CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile: Kordell Stewart

It's Hall of Fame Week for Colorado Athletics! The 11-member Class of 2018 was inducted on Nov. 8 at the Boedecker Gym in the CU Events Center, and will be recognized at Saturday's football game against Washington State at 1:30 p.m. Our ninth CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile is All-American quarterback Kordell Stewart, author of one of the greatest plays in college football history.

Truth be told, Kordell Stewart would be a University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Famer even if he hadn't delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in college football history.

The Big Eight Conference's career leader in yards from scrimmage (7,700), Stewart put on a show during his Colorado career from start to end. He set a single-game school record with 409 passing yards in his first collegiate start and became the first player in Colorado history to throw for 200 yards and rush for 100 yards in a game in his final start.

It's that one unforgettable moment, however – the 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook to upset No. 4 Michigan in the Big House – that best encapsulates Kordell Stewart's legendary Colorado career.

Stewart's path to that unforgettable September afternoon in Michigan began in New Orleans, where he was one of that nation's most dynamic option quarterbacks playing for John Ehret High School. His rare blend of speed and arm strength made Stewart one of the most sought after recruits in the country and he could just as easily have found himself suiting up for one of CU's old Big Eight rivals.

"I went to Arkansas on my first visit, Oklahoma on my second visit, Nebraska for my third visit," Stewart said recalling his recruitment process. "Colorado wasn't first on my list to be honest, they came toward the end of everything but when they came, they came hard."

At the time, though, Colorado was putting together a national championship run that was impossible for Stewart to ignore. His interest in CU was piqued watching the likes of Darian Hagan, Mike Pritchard and George Hemmingway open the 1990 season in the Pigskin Classic against Tennessee.

Once he had the chance to talk to Colorado head coach Bill McCartney, the football portion was sold. When Stewart finally took a visit to Boulder later that year, he remembers seeing the flatirons and thinking to himself, "this looks like Paramount Pictures, you know the peak that comes on when the movie is starting. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen, other than at the convenience store on a postcard."

After finally seeing the beauty of Boulder and having the chance to meet coach McCartney, Stewart was set on Colorado. Upon returning to Louisiana, he knew what he had to do and wasted no time letting McCartney know of his intentions. "I get off the plane and go straight to the phone and dial 1-800-GOBUFFS," Stewart recalls, "And I commit to Coach Mac immediately, before I even go to get in the car with my dad."

Stewart spent his freshman year backing up Hagan, another CU Athletic Hall of Famer, only seeing action in two games. He made his collegiate debut in the second half of a lopsided contest against Minnesota and impressed, rushing for 74 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and completing his only pass. It meant sacrificing a year of eligibility but Stewart has no regrets when looking back.

"I was one of those players that wanted to embrace every opportunity I had," Stewart said, "I got a chance to play against Minnesota and had a big game. I don't look back on it and wish I had done it any different."

As sophomore in 1992, Stewart won the starting job over childhood friend Vance Joseph, and dove into new offensive coordinator Les Steckel's pass-happy offense. While Stewart ran an option offense in high school, he reveled in the opportunity to air the ball out.

"It was something that I enjoyed," Stewart said. "It wasn't a shock to me because I knew that I could throw the ball before the Hail Mary pass but the magnitude to which (we threw the ball), I just went along with the flow."

With experienced stars likes Chad Brown, Greg Biekert and Deon Figures backing him up defensively, Stewart found himself at the helm of a talented, young offense. For Stewart, the 1992 season was almost like the scene of a movie where the superhero discovers his powers.

"It was one of those years where we were all trying to discover ourselves, because that was a brand new team. You think about the redshirt sophomores we had; Christian Fauria, Charles Johnson and the offensive linemen. Then you think about the true sophomores, myself, Lamont Warren, T.J. Cunningham, I could go on and on. That year was a coming out party for all of us as freshmen and sophomores."

While that coming out party ended with a 26-22 loss to Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl, the Buffs' tantalizing young offensive talent was clear. Stewart had shown himself and the world that he was more than capable of airing it out.

After helping Stewart gain confidence as a passer and remaking the Colorado offense from an I-bone, run-heavy scheme into a single-back passing offense, Steckel returned to the NFL. As a junior, Stewart's quarterback coach was none other than McCartney. His junior year was one of growth, as Stewart put together another impressive season in helping the Buffs reach the Aloha Bowl.

Entering his senior season in 1994, Stewart was introduced to his fourth quarterback coach in as many years. This time, the man was former UCLA assistant Rick Neuheisel. Stewart and Neuheisel clicked from the start.

"We were like minded because we were both quarterbacks," Stewart said of Neuheisel. "He refined my psyche on the position and really refined me as a passer. Having the chance to be with him, it was tunnel vision."

Stewart remembers their conversations about legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who Neuheisel had coached at UCLA. He regularly emphasized Aikman's size and arm-strength, as well his understanding of football. Neuheisel encouraged Stewart to spend his time on the sidelines deep in reflection.

"When I would come to the sideline, he always told me to put the towel over my head to connect it, similar to what you see Cam Newton do," Stewart said. "Don't worry about the coaches or the other players, let them get the fans excited. Put the towel over your head and go to your own world."

Neuheisel installed a new, more balanced offense. Flanked by NFL talent at nearly every position, Stewart entered the 1994 season more comfortable and confident than ever before.

