Posts Tagged ‘Rae Carruth’

Texas A&M – First game in the “Big 12″ a success

//posted 9.28.1996

The 1996 was the first for the newly christened Big 12 Conference. The inaugural game for Colorado in the new league would be on the road against one of the refugees from the defunct Southwest Conference, Texas A&M. The Buffs in 1996 were making their first-ever appearance at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Overall, the Buffs had played Texas A&M only once before, a 29-21 win in Boulder the previous season.

Heading into conference play in 1996, the Buffs were 2-1, ranked 12th in the nation. Colorado had opened the season ranked 5th, and had posted wins over Washington State (37-19) and Colorado State (48-34), before falling at home to 11th-ranked Michigan, 20-13. The loss dropped Colorado to 12th, out of the top ten for the first time in 19 polls dating back to the middle of the 1995 season. Through the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Buffs did lead the nation in one category – penalties, having accumulated 36 in the first three games.

There was little sympathy in College Station for the Buffs, however. Texas A&M, ranked in the preseason, had not lived up its #13 preseason ranking, opening with a 1-2 record.

September 28th ‑ @…

#7 KSU – Hessler comes through late

//posted 11.18.1995

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November 18th – @ Kansas State #9 Colorado 27, #7 Kansas State 17

The series between Colorado and Kansas State dates back to 1912. The teams had faced each other 50 times previous to the 1995 meeting. The 51st contest, though, would be special. The 1995 match-up represented the first time in the long history of the rivalry in which the Buffs had faced a Kansas State squad ranked in the top ten.

An overflow crowd of 42,454 crammed into the 42,000 seats of Kansas State Stadium to try to cheer on the Wildcats to the best school record since the 1910 squad went 10-1. The game was not decided until the final moments, with 24 of the games 44 total points coming in the final five minutes of the contest. Fortunately for Colorado fans, it was the Buffs who used some late game magic to earn a 27-17 win and a Cotton Bowl bid.

Colorado dominated much of the game, but could not convert opportunities. For the day, Colorado out-gained KSU 526-287 in total yards, but two interceptions thrown by John Hessler, two missed field goals by the usually reliable Neil Voskeritchian, and a blocked punt returned by…

Oklahoma State – Neuheisel v. Simmons, Round One

//posted 11.4.1995

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November 4th – @Oklahoma State #10 Colorado 45, Oklahoma State 32

Each week, first year head coach Rick Neuheisel faced a new and dramatic challenge. The calendar said November 4th was the date scheduled for the 6-2 Colorado Buffaloes to face the 2-7 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Reality and the media knew it was time for Rick Neuheisel v. Bob Simmons, Round One.

Bob Simmons had been Bill McCartney’s choice to succeed him as head coach. Mike Hankwitz, who had also been passed over for the job, had successfully extracted a measure of revenge as the defensive coordinator for the Kansas Jayhawks, who had previously dispatched the Buffs.

Now it was Simmons’ turn.

Fortunately for the emotionally drained Buffs, Bob Simmons did not have the talent Neuheisel had to work with, and Colorado prevailed, 45-32, behind yet another record-setting performance by quarterback John Hessler. Hessler, who may have wished to stay behind in the Sooner state when the Colorado plane left Stillwater, completed the sweep of the Oklahoma schools by again throwing for five touchdown passes. Against Oklahoma in Norman on September 30th, Hessler had set a school and Big Eight record by throwing for five scores. Five weeks…

Colorado State – Walter Mitty and Me

//posted 9.9.1995

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1995 – Game Two – #10 Colorado v. Colorado State – September 9, 1995

Walter Mitty and Me

In the Buffalo Sporting News the week after the Wisconsin game, there was a photo of Rick Neuheisel being carried off of the field by his players after the opening game rout of Wisconsin. The scoreboard, with the final of 43-7 well-illuminated, is in the background. In the photo, Neuheisel eyeing someone in the stands with his arm and index finger raised – No. 1. Perhaps it was for the first win of his coaching career, or where the brash young coach felt the Buffs should be ranked. In any event, no one could argue with the coach being on a natural high that evening.

If only it were me.

Okay. It was time for a reality check. I had no delusions about being the head football coach at Colorado. Still, there are some parallels to myself and Rick Neuheisel that occasionally make me wonder – “What if”? Neuheisel and I were both born in 1961, he in February; I in October. He graduated high school in 1979; I in 1980. While Neuheisel was an undergrad at UCLA, I was beginning my…

Preseason – Neuheisel hired / CU Preview

//posted 6.4.1995

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1995 – The “Neu” Kid on the Block

Introduction – Overview of 1995; The Choice of Neuheisel has new CU head coach

National and Big Eight Recap – 1995

In 1995, the Nebraska Cornhuskers repeated as National Champions, dominating the Florida Gators 62-24 in the National Championship game played at the Fiesta Bowl. Previously unbeaten Florida came into the contest with an air attack led by record-setter Danny Weurffel. Head coach Steve Spurrier had his “Air Spurrier” offense on track until it ran into a buzzsaw of a defense in Nebraska’s “Blackshirts”. Nebraska was led by quarterback Tommie Frazier, who led the Cornhuskers to a 12-0 record, but could not procure for himself the Heisman Trophy. In the closest vote since 1990, Ohio State running back Eddie George beat out Frazier for recognition as the college game’s best player. George’s teammate, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, swept the lineman awards.

