1981 Season Archive

May, 1982 – Fair Weather Fairbanks – “The End of an Error”

//posted 5.31.1982

— Fair weather Fairbanks — Despite compiling a 7-26 record over three seasons, and recording Colorado’s first string of three consecutive losing campaigns in almost twenty years, head coach Chuck Fairbanks still had a job as the 1981 season came to a close. With this record, when combined with the off the field difficulties the program had endured, few would have been shocked if Fairbanks had been sent on his way. Still, athletic director Eddie Crowder remained loyal to his coach. As things turned out, it was Fairbanks who was …

Kansas State – Fairbanks goes out a winner

//posted 11.21.1981

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— November 21st – Boulder Colorado 24, Kansas State 21 — There was little to entice a crowd to Folsom Field to come out for the last game of the 1981 season. Colorado limped into the game 2-8 and 1-5 in Big Eight play. Kansas State, for its part, came into the contest with similar 2-8 and 1-5 marks. Kansas State had even lost that year to the seemingly mighty Drake Bulldogs, at home, 18-17. The only issue to be decided on this day was which team would finish 7th in …

Tags: Chuck Fairbanks, Lee Rouson
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Kansas – Rocky Mountain News: Colorado “A sorry state”

//posted 11.14.1981

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— November 14th – at Kansas Kansas 27, Colorado 0 — Kansas came into the game 6-3, but only 2-3 in the Big Eight, giving Buff fans at least some hope for an upset. Not so much. As had become custom for Colorado, the defense made an effort, and the score was only 10-0 at half. The Buffs, though, made the Jayhawks look like world-beaters, completing a second consecutive year without a road win, as Kansas rolled to a 27-0 victory. The loss was the Buffs’ fourth in a row, dropping …

Missouri – Essington back as starter (not a good move)

//posted 11.7.1981

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— November 7th – Boulder Missouri 30, Colorado 14 — The Missouri game offered the Buffs an opportunity to rise above the depths of the past season and a half, but squandered opportunities led to a 30-14 loss to the Tigers. Missouri had gotten off to a fast 5-0 start, but had lost their last three, scoring only 8.3 points per game in those contests. Colorado had shown some signs of life prior to the Sooner debacle, especially on defense. Still, the Missouri defense had been more consistent on defense, …

No. 19 Oklahoma – Buffs hold Sooners without a completed pass

//posted 10.31.1981

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— October 31st – at Oklahoma No. 19 Oklahoma 49, Colorado 0 — An Oklahoma blowout of Colorado was, unfortunately, familiar territory for the Buffs. In 1981, the final was 49-0. Same song, different year. Having started out the season uncharacteristically slow at 1-2-1, the Sooners faced the Buffs with a 3-2-1 record, coming off consecutive romps over Kansas (45-7) and Oregon State (42-3). With the modest two game winning streak, the Sooners were again ranked nationally, meaning that, for the 10th consecutive season, Colorado faced a ranked Oklahoma team. Steve Vogel …

Tags: Lee Rouson, Steve Vogel
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No. 14 Iowa State – Buffs face a ranked Cyclone team

//posted 10.24.1981

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— October 24th – at Iowa State No. 14 Iowa State 17, Colorado 10 — Steve Vogel, the hero of the Oklahoma State game, made his first career start as a Buff in Ames against No. 14 Iowa State. It was an inauspicious debut, as the Colorado offense struggled in a tough 17-10 loss to the Cyclones. Vogel’s numbers indicate the ineffectiveness of the offense on the day: 12-for-16 passing, but for only 89 yards and no touchdowns; two rushes for minus-three yards. Colorado was led by junior halfback Richard …

Oklahoma State – Steve Vogel leads improbable comeback

//posted 10.17.1981

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— October 17th – Boulder Colorado 11, Oklahoma State 10 — A homecoming crowd of 36,101 came out to watch one of the most improbable finishes in Colorado football history, with the Buffs prevailing, 11-10, on a last minute score against Oklahoma State. The Colorado offense was stifled for most of the day by an Oklahoma State defense which came into the contest ranked No. 2 in the nation, having allowed a paltry 180 total yards per game. The Cowboys, coached by Jimmy Johnson (later of University of Miami, Dallas …

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Nebraska – Turner Gill makes his debut

//posted 10.10.1981

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— October 10th – at Nebraska Nebraska 59, Colorado 0 — The Nebraska thrashing, 59-0, was not unique for the result, as Colorado went into the game on a thirteen game losing streak against the Cornhuskers (average score: 34-8). What was unique was that, of the three losses suffered after the Washington State game to open the season, this was the lone Buff loss against an unranked team. Nebraska began the 1981 campaign 1-2, losing to Iowa 10-7 in Iowa City, and 30-24 to Penn State in Lincoln. Shortly after the demolition …

Tags: Turner Gill
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No. 16 UCLA – Bruins stuff Buffs

//posted 10.3.1981

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— October 3rd – at UCLA No. 16 UCLA 27, Colorado 7 — The October 3rd game brought the Bruins home for their first home game after playing three games on the road to open the 1981 season. With Colorado wearing similar blue and gold uniforms, the UCLA faithful may have been initially confused. This was not to last, though, as the true blue and gold team stepped forward and dominated the Buffs. Colorado came into the game ranked eighth in the nation in total offense, but the yardage hadn’t resulted in …

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No. 11 BYU – Pick your poison – McMahon replaced by Young

//posted 9.26.1981

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— September 26th – Boulder No. 11 BYU 41, Colorado 20 — Brigham Young University came to Boulder 3-0 and ranked 11th in the nation. BYU was led by senior quarterback Jim McMahon, a walking record book. McMahon was just coming off a four touchdown performance against UTEP, leading the Cougars to a 65-8 laugher. It was safe to say that the brash quarterback did not fear the Buffs. McMahon was quoted as saying: “Oklahoma rushed for 800 yards (against Colorado). We won’t rush for 800, but I’d like to …

Washington State – “You’ve got to be kidding me”

//posted 9.19.1981

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— September 19th – Boulder Washington State 14, Colorado 10 — Washington State came into Boulder 1-0, coming off a warm-up game against none other than Division I-AA Montana State, winning 33-21. The Cougars had only been 4-7 in 1980, so the game matched two teams looking to erase the memories of the previous campaign, and gain confidence by starting 1981 at 2-0. Colorado led the game 10-0, and had possession of the football with under four minutes to go in the game. A 2-0 start was within the Buffs’ …

Texas Tech – Walter Stanley – Hope Springs Eternal

//posted 9.12.1981

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— September 12th – Boulder Colorado 45, Texas Tech 27 — As if the 1980 season was just a bad dream, Colorado woke up and began the 1981 season in fine fashion, with a 45-27 rout of Texas Tech. Granted, Texas Tech was only 5-6 in 1980. Granted, Texas Tech was not a threat to win the Southwest Conference in 1981. But a win was a win. Sophomore quarterback Randy Essington passed for 345 yards, breaking the school record of 278 yards held by Jeff Knapple (1977 v. Kent State). …