After losing to Fresno State in the 2001 season opener, some folks in Colorado country must have been thinking, "Here we go again."

The Buffaloes were coming off a 3-8 season in 2000. It was a young team that soon became riddled with injuries. At times, the 2000 team played well, but couldn’t finish off games. The Buffaloes had realistic chances to win six of the eight games they lost in 2000.

Then along came Fresno State in the 2001 season opener in Boulder. The Bulldogs had their own hopes for a big season, and they started it off by biting the Buffs, 24-22.

Team Info Location:   Boulder, CO   Conference:   Big 12 (North)   Last Season:   10-3 (.769)   Conference Record:   7-1 (t-1st)   Off. Starters Returning:   7  Def. Starters Returning:   8  Nickname:   Buffaloes   Colors:   Black, Gold & Silver   Home Field:   Folsom Field (51,650)   Head Coach:   Gary Barnett (Missouri '69)   Record at School:   20-16 (3 years)   Career Record:   63-72-2 (12 years)   Assistants:   Brian Cabral (Colorado '78) Assistant Head Coach/ Inside Linebackers      Shawn Wilson (Southern Illinois '82) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks      Vince Okruch (Culver-Stockton '77) Defensive Coordinator/ Outside Linebackers      Dave Borbely (DePauw '81) Offensive Line      Jon Embree (Colorado '87) Receivers      Eric Bieniemy (Colorado '01) Running Backs      John Wristen (Southern Colorado '84) Tight Ends      Chris Wilson (Oklahoma '92)   Defensive Line      Vance Joseph (Colorado '94) Defensive Backs   Team Wins (last 5 yrs.):   5-8-7-3-10   Team Rank (last 5 yrs.):   34-28-14-56-10   2001 Finish:   Lost to Oregon in Fiesta Bowl.

Suddenly, the Buffs were on the rebound again. Not from the 2000 season, but from the 2001 opener. They responded with five straight victories, starting with a 41-14 win over Colorado State -- the first over their instate rival since 1998.

Buffs coach Gary Barnett, now in his fourth season, said the team showed some character by rallying after the loss to Fresno State.

"We had developed so much [character] in the off-season, spring football and in the summer that our seniors weren’t gong to let something like that keep us from becoming the type of team we wanted to become," Barnett said. "There’s no question that it made us question ourselves a little bit, but we tried not to let it affect us. It’s easy for a team to be you twice if you lose your focus."

After a 41-7 loss to Texas on Oct. 20, the Buffs again regrouped. They beat Oklahoma State, Missouri and Iowa State, setting up a showdown with Nebraska for the Big 12 North title.

Colorado’s 62-36 victory over the Cornhuskers changed the national championship picture. Suddenly, the Buffs were in the Big 12 Championship game for a rematch against Texas.

The Buffs gained a measure of revenge with a 39-37 victory over the Longhorns and earned a berth in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. It was Colorado’s first Big 12 championship and one of the most memorable moments in Barnett’s coaching career.

"I’ve never seen or been a part of a more exciting atmosphere than we had in the Big 12 Championship game, and that includes two national championship games and a Rose bowl with a [Northwestern] team that hadn’t been to a bowl in 47 years," Barnett said. "… At this point in time, I’d say the biggest thrill was winning the league championship game in Dallas. Maybe because of everything that went into it, maybe something to do with the fact that we sort of predicted that we were going to go there, and we got there, played it and won it. Or maybe it’s playing Texas again, or beating Texas in Texas had something to do with it.

"But I’d have to say that up to this point in my career that [the Big 12 Championship game] was the biggest thrill, and I hope that there’s another one better than that out there, but so far, that’s it."

Colorado entered the Fiesta Bowl ranked No. 3 nationally and lost to No. 2 Oregon, 38-16. The Ducks gained 500 yards and made 22 first downs. Joey Harrington riddled the Buffs’ secondary, passing for 350 yards and four touchdowns. Colorado, averaging almost 230 rushing yards per game, was held to 49 rushing yards.

After the game, Barnett was already talking about the 2002 season.

"We’ve just got to start working on next year," Barnett said. "We need to start getting our team formed and ready to go. … Over the next three months, we will decide who will fit in where. It’s really starting over from scratch and everybody is going to have to earn his position. We are gong to contemplate some position changes because there will be a couple to consider, nothing real surprising, though.

"One thing’s for sure. You can bank on us doing a lot of tackling in the spring, especially in the secondary. We’re just going to take everything from this year that we can to improve. One of the things that will happen because of this game is that a standard will be set. I’m sure next year’s schedule will serve as a motivator because when you look to who we will play, we’ve some good games and our road schedule is pretty tough."

