1983 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The 1983 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bill McCartney, the Buffaloes finished at 4–7 (2–5 in Big 8, tied for sixth),^[1] their fifth consecutive losing season. Home games were played on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

1983 Colorado Buffaloes football
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Record	4–7 (2–5 Big 8)
Head coach	Bill McCartney (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Ron Taylor (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Lou Tepper (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Victor Scott
Captains	Victor Scott Steve Vogel
Home stadium	Folsom Field
Seasons ← 1982 1984 →

1983 Big Eight Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Nebraska $	7	–	0	–	0			12	–	1	–	0
Missouri	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Oklahoma	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Oklahoma State	3	–	4	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Iowa State	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Kansas	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Colorado	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Kansas State	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Colorado revived the dormant intrastate rivalry with Colorado State after 25 years,^[2] and posted a winning record after three games for the first time since 1978.

Down by two touchdowns in the season finale, junior quarterback Steve Vogel came off the bench and rallied CU to a 17-point home win over last-place Kansas State to avoid the conference cellar.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 10	at Michigan State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		L 17–23	56,835
September 17	Colorado State*	Folsom Field Boulder, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown)	KWGN	W 31–3	49,783
September 24	Oregon State*	Folsom Field Boulder, CO		W 38–14	33,504
October 1	Notre Dame*	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	KWGN	L 3–27	52,692
October 8	Missouri	Folsom Field Boulder, CO		L 20–59	37,157
October 15	at Iowa State	Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA		L 10–22	49,311
October 22	at No. 1 Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		L 19–69	76,286
October 29	Oklahoma State	Folsom Field Boulder, CO		L 14–40	36,889
November 5	at Kansas	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS		W 34–23	28,600
November 12	at Oklahoma	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	KWGN	L 28–41	75,008
November 19	Kansas State	Folsom Field Boulder, CO (rivalry)		W 38–21	27,649
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[3][4][5]

Awards

• TE Dave Hestra
  • All-American Honorable Mention (AP)
  • All-Big Eight
• CB Victor Scott
  • Playboy Preseason All-American
  • All-American Honorable Mention (AP)
  • All-Big Eight

Source:^[6]

References

1. "Vogel rallies Colorado to 38-21 triumph over Kansas State". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 20, 1983. p. 6B.
2. "Colorado 31, Colorado State 3". Sunday Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). wire services. September 18, 1983. p. D2.
3. "1983 Colorado Buffaloes Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
4. "1983 Football Schedule". University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
5. "Colorado Football 2023 Record Book" (PDF). University of Colorado Boulder. p. 52. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
6. 2011 Colorado football information guide.