They finished the season 2–10 (2–6 in the Big 12 Conference) and had some major disappointments. Mason Crosby did not perform as well as last season (19 for 27) and the Hawkins era didn't start as many had expected with his success at Boise State. The offense appeared to struggle to learn the new system and early quarterback uncertainty did not allow the team to have consistency. The defense performed excellently at times and was good overall, but without the offense producing points, Colorado would lose, though many games were close.
With a new head coach, a new offensive system and the loss of several key players such as Joel Klatt (QB), Joe Klopfenstein (TE), Quinn Sypniewski (TE), Lawrence Vickers (TB) and John Torp (P), Colorado faced some challenges to hang on to their Big 12 North Title. (Jeremy Bloom, listed in the 2006 NFL draft as being from Colorado had not played football for Colorado since the 2004 season and thus is not a loss for this year)
Colorado did not appear in any of the Top 25 pre-season rankings (#26 in Collegefootballnews.com[2]), and was selected to finish third in the Big 12 North[3] with 2 selections to finish first in the Big 12 North.
Tyrone Henderson and Gerett Burl, starters in the 2005–06 season, were permanently released from the team prior to fall practice. Both were in CU's top 5 tacklers for last season, having started 25 games between them.
James Cox was named the starting quarterback to replace Klatt on August 20.[4] Despite having missed most of spring practice with a broken thumb, Coach Hawkins picked the senior over juniors Brian White and Bernard Jackson saying his seniority wasn't a factor and he simply wanted the best players on the field. With one year left of eligibility, Cox has seen playing time the previous 3 seasons behind Klatt, with two starts to his credit: the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl and in 2004 against Iowa State. In the 14 games he has played in prior to the 2006 season, his stats are 42 of 79 attempts for 423 yards with 3 interception and 2 Touchdownspassing and 37yards rushing in 20 attempts with 1 TD (5 sacks for 28yards).
The captains for 2006 were Mason Crosby, Brian Daniels and Thaddaeus Washington.[5]
Preseason awards
See[6] for full information on pre-season awards. Note: Only first team All-American or All-Conference listed.
All-America (Athlon, ATS Consultants, CBS Sportsline.com, collegefootballnews.com, Lindy's Big 12 Football, Football.com, Football News, Nationalchamps.net, Phil Steele's College Football, Playboy, Rivals.com, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Street & Smith's)[8]
All-Big 12 Football Team[9] (Athlon, ATS Consultants, Big 12 Summer Media Poll, CBS SportsLine.com, collegefootballnews.com, Huskers Illustrated, Lindy’s Big 12 Football, Phil Steele’s College Football, The Sporting News, Street & Smith’s, USA Today Sports Weekly)[8]
All-Big 12 Football Team[9] (Athlon, ATS Consultants, Big 12 Summer Media Poll, CBS SportsLine.com, collegefootballnews.com, Huskers Illustrated, Lindy’s Big 12 Football, Phil Steele’s College Football, The Sporting News, Street & Smith’s, USA Today Sports Weekly)[8]
Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team[9] (Athlon, ATS Consultants, Big 12 Summer Media Poll, CBS SportsLine.com, collegefootballnews.com, Huskers Illustrated, Lindy’s Big 12 Football, The Sporting News, USA Today Sports Weekly)[8]
Hugh Charles before the 2007 spring game, April 14, 2007.
TV announcers(Buff Vision): Mark Johnson (Play-by-play), Larry Zimmer (Color) & Bobby Anderson (Sideline)
Colorado's season began against Division I-AA opponent Montana State on September 2. Colorado needed to add an opponent with the schedule increase to a 12-game regular season and could not find another I-A opponent. Montana State was ranked No. 19 in the I-AA Pre-season Poll.[15] MSU finished 7–4 in the 2005 season. Starting off with this soft opponent will allow the Buffaloes to gage how the players have adopted the new system. However, Colorado has played Montana State 3 times with the last time in 1927. MSU leads the series 2–1–0 with the series tied (1–1) in Boulder. Although the schools have not played football against each other in 8 decades, they are rivals in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association competing weekly.
Prior to this game, Colorado has won its last 20 season openers when it scores first, 4–14–1 when its opponent scores first in season openers and 73–38–5 in the 116-year history. In Boulder season openers, Colorado is 53–18–1 and 36–17 in Folsom Field. Dan Hawkins is 7–3 in season openers at the Division I-A level. Colorado coaches are 9–12–1 in their first game as head coach. The last coach to win his premiere was Rick Neuheisel, and before that was in 1932.
Colorado paid US$275,000[16] to Montana State for the game which showed Colorado had not yet figured out the new system. James Cox went 8–22 for 110yards passing and Colorado had 106yards rushing. The defense held two goal line stances to allow only field goals but the offense could not produce the needed points late in the game. Despite this limited success on defense, Freshman CBCha'pelle Brown consistently failed to defend against the pass and Senior safetyJ. J. Billingsley missed too many tackles.[17]Mason Crosby missed a 63-yard field goal that was well short. This loss extended the losing streak to 5 games.