In the Big Eight, in the final year of the Conference, the teams sent the Conference out with a flourish. In addition to Nebraska’s title, three other members finished in the top ten of the national rankings. Colorado, Kansas State, and Kansas all finished 9-2, 5-2 in Big Eight play. In…

Oklahoma State – Buff defense posts second shutout of the season

//posted 11.7.1992

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November 7th – Boulder #16 Colorado 28, Oklahoma State 0

Oklahoma State was a much improved team in 1992. Rebounding from a disastrous 0-10-1 1991 campaign, the Cowboys were a respectable 4-4 coming into Boulder, including conference wins over Missouri and Iowa State. But the Cowboys were the Buffs’ Homecoming opponent for a reason.

In 1992, Oklahoma State played its role of sacrificial lamb well, succumbing to the Buffs. 28-0.

Colorado posted a touchdown in each quarter, the first coming on a Lamont Warren two-yard run to cap a 12-play drive on the Buffs’ first possession. Warren scored again in the second stanza as the Buffs provided the Homecoming crowd of 51,559 a 14-0 halftime cushion. With a two-score lead, the Buffs were never again threatened. The dominating Buff defense posted its second shutout of the season, forcing a school-record eight turnovers.

In the third quarter, the Buffs’ touchdown was set up by a fumble recovery by Leonard Renfro deep in Cowboy territory. Quarterback Kordell Stewart, returning to the starting lineup after sitting out with a broken wrist, connected with Michael Westbrook on a record-setting score of nine yards to conclude the one play drive.

The touchdown was Westbrook’s 12th career…

Kansas State – Defense sets Big Eight records in 54-7 rout

//posted 10.24.1992

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October 24th – Boulder #9 Colorado 54, Kansas State 7

The 9th-ranked Buffs controlled an entire game for the first time in 1992, dominating Kansas State 54-7. Colorado scored early and often, raising the home team total on the scoreboard on seven of its first 11 possessions in cruising to a 30-0 halftime lead before a sold-out Folsom Field crowd of 52,235. The Wildcats, with a respectable 3-2 record coming into Boulder, left town without an offensive touchdown, scoring only on a an interception return after the game was well in hand.

The Colorado defense let the Kansas State offense know it was in for a long afternoon on the first series, as the Wildcats gained zero yards on three plays before punting. On the Buffs’ first possession, Kordell Stewart led the offensive unit on an eight-play, 74-yard drive, culminated in a two-yard pass from Stewart to tight end Christian Fauria. Two short drives – one after an interception, the other after a long punt return by Deon Figures - gave junior kicker Mitch Berger the opportunity to connect on two short field goals (of 25 and 23 yards), giving Colorado a 13-0 lead.

The Buffs already had more points than…

1992 Preview – “Air Bill”

//posted 6.28.1992

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1992 -”Air” Bill

National and Big Eight Recap – 1992

The 1992 college football season was dominated by the Miami Hurricanes. That is to say, at least Miami dominated all the way up to its National Championship showdown against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. There, the Crimson Tide throttled Miami, 34-13, to win Alabama’s sixth national title, the first for head coach Gene Stallings. Alabama finished the season 13-0, claiming the nation’s first undisputed title since 1989. Miami’s quarterback Gino Toretta, despite having a quarterback rating of no higher than 19th in the country, was nonetheless awarded the Heisman Trophy. The nation’s leading rusher was San Diego State sophomore Marshall Faulk, who posted 1,630 yards in only 10 games.

In the Big Eight, it was the return of the Big Red, as Nebraska claimed its first undisputed championship since 1988. The Cornhuskers finished the 1992 campaign 9-3, 6-1 in conference play. After falling to Florida State in the Orange Bowl, 27-14, Nebraska finished the season ranked #14. Colorado finished 9-2-1, 5-1-1 in the Big Eight. The Buffs, however, also fell in the postseason, succumbing to Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl, 26-22, to finish ranked at #13. The only conference…

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Posts Tagged ‘Rae Carruth’

Texas A&M – First game in the “Big 12″ a success

#7 KSU – Hessler comes through late

Oklahoma State – Neuheisel v. Simmons, Round One

Colorado State – Walter Mitty and Me

Preseason – Neuheisel hired / CU Preview

Oklahoma State – Buff defense posts second shutout of the season

Kansas State – Defense sets Big Eight records in 54-7 rout

1992 Preview – “Air Bill”

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