1991 Season Archive

#8 Alabama – New CU offense not a Blockbuster in bowl game

//posted 12.28.1991

Colorado v. Alabama – 1991 Blockbuster Bowl

The 1991 season was a mixed bag for Colorado and its fans. An 8-2-1 regular season record, along with a share of a third consecutive Big Eight title, were certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Still, after posting an 11-1 record in 1989 and an 11-1-1 record in 1990, an eight win season seemed like a letdown to many in the Buff Nation. Still, there were some memorable games in 1991, including a big 34-17 win over Oklahoma in Norman (when the Buffs were ranked 22nd and the Sooners ranked 12th), and the epic Ice Bowl 19-19 tie with Nebraska in Boulder which earned the Buffs a share of the Big Eight title.

After a 2-2 start, Colorado had gone 6-0-1 in conference play. The Buffs were far from dominant down the stretch, though, defeating unranked Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Iowa State by a combined 13 points. The Buffs finished the regular season ranked 15th in the nation, earning a trip to Miami for the 2nd annual Blockbuster Bowl. The opponent would be 8th-ranked and SEC runner-up Alabama, looking for its own measure of national recognition.

What followed was a memorable game which …

Iowa State – “Three-peat” clinched before crowd of 2,500

//posted 11.23.1991

(There have been 2 comments, post your CU memory now)

November 23rd – @ Iowa State #15 Colorado 17, Iowa State 14

Running back Lamont Warren capped the most successful freshman rushing season in Colorado history with a 168-yard performance against Iowa State in a 17-14 Colorado win. Warren sprinted 74 yards for one score and carried the load on a ten-play, 80-yard drive as Colorado took the lead for good in the third quarter. Lamont Warren finished the 1991 season with 830 rushing yards, a Colorado freshman record.

The game conditions in Ames, Iowa, were horrendous, marking the third time in four weeks the Buffs had faced adverse conditions. Iowa State sold 36,256 tickets for the game, but a crowd estimated at 2,500 was all that braved the blowing snow and minus-20 wind chill temperatures.

Iowa State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but Warren’s 74-yard touchdown run gave Colorado a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. A 17-yard touchdown run by Cyclone Jim Knott, though, late in the second quarter, gave Iowa State a 14-10 halftime edge. In the third quarter, the Buffs played against a 20-mph wind, keeping the ball in Warren’s hands. Warren carried the ball five times for 39 yards on the drive, …

Kansas – Vance Joseph leads Buffs back from two touchdown deficit

//posted 11.16.1991

(Post your own memories)

November 16th – Boulder #16 Colorado 30, Kansas 24

The Kansas Jayhawks, despite a lopsided 59-23 loss to Nebraska the weekend before, still harbored hopes of post-season play heading into the Colorado game. Kansas was 5-4 on the year, including shutout wins over Iowa State (41-0) and Oklahoma State (31-0). The Kansas/Oklahoma State score, if not the Buffs’ overall performance in the 16-12 nail-biter against the Cowboys, should have been to focus Colorado on the task at hand.

Once again, though, the Buffs were in a dogfight which came down to the game’s final minute.

Early in the third quarter, last minute heroics did not appear to be the order of the day, but it was not because of Colorado’s domination. With 10:49 remaining in the third quarter, the Buffs found themselves down 24-10 to the Jayhawks. The teams had battled to a 10-10 halftime tie, with the Colorado touchdown coming on a 48-yard touchdown pass from halfback Lamont Warren to wide receiver Charles Johnson on an option play.

The second half, though, started out all Jayhawks, as Colorado fumbled on its first second half possession before fumbling the ensuing two kickoffs. In less than four minutes of playing time, …

Oklahoma State – A fake field goal saves Buffs

//posted 11.9.1991

(Post your own memories)

November 9th – @ Oklahoma State No. 14 Colorado 16, Oklahoma State 12

The Oklahoma State Cowboys entered their 1991 game against Colorado with an 0-7-1 overall record, having managed only a 6-6 tie against equally hapless Iowa State. There was little for the Cowboys to play for in November other than pride.

The Colorado Buffaloes, meanwhile, still had the chance at a third straight Big Eight title.

It would be fair to expect, then, for the Buffs to roll to a blowout win over the Cowboys.

Not so.

Senior wide receiver Robbie James made a name for himself with only six seconds remaining against Oklahoma State. With Colorado trailing 12-10, James connected with tight end Christian Fauria on a 20-yard pass off of a fake field goal attempt to give the Buffs a 16-12 victory. The unlikely outcome, while not pretty, kept the hopes of an Orange Bowl birth alive for Colorado.

The game featured ten turnovers, including six by Colorado. After battling to a 3-3 halftime tie, the Buffs took the lead for the first time with 5:06 left in the third quarter when Darian Hagan passed to senior tight end Rico Smith for a ten-yard score. Early …

No. 9 Nebraska – “Fit to be Tied”

//posted 11.2.1991

(There have been 2 comments, post your CU memory now)

November 2nd – Boulder #15 Colorado 19, #9 Nebraska 19

In the bitter cold of Folsom Field, Colorado and Nebraska fought to a 19-19 tie in a classic college football game.

