Posts Tagged ‘Denver Post’

Fresno State – Jim Thorpe Classic

//posted 8.26.2001

2001 – Game One – CU v. Fresno State – August 26, 2001

The Jim Thorpe Classic

The Buffs were anxious to play a 12th game in 2001- anything to get the season and put the 3-8 2000 season behind them. The inaugural Jim Thorpe Classic provided such an opportunity. The game was designated to honor the legendary Thorpe, who had starred in college at Carlisle Indian School in 1912 and 1913 before going on to help bring recognition to the fledgling National Football League. The Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back since its inception in 1986, had a special place in the hearts of Buff fans. Colorado had already had two winners of the award, with Deon Figures claiming the prize in 1992, followed by Chris Hudson in 1994.

The Buffs’ opponent for the game was Fresno State. The Bulldogs were in search of respect. In order to bring attention to his program, head coach Pat Hill scheduled ambitiously. In addition to the Buffs, Fresno State would in 2001 play non-conference games against Oregon State and Wisconsin. The Beavers were ranked #11 in the preseason poll (and ranked #1 by Sports Illustrated in its preseason…

#10 Oklahoma – John Hessler’s record-setting starting debut

//posted 9.30.1995

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Detmer Under the Microscope

Everyone knew shortly after the Texas A&M game was over that quarterback Koy Detmer, whose efforts over the first three games of the season had merited a “Colorado’s Detmer throws his hat into ring” Heisman-watch headline from USA Today (9/18/95), was seriously injured. What happened? Detmer: “It was weird the way it happened. I went to spin out of the pocket and take off running, but my foot was hung up in the turf and when I pushed, my knee kind of dug way in and just kind of twisted it and shifted the bones a little bit.”

A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can be career threatening. But how serious was Detmer’s injury? Speculation in the media ran from the positive: “Detmer could return in two weeks” (Buffalo Sporting News, 9/25/95), to the hopeful: “Detmer optimistic despite knee injury” (Denver Post, 9/24/95), to the negative: “Detmer may be out for the season” (Rocky Mountain News, 9/24/95).

What was the truth? “It looks as though if they can brace him and stabilize the knee, he might be able to play”, reported head coach Rick Neuheisel. “Koy is of the mind that he wants to play…

#22 Oklahoma – An Evening in Paradise

//posted 10.15.1994

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October 15th – Boulder #4 Colorado 45, #22 Oklahoma 7

It was now official. What had been dreamed of since the “Miracle in Michigan” could now be spoken of openly. The Rocky Mountain News banner headline after Colorado dismantled Oklahoma 45-7 before a national ESPN audience said it all: “Buffs make a run for No. 1?. Not to be outdone, the Denver Post headline proclaimed: “Taking aim at No. 1?.

Before the Buffs took the field to set about defeating the Sooners by the largest margin in the history of the series, the players and fans all knew that the #1 team in the nation, Florida, had been defeated 36-33 by Auburn. The 45-7 thrashing of the Sooners before a night game crowd of 53,199 proved to the nation that the undefeated Colorado Buffaloes had to be reckoned with on the national stage. CU dominated the game from the outset, and the line score for the first half look like a series of misprints. The Buffs’ first three scores:

Salaam 7 yard run (Voskeritchian kick);

Salaam 7 yard run (Voskeritchian kick); and

Salaam 7 yard run (Voskeritchian kick).

For Colorado’s final score of the first half, the Buffs threw the…

Washington – Freedom Bowl – Fake punt!

//posted 12.30.1985

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December 30th – @ Anaheim, California Washington 20, Colorado 17

Some 30,961 fans, representing all the interest that the 7-4 Buffs and 6-5 Washington Huskies could muster, were witness to an exciting, if not particularly well played, contest in the second-ever Freedom Bowl. Washington coach Don James and his Huskies, with a 20-17 victory, were able to salvage something from a 1985 campaign which had started with great promise.

Washington had been rated highly in the preseason polls (6th in UPI; 12th in AP), only to lose the first two games of the season. Rebounding with four straight wins, the Huskies seemed to have righted the ship, only to be stunned at home by Oregon State, 21-20, losing on a blocked punt return for a touchdown with less than two minutes in the game. After winning two of the next three games, the Huskies again were victimized, again at home and again by the score of 21-20, this time by arch-rival Washington State.

The first quarter of the 1985 Freedom Bowl was scoreless until Washington kicker Jeff Jaeger connected with a 30-yard field goal late, giving the Huskies a 3-0 lead. The Buffs responded with a drive culminating with a one…

#9 Oklahoma – Brian Bosworth comes to Boulder

//posted 11.10.1984

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November 10th – Boulder #9 Oklahoma 42, Colorado 17

Oklahoma, ranked #9 in the country, came to Boulder with an overall record of 6-1-1. Heach coach Barry Switzer’s Sooners ran a high octane offense, with a precision wishbone offense complimented by a passing game which included tight end – and future NFL star – Keith Jackson. But the Oklahoma calling card in 1984 was its defense, led by noseguard Tony Casillas and linebacker Brian Bosworth. Bosworth, though only a freshman, had already been nominated for Big Eight player of the week honor three times.

