UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Fieldhouse Annex #50, 357 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0357 www.CUBuffs.com Telephone 303/492-5626 (FAX: 303/492-3811; E-mail: [email protected]) David Plati (Assistant AD/Media Relations), Colleen Reilly Krueger (Associate SID), Lindsay Anhold (Assistant SID), Andrew Green (Assistant SID), Troy Andre (Asst. SID/Internet Managing Editor), Barry Rubenstein (Grad Assistant),
COLORADO Patrick Gleason (FB Student Assistant). © 2003 CU Athletics.
2003 CU Football: Game 8— Oklahoma SAT., OCT. 25 / Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo. / 5:10 p.m. MDT (TBS Sports) RELEASE NUMBER 7 (Oct. 20, 2003)
Quickly The Colorado Buffaloes (3-4, 1-2 Big 12) host the nation’s No. 1 team this Saturday night, as the Oklahoma Sooners (7-0, 3-0 Big 12) make their first visit to Boulder since 1999 for a 5:10 p.m. mountain kickoff at Folsom Field… Oklahoma is ranked first in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls, and is also No. 1 in the season’s initial BCS Standings… The last time the Buffs hosted the nation’s No 1 team was almost 25 years ago to the week, as Oklahoma came into Boulder on Nov. 4, 1978 and beat the Buffs, 28-7, in a game that tied at 7-7 at halftime; it’s the fourth time CU is hosting the nation’s No. 1 team (AP or Coaches; Nebraska was No. 1 in the BCS Standings back in 2001)… The Sooners swept a pair of games from CU last year, winning in Norman (27-11 on Nov. 2) and in Houston (29-7 in the Big 12 title game). OU’s last win in Boulder was a 17-14 escape back in 1988; since, the Buffs own a 3-0-1 edge in games played at Folsom… CU’s official website, www.CUBuffs.com, features game day updates and live stats for all games, home and road… The Oklahoma (Oct. 25) and Nebraska (Nov. 28) games are sold out, while about 2,500 tickets remain for the Missouri contest on Nov. 8. DEPTH CHART ON PAGE 40
National Appeal The CU-Oklahoma game will be broadcast nationally on both television and radio. Superstation TBS will televise the game, its first ever from Boulder, with Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Charles Davis (color commentary), Erin Andrews (sidelines) and Craig Sager (sidelines) behind the microphones. Sports USA Radio will feed the game to several radio stations nationally, with Larry Kahn (play-by-play), Gino Torretta (analyst) and Troy West (sidelines) in Boulder to call the action.
Press Box Fundraiser A heads up to media attending this week: we will be doing a fundraiser for the Journalism School and will be requesting a $10 donation for the press box meal (which is a minimum $11.71 value). Funds raised will go directly to purchase small DV cameras, editing accessories or wireless microphones for news and sports classes.
In-The-Polls CU was unranked in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/ESPN (coaches) polls of Sunday, Oct. 19. The Buffs had climbed to No. 17 in both after opening 2-0, and prior to the 47-26 loss to Washington State. CU opened the year unranked and received votes in each, but entered the rankings after the win over CSU in the opener. CU has been ranked in 182 of the last 239 polls (AP; 76%), including a tremendous run of 143 consecutive between 1989 and 1997 (the 10th longest streak of all- time). Since 1989, CU has played the fourth most ranked teams in the nation (76), trailing Florida (82), Florida State (82) and Michigan (79).
Stat of the Week Colorado opponents have taken pretty good care of the ball lately—committing just one turnover in the last 16 quarters (a third quarter fumble by Baylor). CU has 18 on the season, compared to just six for the opponent; CU has scored only seven of its 191 points following a turnover in 2003 (while opponents have turned CU’s 18 into 62 points).
Obscure Note of the Week Eight different players have caught 10 or more passes for the Buffs this season; that ties the previous best in that category. Three other times in CU history eight players have caught 10 or more passes in a single year: 1996, 1999 and 2001. Through seven games, CU has completed 175 passes—already the 10th most ever by a Buffalo team. The record, 233 set in 1999, is in real danger of falling.
2003 Colorado Schedule (3-4, 1-2 Big 12)
Date CU* Opponent Opp* TV Result/Time Record Series This-N-That Aug. 30 NR Colorado State (in Denver) 23 ESPN W 42-35 5-3 55-18-2 Klatt throws for 402, 4 TDs in prolific starting debut SEPT. 6 24 UCLA NR ABC W 16-14 5-2 2- 4-0 JK-to-JK (Klatt to Klopfenstein) wins it with 2:15 left
SEPT. 13 17 WASHINGTON STATE NR PPV L 26-47 6-1 3- 2-0 Five TO’s, kickoff & INT returns for TDs do Buffs in
Sept. 20 NR at Florida State 10 ABC L 7-47 6-1 0- 1-0 FSU pulls away late in third, fourth quarters for win
Oct. 4 NR at Baylor NR FOX-S L 30-42 3-4 8- 5-0 Five TO’s undo WRs McCoy (171 yds) & Hackett (143) OCT. 11 NR KANSAS (FW) NR none W 50-47 OT 5-2 39-21-3 Buffs rally from 11 down and win on Calhoun 12 run
Oct. 18 NR at Kansas State NR none L 20-49 5-3 41-17-1 CU rolls up 422 on O, but 2 blocked punts do CU in OCT. 25 NR OKLAHOMA (H) 1 TBS 5:10 p.m. 7-0 16-36-2 OU sweep in ’02 stopped 8-0-1 Colorado run Nov. 1 at Texas Tech FSN 5:00 p.m. 5-2 3- 3-0 Home team has won all six games in series NOV. 8 MISSOURI TBA TBA 5-2 29-35-3 CU has 16-2 edge since ’85 (8-1 in Boulder) Nov. 15 at Iowa State TBA TBA 2-5 44-12-1 Buffs lead series 18-1 since ’84 (9-0 in Ames) NOV. 28 NEBRASKA ABC 10:00 a.m. 6-1 16-43-2 CU seeking three straight for first time since ’56-58 Dec. 6 Big 12 Championship Game ABC 5:00 p.m. (Kansas City, Mo.) No team has participated three straight times (All times mountain. KEY: *—AP rank at game time; —Big 12 Conference game; H—Homecoming; FW—Family Weekend) 2 | 2003 Colorado Football: The Media Page | 2
Media Services Coach Gary Barnett holds a Tuesday press luncheon in the Dal Ward Athletic Center, starting at 11:30 a.m. with lunch, followed by Barnett beginning the interview session promptly at Noon. This year’s dates: Sept. 2-9-16-30, Oct. 7-14-21-28, Nov. 4-11-24 (Monday), Dec. 2-TBA (bowl). NOTE that there are no organized press luncheons on Sept. 22 and Nov. 18 (Tuesdays of bye weeks). The press conference portion of the luncheon is streamed live on CUBuffs.com (in the Buffs Backstage Pass area); media can watch and listen by contacting David Plati in advance for free access codes ([email protected]). Barnett can be heard Mondays on the Big 12 Football Teleconference Call at 10:40 a.m. mountain time. All coaches participate weekly; please call 913/981-5507 for access (this number is intended for media only). The teleconference is replayed later in the day, and is available by calling 402/222-9912 after 3 p.m. mountain time. Video highlights of CU football games are available Tuesdays on the Big 12 Conference’s satellite highlights package, which can be found at Galaxy 4R (C-band), Transponder 20 (orbital slot 99W; 4100 MHz vertical, standard audio 6.2-6.8 MHz between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. MT from Aug. 26 through Dec. 9 (trouble number: 817/265-4465). Special requests can be made through CU’s BuffVision (303-735-3637). The Colorado lockerroom (home and road) is closed to all members of the media after games; following the customary 10-minute cooling off period, players will be made available (a list of players will be solicited immediately following the game). Colorado’s football practices are closed to the public and media in 2003. The first 20 minutes of practice are open for photography (video) needs from the end zones and sidelines; after the 20-minute cutoff, all must leave practice at that time. This year’s tentative meeting/practice schedule (mountain time): Sunday (off); Monday (2:00-3:30; 3:30-6:00); Tuesday (2:15-3:30/3:30- 6:00), Wednesday (2:15-3:30/3:30-6:00), Thursday (2:15-3:30/3:30-5:30), Friday (5:30-6:00, evening meetings). Interviews with Colorado players are allowed both pre- and post-practice on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (the cutoff moves up to post-Tuesday practice for Friday games). Phone interviews with out-of-town media are allowed all three days in both time slots. Interviews on Sundays are at the discretion of the player, as it being the standard player day off (no meetings or practice), CU can’t arrange due to NCAA rules.
