buffs give the 8th-ranked Sooners all they could handle … Essay: “Night Lights” …
- 1994: No. 2 Colorado 35, No. 19 Kansas State 21 … Colorado and Nebraska would now clash in Lincoln in 1994’s “Game of the Year”. At stake, the Big Eight Championship and the right to play for the national title … Essay: “The Preliminaries are Over” …
- 2005: Colorado 44, Kansas 13 … When does a 31-point victory not feel completely satisfying? … Yes, the Buffs had dominated on the scoreboard, but it was not a “normal” win … Essay: “A ‘Special’ Win” …
- 2011: No. 9 Oregon 45, Colorado 2 … “I told the team, that is what you want to be,” said Embree, pointing to the visiting locker room.” That team in that locker room over there, that is what you want to be” … Essay: “Birth of a Rivalry” …
- 2016: Colorado 10, Stanford 5 … “We have one goal, and that’s Pac-12 champions,” said running back Phillip Lindsay after rushing for 131 yards. “Winning six games, that’s cool, it’s cute. But we have to continue to move on” … Essay: “Changing of the Guard” …
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October 22, 1983 – at Nebraska No. 1 Nebraska 69, Colorado 19
Colorado, 2-4 and on a three game losing streak, had to next face a road trip against undefeated and No. 1 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln. History did not favor the Buffs, as Colorado entered the contest 0-7 all-time vs. No. 1 ranked teams, including two previous attempts against Nebraska.
Nothing changed in 1983, as Colorado fell to Nebraska, 69-19.
The Cornhuskers in 1983 were loaded. Quarterback Turner Gill, I-Back Mike Rozier, Wingback Irving Fryar, and fullback Mark Schellen were being compared, at least by the Sports Information Department in Lincoln, to the “Four Horsemen of Notre Dame”, the legendary 1925 Irish backfield immortalized by Grantland Rice.
The comparison was not without merit.
The Huskers were 7-0 on the 1983 campaign, boasting a nation’s best 17-game winning streak overall. The Buffs were struggling, and all indices pointed toward a 16th-consecutive win against Colorado. The Nebraska faithful showing up for Homecoming were not expecting to leave disappointed.
They didn’t.
To be fair to Coach McCartney and the Buffs, the Husker crowd had to be somewhat restless during the halftime festivities. While the Homecoming King and Queen were being paraded around Memorial Stadium, a quick glance at the scoreboard would have shown an apparent typo – Nebraska 14, Colorado 12. A Dave Hestera five yard touchdown catch with 1:30 left in the second quarter had brought the Buffs within range, and only a failed two-point conversion separated Colorado from being tied at the half with the No. 1 team in the nation.
Then the roof fell in on the Buffs.
What the Huskers accomplished in the third quarter sent everyone in the press box to the record books. Nebraska scored 48 points in the quarter, setting a Big Eight record for the most points ever scored within any 15 minute frame. By the time the dust had cleared, the Huskers looked like a No. 1 team, posting a 69-19 victory.
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Another record day …
Where to begin? The 48 points in one quarter was just a missed extra point away from tying the all-time NCAA record for points by one team in one frame. Nebraska’s 55 second half points broke the mark of 48 set by Oklahoma against Colorado in the infamous 1980 game. The 69-point total was at the time a record for the Huskers for both points in Memorial Stadium and points scored against a Big Eight opponent.
The Cornhuskers also set an obscure NCAA record which still stands: Most Points Scored in a Brief Period of Time. As impossible as it may sound, Nebraska scored 41 points in just 2:55 of possession time in the third quarter, with the scoring drives reading as an apparent series of misprints.
Nebraska scored touchdowns in the first six drives of the third quarter, and no drive took as much as one minute of possession time. Nary a single drive took over three plays to accomplish its goal. For the record, the Cornhusker drives took, in order:
two plays (67 yards);
three plays (24);
two plays (28);
one play (34);
three plays (43): and
two plays (14).
