1990 Disneyland Pigskin Classic: Colorado vs Tennessee game ball

[AstroJake09]

Hi all,

Here is a unique ball. This ball is either game used or game issued from the 1990 Disneyland Pigskin Classic, the 1990 college football season's opening game. The game pitted the #5 Colorado Buffaloes against the #8 Tennessee Volunteers. In what has been the only meeting on the gridiron between the two schools to date, they fought to a 31-31 tie at Anaheim Stadium with Colorado overcoming three first half turnovers on their way to posting 217 rushing yards on 20 carries by Mike Pritchard who filled in for suspended starting running back Eric Bieniemy. This was the very begining of one of the premire events in college football as well as Colorado's famed National Championship run.

This ball was sold out of a lot of nine other footballs purchased by an individual in Lake Forrest, CA, at a garage sale a mere 25 minute drive from where the game took place. Other balls in the lot include the 1989, 1990 and 1991 Freedom Bowls and the 1990 (this ball), 1991 and 1992 Disneyland Pigskin Classics.

What is special about this ball is that upon viewing game footage and images, you can see that Colorado and Tennessee each used different footballs during the game. Tennessee used a few Wilson 1001 footballs with no other special markings except for "TENNESSEE," while Colorado was one of the few teams I have found to have used Rawlings ST-5 footballs throughout the late 80s and early 90s. Game images clearly show Colorado using an ST-5 this game, stamped "1990 COLORADO VS TENNESSEE" as well as bearing a large "PIGSKIN CLASSIC " logo. Being that this ball is a Rawlings ST-5, I am confident that it was either used by or issued to the University of Colorado for this game. That is a specific detail that lends to the authenticity. If the ball was faked the seller went to great lengths (buying the proper ball, creating the correct stampings) to do so for little profit and result. Besided those points, it was not even advertised as game issued or used, I have come to that determination based on my own research. The lack of extreme wear seen on most other game balls lends itself to the fact that this ball would have only been used for one game as well that it may have only been issued. However, due to scuffs on the nose of the football and minor ones found throughout, I feel that this may have seen the field in some capacity and can't imagine Colorado had even 20 of these footballs availble to them for the game. If the ball were a retail ball they would not have sold ST-5's as they were so specific to one team.

Based on the photos below and my knowledge about the types of balls used by each team, I am confident in this ball.

Any questions or comments welcomed!

Sko Buffs!

[Fredskinz]

I’m interested in any or all of the Disneyland balls if you’re selling them. More for the Disney side of it.

[AstroJake09]

Originally Posted by Fredskinz

I’m interested in any or all of the Disneyland balls if you’re selling them. More for the Disney side of it.

I'm a University of Colorado student, so this one has sentimental value. However, the seller I purchased this from has game balls from the 1991 and 1992 Disneyland Pigskin Classics as well.

Here's the link if you want to check out the ball from 1991.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilson-Foot...oAAOSwwfdf4AA2