1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team

1990 Colorado Buffaloes football
1990 Colorado Buffaloes football
AP Poll national champion; FWAA national champion; NFF national champion; Big Eight champion; Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 10–9 vs. Notre Dame
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 1
Record	11–1–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach	Bill McCartney (9th season);
Offensive coordinator	Gerry DiNardo (12 games); Gary Barnett (bowl game)
Offensive scheme	I-Bone option
Defensive coordinator	Mike Hankwitz (3rd season)
Home stadium	Folsom Field
	Seasons ← 1989 1991 →

1990 Big Eight Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 1 Colorado $	7	–	0	–	0	11	–	1	–	1
No. 24 Nebraska	5	–	2	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 17 Oklahoma	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	3	–	0
Iowa State	2	–	4	–	1	4	–	6	–	1
Kansas	2	–	4	–	1	3	–	7	–	1
Kansas State	2	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Missouri	2	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Oklahoma State	2	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado Boulder as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 338 points while the defense allowed 160 points. Led by head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado defeated Notre Dame 10–9 in the 1991 Orange Bowl to conclude the season.

Despite the infamous Fifth Down Game controversy against a 4-7 Missouri Tigers football team, Colorado was selected national champions by AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, NFF, Sporting News, and USA/CNN, and co-champion by both FACT and NCF -all NCAA-designated major selectors.^[2] Georgia Tech took the UPI Coaches poll title,^[3] with both Washington and Miami receiving national titles from other selectors.^[2]

Georgia Tech finished the season undefeated (with its record only blemished by a tie), and subsequently split the national championship with Colorado.^[4]

The victory in the Orange Bowl was Colorado's first bowl win in nineteen years.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 26	1:00 pm	vs. No. 8 Tennessee*	No. 5	Anaheim Stadium Anaheim, CA (Pigskin Classic)	NBC	T 31–31	33,485	^[5]
September 6	6:00 pm	Stanford*	No. 6	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	ESPN	W 21–17	50,699
September 15	1:30 pm	at No. 21 Illinois*	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ABC	L 22–23	64,351
September 22	5:30 pm	at No. 22 Texas*	No. 20	Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX	ESPN	W 29–22	77,373
September 29	1:30 pm	No. 12 Washington*	No. 20	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	PSN	W 20–14	52,868
October 6	12:30 pm	at Missouri	No. 12	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	KCNC	W 33–31	46,856
October 13	11:30 am	Iowa State	No. 14	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	KCNC	W 28–12	51,861
October 20	11:00 am	at Kansas	No. 14	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	KCNC	W 41–10	40,000
October 27	12:30 pm	No. 22 Oklahoma	No. 10	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	CBS	W 32–23	51,967
November 3	2:00 pm	at No. 3 Nebraska	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	ESPN	W 27–12	76,464
November 10	1:00 pm	Oklahoma State	No. 4	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	KCNC	W 41–22	51,873
November 17	12:10 pm	Kansas State	No. 2	Folsom Field Boulder, CO (rivalry)	KCNC	W 64–3	51,136
January 1, 1991	6:00 pm	No. 5 Notre Dame*	No. 1	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	W 10–9	77,062
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

