1968 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The 1968 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Eddie Crowder, Colorado finished the regular season at 4–6 (3–4 in Big 8, fourth), and played their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

1968 Colorado Buffaloes football
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record4–6 (3–4 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChet Franklin
Offensive schemeSwitching T /
Slot-I triple option
Defensive coordinatorDon James (1st season)
Base defense5–2
MVPMike Schnitker
Captains
  • Rocky Martin
  • Mike Montler
  • Mike Schnitker
Home stadiumFolsom Field
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Kansas + 6 1 0 9 2 0
No. 11 Oklahoma + 6 1 0 7 4 0
No. 9 Missouri 5 2 0 8 3 0
Nebraska 3 4 0 6 4 0
Colorado 3 4 0 4 6 0
Kansas State 2 5 0 4 6 0
Oklahoma State 2 5 0 3 7 0
Iowa State 1 6 0 3 7 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Colorado featured 18 sophomores on the two-deep depth chart and endured an up-and-down season, including the second straight win over Oklahoma in Boulder to improve to 4–2,[1] but then lost four straight in November to conclude the season. The finale was the first loss to Air Force in five years; the Falcons finished at 7–3.[2]

This was the Buffs' first losing season in four years; their next came five years later.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 21Oregon*W 28–744,723
September 28at California*ABCL 0–1027,500
October 5at Iowa StateW 28–1824,500
October 12at MissouriL 14–2750,705
October 19Kansas State
W 37–1432,500
October 26Oklahoma 
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
W 41–2747,724
November 2at No. 3 KansasL 14–2743,442–44,500
November 9at Oklahoma StateL 17–3417,500
November 16Nebraska
L 6–2248,327
November 23Air Force*
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
L 35–5842,300
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[3][4][5]

Personnel edit

Roster edit

1968 Colorado Buffaloes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB/RB 11 Bobby Anderson Jr
HB 25 Steve Engel
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB/DE Mike Schnitker Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Source:[6]

Coaching staff edit

  • Head coach: Eddie Crowder
  • Assistants: Ken Blair (offense), Pat Culpepper (defense), Chet Franklin (offense), Don James (defense), Jim Mora (defense), Steve Ortmayer (offense), Augie Tamariello (offense), Dan Stavely (freshman)

References edit

  1. ^ "Buffs stamped over Sooners, 41-27". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 27, 1968. p. 6B.
  2. ^ "Falcons hope for bowl bid after victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 24, 1968. p. 5B.
  3. ^ "1968 Colorado Buffaloes Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "1968 Football Schedule". University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Colorado Football 2023 Record Book" (PDF). University of Colorado Boulder. p. 37. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Probable starters". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). November 1, 1968. p. 14.