Colorado Buffaloes football

The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12, they were members of the Big Eight Conference. The football team has played at Folsom Field since 1924. The Buffs all-time record is 674-452-36 (.600 winning percentage) through the finish of the 2011 season. The football program is 16th on the all-time win list and 22nd in all-time winning percentage. The football team also has the distinction of being the all-time NCAA leader in 4th down conversions. They are one of two NCAA Division I teams to complete a 5th down conversion (the other being Cornell). This was a result of a snafu by the officials and happened on a play displayed by chaincrew as the 4th down.

History
Beginning in 1890, Colorado football has enjoyed much success throughout its 120+ years of competitive play. The Buffaloes have won numerous bowl games (27 appearances in bowl games (12–15), 23rd (tied) all-time prior to 2004 season), 8 Colorado Football Association Championships (1894–97, 1901–08), Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference (1909), 7 RFMAC Championships (1911, 1913, 1923, 1924, 1934, 1935, 1937), 4 Mountain States Conference Championships (1939, 1942–1944), 5 Big Eight conference championships (1961, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1991), 1 Big 12 conference championship (2001), 4 Big 12 North Division Championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and a National Championship (1990 - Associated Press).

Folsom Field was built in 1924, and since then, Colorado has a 283–146–14 record at home. The road game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 24, 2006 was Colorado's 1,100th football game.



The following was taken from the Silver & Gold newspaper of December 16, 1898. It was a recollection of the birth of Colorado football written by one of CU’s original gridders, John C. Nixon, also the school’s second captain. It appears here in its original form:

At the beginning of the first semester in the fall of ’90 the boys rooming at the dormitory on the campus of the U. of C. being afflicted with a super-abundance of penned up energy, or perhaps having recently drifted from under the parental wing and delighting in their newly found freedom, decided among other wild schemes, to form an athletic association. Messrs Carney, Whittaker, Layton and others, who at that time constituted a majority of the male population of the University, called a meeting of the campus boys in the old medical building. Nixon was elected president and Holden secretary of the association.

It was voted that the officers constitute a committee to provide uniform suits in which to play what was called “association football”. Suits of flannel were ultimately procured and paid for assessments on the members of the association and generous contributions from members of the faculty.

The University at that time had about the best base-ball team in the state composed of such star players as Ingram, Blake, Carnahan, Rust, Neighoff and others. But it was a reflection upon us that although it was styled the University base-ball team, it was composed mainly of outsiders, who had no connection with the U. of C.

It was the object of the newly organized association to ultimately absorb the base-ball team, even if it was mercilessly whipped in that, as it was afterwards scourged in football.

Whatever may have been said of their playing, the boys were made of that stuff called “American Grit,” and had no conception of what the word failure meant. To them defeat was simply a severe lesson which was to teach them how to win in the future.

Taking up the game of association football the boys practiced quite regularly and under the instruction of Hosford, who was an Englishman of extraordinary proficiency in the game, they soon became adepts in the art of running at full speed and keeping the ball almost fairly between the feet. I called this an art, as I consider excellence in any athletic sport an art. The graceful swing of a trained foot-runner is as fair a sight as the rhythmic waltzer, or as creditable a performance as that of an opera singer. After becoming proficient in this game we learned that all other football teams of the state played what was called the Rugby game, and as we could not attain state or national renown playing among ourselves, it became a question whether we would make a change or not. Only two in the association had ever seen a Rugby game and it was reported as fiendish beyond comprehension. The rush of a Rugby team was likened to the stampede of a herd of Texas cattle: nevertheless the boys decided to throw themselves in front and die a la Leon idas, and succeeding events showed that they had not over estimated the opposition.

The association had two factions—no live organization is ever harmonious—and the lesser faction always opposed the propositions of the majority. In this instance they had secured the individual promises of the eleven of the twenty four members to oppose a change of the game, and as it required the assent of two-thirds to accomplish this the remaining members decided to adopt the tactics of wearing out their opponents in the meeting. The session lasted one entire afternoon until darkness came upon them, during which, bursts of orator, pro and con, and imminent danger of pugilistic strife pervaded the atmosphere. The vote stood 16–8 in favor of a change and the University football team was launched on a broader basis. This vote was followed by our throwing the association open for membership to the whole student body, (and a limited number of outsiders, if we should need them), but time showed that the vim and snap of the college man was not possessed by those outside.

