Where I Come From: Most Memorable Moments
by Bob_Bell on Jul 8, 2010 9:10 PM MDT
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This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011. We invite you to share your stories about the topic as well. To see the rest of the series, click here.
Continuing with our "Where I Come From" series, next we discuss our top moments as a fan of the Buffs. You know, those moments that define you as a fan, that give you goose bumps when you think about it. Those moments you remember exactly where you were when you saw it and if you were lucky enough to see in person, those events you brag to your friends about with the magical words: "I was there."
Here are my top three moments as a Buff fan:
3) The Pac-10 Move
Memorable moments doesn't have to mean a certain play or game. My third favorite moment happened this offseason with the Pac-10 move. Not just the Pac-10 move but the fact that Texas and Oklahoma stayed in the Big 12, setting up Colorado with a potentially great division featuring the two Los Angeles based teams. It was a perfect move for a program that, in all honesty, has been less than impressive over the past few years. We are hoping that it will rejuvenate the program and bring back the glory. It was an exciting time for the University and it will be a week of events I will always remember.
The fact that Jon and I were around to cover it with the Ralphie Report, go down to the meeting in Downtown Denver with the CU regents and to hear the media press conference announcing Colorado as the newest member of the Pac-10 was very special to me.
2) 62-36 Colorado vs. Nebraska
I wrote this earlier in week and it still applies here. The 2001 - 2002 season will always be remembered by the 62-36 win, not by the Big 12 North championship, the win against Texas or the trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
After the five game winning streak, #14 Colorado traveled to #9 Texas. The Longhorns humbled the Buffs on the back of RB Cedric Benson and the arm of QB Chris Simms. But the team responded again reeling off a nice three game win streak before welcoming the second ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (Huskers were ranked #1 in the BCS at the time) into Boulder. With the Big 12 North on the line, Nebraska was the favorite to beat the Buffs and contend for a National Championship.
Well, it didn't end the way many thought it would. I will always remember this quote from CU head coach Gary Barnett:
"You never think it will go like this, obviously. But every once in a while, it all works."
"Sixty-two points. That's almost too overwhelming for me. It's going to take a while to sink in."
It certainly all worked that day for the Buffs. I consider myself extremely lucky to have watched that game in person, celebrating with fellow Buff fans like I have never done before. It was at times unbelievable to watch. Chris Brown's six touchdowns was one of the more impressive things I have ever seen on a football field. I shouldn't leave Bobby Purify out of the discussion as the two running backs combined for 352 yards on 44 carries
It was an ass kicking that was beautiful to take in. Colorado rolled up 62 points on the top ranked BCS team. Words could not explain the feeling but I remember the faces on Nebraska fans leaving the stadium and that is how I will remember them long into the future.
1) The Miracle at Michigan - Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook - September 24, 1994
No words needed to describe this one, just watch and listen. Talk about a goosebump moment. One of the greatest plays in college sports history:
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#1 Victory over ND in the Orange Bowl for national championship
I’m 15 and have the flu. Ismail is returning a punt for a TD and my dad is banging his fist on the table yelling “They are so lucky!” The return gets called back. I celebrate the victory by puking in the toilet.
- The Michigan win
I’m now a CU student. The TV room in the dorm is packed. The hail mary is completed and we spill out of the dorm and the campus is going nuts
- Miami home game
Year before the Michigan game. I’m in the student section. Huge bench clearing browl right before halftime. We fall behing, mount a huge comeback but ultimately come up short. Even so, the effort electrifies the campus.
hard to choose
3. the pass of course hard to leave off. i went from stomping around the house pissed off to jumping for joy.
2. 1986 we finally get it done against nebraska and my dad and i had to listen on the radio because it was not on tv so it was exciting and cool to listen to.
1. orange bowl over ND great defensive battle and a great night for colorado.
For me it was the 1990 comeback in Nebraska
I was a freshman in college, a big CU fan and a guy down the hall was from Nebraska, I bet a case of beer that the Buffs would beat Nebraska strait up against him and another guy who was talked into taking Nebraska also. The other guy left for the weekend after seeing Nebraska take the lead at halftime, Monday morning he comes screaming into my room demanding a case of beer, which I say, where the hell is my case of beer, you lost. He hadn’t seen the end of the game and goes down the hall to ask the Nebraska fan what the hell is going on, he is still in shock and I get two of the finest cases of beer in my life.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
For those of you who weren't around or don't remember
Colorado tailback Eric Bieniemy went from goat to hero in the fourth quarter as the ninth-ranked (Associated Press) Buffaloes erupted to knock off third-ranked Nebraska, 27-12, in the battle for the Big Eight Conference lead. Playing in wind-driven rain for most of the game, and in temperatures hovering under 40 degrees, Bieniemy fumbled five times in the first three periods, three of which were recovered by Nebraska.
