Posts Tagged ‘Clyde Riggins’

Kansas State – Victor Scott and the “Survivors” go out winners

//posted 11.19.1983

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November 19th – Boulder Colorado 38, Kansas State 21

Only 27,649 Buff faithful bothered to come out for the 1983 finale against the Kansas State Wildcats. It would be the smallest crowd to ever watch a Bill McCartney coached Colorado team in Folsom Field. Though it was mid-November, the skies were sunny, and the game time temperature was a tolerable 39 degrees. It was not the weather, then, that kept the fans away.

It was the matchup.

While the Buffs were playing for a sixth place finish in the Big Eight, and while a fourth victory would represent the most wins for Colorado since Bill Mallory’s final squad had finished 6-5 in 1978, it could hardly be called a glamour contest. It was easy to find a good seat in the half-filled stadium as kickoff neared.

The Buffs started the game with about as much enthusiasm for the contest as their fans. At half-time, the score was 21-7 in favor of the Wildcats. Between the two of them, quarterbacks Derek Marshall and Steve Vogel threw four first half interceptions. The score could have been even worse than 21-7, as Kansas State lost four fumbles in the opening half (and all…

Kansas – Marshall and McLemore lead Buffs to victory

//posted 11.5.1983

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November 5 – @ Kansas Colorado 34, Kansas 23

Against the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, sophomore quarterback Derek Marshall received his first starting assignment. In the second half, Marshall failed to complete a pass. His counterpart, Kansas quarterback Frank Seurer, passed for a career-high 394 yards.

Still, the Buffs, managed to hold on for a 34-23 win, the Buffs first conference win of 1983, and only the second conference win in two years for Bill McCartney.

Fullback Chris McLemore, converted from halfback, had his best rushing game ever, 160 yards on 23 carries. McLemore’s 75-yard run early in the fourth quarter lifted the Buffs to a seemingly comfortable 31-12 lead. Just over three minutes later, however, and with 9:15 still left to play, the score was 31-23.

Placed in a position of protecting a rare advantage on the scoreboard, the Colorado offense failed to produce. Kansas marched down the field with an opportunity to tie the score. Cornerback Cylde Riggins, though, saved the day, intercepting a Seurer pass in the end zone. It was Riggins’ second pick of the day, and one of five for the Buff secondary on the afternoon. “I think one of the reasons we won,” understated…

1983 Preseason Outlook

//posted 9.2.1983

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1983 Preseason

While it was certainly true that Colorado, with a 2-8-1 record in 1982, was mired in a four-season long slump without a winning season, there was reason for optimism in Boulder. There had been moments in 1982 – a 12-0 shutout of Washington State in the second game of the season (and on the road!); a record-setting passing day of 361 yards against Nebraska (and trailing only 20-14 at the start of the fourth quarter!); a comeback tie against Oklahoma State; and a 28-3 demolition of Kansas in the home finale – which gave fans hope. Plus, head coach Bill McCartney had brought in his first recruiting class, and had his first full off-season on campus.

McCartney, who had been hired in June, 1982, had the off-season to revamp his coaching staff, with only one coach from 1982 retaining similar responsibilities in 1983. The Buffs’ head coach also had his first spring practices in Boulder. McCartney, before the start of the 1983 campaign, called his first spring drills “the single best thing that has happened” since he arrived. “The best thing about the spring was the moral and attitude of the players,” said McCartney. “That enabled us to…

California – Bill McCartney makes his debut as CU head coach

//posted 9.11.1982

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September 11th – Boulder California 31, Colorado 17

There was renewed optimism as the Colorado football program began a new era. Gone was Chuck Fairbanks, who, with his 7-26 record, had left for the USFL. In his place was the unknown Bill McCartney.

While there was renewed optimism, it would take wins to put fans back in the stands. Only 35,103 showed up for the opener in the rain against the California Golden Bears, coached by former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp.

Kapp was also making his coaching debut, giving the game the rare distinction of having two coaches entering the game with 0-0 lifetime records. In fact, according to the NCAA, the 1982 Colorado/California game marked the first time in at least twenty years in which there was a match-up of first time head coaches.

Junior Randy Essington returned as quarterback for Bill McCartney and the Buffs, with sophomore Lee Rouson and junior Guy Egging in the backfield. The Colorado defense was the strength of the team, but was thin at virtually every position. The best unit was the secondary, with senior three-year letterman Ellis Wood returning at safety, supported by a trio of juniors: Clyde Riggins, Jeff Donaldson, and Victor…

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Posts Tagged ‘Clyde Riggins’

Kansas State – Victor Scott and the “Survivors” go out winners

Kansas – Marshall and McLemore lead Buffs to victory

1983 Preseason Outlook

California – Bill McCartney makes his debut as CU head coach

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