Personnel

1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
C	`55`	Jim Adams	Jr
TB	`44`	David Arterberry	So
TB	`31`	Matt Bell	So
TB	`1`	Eric Bieniemy	Sr
TE	`84`	Jason Blatt	Fr
TE	`81`	Jon Boman	Jr
TB	`34`	Darnell Brooks	Fr
TE	`32`	David Brown	Sr
TE	`87`	Sean Brown	Jr
OT	`78`	Bryan Campbell	So
TB	`6`	Dennis Collier	So
FB	`25`	Robert Dobbins	Fr
TE	`85`	Sean Embree	So
TE	`88`	Christian Fauria	Fr
QB	`18`	Roman Foster	So
QB	`10`	Mike Freeman	So
G	`62`	Joe Garten	Sr
C	`71`	Erez Gottlieb	So
QB	`3`	Darian Hagan	Jr
WR	`46`	Chris Hall	Fr
OT	`77`	Jim Hansen	So
WR	`26`	Julian Hayward	So
G	`79`	Russ Heasley	Jr
FB	`22`	George Hemingway	Sr
WR	`25`	Mark Henry	Jr
WB		Dan Hestra	Fr
FB	`33`	James Hill	Fr
G	`73`	Roger Ivey	Fr
G	`74`	Dolyn Jackson	Fr
WR	`84`	James Jackson	Fr
WR	`80`	Robbie James	Jr
WR	`88`	Charles E. Johnson	Fr
QB	`4`	Charles S. Johnson	Jr
QB	`1`	Vance Joseph	Fr
TB	`7`	Kent Kahl	Fr
WR	`89`	Jack Keys	So
FB	`38`	Charles Lee	Fr
C	`52`	Jay Leeuwenburg	Jr
WB	`23`	Greg Lindsey	Fr
OT	`65`	Greg Loest	Fr
WB	`28`	Erik Mitchell	Fr
OT	`70`	Thomas Mixon	Fr
OT	`60`	Clint Moles	So
WB	`5`	O.C. Oliver	Sr
WB	`36`	J.C. Orvis	Sr
FB	`49`	Scott Phillips	Fr
FB	`20`	Kelly Phipps	Fr
WB	`26`	Jason Allegri	Fr
WR	`9`	Mike Pritchard	Sr
FB	`30`	Tony Senna	Jr
WB	`42`	Michael Simmons	Sr
WR	`86`	Rico Smith	Jr
TB	`35`	Chuck Snowden	Fr
OT	`76`	Ariel Solomon	Sr
C	`51`	Rudy Stearnes	Fr
OT	`61`	Chris Stortz	Fr
G	`66`	Dan Todd	Fr
TE	`82`	Doug Van Horn	Fr
OT	`72`	Mark Vander Poel	Sr
OT	`63`	Derek West	Fr
WB	`12`	Michael Westbrook	Fr
TB	`41`	Roger Yago	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`29`	Derek Agnew	Fr
S	`5`	Blake Anderson	Fr
LB	`90`	Norm Barnett	Fr
LB	`50`	Tony Berti	Fr
S	`30`	Matthew Bickel	Fr
LB	`19`	Greg Biekert	So
CB	`13`	Ronnie Bradford	So
LB	`34`	Chad Brown	So
DT	`59`	Kenny Browne	Fr
NT	`39`	Jeff Brunner	Fr
LB	`55`	DeShannon Campbell	Fr
S	`31`	Spencer Colter	Jr
S	`21`	Dwayne Davis	So
LB	`40`	Scott DeGoler	Sr
DT	`89`	Brian Dyet	Fr
DT	`97`	Marcellous Elder	So
CB	`2`	Deon Figures	So
LB	`88`	Richard Fisher	Fr
CB	`15`	David Gibbs	Sr
LB	`91`	Lamarr Gray	Sr
LB	`92`	Rodell Guest	Jr
S	`6`	Eric Hamilton	So
DT	`95`	Garry Howe	Sr
CB	`47`	Chris Hudson	Fr
LB	`51`	Alfred Hull	Fr
LB	`43`	Rob Hutchins	Sr
S	`17`	Tim James	Sr
LB	`48`	Terry Johnson	Sr
LB	`58`	Noah Kaiser	Fr
LB	`41`	John Katovisch	Fr
CB	`12`	Dave McCloughan	Sr
LB	`96`	Kanavis McGhee	Sr
LB	`98`	Mike Motley	Sr
S	`37`	Tate Nelson	So
S	`45`	Chris O'Donnell	Jr
DT	`75`	Jason Perkins	So
LB	`57`	William Polk	So
DT	`99`	Leonard Renfro	Fr
LB	`53`	Jason Robinson	Fr
LB	`46`	Paul Rose	Sr
S	`49`	Jim Schrant	Fr
S	`4`	Aaron Shaw	Fr
DT	`76`	Corey Smith	Fr
CB	`38`	Scott Starr	So
NG	`93`	Joel Steed	Jr
LB	`64`	Colton Sudberry	Fr
S	`27`	Greg Thomas	Jr
CB	`19`	Ryan Thomas	Fr
CB	`14`	Jeff Walden	Fr
LB	`94`	Alfred Williams	Sr
LB	`81`	Dennis Williams	Fr
LB	`56`	Ron Woolfork	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
PK	`20`	Jim Archibald	Fr
PK	`9`	Daniel Beck	Fr
PK	`23`	Justin Blake	Fr
PK	`14`	Pat Blottiaux	So
PK	`16`	Jim Harper	Jr
PK	`1`	Branon Johnson	Fr
P	`17`	Jeff Kochevar	Jr
P	`21`	Ron Mayer	Fr
PK	`85`	Jason Miller	Fr
P	`10`	Tom Rouen	Sr