The first lost fumble stopped a CU drive at the Husker 3 on the Buffs’ first possession, and the third ended another drive at the NU 20 in the third quarter. Five plays after that fumble, Husker quarterback Mickey Joseph found freshman tight end Johnny Mitchell wide open on a 46 yard touchdown pass that gave NU a 12-0 lead with 2:38 left in the third period.
It was then that Bieniemy made his transformation. In the game’s final 17 minutes, he picked up 75 of his game-high 137 rushing yards and scored touchdowns on each of Colorado’s next four possessions following the Husker TD, as the Buffs came from behind to win for the eighth time in an 8-1-1 season and hand Nebraska its first loss in nine games. CU went to 5-0 the conference and dropped the Huskers to 4-1.
Colorado also ended the Huskers’ 19-game home win string and won at NU’s Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1967, ending a 10-game losing streak in Lincoln. The Buffs’ 27 points in the fourth quarter were a record against NU, and the win virtually assured them of a return trip to the Federal Express Orange Bowl, making them the first Big Eight team other than Nebraska or Oklahoma to make back-to-back Orange Bowl trips.
“At the end, I thought we’d be the stronger team,” NU Coach Tom Osborne said. “But they got their running game going, and we didn’t get it untracked. Once they got ahead, they made a couple of big plays and big catches and that was the difference.”
Nebraska took advantage of a short Colorado punt to take a 3-0 lead on a 26-yard Gregg Barrios field goal early in the second period, then went up 6-0 moments later on a 44-yard Barrios field goal following a Mike Petko interception at the CU 34.
That lead held up until halftime, then the Huskers missed a chance to get some breathing room early in the third quarter. On the third play after intermission, outside linebacker Travis Hill recovered a Bieniemy fumble at the Colorado 45, and, on the first play, Joseph kept around right end and sprinted all the way into the end zone but officials ruled he had stepped out of bounds at the 9.
Three running plays got the Huskers to the 3, but Barrios then missed a 20-yard field goal at a severe angle, and Nebraska came up empty.
Bieniemy finally got the Buffs on the board, capping a 71-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on the third play of the fourth quarter, then put the Buffs up for good at 13-12 with a 2-yard plunge with 8:37 left in the game.
Colorado scored its last two touchdowns in the closing minutes after the Huskers missed on a pair of fourth-down conversions. The first was a fake punt on fourth and 3 at the NU 28, when reserve fullback Tim Johnk was stopped a yard short, and five plays later, Bieniemy scored from the 3 to give CU a 20-12 lead with 4:35 to go.
On Nebraska’s next possession, Joseph was sacked on fourth and 15 at the 15, and three plays later, Bieniemy scored from the 5 for a 27-12 lead with 1:31 left.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
If memory serves (I was 12 years old at the time) that fake punt was HORRIFIC
probably one of the worst calls of Tom Osborn’s time as coach at Neb. Also….JJ Flannigan had a terrific one handed catch to set up a Bieniemy one yard plunge.
One of the most painful moments in CU history was two years before when JJ was racing down the sidelines….with no one around him….and fumbled the ball at like the 5 yard line. Nebraska won 7 0….that one still hurts.
"Groovy" Ash from Evil Dead 2
"No one came from miles around / and said man your music is really hot" No One Came...Deep Purple
Quitter's People United Member # 78
Yep, I remember that one too, that was a tough one to stomach
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
My Favorite Moments
1. Big 12 championship 2001 – I was at the game. Nuff said.
2. National Championship – Wen’t from absolute heart break to full on jubilation in a 10 second span. The buffs teams from 1988 to 1994 created so many memories for me I couldn’t even begin to note.
3. Miracle in Michigan – My dumb ass turned off the game in the 3rd quarter because I thought we were blowing it. It was still just as memorable watching the replay on the news. I ran around the block going crazy for like 10 minutes after seeing it on the news.
4. Rashaan Salaam breaks the 2,000 yard mark. I was at the game. Loudest Folsom has ever been.
5. 1993 Fiesta Bowl – The only bowl game I’ve been to. We lost to Syracuse but it was still an awesome time.
oh yeah...I remember that Fiesta Bowl
wasn’t the field all jacked up for some reason?