CU on the Internet Colorado has its information available to both the media and fans alike on the Internet. Log on to the official site for CU athletics at www.CUBuffs.com for the latest information, releases, game notes and broadcasts of press conferences.
On-the-Air KOA-Radio in Denver (850 AM) originates the 16-station CU Football Network, with sports director emeritus Larry Zimmer in his 30th year as the play-by-play voice of the Buffs (1971-81, 1985-current). Jay Leeuwenburg, CU’s All-American center in 1991, is in his second year handling color analysis, with former CU All-American Bobby Anderson in his 26th season on the broadcasts, doing pre- and postgame shows and providing coverage from the sidelines. Wednesdays at 7 p.m., the Gary Barnett Show originates from Dolan’s Restaurant in Boulder, with Zimmer and Leeuwenburg hosting the program. Note: CU’s games return to the Internet this fall; check out CUBuffs.com. FOX Sports Rocky Mountain is the new television home of the Buffaloes, as “The Buffalo Stampede” will be seen in the six-state FSN area every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. New FSN college reporter Chuck Garfien is the host of the program; the first show aired August 23 and it will run weekly through the week following the end of basketball season for the men and/or women.
IMPORTANT ROSTER INFORMATION (# Changes, etc., from media guide)
Additions: 56 John Martin, ILB; 78 Terrance Barreau, OG. Number Changes: A.J. Anderson (#21, from 17); Dominique Brooks (#18, from 38); Isaiah Crawford (#31, from 36); Mike Duren (#81, from 84); Brendan Schaub (#43, from 81); Sam Wilder (#74, from 90) Position Changes: Akarika Dawn (SS to ILB); Sam Richmond (CB to RB); Brendan Schaub (TE to FB); Sam Wilder (DT to OT). Pronunciation Change: Fredrick Staugh (stow, as in now; wants to have people try true pronunciation). Transferred: CB Allen Mackey (to Sacramento State). Suspended: S Tyrone Henderson (for fall semester).
DUPE NUMBERS: Colorado has several duplicate numbers; those who appear below are the ones most likely to see action (CU jerseys DO have names across the shoulders; A—African-American, C—Caucasian, H—Hispanic):
Offense/Kicker Defense/Kicker Offense/Kicker Defense/Kicker 4 Ron Monteilh (A) 4 Chris Russell (A) 12 Brian White (C) 12 Akarika Dawn (A) 6 Stephone Robinson (A) 6 Phil Jackson (A) 35 J.T. Eberly (C) 35 Omar Stewart (A)
7 Bernard Jackson (A) 7 Vance Washington (A) 82 Evan Judge (C; Sp. Teams) 82 James Garee (C; Sp. Teams)
COLORADO FOOTBALL / PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Coaches/Staff Akarika DAWN (ock-ah-reek-ah) KHARYLAKE Martin (carry-lake) Dave BORBELY (boar-bull-E) J.P. DiZEREGA (D-zair-ig-uh) Matt McCHESNEY (muh-chez-knee) Brian CABRAL (cuh-browl) John DONAHOE (donna-hoe) Ron MONTEILH (mon-tay) Vince OKRUCH (oh-crew) DeAndre FLUELLEN (flu-ellen) Gabe NYENHUIS (nine-heiss) Travis REUST (roost) James GAREE (gary) Tyler POLUMBUS (as in Columbus) John WRISTEN (wrist-N) Dan GOETTSCH (getch) Bobby PURIFY (pure-if-eye) John GUYDON (guy-dunn) STEPHONE Robinson (steff-on) Players Marwan HAGE (like gauge with an H) Fredrick STAUGH (stow, as in “now”) Terrance BARREAU (buh-row) Brian IWUH (E-woo) Quinn SYPNIEWSKI (sip-new-ski) Walter BOYE-DOE (boy-doe) Joe KLOPFENSTEIN (Klof-N-stein) Sam WILDER (wild-er) Nick CLEMENT (cluh-ment) Alex LIGON (lee-gone) Brandon DABDOUB (dab-doob) VAKA MANUPUNA (vah-kuh man-ah-poon-ah) 3 | 2003 Colorado Football: The Personnel Page | 3
Game-By-Game Starters Here are CU’s starters for the 2003 season (bold indicates first career start):
OFFENSE WR WR ST SG C TG TT TE QB TB FB Colorado State McCoy Hackett Wilder Allis Stemrich Hage O’Neal Klopfenstein Klatt Purify Vickers UCLA McCoy Hackett Wilder Allis Stemrich Hage O’Neal Klopfenstein Klatt Calhoun Wallace (TE) Washington State McCoy Hackett Wilder Allis Stemrich Hage O’Neal Klopfenstein Klatt Purify Wallace (TE) Florida State McCoy Hackett Wilder Daniels Hage Stemrich O’Neal Klopfenstein Greenberg Calhoun Vickers Baylor Wallace (TE) Hackett Wilder Daniels Hage Stemrich Allis Klopfenstein Greenberg Calhoun Vickers Kansas McCoy Hackett Wilder Daniels Hage Stemrich Allis Klopfenstein Klatt Calhoun Wallace (TE) Kansas State McCoy Hackett Wilder Daniels Hage Stemrich Allis Klopfenstein Klatt Calhoun Monteilh (WR)
DEFENSE DE DT DT DE MLB WLB SS FS WS LCB RCB Colorado State Nyenhuis McChesney Dabdoub Harris Tufts Hollis Iwuh Moorer Billingsley Joseph Jackson UCLA Nyenhuis McChesney Dabdoub Harris Tufts Hollis Iwuh Moorer Billingsley Joseph Jackson Washington State Nyenhuis Fluellen Dabdoub McChesney Tufts Sims [D] Iwuh Moorer Billingsley Joseph Jackson Florida State Nyenhuis Fluellen Dabdoub McChesney Tufts T.Washington Surrell Moorer Billingsley Joseph Jackson Baylor Nyenhuis McChesney Dabdoub Garee Dawn Brooks (D) Surrell Moorer Billingsley Joseph Wheatley Kansas Nyenhuis McChesney Dabdoub Garee Tufts Brooks (D) Surrell Moorer Billingsley Joseph Jackson Kansas State Nyenhuis Fluellen Manupuna Garee Tufts Boye-Doe Dawn Moorer Billingsley Joseph Wheatley
(D)—Dime Back. MOST CONSECUTIVE STARTS—Hage 33, Moorer 20, Wilder 17. MOST CAREER STARTS—Hage 35, Jackson 33, Harris 31, McCoy 30, Tufts 25. PLAYER PARTICIPATION (dressed/played): Colorado State 93/49; UCLA 94/54; Washington State 97/57; Florida State 70/62; Baylor 70/57; Kansas 92/54; Kansas State 69/53. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starters & Depth One reason the defense often has different starters isn’t so much due to drastic changes in the depth at a particular position, it’s because the Buffs may open in its dime package against a passing team. In fact, that’s happened three times already this season. Still, six players have started every game on defense, compared to five on offense.
