Posts Tagged ‘Cortlen Johnson’

Preseason – 1999

For Colorado to be successful in 1999, a number of players would have to rise above their 1998 performances. Mike Moschetti would return at quarterback, and was primed to have a banner year. Much of Moschetti’s success, though, would hinge upon the health of the offensive line. Five starters returned, and senior guard Ryan Johanningmeier was tabbed as a Playboy preseason All-American.

Head coach Gary Barnett wanted the Buffs to return to a run-oriented offense in 1999. “Philosophically, we want to be a balanced offense,” said Barnett. “In looking at last year’s statistics, it’s obvious we need to improve the running game.” Barnett had hoped a single back would rise to the occasion during spring drills or fall camp, but none did. None of the three candidates – senior Dwayne Cherrington, junior Damion Barton, sophomore Cortlen Johnson – separated themselves. If the Buffs were to improve on the 1998 average of 123.2 rushing yards/game, it would have to be done by committee.

The defense also had questions. Returning to a 3-4 defensive alignment, there was call for more depth at linebacker. Unfortunately, there was little experience behind the starters. The secondary, though, led by All-American candidate Ben…

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Duck Soup

A game against the 6-5 Washington Huskies seemed the most likely scenario for the Buffs as championship games were being contested in other conferences . Along with the title games, though, was a make-up game between Miami and UCLA. The game, originally scheduled for September 26th, had been re-scheduled to December 5th due to fears that a hurricane would hit the Miami area the last weekend in September. For UCLA, playing the game in December proved disastrous, as the 3rd-ranked Bruins fell to the Hurricanes, 49-45. The loss eliminated UCLA from consideration for the National Championship game (once beaten Florida State being chosen to face undefeated and top-ranked Tennessee), with the Rose Bowl being the Bruins’ consolation prize.

UCLA being selected to host the Rose Bowl set off a chain reaction, as Arizona, which had hoped to head to Pasadena for the first time in school history, was now relegated to the Holiday Bowl and a match-up with Nebraska. Oregon, in turn, which had anticipated a trip to San Diego to face the Cornhuskers, was now in line for a Christmas Day bowl game, the Aloha Bowl, with Colorado.

Oregon’s loss was Colorado’s gain, as the Buffs were…

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November 20 – @Kansas State           Kansas State 33, Colorado 10

Fresh from its largest margin of victory since 1978, the Buffs had a small degree of momentum going into the season finale against Kansas State in Manhattan. The Wildcats, for their part, despite a 5-4-1 overall record, were on a two-game losing streak. Kansas State needed a win over Colorado to finish with a winning season, and, with a little help, earn the first bowl bid in the school’s history.

The game was never really in doubt after the first half of the first quarter. Trailing 7-0, the Buffs faced a fourth down from their own 22 yard line. Colorado attempted a fake punt, but Tony Rettig tripped and fell, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Buff 22 yard line. Six plays later, it was 14-0 Kansas State, and the Buffs were never closer than seven points the remainder of the game. The Wildcats rolled to a 33-10 win, and, as had been the case in Boulder the weekend before, the goalposts came down. “It was our old nemisis,” said Bill McCartney. “We had our opportunities, and we squandered most of them.”

Steve Vogel played the entire game, passing the ball for a record-tying…

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