The Buffs finished last season ranked No. 9 in the final polls. They were 5-2 against ranked opponents. Nebraska was ranked No. 2, but No. 1 in the BCS standings when it lost to the Buffs.

QUARTERBACKS

Junior Craig Ochs (6-2, 210) was hobbled by a bum ankle for almost half of the 2001 season and missed seven games. If Ochs stays healthy this season, he could emerge as an All-Big 12 player.

Last season, Ochs started the first six games before suffering the severe ankle sprain against Texas A&M. Enter senior Bobby Pesavento, who ran the offense almost the entire time Ochs was on the sideline.

It was a chance for Ochs to watch and learn as Pesavento took over. The senior completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 1,234 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions in nine regular-season games.

Ochs finished the regular season with 1,220 passing yards, completing 99-of-166 passes (59.6 percent). He threw seven touchdown passes and was intercepted six times.

In the Fiesta Bowl, Pesavento was the starter and completed 11-of-27 passes for 139 yards, but was intercepted twice before Ochs took over. Ochs completed 13-of-20 passes for 140 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception. The touchdown pass was a 4-yarder with 18 seconds left in the game.

The Buffaloes trailed, 21-7, at halftime.

In the Black and Gold scrimmage ending the spring, Ochs completed 14-of-19 passes for 242 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The offense won the game, 59-49.

Senior Robert Hodge (5-11, 185) was slotted as Ochs’ backup at the end of the spring. Hodge completed 7-of-12 passes for 81 yards in the Black and Gold game. He threw one touchdown and one interception.

As former Buffs running back Eric Bieniemy took over as running backs coach, Colorado employed a three-back strategy that worked wonders.

Colorado ranked eighth nationally and third in the Big 12 in rushing last season, averaging 228.5 yards per game.

Juniors Chris Brown (6-3, 220) and Bobby Purify (6-0, 195) return, although Purify missed the spring with an injury.

Brown, a bruising runner, was the team’s leading rusher last season with 946 yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He scored 16 rushing touchdowns and gained national attention when he rushed for six touchdowns as the Buffs stunned Nebraska, 62-36. He scored three more rushing touchdowns the next week as the Buffs beat Texas in the Big 12 Championship game.

Brown caught six passes for 36 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Purify was second on the team in rushing with 916 yards and a 5.8-yard average. A slashing runner with great quickness, Purify rushed for 191 yards against Colorado State and 154 against Nebraska. He scored five rushing touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 92 yards.

With Purify injured in the spring, sophomore tailback Marcus Houston (6-2, 205) made the most of his chances. Houston rushed for 69 yards on 19 carries and Brown rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries in the first scrimmage of the spring. Brown scored on a 22-yard run.

Brown led Colorado in rushing in the spring game with 150 yards on 15 carries. He scored two rushing touchdowns.

Houston rushed for 112 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown.

Brandon Drumm (6-2, 230), a senior, was one of the top fullbacks in the country last season. An outstanding blocker, Drumm was isolated by ABC cameras late in the year and had 74 dominant blocks that made room for the tailbacks. Drumm also caught 14 passes, fourth best on the team, for 102 yards. He had 12 carries for 19 yards.

The Buffs will be bigger -- literally -- and perhaps better at the receiver positions this season.

Last year, the six primary receivers had an average size of 5-11 and 180 pounds. In the spring, the top eight receivers averaged 6-2 and 195 pounds.

A couple of highly touted transfers should bolster the receiving corps.

Sophomore Ron Monteilh (6-1, 195), a transfer from Oregon State, and junior D.J. Hackett (6-3, 195), a transfer from Cal State-Northridge, will easily help replace departed seniors John Minardi and Roman Hollowell.

Starting tight end Daniel Graham, who led the team with 51 catches, must also be replaced. Graham, a consensus All-American and winner of the John Mackey Award, had 753 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes.

Minardi played in only four games last season and caught 11 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season.

Hollowell played in 12 regular-season games and had seven catches for 78 yards.

One of the top returning receivers is junior Derek McCoy (6-3, 210), who caught 30 passes for 512 yards and two touchdowns. His 17.1-yard average per catche was second-best on the team for a primary receiver.

A total of nine players battled for starting jobs at two receiver spots. Junior John Donahoe (6-0, 185) was slotted as a No. 1 wideout with McCoy.

Donahoe and senior tight end Beau Williams (6-3, 240) were the leading receivers in the spring game. Donahoe had four for 69 yards and Williams four for 46 yards. Donahoe caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ochs.

The entire right side of the 2001 line is gone, and they weren’t just average players, either.

Guard Andre Gurode and Graham, the tight end, were All-Americans and Victor Rogers was an All-Big 12 tackle.

