1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The 1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bill McCartney, the Buffaloes switched to a wishbone offense and finished the regular season at 7–4 (4–3 in Big 8, tied for third).[1][2][3] Home games were played on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

1985 Colorado Buffaloes football
Freedom Bowl, L 17–20 vs. Washington
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record7–5 (4–3 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGerry DiNardo (2nd season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper
(3rd season)
Base defense3–4
MVPDan McMillen (DE)
Captains
  • Junior Ili
  • Barry Remington
Home stadiumFolsom Field
Seasons
← 1984
1986 →
1985 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Oklahoma $ 7 0 0 11 1 0
No. 11 Nebraska 6 1 0 9 3 0
Oklahoma State 4 3 0 8 4 0
Colorado 4 3 0 7 5 0
Iowa State 3 4 0 5 6 0
Kansas 2 5 0 6 6 0
Kansas State 1 6 0 1 10 0
Missouri 1 6 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Colorado, 1–10 the previous season, won five of its first six games,[1][4] earned its first bowl invitation in nine years, and won the NCAA Most Improved Team Award. In a competitive Freedom Bowl in late December, CU fell to the favored Washington Huskies by three points in Anaheim; both teams finished at 7–5.[5][6][7]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 7Colorado State*KCNCW 23–1040,665[8]
September 14Oregon*
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
W 21–1730,373[9][10][11]
September 21No. 7 Ohio State*
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
L 13–3647,022[12]
September 28at Arizona*W 14–1345,503
October 12Missouri 
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
W 38–738,604
October 19at Iowa StateW 40–641,215[1][4]
October 26at No. 5 NebraskaABCL 7–1776,014
November 2No. 12 Oklahoma State
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
RaycomL 11–1435,860
November 9at KansasW 14–325,000[13]
November 16at No. 7 OklahomaL 0–3174,145
November 23Kansas State
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado (rivalry)
KCNCW 30–028,210[2]
December 30vs. Washington*LorimarL 17–2030,961[5][6][7]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Source:[14]

Roster

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1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
SE 5 Loy Alexander Sr
HB 8 Ron Brown Sr
SE 16 Jo Jo Collins So
TE 80 Jon Embree Jr
SE, QB 25 Drew Ferrando So
QB 6 Mark Hatcher So
G 63 Junior Ili (C) Sr
QB 14 Craig Keenan Sr
HB 20 Mike Marquez So
HB 42 Dave Sanders Fr
HB 34 Sam Smith So
FB 44 Anthony Weatherspoon So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 49 Don DeLuzio So
DE 50 Dan McMillen Sr
SS 19 Mickey Pruitt So
LB 40 Barry Remington (C) Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 18 Larry Eckel Sr
P 9 Barry Helton So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Source:[15][16]

Game summaries

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Kansas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Colorado 7 0 0 7 14
Kansas 0 3 0 0 3
  • COL - Mickey Pruitt 27-yard interception return (Larry Eckel kick)
  • KAN - Jeff Johnson 36-yard field goal
  • COL - Mark Hatcher 5-yard run (Eckel kick)
Attendance: 25,000
Passing: COL Mark Hatcher 1/6, 11 yds; KAN Mike Norseth 22/41, 256 yds, INT
Rushing: COL Anthony Weatherspoon 16–65; KAN Harvey Fields 7–24
Receiving: COL Sam Smith 1–11; KAN Richard Estell 8–126

Source:[13][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "On the run: Surprising Buffaloes stampeding thanks to new wishbone". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 24, 1985. p. 6B.
  2. ^ a b "Buffs take turn for clubbing K-State, 30-0". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 4B.
  3. ^ "Big Eight (standings)". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 9C.
  4. ^ a b "Colorado tramples Iowa State, 40-6". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 20, 1985. p. 4B.
  5. ^ a b "Today's bowl games: Freedom". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 30, 1985. p. 9C.
  6. ^ a b Penner, Mike (December 31, 1985). "UW holds on; Buffs don't". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1B.
  7. ^ a b "Strong defense preserves Huskies' Freedom". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. C1.
  8. ^ "Colorado takes 23-10 triumph". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 8, 1985. p. 4B.
  9. ^ Conrad, John (September 15, 1985). "Oregon rebuffed on the final play". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  10. ^ "Buffs ignore story script versus Ducks". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 15, 1985. p. 4B.
  11. ^ "Buffalo quarterback shoots down Ducks". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. September 15, 1985. p. E1.
  12. ^ "CU no match for Ohio State". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 22, 1985. p. 4B.
  13. ^ a b Woodling, Chuck (November 10, 1985). "End zone elusive again as Buffs bump KU 14-3". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). p. 1B.
  14. ^ 2011 Colorado football information guide
  15. ^ "UO-CU starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 14, 1985. p. 2B.
  16. ^ "Saturday's game rosters". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). November 8, 1985. p. 15.
  17. ^ "College football scoreboard: Midwest". Gainesville Sun. (Florida). Associated Press. November 10, 1985. p. 6F.