The final drive of the quarter, not counted in the NCAA record (too pedestrian, perhaps) took a whopping five plays and 1:19 off the clock (48 yards).
As had Bill McCartney’s first squad, the Buffs had played the mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers close for a time, but had eventually succumbed to superior talent. The 69-19 loss was not unexpected, but the 55-7 debacle in the second half made the loss all the more difficult to take.
Citing the 12-14 deficit at half-time as a sign of better things to come rang hollow. Still, McCartney had to try. “I believe they were scared at the half, whether they admit it or not” said McCartney. “If I had done a better job of play selection, we would have been ahead at the half … I feel bad for our kids, because they played so hard.”
After a fast 2-1 start, Colorado had now dropped four straight. Returning to Boulder, the Buffs would be a part of a third straight Homecoming contest.
Perhaps serving as the host would bring a welcome change of luck.
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Game Notes …
– First half statistics were very favorable for the Buffs. Colorado, down 14-12 on the scoreboard, had more first downs (14 to 13), more total offense (197 to 190) and a huge lead in time of possession (18:45 to 11:15).
– Colorado surprised Nebraska with a two tight end, one running back formation. It was successful for the most part, as Colorado generated 398 total yards. Of course, Nebraska ended up with 609 total yards of offense.
– The 1983 Nebraska team would go on to finish the regular season undefeated. The Cornhuskers, though, came a two-point conversion attempt away from winning a first national championship for head coach Tom Osborne. The failed conversion attempt gave Miami a 31-30 win, and the Hurricanes first-ever national title.
– Nebraska was the only ranked team CU played during the 1983 season. The last time the Buffs went an entire season playing only one ranked team was in 1968, when the Buffs fell, 27-14, to third-ranked Kansas.
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October 22, 1988 – Boulder No. 8 Oklahoma 17, Colorado 14
A 22-yard field goal by Oklahoma kicker R.D. Lasher with 8:14 remaining proved the difference as the Sooners held on to defeat Colorado, 17-14. In the first night game in Folsom Field history, 49,716 were on hand along with a national ESPN audience to see the Buffs give the 8th-ranked Sooners all they could handle.
After spotting Oklahoma a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, Colorado scored the next 14 points of the contest. Colorado junior kicker Ken Culbertson booted two first quarter field goals to pull the Buffs to within 7-6. Then, after an Oklahoma fumble early in the second, Colorado marched 55 yards in just three plays, capped off by a 24-yard touchdown run by Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy=s score and a two-point conversion pass from Sal Aunese to tight end John Perak put the Buffs up 14-7 … Colorado’s first lead over Oklahoma since 1976.
The lead was short-lived.
On the Buffs= next possession, quarterback Sal Aunese was intercepted on the Buff 28-yard line. Oklahoma quickly took advantage, as Sooner running back Anthony Stafford scored from two yards out to tie the score at half, 14-14.
After a scoreless third quarter, Oklahoma put together a game-winning, 71-yard drive together to start the fourth. Colorado had two chances late to tie the game, including a 62-yard field goal attempt by Culbertson with 29 seconds remaining which drifted off to the right.
Eric Bieniemy led all rushers with 114 yards, his fifth 100-yard effort of the season. It was not enough, though, as the Buffs fell to Oklahoma for the 12th consecutive season.
The Aclose but no cigar@ effort against the Sooners pushed the Buffs further from the goal of a national ranking as the Buffs fell to 27th overall in the AP poll. In the coaches= poll, which recognized the top 25 teams, the 5-2 Buffs clung to the final poll position. With wins over Iowa State (4-3) and Missouri (2-3-1), Colorado had a chance to build some momentum before facing Nebraska in Lincoln.
A bowl game and a winning season were still realistic goals for the 5-2 Buffs, but only if the coaches and players could shake off the heartbreak of the near miss against Oklahoma.
Here is the YouTube video of the game …
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Night Lights …
October 22, 1988, marked a significant date in the history of Colorado football.
