Rank the CU teams from the BIg 12 era

[Unleash Hell]

Rank them from best to worst. Heres a short briefing on each team.

1996 10-2 #5 final ranking
Close losses to #11 Michigan and #4 Nebraska. Shutout of up and coming #9 Kansas State. Beat #13 Washington in Holiday bowl.

1997 5-6
High expectations failed. Some pre-season publications had Colorado pre-season #1. Killed by Michigan, Neuheisel looking like an ass to John Hessler on national TV.

1998 8-4
5-0 start, pounded then #15 and favored CSU 42-14 in the first RMS in Denver. Beat oregon in Aloha bowl.

1999 7-5
Blown out by CSU in a score reversed from the previous year. Lost to Ricky in Seattle, beat a resurgent high powered Oklahoma in Bob Stoops' first year. Heartbreaking loss to Nebraska in OT after we miss a game winning kick in regulation as time expired. Crushed Boston College in Insight.com bowl.

2000 3-8
0-4 start, first win comes in Craig Ochs' first start as a freshman on the road against Texas A&M. Squib kick loss to Nebraska.

2001 10-3 #8 final ranking
5-2 record against ranked teams. Loss to Fresno State in opener cost us an invitation to the BCS national championship game. Beat #12 Kansas state on the roadCrushed #1 Nebraska in one of the biggest wins in school history. Beat Texas in CCG for first and only Big 12 title. Killed by #2 Oregon in Fiesta bowl.

2002 9-5 #18 final ranking
After a 1-2 start that included losing to CSU and gettign rolled by USC, the Buffs went on to win 8 of the last 9 regular season games. Won in Lincoln for first time in 12 years. Lost to Oklahoma in CCG and lost to Wisconsin in OT in the Alamo Bowl.

2003 5-7
Klatt shreds CSU in his first start in RMS shootout. Defense torched a lot this season.

2004 8-5
Overcame a lot with the season of scandal. Ended Nebraska's 33 year winning season streak. Won 3rd Big 12 North title, crushed by Oklahoma in CCG. Beat UTEP in Houston bowl.

2005 7-6
7-2 start, 0-4 finish. Lost to Nebraska and Texas by a combined score of 100-6. Lost to Clemson in Champs Sports bowl.

2006 2-10
Embarrasing Hawkins debut loss to Montana state. Blew a 13-0 lead in the 4th at #9 Georgia. 0-6 start, blowout win over Texas Tech.

2007 6-7
Beat CSU, #4 Oklahoma and Nebraska. Pounded by Mizzou in Boulder. Lost to Alabama in Independence bowl in a game where the final score wasn't as close as the game.

2008 5-7
3-0 start with a OT win over #21 West Virginia. Would only win two more games after that.Mizzou ends our non-shutout streak which was one of longest in nation (first shutout since 1988). Once again blew a great chance to beat Nebraska. Heat really starting to turn up on Hawkins.

2009 3-9
Lost to CSU in Boulder for first time since 1986. Blown out at Toledo. Blew great chances to beat ranked teams Texas and Oklahoma state on the road.

2010 5-7
Lifeless performance at Cal. Upset a mediocre Georgia team in Boulder. Another shutout loss to Mizzou. Lost to Kansas after being up by 4 td's in the 4th. Hawkins fired, Buffs win last two home games for interim coach Brian Cabral.

 

[66BUFF]

1996
2001
2002
1998
1999
2004
2005
2000
2003
1997
2007
2010
2008
2006
2009

 

[Unleash Hell]

1996
2001
2002
1998
1999
2004
2005
2000
2003
1997
2007
2010
2008
2006
2009

Thanks for playing. I pretty much agree with you except I would move 2007 ahead of 00,03 and 97. The wins over Oklahoma and Nebraska (granted NU was bad) were still a lot of fun.

1996 could have been something special if a certain somebody was still coach.

