2005 Colorado Buffaloes football team

2005 Colorado Buffaloes football
Big 12 North Division champion
Big 12 Championship Game, L 3–70 vs. Texas
Champs Sports Bowl, L 10–19 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Division	North
Record	7–6 (5–3 Big 12)
Head coach	Gary Barnett (7th season; regular season) Mike Hankwitz (bowl game)
Home stadium	Folsom Field
Seasons ←  2004 2006  →

2005 Big 12 Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
North Division
Colorado x		5	–	3					7	–	6
No. 24 Nebraska		4	–	4					8	–	4
Missouri		4	–	4					7	–	5
Iowa State		4	–	4					7	–	5
Kansas		3	–	5					7	–	5
Kansas State		2	–	6					5	–	6
South Division
No. 1 Texas x$#		8	–	0					13	–	0
No. 20 Texas Tech		6	–	2					9	–	3
No. 22 Oklahoma		6	–	2					8	–	4
Texas A&M		3	–	5					5	–	6
Baylor		2	–	6					5	–	6
Oklahoma State		1	–	7					4	–	7
Championship: Texas 70, Colorado 3
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2005 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The previous year's team won the Big 12 North Conference. That marked the third Big 12 North championship for the Buffaloes in four years. The team had expectations to improve on their winning and appeared to be on the right track with a 7–2 record to begin the season. But in the end, head coach Gary Barnett had his contract bought out and Colorado suffered four straight losses including an embarrassing 70–3 loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game. They finished the season 7–6. In the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl against Clemson, Mike Hankwitz acted as interim head coach, even though Dan Hawkins had been hired as the new head coach. Hawkins coached his final game with Boise State in the MPC Computers Bowl game the day after Colorado played.

Preseason

Ralphie at the 2005 Big 12 Championship Game

Colorado had plenty of returning players (they graduated only 11 seniors, returned 50 letterman and 17 starters) and were ranked in the Top 25 in 4 pre-season polls. They were also picked to win the Big 12 North in 9 rankings.

QB Joel Klatt had a solid lock on his starting position. But there was uncertainty of who would be the starting RB, through TB Lawrence Vickers had the inside chance and main competition from Hugh Charles. The shining part of the team was Special Teams, with kicker Mason Crosby and punter John Torp. Other notable returners on offense were tight ends Joe Klopfenstein and Quinn Sypniewski, wide receiver Evan Judge, and most of the offensive line: Brian Daniels, Jr.; Mark Fenton, Clint O'Neal and Gary Moore.

Defense was also solid with few key losses and most returning: (line) James Garee, Alex Ligon, Vaka Manupuna; (linebackers) Thaddaeus Washington, Jordon Dizon, Akarika Dawn, Brian Iwuh; (backs) Terrence Wheatley, Lorenzo Sims, Tyrone Henderson, Dominique Brooks.

Preseason awards

• PK Mason Crosby (All American, Lou Groza Award)
• P John Torp (Ray Guy Award)
• DE Tom Hubbard (Ronnie Lott Trophy)
• C Mark Fenton (Dave Rimington Award)

Season summary

Although Colorado won the Big 12 North, they back-doored their way in because they lost their two final conference games and needed Iowa State to lose their final game in order to win. Iowa State missed a field goal in OT and thus, Colorado won the Big 12 Conference North Division Title. In the Big 12 Conference Title game, Joel Klatt suffered a concussion and was taken to a hospital. His career at Colorado was then over, as he sat out the bowl game. The key game of the season was Colorado's game against Iowa State. Colorado was leading the game into the fourth quarter, but gave up two touchdowns late in the game to go on and lose. It seemed their spirit was broken as they never pulled it together after that and were never really in any game they played afterwards.^{[ citation needed ]}

They also ended up setting the school records for most penalties in a season with 123 (since 1996) and most penalty yards in a season with 1084 yards. They were the most penalized team in NCAA Division I-A and 116th (of 117 teams) in penalty yards per game with 83.38 (Texas Tech was 117th with 83.42). ^[1] They had 35 flags thrown in the last four games of the season which helped with their downfall. Penalties often came at bad times to stop a drive or assist an opponent's drive just when they needed it.