Injuries The Buffs suffered no significant injuries in the Kansas State game, with most of those listed on the previous injury report seeing action. It’s been quire a season for injuries, as the lost DE Marques Harris for the year late in the UCLA game, and then saw four starters go down against Washington State and three more against Florida State. All but Harris and TB Bobby Purify are back in the fold. The injury report for the Baylor game as of Monday morning, Oct. 20:
Pos Player Injury When (opponent) Status: OU OUT FOR SEASON: FS Tom Hubbard hand Oct. 1 (practice) OUT DE Marques Harris (broken tibia & fibula, vs. UCLA) WR Blake Mackey lower leg August camp PROBABLE OL Taylor Landry (back, August camp) TB Bobby Purify ankle Sept. 13 (WSU) DAY-TO-DAY TE Joe Sanders (shoulder surgery, chronic). DT McKenzie Tilmon hand Oct. 11 (Kansas) PROBABLE TE Quinn Sypniewski (toe, chrinic)
NOTE: Injuries are reported differently in 2003; with the HIPAA laws in effect, CU releases only the name, body part, and playing status when it comes to reporting injuries. Status will be listed as either OUT, DOUBTFUL, QUESTIONABLE, DAY-TO-DAY or PROBABLE. Injuries will be updated in-game, post-game, the Sunday or Monday after the game, and for game notes at the end of the week. Coach Gary Barnett will discuss injuries one time (Mondays after practice), as will the players.
Players-of-the-Game A look at Colorado's weekly players-of-the-game as selected by the coaching staff:
Opponent Offensive Defensive Special Teams Scout Team Offense Scout Team Defense Colorado State QB Joel Klatt none P John Torp WR Mike Duren ILB Thaddaeus Washington WR D.J. Hackett UCLA QB Joel Klatt DT Matt McChesney PK Kevin Eberhart TB Isaiah Crawford DE Chadd Evans ILB Sean Tufts Washington State WR Derek McCoy none none OL Fredrick Staugh ILB Walter Boye-Doe Florida State none none none DT John Guydon ILB Walter Boye-Doe Baylor none none WR Jeremy Bloom TB Isaiah Crawford DT John Guydon Kansas QB Joel Klatt DE Gabe Nyenhuis PK Mason Crosby QB Bernard Jackson DT John Guydon OG Marwan Hage Kansas State TB Brian Calhoun none WR Jeremy Bloom WR Stephone Robinson DT John Guydon OT Karl Allis
BIG 12 PLAYERS-OF-THE-WEEK: QB Joel Klatt (Offensive: Aug. 30 vs. Colorado State); PK Mason Crosby (Special Teams: Oct. 11 vs. Kansas) NATIONAL PLAYERS-OF-THE-WEEK: QB Joel Klatt (Aug. 30 vs. Colorado State: The Sporting News, SI.com, collegefootballnews.com) MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICANS: OG/C Marwan Hage (collegefootballnews.com)
Underclassmen Role In 2002, when CU finished 9-5 in the school’s only ever 14-game season, underclassmen started a total of 23 games (14 sophomore/9 freshmen). Fast-forward to this season, and that total was surpassed after just four games (25), with the underclassmen start count through seven games now at 62 (44 sophomore/18 freshmen). In CU’s Big 12 championship year in 2001, 90 underclassmen made starts, with the 71 starting in 2000 and 107 in 1999 during the Barnett era. Prorated for this season, CU is on schedule to start 103 of the youngsters. Including the two kicking spots (P, PK), last year’s numbers remain 23 out of a possible 336 starts (6.5%) by underclassmen; the 2003 numbers jump to 76 (47 soph/29 frosh) out of 168, or 45.2%.
Homecoming History Colorado is 59-24-5 in homecoming games in its history, including an 18-1 record since 1984. Oklahoma has been CU’s opponent for homecoming three times: in 1950 (a 27-18 OU win), in 1968 (CU, 41-27) and 1970 (OU, 23-15). It’s the first time a No. 1 team will be the CU opponent for homecoming (which is traditionally selected at CU by date and not opponent—with Family Weekend taking precedence earlier in the semester with homecoming the latter half of October). 4 | 2003 Colorado Football: The Opponent Pages | 4
CU vs. Oklahoma Oklahoma leads the series 36-16-2, including its pair of victories in 2002, 27-11 in Norman (on Nov. 2) and 29-7 in Houston in the Big 12 Championship game. Those were OU’s first wins in the series in 14 years, as Colorado owned a decisive 8-0-1 edge between 1989 and 1999, with that nine game stretch the most the Sooners have ever gone winless against any one opponent. Gary Barnett is 2-2 against Oklahoma; Bob Stoops is 2-1 versus CU.
Series Did You Know—This will be the third time in a 12-month span that the schools will have played; CU hasn’t played any opponent that many times in such a short span since during World War II, when the Buffs played Colorado College and Utah multiple times in the same season.
CU & Oklahoma By The Numbers Here’s a look at some numbers-related trivia in the CU-Oklahoma series:
-11 The number of rushing yards (including 30 yards of sack losses) by Oklahoma in the ’99 game (14 rushes for 19 yards otherwise); 0 The number of passes OU attempted in the 1986 game, a 28-0 OU win; the winner of that game got the Orange Bowl berth; 3 The number of people injured when OU's "Sooner Schooner" tipped over and fell during the 1993 game in Norman; 12 The number of consecutive wins by OU in the series until a 20-3 win by the Buffs at Norman in 1989; 21 The number of points by both teams in the 1952 game, Oklahoma's only blemish in Big Seven Conference play and one of only two non-Sooner wins in its 75-game conference unbeaten streak between 1946 and 1959; 35 The number of times CU has faced a ranked Oklahoma team—the most of any opponent school; this is the sixth time OU is ranked No. 1; 82 Need we say anything else about this number? Check Oct. 4, 1980…; 92 The yardage of a Koy Detmer TD pass to Charles Johnson in ’92, the second longest pass play in CU history; 103 The number of rushing yards by Chris Brown in the first 2002, the first running back to rush for over 100 against OU in quite some time, despite predictions that he would never do it by some; 124 The total number of points by the teams in the 1980 game, an NCAA record until 2001; 161 The number of yards gained by Rashaan Salaam in the 1994 game on his way to winning CU's first Heisman Trophy; 390 The combined number of receiving yards by Michael Westbrook and Charles Johnson in the 1992 game.
