1981 Colorado Buffaloes football team

American college football season August 2023 December 2025 1981 Colorado Buffaloes football Big Eight Conference Big 8 3–8 2–5 Chuck Fairbanks 3rd Gene Hochevar 2nd Multiple Doug Knotts 3rd 3–4 Pete Perry Pete Perry Bob Sebro Folsom Field The 1981 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big Eight Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the third and final season for Chuck Fairbanks' as head coach, and the first year of blue jerseys for the Buffaloes, which were phased out in 1984.https://cubuffs.com/sports/2005/5/10/119691.aspx CU Logo Evolution Fact Sheet CUBuffs.com December 5, 2019 http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_22929588/football-former-cu-buffs-coach-chuck-fairbanks-dies Boulder Daily Camera Football: Former CU Buffs coach Chuck Fairbanks dies at 79 Thorburn Ryan Buffzone.com April 2, 2013 April 3, 2013https://www.si.com/vault/1982/10/11/625047/ucla-now-stands-for-uncork-lots-of-aerials Sports Illustrated McCallum Jack UCLA now stands for Uncork Lots Of Aerials October 11, 1982 32 The Buffaloes finished at 3–8 (2–5 in Big 8, seventh) for a third consecutive losing season. Home games were played on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder. After a shutout loss at Kansas,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BqUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6241%2C2572014 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Woodling Chuck Jayhawks' defense corrals Buffs, 27-0 June 2, 1982 17 CU defeated last-place Kansas State by three points at home in the season finale to avoid the conference cellar. Well after the season in June 1982, Fairbanks resigned to become head coach, president, and minority owner of the New Jersey Generals of the new United States Football League (USFL).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ao0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-ucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1629%2C215366 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Associated Press Fairbanks quits Colorado to coach in USFL June 2, 1982 17 His overall record at CU was a disappointing 7 26 y, 5 16 y in conference. Bill McCartney, the defensive coordinator at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, was announced as Colorado's new head coach on June 9,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9pZaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a0sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2008%2C4400651 Ludington Daily News Michigan Associated Press Colorado talks with McCartney June 9, 1982 9https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hj9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pwIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4928%2C8018049 Toledo Blade Ohio Associated Press McCartney gets Colorado post June 10, 1982 38https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CI0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-ucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3267%2C1473918 Lawrence Journal-World Kansas Associated Press CU tabs McCartney new football coach June 10, 1982 15 and led the program for thirteen seasons, through 1994. Schedule 1981 AP September 12 w y Texas Tech Folsom Field Boulder, CO 45–27 34,884 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wichita-falls-times-buffaloes-roam-past/158244311/ Wichita Falls Times Buffaloes roam past Texas Tech September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 l y Washington State Folsom Field Boulder, CO 10–14 35,277 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-14-points-in-last-23/158341024/ Omaha World-Herald 14 points in last 2:36 send Buffs to defeat September 20, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 l y BYU 11 Folsom Field Boulder, CO 20–41 43,259 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-byu-breezes-colo/158218849/ Honolulu Star-Bulletin BYU breezes; Colorado no match for McMahon & Co. September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y y UCLA 16 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 7–27 40,347 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ucla-coasts-to/158340022/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution UCLA coasts to win October 4, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 l y Nebraska Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 0–59 76,168 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-cornhuskers-crush-col/158380507/ The Daily Sentinel Cornhuskers crush Colorado 59–0 October 11, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y Oklahoma State Folsom Field Boulder, CO 11–10 36,101 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-buffs-sting-pokes/158380584/ Tulsa World Buffs sting Pokes October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 l y Iowa State 14 Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA 10–17 50,103 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-iowa-state-holds-on-ag/158380662/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Iowa State holds on against Colorado October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 l y Oklahoma 19 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 0–49 75,638 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-shepards-in-the-dri/158380845/ The Daily Oklahoman Shepard's in the driver's seat November 1, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 l Missouri Folsom Field Boulder, CO 14–30 35,782 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-mu-endures-darkest/158380970/ The Kansas City Star MU endures 'darkest moment,' wins 30–14 November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 0–27 31,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-jayhawks-overpower-co/158381086/ The Salina Journal Jayhawks overpower Colorado, 27–0 November 15, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w Kansas State Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 24–21 23,921 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-frosh-leads-colo/158380287/ The Des Moines Register Frosh leads Colorado past K-State, 24–21 November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 Colorado Buffaloes Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/colorado/1981-schedule.html College Football @ Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference October 24, 2023 1981 Football Schedule https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/schedule/1981 University of Colorado Boulder October 24, 2023 Colorado Football 2023 Record Book https://static.cubuffs.com/custompages/football/2023_Info_Guide/2023_Info_Guide.pdf University of Colorado Boulder 50 October 24, 2023 Roster 1981 Colorado Buffaloes f 16 So Randy Essington QB 51 Sr Rich Umphrey C y 63 So Vince Rafferty G y 31 So Jeff Donaldson Jeff Donaldson (American football) SS y http://cubuffs.com/roster.aspx?roster=299&path=football *Chuck Fairbanks (3rd year) https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SGsjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ae4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6692%2C1573264 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Probable starters September 19, 1981 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BaUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6531%2C2380331 Lawrence Journal-World Kansas Saturday's game rosters November 13, 1981 18 References Colorado Category:Colorado Buffaloes football seasons Colorado Buffaloes football