Revdarth.com

Not every win is a pretty one, but every win is still a win.  Last night was exactly that for the Buffaloes.  17-14 over West Virginia in a game that I think was more dominated by good defense (and a few really boneheaded play calls by WVU’s coach) after the 1st quarter ended.  As I watched until the wee hours of the night, I was thinking of how great it would have been to have been in Boulder last night for the game.  Then I read on facebook that one of my college buddies did go to the game and said that it was the most electric atmosphere he had experienced at Folsom.  It got me thinking about other Buffs games that brought out a similar atmosphere.

Until I moved away from Boulder after graduation, I had gone to most of the Buffs home games since I was in 6th grade.  My parents had season tickets and then I had my student tickets when I was in school.  Two games stand out - one while we had those season tix and one from a game I came home for.

Monday, September 4, 1989 - The first game of what was one of the most magical seasons in Colorado history.  It was the first game for starting QB Darian Hagan and it was against future Big 12 opponent Texas.  It was my first night game at Folsom Field and on one of the first plays of the game, Hagan darted around the right side of the line on an option play and took it to the house for a 60 yard touchdown.  It was the first game of what was to be an undefeated regular season in Colorado’s centennial season. As Hagan darted down the sidelines (right in front of me I might add), the stadium was just going crazy. I still remember the volume.

Friday, November 23, 2001 - That volume of the Texas game was easily eclipsed by the day that Colorado began what was to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ slide into irrelevance (although they are trying to climb back out).  The Buffs came in as big underdogs to the then-#2 ranked corn and the Buffs shot out to a 21-0 lead in about the first 5 minutes of the game.  While the Huskers made a bit of a game of it in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the Buffs eventually pulled away for a 62-36 win.  My seats that day were at the very front of the visitors section, so the volume and insanity of the rest of the stadium was in great contrast to the silence of the red-and-white-clad fans behind us.  I have never been in a stadium as electric as it was that night.  Amazing.

I have great hopes for where Dan Hawkins will take the Buffs from here.  He’s building the program well and is moving in the right direction.  Time to take down the ‘Noles!