1980 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The 1980 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the Buffaloes finished at 1–10 (1–6 in Big 8, tied for last),[1] their second consecutive losing season, and played home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

1980 Colorado Buffaloes football
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record1–10 (1–6 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGene Hochevar (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
MVPLance Olander
CaptainCharles Davis, Steve Doolittle, Brant Thurston
Home stadiumFolsom Field
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Oklahoma $ 7 0 0 10 2 0
No. 7 Nebraska 6 1 0 10 2 0
Missouri 5 2 0 8 4 0
Iowa State 3 4 0 7 4 0
Oklahoma State 3 4 0 4 7 0
Kansas State 2 5 0 4 7 0
Kansas 1 6 0 2 8 1
Colorado 1 6 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Colorado's record in 1980 was the worst in program history, punctuated by an 82–42 home loss to Oklahoma in the conference opener,[2] in which 63 records were set. The sole win was over Iowa State in early November;[3] CU had the same record four years later; the 2012 and 2022 teams each had an additional loss (1–11).

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 13at UCLA*L 14–5637,250[4]
September 20at LSU*L 20–2374,999[5]
September 27Indiana*L 7–4940,219[6]
October 4No. 12 Oklahoma
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
ESPNL 42–8250,217[7]
October 11Drake*
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
L 22–4137,689[8]
October 18at No. 16 MissouriL 7–4572,333[9]
October 25No. 9 Nebraska
L 7–4551,989[10]
November 1Iowa State 
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
W 17–941,567[11]
November 8at Oklahoma StateL 7–4250,000[12]
November 15Kansas
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, CO
L 3–4224,187[13]
November 22at Kansas StateL 14–1717,510[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15][16][17]

Roster

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1980 Colorado Buffaloes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
SE 2 Reggie Harden Jr
QB 12 Scott Kingdom Jr
QB 16 Randy Essington Fr
QB, RB 19 Charles Davis (C) Jr
WB 28 Lyndell Hawkins Sr
HB, P 29 Lance Olander Sr
FB 42 Willie Beebe Jr
C 51 Rich Umphrey Jr
OT 61 Art Dale Johnson Sr
C 63 Vince Rafferty Fr
G 64 Bo Halamandaris Sr
G 65 Joe Bell Sr
G 66 Doug Krahenbuhl Jr
OT 72 Brant Thurston (C) Sr
OT 74 Bob Sebro Jr
OT 75 Roger Gunter Jr
OT 76 Bruce Campbell Sr
SE 80 Ricky Ward Jr
TE 84 Bob Niziolek Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 17 Larry Lillo Jr
CB 20 Ricky Bynum Jr
CB 22 Victor Scott Fr
S 31 Jeff Donaldson Fr
ILB 38 Steve Doolittle (C) Sr
ILB 40 Bob Humble So
S 41 Brad Chace So
S 46 Ellis Wood So
OLB 53 Kevin Hood So
OLB 55 Scott Hardison Fr
OLB 56 Rod Butler So
DE 90 Pete Perry Jr
DE 96 Graham Harrison Jr
NT Dan Ralph
CB Tim Stampley
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 3 Tom Field So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Ray Braun (DL)
  • Gary Cabe (WR)
  • Gene Hochevar (OC/QB)
  • Ron Hubbard (AdmA/OL)
  • Lannie Julias (DL)
  • Doug Knotts (DC/LB)
  • Pete Levine (RB)
  • Ron Marciniak (OL)
  • Dick Moseley (DB)
  • John Sanders (TE)
  • Jim Webster (LB)

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

Roster

[18]

References

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  1. ^ "K-State squeaks by Buffs with late field goal, 17-14". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 23, 1980. p. 11B.
  2. ^ "Sooners stagger Colorado, 82-42". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 5, 1980. p. 7B.
  3. ^ "Buffs defeat Cyclones, 17-9". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 2, 1980. p. 5B.
  4. ^ "UCLA romps; Bruins sit on Colorado and on 56 points". The Los Angeles Times. September 14, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Johnston field goal lifts Tigers by Buffaloes". The Daily Advertiser. September 21, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clifford orchestrates 49–7 Indiana triumph". The Times. September 28, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma triumphs in record-smasher". Wisconsin State Journal. October 5, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Drake capsizes Buffs". The Manhattan Mercury. October 12, 1980. Retrieved August 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Intensity cited as MU manhandles Colorado". The Lincoln Star. October 19, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Nebraska triumphs by 'only' 45–7". Star-Herald. October 26, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Buffaloes finally give Fairbanks reason to smile". The Grand Island Independent. November 2, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Oklahoma State runs over Colorado, 42–7". The Sioux City Journal. November 9, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "KU offense stings Buffs 42–3". The Kansas City Star. November 16, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Jackson's kick boosts K-State past Colorado". The Salina Journal. November 23, 1980. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1980 Colorado Buffaloes Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "1980 Football Schedule". University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Colorado Football 2023 Record Book" (PDF). University of Colorado Boulder. p. 49. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  18. ^ "KU-CU probable starters". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). November 14, 1980. p. 17.