Forget about the militaristic crowd-control tactics of the Denver police. For that matter, forget about the rowdy behavior of Colorado State Rams fans.

Colorado Coach Gary Barnett said this week that he knew who was to blame for the tear-gas dousing of several Colorado State fans who were celebrating the Rams' 41-14 romp last year at Mile High Stadium.

The culprit? The Buffaloes themselves.

	Gary Barnett said the Buffs were overconfident last season against CSU.

"We were responsible for the tear gas," Barnett said. "I really feel that we were as much responsible for it happening by playing as poorly as we did. I don't think any of that would have happened if we had played our game last year." When the Buffs get their rematch at 6 p.m. EST Saturday on ESPN2, Barnett said, they hope to keep matters in hand on the field so things don't get out of hand off it.

But doing that might be more difficult than ever. Coach Sonny Lubick's team isn't far behind the 25th-ranked Buffaloes in the polls and it's not hard to see why. Seventeen starters, including senior quarterback Matt Newton and all-around receiver Dallas Davis, return from a team that humiliated CU.

"It's miserable to lose to anybody," Barnett said. "It's even more miserable to lose to CSU because it's an in-state situation.

"A year ago, we went into this game very unemotional and probably overconfident. We embarrassed ourselves. We've been looking forward to this for a year."

The offseason proved it. CU snatched linebacker Sam Wilder off the recruiting table after Wilder had verbally committed to CSU.

In the past few weeks, Barnett has been wearing a shirt that counts down the days to the rematch. And the Buffs have closed every practice by chanting "Beat the Rams."

This year, Barnett said, he's more worried about a lack of precision than he is a lack emotion.

Colorado lost several key players to injuries during August. Although most will be healthy by the opener, Barnett was unable to hold a full-scale scrimmage.

The second-year coach saw enough to tab Zac Colvin as quarterback. Barnett said the 6-4, 215-pound sophomore beat out junior college transfer Bobby Pesavento because he was powerful -- in both his passing and his leadership.

"We've done less live work than any team I've had," Barnett said. "I'm concerned about our timing and our tackling."

Before last year's loss, Colorado had beaten the Rams eight straight times, including a 42-14 drubbing in 1998. But Barnett remembers losing to the Rams in 1986, when he was an assistant for CU Coach Bill McCartney.

"It's a legitimate rivalry," Barnett said. "By us losing last year, it's intensified that rivalry. "It's a knockdown brawl. It'll be that way this year."

Around the Big 12
Texas A&M: Coach R.C. Slocum will take his team to Notre Dame Saturday to face close friend and former assistant Bob Davies. Slocum and Davie, an A&M assistant from 1985 to 1993, have talked about how difficult it will be to coach against each other. "Come late Saturday afternoon," Slocum said, "one of us will feel pretty good and the other is going to be miserable." ... Slocum will be without two starters -- defensive end Rocky Bernard (torn ACL) and sophomore right guard Billy Yates (broken ankle).

Nebraska: No. 1 Nebraska's opener against San Jose State will be the first college game broadcast live on the Internet using streaming video. Of course, officials aren't sure how long the Spartans or the site - www.huskers.com -- will last without crashing. ... The Huskers will be without preseason All-American punter Dan Hadenfeldt, who will sit out because he played in the Hula Bowl before he learned he had received an extra year of eligibility. Of course, with Nebraska's offense, they might not even need a punter. ... Three regulars on the defensive line, Loran Kaiser, Jason Lohr and Ryon Bingham, have been out with injuries or illness and may miss the first game.

Texas: Major Applewhite just won't let go of his burnt Orange crush on Texas' quarterback spot. Sore knee and all, Applewhite continues to battle sophomore sensation Chris Simms. "I didn't think we'd have a quarterback situation but. . .he's one of the toughest young people I've ever been around," Coach Mack Brown said. A selection can wait, Brown said. The 'Horns don't open until Sept. 9. ... Brown said the loss of tight end Bo Scaife will hurt because of his versatility and ability to split out as a wide receiver. Scaife suffered a season-ending knee injury during the August camp.