Holden was sent as our representative to a meeting of the state league and bound us for the forthcoming games with only two weeks of preparation, learning the game almost entirely from the rule book, nine of the eleven having never seen a Rugby game clad in the flannel suits without padding, the average weight of the team being about 140 pounds, we went to Denver and lined up against the D.A.C. team, composed of graduate college players. It was also their first game, they having just organized, and the way they ran out ends was astonishing, but in this game our team developed a characteristic which it has even since maintained, which was this, that although our line was much lighter than that of our opponents, they would be carried steadily back whenever they attempted a line play against us.

One week later, with four of our best men too maimed and bruised to play, the Golden giants came down on us. Our boys went down like a row of pins and the Goldenites went over the top. Score 103 to 0. In the return game with Golden, Darley made our first touchdown: score 44–4, and Golden prophesied our future success. We lost one game with Colorado Springs and the Springs and the D.A.C. team which forfeited, giving us third place in the percentage list. We paraded that percentage list before our eyes with unbounded satisfaction. It mattered not how we came by it, we had it.

President Hale, who from the first took a kindly interest in the team, also did other members of the faculty, advanced the money with which to buy padded suits, but we did not obtain them in time to use that season. The following year the team commenced training as soon as the semester opened, and has since taken its true position as one of the most formidable teams in the west. Of the original team, James, Carney, Layton, Putnam and others, became among the best players in the state.

The Athletic Association should now invigorate its base-ball and place it at par with its football team; and it certainly has the material with which to do it. The U of C should henceforth lead the state and possibly the west in athletic sports.

The style of football playing has altered considerably; by the old rules, all men in front of the runner with the ball, were offside, consequently we could not send backs through and break the line ahead of the ball as is done at present. The notorious V was then in vogue, which gave a heavy team too much advantage. The mass plays being now barred, skill on the football field is more in demand than mere weight and strength.

To the physically weak, football appears like a relic of barbarism at par with the Spanish bull fight, but, considering the course of training that the player must take, he becomes hardened and inured to danger, in serious casualties become few. The player develops physical strength and mental composure in the face of fierce and determined opposition, which enables him to better battle with the competition and business worries succeeding school life, of which the average student knows nothing and with which he usually buffets helplessly for years. A successful football team will advertise a University and attract as many male students as its educational facilities. This is avowedly admitted by Yale and Princeton authorities, hence the game should be encouraged by college faculties. It is not to the discredit of the American youth that he is thus attracted. It is indicative that he possesses hardihood and vigor and will not sink into lassitude and degeneracy which characterize the population of a degenerate nation.

It is often said, how little we know: so with a modest sense of humility, college graduate I after years look back, not to the mountain of learning that he or she surmounted, but the incidents in college life that bind them to so many friends, intellectual ennobling friends. Thoughts of those exercises in sports, fraught with just a little danger, will continue to the end as a refreshing fountain inspiring new life.

1990 National Champions
Colorado won its first and only National Championship in 1990 under the direction of head coach Bill McCartney (1982–1994). However, they split the title with Georgia Tech who won the United Press International Coaches Poll, whereas Colorado won the Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America polls. The largest arguments against Colorado were that they had a loss and a tie, whereas Georgia Tech had a tie and no losses, and Colorado's "unfair" win in the Fifth Down Game against Missouri. The major argument for Colorado was they played a more difficult schedule than Georgia Tech (http://www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1990.htm). Colorado capped the season with a win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, 10–9, a rematch of the 1989 season Orange Bowl game which Notre Dame won 21–6. Colorado's tie came against Tennessee, who was ranked number 8, the first week of the season when Colorado was ranked number 5. The second week gave the Buffs a scare, scoring with 12 seconds left in the game on a 4th and Goal attempt. The next week gave Colorado its only loss of the season, losing 23–22 to Illinois and dropping Colorado to number 20 in the polls. Colorado then went on to beat teams ranked (at the time) #22 Texas, #12 Washington, #22 Oklahoma, and #3 Nebraska. They ended the season 7–0 in the Big Eight Conference for the second season in the row. They then capped the season with a win over Notre Dame who were number 1 until a loss their last game of the regular season.