On that date, the Buffs played a night game at home for the first time ever. Portable lights were brought in for the event, only serving to further hype the contest. The matchup, carried nationally by ESPN, pitted the 5-1 Buffs against another 5-1 team, the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Sooners were ranked 8th nationally, having lost only to 5th-ranked USC. Oklahoma, despite carrying the identical record as Colorado, was seen as a far superior team. As if to prove the point, Oklahoma had so dominated its opponent the week before the Colorado game that the Sooners actually did Colorado a favor. While the Buffs were playing Kansas, Oklahoma was destroying the Jayhawks’ in-state rival, Kansas State. The Sooners ran up a score of 70-24, and in so doing ran the ball 72 times for a staggering 768 yards. Oklahoma=s 768 yards on the ground bested the Sooners= effort against the Buffs in 1980, when Oklahoma posted 758 yards in the infamous 82-42 rout.
While it felt good to be out of the record books for such an inauspicious notation of defensive ineptitude, the record-setting effort could hardly have been of little comfort to the 1988 Colorado defensive team and coaches. Trying to figure out a way to stop quarterback Charles Thompson and running back Eric Mitchel from executing the Sooner wishbone would be a difficult task.
Whether or not the sun was still out.
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Game Notes …
– The win was the 12th-straight for the Sooners against the Buffs, but the three-point loss was the closest in that span. The only other game within two touchdowns was the 41-28 Oklahoma win in 1983.
– Freshman defensive back Deon Figures made his first career start against Oklahoma. Figures would go on to become one of the all-time greats at Colorado, earning first-team All-American honors in 1992, along with becoming the first Buff to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back in 1992.
– Colorado, a week after gaining zero yards through the air against Kansas, had 184 yards passing against Oklahoma, compared to 155 yards rushing, marking only the second time since 1984 in which the Buffs passed for more yards than they rushed. Meanwhile Oklahoma, from which the Buffs had borrowed the wishbone, threw the ball only six times against the Buffs, completing only one pass (for 19 yards).
– Oklahoma kept the Buffs at bay by maintaining possession, holding the ball for 35:55, to only 24:05 for Colorado.
– Ken Culbertson’s 62-yard field goal, if it had gone through, would have been the longest field goal in Colorado history by four yards (Jerry Hamilton had a 58-yarder against Iowa State in 1981), though it would have only tied the longest field goal made against Colorado (by Missouri’s Tom Whelihan in Columbia in 1986).
– Linebacker Kanavis McGhee had a big day against Oklahoma, recording 23 tackles, 15 solo. For his efforts, McGhee was named the Big Eight Defensive Player-of-the-Week. McGhee, in his sophomore season, would go on to earn first-team All-Big Eight and second-team All-American honors in 1988.
– Oklahoma came to Boulder as the 8th-ranked team in the nation, and, after a 17-14 scare, remained 8th in the polls the following week. A 7-3 loss to No. 7 Nebraska three weeks relegated the Sooners to the Citrus Bowl, where Oklahoma fell, 13-6, to No. 13 Clemson. Oklahoma, with a 9-3 overall record, finished 14th in the final poll of the 1988 season.
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October 22, 1994 – Boulder No. 2 Colorado 35, No. 19 Kansas State 21
The Kansas State Wildcats were the real deal in 1994.
Coming off of a 9-2-1 season in 1993, Kansas State had re-established itself as the No. 3 team in the Big Eight in 1994. The Wildcats only blemish coming into Boulder was a 17-6 loss to Nebraska, and Kansas State wanted nothing more than to knock off the 2nd-rated Buffs to make its own national statement.
They almost did.
The 5:30 p.m. kickoff represented the Buffs’ third nationally televised night home game of the season. The 52,955 in attendance were unsettled at the outset, as Kansas State became the first team in 1994 to score on its opening drive against the Colorado defense. The Buffs quickly responded, with Rashaan Salaam scoring on a 53-yard run less than two minutes later.