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Tale Of The Tape Here’s a comparative look at Colorado and Oklahoma in several statistical categories through games of October 18 (NCAA/national rankings, if applicable, are in parenthesis):
Category Colorado Oklahoma Overall Record, 2003 ...... 3-4 7-0 Versus AP Ranked Teams (at time of game)...... 1-1 1-0 Overall Record, 1989-current...... 123-50-4 (10) 111-59-3 (22) Versus Ranked Teams ...... 39-35-2 22-32-1 In Conference Play...... 78-27-3 ( 8) 64-42-3 Players On NFL Rosters (as of Oct. 20) ...... 26 15 Rushing Offense...... 105.4 (101) 148.0 (61) Average Per Rush ...... 2.83 3.90 Passing Offense ...... 315.3 (10) 315.6 ( 9) Completion Percentage ...... 61.0 68.4 Average Per Attempt ...... 7.69 9.32 Passing Efficiency ...... 138.6 (25) 174.5 ( 1) Total Offense...... 420.7 (29) 463.6 (15) Average Per Play ...... 5.38 6.46 Scoring Offense...... 27.3 (54) 45.7 ( 2) Rushing Defense ...... 148.4 (62) 109.9 (28) Average Per Rush ...... 4.07 3.37 Passing Defense...... 311.9 (115) 150.1 ( 4) Average Per Attempt ...... 9.21 4.71 Pass Efficiency Defense ...... 163.3 (116) 82.6 ( 2) Total Defense...... 460.3 (109) 260.0 ( 3) Average Per Play ...... 6.55 4.04 Scoring Defense...... 40.1 (117) 14.4 ( 8)
Quarterback Sacks By / Allowed ...... 9 / 19 24 / 8 Net Punting ...... 33.4 (99) 36.9 (41) Punt Returns ...... 12.1 (29) 16.4 ( 5) Kickoff Returns ...... 24.0 (22) 23.3 (31) Turnovers...... 18 (93) 6 ( 3) Turnover Margin ...... -1.71 (112) +1.71 ( 4)
5 | 2003 Colorado Football: The Opponent Pages | 5
The Last Time(s) Colorado and Oklahoma met twice in 2002, as the two battled in the Big12 title game. The summaries:
OKLAHOMA 27, COLORADO 11 (Game Nine; November 2, 2002 at Norman, Okla.)
NORMAN, Okla. — No. 13 Colorado had more than its fair share of distractions to deal with in COLORADO ...... 3 0 8 0 — 11 preparing for its game with Oklahoma, but the biggest turned out to be the Sooners’ opportunistic Oklahoma ...... 10 10 7 0 — 27 offense and rugged defense as the No. 2 team in the country ended CU’s five-game winning streak Oklahoma—Savage 17 pass from Hybl (DiCarlo kick) 0- 7 10:32 1Q with a 27-11 victory. COLORADO—Brougham 25 FG 3- 7 7:06 1Q The Buffs had to combat three days of snow in preparing for the game, moving indoors to CU’s Oklahoma—DiCarlo 22 FG 3-10 4:39 1Q aging Balch Fieldhouse once, and then were delayed by three hours in departing to Norman due to Oklahoma—DiCarlo 25 FG 3-13 10:54 2Q mechanical problems with the charter. Then on game day, both teams had to deal with cold Oklahoma—Clayton 17 pass from Hybl (DiCarlo kick) 3-20 7:12 2Q temperatures and rain that varied from heavy at times to a steady drizzle. Oklahoma—Clayton 12 pass from Hybl (DiCarlo kick) 3-27 9:00 3Q
COLORADO— Purify 12 run (McCoy pass from Hodge) 11-27 1:44 3Q Those things seemed minor as the Buffs committed three turnovers in the first 20 minutes of the game, along with not recovering a pooch kickoff that OU was able to gather in. Those four mistakes TEAM STATISTICS COLORADO OKLAHOMA added up to 17 points for the Sooners in helping to build a commanding 20-3 lead by halftime. First Downs...... 19 12 Nate Hybl threw a pair of third down, 17-yard touchdown passes, the first to Antwone Savage for Rushes—Net Yards ...... 41-204 45-200 a 7-0 lead, with the second to Mark Clayton for the 20-3 advantage. In-between, Patrick Passing Yards ...... 174 105 Brougham got CU on the board with a 25-yard field goal after OU’s first score, but his was Passes (Att-Comp-Int)...... 37-18-2 23-10-2 answered with a pair three-pointers from OU’s Trey DiCarlo. Total Offense ...... 378 305
The Sooners turned a fourth CU turnover (Robert Hodge’s second interception on the day) into Punts: No-Average...... 3-41.3 4-33.8 their final seven points, as Hybl and Clayton hooked up from 12 yards out, as OU went up 27-3 Fumbles: No-Lost ...... 3-2 2-0 early in the third quarter. Colorado spent most of the remainder of the game in OU territory, Penalties/Yards ...... 4/25 3/15 Time of Possession...... 28:03 31:57 slicing the lead to 27-11 late in the third on a nifty 12-yard run by Bobby Purify. The Buffs worked all three of their fourth quarter possessions deep into OU territory, but saw one drive end with a INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS missed field goal and the two others ceasing on fourth down stops by the Sooners. Rushing—CU: Brown 25-103, Purify 6-56, Bloom 1-26, Hodge 8-21, Team 1-minus 2.
Chris Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, ran for 103 yards against the Sooner defense, despite OU: Griffin 21-128, Jones 20-82, Hybl 2-minus 8, Team 2-minus 2. virtual guarantees by many Sooner players and coaches, as well as some TV talking heads, that he Passing—CU: Hodge 37-18-2, 174. OU: Hybl 23-10-2, 105, 3 td. wouldn’t come close to 100. He became the first back to top the century mark against an OU Receiving—CU: Purify 6-46, Hackett 3-54, Monteilh 2-21, Williams 2-11, Donahoe 2-9, team since 1999, when Mississippi’s Deuce McAllister did so in the Independence Bowl. Purify McCoy 1-18, Drumm 1-12, Brown 1-3. OU: Savage 4-33, Clayton 3-36, Smith 1-23, added 102 all-purpose yards, 56 on the ground and 46 receiving. Fagan 1-13, Peoples 1-0. Punting—CU: Mariscal 3-124, 41.3 (46 long, 1 In20). OU: Ferguson 4-135, 33.8 Quentin Griffin ran for 128 yards to lead the Sooners, though 63 of those came on one carry, with (40 long). Kejaun Jones bolstering the OU ground game with 82 yards. But the Buff defense did plenty of Punt Returns—CU: Bloom 1-5. OU: none. stifling all afternoon, as 42 of OU’s 68 plays would go for three yards or less, including 29 for zero Kickoff Returns—CU: Calhoun 2-43, Sneed 2-29. OU: Perkins 1-35, Savage 1-21. or minus yards. Interceptions—CU: Harris 1-14, Moorer 1-0. OU: Everage 1-64, Lehman 1-31. Overall, the Buffs outgained Oklahoma, 378-305, recording the second highest total offense figure Tackle Leaders—CU: Strickland 10,5—15; Wahlroos 8,1—9; Moorer 5,4—9; Nyenhuis against the Sooners on the season. The final irony of the week came when the team was delayed 5,1—6; Mossoni 3,3—6; Billingsley 4,0—4; Wilder 4,0—4. OU: Everage 7,10—17; for three hours returning back to Colorado because of the weather. Lehman 10,3—13; Mitchell 4,2—6; Strait 3,1—4; Bassey 2,2—4.
The Sooners used the victory to vault from No. 2 into No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. Quarterback Sacks—CU: Nyenhuis 1-8. OU: none.
