BUFFALO BITS 2004 SCHEDULE - Collegefootballdatadvds.com

year later, when McCartney made the dramatic announcement
that the Buffaloes would switch to the wishbone offense, Barnett
coached the quarterbacks and fullbacks, a position he would hold
throughout his remaining tenure as a CU assistant. On Dec. 3,
1990, he was promoted to offensive coordinator after Gerry
DiNardo resigned to become head coach at Vanderbilt. His first
game as OC was in the 1991 Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, a
10-9 Colorado victory that enabled CU to win its first national
championship in football.
During his eight seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado, he
coached some very high profile players, most notably Lee
Rouson, Eric McCarty, Mark Hatcher, the late Sal Aunese, George
Hemingway, Erich Kissick, Kordell Stewart and the winningest
quarterback in CU history, Darian Hagan. CU was 59-34-2 during
his tenure as an assistant under McCartney, and in his last
Q&A WITH GARY BARNETT
Who provided the greatest inspiration to you growing up?
“My mother and father.”
Who were your favorite sports heroes growing up?
“Ken Boyer, Stan Musial and Johnny Unitas.”
What did you want to be when you were little?
“A major league baseball player.”
What made you decide to get into coaching?
“I couldn’t live without football. It’s in my blood.”
What do you personally get out of coaching?
“A lot of headaches, a lot of heartaches but a great sense of fulfillment. I believe
in my players, take them to where they cannot take themselves, and want a
program that operates with one heartbeat.”
Who would you really like to meet, or have met while they were alive?
“Nelson Mandela.”
What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended or been
a part of?
“The 1996 Rose Bowl (Northwestern-Southern Cal) and the 1991 Orange Bowl
(when CU defeated Notre Dame 10-9 to win the national championship.)”
20
seasons at Colorado, the Buffaloes did not lose a Big Eight
Conference game (going 20-0-1).
Northwestern was 3-8, 2-9 and 3-7-1 in his first three seasons in
Evanston, with the 8-24-1 mark almost identical to McCartney’s 7-
25-1 in his first three years at Colorado before he turned around
the fortunes of the CU program.
Barnett was born May 23, 1946 in Lakeland, Fla., and graduated
from Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Mo. He is
married to the former Mary Weil, and they have two grown
children, Courtney and Clay. Courtney graduated from
Northwestern in 1997 and Clay from Georgetown in 2000. An avid
golfer and runner, he was the official starter for the 2000 Bolder
Boulder. He is also active in local charity work, specifically the
ALS and Lupus foundations.
TOP PLAYERS COACHED (when a position coach)—All-Americans (1): Darian Hagan. All-Big Eight Performers
(3): Hagan, Eric McCarty, Kordell Stewart. Bowl Game Most Valuable Players (1): Charles Johnson. NFL Players/Draft Picks
(4): Hagan, Vance Joseph, Rouson, Stewart.
RECORD—Barnett is 77-84-2 as a head coach: 34-28 at Colorado, 35-45-1 at Northwestern and 8-11-1 at Fort Lewis. He
has been a head coach for 143 Division 1-A games, but has coached in 238 games overall when including his eight years
as a CU assistant (during which the Buffs posted a 59-34-2 record). He has coached in 10 bowl games (five New Year’s Day).
Mary Barnett Active In AFCWA
Mary Barnett, Gary’s wife of 36 years, served as president of the American
Football Coaches Wives Association for 2002, and she remains active as a board
member of the organization.
Her biggest task was coordinating a membership drive among the wives of the
thousands of coaches who belong to the AFCA. She wrote several newsletters over
the course of her term, articles specifically designed to inform and connect the
membership. The AFCWA also published a directory and went on-line with a new
website for the first time by the end of her term.