Salaam’s run came on a pitch out play and after he broke an arm-tackle near the line of scrimmage, he flashed his all-world speed and he beat all other Wildcat defenders on a mad-jaunt to the end zone.
“I didn’t realize that I broke it,” Salaam said afterwards. “In fact, I was kind of nervous they would catch me. I didn’t want to look back so I just lifted up my knees and took off. I was actually shocked to be in the end zone.”
Then after a Kansas State punt, the Buffs took control of the game for the first time with an impressive 90-yard, ten-play scoring drive that had an inauspicious beginning. The drive opened with the Buffs gaining just two yards on the first two plays. Then, staring at a third-and-eight st the CU 12, Stewart found Westbrook for a first down, and the drive had new life.
Two plays later, Salaam gained eight on an option run on a second-and-seven play that took the team near midfield. After three more plays, CU faced a third-and-one at the Wildcats’ 16 yard line. Stewart handed the ball to Salaam who scampered for another eight, giving the Buffs a first-and-goal at the eight. The drive culminated with Stewart and Salaam ran the option yet again. This time Stewart kept cut back middle for the Buffs’ second touchdown of the day.
The 14-7 advantage held up until halftime, with neither team able to score in the second quarter.
Twice in the third quarter, KSU rallied to tie the Buffs. Early in the third quarter, the Wildcats were thwarted with a goal-line stand by the Buff defense. Later in the third, though, J.J. Smith scored his second touchdown of the game on a 30-yard run to make it a 14-14 game.
Again, however, the Buffs quickly responded. It took only 1:38 of game clock for the Buffs to drive 78 yards in five plays. On the first play of the next possession, Stewart faked the option pitch to Salaam and ran past an over pursuing defense for 44 yards. The next option ended up in the hands of Salaam who gained 16. Two plays later, Salaam again did the honors, scoring on a 16-yard run.
Colorado 21, Kansas State 14, with 1:58 to play in the third quarter.
Less than two minutes later, the game was tied again. J.J. Smith scored his second touchdown in four minutes, and third of the game, with a three yard run. As a result, the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 21-21.
The Colorado offense, which would account for 339 yards rushing on the evening (202 from Salaam) was up to the challenge. After converting a risky fourth-and-one from the Buffs’ own 38-yard line, quarterback Kordell Stewart bolted around end on the option for 60 yards and a 28-21 Colorado lead.
“They just overloaded,” said Stewart of the KSU defense on the fateful play. “They had a linebacker guarding the pitch to Rashaan, a linebacker tried to play me and Rashaan and I took advantage and ducked under.” A second fourth quarter run by Stewart, giving him three on the evening, sealed the win with only eight seconds remaining.
Buff fans left Folsom remembering Stewart’s game-winning run. But what of the call two plays earlier? Was that really Bill McCartney, often criticized for his play calling, going for it on fourth-and-one from his own 38-yard line with 10 minutes remaining in a tie game? “It was really a crucial time, and I had to make a decision,” said McCartney. “We needed to make something happen.” Stewart snuck in behind the offensive line which had led Salaam to 1,256 yards in seven games, picking up two yards and a first down. One snap later, Stewart was racing down the sideline for 60 yards and a Buff win.
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The preliminaries were now over …
Undefeated and 3rd-ranked Nebraska had spent the afternoon toying with Missouri, 42-7. Colorado and Nebraska would now clash in Lincoln in 1994’s “Game of the Year”. At stake, the Big Eight Championship and the right to play for the national title.
A favorite? Chad May, Kansas State’s quarterback, who had lost to the Cornhuskers and Buffaloes in successive weeks, had an opinion. “Both teams are tough. It’s going to come down to who wants it the most,” said May. “But I’d say that all-around talent-wise, Colorado has better players.”
“But it’s in Lincoln”, noted May.
The 1994 Game of the Year would have all of the trappings. The ESPN’s GameDay crew would be on hand. Pre-game shows devoted much of their attention to the game. Much of the discussion centered around the kickoff time (10:00 a.m. MST), and how the early start might affect the teams.