"It was the refinement portion of understanding we had a running game with Rashaan Salaam and our offensive line, but also had a passing game where I was throwing the ball wherever I wanted to throw it. We were off to the races."

Stewart and the Buffs entered the game against Michigan ranked No. 7 and riding high after a blowout win over another Top 10 team, Wisconsin. Michigan entered the game ranked fourth and fresh off upsetting No. 3 Notre Dame.

"That was a big stage right there, national television, sideline analyst," Stewart recalled. "That was one of those games where there was no reason to be shy, scared or worried about anything. I mean, that was primetime. That was the reason you come to the University of Colorado. We were built for that moment and honestly, I embraced the challenge."

He had one of the best games of his college career, throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 85 yards on 20 attempts.

However, the Buffs saw their early 14-3 lead turn into a 26-14 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Stewart recalls diving into the end zone to bring CU within five with just over five minutes to play. The ball, however, was knocked loose as Stewart dove across the goal line. Without official replay back then, it was impossible to tell whether he had crossed the goal line and the play was ruled a touchback.

He returned to the sidelines upset and promptly draped the towel over his head. The next thing Stewart remembers was a frenzied Neuheisel barging into his head space.

"He came under my towel, he got in my personal space and whispered me that it was going to be the greatest comeback in college football history," Stewart said.

Don't worry about what just happened," Neuheisel said to him, "That was a touchdown. This is going to be the greatest comeback in college football history, but we're going to have to take it."

Stewart barely had time to collect his thoughts before he heard Neuheisel's voice again. Only this time, he wasn't talking to Stewart but the Michigan band. The message was the same: "This is going to be the greatest comeback in college football history!"

Trailing by 12 with 3:52 remaining in the game, Stewart and the Buffs regained possession and wasted no time making good on Neuheisel's bold proclamation. He used both his arm and his legs to lead a 72-yard drive that ended with Stewart pitching out to Salaam for a touchdown running the option. The Buffs had pulled within 26-21.

With just two minutes left, Stewart returned to the sideline, again taking refuge under his towel. He may have been saying a quiet Hail Mary prayer or perhaps he contemplated the farthest he had ever thrown a football, that was neither here nor there. What Stewart does remember was seeing a familiar pair of shoes appear under his towel. "Remember what I told you?" asked Neuheisel.

As he watched Neuheisel's shoes walk away, the defense got the stop it needed. Stewart and the Buffs had one final shot – 15 seconds to cover 85 yards.

On the first play, Stewart completed a pass to Westbrook to pick up 21 crucial yards. He rushed to the line and spiked the ball, stopping the clock with six seconds to play. With the clock reading ':06', Stewart remembers rushing to the sideline to discuss the play call with coach McCartney. That discussion was short and one-sided: "We have six seconds left! Tip-left!"

"I run back onto the field and I feel empty in my stomach. I go to the huddle and I see [C] Bryan Stoltenberg, [RG] Chris Naeole, [LG] Heath Irwin, [LT] Tony Berti, [RT] Derek West, [WR] Blake Anderson, [WR] James Kidd, [WR] Rae Carruth, [WR] Michael Westbrook and [TB] Rashaan Salaam, all in prayer-mode, but eye-contact with me as if it's the first play from scrimmage. Energy to the highest level. I give the the play call 'tip-left, tip-left, let's get it' and we break."

For Stewart, the play call tip left simply meant, 'throw the ball as far as you can and hope that your guy runs under it.' He wasn't certain whether he could throw the ball 64-plus yards but as he thought back, he knew that with enough time, he would have a chance.

"My first year with Les Steckel, after every practice we used to throw about 5-10 balls, I would do a 7-step drop back and throw it as far as I could every time," Stewart said. "Charles Johnson, Eric Mitchell and Michael Westbrook, would run under it every time. I would throw it as high and as far as I could. We never registered the distance I could throw it, but I knew I had a big arm."

Michigan came out with only three players at the line of scrimmage. Stewart's eyes lit up at the sight of a prevent-style defense.

He took the snap with six seconds on the clock and dropped back deep in the pocket. Left tackle Tony Berti and Salaam erased Michigan star defensive end Trevor Pryce from the picture and Stewart rolled around, buying his receivers time. As the final second ticked off the clock in Michigan Stadium, Stewart loaded up and launched the ball as far as he could.

The ball travelled 74 yards through the air, deflecting off the fingertips of Anderson and into Westbrook's outstretched hands.

"I didn't know it happened until I saw the guys run off the sideline with coach Mac pretty much leading the charge," Stewart said. "Then I saw the referees arms up in the air and I saw James Kidd jumping up and down. That's when I knew he caught the dang thing. That's when you saw me sprint downfield full speed, I didn't know how to respond. I was crying at the end. I was like God, this really happened. You're supposed to be excited, but it was just one of those emotional things."

The play thrust Stewart into the national spotlight and set the stage for an unforgettable, All-American season that ended with a No. 3 national ranking and a 41-24 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

"My senior year is a year that I'll forever remember," Stewart said. "It was one of those things where, that year summed up all the other years that I had a chance to play in. I was blessed and fortune enough to have the chance to reap the benefits of all that coaching and experience. There was nothing we could not do."

That moment – the 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook to upset No. 4 in the Big House – is proof. There was nothing the 1994 Buffs could not do with Stewart at the helm, and that includes delivering one of college football's most unforgettable moments.

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