American college football season
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.
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[edit]
Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 7 | Colorado State* | | KCNC | W 23–10 | 40,665 | [8] |
September 14 | Oregon* | - Folsom Field
- Boulder, Colorado
| | W 21–17 | 30,373 | [9][10][11] |
September 21 | No. 7 Ohio State* | - Folsom Field
- Boulder, Colorado
| | L 13–36 | 47,022 | [12] |
September 28 | at Arizona* | | | W 14–13 | 45,503 | |
October 12 | Missouri | - Folsom Field
- Boulder, Colorado
| | W 38–7 | 38,604 | |
October 19 | at Iowa State | | | W 40–6 | 41,215 | [1][4] |
October 26 | at No. 5 Nebraska | | ABC | L 7–17 | 76,014 | |
November 2 | No. 12 Oklahoma State | - Folsom Field
- Boulder, Colorado
| Raycom | L 11–14 | 35,860 | |
November 9 | at Kansas | | | W 14–3 | 25,000 | [13] |
November 16 | at No. 7 Oklahoma | | | L 0–31 | 74,145 | |
November 23 | Kansas State | - Folsom Field
- Boulder, Colorado (rivalry)
| KCNC | W 30–0 | 28,210 | [2] |
December 30 | vs. Washington* | | Lorimar | L 17–20 | 30,961 | [5][6][7] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
- Source:[14]
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 | - Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- Injured
- Redshirt
Roster |
- Source:[15][16]
Game summaries[edit]
| 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[edit]
- ^ a b c "On the run: Surprising Buffaloes stampeding thanks to new wishbone". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 24, 1985. p. 6B.
- ^ a b "Buffs take turn for clubbing K-State, 30-0". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 4B.
- ^ "Big Eight (standings)". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 9C.
- ^ a b "Colorado tramples Iowa State, 40-6". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 20, 1985. p. 4B.
- ^ a b "Today's bowl games: Freedom". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 30, 1985. p. 9C.
- ^ a b Penner, Mike (December 31, 1985). "UW holds on; Buffs don't". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1B.
- ^ a b "Strong defense preserves Huskies' Freedom". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. C1.
- ^ "Colorado takes 23-10 triumph". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 8, 1985. p. 4B.
- ^ Conrad, John (September 15, 1985). "Oregon rebuffed on the final play". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
- ^ "Buffs ignore story script versus Ducks". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 15, 1985. p. 4B.
- ^ "Buffalo quarterback shoots down Ducks". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. September 15, 1985. p. E1.
- ^ "CU no match for Ohio State". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 22, 1985. p. 4B.
- ^ a b Woodling, Chuck (November 10, 1985). "End zone elusive again as Buffs bump KU 14-3". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). p. 1B.
- ^ 2011 Colorado football information guide
- ^ "UO-CU starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 14, 1985. p. 2B.
- ^ "Saturday's game rosters". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). November 8, 1985. p. 15.
- ^ "College football scoreboard: Midwest". Gainesville Sun. (Florida). Associated Press. November 10, 1985. p. 6F.
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