UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BUFFALOES / SPORTS INFORMATION SERVICE www.CUBuffs.com Fieldhouse Annex #50, 357 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0357 © 2005 CU Athletics Telephone 303/492-5626 (FAX: 303/492-3811; E-mail: [email protected]) David Plati (Associate AD/Sports Information), Lindsay Lew (Associate SID), Andrew Green (Assistant SID), Troy Andre COLORADO (Assistant SID/Internet Managing Editor), Linda Poncin (Assistant SID), Erich Schubert (Graduate Assistant). 2005 COLORADO Football: GAME 12 — TEXAS 10th ANNUAL BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Saturday, December 3 in Houston (11:10 a.m. MST; ABC National) RELEASE NUMBER 12 (November 28, 2005) QUICKLY SPEAKING… The Colorado Buffaloes (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) are making their fourth appearance in the Big 12 Championship game, all in the last five years, and will take on the No. 2 Texas Longhorns (11-0, 8-0 Big 12) in an 11:10 a.m. MST kickoff at Houston’s Reliant Stadium… Colorado is the designated home team for the game, and will wear its home black jerseys and gold pants… Schools from the same division have never reeled off two straight wins in the Big 12 title game (Oklahoma won in 2004)… ABC will televise the game nationally, with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst) and Lynn Swann (sideline reporter) to call the action; Sports Radio USA will broadcast it nationally on radio, with Larry Kahn (play-by-play), John Robinson (color) and Troy West (sidelines) behind the mikes… The game kicks off an ABC tripleheader, which will be followed by USC-UCLA and the Atlantic Coast Conference title game between Florida State and Virginia Tech… Colorado is still in BCS contention, as a win earns the Buffs by rule the right to play in the Fiesta Bowl… Colorado and Texas met in the 2001 Big 12 title game, with the Buffs prevailing, 39-37; this is UT’s first trip back to the game since then but it’s the third return visit for CU… This will be the third time the Buffs and Longhorns will meet on “neutral” turf—the irony being all three times in the state of Texas (this will be the second time in Houston to go with once in Dallas)… This is the second time in its history that the Buffaloes will play the No. 2 ranked team three times in a 12-month span, having done so in 2001-02 (Nebraska, Oregon, Oklahoma); the time around, it will line up Oklahoma-Texas-Texas. CU’s website, www.CUBuffs.com features game day updates and live stats for all games. DEPTH CHART ON PAGE 64; ROSTER ON PAGES 65-66 IN THE POLLS Colorado was out of the top 25 in the Associated Press (media), USA Today Coaches and Harris Interactive polls of November 27 (received points in all to come in down the line). The Buffs peaked at No. 21 in the November 5 coaches’ ballot (No. 22 in the other two), but dropped out after the loss at Iowa State. CU has been ranked three times this season, and also reached No. 18 in the BCS Standings (Nov. 6). CU returned to the polls after a 25-month hiatus on October 9, as the Buffaloes were ranked No. 24 in all three, dropped out again after the loss at No. 2 Texas, and then reappeared after the 23-20 win at Kansas State. Dating back to the 1989 preseason, CU has been ranked in 185 of the last 277 polls (AP; 67%), which includes a tremendous run of 143 consecutive between 1989 and 1997 (the 10th longest streak of all-time). CU has been ranked 292 times in its history, the 21st most all-time. Since 1989, CU has played the fourth most ranked teams in the nation (85), trailing Florida (95), Michigan (91) and Florida State (89). STAT OF THE WEEK In CU’s losses this season, one thing that stands out has been the opponents’ ability to force the Buffs into a lot of third down plays (62, of which CU has converted 17, 27.4 percent). But hidden inside that number is the fact that Colorado is just 2-of-27 on 3rd-and-9 or more; the low conversion rate isn’t that out of whack with attempts that long, but note CU averaged almost eight tries of that distance in each of those four losses (against teams a combined 34-10). OBSCURE NOTE OF THE WEEK Colorado is 11-2 in its last 13 games where the final margin has been seven or fewer points, dating back to the start of 2003. That includes two games this year, the season opening 31-28 victory over Colorado State and 23-20 win at Kansas State, both thanks to the foot of PK Mason Crosby. In head coach Gary Barnett’s tenure, the Buffs are 18-12 in such games, but lost eight of the first 11 games decided by a touchdown or less, including the first three games of the 2000 season by a combined 10 points. But starting with a 22-19 come-from-behind win at Oklahoma State in 2001, CU is 15-4 in seven point decisions. 2005 COLORADO SCHEDULE (7-4, 5-3 BIG 12) 2005 Date CU* Opponent Opp* TV Result/Time Record Series This-N-That SEPT. 3 NR COLORADO STATE NR TBS W 31-28 6-5 57-18-2 Crosby 47 FG wins it; CU outscores CSU 13-7 in last 2:32 SEPT. 10 NR NEW MEXICO STATE (FN) NR FSN W 39- 0 0-12 1- 0-0 Buff ‘D’ posts first shutout since ’02; NMSU: 5 rush yards Sept. 24 NR at Miami, Fla. 12 ABC L 3-23 9-2 5- 3-0 CU crosses midfield 8 times in 13 tries but nets only one FG Oct. 1 NR at Oklahoma State NR none W 34- 0 4-7 26-17-1 Charles 74-yard YD run on game’s first play sets tone OCT. 8 NR TEXAS A & M (H) NR FSN W 41-20 5-6 5- 2-0 Klatt (398 yds, 3 TD passing), TE’s (8-169, 1 TD) lead Buffs Oct. 15 24 at Texas 2 ABC L 17-42 11-0 7- 8-0 Young’s 394 T.O., 5 TDs (3 rush/2 pass) too much for CU OCT. 22 NR KANSAS (FW) NR PPV W 44-13 6-5 41-21-3 Klatt, Klopfenstein, special teams star in 5th straight win Oct. 29 NR at Kansas State NR none W 23-20 5-6 43-17-1 Crosby 50 FG with :06 left topples KSU late again NOV. 5 25 MISSOURI NR ABC W 41-12 6-5 31-36-3 Vickers shines with career-best 85 rush yards and 4 TDs Nov. 12 22 at Iowa State NR FSN L 16-30 7-4 46-13-1 CU holds ISU “O” in check but two return TDs the difference NOV. 25 NR NEBRASKA NR ABC L 3-30 7-4 17-45-2 Road team wins for the fourth straight year Dec. 3 NR Texas (Big 12 Championship) 2 ABC 11:10 a.m. (Houston, Texas) Buffs have appeared in thee of last four title games (All times mountain. KEY: *—AP rank at game time; —Big 12 Conference game; FW—Fireworks Night; H—Homecoming; FW—Family Weekend) 2 | 2005 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. 6-20-27, Oct. 4-11-18-25, Nov. 1-8-21 (Monday)-29, Dec. TBA (bowl). NOTE that there are no organized press luncheons on Sept. 13 and Nov. 15 (Tuesdays of bye weeks). The press conference portion of the luncheon is streamed live on www.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. MT. All coaches participate; please call 913/981-4913 for access (media only—you must register). The teleconference replay is available after 3 p.m. MT that day; for access call 402/222-9912. Video highlights of CU football games are available Tuesdays on the Big 12 Conference’s satellite highlights package, which can be found at Galaxy 3C, Transponder 6 (C-band), 4100 MHz vertical, standard audio 6.2-6.8 MHz between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. MT from Aug. 30 through Dec. 6 (trouble number: 972/868-1861 or 1446). Special requests can also be made through CU’s BuffVision (303-735-3637). The Colorado lockerroom (home and road) is closed 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; no cutoff to request players). Colorado’s regular season football practices are closed to the public and media in 2005 (preseason practices between August 4 and 20 were open to all). The first 20 minutes of practices in-season are, however, open for photography (video) needs from the end zones and sidelines. This year’s tentative meeting/practice schedule (mountain time, pre-time change): Sunday (off); Monday (2:15-3:30; 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 (5:00-5:45, evening meetings).