Game Archive

Oklahoma State – Steve Vogel leads improbable comeback

//posted 10.17.1981

(There has been 1 comment, post your CU memory now)

— October 17th – Boulder Colorado 11, Oklahoma State 10 — A homecoming crowd of 36,101 came out to watch one of the most improbable finishes in Colorado football history, with the Buffs prevailing, 11-10, on a last minute score against Oklahoma State. The Colorado offense was stifled for most of the day by an Oklahoma State defense which came into the contest ranked No. 2 in the nation, having allowed a paltry 180 total yards per game. The Cowboys, coached by Jimmy Johnson (later of University of Miami, Dallas …

Posted in Game | 1 Comment >> | Leave a Comment

Nebraska – Turner Gill makes his debut

//posted 10.10.1981

(Post your own memories)

— October 10th – at Nebraska Nebraska 59, Colorado 0 — The Nebraska thrashing, 59-0, was not unique for the result, as Colorado went into the game on a thirteen game losing streak against the Cornhuskers (average score: 34-8). What was unique was that, of the three losses suffered after the Washington State game to open the season, this was the lone Buff loss against an unranked team. Nebraska began the 1981 campaign 1-2, losing to Iowa 10-7 in Iowa City, and 30-24 to Penn State in Lincoln. Shortly after the demolition …

Tags: Turner Gill
Posted in Game | No Comments | Leave a Comment

No. 16 UCLA – Bruins stuff Buffs

//posted 10.3.1981

(Post your own memories)

— 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 …

Posted in Article, Game | No Comments | Leave a Comment

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

//posted 9.26.1981

(There have been 2 comments, post your CU memory now)

— 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

(Post your own memories)

— 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’ …

Texas Tech – Walter Stanley – Hope Springs Eternal

//posted 9.12.1981

(There has been 1 comment, post your CU memory now)

— September 12th – Boulder Colorado 45, Texas Tech 27 — As if the 1980 season was just a bad dream, Colorado woke up and began the 1981 season in fine fashion, with a 45-27 rout of Texas Tech. Granted, Texas Tech was only 5-6 in 1980. Granted, Texas Tech was not a threat to win the Southwest Conference in 1981. But a win was a win. Sophomore quarterback Randy Essington passed for 345 yards, breaking the school record of 278 yards held by Jeff Knapple (1977 v. Kent State). …

Nowhere to go but up / Blue and gold uniforms

//posted 9.5.1981

(Post your own memories)

— 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 …

Kansas State – 17,750 on hand for battle for last place

//posted 11.21.1980

(Post your own memories)

— November 21st – at Kansas State Kansas State 17, Colorado 14 — Aside from Iowa State, Kansas State was the only team from which Colorado could find no sympathy in 1980. The Wildcats were the “Mildcats”, representing little mention in the annals of Big Eight history. In 1954, Kansas State went 7-3 overall, 3-3 in the then Big Seven. Not worthy of mention? Don’t tell that to Wildcat fans. The 1954 record represented Kansas State’s moment in the sun in the school’s Big Seven/Eight conference history. Kansas State was in …

Kansas – “We’re just a very poor football team right now”

//posted 11.15.1980

(Post your own memories)

— November 15th – Boulder Kansas 42, Colorado 3 — One week after the Oklahoma State Cowboys posted 42 points against the hapless Buffs, Kansas also scored 42 points against the paper-thin Colorado defense, taking down the Buffs, 42-3. The Jayhawks set a series record in running over, around and through the Colorado defense, amassing 586 yards of total offense. A crowd of only 24,187 braved the November chill (36 degrees at kickoff) to watch the Buffs close out the home schedule with a 1-5 record, falling to 1-9 overall. With …

Oklahoma State – Buffs “Healers to the Sick”

//posted 11.8.1980

(Post your own memories)

— November 8th – at Stillwater Oklahoma State 42, Colorado 7 — The early November match-up against Oklahoma State in Stillwater represented perhaps the Buffs’ last best chance at a victory in 1980. Colorado was 1-7 on the season, but the Cowboys had not fared much better. Oklahoma State was 1-5-1 on the year, with the only win a 15-6 win over San Diego State (an Aztec team which had come to Stillwater 1-6). The Cowboys had fallen to West Texas State in the season opener, and had not played very well …

Iowa State – First win (only win) of a record-setting season

//posted 11.1.1980

(Post your own memories)

— November 1st – Boulder Colorado 17, Iowa State 9 — In its history, Colorado has had as much success against the Cyclones from Ames as it had against any team in the Big Eight. Coming into the 1980 season, the Buffs had played Iowa State 35 times, losing only eight of those contests. Still, this was not unique. Notwithstanding some moderate success in the 1970’s (all four of the school’s bowl appearances up to 1980 had taken place between 1971 and 1978 – all losses), Iowa State consistently battled …

Tags: Scott Kingdom
Posted in Game | No Comments | Leave a Comment

No. 9 Nebraska – What are our school colors again?

//posted 10.25.1980

(There has been 1 comment, post your CU memory now)

— October 25th – Boulder No. 9 Nebraska 45, Colorado 7 — Just what the Buffs needed. An 0-6 season record, with once-beaten and 9th-ranked Huskers coming to town. Nebraska, led by running backs Jarvis Redwine and sophomore sensation Roger Craig, was on its way to leading the nation in rushing and a 10-2 record. Matching the final 45-7 result of the Missouri game from the week before was not intentional, unless, of course, Nebraska had decided in advance to set the score. With the way the Buffs were playing, …