Will Saturday be the day?
Buffs 'meat' hungry 'Hawks
By JOE CHILDS Assistant Sports Editor
Last August at the Big Eight coaches football luncheon Colorado's head coach Eddie Crowder said that he had one of his best teams in recent years, but that in the tough Big Eight conference his Buffaloes would be lucky to finish in fourth place.
Crowder was right—as usual—on both counts. After building his offense around All-American candidate Bob Anderson and patching up deficiencies in his defensive unit the Buffs boss molded a squad that convincingly
Bob Anderson
defeated two pre-season foes, Tulsa and Indiana, losing only to fourth ranked Penn State on the Nittany Lion's home field.
Saturday Crowder will send his Buffs against the hapless 'Hawks to try to avenge last year's 41-27 defeat.
Rated at one time during the '69 season as the 20th team nationally, CU promises to throw a stingy defense and a threatening offense against KU, who will be seeking its second win.
Before the Buffaloes' game with Indiana, Crowder came up with the surprise of the young season and shifted Anderson, his allBig Eight quaterback, to tailback. Since the move, Anderson has carried the load for the offensive unit and at present ranks third among Big Eight rushers with 746 yards on 156 carries for a 4.7 average.
The Buffs 4-3 overall record and 2-2 mark in league play isn't impressive at first glance, but considering that Colorado has played the tougher part of its schedule upsetting powerful Missouri at home and falling eight points short of Oklahoma in the snakepit at Norman makes them anything but weak.
Besides their 31-24 win over MU the Buffaloes' other league victory came at the loop opener at Ames, Iowa as Anderson, playing tailback for the first time against a Big Eight opponent, ran 69 yards from scrimmage in the first quarter to spur the Iowa State defeat. In the contest the highly touted CU defense held the Cyclones to 200 yards total offense and three yards on the ground.
Anderson, also a dangerous passer, hasn't put the ball in the air through five games, and in Saturday's encounter Pepper Rodgers definitely feels that the pass is something to watch for from the ex-quarterback.
Since his switch, Anderson has paced the CU rushing attack but sophomore quarterback Paul Arendt can call on his fullback Ward Walsh, a 219-pound junior, or sophomore Ron Rieger who, at 200 pounds, has good speed and is a strong fill-in for Anderson at the tailback spot.
12 KANSAN
Nov. 7
1969
Ranking last in the conference in passing, it is no secret that the Buffers rely heavily on their running game. Averaging only 92
Bill Brundige Buffalo Guns
Eric Harris
yards per contest in the air, Colorado doesn't figure to throw much Saturday, especially against the Jayhawk tight secondary.
Although CU's passing attack isn't impressive statistically they have three capable receivers. At split end, 188-pound senior Monte Huber and his back up man Steve Dal Forto, a 194-pound junior, combine for a strong one-two punch. In addition Bob Masten
at 206 pounds is a dangerous slotback. Huber leads the corps of receivers with 18 receptions for 273 yards.
For Colorado to have a great game Anderson must have a great day. The Buff standout sustained a hip-pointer against Nebraska last weekend, but has responded well and will be at full speed for Saturday's game.
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If KU is to have a great day Saturday and upset the Golden Buffs their offensive unit will have to be at its best, for the CU defense is one of the best around. Ranking third in the conference in total defense, Colorado has several standouts both on the line and in the backfield.
Monte Huber
Long known as the home of fine defensive back CU has lived in its tradition throughout the 1969 campaign. Leading the crew is right cornerback Eric Harris, picked by Kansas City Chiefs talent scout Tommie O'Boyle as one of the top two cornerbacks in the country. Harris teams talents with junior Pat Murphy who is regarded by many to be as strong a defensive back as Colorado has had. Throughout the season the Durango, Colo. junior has chalked up 27 unassisted tackles, been in on 25 more and has picked off three interceptions.
Anchoring an extremely quick defensive line is 6-5, 250-pound
Bill Brundige at right end. Equally as menacing is Bill Collins at the right tackle. Also a senior, Collins stands at 6-1, 227-pounds leads the Buffers with 50 assisted tackles and 22 unassisted.
Last weekend against Nebraska left tackle Rich Varriano a 5-11, 225-pounder suffered a knee injury and is listed as the only injured player on the CU roster for Saturday's game. Varriano will be replaced by 238-poundier Jake Capra.
On all counts Crowder's squad is more than impressive on defense. They are quick, have a tough secondary and boast good pursuit.
KU's passing attack is improving each weekend since the insertion of Phil Basler at quarterback. John Riggins will be back after his suspension from last week's contest with Oklahoma State, and Ron Jessie will start at tailback for the first time since he broke his hand at Nebraska four weeks ago.
Buffs had offensive problems because the Huskers keyed on Anderson.
Against Nebraska last week the
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