Colorado Buffaloes football

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2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team
Colorado Buffaloes football
First season 1890
Staff
Athletic director Mike Bohn
Head coach Dan Hawkins
2nd year, 8–17
Stadium
Home stadium Folsom Field
Stadium capacity 53,750
Stadium surface Grass
Location Boulder, Colorado
League/Conference
Conference Big 12
Division North
Team records
All-time record 658–419–36 (0.608)
Postseason bowl record 12–15
Awards
National titles 1
Conference titles 26
Heisman winners 1
All-Americans 61 (6 unanimous)
Pageantry
Colors Silver[1] and Gold            
Fight song Fight CU
Mascot Ralphie
Marching band Golden Buffalo Marching Band
Website CUBuffs.com

The Colorado Buffaloes football team represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big 12 Conference at the NCAA Division I-A level in college football. Dan Hawkins has been the head coach since the 2006 season. The football team has played at Folsom Field since 1923. The Buffs all-time record is 658-419-36 (.608 winning percentage) through the finish of the 2007 season. The football program is 16th on the all-time win list and 22nd in all-time winning percentage.

Contents

[edit] History

Colorado's First Football Team in 1890.
Colorado's First Football Team in 1890.

Folsom Field was built in 1924, and since then, Colorado has a 283-146-14 record at home.

The road game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 24, 2006 was Colorado's 1,100th football game.

Beginning in 1890, Colorado has enjoyed much success through its history. The team has won numerous bowl games (27 appearances in bowl games (12-15), 23rd (tied) all-time prior to 2004 season), 8 Colorado Football Association Championships (1894-1897, 1901-1908), Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference (1909), 7 RFMAC Championships (1911, 1913, 1923, 1924, 1934, 1935, 1937), 4 Mountain States Conference Championships (1939, 1942-1944)), 5 Big Eight (Six) conference championships (1961, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1 Big 12 conference championship (2001), 4 Big 12 North Championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and an Associated Press National Championship in 1990.

The following was taken from the Silver & Gold newspaper of December 16, 1898. It was a recollection of the birth of Colorado football written by one of CU’s original gridders, John C. Nixon, also the school’s second captain. It appears here in its original form:

At the beginning of the first semester in the fall of ’90 the boys rooming at the dormitory on the campus of the U. of C. being afflicted with a super-abundance of penned up energy, or perhaps having recently drifted from under the parental wing and delighting in their newly found freedom, decided among other wild schemes, to form an athletic association. Messrs Carney, Whittaker, Layton and others, who at that time constituted a majority of the male population of the University, called a meeting of the campus boys in the old medical building. Nixon was elected president and Holden secretary of the association.

It was voted that the officers constitute a committee to provide uniform suits in which to play what was called “association football”. Suits of flannel were ultimately procured and paid for assessments on the members of the association and generous contributions from members of the faculty.

The University at that time had about the best base-ball team in the state composed of such star players as Ingram, Blake, Carnahan, Rust, Neighoff and others. But it was a reflection upon us that although it was styled the University base-ball team, it was composed mainly of outsiders, who had no connection with the U. of C.

It was the object of the newly organized association to ultimately absorb the base-ball team, even if it was mercilessly whipped in that, as it was afterwards scourged in football.

Whatever may have been said of their playing, the boys were made of that stuff called “American Grit,” and had no conception of what the word failure meant. To them defeat was simply a severe lesson which was to teach them how to win in the future.

Taking up the game of association football the boys practiced quite regularly and under the instruction of Hosford, who was an Englishman of extraordinary proficiency in the game, they soon became adepts in the art of running at full speed and keeping the ball almost fairly between the feet. I called this an art, as I consider excellence in any athletic sport an art. The graceful swing of a trained foot-runner is as fair a sight as the rhythmic waltzer, or as creditable a performance as that of an opera singer. After becoming proficient in this game we learned that all other football teams of the state played what was called the Rugby game, and as we could not attain state or national renown playing among ourselves, it became a question whether we would make a change or not. Only two in the association had ever seen a Rugby game and it was reported as fiendish beyond comprehension. The rush of a Rugby team was likened to the stampede of a herd of Texas cattle: nevertheless the boys decided to throw themselves in front and die a la Leon idas, and succeeding events showed that they had not over estimated the opposition.

The association had two factions—no live organization is ever harmonious—and the lesser faction always opposed the propositions of the majority. In this instance they had secured the individual promises of the eleven of the twenty four members to oppose a change of the game, and as it required the assent of two-thirds to accomplish this the remaining members decided to adopt the tactics of wearing out their opponents in the meeting. The session lasted one entire afternoon until darkness came upon them, during which, bursts of orator, pro and con, and imminent danger of pugilistic strife pervaded the atmosphere. The vote stood 16-8 in favor of a change and the University football team was launched on a broader basis. This vote was followed by our throwing the association open for membership to the whole student body, (and a limited number of outsiders, if we should need them), but time showed that the vim and snap of the college man was not possessed by those outside.

Holden was sent as our representative to a meeting of the state league and bound us for the forthcoming games with only two weeks of preparation, learning the game almost entirely from the rule book, nine of the eleven having never seen a Rugby game clad in the flannel suits without padding, the average weight of the team being about 140 pounds, we went to Denver and lined up against the D.A.C. team, composed of graduate college players. It was also their first game, they having just organized, and they way they ran out ends was astonishing, but in this game our team developed a characteristic which it has even since maintained, which was this, that although our line was much lighter then that of our opponents, they would be carried steadily back whenever they attempted a line play against us.

One week later, with four of our best men too maimed and bruised to play, the Golden giants came down on us. Our boys went down like a row of pins and the Goldenites went over the top. Score 103 to 0. In the return game with Golden, Darley made our first touchdown: score 44-4, and Golden prophesied our future success. We lost one game with Colorado Springs and the Springs and the D.A.C. team which forfeited, giving us third place in the percentage list. We paraded that percentage list before our eyes with unbounded satisfaction. It mattered not how we came by it, we had it.

President Hale, who from the first took a kindly interest in the team, also did other members of the faculty, advanced the money with which to buy padded suits, but we did not obtain them in time to use that season. The following year the team commenced training as soon as the semester opened, and has since taken its true position as one of the most formidable teams in the west. Of the original team, James, Carney, Layton, Putnam and others, became among the best players in the state.

The Athletic Association should now invigorate its base-ball and place it at par with its football team; and it certainly has the material with which to do it. The U of C should henceforth lead the state and possibly the west in athletic sports.

The style of football playing has altered considerably; by the old rules, all men in front of the runner with the ball, were offside, consequently we could not send backs through and break the line ahead of the ball as is done at present. The notorious V was then in vogue, which gave a heavy team too much advantage. The mass plays being now barred, skill on the football field is more in demand than mere weight and strength.

To the physically weak, football appears like a relic of barbarism at par with the Spanish bull fight, but, considering the course of training that the player must take, he becomes hardened and inured to danger, in serious causalities become few. The player develops physical strength and mental composure in the face of fierce and determined opposition, which enables him to better battle with the competition and business worries succeeding school life, of which the average student knows nothing and with which he usually buffets helplessly for years. A successful football team will advertise a University and attract as many male students as its educational facilities. This is avowedly admitted by Yale and Princeton authorities, hence the game should be encouraged by college faculties. It is not to the discredit of the American youth that he is thus attracted. It is indicative that he possesses hardihood and vigor and will not sink into lassitude and degeneracy which characterize the population of a degenerate nation.

It is often said, how little we know: so with a modest sense of humility, college graduate I after years look back, not to the mountain of learning that he or she surmounted, but the incidents in college life that bind them to so many friends, intellectual ennobling friends. Thoughts of those exercises in sports, fraught with just a little danger, will continue to the end as a refreshing fountain inspiring new life.

Silver & Gold, [2]

[edit] 1990 National Champions

Colorado won its first and only National Championship in 1990 under the direction of head coach Bill McCartney (1982-1994). However, they split the title with Georgia Tech who won the United Press International poll while Colorado won the Football Writers Association of America and Associated Press polls. The largest argument against Colorado was they had a loss, when Georgia Tech did not, but Colorado also achieved a win with the now famous Fifth Down Game against Missouri. The major argument for Colorado was the they played the toughest schedule of any team in the nation. Colorado capped the season with a win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, 10-9, a rematch of the 1989 season Orange Bowl game which Notre Dame won 21-6. Colorado's tie came against Tennessee, who was ranked number 8, the first week of the season when Colorado was ranked number 5. The second week gave the Buffs a scare, scoring with 12 seconds left in the game on a 4th and Goal attempt. The next week gave Colorado its only loss of the season, losing 23-22 to Illinois and dropping Colorado to number 20 in the polls. Colorado then went on to beat teams ranked (at the time) 22 Texas, 12 Washington, 22 Oklahoma, and 3 Nebraska. They ended the season 7-0 in the Big Eight Conference for the second season in the row. They then capped the season with a win over Notre Dame who were number 1 until a loss their last game of the regular season.

1990 Final AP Poll
Rank School Record (W-L-T) Points
1 Colorado (39) 11-1-1 1,475
2 Georgia Tech (20) 11-0-1 1,441
3 Miami, Fla. (1) 10-2-0 1,388
4 Florida State 10-2-0 1,303
5 Washington 10-2-0 1,246
6 Notre Dame 9-3-0 1,179
7 Michigan 9-3-0 1,025
8 Tennessee 9-2-2 993
9 Clemson 10-2-0 950
10 Houston 10-1-0 940
11 Penn State 9-3-0 907
12 Texas 10-2-0 887
13 Florida 9-2-0 863
14 Louisville 10-1-1 775
15 Texas A&M 9-3-1 627
16 Michigan State 8-3-1 610
17 Oklahoma 8-3-0 452
18 Iowa 8-4-0 370
19 Auburn 8-3-1 288
20 So. California 8-4-1 266
21 Mississippi 9-3-0 253
22 Brigham Young 10-3-0 246
23 Virginia 8-4-0 188
24 Nebraska 9-3-0 185
25 Illinois 8-4-0 146

[edit] Yearly Results in Big 12

Colorado Buffaloes yearly results since Big 12 Conference play began in 1996.

Year Coach Overall Conference Standing Bowl Coaches# AP°
Big 12 Conference (1996 — present)
1996 Neuheisel 10-2 7-1 2nd W, 33-21 Holiday Bowl 8 8
1997 Neuheisel 5-6[3] 3-5[3] 4th-t
1998 Neuheisel 8-4 4-4 4th W, 51-43 Aloha Bowl
Rick Neuheisel: 33-14[3] 19-12[3]
Gary Barnett (Big 12) (1999 – 2005)
1999 Barnett 7-5 5-3 3rd (North) W, 62-28 Insight.com Bowl
2000 Barnett 3-8 3-5 4th (North)
2001 Barnett 10-3 7-1 1st L, 38-16 Fiesta Bowl 9 9
2002 Barnett 9-5 7-1 1st (North) L, 31-28 (OT) Alamo Bowl 21 20
2003 Barnett 5-7 3-5 4th-t (North)
2004 Barnett 8-5 4-4 1st (North) W, 33-28 EV1.net Houston Bowl
2005 Barnett 7-5 5-3 1st (North) L, 19-10 Champs Sports Bowl
Gary Barnett: 49-38 34-22
Dan Hawkins (Big 12) (2006 — present)
2006 Hawkins 2-10 2-6 5th (North)
2007 Hawkins 6-7 4-4 3rd (North) L, 30-24 Independence Bowl
Dan Hawkins: 8-17 6-10
Big 12: 80-67 54-42
Total: 658-419-36
      National Championship         Conference Title         Conference Division Title
Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season.
°Rankings from final AP Poll of the season.

[edit] Yearly Game Results 2000 to present

Opponents final record after their name. Conference opponent signified with *. Team championship listed at top, if any. Losses are highlighted with red background, wins are highlighted with green background, bowl games and championship games are highlighted in yellow. Colorado's score is always listed first and the opponent's score is always listed second. Away games are indicated with an @ before the opponent name. Neutral site games are listed with the location in the Notes section.

2000 3-8 (3-5 Big 12)
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
September 2 vs. Colorado State (10-2) L 24 28 @ Denver, CO
September 9 @ Southern California (5-7) L 14 17
September 16 vs. Washington (11-1) L 14 17
September 30 vs. *Kansas State (11-3) L 21 44
October 7 @ *Texas A&M (7-5) W 26 19
October 14 vs. *Texas (9-3) L 14 28
October 21 @ *Kansas (4-7) L 15 23
October 28 vs. *Oklahoma State (3-8) W 37 21
November 4 @ *Missouri (3-8) W 28 18
November 11 vs. *Iowa State (9-3) L 27 35
November 24 @ *Nebraska (10-2) L 32 34
252 284
2001 10-3 (7-1 Big 12) Big 12 Champions
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
August 26 vs. Fresno State (11-3) L 22 24 @ Boulder, CO Jim Thorpe Classic
September 1 vs. Colorado State (7-5) W 41 14 @ Denver, CO
September 8 vs. San Jose State (3-9) W 51 15
September 22 vs. *Kansas (3-8) W 27 16
October 6 @ *Kansas State (6-6) W 16 6
October 13 vs. *Texas A&M (8-4) W 31 21
October 20 @ *Texas (11-2) L 7 41
October 27 @ *Oklahoma State (4-7) W 22 19
November 3 vs. *Missouri (4-7) W 38 24
November 10 @ *Iowa State (7-5) W 40 27
November 23 vs. *Nebraska (11-2) W 62 36
December 1 vs. *Texas (11-2) W 39 37 @ Dallas, TX Big 12 Championship Game
January 1 vs. Oregon (11-1) L 16 38 @ Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl
412 318
2002 9-5 (7-1 Big 12) Big 12 North Champions
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
August 31 vs. Colorado State (10-4) L 14 19 @ Denver, CO
September 7 vs. San Diego State (4-9) W 34 14
September 14 vs. Southern California (11-2) L 3 40
September 21 @ UCLA (8-5) W 31 17
October 5 vs. *Kansas State (11-2) W 35 31
October 12 @ *Kansas (2-10) W 53 29
October 19 vs. *Baylor (3-9) W 34 0
October 26 vs. *Texas Tech (9-5) W 37 13
November 2 @ *Oklahoma (12-2) L 11 27
November 9 @ *Missouri (5-7) W 42 35
November 16 vs. *Iowa State (7-7) W 41 27
November 29 @ *Nebraska (7-7) W 28 13
December 7 vs. *Oklahoma (12-2) L 7 29 @ Houston, TX Big 12 Championship Game
December 28 vs. Wisconsin (8-6) L 28 31 @ San Antonio, TX Alamo Bowl
398 325
2003 5-7 (3-5 Big 12)
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
August 30 vs. Colorado State (7-6) W 42 35 @ Denver, CO
September 6 vs. UCLA (6-7) W 16 14
September 13 vs. Washington State (10-3) L 26 47
September 20 @ Florida State (10-3) L 7 47
October 4 @ *Baylor (3-9) L 30 42
October 11 vs. *Kansas (6-7) W 50 47
October 18 @ *Kansas State (11-4) L 20 49
October 25 vs. *Oklahoma (12-2) L 20 34
November 1 @ *Texas Tech (8-5) L 21 26
November 8 vs. *Missouri (8-5) W 21 16
November 15 @ *Iowa State (2-10) W 44 10
November 28 vs. *Nebraska (10-3) L 22 31
319 398
2004 8-5 (4-4 Big 12) Big 12 North Champion
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
September 4 vs. Colorado State (4-7) W 27 24
September 11 vs. Washington State (5-6) W 20 12 @ Seattle, WA
September 18 vs. North Texas (7-5) W 52 21
October 2 @ *Missouri (5-6) L 9 17
October 9 vs. *Oklahoma State (7-5) L 14 42
October 16 vs. *Iowa State (7-5) W 19 14
October 23 @ *Texas A&M (7-5) L 26 29
October 30 vs. *Texas (11-1) L 7 31
November 6 @ *Kansas (4-7) W 30 21
November 13 vs. *Kansas State (4-7) W 38 31
November 26 @ *Nebraska (5-6) W 26 20
December 4 vs. *Oklahoma (12-1) L 3 42 @ Kansas City, MO Big 12 Championship Game
December 29 vs. Texas-El Paso (8-4) W 33 28 @ Houston, TX Houston Bowl
304 332
2005 7-6 (5-3 Big 12) Big 12 North Champion
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
September 3 vs. Colorado State (6-6) W 31 28
September 10 vs. New Mexico State (0-12) W 39 0
September 24 @ Miami (Florida) (9-3) L 3 23
October 1 @ *Oklahoma State (4-7) W 34 0
October 8 vs. *Texas A&M (5-6) W 41 20
October 15 @ *Texas (13-0) L 17 42
October 22 vs. *Kansas (7-5) W 44 13
October 29 @ *Kansas State (5-6) W 23 20
November 5 vs. *Missouri (7-5) W 41 12
November 12 @ *Iowa State (7-5) L 16 30
November 25 vs. *Nebraska (8-4) L 3 30
December 3 vs. *Texas (13-0) L 3 70 @ Houston, TX Big 12 Championship Game
December 27 vs. Clemson (8-4) L 10 19 @ Orlando, FL Champs Sports Bowl
305 307

2006 season 2-10 (2-6 Big 12)

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
2006-09-02* 1:30 p.m. Montana State Folsom FieldBoulder, CO L 19-10 
2006-09-09* 3:00 p.m. vs. Colorado State Invesco Field at Mile HighDenver, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown) CSTV L 14-10 
2006-09-16* 5:00 p.m. Arizona State Folsom Field • Boulder, CO TBS L 21-3 
2006-09-23* 10:30 a.m. at #7 Georgia Sanford StadiumAthens, GA L 14-13 
2006-09-30 10:30 a.m. at Missouri Faurot FieldColumbia, MO FSN L 28-13 
2006-10-07 1:30 p.m. Baylor Folsom Field • Boulder, CO L 34-31 3OT
2006-10-14 1:30 p.m. Texas Tech Folsom Field • Boulder, CO W 30-6 
2006-10-21 5:00 p.m. at #20 Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK FSN L 24-3 
2006-10-28 12:00 p.m. at Kansas Memorial StadiumLawrence, KS L 20-15 
2006-11-04 1:30 p.m. Kansas State Folsom Field • Boulder, CO FSN L 34-21 
2006-11-11 1:00 p.m. Iowa State Folsom Field • Boulder, CO W 33-16 
2006-11-24 1:36 p.m. at #19 Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE ABC L 37-14 
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Mountain Time.

2007 season 6-7 (4-4 Big 12)

Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
2007-09-01* 10:00 a.m. vs. Colorado State Invesco Field at Mile HighDenver, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown) FSN W 31-28OT  68,133[4]
September 8* 8:15 p.m. at Arizona State Sun Devil StadiumTempe, AZ FSN L 33-14  58,417[5]
September 15* 8:00 p.m. Florida State Folsom FieldBoulder, CO ESPN L 16-6  52,951[6]
September 22* 1:30 p.m. Miami, Ohio Folsom Field • Boulder, CO W 42-0  45,243[7]
September 29 11:30 a.m.[8] #3 Oklahoma Folsom Field • Boulder, CO FSN[8] W 27-24  50,031[9]
October 6 5:00 p.m. at Baylor Floyd Casey StadiumWaco, TX W 43-23  32,376[10]
October 13 7:15 p.m. at Kansas State Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS ESPN2 L 47-20  46,637[11]
October 20 3:45 p.m.[12] #15 Kansas Folsom Field • Boulder, CO ESPN[12] L 19-14  51,940[13]
October 27 10:00 a.m.[12] at Texas Tech Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, Texas ABC[12] W 31-26  49,084[14]
November 3 4:30 p.m.[15] #9 Missouri Folsom Field • Boulder, CO FSN[15] L 55-10  51,483 [16]
November 10 10:30 a.m.[17] at Iowa State Jack Trice StadiumAmes, Iowa FCS[17] L 31-28  45,487[18]
November 23 10:00 a.m. Nebraska Folsom Field • Boulder, CO ABC W 65-51  51,403[19]
December 30* 6:00 p.m. vs. Alabama Independence StadiumShreveport, LA (Independence Bowl) ESPN L 30-24  47,043[20]
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Mountain Time Zone.
See also: Colorado Buffaloes football (future schedule)

[edit] Bowl Results

Colorado Bowl Scoreboard (Won 12, Lost 15)
Date Bowl Opponent Result Score Attendance TV
1938 Cotton Rice L 14 28 35,000
1957 Orange Clemson W 27 21 72,552 NBC
1962 Orange LSU L 7 25 62,391 NBC
1967 Bluebonnet Miami (FL) W 31 21 30,156 ABC
1969 Liberty Alabama W 47 33 50,144 ABC
1970 Liberty Tulane L 3 17 44,500 ABC
1971 Bluebonnet Houston (N) W 29 17 54,720 ABC
1972 Gator Auburn L 3 24 71,114 ABC
1975 Bluebonnet Texas L 21 38 52,728 ABC
1977 Orange Ohio State (N) L 10 27 65,537 NBC
1985 Freedom Washington L 17 20 30,961 Lorimar
1986 Bluebonnet Baylor L 9 21 40,470 Raycom
1988 Freedom Brigham Young (N) L 17 20 35,941 Raycom
1990 Orange Notre Dame (N) L 6 21 81,191 NBC
1991 Orange Notre Dame (N) W 10 9 77,062 NBC
1991 Blockbuster Alabama (N) L 25 30 52,644 CBS
1993 Fiesta Syracuse L 22 26 70,224 NBC
1993 Aloha Fresno State W 41 30 44,009 ABC
1995 Fiesta Notre Dame W 41 24 73,968 NBC
1996 Cotton Oregon W 38 6 58,214 CBS
1996 Holiday Washington (N) W 33 21 54,749 ESPN
1998 Aloha Oregon W 51 43 34,803 ABC
1999 Insight.com Boston College W 62 28 35,762 ESPN
2002 Fiesta Oregon L 16 38 74,118 ABC
2002 Alamo Wisconsin (N)(OT) L 28 31 50,690 ESPN
2004 Houston Texas-El Paso W 33 28 27,235 ESPN
2005 Champs Sports Clemson L 10 19 31,470 ESPN
2007 Independence Alabama L 24 30 47,043 ESPN

[edit] Coaches

The current coach is Dan Hawkins beginning in 2006.

Colorado Coaches, sorted by wins, through December 30, 2007
Coach (Alma Mater)' Seasons Years Games W L T Pct. Pts. Opp.
Bill McCartney (Missouri 1962) 1982-1994 13 153 93 55 5 .624 3977 3039
Fred Folsom¹ (Dartmouth) 1895-1899; 1901-1902; 1908-1915 15 102 77 23 2 .765 1813 555
Eddie Crowder (Oklahoma 1955) 1963-1973 11 118 67 49 2 .571 2528 2105
Myron Witham (Dartmouth 1905) 1920-1931 12 96 63 26 7 .693 1525 841
Dallas Ward (Oregon State 1927) 1948-1958 11 110 63 41 6 .600 2497 1743
Gary Barnett (Missouri 1969) 1999-2005 7 88 49 39 0 .557 2395 2275
Bill Mallory (Miami, Ohio 1958) 1974-1978 5 57 35 21 1 .623 1358 1163
Rick Neuheisel (UCLA 1984) 1995-1998 4 47 33 14 0 .702 1398 1008
Bunnie Oakes (Illinois 1923) 1935-1939 5 41 25 15 1 .662 685 332
Jim Yeager (Kansas State 1931) 1941-1943; 1946-1947 5 43 24 17 2 .581 663 590
Sonny Grandelius (Michigan State 1951) 1959-1961 3 31 20 11 0 .645 468 414
Frank Potts (Oklahoma 1927) 1940; 1944-1945 3 25 16 8 1 .660 494 236
William Saunders (Auburn/Navy 1916) 1932-1934 3 24 15 7 2 .667 413 137
Dave Cropp (Lenox/Wisconsin) 1903-1904 2 19 14 4 1 .763 384 112
Willis Keinholtz (Minnesota) 1905 1 9 8 1 0 .889 359 28
Harry Heller (Baker/Colorado 1885) 1894 1 9 8 1 0 .889 288 32
Dan Hawkins (UC Davis 1982) 2006-present 2 24 8 17 0 .320 549 650
Frank Castleman (Colgate) 1906-1907 2 17 7 6 4 .529 155 96
Melbourne "Bob" Evans (James Millikin U.) 1916-1917 2 15 7 7 1 .500 154 218
Chuck Fairbanks (Michigan State 1955) 1979-1981 3 33 7 26 0 .212 469 1047
T.C. Mortimer (Simpson 1896/Chicago) 1900 1 10 6 4 0 .600 150 78
Joe Mills (Denver) 1918-1919 2 11 4 6 1 .409 130 138
Bud Davis (Colorado 1951) 1962 1 10 2 8 0 .200 122 346
None¹ 1890-1893 4 20 7 13 0 .350 310 463
Totals 117 1,100 652 412 36 .609 22,929 17,263

¹Folsom’s first game as a coach was the second game of the 1895 season. The first game is included under the None category.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current NFL players

Source, last updated 2007-09-12

[edit] Former NFL players

[edit] Awards

[edit] Heisman Trophy

Rashaan Salaam's Heisman Trophy
Rashaan Salaam's Heisman Trophy

Rashaan Salaam won Colorado's only Heisman Trophy in 1994, though the Buffaloes have had many other players receive votes:

Year Name Position Rank in Heisman Voting Points
1937 Byron White HB 2nd 264
1961 Joe Romig OG/LB 6th 279
1969 Bobby Anderson TB 11th 100
1971 Charlie Davis TB 16th 28
1989 Darian Hagan QB 5th 242
1990 Eric Bieniemy TB 3rd 798
Darian Hagan QB 17th 17
Mike Pritchard WR 50th 2
1991 Darian Hagan QB 20th 12
1992 Deon Figures CB 30th 4
1993 Charles Johnson WR 15th 24
Michael Westbrook WR 61st 1
1994 Rashaan Salaam TB 1st 1743
Kordell Stewart QB 13th 16
2002 Chris Brown TB 8th 48

[edit] Other Award Winners

[edit] Players

Rashaan Salaam - 1994
Alfred Williams - 1990
Matt Russell - 1996
Rashaan Salaam - 1994
Jim Hansen - 1992
Deon Figures - 1992
Chris Hudson - 1994
Daniel Graham - 2001
Mark Mariscal - 2002

[edit] Coach

1989 Bill McCartney

[edit] College Football Hall of Fame

[edit] Colorado's All-Century Team 1890-1989

Taken from the 2005 Colorado Football Media Guide:
The University of Colorado selected an “All-Century Football Team,” as public balloting in 1989 tabbed 11 All-Americans among the top 25 selected to the 100-year squad. Over 6,200 ballots were received in the public selection process, with over 150,000 votes cast from those ballots. Former CU players pared a list of 881 lettermen down to 118, which were in turn presented to the public for the final team selection. Byron “Whizzer” White, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who was CU’s first All-American (1937), received 5,812 of a possible 6,265 votes. Bobby Anderson, who starred at both quarterback and tailback between 1967 and 1969, was the second leading vote-getter with 5,636, and two-way-star Joe Romig, who led CU to its first outright Big Eight Championship in 1961, was third with 5,145. White (#24), Anderson (#11) and Romig (#67) are the only Buffs to ever have their numbers retired. One other player topped the 5,000 vote mark, as flashy Cliff Branch, whose name still frequently appears in the CU record book and who played a big part in the Buffs’ No. 3 national ranking of 1971, captured 5,111 votes. The player with the fifth most votes, 3,989, was the only active Buff at the time to make the top 25, tailback Eric Bieniemy (a junior in 1989).
Joining White, Anderson and Romig as All-Americans on the century squad were Dick Anderson (’67), Pete Brock (’75), Mark Haynes (’79), Dave Logan (’75), Herb Orvis (’71) and Bob Stransky (’57). Four players in the early years of CU football made the team, led by Walt Franklin, who played center and end between 1917 and 1921. Back Lee Willard (’21), Judge Hatfield Chilson (’25) and guard Bill McGlone (’26) round out the quartet which represents the formative seasons of CU football, when the team was known as the “Silver and Gold.” Other familiar names on the team include Hale Irwin, who starred at defensive back in the mid-60’s but gained his fame on the PGA Tour; John Stearns, another pivotal player of the 1971 team who went on to be a star catcher with the New York Mets; Dave Logan, a veteran of 10-plus NFL seasons and current sportstalk celebrity in Denver; Carroll Hardy, who played in the early 1950’s and is the only man ever to pinch-hit for Ted Williams; and John Wooten, one of the first African-American players at CU who has spent several years in the scouting departments of the NFL Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Listed below are the 25 members of the University of Colorado All-Century (1890-1989) Football Team, selected by lettermen and the public over a three-month voting period.

  • Bobby Anderson, QB/TB (1967-68-69)
  • Dick Anderson, DB (1965-66-67)
  • Eric Bieniemy, TB (1987-88-89-90)
  • Cliff Branch, WR/KR (1970-71)
  • Pete Brock, OC (1973-74-75)
  • Hatfield Chilson, B (1923-24-25)
  • Boyd Dowler, QB (1956-57-58)
  • Walt Franklin, C/E (1917-19-20-21)
  • Carroll Hardy, HB (1951-52-53-54)
  • Mark Haynes, CB (1976-77-78-79)
  • Hale Irwin, DB (1964-65-66)
  • Zack Jordan, HB/P (1950-51-52)
  • William "Kayo" Lam, B (1933-34-35)
  • Dave Logan, WR (1972-73-74-75)
  • Bill McGlone, G (1923-24-25-26)
  • Herb Orvis, DE (1969-70-71)
  • Mickey Pruitt, DB (1984-85-86-87)
  • Joe Romig, OG/LB (1959-60-61)
  • John Stearns, DB/P (1970-71-72)
  • Bob Stransky, HB (1955-56-57)
  • Billy Waddy, RB (1973-74-75-76)
  • Gale Weidner, QB (1959-60-61)
  • Byron "Whizzer" White, B (1935-36-37)
  • Lee Willard, B (1918-19-20-21)
  • John Wooten, G (1956-57-58)

[edit] Retired Numbers

[edit] #24 Byron "Whizzer" White

Colorado’s first All-American and one of the greatest students in the history of the school, Byron (Whizzer) White, retired as a justice of the Supreme Court in March, 1993, after serving 31 years on the nation’s high court. White made all the All-America teams after a brilliant 1937 season in which he led CU to an 8-0 record and Cotton Bowl bid as he set national records with 1,121 rushing yards and 122 points. Those marks, erased nationally only after colleges went to 10- and 11-game schedules, set CU records.

White was a Phi Beta Kappa, Rhodes Scholar, two-time All-Pro halfback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions, leading graduate of the Yale Law School in 1946, decorated naval intelligence officer in World War II, leading Denver attorney, and deputy attorney general for the United States. White is a member of the NFL Hall-of-Fame, the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall-of-Fame, the GTE Academic Hall-of-Fame, and was selected to CU’s All-Century Team. In 1998, he was the first inductee into CU’s Athletic Hall-of-Fame. He died at the age of 84 on April 15, 2002.

[edit] #67 Joe Romig

Romig was a two-time All-American selection, a member of the Big Eight Hall-of-Fame and the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame. As of 2004, a senior research associate in radio physics in Boulder, Romig was the Buffs’ 1961 team captain and the United Press International Lineman of the year. Romig had no peers as a linebacker, as he ranged far and fiercely from his middle linebacker position behind a four-man line. Fast and strong, he was consistently in on most of CU’s tackles. Offensively, Romig developed into an excellent straight-ahead and pulling blocker. Like White, he was an inspirational leader gifted with extraordinary physical and mental abilities.
Romig was an excellent student, earning all A’s his last six semesters and a 3.9 grade-point average. As a Rhodes Scholar, Joe received his master’s degree in physics at Oxford University and a doctorate in physics at Colorado in 1975.

[edit] #11 Bobby Anderson

Anderson set 18 single-game, single-season and career marks during his three-season career with the Buffs along with earning All-Big Eight and All-American honors. A professional player with the Denver Broncos (the team’s No. 1 draft choice), Washington Redskins and New England Patriots, Anderson started his CU career as a quarterback but switched to tailback for the third game during his senior season (1969). In his career, he rushed for 2,729 yards and had over 5,000 yards in total offense. Anderson concluded his Colorado career with a 254-yard rushing effort in the 1969 Liberty Bowl. As of 2004, he is a Denver-area businessman, and has worked over two decades for KOA-Radio handling pre- and postgame shows as well as sideline reporting on the CU Football Network. He is a member of CU’s All-Century Team. In 1999, he received the University Medal, awarded to those who have performed outstanding service to or for the University.

[edit] National Play-of-the-Year

In 1992, Nu Skin International and CoSIDA started sponsorship of "The National Play-of-the-Year," honoring the most outstanding play annually in college football. Notre Dame won the inaugural honor in 1992, but the University of Colorado won for both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Here’s a closer look at CU’s winning plays:

[edit] 1993

October 16: Colorado 27, Oklahoma 10
Lamont Warren throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson on the halfback option play. What made it special? Warren slipped on the slick artificial surface as he threw the ball, and some 40 yards later in the end zone, Johnson made the catch on the ground after he was interfered with. The play defied imagination, and is truly appreciated when looked at in slow motion.

[edit] 1994

September 24: Colorado 27, Michigan 26
College football’s play of the decade, this effort also won an Espy Award from ESPN for the play of the year for college football in 1995. As time expired, Kordell Stewart throws a 64-yard touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook, who made the catch after a Blake Anderson deflection. CU had trailed, 26-14, with under four minutes remaining, and trailed by five with 15 seconds left on its own 15-yard line after stopping Michigan on defense.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ FAQ, What? Black is not an official CU color, what are the official colors?. CUBuffs.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  2. ^ John C. Nixon (1898-12-16). Buff Milestones. CUBuffs.com reprint of Silver & Gold article. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
  3. ^ a b c d Colorado finished 5-6 (3-5 Big 12) in 1997, but the NCAA forfeited the season's 5 wins ( 3 conference) due to an ineligible player.
  4. ^ Colorado 31, Colorado State 28, OT, Stats. CUBuffs.com (2007-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
  5. ^ Arizona State 33, Colorado 14 Stats. CUBuffs.com (2007-09-09). Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
  6. ^ Colorado-Florida State Statistics. CUBuffs.com (2007-09-15). Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
  7. ^ Colorado 42, Miami (Ohio) 0. CUBuffs.com (2007-09-22). Retrieved on 2007-09-29.
  8. ^ a b Kickoff set for 11:30 a.m. Sept. 29 vs. OU. Dailycamera.com (2007-09-17). Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
  9. ^ Colorado 27, No. 3/4 Oklahoma 24. CUBuffs.com (2007-09-29). Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
  10. ^ Colorado 43, Baylor 23. CUBuffs.com (2007-10-06). Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
  11. ^ Kansas State 47, Colorado 20. CUBuffs.com (2007-10-13). Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  12. ^ a b c d TV, Times Set For Next Two Football Games. CUBuffs.com (2007-10-15). Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
  13. ^ Kansas 19, Colorado 14. CUBuffs.com (2007-10-20). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  14. ^ Colorado 31, Texas Tech 26. CUBuffs.com (2007-10-27). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  15. ^ a b CU-Mizzou game to be televised. Daily Camera (2007-10-22). Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
  16. ^ ESPN - Missouri Tigers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Box Score, November 3 2007 - NCAA College Football
  17. ^ a b Kyle Ringo (2007-10-30). November the cruelest month for Missouri. Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  18. ^ Iowa State 31, Colorado 28. CUBuffs.com (2007-11-10). Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
  19. ^ Nebraska 51, Colorado 65. ESPN (2007-11-10). Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
  20. ^ Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Colorado Buffaloes Box Score, December 30 2007 (2007-12-30). Retrieved on [[2008-01-04]].