Move to the Pac-10
On June 10, 2010, the Colorado Buffaloes accepted an invitation to become the 11th member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The move represented the first expansion of the Pacific-10 Conference since it added Arizona and Arizona State in 1978. The Buffaloes will play as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference beginning with the 2011 season. Moving from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 will not stop the Colorado vs Colorado State rivalry. This rivalry game will continue to be played through the 2020 season. The rivalry game with the Colorado State Rams will be played at Sports Authority Field in Denver until 2019.

Head coaches
The Buffaloes have played in 1,139 games during their 120 seasons. In those seasons, nine coaches have led Colorado to postseason bowl games: Bunny Oakes, Dallas Ward, Bud Davis, Eddie Crowder, Bill Mallory, Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, Gary Barnett, and Dan Hawkins. Nine coaches have won conference championships with the Buffaloes: Fred Folsom, Myron Witham, William Saunders, Oakes, Jim Yeager, Sonny Grandelius, Mallory, McCartney, and Barnett.

McCartney is the all-time leader in games coached, with 153, and total wins, with 93. Folsom had the longest tenure as head coach, remaining in the position for 15 seasons. Harry Heller and Willis Keinholtz are tied for the highest overall winning percentage. Each served a single season and won eight of his nine games for a winning percentage of .889. Of coaches who served more than one season, Folsom leads with a .765 winning percentage. Davis is, in terms of overall winning percentage, the worst coach the Buffaloes have had with a .200 winning percentage. No Colorado coach has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. McCartney is the only coach to have won national coach of the year honors, with all of them coming in 1989. Barnett won conference coach of the year honors in 2001 and 2004. The most recent coach, Dan Hawkins, was hired in December 2005. After accumulating a disappointing record of 19-39 through most of five seasons, Hawkins' dismissal was announced on Nov 9th, 2010. Longtime Buffaloes linebackers coach, Brian Cabral, served as interim coach for the 2010 season's final three games.

Current NFL players

 * Source, last updated 2011-09-05


 * Justin Bannan - St. Louis Rams - Defensive Tackle
 * Tyler Brayton - Indianapolis Colts - Defensive Tackle
 * Jalil Brown - Kansas City Chiefs - Defensive Back
 * Mason Crosby - Green Bay Packers - Placekicker
 * Justin Drescher - New Orleans Saints - Long Snapper
 * Daniel Graham - Tennessee Titans - Tight End
 * Andre Gurode - Baltimore Ravens - Offensive Guard
 * Brian Iwuh - Chicago Bears - Outside Linebacker
 * Brad Jones - Green Bay Packers - Outside Linebacker
 * Travon Patterson - San Diego Chargers - Wide Receiver
 * Tyler Polumbus - Seattle Seahawks - Offensive Tackle
 * Jimmy Smith - Baltimore Ravens - Cornerback
 * Nate Solder - New England Patriots - Offensive Tackle
 * Donald Strickland - New York Jets - Cornerback
 * Quinn Sypniewski - Baltimore Ravens - Tight End
 * Lawrence Vickers - Houston Texans - Fullback
 * Terrence Wheatley - New England Patriots - Cornerback

