2004 Season Archive

UTEP – Houston Bowl – Going back to Houston

//posted 12.29.2004

2004 – Game 13 – 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 one of the most dominant teams in the country. The result was 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 that Colorado was heading for the Champs Sports Bowl (formerly the Tangerine Bowl) in Orlando, Florida. When the BCS final numbers were announced, though, Texas surpassed California, sending the Longhorns to the Rose Bowl instead of the Golden Bears. With two teams from the Big 12 earning BCS bids (Oklahoma was slated for the Orange Bowl to play USC), every other Big 12 bowl team moved up a notch, putting the Buffs in Houston.

UTEP was 8-3 under first year head coach Mike Price. The Miners had won all of six games in the previous three years combined, so the infusion of a new coach had made a great…

#2 Oklahoma – Big 12 Championship Game

//posted 12.4.2004

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2004 – Game Twelve – 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 of the last three games with a potentially disastrous confrontation with #2 Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game?

Well, me, for one.

It had bothered me over the past several seasons that Nebraska had gotten too much credit for their 2001 season. When Frank Solich was fired after the 2003 season, comments were made like: “Nebraska, only two seasons removed from playing for the National Championship … ”. Then when Bill Callahan was hired, the comments were like: “Callahan will try to restore the Cornhuskers to championship game form from three years ago ……”.

Wait a second.

In 2001, Nebraska got to the National Championship game…

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

//posted 11.26.2004

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2004 – Game Eleven – Colorado v. Nebraska – November 26, 2004

November 26, 2004 – @ 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. Nebraska recovered an onsides kick to start the game (try and remember the last time the Cornhuskers felt the need to do that!), but could not move the ball, punting after three plays. Taking over at their own ten-yard line, the Buffs moved 90 yards in 14 plays, with Joel Klatt hitting sophomore wide receiver Blake Mackey for a six-yard touchdown. A Mason Crosby 37-yard field goal and a nine-yard Bobby Purify scoring run pushed the Colorado advantage to 17-0 early in the second quarter.

Nebraska responded with a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Joe Dailey, but a Mason Crosby…

Kansas State – Senior Day

//posted 11.13.2004

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2004 – Game Ten – Colorado v. Kansas State – November 13, 2004

November 13th – Boulder Colorado 38, Kansas State 31

The stakes were not as high. It was not #7 Colorado versus #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 the results were the same.

Ten years after Kordell Stewart hit Michael Westbrook for a 64-yard touchdown and a 27-26 win over Michigan, Joel Klatt hit Ron Monteilh for a 64-yard touchdown and a 38-31 win over Kansas State. The score came with five seconds remaining, culminating a wild finish which witnessed a total of 35 fourth quarter points.

The contest started out well for the Buffs, with Colorado taking a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. Joel Klatt scored on a one-yard run, and Mason Crosby connected from 51 yards out to give Colorado the advantage. The Wildcats came right back, however, mirroring the Buffs with a one-yard run by running back Darren Sproles, and a 52-yard field goal by Joe Rheem to tie the score 10-10…

Kansas – “Why Not Us?”

//posted 11.6.2004

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2004 – Game Nine – Colorado v. Kansas – November 7, 2004

November 7th – @ 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 eight plays to take a 7-0 lead. On Colorado’s first play from scrimmage, quarterback Joel Klatt was intercepted by Kansas defensive back Rodney Harris. Three plays and 28 yards later, Kansas was up 14-0 after a second short scoring run by running back John Randle.

The Buffs were down 14-0, and had run only one offensive play. 11:15 still remained to be played in the first quarter. Colorado players and fans seemed destined to endure a long afternoon.

A ray of hope came from an unlikely source a few minutes later. Colorado safety Dominque Brooks scooped up a fumble…

#8 Texas – Now what?

//posted 10.30.2004

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2004 – Game Eight – Colorado v. Texas – October 30, 2004

October 30th – Boulder #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 day did start out with promise for Colorado. On Texas’ seventh play, Young was picked off by Colorado sophomore cornerback Terrence Wheatley. Wheatley returned the interception 37 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Colorado lead. On the Longhorns’ next possession, Young was picked off again, this time by another Buff sophomore cornerback, Lorenzo Sims. The Buffs, though, were not able to take advantage.

So much for the Colorado highlights.

Texas did not score until midway through the second quarter, tying the game on one-yard run by Vince Young. A two-yard scoring run by Cedric Benson with 0:52 left gave…

#17 Texas A&M – Modern Technology

//posted 10.23.2004

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2004 – Game Seven – Colorado v. Texas A&M – October 23, 2004

October 23rd – @ Texas A&M #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 output began slowly, as the Buffs forged a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a Mason Crosby field goal. Colorado stretched the advantage to 13-7 at halftime on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Joel Klatt to Evan Judge. Colorado looked to take command of the game early in the third quarter after taking the opening second half kickoff and marching 78 yards for a second Klatt-to-Judge touchdown connection. The Buffs went for two after the score but failed, leaving the score at 19-7.

Rather than folding, the Aggies scored on their next four drives, including three Pegram field goals…

Iowa State – Cyclone Ineptitude

//posted 10.16.2004

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2004 – Game Six – Colorado v. Iowa State – October 16, 2004

October 16th – Boulder Colorado 19, Iowa State 14

Colorado kicker Mason Crosby set several Buff field goal kicking records on his way to leading Colorado to an “ugly” 19-14 win over Iowa State. Crosby kicked four field goals, including a school record 60-yarder, on an afternoon otherwise marred by sloppy play by both teams. A total of seven turnovers and 20 penalties combined to leave the 44,285 in attendance, the smallest crowd to ever witness a Big 12 game in Boulder, mumbling to themselves. “We played hard”, said Colorado head coach Gary Barnett, “It wasn’t beautiful and not Top-20ish.”

Colorado sophomore James Cox received his first start as a Colorado quarterback against the Cyclones. Cox directed the Buffs to a 13-0 second quarter lead which could have been much larger. Colorado scored early in the first quarter after recovering a muffed punt at the ISU 11-yard line. Three plays later, Cox hit tight end Jesse Warren from three yards out for a 7-0 lead. The Buffs had a first-and-goal later in the first quarter turn into a 28-yard Mason Crosby field goal, and could get Crosby…

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2004 Season Archive

UTEP – Houston Bowl – Going back to Houston

#2 Oklahoma – Big 12 Championship Game

Nebraska – Cornhuskers finish 5-6; numerous records fall

Kansas State – Senior Day

Kansas – “Why Not Us?”

#8 Texas – Now what?

#17 Texas A&M – Modern Technology

Iowa State – Cyclone Ineptitude

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