Minnesota doesn't release a depth chart, so Colorado got creative ahead of matchup
The Minnesota Golden Gophers, Colorado’s Week 3 opponent, doesn’t release a depth chart. Just not something coach PJ Fleck does. So, Colorado decided it would have some fun with its own.
In the Buffs’ game notes for the week, CU’s longtime sports information director decided to go with a nod to the 1972 Buffs team that beat Minnesota 38-6 in their first-ever meeting. The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy shared the depth chart to Twitter.
Since Minnesota didn’t provide a depth chart, Colorado’s @davidplati listed CU’s 1972 depth chart, 1st game b/w CU & UM. 16 Buffs on that team played in NFL. Also listed is 1972 AP Top 20: CU in Big 8; FSU, Penn St, WVU & Tulane were independents; ASU in WAC; USC in Pac 8 pic.twitter.com/cgLux9z68w
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 14, 2022
“Since Minnesota doesn’t issue a depth chart, we’ll take a week off but what has become custom when an opponent doesn’t have one, an ample substitute for CU is provided,” David Plati wrote in the game notes.
The ’72 Buffaloes squad featured 24 players on the two-deep who would go on to be drafted and/or play in the NFL. John “Bad Dude” Stearns, a safety for the Buffs, was drafted to both the NFL and the MLB. The Buffs went 8-4 that season, with wins over No. 18 Iowa State and No. 2 Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks.
Colorado hosted Minnesota last season, a 30-0 loss. In the lead-up to that game, CU released a depth chart that included Jimmy Buffett at receiver, Fred Flinstone at center, Norman Bates at tight end, Ron Burgundy and Brick Tamland at corner, and Paul Crewe at quarterback.
The Buffs (0-2) and Gophers (2-0) face off at 12:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2 this Saturday.