Now, the strength of the Buffs’ line is senior center Wayne Lucier (6-4, 295). Lucier started every game last season and the coaches said he graded out as well as the linemen on the right side.

He was third on the team in domination blocks with 84 and third in touchdown blocks with 15. He allowed only one quarterback pressure and 1.5 sacks in 831 snaps. He was chosen to the All-Big 12 second team by the Associated Press and Dallas Morning News and was on the coaches’ third team.

In the spring, Lucier was chosen as the outstanding offensive lineman.

Another leader is senior strong tackle Justin Bates (6-4, 295), who graded out better than any other lineman last season. Starting guard Marwin Hage (6-3, 29) was also a leader in dominant blocks.

On the right side, senior Rawle King (6-6, 300) earned the starting job at tackle and junior Karl Allis (6-5, 300) moved into the starting job at guard.

One of the Buffs’ key losses will be the departure of kicker Jeremy Flores, chosen to the All-Big 12 first team by the Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star and the league’s coaches.

Flores made 18-of-24 field-goal attempts in the regular season with a long of 51 yards and made 40-of-42 PAT kicks. He made both of his field-goal attempts in the bowl game.

Senior Pat Brougham (5-11, 190) should be the starting place-kicker in the fall. Brougham handled kickoff duties last season. With a strong leg, Brougham should be ready to fill the big void left by Flores’ departure.

With three of four starters returning, the defensive front should be exceptional this season. It may be the best line in Barnett’s tenure with the Buffs.

Senior Tyler Brayton (6-6, 265) is the anchor of the line after a breakout junior year at defensive end. In the spring, Brayton moved from end to tackle, where he will likely stay for the 2002 season.

Barnett made another move in the spring, switching junior Marques Harris (6-2, 225) from outside linebacker to defensive end. Harris was the starter at defensive end last season and moved to outside linebacker for the first eight spring practices.

In an early spring scrimmage, the offense gained 172 rushing yards, and a poor performance by the line prompted Barnett to move Brayton and Harris.

Harris does not have the typical size for an end. Still, he finished the 2001 season with 51 tackles and three sacks.

Brayton had 44 tackles and 4.5 sacks. The spring was his first experience at tackle.

At the end of the spring, sophomore Brandon Dabdoub (6-1, 290) and junior DeAndre Fluellen (6-1, 285) were slotted as co-starters at the other tackle spot with sophomore Geoff Whitaker (6-3, 240) as the backup.

At end, the Buffs are counting heavily on junior college transfer Gabe Nyenhuis (6-4, 260), slotted as a starter at the end of the spring. Nyenhuis enrolled for the spring semester and practiced with the team. In the spring game, he had five tackles, one tackle for loss and a half a sack.

Perhaps the strength of the defense is its inside linebackers, led by junior Sean Tufts (6-4, 230) and senior Drew Wahlroos (6-3, 235).

Tufts could be a candidate for the Butkus Award. Last season, Tufts started all 12 regular-season games and had 57 tackles and three tackles for loss.

Wahlroos, who played outside linebacker for his first three seasons, was the team’s third-leading tackler with 72 in 2001. He moved to inside linebacker for spring practice.

None of the backups at inside linebacker have game experience. Freshman signee Andrew Ward (6-2, 230) enrolled in the spring semester after graduating from high school in December. Ward, slotted as Wahlroos’ backup, could earn playing time this season.

Senior Aaron Killion (6-3, 235) will battle for Tufts’ starting job in the fall after missing the spring while recovering from shoulder and knee surgeries. Killion was not a starter last season but played in 10 games and had 30 tackles. He intercepted a pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown against Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game.

With Wahlroos’ move to inside linebacker, senior Joey Johnson (6-2, 220) moved from inside linebacker to the outside. Johnson, a starter last season, was fourth on the team in tackles with 68 and had six tackles for loss in 12 regular-season games.

However, Johnson will have to beat out senior Kory Mossoni (6-3, 230) for the starting job. Mossoni, slotted as the starter at the end of spring, was a part-time starter in 2000 but missed last season with a back injury. His solid spring earned him the starting job going into fall practices.

The biggest concern defensively heading into the spring was at safety, where both starters, strong safety Michael Lewis and free safety Robbie Robinson, have departed. They combined for 62 career starts.

Lewis led the team in tackles last season with 112 and had 14 stops on third or fourth downs. He also led the team with five interceptions. Lewis was a third-team All-American pick by The Sporting News and Associated Press and Football News and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press and the Big 12 coaches.

Robinson finished fifth on the team in tackles with 67 and had eight stops on third or fourth down.

