Colorado State University Athletics
Bowl Rewind: 1990 Freedom Bowl
12/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
1990 Freedom Bowl Photo Gallery
Colorado State’s football squad opened the 1990 season with dreams higher than many observers felt possible. Those dreams included a postseason bowl berth. Having not been invited to a postseason game in 42 years, Colorado State earned a trip to the Freedom Bowl in 1990. Colorado State’s 8-4 regular-season record drew bowl attention and thrusted the team into the national limelight in Freedom Bowl VII. The Rams were matched against PAC-10 member Oregon in what would turn out to be one of the season’s most exciting bowl games.
Colorado State scored first, opening the game with a 75-yard, 15-play drive on Mike Gimenez’s 1-yard plunge. Oregon later led 17-14, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter.
Trailing 25-19, the Rams took the lead on Gimenez’s 49-yard pass to Greg Primus, then added insurance on Todd Yert’s 52-yard scoring run to lead 32-25 with minutes remaining. But Oregon made one last grasp at victory behind quarterback Bill Musgrave, who led his team on a 79-yard scoring drive. The Rams’ Selwyn Jones then thwarted the Ducks’ two-point conversion pass attempt, an amazing play, to seal the win.
Yert was named the game’s Offensive MVP, while teammate Robert Chirico earned defensive honors.