Head coach

Bill McCartney

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2016-Jan-17

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	5 (4)	6	9	20	20	12	14	14	10	9	4 (5)	2 (5)	1 (45)	1 (41)	1 (42)	1 (39)
Coaches	5 (2)	7	9	18	16	9	11	14	8	7	3 (2)	2 (3)	1 (45)	1 (39)	1 (38)	2 (27)

Game summaries

Vs. Tennessee

#5 Colorado vs. #8 Tennessee

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buffaloes	0	10	7	14	31
Volunteers	7	3	0	21	31

Date: August 26
Location: Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Game start: 12:05 PM
Elapsed time: 3:43
Game attendance: 33,458
Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), clear, Wind SW 8–10 mph (13–16 km/h)
Referee: James Sprenger
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bill Walsh

Source: Box score

Each team dominated with its offensive strength. Mike Pritchard ran for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns as Colorado outgained Tennessee 368-135 on the ground even with Eric Bieniemy sitting out due to a suspension. The Volunteers passed for 368 yards (to Colorado's 68 passing yards), and future NFL wide receivers Carl Pickens and Alvin Harper each had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.^[6]

Stanford

Stanford at #5 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinal	14	0	0	3	17
• Buffaloes	0	0	14	7	21

Date: September 6
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 6:08 PM
Elapsed time: 3:14
Game attendance: 50,699
Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), partly cloudy, Wind NW 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
Referee: Dean Cramer

Source: Box score

^[7]

At Illinois

#9 Colorado at #21 Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buffaloes	7	10	2	3	22
• Fighting Illini	3	7	7	6	23

Date: September 15
Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Game attendance: 64,351
Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), clear, Wind NW 10 mph (16 km/h)
Referee: Tom Quinn
Television network: ABC

Source: Box score

^[8]

At Texas

#20 Colorado at #22 Texas

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Buffaloes	7	7	0	15	29
Longhorns	10	3	6	3	22

Date: September 22
Location: Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
Game start: 6:39 PM
Elapsed time: 3:20
Game attendance: 77,273
Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), Cloudy/Low Overcast, Wind NE 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h)
Referee: Larry Fisher
Television network: ESPN

Washington

#12 Washington at #20 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	7	0	7	0	14
• Buffaloes	0	3	14	3	20

Date: September 29
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 1:31 PM
Elapsed time: 2:46
Game attendance: 52,868
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), cloudy, Wind E 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
Referee: Dean Cramer

Source: Box score

At Missouri

#12 Colorado at Missouri

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Buffaloes	7	7	3	16	33
Tigers	14	0	7	10	31

Date: October 6
Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, MO
Game start: 1:33 PM
Elapsed time: 2:58
Game attendance: 46,856
Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), partly cloudy, Wind S 15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
Referee: J. C. Louderback
Television network: KCNC

Iowa State

Iowa State at #14 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cyclones	9	3	0	0	12
• Buffaloes	7	7	14	0	28

Date: October 13
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 1:32 PM
Elapsed time: 2:46
Game attendance: 51,861
Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), partly cloudy, Wind S 25–40 mph (40–64 km/h)
Referee: John Laurie

Source: Box score

At Kansas

#14 Colorado at Kansas

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Buffaloes	17	3	21	0	41
Jayhawks	0	10	0	0	10

Date: October 20
Location: Memorial Stadium
Game start: 12:10 PM
Elapsed time: 2:48
Game attendance: 40,000
Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), partly cloudy, Wind S 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h)
Referee: Larry Fisher

Source: Box score

Oklahoma

#22 Oklahoma at #10 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Sooners	7	7	3	6	23
• Buffaloes	3	9	6	14	32

Date: October 27
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 12:31 PM
Elapsed time: 3:23
Game attendance: 51,967
Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), sunny, Wind E 8 mph (13 km/h)
Referee: Dean Cramer

Source: Box score

^[9]

At Nebraska

#9 Colorado at #3 Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Buffaloes	0	0	0	27	27
Cornhuskers	0	6	6	0	12

Date: November 3
Location: Memorial Stadium
Game start: 3:07 PM
Elapsed time: 3:00
Game attendance: 76,464
Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), Light rain, Wind N 20–22 mph (32–35 km/h)
Referee: John Laurie
TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough and Mike Gottfried

Eric Bieniemy 38 Rush, 137 Yds, 4 TD

^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State at #4 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	7	0	0	15	22
• Buffaloes	7	10	21	3	41

