Colorado-Utah Notes

Today's Captains: Bell, Nembot, Olugbode, Spruce
Players who carried out CU's symbolic instruments today:
Sledgehammer: Aaron Howard
Toolbox: John Finch
Special Teams Belt: Justin Solis
Buffalo Head: Hunter Shaw
United States Flag: Jordan Murphy
Colorado Flag: Ed Caldwell

CU now leads the series by a 31-28-3 count (14-16-2 in Salt Lake City) ... Utah leads 4-1 since the two joined the Pac-12 in 2011; the five games have been decided by a total of 27 points (3, 7, 7, 4 & 6) … The Buffs are now 20-21-4 all-time in the state of Washington … CU was 1-3 on artificial turf this season … CU wore silver helmets/white uniforms/white pants for the first time ever and wore 11 different uniform combinations in 2015 … This was CU's first time with significant snowfall during the game since Nov. 11, 2000 (versus Iowa State in Boulder).

The "Voice of the Buffs," Larry Zimmer, wrapped up his 42nd and final season calling CU games today; it was his 486th game (KOA surprised him pregame with special messages from 12 former players, including John Stearns, Mike Pritchard, Matt Russell and Chauncey Billups as well as three former head coaches (Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett) …

Utah at one point had converted 6-of-7 second downs into first downs, but finished the game 1-for-20 (including 0-11 in the second half) … Colorado's third down defense was for the most part exceptional (Utah was 7-of-17, including 3-of-4 on third-and-1, gaining a net 20 yards); in the last three games, the opponent was 15-of-42 (35.7 percent), gaining just 72 yards on those 42 plays (1.7) … Utah's first down average (4.4) was skewed by the 64-yard run prior to halftime; otherwise the Utes averaged 2.6 yards per (including 3-of-10 for 13 yards passing).

INDIVIDUAL LINER NOTES

WR Nelson Spruce (5-111, 1 TD). He continued to add to his school and Pac-12 marks in career receptions (294) and to his school mark in yards 3,347; that number is good for eighth all-time in the Pac-12, as he passed two players today. The TD reception enabled him to break a tie with Scotty McKnight (2007-10) for the most TD receptions in school history with 23.
--His 294 receptions are the 16th-most in NCAA (FBS) history.
--He finished the season with 1,053 yards, joining Charles E. Johnson (1992-93) and Rae Carruth (1995-96) as the three players in school history with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He finished his career catching at least one pass in 38 straight games (multiple in 33 straight, the latter also a CU record).
--This was also his ninth 100-yard game, tied for third-most in school history (with Paul Richardson).

CU/Single-Season Receptions
106	Nelson Spruce	2014
89	Nelson Spruce	2015
78	D.J. Hackett	2003
76	Michael Westbrook	1992
76	Scotty McKnight	2009

TB Phillip Lindsay (9-48). He finished the game with 1,042 career yards, becoming the 53rd player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a career. He also went over the 1,000-yard mark in kickoff return yards, finishing with 1,003.

ILB Rick Gamboa (5,6-11 TT). His official count will be known Monday once the coaches review tape (CU uses coaches numbers for tackles), but redshirt frosh Rick Gamboa has recorded the second-most tackles by a freshman in school history:

*CU/Top Freshman Tacklers (—redshirt)**
Player	Season	G	Plays	UT	AT	TOTAL	TFL	QBS	3DS
Addison Gillam	2013	12	838	78	41	119	10-38	3-25	15
*Rick Gamboa	2015	13	649+	57	39	96	1- 1	1- 0	6
*Matt Russell	1993	11	434	48	37	85	13-38	4-19	6
Jordan Dizon	2004	12	597	51	31	82	6-14	1- 6	7

Players Mentioned

Paul Richardson

Hunter Shaw

Nelson Spruce

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