Colorado University Athletics
Buff Bowl No. 4 - 1995 Fiesta
Jan. 2, 1995
TEMPE, Ariz. - Kordell Stewart amassed 348 yards of total offense and he received plenty of help on both offense and defense as the Colorado Buffaloes easily defeated Notre Dame, 41-24, in the 24th annual Fiesta Bowl.
The game was Bill McCartney's "swan song" as CU head coach, with the win giving him a final record over 13 seasons of 93-55-5, the winningest in Colorado history.
Stewart, named the game's most valuable player, had 268 total yards in the first half alone, when the Buffs built a commanding 31-3 lead with 1:05 remaining. For the game, he rushed seven times for 143 yards and a touchdown and completed 11 of 20 passes for 205 yards and another score.
Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam rushed for 83 yards and three touchdowns, including back-to-back scores in the final five minutes of the first half that helped break the game open.
On defense, the Buffs switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3 for the game, and the result yielded relentless pressure on Irish freshman quarterback Ron Powlus. CU had seven sacks, including three by the defensive MVP in the game, Shannon Clavelle, along with 12 pressures. Butkus Award runner-up Ted Johnson led all players with 20 tackles, with two for losses and an interception.
The Buffs scored on five of their first six possessions, with Stewart the key fixture on each. He had a 29-yard run on CU's first touchdown drive, a 35-yard dash on the second, a 16-yard run and 46-yard pass to James Kidd on the third, and a 12-yard run to the 1-yard line on the fourth. And after Notre Dame had closed to within 31-17 late in the third quarter, Stewart sprinted 41 yards to set up a field goal, and threw a 37-yard pass to Kidd en route to CU's final score.
The Buffs amassed 472 yards on offense in just 23:43 of possession time, playing nearly the perfect game. CU did not commit a turnover and averaged just under eight yards per play in finishing the season with an 11-1 record and No. 3 national ranking. Notre Dame, unranked coming into the game, ended the year at 6-6.
Following the game, Salaam announced that he would forego his senior year and declared himself eligible for the NFL draft. McCartney handed the reins of the program over to new head coach Rick Neuheisel the following morning.
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