For detailed information on the game stats see footnote[18] and play-by-play summary see [19]
The 2006 Rocky Mountain Showdown took place on September 9 at a neutral site, Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. Colorado State University finished 6–6 in 2005. It was the 78th meeting, with the Buffaloes leading the series 57–18–2. The last ten games the Buffaloes won 7–3. They last played each other in 2005. The last four games were decided by 18 points total.
The game was broadcast on CSTV. Colorado could have lost out on US$400,000 from the Big 12 Conference since the game may not have met the classification of being nationally televised due to the limited market of CSTV.[20] Big 12 pays its members if a televised game reaches 42 million homes. CSTV is available in 54 million homes, but only has 15–20 million subscribers. If the game meets the mark with last-minute deals with other networks, CSU is guaranteed $50,000 of the money in the contract. Failing to meet the number will not only cause the loss of money, but may affect future contracts and the future of the Rocky Mountain Showdown. On Thursday before the game, the Colorado Buffaloes announced that OLN would simulcast the show, increasing the coverage of the game.[21]
In a surprise, Bernard Jackson got the start at quarterback (QB) instead of Cox. Cox saw limited action throughout the game. Jackson scored on a 3-yard touchdown (TD) run on a naked bootleg play to open the game and Colorado State answered later in the first quarter with their own QB, Caleb Hanie, scoring a 5-yard TD on an option play. Mason Crosby kicked a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter but the Rams then scored another TD with a 6-yard pass to TEKory Sperry. The Buffaloes mis-managed the clock at the end of the first half and failed to get Crosby a chance at an approximately 52-yard field goal.
Crosby missed a 61-yard field goal to wind up the opening drive for the Buffaloes in the second half (he had made it when the play initially went but it was whistled dead because Colorado State had taken a timeout – it would have been the longest of his career). Colorado State's Jason Smith missed a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Colorado failed to answer the Rams in the second half. The defense played quite well, recording many sacks and limiting the Rams. The missed field goal and missed chance at a field goal along with a near perfect performance by Hanie proved costly to the Buffaloes.
Following the game, Brian White told Hawkins he was quitting the team.[22] He intended to transfer to another school where he can receive more playing time. Tight end Patrick Devenny may move to the QB position to fill the hole for the season.
This was the first meeting between the two schools. Arizona State went 7–5 in 2005. The game was broadcast on TBS. Colorado's only score came on a fumble recovery deep in Arizona State territory. Colorado failed to move the ball effectively and had fumble problems throughout the game. This marks the seventh straight loss (including last season) for Colorado, which they haven't done since 1980. Jackson remained as the starting quarterback.
This was the first meeting between the two schools. Georgia went 10–3 in 2005. The two teams are scheduled to play each other again in 2010. CU Quarterback Cox missed the game due to the death of his father.[23] Coach Hawkins son, true freshman Cody Hawkins, was the backup to Jackson and redshirt freshman Patrick Devenny, who converted from quarterback to tight end this fall, was the emergency backup. Georgia was 3–0 and ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll and No. 7 in the Coaches Poll coming into the game. This was the first game against a SEC opponent for Colorado since 1980. Colorado has not lost 8 straight games since the 1962–63 seasons. Ralphie is also making the trip with an ESPN producer and cameraman documenting the trip to appear on College GameDay Saturday.[24]
The game was televised as part of the SEC syndicated package produced by Lincoln Financial Sports and was also picked up locally in the Denver/Boulder market on KTVD My20 (Comcast's Channel 3 in Denver area), KRDO-TV (Colorado Springs) and KJCT-TV (Grand Junction) also picked up the broadcasts for their markets.[24]
Colorado lead for the entire game until Georgia backup quarterback Cox (no relation to James) came in the 4th quarter and threw two touchdown passes, the second with 41seconds left in the game to pull out the Buffaloes upset hopes. Colorado center Mark Fenton suffered a broken fibula during the second quarter of the game.[25] He will miss most or all of the rest of this season. Bryce MacMartin is the replacement.
This game signaled the start of conference play for the Buffaloes. University of Missouri went 7–5 in 2005. This was the 71st meeting between the two with Missouri leading the series 36–31–3 coming into the game. However, Colorado has taken 7 of the last 10 games. They played each other in 2005 where Missouri went 7–5 that season.
