Colorado University Athletics
Folsom500 - A Look Back - November 19, 1994
November 12, 2018 | Football
BOULDER – On a brisk fall afternoon in Boulder, the Colorado Buffaloes were looking to close out a remarkable season with one final game against a winless Iowa State football team. With multiple records on the line and bowl game decisions to be made, the Big Eight Conference game carried a lot of significance even though the Buffs were a 33-point favorite.
With an Iowa State defense ranked 105th out of 109 schools, CU tailback Rashaan Salaam was poised to not only break a record of 2,000 yards rushing in a single season but seal his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. Buffs quarterback Kordell Stewart also sat 265 yards away from breaking Mike Gundy's Big Eight total offense mark, which was very possible given the fact Stewart averaged 242.5 yards of total offense per game.
However, CU coach Bill McCartney was very nervous about this underdog opponent. The previous Saturday the Cyclones played very tough in their 28-12 loss to Nebraska. The Cyclones would have been just one point down to Nebraska but a touchdown was called back. "The very fact that they can play the No. 1 team in the country that strong has my full attention," McCartney said going into Saturday's game.
The stage was set, a 37-degree day with kickoff just a couple minutes past noon. The Buffaloes won the coin toss, deferring to receive until the second half.
On the Cyclones' first possession, a pitch went wide left and the Buffs'Â defense was quick to pick it up. Although starting its first drive on the ISU 25-yard line, CU was slow to get things rolling. With a quick three-and-out the Buffaloes had to settle for a field goal.Â
Iowa State's next possession produced very little, resulting in its first three-and-out of the game. But a fumbled punt return brought the Cyclones' offense back on the field at the Buffs' 24-yard line. However, Iowa State was quickly shut down once again and opted for a field goal to tie the score at 3-3.
The tie was broken on the Buffaloes' next drive. An incredible 40-yard run by Salaam put CU at Iowa State's 1-yard line. Tailback Herschell Troutman's short run for a touchdown gave the Buffs a lead they would not relinquish, and by halftime they had a somewhat comfortable 14-point advantage (17-3) as the Cyclones were held scoreless in the second quarter.
By intermission, Salaam had already carried the ball 17 times for 123 yards and was well on his way to surpassing 2,000 yards rushing. Stewart, meanwhile, also put up 135 passing yards – just 130 yards short of breaking Gundy's total offense mark.
On Colorado's first drive in the second half, Iowa State converted a Salaam fumble into another field goal and trailed 17-6 a little less than halfway through the third quarter.
Later in the third, Colorado added another field goal and extended its lead to 20-6. With 32 seconds remaining in the third, the Buffs kicked off to Troy Davis, whose 99-yard return brought the Cyclones to within a touchdown (20-13).
CU was quick to respond with another TD, but the one that followed was one for the record books as Salaam ran 67 yards to the end zone and broke the 2,000 yard rushing mark. That run pushed him to 259 yards for the game and a career high of 2,055 yards.
The rest of the fourth quarter went smooth for the Buffaloes as they closed out the game 41-20. Stewart also became the Big Eight's career total offense leader, and combined with Salaam they would break a NCAA record of having both a 2,000-yard passer and rusher on the same team in the same season.
Although there was a lot to celebrate there was a sobering post-game announcement made by McCartney, who announced that he would resign at season's end.
"It's been 13 years and this chapter has ended," he said. At the time McCartney didn't completely rule out a return to coaching but he never did.
With the help of his performance against the Cyclones, Salaam would go on to win the 1994 Heisman Trophy, the first in CU history. The Buffs played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and sent McCartney out on a triumphant note, demolishing the Irish 41-24.
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With an Iowa State defense ranked 105th out of 109 schools, CU tailback Rashaan Salaam was poised to not only break a record of 2,000 yards rushing in a single season but seal his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. Buffs quarterback Kordell Stewart also sat 265 yards away from breaking Mike Gundy's Big Eight total offense mark, which was very possible given the fact Stewart averaged 242.5 yards of total offense per game.
However, CU coach Bill McCartney was very nervous about this underdog opponent. The previous Saturday the Cyclones played very tough in their 28-12 loss to Nebraska. The Cyclones would have been just one point down to Nebraska but a touchdown was called back. "The very fact that they can play the No. 1 team in the country that strong has my full attention," McCartney said going into Saturday's game.
The stage was set, a 37-degree day with kickoff just a couple minutes past noon. The Buffaloes won the coin toss, deferring to receive until the second half.
On the Cyclones' first possession, a pitch went wide left and the Buffs'Â defense was quick to pick it up. Although starting its first drive on the ISU 25-yard line, CU was slow to get things rolling. With a quick three-and-out the Buffaloes had to settle for a field goal.Â
Iowa State's next possession produced very little, resulting in its first three-and-out of the game. But a fumbled punt return brought the Cyclones' offense back on the field at the Buffs' 24-yard line. However, Iowa State was quickly shut down once again and opted for a field goal to tie the score at 3-3.
The tie was broken on the Buffaloes' next drive. An incredible 40-yard run by Salaam put CU at Iowa State's 1-yard line. Tailback Herschell Troutman's short run for a touchdown gave the Buffs a lead they would not relinquish, and by halftime they had a somewhat comfortable 14-point advantage (17-3) as the Cyclones were held scoreless in the second quarter.
By intermission, Salaam had already carried the ball 17 times for 123 yards and was well on his way to surpassing 2,000 yards rushing. Stewart, meanwhile, also put up 135 passing yards – just 130 yards short of breaking Gundy's total offense mark.
On Colorado's first drive in the second half, Iowa State converted a Salaam fumble into another field goal and trailed 17-6 a little less than halfway through the third quarter.
Later in the third, Colorado added another field goal and extended its lead to 20-6. With 32 seconds remaining in the third, the Buffs kicked off to Troy Davis, whose 99-yard return brought the Cyclones to within a touchdown (20-13).
CU was quick to respond with another TD, but the one that followed was one for the record books as Salaam ran 67 yards to the end zone and broke the 2,000 yard rushing mark. That run pushed him to 259 yards for the game and a career high of 2,055 yards.
The rest of the fourth quarter went smooth for the Buffaloes as they closed out the game 41-20. Stewart also became the Big Eight's career total offense leader, and combined with Salaam they would break a NCAA record of having both a 2,000-yard passer and rusher on the same team in the same season.
Although there was a lot to celebrate there was a sobering post-game announcement made by McCartney, who announced that he would resign at season's end.
"It's been 13 years and this chapter has ended," he said. At the time McCartney didn't completely rule out a return to coaching but he never did.
With the help of his performance against the Cyclones, Salaam would go on to win the 1994 Heisman Trophy, the first in CU history. The Buffs played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and sent McCartney out on a triumphant note, demolishing the Irish 41-24.
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