Colorado Buffalo Football Milestones

Nov. 15, 1890 - First game ever in the history of the University of Colorado, losing 20-0 to the Denver Athletic Club in Denver.

Dec. 13, 1890 - George Darley runs 65 yards with a fumbled football for a touchdown, the first in Colorado history. Colorado Mines won the game, however, 50-4.

Nov. 26, 1891 - First win in Colorado's history, as CU recorded a 24-4 victory over the Colorado Springs Athletic Association Team.

Nov. 8, 1892 - First win by Colorado in Boulder, a 46-0 rout of Denver U.

Aug. 3, 1894 - Harry Heller named first head coach in Colorado history.

Oct. 26, 1895 - Fred Folsom debuts as CU head coach, Colorado wins 32-0 over the Denver Wheel Club in Boulder. He arrived in Boulder three weeks earlier, on Oct. 6.

Nov. 17, 1898 - Colorado plays first opponent from outside state boundaries, losing to Nebraska in Boulder, 23-10.

July 27, 1900 - T. W. Mortimer named third head coach in Colorado history, filling in for Fred Folsom who takes leave for a year.

July 10, 1903 - Dave Cropp named fourth head coach in Colorado history.

June 26, 1905 - Willis Keinholtz named fifth head coach in Colorado history.

June 19, 1906 - Frank Castleman named sixth head coach in Colorado history.

May 11, 1908 - Fred Folsom returns to coach Colorado.

Oct. 8, 1910 - Colorado's 11-0 triumph over the Alumni is the 100th win in CU history.

Jan. 10, 1916 - Bob Evans named seventh head coach in Colorado history.

Jan. 17, 1918 - Joe Mills named eighth head coach in Colorado history.

Dec. 17, 1919 - Myron Witham named ninth head coach in Colorado history.

Nov. 28, 1923 - Colorado's 6-3 win at Colorado State gives Colorado a 9-0-0 mark for the 1923 season, its best ever.

Oct. 11, 1924 - Colorado defeated Regis College 39-0 in the debut of Folsom Field.

Dec. 14, 1930 - George Carlson becomes CU's first player to receive a Rhodes Scholarship.

Nov. 21, 1931 - Colorado's 17-7 verdict over Colorado College is the 200th win in CU history.

Jan. 3, 1932 - William "Navy Bill" Saunders named the 10th head coach in Colorado history.

Dec. 17, 1933 - Clayton White, brother of CU All-American Byron "Whizzer" White, becomes CU's second player to receive a Rhodes Scholarship.

Nov. 10, 1934 - Colorado adopts the nickname "Buffaloes" at annual Homecoming game. The "Buffs" beat Utah 7-6.

Feb. 7, 1935 - Bernard "Bunnie" Oakes named the 11th head coach in Colorado history.

Nov. 7, 1936 - Byron "Whizzer" White scores 25 points against Utah in Boulder as CU wins, 31-7. White scored four touchdowns and kicked one extra point to establish a Buff record.

Nov. 6, 1937 - Byron White singlehandedly beats Utah at Salt Lake City, 17-7, in one of his greatest games ever. White returned a punt 97 yards, and scored another touchdown on a 57-yard sprint, kicked a 15-yard field goal, and kicked both extra points in accounting for all of CU's points.

Nov. 25, 1937 - Byron White's jersey number "24" retired at the traditional Thanksgiving Day game with Denver. Buffs won, 37-7.

Dec. 13, 1937 - Byron White named to the All-America team, becoming the first Colorado player to gain the honor.

Dec. 18, 1937 - Byron White becomes the third Colorado player to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. He will study at Oxford in 1939.

Jan. 1, 1938 - Colorado makes its first Bowl game appearance ever, losing to Rice, 28-14, in the Cotton Bowl, then played in Houston.

June 11, 1940 - Frank Potts named the 12th head coach in Colorado history.

Mar. 3, 1941 - Jim Yeager named the 13th head coach in Colorado history.

Mar. 11, 1944 - Frank Potts takes over coaching while Yeager is in service.

Jan. 10, 1945 - Yeager returns to coach Buffs.

Feb. 3, 1948 - Dallas Ward named the 14th head coach in Colorado history.

