Boulder – Mason Crosby took pictures, signed autographs and was generally mobbed on the field, while his mother, Karen, watched the fans adore the son she adores.
Crosby is a star in Boulder. A huge star.
And Saturday, he put on as good a show as a kicker can, nailing four field goals while just missing a 65-yarder late in the game. But that miss didn’t matter to fans, who cheered anyway as if he had just hit from 70.
“Someone told me they were yelling for me to come back to the middle of the field (after the game),” Crosby said. “Then they all just moved toward me. It was awesome. It’s what I came back for. It’s the kind of thing that college football is amazing for, and it’s just fun being a part of it.”
Crosby made field goals from 47, 38, 41 and 42 yards. With extra points included, the senior accounted for 15 of CU’s 33 points Saturday and became the first Buff to score more than 300 points in his career. He has 305.
Iowa State games have been particularly good for Crosby, who has 46 points in his career against the Cyclones, which is a school record for the most points scored against an opponent.
“I felt good, made four good field goals,” Crosby said. “It was my last senior game at home. It’s a good thing to go out on a win.”
Going deep
Colorado went deep on its first two plays of the game, and completed the first one, 38 yards to Alvin Barnett. Patrick Williams later caught a 39-yard touchdown pass.
Williams said he didn’t know the plan was to attack Iowa State deep until late in the week.
“I had no clue,” Williams said. “I didn’t know that we were going to take as many shots as we did. It wasn’t until Thursday that (offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich) said Hawkins gave us the green light. I was like, ‘Whoa, we gotta make it happen.”‘
Washington wins award
Linebacker Thaddaeus Washington won the ninth annual Buffalo Heart Award, voted on by fans.
“It’s great,” Washington said. “There are so many words going through my head right now, I can’t even say how great this makes me feel.”
Washington finished with three tackles against ISU.
Injury report
Cornerback Terrence Wheatley (concussion) is day to day. Defensive end Taj Kaynor (stinger) is day to day. Defensive linemen Jason Brace (concussion) and Marcus Jones (concussion) are expected back for the Nebraska game Nov. 24.
Footnotes
Though safety J.J. Billingsley was listed pregame on the “players not dressing” list, the senior played for the first time since Sept. 30 at Missouri. He had been out with a knee injury. …
Senior center Mark Fenton played for the first time since the Sept. 23 Georgia game. He had been rehabbing from a broken fibula. …
Colorado committed 10 penalties for 93 yards, the most this season. … Sophomore defensive end Maurice Lucas recorded his first career sack.