"Groovy" Ash from Evil Dead 2
"No one came from miles around / and said man your music is really hot" No One Came...Deep Purple
Quitter's People United Member # 78
The best
4) The Orange Bowl – Watched the game back on ESPN classic a few months ago and could not belive how much we ran the ball back then, and couldn’t be stopped. But bigger than that was the defense. They played just an awesome game. And then the Rocket and the flag – the ultimate in emotional swings in a two minute span.
3) The Missouri 5th down – I was playing the outfield in a fall league in Nebraska of all places. This is before the days of cell phones and internet of course and I could hear Husker fans talking about the game in the stands and how the Buffs stole one. Of course the speed of media then is not what it is now, and not until the next morning could I find a TV to see what happened. I’m not sorry for the fifth down (Like Mac). Stuff happens. You get breaks and other teams get breaks (see Henery’s 57-yd FG couple years back). It all evens out over time.
2) The Michigan Game – The video above brought back goosebumps
2a) The 1989 game against Nebraska – maybe the most jacked up Folsom has ever been. Especially after the Flanagan TD. Unbelieveable.
1) 62-36. Nuff said.
Miracke at Michigan Video
Nobody does it better than Keith Jackson
by NYCskibum on Jul 9, 2010 10:38 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Michigan
I posted about it in the fav player topic. It will always be the greatest because of the odds against it happening and both teams highly rank. Just watch it again and still cannot believe that kordell through it that far and with Keith Jackson calling it. Wow!!!
by buffalobeach on Jul 9, 2010 3:33 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
I have a couple
1. Miracle in Mich:I was a high school senior who was applying to CU but also grew up in Big 10 country so I thought that game was over and went to have lunch w/ a few friends. Upon returning home, my step-mother was screaming that CU had won. Unreal.
2. CU- Wisconsin 1994. Once again my senior year of high school and I went to a party where the game was on TV. Most of the crowd was rooting for Wis but after that blowout, and seeing Boulder, I knew I was going to CU.
3. CU v. TA&M 1995. It was my Freshman year and I lived in Libby. Woke up to a huge crowd of A&Mers right in front of Libby tailgating and talking trash – they were ranked #2 – and ESPN was filming it all. Crazy for a first timer. Anyway, it was a close game but the Buffs came through for the win. That was the game that CU became my team. Great game.
4. Night game KSU at CU in 1996. Freezing cold, but man was it fun passing around the camelback full of bourbon and throwing snowballs. CU won as well!
Love CU football
by CleBUFFS on Jul 9, 2010 6:01 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
LIbby Hall
Lived there in 88 and 89. Great location to wake up in the middle of tailgate central every home game Saturday AM
Also
Want to vote for any home game pre banning of marshmallows. Why do administrators have to suck the fun out of everything?
cause dickheads
put batteries in them or froze them or mashed them together to make a goddamn softball. i got jacked in the eye once and it f’ing sucked. the marshmellows were one of the lamest things ever. Covering our own field with shit? How does that make sense? I’m so glad that shit is gone.
All great moments- no order
91 Orange Bowl- Dion Figures game sealing interception….
MIracle in MIchigan- early morning sports bar in Seattle- about 10 of us CU fans jumping around going nuts among about 50 Michigan fans with their mouth hanging open and nothing coming out (first time that day)
2001 Big 12 Championship- In Las Vegas bar, never been so pumped up! Almost go thrown out when I slammed a glass down a little hard on the bar and shattered it when TX started to come back (oops)
my top 5
5. 1989 Neb vs CU…I was 11 years old….watching Darian Hagan pitch to JJ Flannigan and race down the sidelines. You just knew CU was destined to win that game.
4. 62-36…crying Corn children….sweeeeeet
3. 1993 CU vs Stanford….we lost the game and we were ROBBED. How can those refs not see his foot was down?? Anyway…was a great game before that point.
2. 1989…Colorado vs Washington- Pre game tribute to Sal….pointing to the sky. CU kicks the snot out of the Huskies.
1. Orange Bowl 1991…Clipping…CJ takes over for Hagan….Darrell Hemmingway scores only touchdown for CU. Great moment to be alive
"Groovy" Ash from Evil Dead 2
"No one came from miles around / and said man your music is really hot" No One Came...Deep Purple
Quitter's People United Member # 78
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