Oct. 2, 1948 - Colorado's first game as a member of the Big Seven. The Buffs lost 40-7 at Kansas.

Oct. 9, 1948 - Buffs' dramatic 19-6 upset of Nebraska in Boulder was Dallas Ward's first win as coach, and Colorado's first win in the Big Seven.

Oct. 21, 1950 - Zack Jordan highlights Buffaloes' 28-25 win over Arizona in Boulder by setting an NCAA punting record: six punts for 343 yards, an average of 57.2 a kick.

Nov. 17, 1951 - Colorado's 36-14 win at Nebraska is the first national television appearance by the Buffaloes.

Sept. 20, 1952 - Buffaloes beat San Jose State, 20-14, for the 300th win in Colorado history.

Sept. 27, 1952 - Colorado ties Oklahoma in Boulder, 21-21, to give Oklahoma one of only two blemishes in its 75 conference game unbeaten streak which started in 1946 and ended in 1959.

Jan. 1, 1957 - Colorado wins its first ever Bowl game, a 27-21 victory over Clemson in the 1957 Orange Bowl at Miami.

Oct. 11, 1958 - Howard Cook ties Byron White's record by scoring 25 points against Arizona in Tucson. Cook scored four touchdowns and kicked one extra point in helping Colorado score its most points ever (modern era) in a 65-12 rout of the Wildcats.]

Feb. 9, 1959 - Sonny Grandelius named the 15th head coach in Colorado history.

Nov. 4, 1961 - Buffs edge Missouri in Boulder, 7-6. SID Fred Casotti awarded the game ball, in what was the first nationally televised game from Boulder.

Nov. 18, 1961 - Buffs shut out Nebraska in Lincoln, 7-0, and hold the Huskers to 31 yards total offense and no first downs.

Jan. 1, 1962 - Colorado makes its second appearance in the Orange Bowl, but falls to LSU, 25-7.

Mar. 27, 1962 - Bud Davis named the 16th head coach in Colorado history.

Dec. 15, 1962 - Joe Romig becomes fourth Colorado player to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.

Jan. 3, 1963 - Eddie Crowder named the 17th head coach in Colorado history.

Nov. 22, 1963 - CU and Air Force postpone their game for the following day as the country mourns the death of President John F. Kennedy. The game is played two weeks later on December 7 (Air Force won, 17-14).

July 1, 1965 - Crowder assumes duties as Athletic Director as well as head coach.

May 7, 1967 - Joe Romig's jersey number "67" retired at annual spring game.

Dec. 23, 1967 - Colorado topples Miami, 31-21, to capture its first-ever Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.

Oct. 4, 1969 - Buffs beat Indiana in raging blizzard, 30-7, in Boulder. Bobby Anderson switched from quarterback to tailback for first time.

Oct. 11, 1969 - Colorado blanks Iowa State, 14-0, to win its 400th game in history.

Dec. 13, 1969 - Buffs top Alabama, 47-33, to win the Liberty Bowl at Memphis. Bobby Anderson rushes for 254 yards, and gains 295 in total offense as game's MVP.

May 9, 1970 - Bobby Anderson's jersey number "11" is retired at annual spring game.

Sept. 26, 1970 - Colorado pulls big upset in routing Penn State, 41-13, in Boulder, on national television. The win snapped a 23-game winning streak and 31-game unbeaten streak by the Nittany Lions.

Dec. 13, 1970 - Buffs make return trip to Liberty Bowl but lose to Tulane, 17-3.

Sept. 11, 1971 - Colorado opens season with dramatic upset of LSU at Baton Rouge, 31-21.

Sept. 25, 1971 - Buffs keep rolling in '71, upset Ohio State at Columbus, 20-14.

Nov. 13, 1971 - Charlie Davis sets a Colorado and Big Eight record by rushing for 342 yards in a 40-6 rout of Oklahoma State in Boulder.

Dec. 31, 1971 - Colorado completes its best season ever with a 29-17 victory over the University of Houston in the 13th annual Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. Charlie Davis rushed for 202 yards in helping the Buffs to finish a 10-2-0 for the '71 season.

Jan. 3, 1972 - Buffs voted the number three team in the country for the '71 season by Associated Press. It was the highest a Colorado team had ever ranked at the end of the season, United Press International tabbed Colorado seventh for the same season.

