2000 Season Archive

No. 9 Nebraska – The Terrible Twos

//posted 11.24.2000

— November 24th – at Nebraska No. 9 Nebraska 34, Colorado 32 — 1996 – No. 4 Nebraska 17, No. 5 Colorado 12 … At the end of the day, these games come down to cold, hard numbers. 1997- No. 2 Nebraska 27, Colorado 24 … Not subject to revision nor review. 1998 – No. 14 Nebraska 16, Colorado 14 … Beginning in 1996, the Buffs began playing the Cornhuskers the last game of the season. 1999 – No. 3 Nebraska 33, Colorado 30 – OT … Beginning in 1996, the Buffs gave the …

Iowa State – Another One Bites the Dust

//posted 11.11.2000

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— November 11th – Boulder Iowa State 35, Colorado 27 — “Of all of our losses, this was the hardest one for me to deal with,” said Colorado coach Gary Barnett in the aftermath of his team’s 35-27 loss to Iowa State. “That game was there for us to win, and we just didn’t pay enough attention to details to win it.” In the home finale for the Buffs’ seven seniors, Colorado blew a 20-9 lead by way of four turnovers. Iowa State, 7-3 and bowl bound for the first …

CU escapes Missouri with yet another “illegal” play

//posted 11.4.2000

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— November 4th – at Missouri Colorado 28, Missouri 18 — On the 10th anniversary of the “fifth-down” game, there was little national attention directed at the Colorado/Missouri game. Both teams were 2-6, and, for the second week in a row, Colorado was facing an embattled head coach, this time in Missouri’s Larry Smith. For the second week in a row, the Buffs did little to aid the cause of the opposing coach, defeating the Tigers 28-18. Colorado took control early. Desperate times call for desperate measures, as was evident by …

Oklahoma State – Six Freshman Starters Lead Buffs to Victory

//posted 10.28.2000

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— October 28th – Boulder Colorado 37, Oklahoma State 21 — Quarterback Craig Ochs became the first player in Colorado history to run for a touchdown, throw for a touchdown and catch a pass for a touchdown in the same game as the Buffs posted their first easy win of the year, a 37-21 decision over Oklahoma State. Ochs was not content to set just one record versus the Cowboys, however. On the day, Ochs surpassed freshman season records for passing attempts, completions, passing yards and total offense. Ochs completed 21-of-36 …

Kansas – “Our team has a choice to make”

//posted 10.21.2000

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— October 21st – at Kansas Kansas 23, Colorado 15 — Any delusions Buff fans had that 1-5 Colorado was not a bad football team, but really a good football team which had beaten down by an overpowering early-season schedule, came to a crashing end as 3-3 Kansas handed the Buffs a 23-15 setback. Running back David Winbush, who had set a CU record for opposing rushers with a 268-yard effort in 1998, accounted for 181 yards of total offense as the Buffs once again found a way to lose. The teams traded field …

No. 25 Texas – Buffs hang tough … for 55 minutes

//posted 10.14.2000

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— October 14th – Boulder No. 25 Texas 28, Colorado 14 — For almost 55 minutes of their game against Colorado, the Texas Longhorns allowed the struggling Buffs to stay in the game. Then, with 5:36 to play, Texas running back Hodges Mitchell, whose two fumbles had allowed the Buffs to keep in close, took a short pass and turned it into a 42-yard touchdown which sealed the 28-14 win for Texas. It should not have been that close. On the fourth play of the game, Colorado receiver Roman Hollowell …

Texas A&M – Freshman Craig Ochs wins in his first start

//posted 10.7.2000

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— October 7th – at Texas A&M Colorado 26, Texas A&M 19 — Making his first college start, true freshman quarterback Craig Ochs led Colorado to a 26-19 upset win over Texas A&M at College Station. In becoming just the second true freshman quarterback in CU history to post a win in his first career start (Marc Walters being the other) Ochs passed for one touchdown and ran for another as Colorado won its first game of the 2000 season. Colorado jumped out to a 12-0 lead against the Aggies …

No. 5 Kansas State – The End of An Era

//posted 9.30.2000

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— September 30th – Boulder No. 5 Kansas State 44, Colorado 21 — Kansas State quarterback Jonathan Beasley combined for 361 yards of total offense as the 5th-ranked Wildcats humbled the winless Colorado Buffaloes, 44-21. Beasley hit on 15-of-25 passes for 293 yards and three scores as Kansas State raced to a 13-0 lead five minutes into the contest and never looked back. Kansas State took control of the game from the outset. Colorado failed to produce a first down until its third drive. Meanwhile, the Wildcats posted two touchdowns on …

No. 9 Washington – 10:25 left in the First Quarter

//posted 9.16.2000

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— September 16th – Boulder No. 9 Washington 17, Colorado 14 — Former Colorado head coach Rick Neuheisel made his return to Boulder a successful one, as Neuheisel’s 9th-ranked Washington Huskies defeated Colorado, 17-14. Playing before 50,454 sweltering CU faithful, Washington overcame four turnovers to turn back winless Colorado. Husky quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo passed for 200 yards and rushed for 43 more to lead the undefeated Huskies, while Bobby Pesavento, making his first career start for Colorado, managed 174 yards on 15-of-27 passing. Washington dominated the first half of the game, …

No. 11 USC – Where have you gone, Ben Kelly?

//posted 9.9.2000

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— September 9th – at USC No. 11 USC 17, Colorado 14 — Southern California kicker David Newbury connected on a 23-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining to give the 11th-ranked Trojans a 17-14 win over Colorado. A crowd of 65,153 was on hand in the Los Angeles Coliseum to witness a defensive struggle between two offenses which could move the football but could not capitalize on opportunities. USC quarterback Carson Palmer hit on 25-of-31 passes for the game, but could not manufacture more than two touchdowns. The Buffs’ …

Colorado State – A Mile High Farewell

//posted 9.2.2000

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— September 2nd – at Denver Colorado State 28, No. 23 Colorado 24 — The third and (at the time) final edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown produced a close, intense game the promoters had hoped for from the beginning. The 1998 and 1999 Mile High Stadium showcases had resulted in routs, but the 2000 game between Colorado and Colorado State remained in doubt all afternoon, with the CSU Rams coming from ten points down to defeat the Buffs, 28-24. Colorado State senior quarterback Matt Newton had a career day, …

Preseason, 2000 – A Schedule from Hell: Five top 15 teams

//posted 8.1.2000

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— Preseason – 2000 — Looking forward to the 2000 Colorado football season, the proverbial glass could be seen as either being half empty or half full. On the positive side, the Buffs had played inspired football the second half of the 1999 season, a 7-5 campaign. Colorado endured close losses to two top ten teams, Kansas State and Nebraska, before mauling Boston College in the Insight.com Bowl. Head coach Gary Barnett spoke of how the players had “bought into” the system the second half of his first season, and …