Senior Roderick Sneed (6-0, 185) was slotted as the starter at strong safety in the spring. Senior Omar Stewart (5-11, 195) missed the spring while rehabilitating a torn ACL. Stewart, a converted cornerback, was hurt in the spring game and was expected to be out for five months, so his availability in 2002 is in question.

Sneed started most of last season at right cornerback and moved to safety in the spring.

Junior Medford Moorer (6-2, 195) was the starter at free safety at the end of spring and was backed up by juniors Corey Alexander (5-10, 180) and Barry Kunkel (6-2, 200).

Moorer, who had 24 tackles in 12 games, returned an interception for a touchdown against Texas in the Big 12 Championship game.

Junior Phil Jackson (6-1, 185) was replaced by Sneed at right corner after breaking a couple of fingers. Jackson, who played in 10 games and had 20 tackles, returned in the spring and was slotted as the starter at right cornerback.

At left cornerback, senior Joe Swift (5-10, 175) and senior Lovell Houston (6-1, 190) spent the spring battling for the job, and that battle will resume in two-a-days. Swift had a good spring, as did Houston -- despite sitting out competitive football for two years.

Senior punter Mark Mariscal (6-2, 190) returns after being chosen to the All-Big 12 second team by the Kansas City Star and earning honorable mention honors from the Associated Press and the Big 12 coaches.

Mariscal averaged 44.5 yards on 37 kicks, which would have ranked sixth in the NCAA statistics had he not been six kicks shy of the minimum number needed to be ranked. He had nine punts inside the 20 and 11 kicks for 50 or more yards.

The Buffs will have a big hole to fill with the departure of Hollowell, who led the nation in punt returns last season and also handled 21 of the team’s 28 kickoff returns. Hollowell averaged 20.5 yards on kickoff returns and 18 yards on 29 punt returns.

He was the only player who returned a punt last season.

Sneed and Surrell both returned three kickoffs in 2001. There were no punt or kickoff returns in the spring game. Brougham made his only field-goal attempt, a 39-yarder. Mariscal averaged 47.4 yards on five punts in the spring game and Torp averaged 37.3 yards on four punts.

Barnett’s 2002 class of recruits was ranted anywhere from 10th-best in the country to 25^th-best.

The Sporting News and Rivals.com both rated Colorado No. 10. Other services and their ratings for Colorado’s class: SuperPrep (11), collegefootballnews.com (12), CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com (14), ESPN/Prep Football Report (14), Student Sports (14), National Blue Chips/Max Emfinger (t-18), and CBS SportsLine/PrepStar (25).

The class consists of 28 high school signees and two junior college recruits.

There are 13 offensive and 17 defensive players -- six offensive linemen, three receivers, two running backs, one quarterback, one tight end, seven defensive backs, five linebackers and five defensive linemen/ends.

The two JUCO recruits, defensive end Nyenhuis and offensive lineman Werth, were teammates at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

Nyenhuis was slotted as a starter at defensive end in the spring, while Werth was injured. Nyenhuis was rated as the No. 23 junior college player in the nation and the No. 2 defensive end by Rivals.com. He had 55 tackles last season and helped Garden City to a 9-2 record. Werth was rated as the No. 37 junior college player in the nation and the No. 2 offensive lineman by Rivals.com.

The quarterback signed was James Cox (6-3, 200) of Royal High School in Simi Valley, Calif. Rivals.com rated Cox as the No. 24 quarterback nationally in its "dual-threat" category. He threw 34 touchdown passes last season with only 14 interceptions as a junior and season. Last season, he completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 560 yards and eight touchdowns.

Offensively, the Buffs were hampered by injuries in the spring, particularly the receivers and linemen. That was a concern. If those players can get healthy, the offense should be in good shape.

Ochs has a year of starting experience behind him, though he missed seven starts with an ankle injury. Ochs was back to full speed in the spring.

One of the nation’s top running teams in 2001, Colorado has plenty of weapons returning, led by junior tailback Chris Brown. After getting shut down by Oregon in the bowl game, the Buffs’ rushing game will seek some redemption early in 2002.

Colorado’s defense looked good in the spring, in part because it was facing an offense beset by injuries. Its weaknesses were all too apparent in the Fiesta Bowl, particularly the problems in the secondary.

In order to win the Big 12, the Buffs will have to shore up their defense. Both starting safeties must be replaced. One spot was filled in the spring when starting cornerback Sneed moved to strong safety.

The defensive front is solid, and the linebackers are good.

Barnett, in his fourth season as the Buffs’ coach, worked some magic last season. It wasn’t the first time Barnett has proven himself as one of the better coaches around.

Look for Barnett to have his team in contention for the Big 12 title again this year.