Oct. 21, 1972 - Buffs upset Oklahoma in Boulder, 20-14, before a national TV audience on ABC.

Dec. 30, 1972 - Colorado loses to Auburn, 24-3, in its first Gator Bowl appearance.

Jan. 12, 1974 - Bill Mallory named the 18th head coach in Colorado history.

Dec. 27, 1975 - Texas rallies to defeat Colorado, 38-21, in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.

Nov. 20, 1976 - Colorado beats Kansas State at Manhattan, 35-28, to tie for Big Eight championship. Buffs go to Orange Bowl, however, by virtue of their wins over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Jan. 1, 1977 - Buffs make third trip to Orange Bowl, but lose to Ohio State, 27-10.

Nov. 4, 1978 - Largest crowd in Colorado home history, 53,553, see the Buffs fall short to Oklahoma, 28-7.

Apr. 4, 1979 - Chuck Fairbanks named the 19th head coach in Colorado history.

Oct. 4, 1980 - In one of the wildest games ever played at Folsom Field, Oklahoma defeats CU 82-42. Several NCAA and Big Eight records were smashed.

June 9, 1982 - Bill McCartney named the 20th head coach in Colorado history.

Sept. 15, 1984 - Tight end Ed Reinhardt undergoes brain surgery to save his life less than two hours after Colorado's 27-20 loss at Oregon. Reinhardt had a blood clot removed from the left side of his brain.

Mar. 25, 1985 - Bill McCartney announces that the Buffs have switched to the wishbone, CU's "offense of the future."

Nov. 23, 1985 - Colorado's 30-0 win over Kansas State gives CU a 7-4 regular season record, which also enables the Buffs to win the NCAA's most improved team honor for 1985.

Dec. 30, 1985 - Colorado loses to Washington, 20-17, in the second annual Freedom Bowl.

Oct. 25, 1986 - Colorado defeats Nebraska (20-10), the first Buff win over the Huskers since 1967.

Nov. 22, 1986 - Buffs destroy Kansas State, 49-3, to finish second in the Big Eight. CU's 6-1 league record is its second best ever.

Dec. 31, 1986 - Baylor defeats Colorado, 21-9, in the 28th annual Bluebonnet Bowl.

Oct. 17, 1987 - Colorado defeats Kansas, 35-10, for its 200th win at Folsom Field.

Oct. 31, 1987 - Buffs roll over Iowa State at Ames, 42-10, for CU's 500th win in its history.

Nov. 28, 1987 - Buffs lose to Nebraska, 24-7, in first game at Folsom Field with lights (mid-afternoon kickoff).

Oct. 22, 1988 - Oklahoma edges CU, 17-14, in the first night game ever played at Folsom Field.

Dec. 29, 1988 - Colorado loses to Brigham Young, 20-17, in the fifth annual Freedom Bowl.

Aug. 23, 1989 - Colorado's No. 14 ranking in both the AP and UPI polls marks the first time the Buffs are ranked in the preseason since 1977.

Nov. 18, 1989 - The Buffs' 59-11 win at Kansas State gives CU its first undefeated regular season since 1937, and clinches the Big Eight Conference Championship (CU's first outright title since 1961). In the game, sophomore quarterback Darian Hagan goes over the 1,000-yard mark for the season in both rushing and passing, becoming only the sixth player to accomplish that feat in NCAA history.

Nov. 27, 1989 - Colorado ascends to the nation's No. 1 ranking, the first time in its 100-year history that CU earns the wire service top spot.

Jan. 1, 1990 - Colorado loses its bid for its first-ever national championship, losing 21-6 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

Jan. 2, 1990 - The Buffs finish the year ranked No. 4 in the polls, the second-highest final ranking by any Colorado team.

Jan. 18, 1990 - Bill McCartney is named the Bear Bryant Coach-of-the-Year, giving him a sweep of the national coach-of-the-year honors.

July 26, 1990 - Bill McCartney signs a 15-year contract to continue as head coach at Colorado, the longest contract extension in CU's athletic history.

Aug. 26, 1990 - Colorado and Tennessee battle to a 31-31 tie in the inaugural Disneyland Pigskin Classic at Anaheim, Calif.

