Someday, Colorado football historians might surmise that ultimately the coaching future of CU’s Dan Hawkins was hanging in the balance when Nebraska place-kicker Alex Henery lined up for a 57-yard field goal attempt in Lincoln.
Just under 1:50 remained in the fourth quarter and Nebraska trailed 31-30. Henery had never made a 50- yarder in his college career, so prospects for an upset victory by the visiting Buffaloes looked promising, if not a sure thing.
A Colorado win would have marked the Buffs’ sixth of the season, making them bowl-eligible, with the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., thought to be a possible destination. But Henery had other ideas. He surprised Husker fans and members of the Nebraska media by clearing the crossbar by a couple of feet for a career-best field goal and a Nebraska lead. Had Henery’s 3-point attempt failed, Colorado likely could have run out the clock and claimed victory.
Instead, the Buffs were forced to play catch-up. CU made a first down and then faced second-and-10 from its 33-yard line when Huskers All-America defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh batted a Cody Hawkins pass into the air, grabbed it and rambled 30 yards for an interception return to clinch the game and make Nebraska’s victory appear more comfortable than it was.
Colorado jumped on Nebraska for two stunning touchdowns in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the game — a 68-yard Hawkins pass to tight end Riar Geer and a 36-yard run by Demetrius Sumler. But the score was tied 24-24 at halftime. The difference: CU was outscored 13-0 in the fourth quarter.
Had CU qualified for postseason play and won a bowl game, Dan Hawkins would have posted his first winning season and perhaps carried some momentum into the following season. As it was, the Buffs went 3-9 in 2009 — and Hawkins found himself on the hot seat.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