“I expect a very difficult game,” said Salaam. “We’ll face a stronger defense. Basically, it is going to be a rough and tough four quarter game. We are going to Lincoln and we owe them something.”
No. 2 Colorado v. No. 3 Nebraska before 76,131 red-clad faithful crammed into Memorial Stadium.
Time for one of the most discussed games in Colorado football history.
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– Game Notes …
– The win over No. 19 Kansas State represented Colorado’s fifth win against a ranked team in the 1994 season, the first time in school history in which the Buffs defeated five ranked team in the same year.
– Kordell Stewart had 127 yards rushing, to go with 136 yards passing against Kansas State. In so doing, Stewart became only the second player in Big Eight history to pass for over 5,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards.
– Kansas State had 363 yards passing – to only 136 for Colorado – but the Buffs had 339 yards rushing on the afternoon, to only 72 for the Wildcats.
– Rashaan Salaam had 28 carries for 202 yards and two touchdowns. For his efforts, Salaam was named the Big Eight Offensive Player-of-the-Week (For the third time, having been honored for the games against Texas and Oklahoma as well).
– After losing to Colorado, Kansas State fell to No. 23 in the rankings. The Wildcats, though, went on to win the final five games of the regular season, including a 37-20 over Oklahoma, to complete the 1994 season with a 9-2 record. Kansas State, as the No. 11 team in the nation, played unranked Boston College in the Aloha Bowl. A 12-7 loss relegated the Wildcats to a No. 19 ranking in the final poll.
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October 22, 2005 – Boulder Colorado 44, Kansas 13
Joel Klatt passed for four touchdowns, becoming the Colorado all-time touchdown pass leader in the process, leading the Buffs to a 44-13 win over Kansas.
Klatt ended the evening with 42 career touchdown passes, two more than Koy Detmer posted in his four years in Boulder (1992-96)
While Klatt was setting records, it was the Colorado defense and special teams which turned a close game against the Jayhawks into a rout.
Colorado scored on its second possession of the game, taking over on the Kansas 43-yard line after a failed attempt by the Jayhawks on a fourth down near midfield. Klatt hit tight end Quinn Sypniewski from 20 yards out for the score, giving the Buffs a 7-0 lead. Four plays later, the Buffs were up 9-0, after a fourth down snap sailed over the head of Kansas punter Kyle Tucker for a safety.
It seemed, with 8:12 left to play in the first quarter, that the rout was on.
The Jayhawks, though, had other plans. Quarterback Jason Swanson came in for ineffective Brian Luke, and the Kansas offense began to see production. A 75-yard drive netted a field goal to cut the Colorado advantage to 9-3. After Klatt hit Joe Klopfenstein on a 40-yard score to start the second quarter, the remainder of the half belonged to the Jayhawks. A 28-yard field goal and a Swanson to Gordon Charles touchdown pass (the first touchdown for the Kansas offense in ten quarters), cut the Colorado advantage to 16-13 at halftime.
Colorado had the lead, but, at the break, Kansas had the momentum.
Neither team could muster a first down on their opening possession of the second half, but when Kansas went back to punt, the game changed for good. Reserve fullback Brendan Schaub blocked the Kyle Tucker offering, and the ball was scooped up by Dominique Brooks, who took the ball in from 28 yards out to give the Buffs a 23-13 lead.
The Buffs’ special teams, which had accounted for nine points on the night, were just getting started.
Colorado’s next possession started at midfield on one of the Buffs’ three interceptions on the night. The Buffs’ offense, though, stalled after a 27-yard run by Hugh Charles. Lining up for a 41-yard field goal, the Buffs instead faked the kick, with holder Nick Holz running the ball down to the Jayhawk three yard line. On the very next play, Klatt hit Klopfenstein for a three yard touchdown and a 30-13 lead.
