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 The
Cotton Bowl Classic unveiled a whole new look for its 60th anniversary
celebration. For the first time since 1940, the game featured two teams
from outside the Southwest Conference. A changing environment in college
sports brought about the formation of the new Big 12 Conference, a
league comprised of institutions from the powerful Big Eight Conference
and four long-time members of the soon-to-be dismantled SWC. With the
Big 12 serving as its anchor conference of the future, the Classic
looked toward the West Coast to establish partnerships with the storied
Pacific-10 Conference and the explosive Western Athletic Conference.
Kicking off this new era at the Cotton Bowl was national power Colorado.
The seventh-ranked Buffaloes earned their way to Dallas with a thrilling
come-from-behind victory over Kansas State in the regular-season finale.
It marked Colorado's fifth New Year's Day bowl appearance in seven
seasons, and the Buffs headed for Texas in search of a third consecutive
post-season victory.
From the Pac-10 came Oregon, a rising program that was beginning to reap
the benefits of back-to-back New Year's Day bowl appearances. A trip to
the Cotton Bowl Classic in their 100th season of college football was
perceived to be the consummate ending to a two-year run that produced a
Rose Bowl berth the previous season and the Ducks' first conference
title in 37 years. Both teams finished the 1996 campaign with identical
9-2-0 records. In the Big Eight's final season, Colorado forced the
conference's first-ever three-way tie for second place. Oregon, ranked
12th, came within a half-game of winning the Pac-10 championship for the
second year in a row. But, as game time neared, the favorite's role
belonged to Colorado. Coach Rick Neuheisel's Buffaloes possessed big
play potential on offense, complemented by a youthful, but talented
defense. Yet, early in the first quarter, it was Oregon...not Colorado,
that took control of the game.
Speedy tailback Ricky Whittle got things rolling for the Ducks,
returning the opening kickoff 63 yards to the Colorado 26-yard line.
Within minutes, Oregon quarterback Tony Graziani had moved the Ducks to
inside the 10. But, Oregon's drive stalled on the eight and first-year
head coach Mike Bellotti turned to freshman place kicker Joshua Smith to
post the game's first score. Smith's 25-yard field goal was good and the
Ducks owned an early 3-0 lead. Colorado no sooner had the ball back when
inside linebacker Rich Ruhl intercepted a John Hessler pass at the
Buffaloes' 46. The Ducks charged back onto the field, determined to
convert this turnover into a touchdown. But, after reaching the 16,
Oregon's offense again failed to cash in, and was forced to settle for
another field goal from Smith. These two series set the offensive tone
the rest of the day for the Ducks. In the first half, Oregon's average
starting point was its own 49. Still, the Ducks couldn't take advantage
of the many opportunities handed to them by their defense. To go with
Whittle's kickoff return, Oregon intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble
and stopped Colorado on downs at midfield, all in the first quarter.
However, the end result was a tenuous 6-0 edge.
Finally, the struggling Buff offense came alive, and Hessler, Colorado's
sophomore quarterback, produced the spark that ultimately ignited
Neuheisel's high octane assault. On third and 19, Hessler hooked up with
receiver James Kidd for a 62-yard pass play that reached the Oregon one.
Seconds later, on the first play of the second quarter, Hessler ended
the 80-yard drive himself, carrying around right end for the touchdown
that pushed the Buffs in front, 7-6. Oregon fired back after a short
punt gave the Ducks excellent field position at the Colorado 49. Poised
to take the lead, Graziani again maneuvered his team back into scoring
position, driving to the nine-yard line. Then came the game's pivotal
play. On second down, Graziani looked for his tight end, Josh Wilcox.
Colorado blitzed linebacker Matt Russell up the middle and Wilcox headed
for the spot vacated by Russell. Realizing that Wilcox was covered, Graziani turned back to Whittle, his second option. The pass was off
target and Colorado's Marcus Washington, a freshman free safety who was
making only his second start of the season, was in perfect position.
Washington picked off Graziani's pass, quickly cut to the left sideline
and sailed 95 yards for a Colorado touchdown (video).
In a matter of seconds, the momentum had turned and the Ducks were left
staring at a 13-6 deficit.
 The second half opened with tailback Herchell Troutman's 55-yard romp
over right tackle. Troutman's run moved Colorado to the Oregon nine and
set up Hessler's two-yard scoring pass to tight end Matt Lepsis in the
back of the end zone. The margin ballooned to 20-6. Oregon then fumbled
away three consecutive possessions, handing the Buffs the football on
the Ducks' 29-, 23- and 17- yard lines. Colorado turned two of the three
turnovers into 12 points, and by the start of the final period, the
Buffaloes had stormed to a commanding 32-6 lead. The final score of the
game came on a 5 yard run by back-up quarterback,
Ayyub Abdul-Rahmaan and brought
the final score to 38-6 (video).
So much for Colorado's "rebuilding year." After sending 10 seniors into
the NFL the previous season, 1995 turned out to be one of the Buffs'
most successful football campaigns ever: 10 wins, a Top 5 national
ranking, and a third consecutive bowl victory. Even if he tried, head
coach Rick Neuheisel couldn't have dreamed of a better ending for his
rookie season.
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Attendance- 58,214
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UO- FG Smith 25
UO- FG Smith 33
Second Quarter
CU- Hessler 1 run (Voskeritchian kick)
CU- Washington 95 interception return (kick failed)
Third Quarter
CU- Lepsis 2 pass from Hessler (Voskeritchian kick)
CU- Troutman 6 run (run failed)
CU- Savoy 12 pass from Hessler (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
CU- Abdul-Rahmaan 5 run (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
OU- Whittle 12-50, Parker 3-43, Jelks 3-14
CU- Troutman 13-100, Henry 7-38, Barnes 5-25, Savoy 1-13
Passing
UO- Graziani 19-37-113, Smith 2-6-49
CU- Hessler 11-26-115
Receiving
UO- Hodge 2-33, McLemore 3-26, Jelks 2-21, Whittle 4-18, Griffin 2-17,
Wilcox 2-17, Anderson 1-16
CU- Savoy 3-29, Kidd 2-73, Black 1-28, Carruth 1-11
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