Plati-'Tudes Shorts: Top Games 2's

Plati-'Tudes Short No. 2 ... The second installment of CU's best or most exciting football games in its history as to when they occurred in week two of any season. We'll be running these over the next three months on our "Throwback Thursdays" -- many are obvious, a few obscure, and no doubt some up for debate. The best game twos in our history in my humble opinion:

GAME 2's

#1—1970: Colorado 41, Penn State 13 in Boulder.
This win led to CU's first-ever appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated – linebacker Phil Irwin's helmet graced most of the page as the Buffaloes ended the Nittany Lions 31-game unbeaten streak (and a 23-game winning run). Pat Murphy made an interception at the Penn State 40 on the first play of the game, and five plays later John Tarver scored from 1-yard out; Dave Haney added two field goals and CU led 13-0 just 12 minutes into the game and never looked back. Cliff Branch's 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half all but sealed things, giving CU a 27-7 lead at that point. It could have been worse: each team had five turnovers. Herb Orvis had 15 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, and Irwin had 12 tackles to lead a stout CU defense, which limited Penn State's prolific running duo of Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris to just 128 yards on 36 carries. The Buffaloes outgained the Nittany Lions, 406-290 in dealing Penn State its third worst loss over the previous 15 seasons.

Runner-Up—1961: Colorado 20, Kansas 19 in Boulder.
Turned out to be a key win in CU's run to its first Big 8 title … KU took a 19-0 lead with 13:18 left in the game, and the 42,700 in attendance were about to leave Folsom Field. But a good kickoff return by Loren Schweninger to the CU 42 set up a 58-yard touchdown pass from Gale Weidner to Ken Blair, and it was 19-7 with 13:04 to go. The defense stuffed KU on the next series, and got the offense the ball back at the CU 37. Four plays later, it was Weidner to Blair for 48 yards and a score, and all of a sudden it was 19-14 with 10:03 left. The Jayhawks earned one first down on their next possession but were again stopped, with the CU taking over at its 37. Weidner directed a more deliberate eight-play drive, capped by his throwing a 17-yard TD pass to Jerry Hillebrand with 2:56 remaining. CU missed the two-point conversion (in just its third year in the rule book, by the way), but after making one first down, KU was stifled on a 4th-&-10 from its 40 and the Buffaloes would go on to win with the largest comeback in their history at the time. Weidner threw for 209 yards and a school record three TD passes to rally Colorado, which outgained KU in the final 13 minutes by a 182-34 margin.

Honorable Mention—1985: Colorado 21, Oregon 17 in Boulder.
CU was coming off a 1-10 season, and Bill McCartney shocked the college football world by announcing in the spring that the Buffs would be converting to the wishbone on offense. Colorado looked good in the opener, defeating Colorado State, 23-10, rushing for 358 yards, and had Oregon visiting Boulder for the second game in the new offensive look. But was week one a fluke? CU would rush for 342 yards against the Ducks, with a 22-yard TD run by quarterback Mark Hatcher giving CU a 21-17 lead with 12:34 left in the game. Oregon drove to the CU 24 on its next possession, but that's where it ended with a David Tate interception. CU went three-and-out and the Ducks had one last chance. Oregon ate up the final 5:23 on the clock, and on the 12th play of the drive, a 4th-&-goal from the CU 3, UO quarterback Chris Miller dropped to pass, only to be sacked by Mickey Pruitt for a 14-yard loss. Game over and CU's first 2-0 start since 1978.

"Plati-'Tudes" features notes and stories that may not get much play from the mainstream media; offers Plati's or CU's take on issues raised by those who have an interest in the program; answers questions and concerns; and provides CU's point of view if we should disagree with what may have been written or broadcast. Have a question or want to know CU's take on something? E-mail Dave at david.plati@colorado.edu, and the subject may appear in the next Plati-'Tudes.

Players Mentioned

Chris Miller

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