Kansas State: Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder called Jonathan Beasley's performance against Iowa "average" but said he will mix in freshman Ell Roberson only as this week's Louisiana Tech game allows. . .Quincy Morgan and Aaron Lockett will take over the punt return duties as David Allen (ankle) is out "more than a ballgame."

Oklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops said he watched Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who engineered the 1999 passing frenzy at Oklahoma, on Saturday and felt like he was looking in a mirror. "The offense looked the same," he said. ... True freshman running back Renaldo Works will get some significant work with the offense Saturday, Stoops said. ... The Sooner Schooner is sweeping the state again, as all six of Oklahoma's home games already are sold out. ... The Sooners open Saturday against UTEP, which has former OU and Louisville assistant Gary Nord at the helm.

Texas Tech: Following his first touchdown reception in Texas Tech's 24-3 win over New Mexico Saturday, running back Ricky Williams said he needs to work on a third dimension -- his blocking. ... Pass-happy Coach Mike Leach wants better blocking on the blitz and better decisions from quarterback Kliff Kingsbury when Utah State comes to Lubbock Saturday. ... Leach said he kept waiting for the lump in his throat in anticipation of his first game as a head coach Saturday. It never came. "Folks kept telling me I was supposed to have it," he said. "After this many years, you just kind of go stand in the same place and fold your arms the same way."

Oklahoma State: The rumors of Tailback U's death at Oklahoma State are greatly exaggerated, coach Bob Simmons said. Though OSU plans to open the offense in its Sept. 9 opener against Tulsa, Simmons said the Cowboys will still run with Jamaal Fobbs at tailback. Freshman tailback Tatum Bell also has impressed with his speed. ... Oklahoma State quarterback Tony Lindsay suffered a bruised shoulder during a recent scrimmage but Coach Bob Simmons said he doesn't think it's serious. ... Simmons continues to be impressed with Lindsay's brother, sophomore Gabe Lindsay, as a receiver and a return man. "Gabe is, in our opinion, one of the better wide receivers we have," Simmons said.

Baylor: The Bears' best chance for a win might be Thursday against the North Texas team that was Baylor's only victim last year. But coach Kevin Steele repeatedly has reminded his staff and players of the upset ability of North Texas. The Eagles upset Tennessee when Steele was on Johnny Major's staff. ... For all the talk about the experience Greg Cicero brings to quarterback, Steele noted that Thursday will be the former Texas' recruit's first major college snap at quarterback.

Missouri: Missouri's quarterback situation was cleared up the painful way. Kirk Farmer is the man after Jim Dougherty suffered torn ligaments in his throwing elbow. ... Coach Larry Smith suspended the Tigers' top receiver, Travis Garvin, for the Western Illinois game Saturday. Garvin violated undisclosed team rules. ... Missouri Coach Larry Smith, who was treated this summer for blood clots in his legs and his lungs, said he feels better than ever after two-a-days. Smith occasionally has run practice from a golf cart and gets eight hours of sleep a night. "I feel great," he said.

Iowa State: Five years ago, Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney faced Ohio in what some labeled the Donut Bowl because neither school had won a game the previous season. Now, as the two teams square off Saturday in Ames, McCarney is talking about a legitimate bowl game and Ohio Coach Jim Grobe has fans excited after finishing 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference. ... How do you replace Troy and Darren Davis? Apparently, you do it with four tailbacks. Junior Ennis Haywood and freshmen Michael Wagner, Hiawatha Rutland and Ja'Maine Billups all will play, McCarney said. .... Iowa State will have three new starters on the offensive line, including mammoth junior college transfer Lorenzo White, who is expected to start at guard. McCarney's assessment of White? "For a guy 363, he's pretty light on his feet."

Kansas: Kansas coach Terry Allen says both David Winbush and Moran Norris will catch the ball as well as run it this year, starting with Saturday's game against SMU in Dallas. ... Safety Carl Nesmith earned the nickname "The Butcher" last year because of the licks he put on opponents. But Nesmith's talk this fall of Lawrence being the "Butcher Shop" didn't digest well with Allen ... Kansas will play in the opening game of SMU's new on-campus field -- the Gerald R. Ford Stadium in Dallas.

Todd Cooper is a staff writer for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald.