1984 Season Archive

Kansas State – Coach Mac contract extension: “Belief without evidence”

//posted 11.17.1984

November 17th – @ 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 the Buffs played one of their worst games of the year.

Trailing 14-0 heading into the fourth quarter, Colorado fell apart in the last fifteen minutes of the season. The Buffs surrendered 24 fourth quarter points to the Wildcats, including two almost comical scores in the last three minutes. With the score 24-6 after a Lee Rouson touchdown, the Buffs attempted an onside kick with 2:58 to play. Kicker Larry Eckel finally made it into a game, but his onside kick was not recovered by the Buffs. Rather, it went straight to Kansas State freshman Kent Dean, who dashed 47 yards for a Wildcat touchdown. Kansas State kicked off the Buffs, but…

#9 Oklahoma – Brian Bosworth comes to Boulder

//posted 11.10.1984

(Post your own memories)

November 10th – Boulder #9 Oklahoma 42, Colorado 17

Oklahoma, ranked #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 player of the week honor three times.

For Colorado’s final home game of the 1984 season, only 38,888 showed up. The attendance represented the smallest home crowd to watch the Sooners play at Folsom since 1966. Even though the Buffs had played two top ten teams close in the past month, few gave much chance to the 1-8 Buffs.

The analysis proved correct.

Any hopes for an upset were seemingly quashed before the Colorado band had found its way to their seats after the opening program. Oklahoma took just three plays to “drive” 80 yards for the opening score. All of 48 seconds into game ten, and the Buffs were heading for a long day. Memories…

Kansas – Keenan passes for 349 yards

//posted 11.3.1984

(Post your own memories)

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 was that someone forgot to remind Kansas that they were the Buffs’ source of redemption. Fact was that one of the Jayhawks three wins had come the previous week against a top ten opponent – Oklahoma. Second year head coach Mike Gottfried (later of ESPN fame) had the Jayhawks believing – believing to the point where they had humbled the Sooners, 28-11. Yes, it was true that starting Oklahoma quarterback Danny Bradley had been injured and unable to play, but the win had been no fluke.

The day began as well as the Colorado and their fans could have hoped. To the delight of the 33,166 who bothered to attend, the Buffs…

#10 Oklahoma State – Denver Post: “Close, but …”

//posted 10.27.1984

(Post your own memories)

October 27th – @ Oklahoma State #10 Oklahoma State 20, Colorado 14

Junior Craig Keenan made his first start at quarterback, replacing Colorado’s all-time passer Steve Vogel, as the Buffs took the field against a top ten opponent for the second week in a row. Colorado had played Nebraska tough, leading 7-3 after three quarters- but not tough enough to post a win.

History doesn’t always repeat itself.

Sometimes it rhymes.

The headlines from the Denver Post the morning after the Oklahoma State game tell all that you need to know about the game: “Close, but …” and “Oklahoma State survives CU 20-14″.

The tried and true method for the Buffs had come through once again. A valiant defensive effort kept the Buffs in the game, but the offense could not capitalize on the opportunities afforded by their opponent.

Keenan completed 10-of-25 passes for 178 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown connection with wide receiver Ron Brown. Brown’s 141 yards on four catches gave him 529 total yards for the season and an impressive 25.9 yards per catch average. The Buffs running game, however, again proved to be the Buffs’ downfall. With the Colorado defense keeping the Buffs in the game,…

#5 Nebraska – “You tell ‘em, Bill!”

//posted 10.20.1984

(Post your own memories)

October 20th – Boulder #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 out to be the rout the sellout crowd of 51,124 (including a good 20,000 red-clad Husker fans) expected to see.

You tell ‘em, Bill

The Husker red in the stands for the 1984 game was not new, nor unexpected. But don’t blame Colorado head coach Bill McCartney. During the summer leading up to the 1984 campaign, McCartney wrote a letter to all of the Buff season ticket holders, imploring the fans not to sell their tickets to Nebraska fans. The letter, which was published in the local papers and even received mention in Sports Illustrated, reminded season ticket holders that there would be no public sale of tickets for the Nebraska game. Season ticket…

Iowa State – Buffs draw Cyclones offsides on fourth-and-one

//posted 10.13.1984

(There has been 1 comment, post your CU memory now)

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.

It started as ominously as most of the others. Jo Jo Collins fumbled the opening kickoff, falling on the ball on the Buffs’ one yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, halfback Lee Rouson was tackled in the end zone.

Safety.

Down 2-0 just ten seconds into the game. Not exactly an auspicious start.

Colorado was behind 5-0 just a few minutes later. A 25 yard return of the Buffs’ free kick gave the Cyclones the ball at the Colorado 47 yard line. Six plays later, ISU had a 48-yard field goal.

Behind 5-0, the Buffs, who had actually been favored to win the game, began to play better.

Not well, mind you. Better.

Colorado took…

Missouri – Alma mater makes it 3-0 v. McCartney

//posted 10.6.1984

(Post your own memories)

October 6th – @ 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 the 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 defeat by Notre Dame. The Tigers would have defeated the Irish (the same Irish who had routed the Buffs 55-14) had kicker Brad Burditt been successful on a 39-yard field goal attempt with only seven seconds left in the game.

If there was any justice, Colorado’s first appearance on regional television since 1978 would have been blacked out. Even the Missouri faithful were not interested in the rout. After hosting over 70,000 for Notre Dame the weekend before, Faurot Field drew only 38,662, for the Colorado game, the smallest Missouri home crowd in 21 years.

Lee Rouson did have his second 100+ yard game of the season, rushing for 109 yards…

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

//posted 9.29.1984

(There has been 1 comment, post your CU memory now)

September 29th – Boulder #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 Diego State (18-15) and Long Beach State (23-17) had been followed by a 42-3 rout at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. That the Bruins were even ranked after such a sluggish start was likely a testament as much to the dominance of Nebraska as it was to the talents of the Pac-10 Bruins. Still, there may have been another reason. UCLA had started the 1983 campaign 0-3-1 before winning seven of their last eight games (behind quarterback Rick Neuheisel), including a rout of Big Ten champion Illinois in the Rose Bowl. This being the recent history, the ranking could have been on assumed late season potential.

The Buffs no…

Colorado Buffalo Football Analysis and Recaps - CU At the Game

Searching for CU football? you'll find it here.

1984 Season Archive

Kansas State – Coach Mac contract extension: “Belief without evidence”

#9 Oklahoma – Brian Bosworth comes to Boulder

Kansas – Keenan passes for 349 yards

#10 Oklahoma State – Denver Post: “Close, but …”

#5 Nebraska – “You tell ‘em, Bill!”

Iowa State – Buffs draw Cyclones offsides on fourth-and-one

Missouri – Alma mater makes it 3-0 v. McCartney

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

2012 Season

Archive Game of the Week