Date: November 10
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 1:02 PM
Elapsed time: 3:09
Game attendance: 51,873
Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), sunny, Wind NE 7 mph (11 km/h)
Referee: John Laurie

Source: Box score

Kansas State

Kansas State at #4 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	3	0	0	3
• Buffaloes	17	23	3	21	64

Date: November 17
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Game start: 12:12 PM
Elapsed time: 3:19
Game attendance: 51,136
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), partly cloudy, Wind NE 8 mph (13 km/h)
Referee: Larry Fisher

Source: Box score

The Buffs scored early and often while totaling 634 yards of total offense (360 rushing).^[14]^[15]

Notre Dame (Orange Bowl)

#5 Notre Dame vs. #1 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Irish	0	6	3	0	9
• Buffaloes	0	3	7	0	10

Date: January 1
Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, FL
Game start: 8:30 PM
Elapsed time: 3:26
Game attendance: 77,062
Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), Fair skies, Wind E 9 mph (14 km/h)
Referee: Frank Shepard
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh

Source: Box score

^[16]^[17]

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Mike Pritchard	Wide receiver	1	13	Atlanta Falcons
Alfred Williams	Linebacker	1	18	Cincinnati Bengals
Eric Bieniemy	Running back	2	39	San Diego Chargers
Kanavis McGhee	Linebacker	2	55	New York Giants
Dave McCloughan	Defensive back	3	69	Indianapolis Colts
Mark Vander Poel	Tackle	4	96	Indianapolis Colts
Joe Garten	Center	6	164	Green Bay Packers
Tim James	Defensive back	8	202	New York Jets

^[18]

Awards and honors

Alfred Williams, Butkus Award^[19]

References

^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ ^a ^b 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
^ Stone, Gene (January 3, 1991). "Tech Scores Split Decision, is Voted No. 1 by Coaches". Gadsden Times. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
^ "1990 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
^ "Vols tie up Buffs". News Chronicle. August 27, 1990. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "COLORADO, TENNESSEE PLAY 31-31 TIE". The Washington Post. August 27, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Colorado 21, Stanford 17". UPI. September 6, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Illinois 23, Colorado 22". United Press International. September 15, 1990. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
^ "Colorado Takes Option Away From Oklahoma". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Colorado 27, Nebraska 12". UPI. November 3, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Home is No Protection for Perfection: No. 3 Cornhuskers suffer first loss as Colorado takes inside track for trip to Orange Bowl, 27-12". Los Angeles Times. November 4, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ Jenkins, Sally (November 12, 1990). "Better Late Than Never". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1990 Nov 4. Retrieved 2015-Nov-05.
^ "Buffaloes Stampede Their Way to Top". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Colorado ascends to No. 1". UPI. November 18, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "Top-Ranked Colorado Holds Off Notre Dame". The New York Times. January 2, 1991. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
^ Murphy, Austin (January 14, 1991). "Clip Off the Old Block". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^ "1991 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.
^ "College Football Awards - Butkus Award". Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2006.

[1] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[2018ncaabook-2] 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 12, 2018.

[coachespoll-3] Stone, Gene (January 3, 1991). "Tech Scores Split Decision, is Voted No. 1 by Coaches". Gadsden Times. Retrieved December 2, 2017.

[4] "1990 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.

[5] "Vols tie up Buffs". News Chronicle. August 27, 1990. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "COLORADO, TENNESSEE PLAY 31-31 TIE". The Washington Post. August 27, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[7] "Colorado 21, Stanford 17". UPI. September 6, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[8] "Illinois 23, Colorado 22". United Press International. September 15, 1990. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[9] "Colorado Takes Option Away From Oklahoma". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[10] "Colorado 27, Nebraska 12". UPI. November 3, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[11] "Home is No Protection for Perfection: No. 3 Cornhuskers suffer first loss as Colorado takes inside track for trip to Orange Bowl, 27-12". Los Angeles Times. November 4, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[12] Jenkins, Sally (November 12, 1990). "Better Late Than Never". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[13] Gainesville Sun. 1990 Nov 4. Retrieved 2015-Nov-05.

[14] "Buffaloes Stampede Their Way to Top". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[15] "Colorado ascends to No. 1". UPI. November 18, 1990. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[16] "Top-Ranked Colorado Holds Off Notre Dame". The New York Times. January 2, 1991. Retrieved December 30, 2018.

[17] Murphy, Austin (January 14, 1991). "Clip Off the Old Block". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

[18] "1991 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.

[19] "College Football Awards - Butkus Award". Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2006.

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