Posts Tagged ‘Dave DeLine’

CU Transition Classes

//posted 2.1.2011

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Transition Classes

It is axiomatic that a new head coach will have a difficult time with their first recruiting class. After all, the new coach comes in late in the recruiting cycle, usually in December, well after other schools have their incoming class of recruits fairly well formulated. What’s more, in most instances, the new head coach is coming into a situation where the former coaching staff has been let go, with losing records most often the culprit.

Jon Embree became the 24th head coach in Colorado history on December 6th. He took over a program mired in a five year streak of losing records, the second longest streak in Colorado history. Because of the recent record, and because of his late hire, Embree is being given a pass by most of the Buff Nation on the recruiting Class of 2011.

But should that be the case?

For guidance, let’s take a look at the first recuiting classes of the past four Colorado head coaches …

Dan Hawkins – Class of 2006

Unlike Jon Embree, Hawkins inherited a team with a winning record. In fact, Colorado had won the Big 12 North title four of the previous five seasons, including the previous two. By the same…

Kansas

//posted 9.22.2001

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2001 – Game 5 – CU v. Kansas – September 29, 2001

September 29th – Boulder Colorado 27, Kansas 16

“The first thing you have to say,” said a relieved Gary Barnett after his Buffs had finally put away the Kansas Jayhawks, 27-16, before 47,495 on a beautiful fall afternoon in Boulder, “is that it looked like we took two weeks off.” For much of the game, the 2001 Buffs looked like their much-maligned 2000 counterparts. Dropped passes, mental errors, and penalties – especially the penalties – kept Kansas in the game until very late in the second half.

The game started out well enough for the Buffs. After spotting Kansas an opening field goal, Colorado marched smartly down the field, covering 80 yards in eight plays, completing the scoring drive when Chris Brown scored from seven yards out to give CU a 7-3 lead. The Buffs’ second drive was equally impressive before it stalled inside the KU ten. Jeremy Flores connected on a 22-yard field goal to put CU up 10-3. It seemed like the Buffs would be able to score at will, and another 41-14 or 51-15 score appeared imminent.

Instead, for the next two quarters, the…

#6 Syracuse – Fiesta Bowl – Lost luggage, lost jacket, lost holiday

//posted 1.1.1993

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Colorado v. Syracuse – Fiesta Bowl – January 1, 1993

Lost Luggage, Lost Jacket, Lost Holiday

I had never been to Phoenix before. In fact, unless you count stepping across the state line at the Four Corners area which represents the intersection of the borders of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, I had never been to Arizona before. Coming at the end of December, a trip to the Fiesta Bowl to cap off the 1992 season seemed like a great idea.

My trip got off to a bad start when my luggage failed to meet me at the Phoenix airport. Fortunately, my hosts for my first evening in Phoenix, Kyle and Kim, were more than hospitable in taking care of my needs until the next day when my wayward luggage decided to complete its journey.

(Author’s Note: Allow me to digress. Kyle and Kim were floormates of mine from my freshman year in Libby Hall. In fact, Kyle was the first person I met in Boulder. I was carrying up some boxes to my dorm room my first day in town when Kyle strolled down the hallway, stuck out his large hand, and, in a voice which was…

Missouri – Small victories: Buffs claim fourth in the Big Eight

//posted 11.7.1987

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November 7th – Boulder Colorado 27, Missouri 10

Colorado ran its home record for the year to 4-1 in defeating Missouri 27-10 before 44,050 at Folsom Field. Missouri came into the game with a 5-3 record, 2-2 in the Big Eight. Both teams had lost to Oklahoma State, so it was apparent that this contest would decide which team would finish fourth in the Big Eight conference in 1987. With both teams still aspiring to a bowl invitation, the game was critical.

Colorado struck first, scoring on a 53-yard run by halfback J.J. Flannigan late in the first quarter. Early in the second stanza, the Buffs put the game out of reach. An eight-play drive positioned Buff kicker Dave DeLine, making his first appearance of the season after being hampered by a thigh injury, to make a 31-yard field goal. DeLine’s kick was good, and the Buffs were on top, 10-0. After the kickoff, Missouri quarterback John Stollenwerck fumbled a snap. Colorado’s defensive tackle Curt Koch recovered, and three plays later fullback Erich Kissick scored from three yards out for a 17-0 Buff lead.

A 54-yard field goal by Tiger kicker Tom Whelihan put Missouri on the board, but Colorado closed…

Washington State – Sal Aunese makes an impression

//posted 9.26.1987

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September 26th – Boulder Colorado 26, Washington State 17

Another day, another game, another Buff making an impression. This time it was sophomore quarterback Sal Aunese, subbing for injured starter Mark Hatcher, who made a splash. Aunese did not start, but played a significant role in leading Colorado to a 26-17 win over Washington State. Aunese carried the ball 22 times for 185 yards and one touchdown. Aunese also completed one of his three passes, a thirty-yarder to Eric Bieniemy.

