Posts Tagged ‘Jeff Donaldson’

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…

Oregon State – “Here we go CU, Here we go!”

//posted 9.24.1983

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September 24th – Boulder Colorado 38, Oregon State 14

Colorado was able to look towards another struggling opponent for the third week in a row as the Oregon State Beavers came to Boulder. Oregon State had posted a record of 1-9-1 in 1982, and had won only one of three starts in 1983. If the Buffs were to put together back to back wins for the first time since 1979, this would be their best chance. The woeful Oregon State football program had not put together more than three wins in a season in its last eleven campaigns, and the team presented to the 33,504 Folsom Field faithful was not a likely candidate to break the streak.

The rout was on early.

After Linebacker Jeff Donaldson returned an interception 44 yards for one score, and Steve Vogel had hooked up with Ron Brown on a 62-yard bomb for another, it was Colorado 21, Oregon State 0, before the first quarter had even come to a close. In just over one half of play, Colorado had a lead of 28-0, with offensive plays of 50, 62, 44, 36, and 29 yards – plus Donaldson’s interception return.

Oregon State did push through…

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 ‘Jeff Donaldson’

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

Oregon State – “Here we go CU, Here we go!”

1983 Preseason Outlook

California – Bill McCartney makes his debut as CU head coach

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