Missouri was 4–0 coming into this game and was ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Harris Poll. Colorado was in its longest losing streak since the Eddie Crowder era and had not been 0–4 to start the season since 1986. Both defenses were excelling: Missouri, ranked fifth nationally against the run in allowing 43.8yards per game and had limited its opponents to 1.59yards per carry; Colorado was ranked 16th, as opponents had averaged 75.3yards per game and just 2.26yards per attempt.[26]
Baylor
1
2
3
4
OT
2OT
3OT
Total
•Baylor
0
10
0
7
7
7
3
34
Colorado
7
0
3
7
7
7
0
31
Date: October 7
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game attendance: 47,065
The Big 12 South's Baylor came to Boulder for the 14th match-up between the schools and Colorado's Homecoming game. They last played in 2003, and Colorado led the series 8–5 and Colorado had also won 7 of the last 10 games. Baylor went 5–6 in 2005.
Baylor won in 3 overtimes, kicking a field goal in the 3rd OT while the Buffaloes' Jackson threw an interception to end the game. This ties the Colorado record for consecutive losses (10) which last happened in the 1963 to 1964 seasons. This was Baylor's second Big 12 Conference road win ever.
Texas Tech played Colorado during Family Weekend at CU. This was only the 8th meeting between the schools with Texas Tech leading the series 4–3–0 coming into the game. The schools last met in 2003. Texas Tech went 9–3 last season.
Buffalo fans stormed the field after Colorado's win over Texas Tech. Dan Hawkins' first victory at Colorado and the Buffaloes first of the 2006 season ending the losing streak tying the Colorado record of 10 straight. The defense shut down Tech's passing game with three interceptions and holding them to 6 points when their per game average was 31.7 going into the game. The offense started performing to their capabilities producing a 119yard rusher in Hugh Charles which is the most that Tech has given up this season. Crosby also performed well kicking 3 field goals, including a 56-yard field goal which is the second longest in NCAA Division I this season.
Crosby and sophomore free safety Ryan Walters were named Big 12 Players of the Week for their performance in the game.[27] Walters caught two interceptions, the first of his career, both on third down in CU territory.
This was the most difficult opponent in 2006 for the Buffaloes, since Oklahoma had been selected No. 1 in four preseason polls. The main threat, Adrian Peterson on his run for the Heisman Trophy, was injured the previous week. Oklahoma had a disappointing 2005 going 8–4. This was the 57th meeting with Oklahoma dominating the series 38–16–2, but Colorado has taken 5 of the last 10 (5–4–1). They last played each other in 2004. Oklahoma is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and AP Poll going into this game.
Colorado managed to hold Oklahoma close for most of the game. Crosby kept Colorado's scoring streak alive (208 straight games) for the 6th time in his career. But in the end, Colorado's woes on offense continues while the defense kept the game respectable.
This was the 66th match-up between the schools, with Colorado leading 41–21–3 and 8–2 in the last 10. They last played in 2005. Kansas went 7–5 last season.
Mason Crosby had an excellent day kicking and providing the only scoring going 3 for 3 on field goals including 26, 32 and 37yards putting Colorado up 9–0 at halftime. James Cox broke his right thumb in the second quarter making Patrick Devenny the QB backup. Colorado may go winless on the road for the first time since 1984 since their only game left on the road is against ranked Nebraska.[29] Kansas started a new quarterback for the second half that proved to be the difference in the game. Freshman Todd Reesing came in and rallied Kansas throwing for 2 touchdowns and running for another to beat Colorado.
Kansas State also has a new head coach, Ron Prince, this season. They went 5–6 last season. This was the 62nd match-up between the teams with Colorado in the lead 43–17–1, but they have split the last 10 games (5–5). They last played in 2005.
Despite having the two longest running plays of the season, Colorado failed to rally to meet Kansas State.
Iowa State
1
2
3
4
Total
Iowa State
7
0
3
6
16
•Colorado
10
10
10
3
33
Date: November 11
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game attendance: 43,056
Iowa State went 7–5 in 2005. This was the 60th match-up between the schools and Colorado is dominating 46–13–1 in the series and 8–2 in the last ten (prior to this game). They last played in 2005.
Colorado got its second win of the season. Iowa State's head coach Dan McCarney announced the week before the game he was resigning his position. Crosby went 4–5 in field goals and 3–3 in PATs. This was the last home game of the season and the last home game for Colorado's seniors. Jackson had a career performance day throwing for 200yards, including 2 TDs and running for another 69yard TD.[30] However, Hawkins stated that Jackson has no guarantee of being the starting QB next season.
This was the 65th meeting between the teams with Nebraska clearly in control of the series 45–17–2 and 7–3 in the last 10. Nebraska went 8–4 last season and beat Colorado 30–3 in part of the tailspin of Colorado of the 2005 season. Colorado failed to prevent just its third 10-loss season in 117 years of intercollegiate football (going 1–10 in 1980 and 1984) as well as to end a 13-game losing streak to ranked teams. Nebraska had already captured the Big 12 North Division title and a bowl game yet to be determined. Colorado won’t be going to a bowl for just the fifth time since 1984, and this is just school’s fourth losing season in that time frame (1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006).[31]
Colorado has a 177–118–5 all-time record on artificial turf (at end of 2006 season) and played its 299th and 300th games on artificial surfaces when meeting Missouri and Kansas this season.