The fourth quarter was almost all Colorado.
Kansas moved the ball well, but did not put up any points. The Buffs, meanwhile, scored on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Klatt to wide receiver Dusty Sprague, and an 81-yard punt return by Stephone Robinson.
The 44-13 score indicated a rout, but the statistics did not bear that out. Kansas accumulated more first downs and more total yards. Four turnovers and the Colorado special teams had made the difference.
“We would not be 5-2 right now without Joel,” said Gary Barnett about his record-setting quarterback. “We would not have been 8-5 a year ago without Joel. You don’t get a quarterback like that very often.” Still, noted Barnett, “I think the whole game turned around on special teams.”
Stephone Robinson, who had a punt return for a touchdown against Kansas in 2004, but none since, was pleased with his 81-yard score. “I’ve had a couple of long ones called back on penalties, or I’ve slipped, or I’ve been one block away from breaking it,” said Robinson. “Tonight, it was just time.”
Up next for Colorado was Kansas State on the road. The Wildcats were 4-3 overall, but just 1-3 in conference play after falling, 30-28, at home to Texas A&M.
In the race for the Big 12 North title, the Buffs were tied for the lead with Missouri at the halfway mark. Both schools were 3-1 in conference play, with the Tigers’ 41-24 win over Nebraska leaving the Cornhuskers with a 2-2 mark.
Missouri would be coming to town in two weeks. The Buffs could not concentrate on the Tigers just yet, however, as the Wildcats remained a dangerous foe. “We still control our own destiny,” said Joel Klatt. “We’re trying to eliminate one North team every week.”
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A “Special” Win
When does a 31-point victory not feel completely satisfying?
For the spoiled fans of Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, etc., the feeling was familiar. Huge wins were so commonplace, that finding ways of being critical of the team, even in a blowout, became a sport all its own.
It came as a strange twinge to me, however, as the 44-13 win over Kansas began to sink in.
Yes, the Buffs had dominated on the scoreboard, but it was not a “normal” win.
Check out the stats:
First downs: Kansas 22; Colorado 14.
Total yards: Kansas 354; Colorado 304.
Total offensive plays: Kansas 89; Colorado 59.
Time of possession: Kansas 34:00; Colorado 26:00.
Colorado: 104 yards rushing; 10 penalties for 97 yards.
Sound like a recipe for a rout?
Yet the Colorado defense and special teams saved the day.
“Saved the day”? In a 31-point win?
Yes.
The game was a 16-13 stomach-churner until Brendan Schaub blocked a Kansas punt early in the third quarter. Four turnovers prevented what was supposed to be an anemic Kansas offense from rolling up big numbers on the Buffs. Colorado continued to make mental error after mental error, being flagged ten times on the night. Eight of those penalties came before halftime, when the game was still very much in doubt.
Still, the Buffs were 5-2, with losses only to two top ten teams. In August, no one but the most ardent of Buff fans could have asked for more of this team. Four of the Buff wins were routs. Colorado was 3-1 in conference play, and controlled its own destiny for a trip to Houston as the Big 12 North representative.
“This week coach Barnett continued to challenge the punt unit to step up our play,” said Stephone Robinson of the punt return unit which had ranked 98th in the nation prior to the Kansas game. “I think our 16 points tonight helped prove what we can do.”
Up next?
The Kansas State Wildcats.
Colorado was just 5-5 against Kansas State over the past ten seasons; 3-3 under Gary Barnett. The Wildcats had hung with the Buffs until the very last improbable play in 2004, and had embarrassed the Buffs, 49-20, the last time the teams had played in Manhattan.
If the Buffs were to continue to control their own destiny in the North, and not have the Missouri game in two weeks be a season make-or-break contest, a win over Kansas State was mandatory.
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Game Notes
– The safety against Kansas was the second of the season for Colorado, the first time the Buffs had posted two in a campaign since 1998.