Schedule

Scoreboard at Folsom Field showing the final score of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	1:30 pm	Colorado State *		Folsom Field Boulder, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown)	TBS	W 31–28	54,972 [2]
September 10	8:00 pm	New Mexico State *		Folsom Field Boulder, CO	FSN	W 39–0	44,742 [2]
September 24	10:00 am	at No. 12 Miami (FL) *		Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	ABC	L 3–23	51,229 [2]
October 1	12:00 pm	at Oklahoma State		Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK		W 34–0	47,908 [2]
October 8	5:00 pm	Texas A&M		Folsom Field Boulder, CO	FSN	W 41–20	50,686 [2]
October 15	1:30 pm	at No. 2 Texas	No. 24	Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX	ABC	L 17–42	83,474 [2]
October 22	5:00 pm	Kansas		Folsom Field Boulder, CO	FSN	W 44–13	48,025 [2]
October 29	1:10 pm	at Kansas State		KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS (rivalry)		W 23–20	43,890 [2]
November 5	1:30 pm	Missouri	No. 25	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	ABC	W 41–12	49,196 [2]
November 12	5:00 pm	at Iowa State	No. 22	Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA	FSN	L 16–30	49,242 [2]
November 25	1:30 pm	Nebraska		Folsom Field Boulder, CO (rivalry)	ABC	L 3–30	54,841 [2]
December 3	11:00 am	vs. No. 2 Texas		Reliant Stadium Houston, TX (Big 12 Championship Game)	ABC	L 3–70	71,107 [2]
December 27	3:00 pm	vs. No. 23 Clemson *		Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL (Champs Sports Bowl)	ESPN	L 10–19	31,470 [2]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

Roster

S=Scholarship; WO=Walk-On; #/#—clock as of 2005 season, i.e., 3/2: three years available to play two in eligibility. #L=indicates number of letters earned through 2004; HS=high school; JC=junior college transfer; RS=freshman redshirt in 2004; TR=transfer; VR=varsity reserve performer.

