Bill McCartney, who lifted the Colorado football program from the league cellar to the No. 1 spot in the ratings in just five seasons, was voted the Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year, it was announced Friday.
McCartney and the Buffaloes waded through 2-8-1, 4-7 and 1-10 seasons before posting a winning record. This season they are 11-0 and won the school's first outright Big Eight football title since 1961. The top-ranked Buffaloes will meet No. 5 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl in search of their first national championship.It is the second conference Coach of the Year honor for McCartney, who was the choice in 1985 after the Buffaloes went from 1-10 to 7-5 and a berth in the Freedom Bowl.
McCartney was named on 25 of the ballots returned by media members from throughout the six-state Big Eight area. Iowa State's Jim Walden received two votes, and Nebraska's Tom Osborne, who won the honor last season, was named on one ballot.