Oct. 6, 1990 - Eric Bieniemy rushes for 217 yards in a 33-31 win at Missouri, in the process passing Charlie Davis as the school's all-time leading rusher.

Nov. 17, 1990 - Colorado crushes Kansas State, 64-3, as the Buffs roll to the first back-to-back titles in Big Eight Conference play. The following Monday, CU is ranked No. 1 in the nation, the second straight year the Buffaloes end the regular season as college football's number one team.

Dec. 4, 1990 - Senior outside linebacker Alfred Williams is named the recipient of the Butkus Award, the first CU player to win one of college football's big-time trophies.

Dec. 10, 1990 - With the announcement of the UPI All-America team, tailback Eric Bieniemy, guard Joe Garten and outside linebacker Alfred Williams become the first three unanimous All-Americans in CU history.

Jan. 1, 1991 - A 10-9 win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl ends a seven-game CU bowl game losing streak and positions the Buffaloes for the national title.

Jan. 2, 1991 - Colorado is named the national champion by both the Associated Press and USA Today/CNN, the first national championship in football in the school's history. United Press International tabbed CU second, one point behind Georgia Tech, in its poll.

Jan. 8, 1991 - Quarterback Charles Johnson, the most valuable player in the Orange Bowl, appears on NBC's "Tonight Show," the first CU athlete to ever appear on the program.

Dec. 9, 1991 - Jay Leeuwenburg becomes the fourth player in CU history to earn unanimous All-America honors when he is selected to the AP and UPI teams.

Dec. 28, 1991 - Alabama defeats Colorado, 30-25, in the second Blockbuster Bowl.

Dec. 5, 1992 - Jim Hansen becomes the fifth CU football player to earn the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. He was the 19th University of Colorado student to be afforded the honor. The senior offensive tackle became CU's first three-time Academic All-American three days later (and CU's first "Academic All-American-of-the-Year.")

Dec. 6, 1992 - Senior cornerback Deon Figures is named the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back.

Jan. 1, 1993 - Syracuse defeats Colorado, 26-22, in the 22nd annual Fiesta Bowl.

Oct. 16, 1993 - Colorado defeats Oklahoma, 27-10, as Bill McCartney wins his 78th game as head coach, thus passing Fred Folsom and becoming the all-time winningest coach in school history. In that game, Lamont Warren throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson; Warren slipped on the turf as he threw it and Johnson was interfered with but still made the catch lying on the ground in a play that was selected as the national play-of-the-year.

Nov. 30, 1993 - Charles Johnson is named offensive player-of-the-year in the Big Eight, the first wide receiver to ever win the award.

Dec. 25, 1993 - Colorado defeats Fresno State, 41-30, in the 12th annual Aloha Bowl.

Sept. 24, 1994 - In what would eventually be selected as the national play-of-the-year, Kordell Stewart throws a 64-yard touchdown pass to Michael West-brook, via a Blake Anderson tip, as Colorado rallies to beat Michigan at Ann Arbor after time expired, 27-26.

Nov. 19, 1994 - One of the most eventful days in CU football history: tailback Rashaan Salaam becomes just the fourth player ever in the NCAA to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season; quarterback Kordell Stewart becomes the Big Eight Conference's all-time total offense leader; and following CU's 41-20 win over Iowa State in Boulder, head coach Bill McCartney announces that he will retire following CU's bowl game.

Nov. 28, 1994 - Rick Neuheisel named the 21st head coach in Colorado history (took over program on Jan. 3, 1995).

Dec. 1, 1994 - Junior tailback Rashaan Salaam wins the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. The previous day, Salaam won the Walter Camp Player-of-the-Year Award.

Dec. 8, 1994 - Senior cornerback Chris Hudson wins the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.

Dec. 10, 1994 - Junior tailback Rashaan Salaam becomes the first player in University of Colorado history to win the Heisman Trophy. The announcement is made at New York's Downtown Athletic Club and televised nationally on ESPN.

Jan. 2, 1995 - In Bill McCartney's final game as head coach, the Buffs defeat Notre Dame, 41-24, the 24th annual Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Kordell Stewart and defensive tackle Shannon Clavelle are named the game's most valuable players.

Sept. 2, 1995 - Rick Neuheisel becomes the first coach at CU since 1932 to win his first game, as the Buffaloes defeat Wisconsin in Madison, 43-7.

