2004 Season Archive

National and Big 12 recap – USC and Matt Leinhart win the national championship

//posted 12.31.2004

2004 – “Shoulder to Shoulder” – National and Big 12 Recap National and Big 12 Recap USC, left out of the BCS Championship Game in 2003, left little doubt as to the nation’s best team in 2004, closing out a 13-0 campaign with a 55-19 thrashing of previously unbeaten and 2nd-ranked Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinhart led the Trojans with 332 yards passing and five touchdowns in the title game. There was, of course, the annual controversy surrounding the BCS selection process. In 2004, no …

Houston Bowl – CU v. UTEP – Goin’ back to Houston

//posted 12.29.2004

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— Colorado v. UTEP – Houston Bowl – December 29, 2004 — Bowling For Dollars The Buffs reward for winning the Big 12 North in 2004 was a trip to Kansas City to face No. 2 Oklahoma, one of the most dominant teams in the country. The result? A 42-3 debacle. Still, Colorado was still 7-5 on the season, and was still the Big 12 North champions. The winning season merited an invitation to play in the EV1.Net Houston Bowl against the University of Texas, El-Paso (UTEP). It had appeared …

No. 2 Oklahoma – Big 12 Championship Game – Smoke and Mirrors

//posted 12.4.2004

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— Colorado v. Oklahoma – Big 12 Championship – December 4, 2004 — Big 12 North Champions There was reason to cheer for Iowa State the day after the Buffs’ win over Nebraska. An Iowa State win would give the Cyclones the Big 12 North title, relegating Colorado to a minor bowl bid. After the Nebraska win, the Buffs were 7-4, on a three-game winning streak, and the darling of the media for the first time in several years. Why not root for Missouri? Who wanted to spoil the positives …

Tags: Gary Barnett, UTEP
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Nebraska – Cornhuskers finish 5-6; numerous records fall

//posted 11.26.2004

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— November 26, 2004 – at Nebraska Colorado 26, Nebraska 20 — Senior running back Bobby Purify ran for 130 yards and a touchdown as Colorado stayed alive in the Big 12 title hunt with a 26-20 win over Nebraska in Lincoln. As much the story of the day, though, as Colorado’s third straight win, was the loss which sent the 5-6 Cornhuskers to its first losing season in 43 years. The Buffs, who have a long history of having the Cornhuskers jump out on top, set the tone early. …

Kansas State – Senior Day Parts I & II

//posted 11.13.2004

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— November 13th – Boulder Colorado 38, Kansas State 31 — The stakes were not as high. It was not No. 7 Colorado versus No. 4 Michigan in front of 106,427 fans and a national television audience. Instead, it was 5-4 Colorado versus 4-5 Kansas State in front of 46,502 fans and no television coverage. But the yardage was the same. And – importantly to the Buff Nation – the results were the same. Ten years after Kordell Stewart hit Michael Westbrook for a 64-yard touchdown and a 27-26 win over …

Kansas – “Why Not Us?”

//posted 11.6.2004

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— November 7th – at Kansas Colorado 30, Kansas 21 — Overcoming an early 14-0 deficit, the Colorado Buffaloes rallied to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, 30-21. Assisted by a fumble return for a touchdown by safety Dominque Brooks and a punt return for a touchdown by Stephone Robinson, the Colorado offense generated just enough points to keep the Buffs improbable hopes of a Big 12 North title alive. Early on, it was the Jayhawks who came ready to play. Kansas took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in …

No. 8 Texas – “We weren’t ready to play”

//posted 10.30.2004

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— October 30th – Boulder No. 8 Texas 31, Colorado 7 — Texas quarterback Vince Young was able to put two early interceptions behind him before guiding the Longhorns to a 31-7 romp over Colorado. Running back Cedric Benson rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns, leading the 8th-ranked Longhorns to a 7-1 record. The Buffs, in losing their eighth straight game to a Big 12 South Division team, managed only three yards rushing on the day, the fewest since Alabama held Colorado to minus-11 in the 1991 Blockbuster Bowl. The …

No. 17 Texas A&M – Modern Technology

//posted 10.23.2004

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— October 23rd – at Texas A&M No. 17 Texas A&M 29, Colorado 26 OT — Texas A&M kicker Eric Pegram connected on a 19-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the Aggies to a 29-26 win over Colorado. The Buffs’ opportunity to tie the game, or better yet, to pull out a road conference win, ended when Colorado fumbled on its overtime possession. The 73,745 on hand at Kyle Field witnessed five lead changes and over 1,000 yards of offense in the hotly contested battle. The scoring and the offensive …

Iowa State – CU (3-2, 0-2) v. ISU 2-3 (0-2) … For the Big 12 North title

//posted 10.16.2004

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— October 16th – Boulder Colorado 19, Iowa State 14 — There were certainly more attractive games on the Big 12 slate for the weekend of October 16th, as Missouri (4-1,2-0) was playing at No. 9 Texas, No. 2 Oklahoma was on the road against a desperate Kansas State squad, and No. 16 Oklahoma State hosted No. 23 Texas A&M. Iowa State (2-3, 0-2) at Colorado (3-2, 0-2) drew little national attention. Who knew the game would be for the Big 12 North title? … Colorado kicker Mason Crosby set several Buff …

No. 22 Oklahoma State – Plus: The top five games of my first 25 years

//posted 10.9.2004

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— October 9th – Boulder No. 22 Oklahoma State 42, Colorado 14 — The 46,521 on hand for Colorado’s 2004 Homecoming game against No. 22 Oklahoma State were just settling into their seats when the Cowboys took control of the game. On OSU’s third play from scrimmage, running back Vernand Morency broke away for a 58-yard touchdown run and a quick 7-0 Cowboy lead. The Buffs would keep in close throughout the first half, but a quick score just before halftime gave Oklahoma State a 21-0 halftime lead on their way to …

Missouri – A Very Un-Happy Birthday

//posted 10.2.2004

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— October 2nd – at Missouri Missouri 17, Colorado 9 — Missouri quarterback Brad Smith generated just enough offense to lead Missouri to a win over Colorado in the Big 12 conference opener for both teams, 17-9. Pre-season All-American Smith passed for 186 yards and ran for 76 more in leading the Tigers to their first win in six tries against a Gary Barnett-coached Buff squad. Statistically, the Tigers dominated, holding the ball for ten minutes longer than the Buffs, and out-gaining Colorado, 415-254. But Missouri couldn’t capitalize, missing three field …

North Texas – “Time Spent in the Lead”

//posted 9.18.2004

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— September 18th – Boulder Colorado 52, North Texas 21 — After going almost two complete games without an offensive touchdown, Colorado put up 586 yards in total offense in putting away North Texas, 52-21. Joel Klatt completed 26-of-33 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns in guiding what had been an anemic Colorado offense since the first half of the Colorado State opener. Bobby Purify amassed 112 yards and three scores on only 15 carries as the Buffs let their fans enjoy a victory prior to the last five seconds …