Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, September 17, 1999
Similar seasons raise stakes for matchup
Kansas, Colorado each have plenty to prove in game
By Michael Rigg
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
While vindication for last season's 33-17 defeat would be motivation enough for the Colorado Buffaloes against Kansas, new Colorado coach Gary Barnett is using tomorrow's game as a chance to see how his Buffaloes are truly made.
"We've just been too inconsistent," Barnett said.
Is this the team that committed six turnovers and was embarrassed 41-14 by Colorado State? Or is this the team that set numerous offensive records last week en route to a 63-35 victory against San Jose State?
For Colorado safety Robbie
Robinson, the matic fluctuation was simply a matter of focus.
"The differer-
ence in the lock-
ence in the locker room was that there was no intensity in the pregame warm-up against Colorado State." Robinson said. "This week, we were ready to go. We were fired up, and I thought we had a lot to prove. Now, we have to come out and do the same thing against Kansas."
Kansas coach Terry Allen is aware of Colorado's up-and-down season. Allen said that the Buffaloes' season to date had mirrored the of the Jayhawks.
"The more I watch Colorado and study the situation, the more I notice the similarities," he said.
Like Kansas, Colorado committed several key turnovers and lost on its opening game, which was on national television. Also like the Jayhawks, the Buffaloes rebounded in their next game and defeated a team from California(Kansas blew out Cal State Northridge 71-14 last week.
"You would say Colorado got manhandled by Colorado State, but they committed six turnovers,
which parallels our situation with Notre Dame." Allen said. "Then this last week, we both put on record-setting offensive performances. It's interesting."
Barnett agreed.
"I don't think either one of us knows how good we are," Barnett said. "We both have to walk away from last week's game and consider our opponents a little bit. We can't get too excited."
Much of Colorado's school-record 767-yard offensive outburst against San Jose State has been attributed to 24-year-old senior quarterback Mike Moschetti. Against the Spartans, Moschetti set school records for passing yards in a game (465), total offense in a game (499) and the best single-game completion percentage for a passer with more than 20 attempts (78.1 percent). For his efforts, Moschetti was named the Big 12 Conference's offensive player of the week.
"I'm proud of the record, but if it wasn't for my offensive line and receivers, I never would have accomplished that," he said. "I can only recall one time when I was even pressured."
Kansas defensive end Dion Rayford said that containing Moschetti, who is 6 feet tall and 195 pounds, would be a key to victory tomorrow.
"He's a mobile guy, but he's little," Rayford said. "If you get to him, you can probably hurt him or something. Hopefully, we can get to him and force him into some bad decisions."
Colorado also features preseason all-Big 12 Conference cornerback Ben Kelly, a dangerous performer who returns punts and kicks for the Buffaloes, and wide receiver Marcus Stiggers, whom Allen said was the fastest player in college football.
Kansas has not won in Boulder since 1959, when the Jayhawks upset Colorado 40-24. The 1995 win catapulted Kansas to a 10-2 season and effectively ended Colorado's national championship hopes. With the past in mind, Barnett is aware of the implications of tomorrow's game.
"This is a huge game," Barnett said. "It's absolutely huge."
- Edited Jennifer Roush
Kyle RamseyKANSAN