In autumn sports lore, Colorado’s high-altitude gridirons have hosted some of the most dramatic finishes, historic milestones, and statistical anomalies in American football history. Renowned Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian David Plati, who has meticulously cataloged 2,000 distinct moments in the state’s rich sports history, has highlighted an incredible collection of events that all occurred in a single calendar week: November 10 through November 18.
Something about Colorado’s crisp autumn air elevates football from a mere game into a tapestry of folklore. From the jagged peaks of the Rockies to the sweeping eastern plains, the state’s high school and collegiate grids have witnessed legendary performances, heartbreaking farewells, and milestones that still echo across decades.
Spanning more than a century of crisp November Saturdays – and a few unforgettable Fridays – we look back at 30 moments that defined football culture in the Centennial State.
The Birth of Legacies and Icons
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November 10, 1934: After decades of assorted nicknames, the University of Colorado officially adopted “Buffaloes” following a public contest. The christening came during a fitting 7-6 homecoming victory over Utah.
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November 16, 1929: Colorado College All-American Earl “Dutch” Clark turned his final home game into a one-man showcase, racking up five touchdowns and 34 points in a 54-21 rout of Western State.
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November 13, 1971: Colorado tailback Charlie Davis carved his name into the record books, bulldozing for a school-record 342 yards on 34 carries in a 40-6 dismantling of Oklahoma State.
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November 17, 1951: History was made on the airwaves as CU’s 36-14 win at Nebraska became the first televised college football game in Colorado, broadcast nationally on NBC while 1,000 fans packed Denver’s Broadway Theatre to watch a closed-circuit feed organized by Byron White.
Unforgettable Historic Milestones
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November 16, 1897: Interstate competition officially arrived in the Rockies when Ottawa University (Kansas) became the first out-of-state team to play in Colorado, falling 5-4 to Colorado Mines.
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November 17, 1898: The state’s first true neighboring rivalry game kicked off as Nebraska visited CU’s Gamble Field and left with a 23-10 win in a contest the Rocky Mountain News praised as “free from slugging and fights.”
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November 11, 1954: Western State captured its first-ever conference title in any sport since joining the RMAC in 1923, defeating Colorado Mines 21-12 in the Uranium Bowl in Delta to cap a 10-0 season.
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November 18, 1961: In one of the most suffocating defensive displays in Big Eight history, CU blanked Nebraska 7-0 on a snowy day in Lincoln, holding the Cornhuskers to 31 total yards and zero first downs.
Historic Finales and Tearful Farewells
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November 12, 1977: Air Force bid farewell to the “Father of Air Force Football,” head coach Ben Martin, who coached the program’s every varsity game since 1958. The Falcons rallied to beat Vanderbilt 34-28, carrying Martin off the field on their shoulders.
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November 11, 1989: The longest head coaching run in state college football history concluded as Jerry Carle coached his 292nd and final game for Colorado College, wrapping up 33 dedicated seasons.
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November 18, 1989: Bob Cortese capped his brilliant 10-year run at Mesa State with a 56-0 shutout at Fort Lewis, leaving behind six RMAC titles and six national playoff appearances.
- November 10, 2007: The Colorado School of Mines retired Harry Campbell’s No. 48, the Oredigger quarterback from 1939-41, in a halftime ceremony in the final home game of the season.
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November 13, 2015: Folsom Field celebrated Larry Zimmer during a pregame ceremony honoring his final home game after 42 seasons as “the voice of the Buffaloes,” complete with a stadium-wide serenade for his 80th birthday led by Firefall co-founder Jock Bartley.
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November 15, 2008: After 126 storied seasons of intercollegiate gridiron competition, Colorado College played its final varsity football game against the Centre Colonels in Kentucky.
Record-Breaking Explosions
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November 15, 1975: Adams State freshman halfback Ray Overstreet put on a masterclass against Mesa College, rushing for 303 yards and seven touchdowns in a 78-7 blowout.
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November 15, 1975: Colorado State senior Clark Kemble booted an NCAA-record 63-yard field goal in a 31-9 loss to Arizona—a mark that remains the longest in-state field goal through 2023.
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November 15, 1975: Western State’s Wolfgang Taylor shattered the NCAA Division II career scoring record, reaching 237 points after adding three field goals and a PAT in a 16-7 win over Colorado Mines.
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November 10, 2001: CU’s Cortlen Johnson accomplished a feat unmatched before or since in Boulder, racking up 172 yards rushing and 105 yards receiving with a touchdown of each variety in a 40-27 win at Iowa State.
Gridiron Glories and Senior Send-Offs
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November 10, 1984: Fort Lewis claimed its first and only RMAC football title under coach Bill Cooke, surviving a frantic 30-29 nail-biter at New Mexico Highlands when a two-point conversion pass was deflected in the game’s final minute.
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November 15, 1986: CSU fullback Steve Bartalo finished his stellar home career by rushing for 150 yards and two scores in a 32-27 win over New Mexico, capping a 1,708-yard total offense season and WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
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November 17, 1990: In a golden era send-off at Folsom Field, CU seniors Eric Bieniemy (115 yards rushing), Mike Pritchard (two TDs), and defensive stalwart Alfred Williams (lined up on offense for a 17-yard reception) shined in their final home game.
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November 15, 2003: Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt sealed a bowl-eligible season in his final home game, throwing a game-breaking 67-yard touchdown pass to secure a 21-6 win over San Diego State.
High School Heroes and State Lore
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November 17, 2003: Nederland High School retired the No. 5 jersey of all-time legendary quarterback Derek Kates at its fall sports banquet.
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November 17, 1990: Strasburg’s Trevor Graf intercepted three passes to bring his season total to 26 – the second-most in national high school history -propelling his squad toward a dramatic 12-6 overtime state title victory over Fowler.
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November 18, 2006: In a classic Class 1A semifinal thriller, Lyons stunned Limon 21-16, snapping the Badgers’ state-record 50-game winning streak and halting their quest for a fourth consecutive state crown.
Modern Eras and Enduring Traditions
- November 13, 1971: During a halftime ceremony of the above, actor Milburn Stone – “Doc” on Gunsmoke – was presented with the university’s “Honorary C” award. The CU Medical Association and athletic department co-sponsored the honor, for which he was selected “for his fine image of the medical profession in his TV role.”
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November 7, 2007: The Colorado School of Mines retired Oredigger quarterback Harry Campbell’s No. 48 jersey (1939-41) during a poignant halftime ceremony.
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November 18, 1989: The Pueblo Crusaders captured the short-lived Minor League Football System (MLFS) semi-pro championship with a 21-14 victory over the Colorado Springs Spirit at Dutch Clark Stadium.
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November 16, 2024: A roaring crowd of 54,646 – the fourth-largest in Folsom Field history – watched Colorado defeat Utah 49-24, pausing between the third and fourth quarters to sing “Happy Birthday” to beloved CU superfan Peggy Coppom as she turned 100.
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November 15, 2025: Colorado Mines rolled past Fort Lewis 55-21 in Durango, extending the Orediggers’ remarkable scoring streak to 210 games, which began on November 10, 2007.
