Posts Tagged ‘Dave Hestera’

Toledo 54, Colorado 38

//posted 9.12.2009

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September 11, 2009 Toledo 54, Colorado 38

Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt looked like a Heisman trophy candidate in posting six touchdowns as the Toledo Rockets embarrassed the Colorado Buffaloes, 54-38, before a national ESPN television audience. Opelt connected on 15-of-23 passes for 319 yards, and rand for 109 yards and two more scores as the Rockets posted a mind-numbing 624 yards of total offense.

The game, which started at 9:00 p.m. eastern time (and didn’t finish until almost 1:00 a.m. on Saturday) began as ominously for Colorado as had the Colorado State game five days earlier. After gaining two first downs and getting the ball past mid-field in their opening drive, the Buffs were forced to punt. Taking over at their own 16, the Rockets took eight plays to score. One play in the drive encapsulated the Buffs’ first two games: On third-and-ten at the 26 yard line, Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt dropped back to pass. With no pass rush to hinder his efforts, Opelt calmly stood in the pocket until he was able to find wide receiver Eric Page, who had gotten behind coverage. A 60-yard completion ensued, and two plays later the Rockets were in the endzone.

A…

#1 Nebraska – A record quarter dooms Buffs’ upset bid

//posted 10.22.1983

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October 22nd – @ Nebraska #1 Nebraska 69, Colorado 19

Colorado, 2-4 and on a three game losing streak, next faced the undefeated and #1 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln. History did not favor the Buffs, as Colorado entered the contest 0-7 all-time vs. #1 ranked teams, including two previous attempts against Nebraska. Nothing changed in 1983, as Colorado fell to Nebraska, 69-19.

The Cornhuskers in 1983 were loaded. Quarterback Turner Gill, I-Back Mike Rozier, Wingback Irving Fryar, and fullback Mark Schellen were being compared, at least by the Sports Information Department in Lincoln, to the “Four Horsemen of Notre Dame”, the legendary 1925 Irish backfield immortalized by Grantland Rice. The comparison was not without merit. The Huskers were 7-0 on the 1983 campaign, boasting a nation’s best 17-game winning streak overall. The Buffs were struggling, and all indices pointed toward a 16th-consecutive win against Colorado. The Nebraska faithful showing up for Homecoming were not expecting to leave disappointed.

They didn’t.

To be fair to Coach McCartney and the Buffs, the Husker crowd had to be somewhat restless during the half-time festivities. While the Homecoming King and Queen were being paraded around Memorial Stadium, a quick glance at the scoreboard…

Colorado State – Rivalry? What Rivalry?

//posted 9.17.1983

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Rivalry? What Rivalry?

As much as Nebraska looks with disdain at Colorado (or anyone else, for that matter) who dares to call the Cornhuskers their “rival”, the Colorado Buffaloes in the early 1980′s were just as pompous when it came to their “rivals” just 40 miles to the north, the Colorado State Rams. While the game was a natural for generating interest and a full house at Folsom Field, the Buffs resisted scheduling the game due to the perception that playing Colorado State in football represented a “no-win” situation for Colorado.

Colorado State played in the Western Athletic Conference. The perception had long been that the WAC played an inferior style of football. “All offense, no defense” was the stigma attached to every team wearing the WAC logo. If a Colorado/Colorado State game was played and Colorado won, there would be no positive reaction as such a result would be expected. Lose, and the struggling program would suffer a loss of status within the state it could not afford to lose.

Largely due to this fear, Colorado had not played Colorado State in football since 1958. Negotiations between the schools, which also involved state legislators, led to an agreement for the teams to…

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…

Kansas State – Wildcats earn first-ever bowl bid

//posted 11.20.1982

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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…

#7 Nebraska – In Search of a Rival – Meeting CU head coach Bill McCartney

//posted 10.9.1982

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October 9th – Boulder #7 Nebraska 40, Colorado 14

Many times, the numbers say it all.

1980: Nebraska 45; Colorado 7.

1981: Nebraska 59; Colorado 0.

The last two lopsided losses to the Cornhuskers were only the most recent. In the series, the totals were intimidating. Fourteen straight Nebraska wins overall vs. Colorado. No wins for the Buffs against the Cornhuskers in Boulder since 1960.

Nebraska’s record coming into the 1982 game: 3-1, ranked seventh in the nation. Colorado’s record: 1-3 and going nowhere.

With this background, and a final score of 40-14, it would be easy to dismiss this game as another Husker rout in a long string of mismatches.

Such a conclusion would be wrong.

Yes, the Buffs did lose that day. Yes, it was the 15th straight loss to Nebraska. But, no, it was not the typical yawner for the Cornhuskers. Colorado quarterback Randy Essington passed for 361 yards, the most-ever by a Nebraska opponent. Two Colorado receivers, Donnie Holmes and Dave Hestera, each had over 100 yards receiving. Before Nebraska scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, the score was an unnerving – at least to the Husker Nation – 20-14 at the start of the fourth…

#9 UCLA – “Hey – Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

//posted 10.2.1982

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October 2nd – Boulder #9 UCLA 34, Colorado 6

For Bruin fans, there was little reason to believe that UCLA’s first-ever visit to Boulder would be anything but a pleasant one. Colorado did little to discredit its role as compliant host, falling 34-6 to the 9th-ranked Bruins. UCLA came into the game 3-0, fresh off of two road wins against Big 10 teams. In the weeks leading up to UCLA’s trip to Boulder, UCLA had beaten back a red sea of Wisconsin fans at Madison, going on to beat the winningest program of all time, Michigan, at one of the shrines of the game, Ann Arbor.

Folsom Field and the 1-2 Buffs would not intimidate this squad.

The game itself was never in doubt. The anemic Colorado offense produced only two long range Tom Field field goals as the Bruins cruised to a 34-6 win. The Buff defense again put in a credible effort, holding UCLA to 10 points until Bruin quarterback Tom Ramsey connected with split end Donnie Williams on a 50-yard bomb in the last minute of the first half to up the score to 17-6 at halftime. “In my mind, that touchdown was the big play of…

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 ‘Dave Hestera’

Toledo 54, Colorado 38

#1 Nebraska – A record quarter dooms Buffs’ upset bid

Colorado State – Rivalry? What Rivalry?

1983 Preseason Outlook

Kansas State – Wildcats earn first-ever bowl bid

#7 Nebraska – In Search of a Rival – Meeting CU head coach Bill McCartney

#9 UCLA – “Hey – Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

California – Bill McCartney makes his debut as CU head coach

2012 Season

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