Former NFL players

 * Dick Anderson - Miami Dolphins - Safety
 * Bobby Anderson - Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos - Running back
 * Tom Ashworth - New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks - Offensive Tackle
 * Brad Bedell - Houston Texans - Offensive guard
 * Greg Biekert - Oakland Raiders - Linebacker
 * Eric Bienemy - Cincinnati Bengals - Running back
 * Cliff Branch - Oakland Raiders - Wide Receiver
 * Pete Brock - New England Patriots - Offensive Line
 * Chad Brown - Pittsburgh Steelers - Linebacker
 * Jeff Campbell- Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos- Wide Receiver
 * Rae Carruth - Carolina Panthers - Wide receiver
 * Darrin Chiaverini - Cleveland Browns - Wide Receiver
 * Brian Daniels - Minnesota Vikings - Offensive Guard
 * Koy Detmer - Philadelphia Eagles - Quarterback
 * Tyson DeVree - Indianapolis Colts - Tight End
 * Jordon Dizon - Detroit Lions - Outside Linebacker
 * Boyd Dowler - Green Bay Packers - Wide Receiver
 * Christian Fauria - Seattle Seahawks - Tight End
 * Mark Fenton - Denver Broncos - Center
 * D.J. Hackett - Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers - Wide Receiver
 * Dennis Havig - Atlanta Falcons - Offensive Guard
 * Darius Holland - Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos - Defensive Tackle
 * Charles Johnson - Pittsburgh Steelers - Wide Receiver
 * [[ Sam Rogers (LB) Bills, Falcons, Chargers
 * Ted Johnson - New England Patriots - Linebacker
 * Joe Klopfenstein - St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills - Tight End
 * Mike Kozlowski - Miami Dolphins - Safety
 * Matt Lepsis - Denver Broncos - Offensive Tackle
 * Michael Lewis - Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams - Strong Safety
 * Dave Logan - Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos - Wide Receiver
 * Vaka Manupuna - Washington Redskins - Defensive Tackle
 * Matt McChesney - New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, (Frankfurt Galaxy) - Offensive Lineman
 * Chris Naeole - New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars - Offensive Guard
 * Hannibal Navies - Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers - Linebacker
 * Erik Norgard - Houston Oilers - Center / Guard
 * Gabe Nyenhuis - Indianapolis Colts - Defensive End
 * Herb Orvis - Detroit Lions - Defensive Tackle
 * Michael Pritchard - Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos - Wide Receiver
 * Tony Reed - Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos - Running Back
 * Rashaan Salaam - Chicago Bears - Running Back
 * Kordell Stewart - Pittsburgh Steelers - Quarterback
 * Sean Tufts - Carolina Panthers- Linebacker
 * Thaddaeus Washington - Buffalo Bills - Linebacker
 * Michael Westbrook - Washington Redskins - Wide Receiver
 * Byron White - Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Lions - Running Back
 * Sam Wilder - San Francisco 49ers - Offensive Tackle
 * Alfred Williams - Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos - Defensive End

Other League players

 * Aric Goodman- IFL, Colorado Ice - Kicker

Heisman Trophy
Rashaan Salaam won Colorado's only Heisman Trophy in 1994, though the Buffaloes have had many other players receive votes:

Players

 * Walter Camp Award
 * Rashaan Salaam - 1994


 * Dick Butkus Award
 * Alfred Williams - 1990
 * Matt Russell - 1996


 * Doak Walker Award
 * Rashaan Salaam - 1994


 * Draddy Trophy
 * Jim Hansen - 1992


 * Jim Thorpe Award
 * Deon Figures - 1992
 * Chris Hudson - 1994


 * John Mackey Award
 * Daniel Graham - 2001


 * Ray Guy Award
 * Mark Mariscal - 2002

Coach

 * Paul "Bear" Bryant Award
 * 1989 Bill McCartney

College Football Hall of Fame

 * Byron White (Inducted 1952) Hall-of-Fame Biography
 * Joe Romig (Inducted 1984) Hall-of-Fame Biography
 * Dick Anderson (Inducted 1993) Hall-of-Fame Biography
 * Bobby Anderson (Inducted 2006) Reference
 * Alfred Williams (Inducted 2010)

