Colorado University Athletics
Howard Cook (21) rushes behind College Football Hall of Fame lineman John Wooten
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Plati-'Tudes Folsom Turning 100: The 1950s
October 06, 2023 | Football, General
CUBuffs.com celebrates the 100th season of Folsom Field this fall; highlighting the top game, moment, coaches and players of each decade. This week: the 1950s
Record: 33-16-2
Game of The Decade: Colorado 21, Oklahoma 21 (Sept. 27, 1952)
While not a win, but it was not just another tie, either. It would prove to be the only blemish on Oklahoma's amazing 47-0-1 record in Big 7 Conference play (1948-57). The Buffaloes were a thorn in the Sooners' side for many of their games in the run, and this day in Boulder was the closest call. CU took a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard pass from Lee Venzke to Zack Jordan, and the Buff defense would hold OU scoreless on three straight possessions. But the No. 4 Sooners used a 13- play drive to tie the game with just 1:51 left.
Other Folsom Games in the Top 5:
Colorado 35, Kansas 27 - Oct. 6, 1951: Lee Venzke scored touchdowns rushing and receiving in the fourth quarter to break open a one-point game to lead Colorado to the victory over the No. 20 Jayhawks, the school's first-ever win over a ranked opponent. The Buffs stormed to a 14-0 lead on a touchdown run from Zack Jordan and a 65-yard punt return by Tom Brookshier and never relinquished the lead. CU went on to finish 5-1 in league play, its second place finish its best in the four years as a member of the Big 7.
Colorado 38, Kansas State 14 - Nov. 20, 1954: In the final game for CU stars and future Hall of Famers, Frank Bernardi and Carroll Hardy, the Buffaloes had a game for the ages on offense. Colorado amassed 498 yards on just 38 plays, with Hardy gaining 238 of those on just 10 carries. K-State did gain 376, but ran more than double the plays – 83 – than the Buffs. Hardy scored three touchdowns and Bernardi one as CU built a 19-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
Oklahoma 27, Colorado 19 - Nov. 3, 1956: Despite a near-freezing temperature at kickoff (33 degrees), the largest crowd at the time in CU home history – 47,000 – turned out to see the Buffaloes give No. 1 Oklahoma all it could handle. The Buffs struck first when John Bayuk returned a blocked punt for a TD, and after OU pulled to within 7-6, second quarter 9-yard TD runs by Eddie Dove and Bob Stransky built a 19-6 CU halftime lead. But the Sooners would rally with 21 unanswered second half points to escape with the win, however CU's second place league finish would earn a berth in the Orange Bowl (schools could not go two years in a row). The Buffs would defeat Clemson for their first bowl victory in school history.
Colorado 27, Nebraska 16 -Oct. 25, 1958: The first sporting event televised live from Boulder – regionally on NBC – it was also the last home victory for coach Dal Ward. The Cornhuskers took a 16-7 lead two plays into the second quarter, but from that point on the Buff defense was stifling, limiting NU to just one first down – none in the second half – and 41 yards on 30 plays. Meanwhile, CU chipped away at the lead and went ahead early in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard TD pass from Howard Cook to Boyd Dowler, with Chuck Weiss sealing the win with a 1-yard scoring run with 9:22 to play. In the end, CU outgained NU, 356-111.)
Coaches: Dallas Ward (1950-58, CU Athletic Hall of Fame member), Sonny Grandelius (1959).
Top Performers:
College Football Hall of Fame member: John Wooten
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame member: Boyd Dowler, Carroll Hardy, Ward, Wooten
CU Athletic Hall of Fame members: Frank Bernardi, Don Branby, Frank Clarke, Dowler, Hardy, Stransky, Wooten
First-Team All-Americans: Branby ('52), John Bayuk ('56), Stransky ('57), Wooten ('58)
Second-Team All-American: Bernardi ('54). Hardy ('54)
Honorable Mention All-Americans: Hardy ('53), Gary Knafelc ('53), Homer Jenkins ('55), Lamar Meyer ('55), Bill Mondt ('57), Wooten ('57), Howard Cook ('58), Dowler ('58), Jack Himelwright ('58)
First-Team All-Big 7: Merwin Hodel ('50, '51), Charles Mosher ('50, '51), Tom Brookshier ('51, '52), Branby ('51, '52), Jack Jorgenson ('51), Zack Jordan ('52), Knafelc ('53), Frank Bernardi ('54), Hardy ('54), Meyer ('55), Sam Salerno ('55), Bayuk ('56), Jerry Leahy ('56). Wally Merz ('56), Dick Stapp
('56), Stransky ('57), Wooten ('57)
First-Team All-Big 8: Dowler ('58), Himelwright ('58), Romig ('59), Gale Weidner ('59)
Record: 33-16-2
Game of The Decade: Colorado 21, Oklahoma 21 (Sept. 27, 1952)
While not a win, but it was not just another tie, either. It would prove to be the only blemish on Oklahoma's amazing 47-0-1 record in Big 7 Conference play (1948-57). The Buffaloes were a thorn in the Sooners' side for many of their games in the run, and this day in Boulder was the closest call. CU took a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard pass from Lee Venzke to Zack Jordan, and the Buff defense would hold OU scoreless on three straight possessions. But the No. 4 Sooners used a 13- play drive to tie the game with just 1:51 left.
Other Folsom Games in the Top 5:
Colorado 35, Kansas 27 - Oct. 6, 1951: Lee Venzke scored touchdowns rushing and receiving in the fourth quarter to break open a one-point game to lead Colorado to the victory over the No. 20 Jayhawks, the school's first-ever win over a ranked opponent. The Buffs stormed to a 14-0 lead on a touchdown run from Zack Jordan and a 65-yard punt return by Tom Brookshier and never relinquished the lead. CU went on to finish 5-1 in league play, its second place finish its best in the four years as a member of the Big 7.
Colorado 38, Kansas State 14 - Nov. 20, 1954: In the final game for CU stars and future Hall of Famers, Frank Bernardi and Carroll Hardy, the Buffaloes had a game for the ages on offense. Colorado amassed 498 yards on just 38 plays, with Hardy gaining 238 of those on just 10 carries. K-State did gain 376, but ran more than double the plays – 83 – than the Buffs. Hardy scored three touchdowns and Bernardi one as CU built a 19-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
Oklahoma 27, Colorado 19 - Nov. 3, 1956: Despite a near-freezing temperature at kickoff (33 degrees), the largest crowd at the time in CU home history – 47,000 – turned out to see the Buffaloes give No. 1 Oklahoma all it could handle. The Buffs struck first when John Bayuk returned a blocked punt for a TD, and after OU pulled to within 7-6, second quarter 9-yard TD runs by Eddie Dove and Bob Stransky built a 19-6 CU halftime lead. But the Sooners would rally with 21 unanswered second half points to escape with the win, however CU's second place league finish would earn a berth in the Orange Bowl (schools could not go two years in a row). The Buffs would defeat Clemson for their first bowl victory in school history.
Colorado 27, Nebraska 16 -Oct. 25, 1958: The first sporting event televised live from Boulder – regionally on NBC – it was also the last home victory for coach Dal Ward. The Cornhuskers took a 16-7 lead two plays into the second quarter, but from that point on the Buff defense was stifling, limiting NU to just one first down – none in the second half – and 41 yards on 30 plays. Meanwhile, CU chipped away at the lead and went ahead early in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard TD pass from Howard Cook to Boyd Dowler, with Chuck Weiss sealing the win with a 1-yard scoring run with 9:22 to play. In the end, CU outgained NU, 356-111.)
Coaches: Dallas Ward (1950-58, CU Athletic Hall of Fame member), Sonny Grandelius (1959).
Top Performers:
College Football Hall of Fame member: John Wooten
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame member: Boyd Dowler, Carroll Hardy, Ward, Wooten
CU Athletic Hall of Fame members: Frank Bernardi, Don Branby, Frank Clarke, Dowler, Hardy, Stransky, Wooten
First-Team All-Americans: Branby ('52), John Bayuk ('56), Stransky ('57), Wooten ('58)
Second-Team All-American: Bernardi ('54). Hardy ('54)
Honorable Mention All-Americans: Hardy ('53), Gary Knafelc ('53), Homer Jenkins ('55), Lamar Meyer ('55), Bill Mondt ('57), Wooten ('57), Howard Cook ('58), Dowler ('58), Jack Himelwright ('58)
First-Team All-Big 7: Merwin Hodel ('50, '51), Charles Mosher ('50, '51), Tom Brookshier ('51, '52), Branby ('51, '52), Jack Jorgenson ('51), Zack Jordan ('52), Knafelc ('53), Frank Bernardi ('54), Hardy ('54), Meyer ('55), Sam Salerno ('55), Bayuk ('56), Jerry Leahy ('56). Wally Merz ('56), Dick Stapp
('56), Stransky ('57), Wooten ('57)
First-Team All-Big 8: Dowler ('58), Himelwright ('58), Romig ('59), Gale Weidner ('59)
Zyanna Walker is returning for the 2026-27 season | Colorado Women’s Basketball
Thursday, April 02
2026 Jerry Quiller Classic
Wednesday, April 01
Barrington Hargress is staying in Boulder | Colorado Men’s Basketball
Sunday, March 29
WLax: 14 Colorado vs. San Diego State, 16-5, Highlights | 3.28.26
Sunday, March 29