Compiled by David Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Historian
Colorado’s rich football tradition runs deep, spanning generations of legendary performances, historic milestones, and unforgettable gridiron drama from the high school ranks to the collegiate stage. Compiled by renowned Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian David Plati, a look back through the calendar reveals a treasure trove of moments that have shaped football history across the Centennial State.
Legendary Collegiate Performances & Historic Milestones
The state’s colleges and universities have long been hotbeds for historic records and dramatic finishes.
- October 19, 1996 — Falcon Thriller in South Bend: In a pedestrian 6-5 season for Air Force, the Falcons delivered one of the program’s most memorable wins, shocking No. 8 Notre Dame 20-17 in overtime. Quarterback Beau Morgan ran for a season-high 183 yards and a touchdown, while Tobin Ruff’s 19-yard TD run with 7:15 left forced overtime. In the first overtime game in both programs’ storied histories, the AFA defense forced a fumble, setting up Dallas Thompson to drill a game-winning 27-yard field goal.
- October 20, 1956 — Setting the National Standard: Western State’s Bill Rhodes etched his name into the record books during a 60-6 rout of Adams State. Rhodes set a national single-game rushing record, chewing up 327 yards on 17 carries (a staggering 19.3 yards per touch) and scoring four touchdowns. He added a fifth score through the air and three extra points, eclipsing the previous mark of 326 set by Texas Mines’ Fred Wendt in 1948.
- October 21, 1972 — Stunner in Boulder: No. 9 Colorado notched what was then the biggest win in program history, taking down No. 2 Oklahoma 20-14 at Folsom Field. After falling behind 7-0, the Buffaloes reeled off 20 unanswered points behind touchdowns from Gary Campbell and Jon Keyworth and two Fred Lima field goals. The buildup featured legendary pregame friction between coaches Eddie Crowder and Chuck Fairbanks over a rogue Sooner spy caught using binoculars from a nearby rooftop—though hard feelings faded enough that Crowder eventually hired Fairbanks six years later.
- October 22, 1892 — Dawn of an Era: The University of Colorado launched its intercollegiate football history in style, securing its first-ever win against an outside opponent with a dominant 46-0 shutout on the road at the University of Denver.
October 23, 1948 — Home Sweet Home at the Top of the World: Western State (now Western Colorado) christened its new home venue, the iconic Mountaineer Bowl, with a 20-0 homecoming victory over Colorado Mines. Perched at an elevation of 7,723 feet, it remains the highest collegiate football stadium in the world.- October 24, 1957 — “The Red Grange of the Rockies”: Exactly 33 years after legendary Red Grange scored five touchdowns for Illinois against Michigan, Western State (now Western Colorado) reserve halfback Bill Schmalz stole national headlines. Filling in for an injured Don Miller against Adams State, Schmalz scored six touchdowns on just seven offensive touches, racking up 172 rushing yards (TD runs of 13, 20, 36, and 58 yards), a 10-yard touchdown reception, and an 80-yard punt-return touchdown.
- October 24, 2015 — Modern Mountaineer Greatness: Western Colorado running back Austin Ekeler tied the second-most rushing yards by a state collegiate player in history, exploding for 344 yards and five touchdowns on 33 carries to lead the Mountaineers to a 45-28 win at Western New Mexico.
- October 25, 1958 — Broadcasting History: Colorado’s 27-16 victory over Nebraska at Folsom Field also marked a milestone off the field, as it was the first football game ever televised live within Colorado. (Note: An earlier 1956 road game at Utah State was televised regionally into Colorado, but this was the first broadcast originating from inside state lines.)
Defining Program Eras & Turning Points
Few moments alter a collegiate program’s trajectory like a signature victory—or a heartbreaking end to a legendary streak.
- October 25, 1986 — The McCartney Turning Point: On a sunny afternoon in Boulder, Colorado’s 20-10 victory over No. 3 Nebraska became known as the undisputed turning point of Bill McCartney’s 13-year coaching tenure. It was CU’s first win over the Cornhuskers since 1967 and the highest-ranked opponent the Buffs had defeated in 14 years. The defense clamped down to hold a potent NU rushing attack to just 123 yards, sealed by a brilliant 52-yard halfback option touchdown pass from O.C. Oliver to Lance Carl in the fourth quarter.
- October 25, 2008 — An Era Ends in Columbia: The Missouri Tigers handed Colorado a 58-0 defeat in Columbia, officially ending the Buffaloes’ historic 242-game scoring streak. Dating back to the final two games of the 1988 season, the streak was the sixth-longest in history when it finally ended.
High School Gridiron Feats
Colorado’s high school fields have also hosted legendary scoring outbursts and deep-rooted traditions.
- October 21, 1950 — Birth of the Victory Bell: Pueblo high school history was forever altered when Lewis Rhoades donated a bell—originally mounted on a CF&I train engine—to the victor of the Central-Centennial football rivalry. Central won the inaugural “Victory Bell” game, 40-27, kicking off a tradition that still ignites passions in Pueblo today.
- October 22, 1988 — Erfman’s Six-Touchdown Explosion: Aurora Christian’s Steve Erfman put on an absolute clinic in a 59-18 victory over Colorado Deaf & Blind, finding the end zone six times. His incredible night included 305 total yards: four rushing touchdowns (69, 55, 49, and 10 yards), a 66-yard reception, and a 56-yard fumble-return touchdown.
