Conference Big 12 Conference 2006 record 2–10 (2–6 Big 12) Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich | Division North Head coach Dan Hawkins Defensive coordinator Ron Collins | |
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The 2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The previous year's team won the Big 12 North Conference. That marked the fourth Big 12 North championship for the Buffs in the past 5 years. The team has its 23rd new head coach Dan Hawkins. The Sporting News gave out the only A+ to Colorado in the category of coaching hire. The Buffaloes will play their home games in Folsom Field.
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They finished the season 2–10 (2–6 in the Big 12 Conference) and had some major disappointments. Mason Crosby did not perform as well as last season (19 for 27) and the Hawkins era didn't start as many had expected with his success at Boise State. The offense appeared to struggle to learn the new system and early quarterback uncertainty did not allow the team to have consistency. The defense performed excellently at times and was good overall, but without the offense producing points, Colorado would lose, though many games were close.
Pre-season
With a new head coach, a new offensive system and the loss of several key players such as Joel Klatt (QB), Joe Klopfenstein (TE), Quinn Sypniewski (TE), Lawrence Vickers (TB) and John Torp (P), Colorado faced some challenges to hang on to their Big 12 North Title. (Jeremy Bloom, listed in the 2006 NFL Draft as being from Colorado had not played football for Colorado since the 2004 season and thus is not a loss for this year)
Colorado did not appear in any of the Top 25 pre-season rankings (#26 in Collegefootballnews.com), and was selected to finish third in the Big 12 North with 2 selections to finish first in the Big 12 North.
Colorado played their first Division I-AA opponent ever, Montana State, on September 2. Colorado was one of the last 9 Division I-A schools, at the time, to have never played a Division I-AA or Division II school. The California Golden Bears also lost that status in 2006. The remaining seven teams were the (Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies).
Tyrone Henderson and Gerett Burl, starters in the 2005–06 season, were permanently released from the team prior to fall practice. Both were in CU's top 5 tacklers for last season, having started 25 games between them.
James Cox was named the starting quarterback to replace Klatt on August 20. Despite having missed most of spring practice with a broken thumb, Coach Hawkins picked the senior over juniors Brian White and Bernard Jackson saying his seniority wasn't a factor and he simply wanted the best players on the field. With one year left of eligibility, Cox has seen playing time the previous 3 seasons behind Klatt, with two starts to his credit: the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl and in 2004 against Iowa State. In the 14 games he has played in prior to the 2006 season, his stats are 42 of 79 attempts for 423 yards with 3 interception and 2 Touchdowns passing and 37 yards rushing in 20 attempts with 1 TD (5 sacks for 28 yards).
The captains for 2006 were Mason Crosby, Brian Daniels and Thaddaeus Washington.
Pre-season awards
See for full information on pre-season awards. Note: Only first team All-American or All-Conference listed.Roster
In addition there can be as many as 60 players not in the depth chart/practice squad.
Awards
Team
* – Includes game at neutral site Invesco Field in Denver, CO where Colorado State was the home team.