OKLAHOMA 29, COLORADO 7 (BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP; Game Thirteen; December 7, 2002 in Houston, Texas)
HOUSTON — Quentin Griffin rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns and Nate Hybl passed for Oklahoma ...... 7 6 6 10 — 29 two more as No. 8 Oklahoma wrestled the crown away from defending champion Colorado, as the COLORADO ...... 0 0 7 0 — 7 Sooners downed the No. 12 Buffaloes, 29-7, to win the 2002 Big 12 Conference title. Oklahoma— Smith 3 pass from Hybl (DiCarlo kick) 0- 7 5:29 1Q Some say it’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season, but Oklahoma pulled it off in defeating Oklahoma— Clayton 21 pass from Hybl (kick blocked) 0-13 9:38 2Q CU for the second time in five weeks. The first time, turnovers helped do the Buffs in, but this time COLORADO— Bloom 80 punt return (Brougham kick) 7-13 13:03 3Q around, Colorado never got untracked offensively. Oklahoma— Griffin 36 run (pass failed) 7-19 2:54 3Q
It looked good for CU out of the gate, as Brian Calhoun scooted around the right side for a 37-yard Oklahoma— DiCarlo 28 FG 7-22 7:53 4Q Oklahoma— Griffin 27 run (DiCarlo kick) 7-29 3:49 4Q gain on the first play of the game. The Buffs drove to the Sooner 23 before the drive stalled, and it ended without points when Pat Brougham’s 41-yard field goal try sailed wide right. TEAM STATISTICS ...... COLORADO OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma answered with a 13-play, 77-yard drive with Hybl throwing a touchdown pass to Trent First Downs...... 9 25 Smith on a 3rd-and-goal from the CU 3. OU made it 13-0 after a 21-yard TD pass from Hybl to Rushes—Net Yards ...... 32-126 56-287 Mark Clayton five minutes into the second quarter; it culminated a 12-play, 80-yard drive, but Phil Passing Yards ...... 67 114 Jackson snuck through to block Trey DiCarlo’s extra point kick. Passes (Att-Comp-Int)...... 15-6-0 25-14-0 Total Offense ...... 193 401 Two series later, CU used runs of 25 and 23 yards by Calhoun to work to the OU 14, but again was Punts: No-Average...... 7-46.4 5-41.6 stopped by a buckling down Sooner defense. Brougham’s 32-yard field goal matched his first in Fumbles: No-Lost ...... 3-0 1-0 missing wide right, and the half would end with Oklahoma up by 13. Penalties/Yards ...... 7/58 5/35 Colorado got back in the game and had momentum on its side for the first half of the third quarter, Time of Possession...... 21:57 38:03 The defense came out of the lockerroom and held the Sooners to three-and-out on their first INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS series. Blake Ferguson hit a 51-yard punt, fielded by Jeremy Bloom at the Buff 20; the freshman Rushing—CU: Calhoun 20-122, Drumm 1-44, Houston 1-2, Bloom 1-minus 7, Hodge 9-minus 35. slash Olympian raced up the gut and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown, his second punt return OU: Griffin 29-188, Jones 23-79, Hybl 3-11, Clayton 1-9. score of the year, and Brougham’s extra point cut the deficit to 13-7. Passing—CU: Hodge 15-6-0, 67, 0 td. OU: Hybl 25-14-0, 114, 2 td. The Buffs held the Sooners again, and on their next possession, Brandon Drumm’s 44-yard run on a Receiving—Colorado: McCoy 4-51, Monteilh 2-16. OU: Griffin 4-28, Smith 4-19, Clayton 2-32, third-and-2 set CU up in the red zone. But once again the drive sputtered, and Brougham’s 33- Fagan 2-19, Peoples 1-11, Savage 1-5. yard field goal just missed wide right. The Buffs were a bit deflated after that point, and OU seized Punting—Colorado: Mariscal 6-287, 47.8 (55 long, 2 In20); Team 1-38, 38.0. OU: Ferguson 5- the opportunity to drive 80 yards in 11 plays, with Griffin scoring from 36 yards out. The Sooners 208, 41.6 (51 long, 0 In20). missed the deuce and took a 19-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Punt Returns—Colorado: Bloom 3-90. OU: Perkins 5-70.
Any hopes of a comeback were all but dashed when Oklahoma drove from its 5 to the CU 5 over the Kickoff Returns—Colorado: Sneed 3-80. OU: Savage 1-24. course of a 16-play, seven-plus minute drive. Though CU kept OU out of the end zone, DiCarlo Interceptions—Colorado: none. OU: none. made a 28-yard field goal to extend the Sooner lead to 22-7. Griffin’s 27-yard touchdown run late Tackle Leaders—CU: Wahlroos 11,4—15; Mossoni 8,6—14; Iwuh 7,7—14; Moorer 10,3—13; in the game closed the night’s scoring. Strickland 8,2—10; Harris 5,0—5; Tufts 2,3—5; Jackson 4,0—4; Fluellen 3,1—4. OU: Mitchell 4,2—6; Strait 5,0—5; Wilkerson 5,0—5; Everage 2,3—5; Bassey 3,1—4; Lehman 2,2—4. Calhoun finished with 122 yards, a sterling effort since CU was without the services of Doak Walker finalist Chris Brown and sidekick Bobby Purify. The Buffs managed only 67 passing yards and 193 Quarterback Sacks—CU: none. OU: Bassey 1-14, Wilkerson 1-13, Mitchell 1-9. overall, while OU piled up 401 in the turnover free game.
6 | 2003 Colorado Football: The Opponent Pages | 6
Series Trends Here’s a quick look at some team statistical trends over the last 14 games in the CU-Oklahoma series:
Rank OU Rushing Passing Tot Off OU Rushing Passing Tot Off Date Site Result Attend. CU OU FD att yds td a-c-i yds td no yds FD att yds td a-c-i yds td no yds TV Nov. 15, 1986 Boulder L 0-28 52,707 — 4 10 50 127 0 8- 1-1 8 0 58 135 14 60 344 4 0- 0-0 0 0 60 344 Raycom (r) Oct. 24, 1987 Norman (N) L 6-24 75,004 — 1 12 54 158 0 12- 4-0 55 0 66 213 16 63 358 3 6- 3-0 54 0 69 412 ESPN Oct. 22, 1988 Boulder (N) L 14-17 49,716 — 9 16 40 155 1 18- 8-1 184 0 58 339 22 70 360 2 6- 1-0 19 0 76 379 ESPN Oct. 28, 1989 Norman W 20- 3 75,004 3 — 13 59 284 2 6- 2-1 30 0 65 314 14 49 169 0 22- 3-0 79 0 71 248 KCNC (l) Oct. 27, 1990 Boulder W 32-23 51,967 10 22 22 50 280 2 19- 8-0 180 2 69 460 17 49 174 2 22-11-1 221 1 71 395 CBS Oct. 19, 1991 Norman W 34-17 72,926 22 12 19 55 192 2 17-11-0 179 3 72 371 16 44 162 2 22- 8-2 89 0 66 251 ABC (r) Oct. 17, 1992 Boulder (N) T 24-24 52,454 7 — 23 29 27 1 50-33-5 418 2 79 445 14 41 160 1 15-10-3 147 0 56 307 ESPN Oct. 16, 1993 Norman W 27-10 64,213 20 9 24 58 314 2 15- 9-0 185 2 73 499 17 28 92 0 24-13-0 194 1 52 286 ABC (r) Oct. 15, 1994 Boulder (N) W 45- 7 53,199 4 22 20 49 273 6 18-11-1 156 0 67 429 14 35 40 0 38-19-4 225 1 73 265 ESPN Sept. 30, 1995 Norman (N) W 38-17 75,004 4 10 19 38 65 0 35-25-0 354 5 73 419 12 41 90 1 21-10-0 128 1 62 218 ESPN Oct. 3, 1998 Norman W 27-25 71,217 15 — 20 45 131 0 26-13-1 186 3 71 317 17 44 169 2 24- 9-1 223 1 68 392 ABC (r) Oct. 30, 1999 Boulder W 38-24 48,194 — 24 24 43 155 1 31-22-1 382 4 74 537 17 17 -11 1 58-26-4 328 2 75 317 ABC Nov. 2, 2002 Norman L 11-27 75,403 13 2 19 41 204 1 37-18-2 174 0 78 378 12 45 200 0 23-10-2 105 3 68 305 ABC Dec. 7, 2002 Houston (Big 12 Ch.) L 7-29 63,332 12 8 9 32 126 0 15- 6-0 67 0 47 193 25 56 287 2 25-14-0 114 2 81 401 ABC
OU’s Last Time Out The Sooners are coming off a 34-13 win over Missouri, as Oklahoma had a three touchdown flurry in a span of five minutes and 42 seconds near the end of the first half to break a tight game open. The last of those points came on an Antonio Perkins 69-yard punt return, his fourth of that season tied the NCAA record. OU outgained MU, 424-266, including a 278-189 edge in the air. Jason White out-dueled Brad Smith in the quarterback battle, as the Sooner defense held Smith to 180 yards passing and just 50 on the ground while sacking him five times, after he went for well over 300 yards of total offense in their game a year ago.
