2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team
Mason Crosby did not perform as well as last season (19 for 27) and the Hawkins era didn't start as many had expected with his success at Boise State.
The offense appeared to struggle to learn the new system and early quarterback uncertainty did not allow the team to have consistency.
The defense performed excellently at times and was good overall, but without the offense producing points, Colorado would lose, though many games were close.
With a new head coach, a new offensive system and the loss of several key players such as Joel Klatt (QB), Joe Klopfenstein (TE), Quinn Sypniewski (TE), Lawrence Vickers (TB) and John Torp (P), Colorado faced some challenges to hang on to their Big 12 North Title.
[1] Tyrone Henderson and Gerett Burl, starters in the 2005–06 season, were permanently released from the team prior to fall practice.
With one year left of eligibility, Cox has seen playing time the previous 3 seasons behind Klatt, with two starts to his credit: the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl and in 2004 against Iowa State.
[14] Colorado's season began against Division I-AA opponent Montana State on September 2.
Although the schools have not played football against each other in 8 decades, they are rivals in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association competing weekly.
Despite this limited success on defense, Freshman CB Cha'pelle Brown consistently failed to defend against the pass and Senior safety J. J. Billingsley missed too many tackles.
For detailed information on the game stats see footnote[18] and play-by-play summary see [19] The 2006 Rocky Mountain Showdown took place on September 9 at a neutral site, Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado.
Colorado could have lost out on US$400,000 from the Big 12 Conference since the game may not have met the classification of being nationally televised due to the limited market of CSTV.
If the game meets the mark with last-minute deals with other networks, CSU is guaranteed $50,000 of the money in the contract.
Mason Crosby kicked a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter but the Rams then scored another TD with a 6-yard pass to TE Kory Sperry.
The Buffaloes mis-managed the clock at the end of the first half and failed to get Crosby a chance at an approximately 52-yard field goal.
Crosby missed a 61-yard field goal to wind up the opening drive for the Buffaloes in the second half (he had made it when the play initially went but it was whistled dead because Colorado State had taken a timeout – it would have been the longest of his career).
Tight end Patrick Devenny may move to the QB position to fill the hole for the season.
[24] The game was televised as part of the SEC syndicated package produced by Lincoln Financial Sports and was also picked up locally in the Denver/Boulder market on KTVD My20 (Comcast's Channel 3 in Denver area), KRDO-TV (Colorado Springs) and KJCT-TV (Grand Junction) also picked up the broadcasts for their markets.
[24] Colorado lead for the entire game until Georgia backup quarterback Cox (no relation to James) came in the 4th quarter and threw two touchdown passes, the second with 41 seconds left in the game to pull out the Buffaloes upset hopes.
Colorado center Mark Fenton suffered a broken fibula during the second quarter of the game.
Baylor won in 3 overtimes, kicking a field goal in the 3rd OT while the Buffaloes' Jackson threw an interception to end the game.
The offense started performing to their capabilities producing a 119 yard rusher in Hugh Charles which is the most that Tech has given up this season.
Crosby and sophomore free safety Ryan Walters were named Big 12 Players of the Week for their performance in the game.
The main threat, Adrian Peterson on his run for the Heisman Trophy, was injured the previous week.
Mason Crosby had an excellent day kicking and providing the only scoring going 3 for 3 on field goals including 26, 32 and 37 yards putting Colorado up 9–0 at halftime.
James Cox broke his right thumb in the second quarter making Patrick Devenny the QB backup.
Freshman Todd Reesing came in and rallied Kansas throwing for 2 touchdowns and running for another to beat Colorado.
Despite having the two longest running plays of the season, Colorado failed to rally to meet Kansas State.
Iowa State's head coach Dan McCarney announced the week before the game he was resigning his position.
Colorado failed to prevent just its third 10-loss season in 117 years of intercollegiate football (going 1–10 in 1980 and 1984) as well as to end a 13-game losing streak to ranked teams.
[31] * – Includes game at neutral site Invesco Field in Denver, CO where Colorado State was the home team.
