BOULDER — Conducting a weekly news conference in the midst of a trying season usually isn’t much fun for a coach. But first-year Colorado football coach Jon Embree grinned from ear to ear Tuesday when informed that the date, Oct. 25, marked the 25th anniversary of a landmark victory over Nebraska.
Embree was a starting senior tight end on the 1986 Buffaloes team that, with a 20-10 victory in Boulder, ended a string of 18 consecutive losses to Nebraska. That victory helped launched Colorado back to excellence under coach Bill McCartney.
“That was THE game; you talk about a signature win,” Embree said. “That was Mac’s fifth year, my fourth year. He had been talking and building for that moment since he recruited me — about beating Nebraska, about the importance of it.
“For us to go out there and do that under the circumstances, we started out the year 0-4 and obviously no one gave us a chance.”
Nebraska, ranked No. 3, managed just 123 yards rushing, the Huskers’ lowest total in eight years.
“To go out there and (physically) beat them, that’s what I mean by a signature win,” Embree said. “That game set this program in motion. It told (future CU players) that, ‘You can do it. And here’s what’s expected of you.’ It validated Mac, in terms of how we practiced, how we prepared.”
Embree, whose Buffs (1-7, 0-4 Pac-12) play Saturday at No. 23 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1), said he looks forward to someday coaching his own signature victory.
“To me, a signature win is beating someone so that they recognize you; (it’s) not in upsetting someone,” Embree said. “This year, if we win, it will be considered an upset. But at some point our program will be at the point where, whether it’s Oregon coming in, or SC (Southern California) coming in or us going there, we beat them.
“That will mean that we have equal talent and it wasn’t them having a bad day, it wasn’t them having eight turnovers.”
Osweiler a tough test.
ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler measures 6-foot-8, 240 pounds.
“He’s impressive. He’s all of 6-8,” Embree said.
Osweiler is talented too. He has thrown for 1,968 yards and 15 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Osweiler also is not afraid to tuck the ball and run.
“That’s a testament to his athleticism,” Embree said. “He’s a guy that probably should be playing basketball. I wish he was.”
CU junior defensive end Will Pericak said Osweiler’s size will be a challenge for the Buffs’ defensive line.
“With his height, he definitely has good vision,” Pericak said. “Even if we get our hands up, he can see over us.”
Footnotes.
After opening the Pac-12 schedule with four games against North Division teams, Colorado will finish out with five against South Division foes. “It’s a little bit like a fresh start for us,” Pericak said. “It’s an opportunity to show the South that we’re here and we can play with anybody.” . . . CU quarterback Tyler Hansen (concussion) remains listed as “day to day” but “is improving every day,” Embree said. . . . Embree, on his team playing 13 consecutive weeks this season without an open date: “We knew what the situation was this year. We’ll have byes in the future, including next year.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