The Set-Up In the something has to give department: Oklahoma comes in leading the Big 12 in quarterback sacks in conference games only with 13; Colorado comes in leading in fewest allowed in league games with two.
The Set-Up II Colorado is 14-3-2 in home night games (5 p.m. or later starts), including a 1-1-1 mark against Oklahoma. In general, opponents from lower altitudes haven’t fared well in night games in Boulder due to the acclimation factor; two of the three losses by the Buffs came to teams that arrived earlier than usual to allow time to adjust.
In Buff History: October 25 The Buffaloes have had much success on October 25 in their history, posting a 9-1-3 record, including one of the biggest wins in school history. In 1986, Colorado beat No. 3 Nebraska, 20-10, in Boulder to end an 18- game losing streak to the Huskers in a game often referred to as the “Turning Point” (and yes, hours before Bill Buckner’s infamous error that paved the way for the New York Mets to rally to win the series against the Boston Red Sox). In 1969, the Buffs bested No. 5 Missouri, 31-24, and in 1997, CU intercepted five passes en route to a 47-30 win at Texas.
Versus The Number 1’s Colorado is 0-9 its history against No. 1 ranked teams (Associated Press), but it’s been 16 years since the Buffs lined up across from a nation’s numero uno. (This obviously doesn’t include CU’s 62-36 win in 2001 over Nebraska when the Huskers were atop the BCS Standings.) That last meeting was Oct. 24, 1987 in Norman, a 24-6 loss to Oklahoma in a game that was 10-6 at halftime. CU has only played three teams with No. 1 poll rankings: Oklahoma (going 0-5, including two 1-point losses and an OU 27-19 win after trailing 19-6 in 1956), Nebraska (0-3) and Southern Cal (0-1). Though CU has never beaten a No. 1 team, it has played well enough in two games to knock No. 1 Oklahoma down to No. 2 (in 1957 and 1975). CU coach Gary Barnett is technically 1-1 against No. 1’s, losing to Ohio State 36-10 while at Northwestern in 1998, and beating BCS No. 1 Nebraska in 2001. (For a complete look at Colorado vs. No. 1 teams, see page 317 of the 2003 Colorado Football Media Guide).
Homecoming Food Drive Set The CU Athletic Department and the Student Athlete Each person who donates 10 or more items or $10, will Advisory Committee (SAAC), in conjunction with local non- receive a ticket, which will be redeemable for a limited profit organization, Conscious Alliance, have teamed to edition Homecoming print, painted by local artist, Lori organize the inaugural Homecoming Food Drive on Salisbury (lorisalisbury.com). The prints will be available Saturday, October 25 at CU’s football game versus Oklahoma. beginning the fourth quarter and following the game at
Coordinated by Conscious Alliance and SAAC, this various locations around the stadium, including all game day unprecedented food drive will combine efforts, resources and apparel locations, which are owned and managed by College Corner and T-Galaxy. volunteers from a variety of different campus and community groups, including the Greek system, Housing, the Anyone not going to the game will still be able to be a part of Golden Buffalo Marching Band, Community Food Share and the food drive by stopping by the drop-off points at two CU student athletes in an effort to generate thousands of Boulder groceries, Safeway (on Arapahoe) and Wild Oats pounds of non-perishable food items for equal distribution to Market (on Baseline), during the week leading up to the Community Food Share of Boulder and the Pine Ridge Indian game. An “honor system” sign-up sheet will be available at Reservation (Shannon County, South Dakota). Collection each store for those who donated an appropriate amount to sites will be located around campus as fans make their way request the delivery of a commemorative print. to the stadium for the game. Conscious Alliance is a licensed For more information, contact Justin Baker, Conscious 501 (c3) organization and also accepts monetary Alliance ([email protected]) and Brian contributions. Winkelbauer or Justina Boyd in CU Athletics at 303/492-7931. 7 | 2003 Colorado Football: General Notes | 7
Statistically Speaking Here’s where the Buffs rank statistically in some select categories in the Big 12 and the NCAA through games of October 18:
B12 NCAA Category Stat B12 NCAA Category Stat B12 NCAA Category Stat 11th 101st Rushing Offense……… 105.4 6th 62nd Rushing Defense………… 148.4 6th 29th Punt Returns…………… 12.1 3rd 10th Passing Offense……… 315.3 12th 115th Passing Defense………… 311.9 5th 22nd Kickoff Returns………… 24.0 5th 29th Total Offense………… 420.7 11th 109th Total Defense…………… 460.3 10th 99th Net Punting……………… 33.4 10th 54th Scoring Offense……… 27.3 12th 117th Scoring Defense………… 40.1 12th 112th Turnover Margin……… -1.71
♦ WR Jeremy Bloom: 12.3 yards per punt return (6th/Big 12, 27th/NCAA); 25.6 yards per kickoff return (6th/Big 12, 23rd NCAA); 148.4 all- purpose yards (1st/Big12, 13th/NCAA); 38.3 receiving yards per game (27th/Big 12). ♦ TB Brian Calhoun: 74.7 rushing yards per game (10th/Big 12; 60th/NCAA); 74.7 total offense per game (19th/Big 12). ♦ PK Mason Crosby: 0.71 field goals per game (7th/Big 12, 77th/NCAA). ♦ WR D.J. Hackett: 88.4 receiving yards per game (8th/Big 12; 26th NCAA); 6.9 receptions per game (2nd/Big 12, 12th/NCAA). ♦ QB Joel Klatt: 138.9 rating (6th/Big 12, 21st/NCAA); 245.0 passing yards per game (4th/Big 12); 20.8 completions per game (5th/Big 12, 24th/NCAA); 243.2 total offense per game (5th/Big 12, 34th/NCAA). ♦ WR Derek McCoy: 96.9 receiving yards per game (4th/Big 12, 12th NCAA); 6.0 receptions per game (6th/Big 12, 25th/NCAA); 98.7 all- purpose yards (18th/Big12; 101st/NCAA); 5.1 points per game (25th/Big 12). ♦ FS Medford Moorer: 10.1 tackles per game (8th/Big 12). ♦ P John Torp: 41.6 punting average (6th/Big 12; 45th/NCAA).
