In 2010, Colorado gave up 35 fourth quarter points to Kansas in a humiliating 52-45 loss that officially led to Dan Hawkins’ firing. His successor, Jon Embree, hasn’t had much to celebrate in his short tenure with the Buffs.
Until now. Colorado got to see what it was like on the other side of a comeback, this time rallying from 17 down against Washington State to beat the Cougars 35-34. The winning touchdown, a Jordan Webb 4-yard run, came with just 11 seconds left in the game. The comeback began halfway through the fourth quarter when Webb connected with Nick Kasa for a 70-yard touchdown. Wazzu was only able to manage a pair of field goals and couldn’t keep the Buffs out of the end zone.
It was a big win (and bigger relief) for Embree. Colorado was winless on the season and coming off a 69-14 waxing at the hands of Fresno State.
It’s also another embarrassing loss for first-year coach Mike Leach at Wazzu, the first coming in a 30-6 season opening blowout by BYU. So far, Leach’s only two wins are against Eastern Washington and UNLV, the latter of which he almost blew.
Leach should have success at Washington State in time, but in 2012, it’s likely the Pac-12 basement for the Cougars.