No.	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Class	Exp	Hometown (High school/Previous college)	Status
55	ACKERMANN, Jason	ILB	6-1	220	Jr.	1L	Louisville, Colorado (Boulder Fairview)	S	2/2
81	ADAMS, Justin	TE	6-1	225	Fr.	RS	Denver (Montbello)	WO	4/4
21	ANDERSON, A.J	CB	5-11	180	Sr.	VR	Omaha, Neb. (Central)	WO	1/1
60	BACKOWSKI, Paul	OL	6-6	265	Fr.	HS	Foley, Minn. (Foley)	S	5/4
5	BARNETT, Alvin	WR	6-0	190	So.	JC	Tulsa, Okla. (East Central/NE Oklahoma A&M)	S	4/3
47	BARRETT, Alonzo	DE	6-3	240	So.	1L	Alabaster, Ala. (Thompson)	S	4/3
35	BEHRENS, Jake	FB	5-11	230	Fr.	HS	Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)	S	5/4
5	BILLINGSLEY, J.J.	S	5-11	185	Jr.	2L	Aurora, Colo. (Eaglecrest)	S	2/2
33	BOYE-DOE, Walter	DE	6-2	240	Jr.	2L	Keller, Texas (Keller)	S	3/2
18	BROOKS, Dominique	S	6-1	200	Jr.	2L	Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite)	S	3/2
12	BROWN, Mack	QB	6-3	205	Fr.	HS	Overland Park, Kansas (Shawnee Mission North)	S	5/4
34	BROWN, R.J	ILB	6-1	225	Fr.	RS	Honolulu, Hawai’i (Punahou)	WO	4/4
31	BURL, Gerett	CB	5-10	160	Jr.	1L	Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville/Garden City CC)	S	3/2
42	BURNEY, Ben	S	5-11	190	Fr.	HS	Lone Tree, Colorado (Mullen)	S	5/4
54	BURTON, Marcus	ILB	6-0	230	Fr.	HS	Channelview, Texas (Channelview)	S	5/4
21	CAESAR, Brandon	TB	6-0	210	Jr.	VR	Broussard, Quebec (Old Farms Prep, Avon, Conn.)	S	2/2
32	CANTRELL, Maurice	ILB	6-0	235	Fr.	RS	Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Washington)	S	4/4
19	CARPENTER, Ben	OLB	6-3	225	Jr.	VR	Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling)	WO	2/2
2	CHARLES, Hugh	TB	5-8	185	So.	1L	Southlake, Texas (Keller)	S	4/3
95	CLEMENT, Nick	DT	6-2	260	Sr.	VR	Colorado Springs, Colorado (Cheyenne Mountain)	WO	1/1
10	COX, James	QB	6-3	210	Jr.	1L	Simi Valley, California (Royal)	S	2/2
16	CRAWFORD, Cody	WR	5-11	165	Fr.	RS	San Diego(Torrey Pines)	WO	4/4
30	CREIGHTON, Paul	FB	6-5	250	Jr.	2L	Niwot, Colo. (Niwot)	S	2/2
16	CROSBY, Mason	PK	6-2	210	Jr.	2L	Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)	S	3/2
37	CUSWORTH, Chad	OLB	5-11	210	Jr.	VR	Highlands Ranch, Colorado (Thunder Ridge)	WO	2/2
66	DANIELS, Brian	OL	6-4	300	Jr.	2L	Evergreen, Colorado (Mullen)	S	3/2
12	DAWN, Akarika	ILB	6-2	240	Sr.	3L	Sugarland, Texas (Kempner)	S	2/1
8	DEVENNY, Patrick	QB	6-3	220	Fr.	HS	Roseville, California (Granite Bay)	S	5/4
14	DiLALLO, Matthew	P	6-1	195	Fr.	HS	Wellington, Florida (Wellington)	S	5/4
44	DIZON, Jordon	ILB	6-0	215	So.	1L	Kauai, Hawai’i (Waimea)	S	4/3
39	EBERHART, Kevin	PK	5-10	185	So.	1L	Broomfield, Colorado (Broomfield)	S	3/3
22	ELLIS, Byron	TB	6-0	200	So.	1L	Culver City, California (Venice)	S	4/3
32	ENGLISH, Brandon	TE	6-4	240	Jr.	JC	Leawood, Kansas (Blue Valley North/Fort Scott CC)	WO	2/2
58	FENTON, Mark	C	6-4	295	Jr.	2L	Inglewood, California (Westchester)	S	2/2
8	FOSTER, Reggie	S	5-11	195	Fr.	HS	Long Beach, California (Millikan)	S	5/4
18	GARDEN, Isaac	PK	6-0	175	So.	VR	Encino, California (Taft)	WO	3/3
82	GAREE, James	DT	6-6	275	Sr.	3L	Colorado Springs, Colorado (Mitchell)	S	1/1
87	GEER, Riar	TE	6-3	235	Fr.	HS	Grand Junction, Colorado (Fruita Monument)	S	5/4
46	GOETTSCH, Dan	TE	6-5	240	Jr.	VR	Austin, Minn. (Austin)	WO	2/2
47	GONZALES, Marcus	WR	6-4	210	Sr.	VR	Orchard Mesa, Colorado (Grand Junction Central/Scottsdale CC)	WO	1/1
28	GRIFFITH, Kyle	ILB	6-2	205	Sr.	3L	Broomfield, Colorado (Broomfield)	S	2/1
62	GUYDON, John	DT	6-2	285	Sr.	1L	Yorba Linda, California (El Dorado/Fullerton CC)	S	1/1
90	HAMMOND, Matt	SN	6-3	215	Sr.	1L	Sherwood, Oregon (Jesuit)	WO	1/1
25	HARRIS, Lionel	S	6-0	195	So.	VR	Manvel, Texas (Alvin)	S	3/3
76	HARRISON, Edwin	OL	6-4	305	So.	1L	Houston, Texas (Westbury)	S	3/3
68	HAUCK, Jeremy	OL	6-4	270	Fr.	HS	Niwot, Colorado (Niwot)	S	5/4
72	HEAD, Devin	OL	6-4	275	Fr.	HS	Corona, California (Centennial)	S	5/4
3	HENDERSON, Tyrone	S	5-10	175	Jr.	1L	Oakland, California (McClymonds)	S	2/2
50	HOLLIS, Chris	ILB	6-1	230	Jr.	2L	Denver (Aurora Hinkley)	S	2/2
85	HOLZ, Nick	WR	5-11	180	Jr.	1L	Danville, California (De La Salle)	WO	2/2