Chart Watch Here’s where several Buffs rank on some of CU’s all-time statistical charts seven games into the 2003 season (note Colorado does not count bowl stats into career totals to protect past history):
⇒ WR JEREMY BLOOM is eighth in punt return yards (558), is tied for fifth in punt return touchdowns (2), is 14th in kickoff return yards (550), and is 57th in all-purpose yards (1,545). ⇒ TB BRIAN CALHOUN is tied for 51st in rushing yards (821). ⇒ QB ERIK GREENBERG is for 31st in passing yards (737), and is tied for 24th in touchdown passes (6). ⇒ WR D.J. HACKETT is tied for 23rd in receiving yards (800), and is 19th in receptions (63). ⇒ QB JOEL KLATT is for 20th in passing yards (1,470), is 19th in completions (125), in 21st in attempts (196) and is tied for 19th in touchdown passes (9). ⇒ WR DEREK McCOY is sixth in receiving yards (1,833), is sixth in receptions (113), is tied for fourth in TD receptions (15), is first in two-point conversions made (4) and is tied for 38th in scoring (98 points). ⇒ FS MEDFORD MOORER is tied for 44th in tackles (216; the 11th DB), and is 16th in solo tackles (154). ⇒ TB BOBBY PURIFY is tied for 15th in rushing yards (1,999), is 48th in receptions (36), and is 26th in all-purpose yards (2,362). ⇒ HC GARY BARNETT is seventh in games coached (57), eighth in wins (32) and is sixth in league wins (23).
McCoy Assault on Record Book Senior WR Derek McCoy is having an outstanding senior season, as he is among the nation’s leading receivers with 42 catches for 678 yards and six touchdowns. His 96.9 yards per game is fourth in the Big 12 Conference and is 12th in the NCAA, while his 16.9 average per catch is one of the top numbers in the conference. McCoy is now sixth all-time at Colorado in receiving yards with 1,833, and is sixth in receptions with 113. He is also tied for fourth in TD receptions (15), is first in two-point conversions made (4) and is tied for 38th in scoring (98 points). He is bidding to become only the fifth wide receiver in CU history to score 100 career points.
Sypniewski To Redshirt Senior TE Quinn Sypniewski will take a medical redshirt for the 2003 season, as he has continued to be hampered by a toe injury that dates back to the 2002 season. With a redshirt year available to him and the fact that he has played in just two games, he qualifies to return as a senior in 2004. NCAA rules allow for a medical redshirt if a player has played in 20% or less of his team’s games; however, the number rounds down, so in an 11- or 12-game season, the game where 20% is reached is the maximum number that can be played in, meaning no more than three.
Calhoun’s Big Day(s) Sophomore TB Brian Calhoun had a career best 135 yards in CU’s overtime win over Kansas. But it’s how he got the bulk of those yards that was most impressive, as he seemed to get stronger, in concert with the offensive line, as the game wore on. He had nine carries for 31 yards in the first half, 12 for 79 in the second half and had all three of CU’s plays in the overtime, netting 25 yards and the winning 12-yard score; 11 of his final 13 carries gained five or more yards, and 103 of the 135 were post-contact yards, gained after an initial hit by the defense. He came back with 87 yards at Kansas State on 19 carries, with 68 of the post-contact variety. Calhoun caught seven passes for 38 yards against Kansas State, tying the second most receptions in a game by a running back in Colorado history. John Farler holds the mark (8 for 35) against Missouri in 1965, with Chris McLemore also catching seven (for 44 yards) against UCLA in 1982.
The Schedule Much has been made of CU’s tough schedule in 2003, and according to the NCAA, and through games of October 18, it remains the second toughest in the nation. CU’s opponents are 59-23 combined (.720); Texas A&M holds the top spot, as opponents are 61-21 (.744), while Notre Dame is third (59-24, .711) and Iowa State fourth (54-23, .701). Other Big 12 schools in the top 50 include Baylor and Kansas State (No. 21), Texas Tech (No. 34), Texas (No. 35), Oklahoma (No. 42) and Kansas (No. 43). All 12 league schools are among the top 57.
8 | 2003 Colorado Football: General Notes | 8
Road-Sweet-Road The Buffs have enjoyed more than their fair share of success ON THE ROAD (1988-current) on the road over the last 15 seasons. CU has been victorious 52 of the last 76 times in enemy School W L T Pct. stadiums and is 60-30-1 dating back to the 1985 season (a 67.2 winning clip). During this time Miami, Fla. 64 17 0 .790 frame, CU won a school record 10 straight road games (between 1994 and 1996), before the Florida State 57 16 0 .781 streak ended in the ’96 regular season finale at Nebraska, 17-12 (it bested the old mark of Tennessee 51 18 2 .732 eight straight set between 1922 and 1924). Over the last 15 seasons, Colorado is 51-24-1 away Nebraska 51 20 1 .715 from home (a 67.8 winning percentage), which stands ninth nationally and second among Michigan 52 21 3 .704 Big 12 Conference teams in this span. The Buffaloes own a 41-17-1 mark in their last 59 road Ohio State 49 21 2 .694 conference games (Big 8 & Big 12—five losses at Nebraska, two at Kansas, Kansas State and Alabama 49 22 0 .690 Oklahoma, and one each at Baylor, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas and Texas Tech; the Florida 43 20 1 .680 tie was at K-State in 1993). CU is 16-14 on the Big 12 road since 1996. (The Buffs were 4-1 on Colorado 51 24 1 .678 the road in 2002.) This does not include neutral site games, some of which were anything but Notre Dame 46 24 2 .653 neutral (i.e., Texas at Irving for the Big 12 title). Penn State 47 27 1 .633 (road only; neutral sites not included)
Tenth Best Since 1989 Colorado has the nation’s 10th best record over the last 14-plus seasons, or since the start of 1989, as CU is 123-50-4 in this span. CU posted the 10th best record for the 1990s decade (87-29-4, .742) for teams that were Division I- A the entire 10 years. Over the last 18-plus years, Colorado’s 140-68-4 mark is 12th nationally, from the time then-coach Bill McCartney reversed CU's fortunes by switching to the wishbone on offense. The best Division I-A record from the start of the 1989 season to the present (through games of Oct. 18):
vs. AP Ranked Teams Rk School G W L T Pct. G W- L-T 2003 1 Florida State 181 153 27 1 .848 82 59-22-1 6-1 2 Nebraska 183 152 30 1 .833 55 32-22-1 6-1 3 Miami, Fla. 175 145 30 0 .829 62 39-23-0 7-0 4 Tennessee 179 140 36 3 .791 69 40-26-3 4-2 5 Florida 183 142 40 1 .779 82 48-33-1 5-3 6 Michigan 178 135 40 3 .767 79 47-30-2 6-2 7 Ohio State 180 134 43 3 .753 72 37-32-3 6-1 8 Penn State 178 126 51 1 .711 64 32-32-0 2-5 9 Texas A & M 179 126 51 2 .709 54 25-28-1 3-4 10 COLORADO 177 123 50 4 .706 76 39-35-2 3-4 (11 Notre Dame 176 122 52 2 .699 72 36-34-2 2-4)
Big 12 Run The Buffaloes were only the third team to return to the Big 12 Best 2-Year Big 12 League Game Records Championship game, but seven years in, the league is still looking for its first repeat School W L Pct. Years champion. Regardless, CU’s 14-2 record is the fourth best over any 2-year span in Nebraska 16 0 1.000 1996-97 in conference play since the conference was formed in 1996 (see chart). No team Kansas State 15 1 .938 1997-98 has won two straight league titles since the formation of the group, and in seven Kansas State 15 1 .938 1998-99 seasons, the same schools have met only twice for the title (Nebraska and Texas Colorado 14 2 .875 2001-02 played for the crown in ’96 and ’99). The 2002 game was the sixth original match-up. Texas 14 2 .875 2000-01
2003 BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
North Division (-4) conference------overall------School (AP/USAT-ESPN Rank) W L Pct. Pts Opp W L Pct. Pts Opp Next Up Nebraska (#14/#11) ...... 2 1 .667 89 60 6 1 .857 206 91 O25 IOWA STATE Kansas...... 2 1 .667 110 85 5 2 .714 259 178 O25 at Kansas State COLORADO...... 1 2 .333 100 138 3 4 .429 191 281 O25 OKLAHOMA Missouri ...... 1 2 .333 68 93 5 2 .714 203 155 O25 TEXAS TECH Kansas State...... 1 2 .333 103 82 5 3 .625 299 163 O25 KANSAS Iowa State ...... 0 3 .000 47 145 2 5 .286 149 239 O25 at Nebraska
South Division (+4) conference------overall------School (AP/USAT-ESPN Rank) W L Pct. Pts Opp W L Pct. Pts Opp Next Up Oklahoma (#1/#1)...... 3 0 1.000 152 33 7 0 1.000 320 101 O25 at Colorado Oklahoma State (#18/#19)...... 2 1 .667 96 100 6 1 .857 294 136 O25 at Texas A&M Texas (#19/#18) ...... 2 1 .667 77 104 5 2 .714 282 174 O25 at Baylor Texas Tech ...... 2 1 .667 160 100 5 2 .714 330 232 O25 at Missouri Baylor...... 1 2 .333 73 131 3 4 .429 143 220 O25 TEXAS Texas A & M ...... 1 2 .333 113 117 3 4 .429 213 226 O25 OKLAHOMA STATE
9 | 2003 Colorado Football: General Notes | 9
Record Watch The annual running list of records that have fallen or have been tied during the course of the 2003 season. The first entry of the year came by Derek McCoy against Washington State, when he tied the school record for the most receptions in a single game. NOTE: CU has not adopted the NCAA policy of counting bowl game statistics in its season or career numbers.
