Fauria Pawing Ground to Get at Michigan

Bring on Michigan, Colorado tight end Christian Fauria says. The Buffaloes are ready.

Seventh-ranked Colorado trounced Rose Bowl champion Wisconsin, 55-17, last week. On the schedule this week is No. 4 Michigan. If another stampede takes place in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Nebraska and No. 3 Florida State should be apprised that the Buffaloes have been up this mountain before.

So says Fauria, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior from Crespi High.

Fauria was a redshirt freshman in January, 1991, when the Buffaloes beat Notre Dame, 10-9, in the Orange Bowl and earned a share of the national championship for the 1990 season with Georgia Tech.

“I really didn’t get a taste of it, but I remember the feeling,” said Fauria, who scored the final touchdown in the Wisconsin blowout on a five-yard pass from reserve quarterback Koy Detmer. “And the feeling around here this week is the same. It’s electric.”

Colorado will be short-circuited if it cannot beat a Michigan team that--according to Fauria--is bigger, stronger and faster than Wisconsin. But there is no telling how explosive the Buffalo offense can be.

“(The offense) made a lot of mistakes against Wisconsin, which you couldn’t see,” he said. “It’s been a lot better--like in practice. We believe we can compete for the national championship.”

For Fauria, the years following Colorado’s 1990 title have been good. A starter the past two seasons, Fauria ranks eighth on Colorado’s career list in receptions (68) and needs only 19 more to climb to fifth. With 24 more receptions, Fauria would have more than any other tight end in school history.

In receiving yardage, Fauria ranks 13th with 739. He needs only 134 more to pass the late J.V. Cain, also a tight end, and move into 10th position.

Fauria, who turns 23 today, isn’t focused on the numbers and has resigned himself to his role in a high-powered offense that features three highly touted players--quarterback Kordell Stewart, running back Rashaan Salaam and wide receiver Michael Westbrook.

“They’re all great,” Fauria said. “I’d like to think I’m the fourth weapon. I tell myself, as long as they throw me at least one ball a game I’ll be happy. Back in the old days I might have said, ‘This is baloney. Give me the ball.’ But I’ve aged a bit.”

Fauria played the latter part of last season with a stress fracture in his pelvic bone. Six months of rehabilitation excluded him from spring workouts. During the layoff, Fauria hit the books and graduated with a degree in communications, carrying a B average. He is enrolled in four undergraduate classes this fall. On the field, he’s had to play catch-up.

“I’ve not been close to doing the things I want to do,” Fauria said. “I’d like to be perfect on every play and get more explosiveness out of my stance.”

Still sore from the Wisconsin game, Fauria said Tuesday he was ready to block a Wolverine.

“I can’t wait for Michigan,” he said. “I’m pumped now.”

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Relief for the Mustangs: Linebacker Brett Sibert (Calabasas) went to Dallas hoping to help Southern Methodist return to glory. SMU suffered the so-called death penalty and was banned from playing in 1987-88 for rules violations.

Since 1989, the Mustangs have struggled, posting a 12-44-2 record.

Two weeks ago in the Rose Bowl, Sibert was tormented by the 17-10 defeat to then 13th-ranked UCLA. SMU had first and goal at the three-yard line with 1 minute 22 seconds left and couldn’t score.

“We could have shocked the world, and that was our goal,” said Sibert, a walk-on sophomore who plays on special teams. “We had victory at hand and we couldn’t complete it.”

Faced with a near identical circumstance last week, SMU succeeded. Quarterback Ramon Flanigan’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Brian Berry with three seconds left gave the Mustangs a 34-31 victory over New Mexico at Dallas.

“It got scary, but it was a thrill in the end,” Sibert said. “We need to show the nation we’re players who were recruited to play in a big-time program that’s back on the rise.”

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Around the country: Freshman running back Ed Williams (Canyon) rushed for 115 yards in 23 carries during St. Mary’s 45-21 victory over Sonoma State at Moraga. Williams scored on runs of 20 and two yards, caught a pass for four yards and had four kick returns for 75 yards. . . . University of San Diego junior defensive back Jesse Hall (St. Francis) is second on the team with 31 tackles, 10 unassisted.

California lost to a Western Athletic Conference opponent for the second consecutive week, despite a strong effort by junior wide receiver Iheanyi Uwaezuoke (Harvard-Westlake). Uwaezuoke had eight receptions for 115 yards in the 21-7 defeat to Hawaii at Berkeley. He caught seven for 88 yards in a 22-20 loss to San Diego State the previous week. Uwaezuoke leads the Pacific 10 Conference in receiving with 7.5 catches per game (15 for 203 yards).

Junior running back LaKarlos Townsend (San Fernando) rushed for 99 yards in Ohio University’s 5-0 setback to Utah State. The Bobcats gained only 99 net yards on 33 rushes.