When Colorado played Nebraska this season, it was the Buffaloes 1100th football game ever.
In starting the 2006 season 0–6, Colorado tied the school record for consecutive losses at 10.
Head Coach Dan Hawkins' first win at Colorado was against Texas Tech on October 14, 2006 (30–6).
This was just Colorado's third 10-loss season in 117 years of intercollegiate football (going 1–10 in 1980 and 1984).
Despite a 2–10 season, the universities students rushed the field after both of their victories.
Colorado went winless on the road for the first time since 1984.
Related Research Articles
Folsom Field is an outdoor college football stadium located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, United States, It is the home field of the Colorado Buffaloes of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2005 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, winning the Big 12 Conference championship and the national championship. The team was coached by Mack Brown, led on offense by quarterback Vince Young, and played its home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
The Colorado Buffaloes are the athletic teams that represent the University of Colorado Boulder. The university sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both the men's and women's teams are called the Buffaloes or, rarely, the Golden Buffaloes. "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993. The nickname was selected by the campus newspaper in a contest with a $5 prize in 1934 won by Andrew Dickson of Boulder.
Mason Walker Crosby is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Colorado, and earned unanimous All-American honors. The Green Bay Packers selected him in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft.
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team was a charter member of the Big 12 before leaving to join the Pac-12 Conference after the 2010 season. After 13 seasons in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes returned to the Big 12 in 2024. Before joining the Big 12, they were members of the Big Eight Conference. The CU football team has played at Folsom Field since 1924. The Buffs all-time record is 716–520–36 as of the 2022 season. Colorado won the 1990 National Championship. The football program is 27th on the all-time win list and 40th in all-time winning percentage.
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.
The 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 113th season of Sooner football. The team was led by two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award winner, Bob Stoops, in his ninth season as head coach. They played their homes games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They were a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2007 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins in his second season at Colorado and played their home games at Folsom Field. Colorado finished 6–7 after losing in the Independence Bowl to Alabama. 2007 was Colorado's first consecutive losing season in 22 years, but represented a vast improvement over the team's 2–10 mark in 2006.
Bernard Lewis Jackson is a former American football player. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Colorado at Boulder. As a junior, he was the starter for a majority of the 2006 season before losing his eligibility for academic reasons for his senior season.
The 2008 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown, who had a contract lasting through the 2016 season but resigned on December 14, 2013. The Longhorns play their home games in Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (DKR), which during 2006–2008 was undergoing renovations to improve older sections as well as to add extra seating capacity.
The 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl, part of the 2007–08 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 30, 2007 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference, and the Colorado Buffaloes, from the Big 12 Conference. Alabama won the game, 30–24.
The 2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins and played their home games in Folsom Field.
The 2005 Champs Sports Bowl was the 16th edition to the college football bowl game and was played on December 27, 2005, featuring the Clemson Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes. James Davis, the Clemson Running back was the Most Valuable Player of the game.
The 2009 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown. Texas played their home games in Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
The 2004 EV1.net Houston Bowl was the fifth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game pitted the Colorado Buffaloes from the Big 12 Conference and the UTEP Miners from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The game was the final competition of the 2004 football season for each team and resulted in a 33–28 Colorado victory.
The 2011 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach and alumnus Jon Embree, the Buffaloes played their home games on-campus at Folsom Field in Boulder and were first-year members of the newly expanded Pac-12 Conference. They finished with a record of 3–10, 2–7 in Pac-12 play, in a tie for last place in the South Division.
The 2013 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Mike MacIntyre, the Buffaloes played their home games on-campus at Folsom Field in Boulder and were members of the Pac-12 Conference. Head coach Mike MacIntyre was hired after the firing of Jon Embree concluding the 2012 season.
The 1957 Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Clemson Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes. It was played on New Year's Day in Miami.
The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Mel Tucker, the Buffaloes played their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder and finished at 5–7.
The 2024 Colorado Buffaloes football team represents the University of Colorado Boulder as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Colorado rejoined the Big 12 Conference after having originally being a charter member of the conference before leaving for the Pac-12 Conference in 2010. The Buffaloes are led by second-year head coach Deion Sanders. They play their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.
↑ Schubert, Erich (September 7, 2006). "OLN to Air CU-CSU Game". University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2006.
↑ Schubert, Erich (September 10, 2006). "QB Bernard Jackson Emerges for Buffs". University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2006.
↑ Schubert, Erich (October 16, 2006). "Wright, Crosby, Walters Honored". University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Athletics. Retrieved October 19, 2006.
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