Irish Wore Green and Fauria Saw Red

Maybe it was the euphoria of ending his collegiate career with a victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

But Colorado tight end Christian Fauria stood amid the postgame gaiety on the field at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., on Monday and laid claim to the No. 2 ranking in the nation.

“I don’t want to bring up things from the past, but when we played Nebraska this wasn’t the University of Colorado football team that people in our state have grown to love,” said the senior from Crespi High, grinning from ear to ear. “But we showed today that we (Nebraska and Colorado) are the top two teams in the nation.

“Sorry, Penn State. Nebraska beat us. So they got to be great.”

It is a moot point. Both the Associated Press and USA Today postseason polls picked Nebraska No. 1, Penn State No. 2 and Colorado No. 3.

Maybe it was the exhilaration of scoring the game’s first touchdown--a one-yard reception--and the delirium of beating one of the most-famous football teams in the world that put Fauria in a particularly boastful mood.

“They came out in their stinking puke-green uniforms, thinking they’re going to make a statement,” said Fauria of the Fighting Irish’s Kelly green jerseys that were worn for the first time since the 1985 game against USC. “I don’t know what they thought it was going to do, but it got us more fired up than it did them. I’m glad they did that. On the whole, it was a great time.”

Fauria, himself a Catholic, reveled in the Buffaloes’ 41-24 victory and celebrated the closing of a record-setting career.

A three-year starter, he was chosen third-team All-American by the Associated Press. He finished with 100 receptions, more than any tight end in Big Eight Conference history. But touchdown catches--he had 12--were few and far between.

“That was the first touchdown of the game and the last touchdown of my career, so it felt great,” Fauria said. “I’ve pretty much done everything I tried to do when I came here as a freshman.”

Fauria, 6 feet 4 and 235 pounds, was jumping up and down in the end zone like a kid after Colorado had fooled the Irish on first and goal from the one-yard line.

“The flow was going the opposite way from where I was going,” Fauria said. “I just popped out. (Quarterback Kordell Stewart) was getting chased, but I was wide open when he threw it. They were playing the option all day. As soon as he made the play-fake . . . I popped out. We’ve run that play about two times all year, and it’s worked both times.

“It would have worked a couple more times down there if we wanted to, but the ball was given to everybody.”

And with so many talented players to give it to, Fauria’s 100 receptions as a tight end seem even more impressive.

Fauria has played with running back Rashaan Salaam, the Heisman Trophy winner; receiver Michael Westbrook, a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Assn.; receiver Charles Johnson, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and running back Lamont Warren (Indianapolis Colts).

The Fiesta Bowl was Stewart’s show. The senior quarterback rushed for 147 yards in seven carries, passed for 226, and was named offensive player of the game. Fauria, who had two receptions for only three yards, was content to block.

On Stewart’s nine-yard touchdown run that made the score 17-3 in the second quarter, Fauria raced across the field to make a key block.

“I kind of squeezed my butt between the tackle and the end and found the inside linebacker,” he said. “And that was probably my best block all day.”

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Add Fauria: The projected high NFL draft pick was looking forward to a week’s vacation before reporting to Palo Alto today for the East-West Shrine game. Fauria has been bothered by injuries and had trainers working on his back throughout the Fiesta Bowl game.

“I have a bad ankle, I have a sprained wrist,” he said. “I have a stinger (shooting pains in the neck), and then I had spasms in my back. I was struggling through the whole game hoping the seconds would tick away as fast as they could.”

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McLaughlin’s inspiration: Notre Dame freshman John McLaughlin (Hart), who had an assisted tackle while playing on the kickoff team, issued a guarantee that the Irish will be better than 6-5-1 in 1995.

“Colorado has an unbelievable team,” he said. “They have a lot of talent. But I’ll tell you what, there’s no way in the world they will be able to beat us if we play them again next year.”

The 6-4, 209-pound outside linebacker, who had eight tackles (seven solo) in nine regular-season games, said he has a chance to start next year if Renaldo Wynn makes a permanent move to defensive end.

“It’s kind of a sad experience,” McLaughlin said. “The season did not turn out the way we wanted it. I’m a lot more motivated (about next year).

“I’m not going to let any of this happen next year. We’re going to turn the program around, me and a couple other freshmen.”

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Putting it Bluntly: San Fernando High alum Leon Blunt, another Notre Dame freshman, was not as gung-ho as McLaughlin as he boarded the bus for home. The 5-10, 185-pound flanker and backup quarterback had nine carries for six yards and one reception for 12 yards during the season, but he didn’t play in the Fiesta Bowl.

“I probably could have played, but I didn’t want to,” he said. “I wasn’t really ready.”

Blunt stood by himself on the Irish sideline the entire game.

“I didn’t go by the coach at all,” he said. “I didn’t have a real great week of practice.”

Blunt said he was dealing with some personal adversity but declined to elaborate. When asked whether he planned to return to Notre Dame, which he selected over USC, he paused and smiled broadly.

“I will be playing for the Irish next year,” he said. “Don’t worry. I know I can (play next year) if I put my mind to it. But I didn’t put my mind in it this year for some reason. “It just all depends on me. I’m disappointed in this year. I know I could have done a lot better.”

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Dining with Neuheisel: Former UCLA quarterback and assistant coach Rick Neuheisel, who recruited Valley players the past seven seasons for the Bruins and Buffaloes, took the Colorado head-coaching duties from resigning Bill McCartney after the game.

Neuheisel was asked whether his Valley pipeline will remain open.

“Absolutely,” he said. “The rules only allow me to go into a place one time. We’ll have guys that are responsible for California. But I’ll look forward to my trips there since I know where all the good restaurants are.”