Salaam, Mccartney Leave Winners Fiesta Bowl

Rashaan Salaam had the last word after all.

On the final day of the regular college football season, Colorado coach Bill McCartney announced his resignation, upstaging a 2,000-yard rushing season by his tailback. Six weeks later, Salaam got even.

The Heisman Trophy winner announced after Monday’s 41-24 Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame that he will skip his senior season for a shot at the pros, thus overshadowing McCartney’s emotional exit.

“Coach Mac’s leaving weighed a little bit,” Salaam said of his decision.

McCartney’s final game at Colorado ended the way his national championship season of 1990 did - with a win over Notre Dame. Only this time, there was no title on the line.

With Kordell Stewart and Salaam accounting for five touchdowns, the fourth-ranked Buffaloes had little trouble beating the Fighting Irish.

In the 1991 Orange Bowl, Colorado beat the Irish 10-9 to win its only national title.

McCartney, who resigned Nov. 19 effective after the season, leaves as the winningest coach in Colorado history (93-55-5). Assistant Rick Neuheisel will succeed him.

Only a 24-7 loss to Nebraska on Oct. 29 prevented Colorado (11-1) from a perfect and perhaps championship season.

Salaam, who earlier said he would make an announcement on his future on Jan. 6, scooped himself.

Saying he made his decision two days earlier after consultation with his mother and Colorado offensive coordinator Elliot Uzelac, Salaam said, “Getting so tight with my teammates and executing and having a good time, playing some real tough games - this team has been a college football player’s dream.”

Salaam questioned his ability to be as dominating next season on the college level, noting his diminished output against Notre Dame.

“Anybody in their right mind knows they can’t rush for 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons,” he said. “It would be like it was today.”

Stewart, overlooked most of the season while Salaam was rushing toward the Heisman, set a team bowl record with 348 total yards. Salaam, the focus of the Irish defense, had only 83 yards on 27 carries - more than 100 yards below his average. Stewart ran seven times for 143 yards and hit 11 of 20 passes for 205 more.

Stewart ran for one touchdown and passed for another, and Salaam had two 1-yard scores as Colorado scored on five of its first six possessions for a 31-3 lead late in the first half.

Ron Powlus, sacked a Fiesta Bowlrecord three times by tackle Shannon Clavelle, threw three TD passes for the Irish (6-5-1) as coach Lou Holtz was denied his 200th career win. Colorado 41, Notre Dame 24

Colorado 10 21 3 7 - 41 Notre Dame 3 7 7 7 - 24 Col-FG Voskeritchian 33

Col-Fauria 1 pass from Stewart (Voskeritchian kick)

ND-FG Cengia 29

Col-Stewart 9 run (Voskeritchian kick)

Col-Salaam 1 run (Voskeritchian kick)

Col-Salaam 1 run (Voskeritchian kick)

ND-Mayes 7 pass from Powlus (Cengia kick)

ND-Mayes 39 pass from Powlus (Cengia kick)

Col-FG Voskeritchian 48

Col-Salaam 5 run (Voskeritchian kick)

ND-Wallace 7 pass from Powlus (Schroffner kick)

A-73,968.

Col ND First downs 18 22 Rushes-yards 39-246 45-149 Passing yards 226 259 Return Yards 19 0 Comp-Att-Int 12-21-0 18-35-1 Punts 4-36 5-33 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0 Penalties-Yards 4-35 3-25 Time of Possession 23:43 36:17

RUSHINGColorado, Stewart 7-143, Salaam 27-83, Troutman 2-20, Detmer 2-2, Henry 1-(minus 2). Notre Dame, Becton 17-81, Zellars 5-21, Mosley 3-21, Powlus 15-12, Sollmann 1-9, Edwards 2-4, Farmer 2-1.

PASSINGColorado, Stewart 11-20-0-205, Detmer 1-1-0-21. Notre Dame, Powlus 18-34-1-259, Stafford 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVINGColorado, Westbrook 4-70, Kidd 2-83, Savoy 2-58, Fauria 2-3, Carruth 1-6, Salaam 1-6. Notre Dame, Mayes 4-93, Becton 3-60, Mosley 3-34, Zellars 2-25, Stafford 2-22, McBride 2-21, Wallace 1-7, Farmer 1-(minus 3).