Font ResizeThe Colorado sophomore running back didn't get to play beyond the ninth game of the season during a strong freshman campaign a year ago because he broke his leg at Texas A&M in the first week of November.
Stewart is healthy entering the 10th game of this season today at Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State campus and his teammates need another strong performance from the 5-foot-6, 170-pound product of Westerville, Ohio, whom one observer earlier this season said "runs with fire in his eyes."
Stewart has produced four 100-yard rushing days this season, one of which came last week in a home win over Texas A&M. After that victory, he predicted the Buffs would follow
"I think our guys are maturing," Stewart said a week ago today. "Tyler (Hansen's) getting a lot more comfortable. We're getting more used to the game. So I think we're going to win the next game."
The Buffs will have to be much tougher today than they were three weeks ago when they came off a big win over Kansas only to follow up with a dud at Kansas State. Many of his teammates could take their cue about toughness from Stewart.
He doesn't inspire thoughts of Earl Campbell or Walter Payton, but many of his yards come after first contact. He sometimes resembles a pinball, but his ability to make defenders miss has been a big part of his success running behind a young offensive line for two years in row. Nearly half (288) of his 588 rushing yards this fall have come after first contact.
The Buffs are at their best when they're running the ball and generally the man doing the running is Stewart. He has carried the ball 149 times with the other tailbacks on the roster (including former Buff Darrell Scott) combining for only 26 attempts. Stewart could pass his freshman total of 622 yards today against an Iowa State defense that ranks 93rd in the nation against the run. The Cyclones allow 170 yards a game on the ground.
It's no coincidence Colorado's three wins this season have come in three of the four games in which the offense has rushed more times than it has passed. The only exception was at Texas, where mistakes at quarterback and two special teams gaffes probably cost the team a win.
Today's game won't be televised, but fans can participate in a live chat throughout the contest on Buff-
zone.com with our reporter at the game. The chat begins prior to the noon kickoff.
Colorado (3-6, 2-3) must win today to keep its hopes of a bowl berth and winning the Big 12 North Division title alive. Kansas State can eliminate the Buffs from contention for the division title with a win today at home against Missouri, regardless of the outcome of the CU game.
For the second consecutive week, the Buffs are facing a team that can become bowl eligible with a victory. First-year ISU coach Paul Rhoads has the Cyclones at 5-5 overall and poised to reach a bowl game for the first time since the 2005 season. Today is almost as important for IowaState as it is for Colorado because the Cyclones must finish the season with a road game at Missouri next week, where the they haven't won since 2001.
"They certainly have played well this year and earned their stripes," coach Dan Hawkins said. "Our backs are against the wall and they're trying to get bowl eligible. A lot things are on the line for both football teams."
Iowa State is a lot like Colorado in needing to run the ball well to find success. Tailback Alexander Robinson and quarterback Austen Arnaud form a difficult combination to contain. The Cyclones average 186 yards on the ground, third in the Big 12 Conference.
"We've got to play technique-sound football and make tackles," CU cornerback Jimmy Smith said. "That's the only way you can stop that kind of running team."
The Buffs have an 11-game losing streak outside the state of Colorado. The streak started here two years ago when they surrendered a 21-point halftime lead and lost 31-28. The program has won only twice in true road games in four seasons under Hawkins and has a 2-17 record on the road since the start of the Hawkins' era.
It has been more than two years since the Buffs won on the road at Texas Tech in late October 2007.
The Buffs also haven't won consecutive games since starting the 2008 season 3-0. They have a chance to follow up a rousing fourth-quarter rally last week by breaking all of these streaks today.
These teams are evenly matched aside from the Buffs' inability to win on the road. Iowa State took CU to the wire last season at Folsom Field with the game being decided on a goal-line stand by the Buffs on the final play. Smith made the game-winning tackle.
Many of those Cyclones are back today and eager for some payback, and they have the added incentive of ISU celebrating senior day today.
Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen gets his second shot at the Cyclones. He started last season's game in Boulder, but was replaced by Cody Hawkins in the second half after an ineffective first half. His playing time diminished from that point on.
Hansen is coming off his best performance as a Buff against the Aggies last week, leading his team to a fourth-quarter comeback. He produced 315 yards of total offense and had a 100-yard rushing day before yardage of the eight sacks he absorbed was subtracted.