9	HUBBARD, Tom	S	6-5	220	Sr.	1L	Limon, Colorado (Limon)	S	1/1
86	HYPOLITE, George	DL	6-1	270	Fr.	HS	Los Angeles(Loyola)	S	5/4
27	IWUH, Brian	OLB	6-0	225	Sr.	3L	Houston, Texas (Worthing)	S	2/1
7	JACKSON, Bernard	QB	6-0	190	So.	VR	Corona, California (Santiago)	S	3/3
40	JONES, Brad	OLB	6-4	220	Fr.	RS	East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing)	S	4/4
96	JONES, Marcus	DT	6-4	300	Jr.	VR	Klein, Texas (Klein)	S	2/2
88	JONES, Zach	DE	6-3	250	Fr.	HS	Aurora, Colorado (Grandview)	S	5/4
6	JOSEPH, Reggie	WR	6-0	185	So.	1L	La Place, La. (East St. John)	S	4/3
82	JUDGE, Evan	WR	6-2	215	Sr.	3L	Scottsdale, Arizona (Chaparral)	S	1/1
97	KAYNOR, Taj	DE	6-5	260	Fr.	HS	Englewood, Colorado (Cherry Creek)	S	5/4
14	KLATT, Joel	QB	6-1	210	Sr.	3L	Arvada, Colorado (Pomona)	S	2/1
89	KLOPFENSTEIN, Joe	TE	6-6	245	Sr.	3L	Aurora, Colorado (Grandview)	S	2/1
51	LIGON, Alex	DE	6-3	250	Jr.	2L	Torrance, California (North Torrance)	S	2/2
91	LUCAS, Maurice	DE	6-5	235	Fr.	HS	Denver (Rangeview)	S	5/4
9	MACKEY, Blake	WR	6-3	200	Jr.	1L	Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield)	S	2/2
57	MacMARTIN, Bryce	C	6-2	290	Jr.	JC	San Francisco (Lowell/City College of San Francisco)	S	3/2
93	MANUPUNA, Vaka	DT	6-1	290	Sr.	3L	Kihei, Hawai’i (St. Louis)	S	1/1
38	McBRIDE, Chase	WR	5-8	160	So.	TR	Thornton, Colorado (Broomfield/Wyoming)	WO	3/3
6	McKAY, Gardner	CB	5-11	150	Fr.	HS	Inglewood, California (Crenshaw)	S	5/4
79	MOORE, Gary	OL	6-6	320	Sr.	3L	Aurora, Colorado (Overland)	S	1/1
23	MOYD, Kevin	TB	5-7	180	Fr.	HS	Miramar, Florida (Northwestern)	S	5/4
56	NEWMAN, Greg	DE	6-4	235	Fr.	RS	Thousand Oaks, California (Westlake)	S	4/4
73	O’NEAL, Clint	OL	6-6	305	Sr.	3L	Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford)	S	1/1
59	PACE, Gregory	SN	5-11	235	Sr.	1L	Hinsdale, Ill. (Central)	S	2/1
77	POLUMBUS, Tyler	OL	6-8	280	So.	1L	Englewood, Colorado (Cherry Creek)	S	3/3
23	REID, Corey	CB	5-9	180	Fr.	RS	Detroit (Thurston)	S	4/4
1	ROBINSON, Stephone	CB	5-9	185	So.	1L	Denver, Colorado (Mullen)	S	3/3
75	SANDERS, Daniel	OL	6-3	285	Fr.	RS	Vista, California (El Camino)	S	4/4
13	SANDERS, Joe	ILB	6-3	220	So.	1L	Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro)	S	3/3
43	SCHAUB, Brendan	FB	6-4	250	Sr.	1L	Aurora, Colorado (Overland/Whittier)	WO	1/1
2	SHERMAN, Charlie III	S	6-1	190	Fr.	RS	Sacramento, California (Foothill)	S	4/4
22	SIMS, Lorenzo, Jr.	CB	5-11	185	Jr.	2L	Fresno, California (Edison)	S	3/2
83	SPRAGUE, Dusty	WR	6-4	190	So.	1L	Holyoke, Colorado (Holyoke)	S	3/3
45	SYPNIEWSKI, Quinn	TE	6-7	265	Sr.	3L	Granger, Iowa (Johnston)	S	1/1
63	TIPTON, Jack	OL	6-3	285	Jr.	1L	Arvada, Colorado (Pomona)	S	2/2
29	TORP, John	P	6-2	205	Sr.	2L	Louisville, Colorado (Monarch)	S	1/1
94	VEIKUNE, David	DE	6-2	230	Fr.	RS	Wahiawa, Hawai’i (Campbell)	S	4/4
17	VICKERS, Lawrence	VB	6-2	235	Sr.	3L	Houston, Texas (Forest Brook)	S	2/1
15	WALTERS, Ryan	S	5-11	195	Fr.	RS	Aurora, Colorado (Grandview)	S	4/4
10	WASHINGTON, Terry	CB	5-9	190	Jr.	JC	St. Louis, Mo. (Cleveland/Garden City CC)	S	3/2
49	WASHINGTON, Thaddaeus	ILB	5-11	240	Jr.	2L	Marrero, La. (John Ehret)	S	2/2
7	WASHINGTON, Vance	CB	5-10	185	Jr.	2L	Friendswood, Texas (Clear Brook)	S	2/2
26	WHEATLEY, Terrence	CB	5-10	170	Jr.	2L	Richardson, Texas (Plano East)	S	3/2
3	WHITE, Brian	QB	6-5	235	So.	VR	Mission Viejo, California (Trabuco Hills)	S	3/3
4	WILLIAMS, Patrick	WR	6-2	200	Fr.	RS	DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto)	S	4/4
20	WILSON, Terry	CB	5-11	200	Fr.	RS	Chino, California (Junipero Serra)	S	4/4
53	WRIGHT, Abraham	DE	6-3	240	Jr.	1L	Oklahoma City (Southeast/NE Oklahoma A&M)	S	2/2
80	YATES, Jarrell	WR	6-0	170	Fr.	HS	Denver(Montbello)	S	5/4
93	EMPY II, Austin	DT	6-0	275	So.	HS	Dallas, Seagoville HS.	S	5/4

References

1. Brooks, B.G. (August 15, 2006). "Buffs hope flags won't be flying again". Daily Camera . Retrieved August 17, 2006.^{[ dead link ]}
2. "2005 Final University of Colorado Football Statistics" (PDF). University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2011.