The tie was preserved for Colorado when senior free safety Greg Thomas blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt by Nebrasak kicker Byron Bennett as time expired. Three successive time outs by the Buffs prior to the attempt served to freeze not only the Cornhusker kicker, but also the sell-out crowd of 52,319 who had braved the cold to attend.

The last seconds of the contest will be most remembered, but there were other moments of excitement as the game witnessed a number of momentum changes. Both teams scored on their first possession, with Nebraska posting a field goal before the Buffs responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead. Darian Hagan did the honors from 11 yards out to give the Buffs a 7-3 lead. Midway through the second quarter, Jim Harper hit on a 27-yard field goal to up the Colorado lead to 10-3.

Just before half, Nebraska seemed to take the momentum, as Nebraska quarterback Keithen McCant hit split end Jon Bostick for a 49-yard …

Kansas State – Nerves of Spaghetti

//posted 10.26.1991

(Post your own memories)

October 26th- @ Kansas State #16 Colorado 10, Kansas State 0

The 1991 Kansas State team was different from the Wildcat teams which Big Eight teams had grown accustomed to playing.

Third year coach Bill Snyder was building a program in Manhattan. The joke of the conference throughout much of the ‘1980′s (and, in all honesty, for a number of decades), Snyder had taken a woeful team over in 1989, going 1-10 in first campaign. The second team improved to 5-6, and in 1991 the Wildcats were 4-2, falling only to #3 Washington and #9 Nebraska. The 38-31 scare put into the Cornhuskers in Lincoln put the world on notice that these Wildcats would have to be dealt with from here on as a serious threat.

It was all the Buffs could do to come away with a 10-0 win against a resilient Wildcat squad. The Colorado defense carried the day, posting a shutout for the second time in a season for the first time since 1977. Colorado sacked Wildcat quarterback Paul Watson nine times on the day, including three by sophomore defensive tackle Leonard Renfro.

Colorado’s offense could muster only one touchdown, and that coming after Kansas State’s Watson …

#12 Oklahoma – Two 99-yard drives take down Sooners

//posted 10.19.1991

(Post your own memories)

October 19th – @ Oklahoma #22 Colorado 34, #12 Oklahoma 17

22nd-ranked Colorado put together a pair of 99-yard touchdown drives on its way to a 34-17 upset of 12th-ranked Oklahoma. In scoring the most points ever against the Sooners in Norman, the Buffs out-gained the Sooners 371 yards to 251. Darian Hagan accounted for 211 yards of total offense on the day, including 10-of-15 passing for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

After witnessing Oklahoma put up a score on their first possession, Colorado scored 20 unanswered first quarter points. The first score came on a six-yard pass from Hagan to tight end Sean Brown, culminating an eight-play, 99-yard drive. The extra point attempt failed, leaving the Buffs behind, 7-6.

But the Buffs would not be behind for much longer.

The next two came in rapid succession as the Buffs, taking advantage of Oklahoma turnovers, scored twice more in the next three minutes. Hagan connected with red-shirt freshman tight end Christian Fauria from five yards out after the Buffs intercepted Oklahoma quarterback Cale Gundy. The Sooners fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Buffs quickly took advantage, with Hagan teaming up with wide receiver Michael Westbrook from 15 yards out.

With …

Missouri – Fear Factor

//posted 10.12.1991

(Post your own memories)

October 12th – Boulder #25 Colorado 55, Missouri 7

There is nothing like a loss to bring out the frustrations of a good team.

After being surprised by Baylor in the second game of the season, Colorado had responded with a 58-0 rout of Minnesota. On the heels of the disappointing setback at Stanford in game four, the Buffs again bounced back, this time with a 55-7 mauling of Missouri. In 101 years of football, Colorado had accumulated over 600 yards in total offense only seven times. Now, the Buffs surpassed 600 for the second time in three games, rolling up 656 yards against the Tigers. The 656 yards represented the fourth highest total in school history.

Quarterback Darian Hagan connected with Michael Westbrook from 21 yards out on Colorado’s first drive of the game, and the Buffs never looked back. A five-yard touchdown run by fullback James Hill near the end of the first quarter pushed the lead to 14-0. After a 21-yard field goal by Jim Harper, Hagan connected with senior tight end Sean Brown on an 11-yard score as Colorado moved to a 24-0 lead late in the second quarter. On the day, in limited duty, Hagan …

Colorado Buffalo Football Analysis and Recaps - CU At the Game

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

1991 Season Archive

#8 Alabama – New CU offense not a Blockbuster in bowl game

Iowa State – “Three-peat” clinched before crowd of 2,500

Kansas – Vance Joseph leads Buffs back from two touchdown deficit

Oklahoma State – A fake field goal saves Buffs

No. 9 Nebraska – “Fit to be Tied”

Kansas State – Nerves of Spaghetti

#12 Oklahoma – Two 99-yard drives take down Sooners

Missouri – Fear Factor

2013 Season

Archive Game of the Week