Washington State, led by first-year coach Dennis Erickson, were 2-1 coming into the game, having beaten Fresno State and Wyoming before falling to Michigan. Erickson brought in a Cougar squad which had finished 3-7-1 in 1986.

In all, the Buffs accumulated a season high 425 yards on the ground against the Cougars. Still, the Buffs led only 19-17 after Washington State quarterback Timm Rosenbach connected on a 16-yard scoring pass to tight end Chris Leighton with 11:17 to play. After J.J. Flannigan bobbled a Sal Aunese pitch, fumbling at the Colorado 25, the Buffs were in a position to lose. The Colorado defense rose to the occasion, though, forcing a field goal attempt. The kicked sailed wide, and the Buffs retained…

Baylor – Bluebonnet Bowl – “On the Road Again”

//posted 12.31.1986

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On the Road Again

The 1986 season was a watershed in Colorado football history. Yes, the Buffs had finished 1985 with a winning season (7-5), and had gone to a bowl game for the first time in almost a decade, but it is the 1986 season which is seen as the turning point in Buff fortunes. Still, when the Buffs opened the 1986 campaign 0-4, it was hard not to consider that 1985 was an aberration, and that the aura of losing was once again to permeate the Colorado campus. Colorado rallied, though, to post a surprising 6-1 Big Eight record, including an historic 20-10 win over Nebraska. Even a 28-0 loss to No. 4 Oklahoma did little to dampen fans’ spirits. After the Buffs dominated Kansas State, 49-3, to post a 6-5 record and the right to participate in a bowl, Colorado fans didn’t care where the game was or who the opponent would be. We were just glad to be invited.

The location? Houston, Texas. The game? The Bluebonnet Bowl against the Baylor Bears. What was a Buff fan to do?

Two words: “Road Trip”!

Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” sings the…

Kansas – Colorado defense preserves early 17-0 lead

//posted 11.8.1986

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November 8th – Boulder Colorado 17, Kansas 10

In a reverse from the Oklahoma State game, Colorado played well early, then hung on late to post a 17-10 win over Kansas. Rolling to a 17-0 second quarter lead, the Buffs scored on a one yard run by junior halfback Mike Marquez, a 24-yard field goal by Dave DeLine, and a 34-yard reverse by freshman split end Jeff Campbell. The latter score was a reprise of the two reverses Campbell ran so successfully in the Nebraska game. The Buffs were up 17-0 with 8:42 still remaining in the first half. Those in attendance at Folsom Field that afternoon were able to sit back, bundle up on an otherwise chilly and unpleasant afternoon, presuming the rest of the game against the 3-5 Jayhawks (0-4 in conference play) would be a cakewalk.

Make that sleepwalk.

After Kansas quarterback Kelly Donahue scored on a one yard run to make the score 17-10 with 8:47 still left in the third quarter, Kansas was within a touchdown of the Buffs, and would remain that way for the rest of the contest. In the stands, for those of us who had seen the Buffs fold all too many times…

No. 3 Nebraska – The Signature Win

//posted 10.25.1986

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1986 – Colorado v. Nebraska - Preface

In September 1989, almost three years after the Colorado/Nebraska game of 1986, Brad and I traveled to Seattle, Washington for the Colorado/Washington game. Colorado was in the midst of the most tumultuous season in its 100-year history, entering the game undefeated, but also on the heels of the loss of quarterback Sal Aunese, who had succumbed to cancer the week before. The game story will be retold in the appropriate chapter, but the relevance of that game to 1986 came just after the 1989 Washington game had ended.

It had rained for much of the second half, so, by the end of the game, the sellout crowd had thinned to a thousand or so Buff fans, soaked but jubilant over the Buffs’ 45-28 victory, separated only by a few pockets of the true Husky faithful. Walking through the parking lot after the game, Brad and I encountered a group of young Buff fans gathered around a van. They warmly greeted the sight of the black and gold we were wearing, and Brad and I in turn hailed the meeting of fellow travelers. In our brief conversation, Brad and I learned that this group of five or six…

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Posts Tagged ‘Dave DeLine’

CU Transition Classes

Kansas

#6 Syracuse – Fiesta Bowl – Lost luggage, lost jacket, lost holiday

Missouri – Small victories: Buffs claim fourth in the Big Eight

Washington State – Sal Aunese makes an impression

Baylor – Bluebonnet Bowl – “On the Road Again”

Kansas – Colorado defense preserves early 17-0 lead

No. 3 Nebraska – The Signature Win

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