INDIVIDUAL (5) Most Pass Attempts, Game—54, Joel Klatt vs. Kansas in Boulder, Oct. 11, 2003 RECORD Old Record: 51, Randy Essington vs. Nebraska in Boulder, Oct. 9, 1982 and Steve Vogel vs. Kansas State at Manhattan, Nov. 20, 1982 Most Pass Completions, Game—38, Joel Klatt vs. Kansas in Boulder, Oct. 11, 2003 RECORD Old Record: 33, Koy Detmer vs. Oklahoma in Boulder, Oct. 17, 1992. Most Receptions, Game—11, Derek McCoy vs. Washington State in Boulder, Sept. 13, 2003 TIED RECORD Record: 11, Michael Westbrook vs. Baylor at Waco, Sept. 12, 1992, and Charles Johnson vs. Missouri at Columbia, Oct. 8, 1992 Most Consecutive Games With Six Or More Receptions—4, D.J. Hackett, Aug. 30-to-Sept. 20, 2003 RECORD Record: 3, on seven previous occasions Most Kick Return Yards, Game—250, Jeremy Bloom vs. Baylor at Waco, Oct. 4, 2003 (143 kickoff, 107 punt) RECORD Old Record: 211, Byron White vs. Utah in Boulder, Nov. 7, 1936.
TEAM (3) Most Passing Attempts, Game—55, vs. Washington State in Boulder, Sept. 13, 2003 RECORD Old Record: 52, vs. Kansas State at Manhattan, Nov. 20, 1982 Most Passing Yards Allowed, Game (Regular Season)—458, vs. Florida State at Tallahassee, Sept. 20, 2003 RECORD Old Record: 439, vs. Kansas State in Boulder, Nov. 22, 1969 Most Punts Blocked, Game—2, vs. Kansas State at Manhattan, Oct. 18, 2003 TIED RECORD Record: 2, on three previous occasions (last: vs. Nebraska in Boulder, Oct. 25, 1958)
One-Two Punch The McCoy-Hackett combo is rapidly emerging as one of the most prolific in CU history; through seven games, they have combined for 90 receptions for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns. The last time two wide receivers combined for as many or more came in 2000, when Javon Green and John Minardi had 96 catches for 1,291 yards and six TDs; Derek and D.J. have a ways to go to catch CU’s all-time wide receiver duo, however: in 1992, Michael Westbrook and Charles Johnson posted these numbers as a pair: 133 receptions, 2,209 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Buffs Against The Best Here's a look at how CU has fared all-time against nationally ranked teams (Associated Press poll): All-Time 1989-03 Games Record Record Coach With The Most Wins versus Top 5………… 11-44-2 7-12-1 5 wins by Bill McCartney versus Top 10……… 24-77-3 13-22-2 8 wins by Eddie Crowder/Bill McCartney versus Top 15……… 36-93-3 19-26-2 10 wins by Bill McCartney versus Top 25……… 65-116-3 39-35-2 20 wins by Bill McCartney
CU and Nebraska have been the saving grace for the Big 12: the eight-year old league owns a 21-50 record against ranked non- conference opponents (including bowls) since its inception in 1996, and the Buffs own seven of those wins. CU is 8-7 against ranked non-Big 12 foes; Nebraska is 7-4, Texas 2-5, Kansas State 2-3, Baylor 1-3, Oklahoma 1-0, Kansas 0-2, Oklahoma State 0-3, Iowa State 0-5, Missouri 0-5, Texas Tech 0-6 and Texas A&M 0-7.
Against all-non league foes (non-conference opponents and bowl games), the records are: Nebraska 30-4, Kansas State 28-4, Oklahoma State 21-6, Oklahoma 22-8, Texas 22-9, Texas A&M 22-9, Missouri 19-9, Iowa State 18-9, Texas Tech 21-11, Kansas 17-9, Baylor 15-11 and Colorado 17-13 (remember that traditionally, CU has played one of the Big 12’s, and the nation’s, more challenging schedules and has avoided scheduling automatic wins for non-league games).
Ticket Count Colorado sold 26,590 public season tickets for 2003, including faculty/staff, Flatirons Club, the new club seats (820) and suite seating (estimated at 580). Thirty-one of 40 suites have been sold (one suite is a double). Student season tickets also sold out, as 11,291 were purchased ($55 each). Folsom’s new capacity is at an all-time high of 53,750; the Buffs will be looking to average over 50,000 fans for the first time since 1997 (51,658). CU has averaged 50,000-plus 11 times in its history, with the all-time best of 52,160 occurring in 1995. With CU’s attractive home schedule, that record should be challenged. (The season ticket record of 31,331 was set in 1976, but that’s when only 7,000 seats were allotted for students.)
Walk-On QB’s Colorado has started two different quarterbacks in 2003, both with walk-on roots. Joel Klatt started the first three games before being sidelined with a shoulder sprain, and Erik Greenberg replaced him in the role for Florida State. Both joined the programs as walk-ons; Greenberg earned a scholarship prior to leaving for his Mormon Mission, while Klatt is still a walk-on but will receive a scholarship in January when he is first able to (see note later in release regarding his situation). The previous total in school history, at least since 1973, prior to his this season had been just one—Scott Kingdom, who made his first start at Iowa State in 1980. Through seven games, Klatt and Greenberg had teamed for some impressive numbers: 174-of-285 for 2,207 yards and 15 touchdowns (with just six interceptions). 10 | 2003 Colorado Football: “Klatt-astic” | 10
What A Debut Sophomore QB Joel Klatt had quite the debut in CU’s 42-35 season opening win over Colorado State. He completed 21-of-34 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns, and with no interceptions, posted a single-game quarterback rating of 199.9. Klatt, who joined the Buffs as a walk-on in May 2002, played all of eight snaps at quarterback last fall (all in mop-up duty against Baylor). He remains a walk-on, as since CU utilized all 25 scholarships for when he would have been a freshman, he must be establish “residency” at CU for two years before a scholarship he can be awarded would only count to the team total of 85 and not against a particular year. A roll call of what he accomplished in the game: