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Buffs win shootout, become bowl-eligible
The Colorado football team became bowl-eligible Friday with a 65-51 victory over Nebraska at Folsom Field.
The game was the highest-scoring in the history of CU-Nebraska matchups. CU rallied from a 35-24 halftime deficit for the victory.
Cody Hawkins threw for 241 yards and Hugh Charles ran for 169 yards and three scores to lift the Buffs (6-6, 4-4 Big 12) to the break-even mark in an up-and-down season that includes a victory over Oklahoma and a loss to Iowa State.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan was trying to make a good final impression. Instead, he gave his athletic director and all those die-hard Nebraska fans one last glimpse of what a proud program looks like when it’s disintegrating.
The once-mighty Cornhuskers gave up 34 straight points in the second half Friday en route to another loss by a videogame score.
The Huskers will go home with only their second losing record since 1962 — both have come during Callahan’s four seasons in Lincoln.
As always, a blowout over Nebraska (5-7, 2-6) will be a highlight for Colorado. But as everybody knows by now, this year’s Huskers are nothing like the old Big Red.
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Next up at Nebraska — that long-awaited meeting, scheduled for Saturday, between Callahan and interim athletic director Tom Osborne, the one-time coach who never would have let a debacle like this unfold at Folsom Field.
For a while, it didn’t seem destined to end this way.
Nebraska rolled through the first half. The Cornhuskers scored 73 points in their last game, a win over Kansas State, and led 35-24 at halftime of this one after piling up 393 yards against a Buffs defense that has had plenty of its own problems this year.
In the third quarter, some poor sideline management turned the game into another Big Red embarrassment.
Leading by 11 and facing third-and-2 from its own 19, Nebraska got nailed with consecutive 5-yard penalties — once for illegal substitution and once for delay of game. That made it third-and-12, and on that play, Huskers quarterback Joe Ganz threw the ball straight to Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith, who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.
On Nebraska’s next offensive play, Ganz underthrew Nate Swift, who batted the ball in the air to be intercepted by Lionel Harris. Four plays later, Charles ran 7 yards to put Colorado ahead 44-35.
Nebraska’s next drive ended in a blocked punt, which led to another CU touchdown, and suddenly a 10-point Nebraska lead had become a 16-point deficit.
Ganz threw another pick late in the fourth quarter — this one batted up by receiver Maurice Purify, which led to a 51-yard interception return by Cha’pelle Brown and Charles’ third score for a 58-35 lead.
That was 34 straight points, five straight touchdowns, and when the Buffs answered a garbage Nebraska touchdown with one of their own, they because the second team to hang 60 on the Huskers this month. Kansas beat Nebraska 76-39 three weeks ago.
For Colorado, this win will look good alongside that 62-36 blowout over Nebraska in 2001 that led to CU’s last Big 12 title. This was the first time CU has cracked 60 since then.
Ganz finished with 484 yards passing for the Huskers and holds plenty of promise for whoever coaches him next year. Purify had 11 catches for 136 yards and three scores, but also had his share of drops and bobbles that cost the Huskers.
Of course, offense hasn’t been Nebraska’s problem this year.
The defense surrendered 518 yards, which was 45 yards above its average.
Posted by walto_clown on November 23, 2007 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Buffs! Seniors and gang...thanks for making my year. Great second-half comeback. Ef Yeah! So many happy moments, so many beers (one per touchdown...).
Posted by badbuff on November 23, 2007 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeez...I love being a Buff......
Posted by BuffMan6236 on November 23, 2007 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BUFFS!
Thanksgiving and a 65 point spanking against the lil' red ones! Awesome!
Thanks Jordan and Hugh!!
Posted by walto_clown on November 23, 2007 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it my imagination, or does Eric Cartman sound like a certain troll that we all know, but don't necessarily love? Cartman's remarks regarding Cody's free reign as the coach's son, and the number of hippies in Boulder sound suspiciously like Dr. Tom, 2nd Buff etc...
Hmmmmmmmm....
Posted by rodrigo on November 23, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice Walto... that would explain a lot.
By the way, where are NCHUSKER, HLADS and all the other loud-mouth Nebraska fans now?
Just a reminder: NCHUSKER predicted Nebraska would win 56-3 and agreed with me that whoever's team lost today had to show up here and post that the winner rules.
I'm waiting... But I won't be holding my breath.
For all the classy Husker fans there are dozens of losers like our above-mentioned friends. Have a nice long, cold and depressing drive home guys. Oh, and tomorrow when you wake up to face the long, cold and depressing re-building job that awaits Nebraska, remember how smug you've been for all these years. It'll be really fun rubbing it in.
Posted by BigBuff on November 23, 2007 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job Buffs and great job Hugh Charles! Hopefully we get the insight.com bowl in Tempe. Also, maybe this will convince a couple more decent recruits to sign on with Hawkins & Co. GO BUFFS!
Posted by CaliBuff on November 23, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Buffs, nice win, CU @ the bowl game.
Posted by LongmontNU on November 23, 2007 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not the ending I was hoping for, but it was at least it wasn't boring. Buffs played well and deserved to win. Credit to them. The Huskers showed some fight despite going in the tank this season. Well the D going into the tank anyways. I know that you shouldn't lose a game you score 51 points in, but thanks to the Huskers D, I know now that it's possible. Anyone want to tackle...anyone...anyone...Bueller! Anyway looks like I'll go back to work in Boulder on Monday and take my lumps. Go Huskers....er....Go Ski Season!
Posted by walto_clown on November 23, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice work Longmont! Thanks for coming back.
Posted by extrapoint on November 23, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NCHusker did show up on the first article on the win that has since been dispersed. He actually "ate crow" and wished us well in a bowl game.
hlad is choking on his own bile. He is too busy beating his dog(no one will marry him) because he hasnt progressed emotionally past junior high school.
Posted by walto_clown on November 23, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Clown and I are thinking about traveling for a bowl if an invite is offered. We haven't been to a post-season game since the unfortunate 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
Anybody else heading out on the road?
Go Buffs!
Posted by extrapoint on November 23, 2007 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tempe, Memphis, San Antonio the answer is yes.
Shreveport....I dunno. Shreveport isnt far from Memphis. Always wanted to do Beal Street. Maybe Graceland.....blues history tour down through Clarksdale, Yazoo City etc
Like to say good luck to Bernard Jackson. He could have been the difference in a couple of games like Iowa State and KS who will be No 1. now that LSU has been gored by the hogs.
Great season all around wathing LSU, Ohio State, USC, Michigan and now Texas geting taken down a notch, as well as OU by our own hand. Talking at least 9-3 next year.
cant wait for 2ndmommasdaddy get back form his bowhunting vacation
Posted by Ralphie2 on November 23, 2007 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NICE VICTORY! LET'S NOT STOP NOW!
P.S. DARRELL SCOTT! COME TO CU!!!
Posted by SnowBuff on November 23, 2007 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
great game. For the offense at least. I will take solace in the fact that we had all underclassmen playing corner. Good to see Cody only have one bad throw all game. After seeing him play in person, I definitely believe he could play QB for the rest of his career. The NU Defense really did help with that I am sure, but if this offensive line gives him time, he can really pick apart a Defense. A couple of those throws he made were the only throw to make. on 3rd and long I watched him realize all 3 of his options were covered and make a run for it. Good to see him get that kind of awareness.
As far as a bowl game goes, should be interesting to see if we get one and where we end up.
This team is really looking up for the future. The frosh WR's looked good (where have you been, Mr. Kendrick "first down" Celestine?) even with Josh Smiths problems. That kid needs to learn to fight for the ball, and to stop dropping them.
4 and 3 in the last 7 years. Its a rivalry now boyo's.
Posted by Ldjbuff on November 23, 2007 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great game buffs can't wait till the bowl game and also Congts to the big 12 as a whole with all the attention given to the Pac-10 and Sec the big 12 has gotten lost looks like a big 12 team will be in the title game for a record 6th time since 98 GO BUFFS and GO BIG 12!!!
Posted by RalphieWyoWyo on November 23, 2007 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do NU fans think that they can just find a new coach and quickly "get back" to the days when NU was dominate...?
Can anyone answer that?
Posted by RalphieWyoWyo on November 23, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NU is going to hire Turner Gill as the new head coach, he is the only conceivable person that could make NU a top 25 team.
Why do their fans like Pelini?
He was a D-Cord. for one year.
Nebraskans smack of a narrow minded people.
Solich being fired because he wasn't beating the teams that "NU is supposed to beat" with a 9-3 record...they are reaping what they deserve.
If they don't hire Gill, they will be in this position for another decade.
Posted by TallyBuff on November 23, 2007 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahhhh, victory is sweet, but never more sweet than when the vanquished are Huskers! Glory, glory, Colorado!
Posted by houstonbuff on November 23, 2007 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wouldn't mind going to Shreveport (easy drive from Houston). Texas bowl would be great for me too (just take that afternoon off work.. err I mean schedule some important meetings). Go Buffs!
Posted by RalphieWyoWyo on November 23, 2007 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.huskerpedia.com/interviews...
"I think fans have to swallow some things once in a while and as bad as people had become because of what happened it’s one of those things where you have to say “it happened, and am I a Nebraska fan or not? Or am I going to sit here and moan and groan for 2-3 years and then get rid of this coach and then get another one and he won’t be good enough.” Look at Oklahoma. They were getting head coaches in and out of there for a while. John Blake will tell you that. I personally believe that Billy is a better college coach than he is a pro coach. He has a great coaching personality and is a real worker. I was really disappointed in the way some people were so negative for a couple of years. I was back there and it really affected the players, and it affected some of the coaches. There’s no place for that stuff. I understand there’s passion in the game, but there’s no reason to verbally tear coaches down especially when they are with their family. That’s not Nebraska."
-Charlie McBride
Uh huh...
Posted by Bufflove on November 23, 2007 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah Buffs- I wore my new lucky Shuck the Huskers shirt and we WON!!! I'm wearing it every year!! Buffs rule! Love you J.D.! I want to have your baby!!! CU@d bowl !!!!!!#@*&^%^#@%$!!!!Yeah!
Posted by bufflover on November 23, 2007 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Im a CU fan, but i feel really bad for Bill Callahan. Now i will never like getting beaten by the Children of the Corn, but i kinda feel for the guy. I mean Nebraska fans are so stupid and arogant that they wont ever accept it when times are changing. Wake up Nebraska, how many schools run the option any more. Callahan came in and tried to do things his way, not the Nebraska way and now his head is on the table. His first ever recruiting class hasnt even graduated yet, give the guy some time would ya. It will take time for CU to get back to were it should be and CU fans are fine with that. We know things are changing in Colorado and we are completely fine with that. I feel for the next Nebraska coach who is going to come in and get torn appart by nebraska fans cuz he isnt Tom Osborne or Jesus Christ.
Posted by BuffChris4 on November 23, 2007 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry guys.
I reached a new low. i just got kicked out of huskerzone.com I thought i coul get away and pull a Dr. tom, but they deleted all my comments but one.
Posted by extrapoint on November 24, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
followed BuffChris' lead and called them on their whining, without any profanity and certainly less abuse than they were heaping on us.......
AND I GOT DELETED!!!!
those poor spoiled baby husker fans need protection from the blog.admin
..............pathetic
Posted by rodrigo on November 24, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's better that way, extra and chris. Makes all the whining by realist and the other Nebraska apologists posting here especially ironic. It's gonna be a looooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg cold winter in Lincolnland, with no spring on the horizon.
As for issues at Nebraska, don't forget they're also gonna have to hire an A.D. I don't see that interim in front of TO disappearing but once he hand-picks a coach, who's gonna want that front-office job? Don't even get to hire your own coach? Always have to live in the shadow of Dr. Tom? A bunch of spoiled whiny fans screaming for your head at every bump in the road?
yikes...
Posted by BEL on November 24, 2007 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's now official. Callahan has been terminated. In my opinion, this will set back their program even more, as they start playing musical chairs in a futile search to find a new head coach who can live up to the impossibly high standards previously set by Devanney and Osborne. As I have already mentioned in a prior post, parity has arrived in college football. Nebraska will never be able to regain the dominance that it previously enjoyed in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Nebraska's secret weapon during those years was its revolutionary strength and conditioning program, headed by Boyd Eppley. Nebraska was able to take average athletes and turn them into beasts on the football field. But, the cat is now out of the bag. Every football program now has a good strength and conditioning program that owes much to the pioneering Cornhusker program. It is ironic that Nebraska's current strength and conditioning coach got away from the principles previously expounded by Boyd Eppley by running the players into the ground. Although this increased long-term endurance (slow-twitch muscles), this had an adverse effect on building short-burst strength (fast-twitch muscles). Correct me if I wrong, but I believe that a former assistant and disciple of Boyd Eppley is set to return to Nebraska next year to head the strength and conditioning program. This is good. Although I am a Buff fan, I also want to see a strong Nebraska program and a strong Big-12.
Posted by rbboulder on November 24, 2007 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anybody got a pic of coach Cabral wearing the lavalava ?. That was awesome.
Posted by bzainthemd on November 24, 2007 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All that and KSU just got killed by Fresno State, so it's Bowling Time for CU, guaranteed. I hope its the Insight Bowl. Tempe is way better than Shreveport. Go Buffs!
Posted by Bufflove on November 24, 2007 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, who wants to go tp AZ with me?
Posted by bufflover on November 26, 2007 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
av8ter1970
Look at kansas. It took Mangino forever to get were they are. I agree, Callahan has no excuse for loosing like they did this season. But remember that he lost a great leader in Zach Taylor. He still needed more time to get his legacy built. McCartney was awfull his first few seasons at CU, but then he brings home the Orange bowl and a National Title in 1990.
And if Nebraska doesnt want to be here, then they shouldnt have fired Frank in the first place. The man was 9-3, what more can you ask from him. 2 years earlier he led his team to the National Title game and had a Heisman QB. This is what frustrates me about Nebraska fans, nothing is ever good enough and never will be. They Complained about Osborne and Solich and now Callahan. Nebraksa fans hatted him from the day he took the job because he wanted to change the way they do things. I bet if Nebraska gave him 3 more years, they will be competing for the big 12 and National title again. He would have got a Defense and most likely a new Defensive coach. Kansas and Missouri both prove that it takes time to get where you want to be. Last year Cu went 2-10 and fans were sad but none of them wanted Hawkins head. Callhans first year he went 5-7 and Nebraska wanted to burn him at the steak. It is not fair to say that they gave him a chance, cuz he was hated from day 1.
Posted by bufflover on November 26, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and if you want to go off of embarassing losses. then McCartney should have been fired quickly. and he lost 52-7 in 1992 to Nebraska. It matters wins and losses, not by how much. that was just a cover statement by Tom Osborne.
Posted by extrapoint on November 26, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Callahan was arrogant
yes he paid no attention to defense.
But one thing I did admire was that he threw deep and often....one of those past raider traits.
(Dont forget Cliff Branch was a CU alum.)
Dont kid yourself av8ter. Sounds like you still have manhood issues. You may be in good shape for 37, but at your weight, unless you can still run a 4.6 you will be the hittee instead of the hittor and you will get your head torn off. And even if you dont, unless you have been doing it weekly for the last 15 years you wont be able to get out of bed for at least 2 days in need of a boatload of painkillers some serious rehab.
What you really need to do is get a sideline pass to a D-1 game and experience the speed and collisions up close without risk.
Posted by extrapoint on November 26, 2007 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The walkon program at NU was a thing of lore and something most schools would do good to emulate. But remember those kids at 190-225 are 18 to 22 years old and made out of hockey puck rubber....and do run a 4.6.
I played in high school and coached JV when I was 37. That rubber turns brittle over time. I was 5'11'' and 195 and ran a 4.55 when younger but made the mistake of fooling around with the JV kids in practice. A 150 lb 15 year old guided missle hit me so hard I was hobbling for weeks.
I finally quit playing organized hockey at 48 when only incidental contact made me miss a game or 2 for each one I played.
We all know you are safe because you wont be allowed to run down the field but it would be fun to be there and watch if you did.
Posted by bufflover on November 26, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NEBRASKA WAS THINKING ABOUT FIRING OSBORNE AND HE ALMOST CAME TO CU!!!!!! And i have very close friends who love the Huskers. I know what Nebraska football tradition is. But think for a moment. Florida State is in a dark age right now. in the late 90's, USC wasnt that great. UCLA is in a dark age. Michigan has had terrible seasons. Notre Dame is a complete joke right now. But that is just cuz they have gone through times of change and just need to adjust. And dont say to not Compare the tradition of CU to NU, Colorado is in the top 20 for all time wins as well. And Nebraska sold out for the glorified scrimmage before Callahan cuz there is nothing better to do in Lincoln. All i ever herd from Nebraska fans for the last 4 years was a bunch of whinners. I know that there are some who like Callahan, heck i like Callahan and im a CU fanatic. instead of playing the little sisters of the poor for 4 strait weeks in pre-season, he schedules Wake Forest and USC. Callahan is a good coach, he just needed 2 or three more years.
Posted by walto_clown on November 26, 2007 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And don't forget "class", Aviator. CU can't hold a candle to nu fans in the "class" department, as you've not only told us, repeatedly, but aptly demonstrated as well. I'd direct anyone interested in learning what a "classy" fan our husker friend really is to visit the article from Thursday titled "Rivalry now a Two-Way Street" (now archived). His remarks toward the bottom of the article are particularly telling.
Mr. Licenced Mental Health "Professional", is it really necessary to call someone a "jackass" during a debate? Is it necessary to use provacative language such as "laughable"? Facts are nice, but unfortunately (as you learned from our radiologist friend on the other article) you don't deal in facts as readily as emotions. You routinely complain about your treatment at the hands of CU fans, but appear unwilling to view it as a consequence of the manner in which you interact.
Also, can you honestly say that we don't "hold a candle" on "coaches" when the team you support doesn't even have one?
Stay Cool Forever, Buddy...
Posted by extrapoint on November 26, 2007 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I must have missed that post, but.....
This guy actually refers to himself as a licensed mental health professional?.......
after declaring at the age of 37 he has a desperate need to tear someone's head off?
Living in Nebraska I can somewhat understand desperation. Maybe he is normal by comparison to the rest of them.
I wonder what part of the word "game" very few of them seem to understand.
Posted by walto_clown on November 27, 2007 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, Extrapoint, Aviator refers to himself as such. I'll cut and paste one of his posts from a 20 November article titled "Vetrans Instill Magnitude of Nebraska Rivalry". He's responding to my disbelief that CU fans threw things at him as a child (15 or 16) when he nebraska wore gear to Boulder:
"You must live in wonderland if you believe that adults can't and don't victimize children. Think about what you said... You said adults in this society never violate or victimize children. I am an LMHP/MSW/LADC in private practice and see children/adolescents on a daily basis victimized by adults. And I see adults carrying around trauma from childhood because they were victimized by adults. What world do you live in? I think we all would like to be a part of it."
Interestingly, I never said that "adults in this society never violate or victimize children." Instead I suggested that adults in civilized society don't yell at children or throw things at them because of what they wear to a football game. But he refused even to concede on that point, insisting that I'd made an absolute statement of sorts, but there it was, right out in the open where I'd posted it.
Another one of his posts to me ended, " YOU TO (sic) WALTO CAN GO SCREW YOURSELF" after I chided him for telling another CU fan to go ef himself for countering Aviator's claims with facts.
Look, Aviator's the professional, not me, so I'll let him do the heavy-lifting on this one. But from an outsider's perspective (and somebody with no experience in such matters) it appears that he has wrapped up a disproportianate amount of identity in nebraska's football team. In reality he may not be trying to convince us how great nebraska is, but rather how great HE is. Well, I for one am sold. Great guy.
Oddly, in earlier posts I explained how much I admired nebraska's tradition, and that I felt they have good fans. Alas, it was to no avail...
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