Folsom's Greatest Games #18 - Colorado vs. Utah 1934

November 10, 1934 – Colorado 7, Utah 6

For nine consecutive seasons, a red team from a neighboring state had gotten the better of CU. Several times they had been the only thing standing between Colorado and a conference title. That could easily be the introduction for a game that will come much later on this countdown, but it also applies to the oldest game to make our list. 

It was homecoming, and CU hadn’t defeated their rivals from Utah since the day Colorado Stadium was dedicated ten years earlier. Both teams were in contention for the conference title. The second-largest crowd in Folsom Field’s history to date – 13,757 – was on hand.

And, for the very first time, the Colorado Buffaloes took the field. The nickname had been adopted that week after a nationwide contest to name what had become the only major university without a mascot. A similar contest had been held in 1926, but the winning nickname (Wolves) failed to catch on. With a live buffalo calf roaming the sidelines, one had to wonder whether the new name could help change the old losing pattern against Utah.

As was typical of games between evenly matched teams in this era, points were at a premium. CU quarterback Jimmy “Duke” Counter tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Olaf Anderson in the second quarter for the Buffs’ lone score.

The Utes scored a touchdown of their own in the third period but missed the extra point. Both teams lost fumbles inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Nerves were frayed amongst the throng of alumni who had seen so many defeats in years past.

In the final minute of the game, Utah was once again deep in CU territory. Ute quarterback Bill Cowley barely missed connecting on a game-winning touchdown pass, and head coach Ike Armstrong sent out the field goal unit. Once again, Utah’s kicking game doomed them, and the Buffs escaped by the skin of their teeth. 

This was a cathartic victory that ended years of frustration against a fierce rival and allowed CU to win a share of the conference title in 1934. More than that, it cemented the Buffalo as the school mascot forever. The following day’s Salt Lake Tribune wryly noted that, in more ways than one, “the Buffaloes reversed the traditional process on the Indians.”