Article Archive

Shifting Gears For 1985 Season: Wishbone = Wishful Thinking

//posted 8.28.1985

— National and Big Eight recap – 1985 — Returning to the national championship spotlight for the first time in ten years, the Sooners from the University of Oklahoma won their 6th national title in 1985, scoring a 25-10 win over previously unbeaten Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma finished the year 11-1, losing only to Miami in an early season match-up. The Sooners led the nation in total defense, led by Lombardi Award winner Tony Casillas and the flamboyant linebacker Brian Bosworth. The offense was led by versatile freshman …

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1984 National and Big Eight Recap / One L

//posted 9.1.1984

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— National and Big Eight recap – 1984 — In 1984, Brigham Young University became the fourth Division 1-A football team in succession to win its first-ever national championship, capturing the 1984 crown with a 13-0 season. Despite its unblemished record, BYU had its share of critics. The naysayers arguments were only enhanced when BYU just got by an average (6-5) Michigan squad in the Holiday Bowl. Bound by contract to the Holiday Bowl, the Cougars had no option as to bowl or opponent. To its credit, though, BYU did …

Preseason Outlook – Mac’s first Recruiting Class

//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 still reason for optimism in Boulder as the 1982 season came to a close. 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 …

National and Big Eight Recap – “Salesman Bill” McCartney

//posted 9.1.1983

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— National and Big Eight recap – 1983 — The Miami Hurricanes finished on top of the polls for the first time in school history, defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 31-30 in the Orange Bowl. Miami head coach Howard Schnellenberger completed the resurrection of the once dormant program, bouncing back from a 28-3 setback to Florida in the season opener to run the table and finish 11-1. Freshman quarterback Bernie Kosar teamed with fellow frosh Alonzo Highsmith to account for three touchdowns in the national championship game, as Kosar passed for 300 …

National and Big Eight recap – 1982 Season (Cal/Stanford band game)

//posted 1.1.1983

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— National and Big Eight recap – 1982 — Penn State, which had failed to win titles in undefeated seasons in prior years, won its first national championship in 1982 with an 11-1 campaign. Under long time head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions fell only once during the regular season, losing to No. 4 Alabama 42-21 in September. Recovering from the early stinging defeat, Penn State could not be bested the rest of the season, defeating previously unbeaten Georgia and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker 27-23 in the …

Kansas – Rocky Mountain News: Colorado “A sorry state”

//posted 11.14.1981

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— November 14th – at Kansas Kansas 27, Colorado 0 — Kansas came into the game 6-3, but only 2-3 in the Big Eight, giving Buff fans at least some hope for an upset. Not so much. As had become custom for Colorado, the defense made an effort, and the score was only 10-0 at half. The Buffs, though, made the Jayhawks look like world-beaters, completing a second consecutive year without a road win, as Kansas rolled to a 27-0 victory. The loss was the Buffs’ fourth in a row, dropping …

No. 19 Oklahoma – Buffs hold Sooners without a completed pass

//posted 10.31.1981

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— October 31st – at Oklahoma No. 19 Oklahoma 49, Colorado 0 — An Oklahoma blowout of Colorado was, unfortunately, familiar territory for the Buffs. In 1981, the final was 49-0. Same song, different year. Having started out the season uncharacteristically slow at 1-2-1, the Sooners faced the Buffs with a 3-2-1 record, coming off consecutive romps over Kansas (45-7) and Oregon State (42-3). With the modest two game winning streak, the Sooners were again ranked nationally, meaning that, for the 10th consecutive season, Colorado faced a ranked Oklahoma team. Steve Vogel …

Tags: Lee Rouson, Steve Vogel
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No. 14 Iowa State – Buffs face a ranked Cyclone team

//posted 10.24.1981

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— October 24th – at Iowa State No. 14 Iowa State 17, Colorado 10 — Steve Vogel, the hero of the Oklahoma State game, made his first career start as a Buff in Ames against No. 14 Iowa State. It was an inauspicious debut, as the Colorado offense struggled in a tough 17-10 loss to the Cyclones. Vogel’s numbers indicate the ineffectiveness of the offense on the day: 12-for-16 passing, but for only 89 yards and no touchdowns; two rushes for minus-three yards. Colorado was led by junior halfback Richard …

No. 16 UCLA – Bruins stuff Buffs

//posted 10.3.1981

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— October 3rd – at UCLA No. 16 UCLA 27, Colorado 7 — The October 3rd game brought the Bruins home for their first home game after playing three games on the road to open the 1981 season. With Colorado wearing similar blue and gold uniforms, the UCLA faithful may have been initially confused. This was not to last, though, as the true blue and gold team stepped forward and dominated the Buffs. Colorado came into the game ranked eighth in the nation in total offense, but the yardage hadn’t resulted in …

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No. 11 BYU – Pick your poison – McMahon replaced by Young

//posted 9.26.1981

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— September 26th – Boulder No. 11 BYU 41, Colorado 20 — Brigham Young University came to Boulder 3-0 and ranked 11th in the nation. BYU was led by senior quarterback Jim McMahon, a walking record book. McMahon was just coming off a four touchdown performance against UTEP, leading the Cougars to a 65-8 laugher. It was safe to say that the brash quarterback did not fear the Buffs. McMahon was quoted as saying: “Oklahoma rushed for 800 yards (against Colorado). We won’t rush for 800, but I’d like to …

Washington State – “You’ve got to be kidding me”

//posted 9.19.1981

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— September 19th – Boulder Washington State 14, Colorado 10 — Washington State came into Boulder 1-0, coming off a warm-up game against none other than Division I-AA Montana State, winning 33-21. The Cougars had only been 4-7 in 1980, so the game matched two teams looking to erase the memories of the previous campaign, and gain confidence by starting 1981 at 2-0. Colorado led the game 10-0, and had possession of the football with under four minutes to go in the game. A 2-0 start was within the Buffs’ …

Nowhere to go but up / Blue and gold uniforms

//posted 9.5.1981

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— National and Big Eight recap – 1981 — In 1981, the Clemson Tigers brought a National Championship back to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time since 1953. Clemson capped off a 12-0 campaign with a 22-15 defeat of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The Tigers were not led by household names, but team players such as quarterback Homer Jordan, flanker Perry Tuttle, and tailback Cliff Austin all contributed to the championship. Coach Danny Ford was the consensus coach of the year, but the Heisman went to a …