– The Klatt to Klopenstein touchdown netted records for both players. The touchdown pass was Klatt’s 41st, setting the new standard, while the score was the 12th for Klopenstein, breaking a four way tie with Christian Fauria (1991-94), Daniel Graham (1998-2001) and Gary Knafelc (1951-53) as the new high mark for CU tight ends.
– Dominique Brooks and Stephone Robinson scored in unique ways against Kansas. The odd note is that both had unusual scores in 2004: Brooks on a 41-yard fumble return; Robinson on a 48-yard punt return – both against Kansas – in a 30-21 Colorado victory.
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October 22, 2011 – Boulder No. 9 Oregon 45, Colorado 2
The No. 9 Oregon Ducks made quick and light work of the under-manned and out-talented Colorado Buffaloes, sprinting to a 29-0 first quarter lead before settling for a 45-2 victory.
In handing the Buffs their worst home loss in four years, Oregon raced out to 293 total yards of offense in the first quarter, the second-highest total ever posted in one quarter against a Colorado team. On the day, Oregon posted 527 yards of total offense, more than double the 231 yard output of the Colorado offense.
… Continue read Game Story here …
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Birth of a Rivalry …
After his team was dominated by the 9th-ranked Oregon Ducks, 45-2, head coach Jon Embree was asked what he told his younger players, forced into action due to injuries to over a score of players. “I told the team, that is what you want to be,” said Embree, pointing to the visiting locker room.” That team in that locker room over there, that is what you want to be.”
… Continue reading Game Essay here …
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October 22, 2016 – at Stanford Colorado 10, Stanford 5
Colorado became bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 with a hard-fought 10-5 win over Stanford. Buff field goal kickers missed three of four field goal attempts, making the game tense throughout, but four turnovers forced by the Buff defense preserved the victory.
Sefo Liufau connected with Shay Fields on a 15-yard score early in the second quarter, providing the game’s only touchdown. Otherwise, Liufau was largely held in check, hitting 12-of-25 for 135 yards, but was picked up by running back Phillip Lindsay, who had 12 carries for 131 yards.
In holding the Cardinal out of the end zone, the Buff defense had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Tedric Thompson had two interceptions, the second coming midway through the fourth quarter, setting up the Buffs’ field goal. Linebacker Kenneth Olugbode recovered a fumble at the Buff five yard line to snuff out Stanford’s drive to take the lead, with Isaiah Oliver collecting his interception in the final minutes to seal the victory.
“We have one goal, and that’s Pac-12 champions,” said running back Phillip Lindsay after rushing for 131 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter with an ankle injury. “Winning six games, that’s cool, it’s cute. But we have to continue to move on. We have bigger things to worry about.”
… Continue reading Game Story here …
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Changing of the Guard …
There was a seismic event in the Bay Area this weekend … and it had nothing to do with earthquakes.
Stanford and Oregon, the two teams which have won all five of the Pac-12 titles to date, officially bowed out of the race for the 2016 Pac-12 championship. On Friday night, Oregon lost to California, 52-49, in a game which featured 203 plays, 101 points, and 1,086 total yards. Then, on Saturday afternoon, Stanford lost to Colorado, 10-5, in a game which featured a grand total of one touchdown and just over 600 total yards between the two offenses.
Oregon and Stanford found two different ways to lose this weekend.
Yet the two teams suffered similar fates.
Oregon, which has lost five straight for the first time since 1996, fell to 2-5, 1-4 in Pac-12 play. Stanford, which lost to Colorado for the first time since 1990, fell to 4-3, 2-3 in Pac-12 play. While there are still mathematical possibilities for the Ducks or Cardinal to overtake Washington (7-0, 4-0) and Washington State (5-2, 4-0) … it ain’t happenin’.
Which means that, after three Stanford titles (2012, 2013, and 2015) and two for Oregon (2011, 2014), there will be a new Pac-12 champion anointed at the Pac-12 title game in Levi’s Stadium on December 2nd.
A changing of the guard.
… Continue reading Game Essay here …
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