 

[66BUFF]

good catch..must has put that year in the wrong spot

 

[BuffNut99]

2001 - Beat #1 and #3 in back-to-back weeks, killed Nebraska'a program, smashmouth-style, won hardware
1996 - Very good team that couldn't beat Nebraska.
2002 - Always liked this team because Chris Brown was so damn good this season, and we played OU tougher than anyone
1998 - I followed these Buffs from abroad (Australia). Tough losses to KSU and NU (gave up defensive TDs in each game)
2004 - With the exception of getting blown out three times, was a good season.
1999 - Biggest bowl beatdown ever. Tough losses to KSU, NU prevent North title.
2005 - Last ranked team we've had. Impressive start, epic meltdown.
2003 - QB issues, poor D.
1997 - Sporting News preseason #1. John Hessler reality show.
2000 - Came on strong at the end, future looked very bright. Most painful loss to Nebraska.
2007 - Hawk's 5th worst season. Iowa State, Kansas, Arizona St. fail.
2008 - Hawk's 4th worst season. Worst Mizzou beatdown.
2010 - Hawk's 3rd worst season. Kansas epic fail.
2009 - Hawk's 2nd worst season. Toledo.
2006 - Hawk's worst season. Montana State.

 

[Quattro]

Wonder where we'd be had the "scandal" never occurred and Barnett was still the head coach.

 

[sackman]

The years tend to blend together for me. I'd put 2001 at the top of the list, conference champions and all. I'd put Hawk's first year at the bottom. Losing to Montana State should have gotten him fired on the spot. There were a lot of warning signs that he was a terrible choice, but this was the first tangible evidence we had.

 

[nepbug]

2001 - Beat #1 and #3 in back-to-back weeks, killed Nebraska'a program, smashmouth-style, won hardware
1996 - Very good team that couldn't beat Nebraska.
2002 - Always liked this team because Chris Brown was so damn good this season, and we played OU tougher than anyone
1998 - I followed these Buffs from abroad (Australia). Tough losses to KSU and NU (gave up defensive TDs in each game)
2004 - With the exception of getting blown out three times, was a good season.
1999 - Biggest bowl beatdown ever. Tough losses to KSU, NU prevent North title.
2005 - Last ranked team we've had. Impressive start, epic meltdown.
2003 - QB issues, poor D.
1997 - Sporting News preseason #1. John Hessler reality show.
2000 - Came on strong at the end, future looked very bright. Most painful loss to Nebraska.
2007 - Hawk's 5th worst season. Iowa State, Kansas, Arizona St. fail.
2008 - Hawk's 4th worst season. Worst Mizzou beatdown.
2010 - Hawk's 3rd worst season. Kansas epic fail.
2009 - Hawk's 2nd worst season. Toledo.
2006 - Hawk's worst season. Montana State.

I agree with this, except I would swap 2003 ahead of 2005, just because of the lightning pass Joel Klatt had to D.J. Hackett (I think it was D.J.) in the CSU game. Lightning flashed when he threw it towards the sideline, and thunder struck just moments after it was caught, awesome.
I doubly-agree about the 1999 Insight.com Bowl beatdown, that is the most fun I've had at and after a bowl game that I've been to. I remember Jashon Sykes being an absolute animal in that game.

 

[nepbug]

Scratch that, the Lightning Pass wasn't to Hackett it was to Derek McCoy for a TD in the third. It's at 2:17 in this video.
[video]http://youtu.be/D5SOj14WfnQ[/video]
[video=youtube;D5SOj14WfnQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5SOj14WfnQ[/video]

 

[Mick Ronson]

for some reason 00 and 03 stand out to me as particularly frustrating. 00 team loses 3 close games to teams then ranked in the top 10 and CSU out of the box, as i recall...and never really got it's center of gravity back. obviously, QB was going to be an issue with MM graduating but after the Insight.com bowl and landing Houston and Ochs....it looked pretty bright for Barney.

(i guess the equiv for Hawkins was being 3-0 after the WVU win with Scott, Katoa, Major in the previous class...coming off the bowl appearance. though, watching the WVU game it was pretty clear neither team was a world-beater....however, they rallied for an 8 win or something season and we tanked....for good). and minus the fact Barney wins the conference the next year.

03, play a stout game against that Jason White team that was touted as being the "greatest ever" at the time. they were mauling people, put 60 on Texas. CU is down a score in the 4th. another CU team that never got over the hump and about when Okruch was indefensible by even Gary.

edit: looks like in 00, we get beat by #9 @USC, #11 UW, and pounded by #5 KSU. i knew that KSU game was in there....i was there...and i think they have two punt returns for TD's in the first half. and it was over. that was a really good KSU team...physical on D with Jon McGraw. i thought Jonathon Beasley was underrated....not the athlete that Bishop or Roberson were but a better passer and much smarter IMO).

 

[aik]

01, 96, 02... then it gets sketchy. 98 and 04 may be in the next grouping, hard to tell after that except those battling it out for the worst. Though I will say 03 destroys 07 head to head. The defensive secondary plus Dizon and Wright may be an improvement over the older squad but Klatt plus guys like Purify and Klopfenstein would make that offense go over a Hawk team. Especially with coaching.

 

[Unleash Hell]

01, 96, 02... then it gets sketchy. 98 and 04 may be in the next grouping, hard to tell after that except those battling it out for the worst. Though I will say 03 destroys 07 head to head. The defensive secondary plus Dizon and Wright may be an improvement over the older squad but Klatt plus guys like Purify and Klopfenstein would make that offense go over a Hawk team. Especially with coaching.

So, you would have a team that went 1-2 against CSU, OU and Nebraska over a team that went 3-0 against those teams? Not many CU teams have beaten CSU, OU and NU in the same season. I just remember all the blowouts we took in 2003 and how much our secondary got burned. Phil "toast" Jackson.

 

[aik]

So, you would have a team that went 1-2 against CSU, OU and Nebraska over a team that went 3-0 against those teams? Not many CU teams have beaten CSU, OU and NU in the same season. I just remember all the blowouts we took in 2003 and how much our secondary got burned. Phil "toast" Jackson.

Phil Jackson v. T-Wheat is the most damning argument against what I said, but I think those 3 teams you listed were collectively much better in 2003 than four years later.

 

[Unleash Hell]

Phil Jackson v. T-Wheat is the most damning argument against what I said, but I think those 3 teams you listed were collectively much better in 2003 than four years later.

I don't know, the 2003 team was not very impressive, horrible defense, getting blown out a lot, and not going to a bowl like the 07 team did. Not saying 07 was much better, but OU and Nebraska werent that much better in 03 IMO. If the 2007 CU team can put 65 on Nebraska (yes I know NU's defense was horrible), they could probably put that much on the 2003 CU team. It's close, but I don't see how you can give the 03 team the nod.

 

[Sammy11]

I think your 2005 team is better than people think.
1- You had to face national champ Texas, a team thats in the top 10 of the modern era and probably top 5, TWICE. Take that away and its 7-4
2- You would have beaten Clemson with Klatt. Your D was lights out against them and almost held on long enough for White to make plays in the end. Cox was awful and held you back. 8-3
3- Your D would have been top 20 if not for UTx2

 

[Quattro]

We still got beat 100-6 though the last two games, that's pretty bad otherwise I agree with you.

 

[sackman]

CU lost at home to what is probably the worst NU team in the last 100 years. GB had totally lost that squad. It was time to move on. I'm just sorry we moved on with a complete imbecile at the helm.

 

[Mick Ronson]

CU lost at home to what is probably the worst NU team in the last 100 years. GB had totally lost that squad. It was time to move on. I'm just sorry we moved on with a complete imbecile at the helm.

that was a weird game. GB is talking big win all through the bye week and we lose 30-3 or something. almost as dumb as GB's at Baylor after the Bloodbath Trilogy. i liked Gary, but the idea he could do no wrong is silly. i get it post-Hawk.

 

[Unleash Hell]

CU lost at home to what is probably the worst NU team in the last 100 years. GB had totally lost that squad. It was time to move on. I'm just sorry we moved on with a complete imbecile at the helm.

04 and 07 NU teams were worse, but ya, for the most part, we should have rolled the 05 NU team and the opposite happened. I remember we were talking a lot of trash to them during pre-game stretches. I think we were overconfident in that game.

 

[Sammy11]

CU lost at home to what is probably the worst NU team in the last 100 years. GB had totally lost that squad. It was time to move on. I'm just sorry we moved on with a complete imbecile at the helm.

Really? Last 100 years? I would say 05 NU was better than 07 and 02, on par with 08 and 09 as really the main differences were close league games that simply broke differently. 05 was 2-2 in close ones in b12 play, 09 was 4-2 (counting ut loss in the title game & mu as mizzou was close for 59 min), and 2008 was 2-1. 2005 started slow but beat good Michigan & ISU teams and gave ranked OU and Tech all they could handle. Not their best but far from the 2007 or 2004 disasters for them.

 

[Unleash Hell]

I think Nebraska also beat Michigan in the Alamo bowl that year.

 

[Mick Ronson]

Oklahoma wasn't any good in 05. that's the year that they lose to TCU and are maybe a 7 win team at best.

edit: looked it up, won 8 games and beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. better than i thought, but still losses to TCU, UCLA, Texas, etc.

out of the Callahan years, i was kind of a fan of Zac Taylor. he was a good college QB. made some nice throws on 3rd down. i'm off to take a shower.

 

[JimmyBuff]

96 and 2001 were the best teams. The rest were blah, and the Hawk teams were brutal.

 

[Unleash Hell]

96 and 2001 were the best teams. The rest were blah, and the Hawk teams were brutal.

I actually really thought the 2004 team was special. They had to overcome a lot in that year of the scandal. The win over K-state on a TD on the last play of the game, ending Nebraskas winning season and bowl streak. My good friend Matt McChesney told me that beating Nebraska in Lincoln and ending their streak was the proudest moment in his CU career.

2002 was pretty damn good too. won 8 of their last 9 regular season games after 1-2 start. Tyler Brayton took a piece of tape at halftime of the UCLA game and put it on the floor. He said, "If you're ready to play Colorado football, cross this line. If not, then don't play." That was the turning point of the season. I wish we had some guys like Brayton now. We damn near had a 2,000 yard back and Heisman trophy finalist had an injury not occured as well. That KSU game was one of the most exciting games in CU history.

EDIT: I also liked the 1999 team. Other than the blowout loss to CSU, we beat a resurgent Oklahoma team (who would win the national title the next year), a missed FG from beating Nebraska, and crushing Boston College in the bowl game.

 

[BlackNGold]

The 2001 team goes to the top of my list. Winning the conference Championship is a big deal - wining it like they did was even better. For perspective - Since 1950 CU has only won the conference title 5 times so it is a big deal.
The 1996 obviously was a very good team.
The 2002 was one of my favorites...I thought they overcame a lot of adversity to get where they did.
The 2004 team - beating Nebraska winning 8 games with a lot of crap going on as Unleash pointed out.
The 1999 could of been much better so they are here on my list.

After that it is very muddled. 97, 98, - we started to see the effects of RN coaching...the 98 team was okay but I was starting to get very disillusioned - getting beat by KU and Missouri (lost our focus getting off the bus). The 2005 team crashed and burned. All the Hawk years the team never got off the ground.

 

[McBuffin]

01
96
02
98
04
99
07
05
03
97
08
10
00
09
06

 

[whatthebuff]

If I ever need to force myself to throw up, I'll just remember 2006-2010.

 

[CVilleBuff]

14-2 Big12 record in the '01-'02 span...****

 

[buffsyko]

01,96,02 and 95.

That 96 nebraska game should have been cu's. Stone handed wr cost CU 2 td's in that game.

Too bad calhoun and jolly left, 03 and 04 could have been much different.

That 99 game at home vs fuskers was brutal.

 

[Unleash Hell]

01,96,02 and 95.

That 96 nebraska game should have been cu's. Stone handed wr cost CU 2 td's in that game.

Too bad calhoun and jolly left, 03 and 04 could have been much different.

That 99 game at home vs fuskers was brutal.

Chris Anderson is the stone handed WR. btw, 95 was still Big 8.