1984 Season Archive

K-State – Coach Mac receives a contract extension: “Belief without evidence”

//posted 11.17.1984

— November 17th – at Kansas State Kansas State 38, Colorado 6 — Kansas State offered the Buffs several opportunities. The first was to finish sixth in the Big Eight, ahead of both Kansas State and Iowa State. The second was to avoid the indignity of joining the 1980 squad as the only ten-loss Colorado team’s in school history. Finally, the game provided the Buffs and their coach the chance to give Coach McCartney and the 1985 Buffs something to build on. None of these opportunities, though, came to fruition, as …

No. 9 Oklahoma – Brian Bosworth comes to Boulder

//posted 11.10.1984

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— November 10th – Boulder No. 9 Oklahoma 42, Colorado 17 — Oklahoma, ranked No. 9 in the country, came to Boulder with an overall record of 6-1-1. Heach coach Barry Switzer’s Sooners ran a high octane offense, with a precision wishbone offense complimented by a passing game which included tight end – and future NFL star – Keith Jackson. But the Oklahoma calling card in 1984 was its defense, led by noseguard Tony Casillas and linebacker Brian Bosworth. Bosworth, though only a freshman, had already been nominated for Big Eight defensive player-of-the-week …

Kansas – Craig Keenan passes for 349 yards

//posted 11.3.1984

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— November 3rd – Boulder Kansas 28, Colorado 27 — The Buffs were entitled to a break after facing two top ten teams. Normally, Kansas would provide just such an opportunity. Even during the drought years of 1979-83, Colorado did manage to win three of five games against the Jayhawks, including the previous two contests. Third year coach Bill McCartney was undefeated against only one conference opponent – Kansas. With two decent performances against top opponents in the bank, it was time to feast on a 3-5 Jayhawk squad. Problem …

No. 10 Oklahoma State – Denver Post: “Close, but …”

//posted 10.27.1984

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— October 27th – at Oklahoma State No. 10 Oklahoma State 20, Colorado 14 — Junior Craig Keenan made his first start at quarterback at Colorado, earning the start on the road against Oklahoma State. Keenan replaced Colorado’s all-time passer Steve Vogel, but faced a real challenge, as the Buffs took the field against a top ten opponent for the second week in a row. Colorado had played Nebraska tough the week before, leading 7-3 after three quarters … but not tough enough to post a win. History doesn’t always repeat itself. Sometimes …

No. 5 Nebraska – “You tell ’em, Bill!”

//posted 10.20.1984

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— October 20th – Boulder No. 5 Nebraska 24, Colorado 7 — All too soon for Buff fans, it was time again to face the Huskers. Nebraska came into the contest ranked 5th in the nation, with the only blemish in the Huskers 5-1 record coming in a upset loss to Syracuse, 17-9, on the road. Since the non-conference loss, Nebraska had posted two Big Eight wins against Oklahoma State and Missouri, and was not looking for a difficult game against the 1-5 Buffs. The game, however, did not turn …

Iowa State – Buffs ploy on fourth-and-one preserves victory

//posted 10.13.1984

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— October 13th – Boulder Colorado 23, Iowa State 21 — Only 36,762 came out for Colorado’s Homecoming game against Iowa State. Who could blame the fans for their apathy? The game wasn’t much of a draw. The Buffs were 0-5. The Cyclones were 2-3, with both wins coming over inferior opponents (West Texas State and Drake). Unbeknownst to the faithful, however, as they filed into Folsom on the 55-degree, Chamber of Commerce postcard fall day, it would be the Buffs’ most exciting game of the year. The game started as ominously for …

Missouri – Coach Mac falls to 0-3 against his alma mater

//posted 10.6.1984

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— October 6th – at Missouri Missouri 52, Colorado 7 — The Missouri Tigers posted their sixth consecutive win over the Buffs in fine fashion, routing the Buffs in Columbia. The loss to his alma mater had to be that much harder for head coach Bill McCartney, as the Tigers continued their domination of his new team. Missouri scores against McCartney’s 1982-84 Buffs: 35-14, 59-20, and 52-7. Missouri came into the game 1-3, but the record was deceiving. The Tigers’ three losses had come by a total of only nine points, including a 16-14 …

UCLA – “Coach Whitehair” gets re-acquainted with Coach Bill

//posted 9.29.1984

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— September 29th – Boulder No. 17 UCLA 33, Colorado 16 — Colorado came into the UCLA game 0-3. Two close calls, against Michigan State and Oregon, had been followed by a rout at the hands of Notre Dame. The hope and optimism which had greated the 1984 campaign, on the heels of a 4-7 record in 1983, had been dimmed. Now, the Buffs had to face their first ranked team of the season, 17th-ranked UCLA. The UCLA Bruins, though, came to Boulder licking wounds of their own. Unimpressive wins over San …

Notre Dame – Golden Dome rout

//posted 9.22.1984

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— September 22nd – at Notre Dame Notre Dame 55, Colorado 14 — Colorado traveled to the hallowed grounds of South Bend, Indiana, for their third game of the 1984 season carrying heavy hearts. Thoughts of Ed Reinhardt had to be on the minds of the Buffs as they played Notre Dame beneath “Touchdown Jesus” for the first – and only – time in school history. Notre Dame, as had been the case in 1983, came into the matchup against the Buffs unranked. Embattled Notre Dame head coach Gerry Faust had …

Oregon – The Ed Reinhardt Game

//posted 9.15.1984

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— September 15th – at Oregon Oregon 27, Colorado 20 — The Oregon Ducks, like CU’s opening opponent, Michigan State, had posted a 4-6-1 record in 1983. Unlike the Spartans, though, the Buffs had no history from which to draw incentive. The last meeting between the two teams had been in 1979, with the Buffs falling 33-19 at home in Chuck Fairbanks’ debut as Colorado head football coach. In 1984, Oregon was able to outlast Colorado, holding off the bumbling Buffs, 27-20. Dropped passes, 11 penalties, and continuing difficulties with the kicking game …

Michigan State – “Home Games”

//posted 9.8.1984

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— September 8th – Boulder Michigan State 24, Colorado 21 — Michigan State appeared to be the ideal opening game opponent for the 1984 Buffs. First, the issue of payback had to be addressed. Colorado had led the Spartans after three quarters in the 1983 opener, only to surrender 17 fourth quarter points in a 23-17 defeat. Second, the 1984 game would be in Boulder, not East Lansing. Finally, the 1983 Michigan State team had finished the 1983 season with a less than stellar record of 4-6-1, including an embarrassing …

1984 Preseason – Cautious Optimism / Recruiting Watch

//posted 9.1.1984

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— Cautious Optimism — The 1984 season presented an excellent opportunity for third-year coach Bill McCartney to demonstrate that the building process was continuing. Bill McCartney’s inaugural squad, consisting of nary a single player recruited by McCartney, had finished 2-8-1. In 1983, the mark had improved to 4-7. Now, with two full seasons under his belt, and two recruiting classes to call his own, whispers of a winning season were heard around campus. Not Orange Bowl, mind you. No one was oblivious to the fact that there were top ten teams residing in Lincoln …