1989 Colorado Buffaloes football team

1989 Colorado Buffaloes football
1989 Colorado Buffaloes football
Big Eight champion
Orange Bowl, L 6–21 vs. Notre Dame
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 4
AP	No. 4
Record	11–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach	Bill McCartney (8th season);
Offensive coordinator	Gerry DiNardo (6th season)
Offensive scheme	I-Bone option
Defensive coordinator	Mike Hankwitz (2nd season)
Base defense	5-2
MVP	Darian Hagan (QB)
Captains	Sal Aunese (honorary); Bill Coleman (OT); Mike Jones (LB); Erich Kissick (FB); Bruce Young (S);
Home stadium	Folsom Field
	Seasons ← 1988 1990 →

1989 Big Eight Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 4 Colorado $	7	–	0	–	0	11	–	1	–	0
No. 11 Nebraska	6	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
Oklahoma	5	–	2	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Iowa State	4	–	3	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Oklahoma State	3	–	4	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Kansas	2	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Missouri	1	–	6	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Kansas State	0	–	7	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big Eight Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Colorado finished with the most wins in school history, surpassing the 1971 team, and their first conference championship in thirteen years. The Buffaloes went undefeated in the regular season at 11–0 (7–0 in Big 8) and played for the national title, but lost to fourth-ranked Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.^[1]

The team dedicated the season to senior and former starting quarterback Sal Aunese, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late March,^[2] and died at age 21 on September 23 due to complications from the disease.^[3]^[4]^[5]

For the first time in 28 years, Colorado defeated Oklahoma and Nebraska in the same season.^[6]^[7] In the 27 seasons in between, they had five wins over Oklahoma (1965, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1976) and two over Nebraska (1967, 1986).

In another feel-good story, the team was host to a Make A Wish recipient Chad Henry for the big game against Nebraska in Boulder. Henry was an up-and-coming high school football player from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and the son of college/NFL coach Jack Henry, who began following the Buffaloes after reading about Sal Aunese's battle with cancer while himself battling a very rare and dangerous form of abdominal cancer. After cheering on the Buffs to the biggest win in school history in early November, Henry and his family were also invited to attend the national championship game in Miami as guests of the university. He went on to defeat the disease and did play football for his high school again in 1990. Although his once promising football career was ended following that season due to complications with side effects from the intense chemotherapy he endured, Henry went on to coach football at his high school and became a scout for the NFL's Detroit Lions and is currently with the Indianapolis Colts.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	5:30 pm	Texas*	No. 14	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado	ESPN	W 27–6	47,269
September 9	1:30 pm	Colorado State*	No. 9	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Showdown)	KCNC	W 45–20	44,921
September 16	1:30 pm	No. 10 Illinois*	No. 8	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado	CBS	W 38–7	46,747
September 30	2:00 pm	at No. 21 Washington*	No. 5	Husky Stadium Seattle	KCNC	W 45–28	69,152
October 7	1:30 pm	Missouri	No. 3	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado		W 49–3	51,855
October 14	1:00 pm	at Iowa State	No. 3	Cyclone Stadium Ames, Iowa	KCNC	W 52–17	41,515
October 21	1:30 pm	Kansas	No. 3	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado		W 49–17	50,057
October 28	12:30 pm	at Oklahoma	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, Oklahoma	KWGN	W 20–3	75,004
November 4	12:30 pm	No. 3 Nebraska	No. 2	Folsom Field Boulder, Colorado (rivalry)	CBS	W 27–21	52,877
November 11	12:30 pm	at Oklahoma State	No. 2	Lewis Field Stillwater, Oklahoma	KCNC	W 41–17	41,000
November 18	11:10 am	at Kansas State	No. 2	KSU Stadium Manhattan, Kansas (rivalry)	KCNC	W 59–11	20,117
January 1, 1990	6:00 pm	vs. No. 4 Notre Dame*	No. 1	Orange Bowl Miami, Florida (Orange Bowl)	NBC	L 6–21	81,191
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

Source:^[8]

Personnel

1989 Colorado Buffaloes football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB		Matt Bell
RB	`1`	Eric Bieniemy	Jr
TE		Jon Boman
WR	`84`	Jeff Campbell	Sr
OT	`77`	Bill Coleman (C)
RB		Dennis Collier
RB		Scott DeGoler
RB		J.J. Flannigan
G	`62`	Joe Garten	Jr
QB	`3`	Darian Hagan	So
FB		George Hemingway
WR		Mark Henry
QB		Charles S. Johnson
FB		Eric Kissick (C)
C	`52`	Jay Leeuwenberg	So
G		Darren Muilenberg
WR		M.J. Nelson
RB		O.C. Oliver
TE		John Perak
WR	`9`	Mike Pritchard	Jr
RB		Tony Senna
RB		Michael Simmons
OT	`72`	Mark VanderPoel	Jr
QB		Mark Walters

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
OLB		Chad Brown
CB		David Gibbs
DL		Gary Howe
S		Tim James
ILB		Terry Johnson
ILB	`59`	Michael Jones (C)
CB	`12`	Dave McCloughan	Jr
DE	`96`	Kanavis McGhee	Jr
DT		Okland Salavea
NG	`93`	Joel Steed	So
DT		Arthur Walker	Sr
OLB	`94`	Alfred Williams
S		Bruce Young (C)

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		Ken Culbertson
P		Tom Rouen

Head coach

Bill McCartney (8th year)

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Gary Barnett
Mike Barry
Gerry DiNardo (OC)
Don Frease
Mike Hankwitz (DC)
Oliver Lucas
Bob Simmons
Ron Vanderlinden
Zaven Yaralian

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	14	9	8	6	5	3	3 (2)	3 (3)	3 (1)	2 (2)	2 (4)	2 (3)	2 (3)	1 (53)	1 (55)	1 (51)	4
Coaches	14	11	7	5	5	4	4 (1)	3 (1)	3 (1)	2 (2)	2 (5)	2 (4)	2 (4)	1 (39)	1 (42)	—	4

Season summary

Texas

Colorado State

Illinois

At Washington

Missouri

At Iowa State

Kansas

At Oklahoma

#3 Colorado Buffaloes (6–0) at Oklahoma Sooners (5–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	0	10	0	10	20
Oklahoma	0	0	0	3	3

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: October 28
Game attendance: 75,004
TV: KWGN
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

CU – Ken Culbertson 30-yard field goal. Colorado 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards.
CU – J.J. Flannigan 1-yard run (Ken Culbertson kick). Colorado 10–0.

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

OU – R.D. Lashar 33-yard field goal. Colorado 10–3.
CU – Ken Culbertson 27-yard field goal, 9:49. Colorado 13–3. Drive: 9 plays.
CU – Darian Hagan 8-yard run (Ken Culbertson kick). Colorado 20–3.

Top rushers

CU –Darian Hagan – 21 rushes, 107 yards, TD

Colorado 8-0 for first time since 1927
Culbertson's field goal in second quarter gave Colorado its first lead over Oklahoma in a game since 1976
Colorado's first win in Norman since 1965
J.J. Flannigan 25 rushes, 103 yards
Arthur Walker 8 tackles, sack (Big 8 Defensive Player of Week)

^[9]

Nebraska

#3 Nebraska at #2 Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cornhuskers	7	7	7	0	21
• Buffaloes	14	3	7	3	27

Date: November 4
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado
Game attendance: 52,877
TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Pat Haden

^[10] ^[11]

Colorado honored their All-Century team at halftime

At Oklahoma State

At Kansas State

Orange Bowl (vs. Notre Dame)

#1 Colorado Buffaloes (11–0) vs. #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	0	0	14	7	21
Colorado	0	0	6	0	6

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Date: January 1, 1990
Game attendance: 81,190
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
Recap/Box

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

ND – Anthony Johnson 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:48. Notre Dame 7–0.
ND – Raghib Ismail 35-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 7:19. Notre Dame 14–0.
CU – Darian Hagan 39-yard run (kick failed), 0:01. Notre Dame 14–6.

Fourth quarter

ND – Anthony Johnson 7-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:32. Notre Dame 21–6.

Top passers

ND – Tony Rice – 5/9, 99 yards
CU – Darian Hagan – 4/13, 65 yards

Top rushers

ND – Anthony Johnson – 15 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
CU – Eric Bieniemy – 11 rushes, 66 yards

Top receivers

ND – Pat Eilers – 2 receptions, 47 yards
CU – Eric Kissick – 2 receptions, 33 yards

^[12]

References

^ "No crown for Buffs". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. January 1, 1990. p. 1B.
^ "Colorado quarterback stricken by cancer". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 31, 1989. p. 2B.
^ "Colorado mourns quarterback's death". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 25, 1989. p. 2B.
^ "2,000 bid farewell to Aunese". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 26, 1989. p. 6D.
^ "Colorado tips Washington after memorial". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 1, 1989. p. 7B.
^ "Colorado ends Oklahoma domination, 20-3". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 29, 1989. p. 5B.
^ "Colorado nails Nebraska, 27-21". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 5, 1989. p. 1B.
^ 2011 Colorado football information guide
^ "Oklahoma – Getting a High Five in the Produce Aisle". CU at the Game. October 28, 1989. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
^ "A look back at Nov. 4, 1989: Colorado 27, Nebraska 21". Denver Post. November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
^ "Nebraska vs. Colorado 1989". Husker Max. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
^ "Lackluster Colorado Leveled by Notre Dame". The New York Times. January 2, 1990. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[nocr-1] "No crown for Buffs". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. January 1, 1990. p. 1B.

[colqbsb-2] "Colorado quarterback stricken by cancer". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 31, 1989. p. 2B.

[cmqbdt-3] "Colorado mourns quarterback's death". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 25, 1989. p. 2B.

[fwmemser-4] "2,000 bid farewell to Aunese". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 26, 1989. p. 6D.

[ctpwa-5] "Colorado tips Washington after memorial". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 1, 1989. p. 7B.

[endom-6] "Colorado ends Oklahoma domination, 20-3". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 29, 1989. p. 5B.

[cuneb-7] "Colorado nails Nebraska, 27-21". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 5, 1989. p. 1B.

[8] 2011 Colorado football information guide

[9] "Oklahoma – Getting a High Five in the Produce Aisle". CU at the Game. October 28, 1989. Retrieved October 14, 2022.

[10] "A look back at Nov. 4, 1989: Colorado 27, Nebraska 21". Denver Post. November 22, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

[11] "Nebraska vs. Colorado 1989". Husker Max. Retrieved November 25, 2014.

[12] "Lackluster Colorado Leveled by Notre Dame". The New York Times. January 2, 1990. Retrieved January 1, 2019.

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v t e Colorado Buffaloes football
Venues	Campus fields (1890–1901) Gamble Field (1901–1924) Folsom Field (1924–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Colorado State: Rocky Mountain Showdown Kansas State Nebraska Utah: Rumble in the Rockies
Culture & lore	Ralphie the Buffalo "CU Fight Song" "Golden Buffalo" Marching band Fifth Down Game Miracle at Michigan
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees
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National championship seasons in bold

v t e Big Eight Conference football champions
MVIAA	Iowa & Nebraska (1907) Kansas (1908) Missouri (1909) Nebraska (1910) Iowa State & Nebraska (1911) Iowa State & Nebraska (1912) Missouri & Nebraska (1913) Nebraska (1914) Nebraska (1915) Nebraska (1916) Nebraska (1917) Missouri (1919) Oklahoma (1920) Nebraska (1921) Drake & Nebraska (1922) Kansas & Nebraska (1923) Missouri (1924) Missouri (1925) Oklahoma A&M (1926) Missouri (1927)
Big Six	Nebraska (1928) Nebraska (1929) Kansas (1930) Nebraska (1931) Nebraska (1932) Nebraska (1933) Kansas State (1934) Nebraska (1935) Nebraska (1936) Nebraska (1937) Oklahoma (1938) Missouri (1939) Nebraska (1940) Missouri (1941) Missouri (1942) Oklahoma (1943) Oklahoma (1944) Missouri (1945) Kansas & Oklahoma (1946) Kansas & Oklahoma (1947)
Big Seven	Oklahoma (1948) Oklahoma (1949) Oklahoma (1950) Oklahoma (1951) Oklahoma (1952) Oklahoma (1953) Oklahoma (1954) Oklahoma (1955) Oklahoma (1956) Oklahoma (1957) Oklahoma (1958) Oklahoma (1959)
Big Eight	Missouri (1960) Colorado (1961) Oklahoma (1962) Nebraska (1963) Nebraska (1964) Nebraska (1965) Nebraska (1966) Oklahoma (1967) Kansas & Oklahoma (1968) Missouri & Nebraska (1969) Nebraska (1970) Nebraska (1971) Nebraska (1972) Oklahoma (1973) Oklahoma (1974) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1975) Colorado, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State (1976) Oklahoma (1977) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1978) Oklahoma (1979) Oklahoma (1980) Nebraska (1981) Nebraska (1982) Nebraska (1983) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1984) Oklahoma (1985) Oklahoma (1986) Oklahoma (1987) Nebraska (1988) Colorado (1989) Colorado (1990) Colorado & Nebraska (1991) Nebraska (1992) Nebraska (1993) Nebraska (1994) Nebraska (1995)
National championships in bold