For Colorado’s final home game of the 1984 season, only 38,888 showed up. The attendance represented the smallest home crowd to watch the Sooners play at Folsom since 1966. Even though the Buffs had played two top ten teams close in the past month, few gave much chance to the 1-8 Buffs.

The analysis proved correct.

Any hopes for an upset were seemingly quashed before the Colorado band had found its way to their seats after the opening program. Oklahoma took just three plays to “drive” 80 yards for the opening score. All of 48 seconds into game ten, and the Buffs were heading for a long day. Memories…

#10 Oklahoma State – Denver Post: “Close, but …”

//posted 10.27.1984

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October 27th – @ Oklahoma State #10 Oklahoma State 20, Colorado 14

Junior Craig Keenan made his first start at quarterback, replacing Colorado’s all-time passer Steve Vogel, as the Buffs took the field against a top ten opponent for the second week in a row. Colorado had played Nebraska tough, leading 7-3 after three quarters- but not tough enough to post a win.

History doesn’t always repeat itself.

Sometimes it rhymes.

The headlines from the Denver Post the morning after the Oklahoma State game tell all that you need to know about the game: “Close, but …” and “Oklahoma State survives CU 20-14″.

The tried and true method for the Buffs had come through once again. A valiant defensive effort kept the Buffs in the game, but the offense could not capitalize on the opportunities afforded by their opponent.

Keenan completed 10-of-25 passes for 178 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown connection with wide receiver Ron Brown. Brown’s 141 yards on four catches gave him 529 total yards for the season and an impressive 25.9 yards per catch average. The Buffs running game, however, again proved to be the Buffs’ downfall. With the Colorado defense keeping the Buffs in the game,…

#17 Oklahoma – Progress in small doses

//posted 10.30.1982

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October 30 – Boulder #17 Oklahoma 45, Colorado 10

At 1-5-1, the Buffs were not likely to pose much of a threat to the 5-2 Sooners. As the game unfolded, the Oklahoma game became a representation of the 1982 season in a nutshell: a great deal of heart; a stubborn defense; and an eventual submission to a more talented foe.

Considering that the last two games with Oklahoma had left Colorado on the short end of 82-42 and 49-0 scores, the fact that the score at halftime was 10-10 was just this side of remarkable. Add to this the tidbit that the Oklahoma touchdown came on a 77-yard punt return, and it is clear how well the defense of Colorado was playing. Turnovers in the second half led to quick Sooner scores, leaving the final score of 45-10 much more to the Sooner faithful’s liking. “I thought it was another game where we blew opportunities,” said Bill McCartney. “We fought for awhile, and then we just broke down and hurt ourselves.” On the day, Oklahoma passed only eight times, but ran the ball 76 times (for 368 yards) to wear down the Buffs.

Still, progress was being noted. A column in the…

Drake – Beneath Nadir – “Who the Hell is Drake?”

//posted 10.11.1980

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October 11th – Boulder Drake 41, Colorado 22

Colorado responded from the Oklahoma debacle by out-gaining the supposedly out-manned Drake Bulldogs, 379-347. This was not sufficient, however, to prevent a loss to a team the Buffs had surely scheduled as a breather game between games against ranked Big Eight opponents. Colorado certainly had no reason to be overconfident against any team, but they played as if they only needed to put on their pads in order to record their first win of 1980. Seven turnovers later, however, and the Buffs had qualified as one of the worst teams in the country, falling 41-22, to drop the 1980 season record to 0-5.

Colorado actually enjoyed its first lead of the season in this game, as quarterback Charlie Davis led the Buffs to an early 14-3 advantage. Unfortunately for the Buffs, Charlie Davis was injured after scoring the second Colorado touchdown. With back-up quarterback Randy Essington suspended for one game for “disciplinary reasons”, the Buffs attack was placed in the hands of Scott Kingdom. Kingdom failed to come through, though, completing only 10-of-25 passes for130 yards, zero touchdowns and 4 interceptions. By halftime, the Buffs were down 24-14, well on their way…

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Posts Tagged ‘Denver Post’

Fresno State – Jim Thorpe Classic

#10 Oklahoma – John Hessler’s record-setting starting debut

#22 Oklahoma – An Evening in Paradise

Washington – Freedom Bowl – Fake punt!

#9 Oklahoma – Brian Bosworth comes to Boulder

#10 Oklahoma State – Denver Post: “Close, but …”

#17 Oklahoma – Progress in small doses

Drake – Beneath Nadir – “Who the Hell is Drake?”

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