Sept. 30, 1995 - John Hessler sets a school record with five touchdown passes in CU's 38-17 win at Oklahoma, which was his first career start. He duplicated the feat a little more than a month later (Nov. 4) in a 45-32 win at Oklahoma State.

Jan. 1, 1996 - Colorado defeats Oregon, 38-6, in the 60th annual Cotton Bowl.

Nov. 29, 1996 - Koy Detmer becomes the first player in school history to pass for over 3,000 yards in a season in CU's 17-12 loss at Nebraska.

Dec. 14, 1996 - Matt Russell is named the winner of the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker, the second CU player to win the trophy.

Dec. 30, 1996 - CU defeats Washington, 33-21, in the 19th annual Holiday Bowl, securing a third straight 10-win season for the Buffaloes and a four-game bowl winning streak, the first of both in school history.

Nov. 14, 1998 - CU's 37-8 win over Iowa State is the 600th in the program's history. Dec. 25, 1998-In the 1,000th game in its history, Colorado defeats Oregon, 51-43, in the 17th annual Aloha Bowl. Mike Moschetti throws four touchdown passes and Ben Kelly returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown as the Buffs built a 44-14 third quarter lead.

Jan. 22, 1999 - Gary Barnett named the 22nd head coach in Colorado history.

Oct. 9, 1999 - Colorado plays the first overtime game in its history, with Mike Moschetti's 24-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Stiggers in the first overtime paving the way for a 46-39 win over Missouri in Boulder. (The NCAA added overtime in 1996.)

Nov. 26, 1999 - The Buffs play their second overtime game ever, losing to Nebraska, 33-30 in Boulder. However, CU rallies from its largest deficit ever to tie the game, coming back after trailing 27-3 with a 24-point, 284-yard fourth quarter against the No. 3 Cornhuskers.

Dec. 31, 1999 - CU defeats Boston College, 62-28, in the 11th annual Insight.com Bowl at Tucson. The Buffs race to a 45-7 halftime lead and set numerous records in their sixth straight bowl win, adding to the nation's longest active streak.

Oct. 28, 2000 - Craig Ochs joins an elite group in college football history as he becomes the first Buffalo to score touchdowns via rushing and receiving while also throwing one in the same game in CU's 37-21 win over Oklahoma State. In the second quarter, Javon Green had become the first Buff to ever throw and catch a touchdown pass in the same game, and was later joined by Ochs in the fourth quarter. It was Green who threw the TD pass to Ochs; Ochs threw his to Roman Hollowell, Green caught his from Zac Colvin.

Aug. 26, 2001 - Colorado had the honor of hosting and playing in the inaugural Jim Thorpe Association Football Classic, but the Buffaloes fall, 24-22, to Fresno State.

Sept. 13, 2001 - Due to the terrorist attacks two days earlier on the east coast, CU's game at Washington State on Sept. 15 is cancelled. It was the first time in school history an out-of-state game is not played as Colorado joined the rest of the nation in honoring those who died doing their every day jobs.

Nov. 23, 2001 - Sophomore Chris Brown scores a school record six touchdowns in leading Colorado to a 62-36 win over Nebraska in Boulder, earning CU its first North Division title since the Big 12 started play in 1996. A record setting day on many fronts, it was also the most points ever allowed by a Nebraska team as CU sprinted out to a 35-3 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back.

Dec. 1, 2001 - The Buffaloes win their first Big 12 Conference title with a 39-37 win over Texas at Irving, basically coming in a road game environment. Despite UT knowing a win would put it into the national title game against Miami, CU spotted the Longhorns a 7-0 lead before scoring 29 points in less than a 15-minute span to take the lead for good. Chris Brown rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns with the Buffs also coming up big on defense and special teams.

Dec. 12, 2001 - Senior Daniel Graham is named the recipient of the second annual John Mackey Award, presented to the nation's best tight end.

Jan. 1, 2002 - In only the sixth-ever match-up in the postseason of the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the country, second-ranked Oregon toppled the No. 3 Buffaloes, 38-16, in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. CU led 7-0 early but the Ducks used a late second quarter score to take a 21-7 lead into halftime and held the Buffs at bay the rest of the game.

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