Christmas comes early for Buffaloes
Colorado will have more to remember about this season than just scandal and turmoil — most notably, a trip to the Big 12 title game that seemed nearly impossible just a few weeks ago.
Embattled off the field, improving steadily on it, CU’s improbable run to the Big 12 North title was completed Saturday when Missouri upset Iowa State 17-14 in overtime.
The result left the Buffaloes — who defeated Nebraska on Friday — tied with the Cyclones at 4-4 in the conference. Colorado won the tiebreaker based on its win over Iowa State earlier this season.
“I don’t have the proper words,” Buffs coach Gary Barnett said. “I’m happy for our coaches. The kinds of things they went through and held up through and held this team together. Then, the players and parents, the way they constantly believed and didn’t let anything bother them, separated out what was important from what wasn’t important.”
The Buffaloes (7-4) will be heavy underdogs next week against a No. 2 Oklahoma team that will have a national championship on its mind. That’s for next week, though. On Saturday, Colorado was celebrating an incredible turnaround.
“I’m a lifelong Red Sox fan,” quarterback Joel Klatt said. “When they got down 3-0 to the Yankees, I knew they would come back and win. That’s how I approached this season. I never doubted.”
Colorado was racked by a rape and recruiting scandal in the offseason and Barnett was suspended for making inappropriate comments in reference to the trouble.
No bowl game for ASU’s Walter
Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter will miss the team’s bowl game after separating his right shoulder in the 18th-ranked Sun Devils’ 34-27 upset loss at Arizona on Friday.
That means the senior’s record-breaking college career is over, leaving him No. 5 on the Pac-10 career list for yards passing. Walter broke John Elway’s Pac-10 record for career touchdown with 85. Elway’s mark at Stanford was 77.
Walter was hurt in the fourth quarter Friday when his shoulder was slammed to the ground on a tackle. He suffered a third-degree shoulder separation.
Arizona State (8-3, 5-3 Pac-10) probably is headed for the Holiday Bowl, with sophomore Sam Keller taking over for Walter. ASU is expected to get the Holiday Bowl bid if No. 1 USC plays for the national championship in the Orange Bowl and Cal goes to the Rose Bowl.
Mount Union advances
Jeff Strauch ran for 206 yards and two scores, and quarterback Zac Bruney rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown to help Mount Union beat Wheaton 27-6 in Alliance, Ohio, in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Mount Union (11-0), which has won seven Division III titles since 1993, advanced to play Carthage in the quarterfinals. Carthage beat Wooster 14-7.
In the other quarterfinals, Linfield, a 52-14 winner over Wisconsin-La Crosse, will face Occidental, Rowan will play Delaware Valley, and Mary Hardin-Baylor will meet Washington & Jefferson.