All-Americans
The following is a list of Consensus All-Americans from CU as listed in NCAA record books.
 * 2010 - Nate Solder, Colorado (AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, ESPN, PFW, SI)
 * 2007 - Jordon Dizon, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, ESPN, College Football News, Rivals.com)
 * 2006 - Mason Crosby, Colorado (Walter Camp Foundation, Pro Football Weekly)
 * 2005 - Mason Crosby, Colorado (Associated Press, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College Football News, Rivals.com)
 * 2004 - John Torp, Colorado (ESPN)
 * 2002 - Chris Brown, Colorado (AFCA-Coaches)
 * 2002 - Wayne Lucier, Colorado (TSN)
 * 2002 - Mark Mariscal, Colorado (AP, AFCA-Coaches, Walter Camp, TSN, CNNSI, ESPN)
 * 2001 - Daniel Graham, Colorado (Walter Camp, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA, AP, TSN, PFW, FN)
 * 2001 - Andre Gurode, Colorado (AP, TSN, PFW, CNNSI)
 * 2001 - Roman Hollowell, Colorado (TSN, CNNSI-PR)
 * 1999 - Ben Kelly, Colorado (FN)
 * 1999 - Ben Kelly, Colorado (CNNSI-KR)
 * 1996 - Rae Carruth, Colorado, (TSN)
 * 1996 - Chris Naeole, Colorado (AP, AFCA-Coaches, Walter Camp,FN)
 * 1996 - Matt Russell, Colorado (AP, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
 * 1995 - Heath Irwin, Colorado (AP)
 * 1995 - Bryan Stoltenberg, Colorado (UPI, Walter Camp, FN)
 * 1994 - Rashaan Salaam, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, FWAA-Writers, AFCA-Coaches, Scripps-Howard, Sporting News, Football News)
 * 1994 - Michael Westbrook, Colorado (Walter Camp, AFCA-Coaches, Sporting News)
 * 1994 - Chris Hudson, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, FWAA-Writers, Scripps-Howard)
 * 1992 - Michael Westbrook, Colorado (NEA)
 * 1992 - Deon Figures, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
 * 1992 - Mitch Berger, Colorado (UPI)
 * 1991 - Jay Leeuwenburg, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
 * 1991 - Joel Steed, Colorado (WC)
 * 1990 - Eric Bieniemy, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
 * 1990 - Joe Garten, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
 * 1990 - Alfred Williams, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
 * 1989 - Joe Garten, Colorado (AP, UPI, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
 * 1989 - Darian Hagan, Colorado (TSN)
 * 1989 - Alfred Williams, Colorado (UPI, AFCA, FWAA, FN)
 * 1989 - Kanavis McGhee, Colorado (WC)
 * 1989 - Tom Rouen, Colorado (AP, UPI, WC, FWAA)
 * 1988 - Keith English, Colorado (AP)
 * 1986 - Barry Helton, Colorado (AP, UPI, TSN)
 * 1979 - Stan Brock, Colorado (TSN)
 * 1979 - Mark Haynes, Colorado (AP)
 * 1978 - Matt Miller, Colorado (UPI)
 * 1976 - Don Hasselbeck, Colorado (TSN)
 * 1975 - Mark Koncar, Colorado (AP)
 * 1975 - Dave Logan, Colorado   (TSN)
 * 1975 - Pete Brock, Colorado (TSN, NEA, Time)
 * 1975 - Troy Archer, Colorado (Time)
 * 1973 - J.V. Cain, Colorado (TSN, Time)
 * 1973 - Bo Matthews, Colorado (Time)
 * 1972 - Bud Magrum, Colorado (FWAA)
 * 1972 - Cullen Bryant, Colorado (UPI, NEA, AFCA, TSN, Time)
 * 1971 - Cliff Branch, Colorado (FN)
 * 1971 - Herb Orvis, Colorado (WC, AFCA, TSN)
 * 1970 - Don Popplewell, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, FWAA, WC, CP, FN)
 * 1970 - Pat Murphy, Colorado (WC)
 * 1969 - Bobby Anderson, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, TSN)
 * 1968 - Mike Montler, Colorado (AP, AFCA)
 * 1967 - Dick Anderson, Colorado (AP, NEA)
 * 1961 - Jerry Hillebrand, Colorado (FWAA)
 * 1961 - Joe Romig, Colorado, (WC, TSN, FWAA)
 * 1960 - Joe Romig, Colorado, (WC)
 * 1956 - John Bayuk, Colorado (INS-2; CP-3)
 * 1954 - Frank Bernardi, Colorado (AP-2)
 * 1953 - Gary Knafelc, Colorado (AP-3)
 * 1943 - Hall, Colorado (AP-2)

Colorado's All-Century Team 1890-1989
Taken from the 2005 Colorado Football Media Guide:

The University of Colorado selected an “All-Century Football Team,” as public balloting in 1989 tabbed 11 All-Americans among the top 25 selected to the 100-year squad. Over 6,200 ballots were received in the public selection process, with over 150,000 votes cast from those ballots. Former CU players pared a list of 881 lettermen down to 118, which were in turn presented to the public for the final team selection. Byron “Whizzer” White, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice who was CU’s first All-American (1937), received 5,812 of a possible 6,265 votes. Bobby Anderson, who starred at both quarterback and tailback between 1967 and 1969, was the second leading vote-getter with 5,636, and two-way-star Joe Romig, who led CU to its first outright Big Eight Championship in 1961, was third with 5,145. White (#24), Anderson (#11) and Romig (#67) are the only Buffs to ever have their numbers retired. One other player topped the 5,000 vote mark, as flashy Cliff Branch, whose name still frequently appears in the CU record book and who played a big part in the Buffs’ No. 3 national ranking of 1971, captured 5,111 votes. The player with the fifth most votes, 3,989, was the only active Buff at the time to make the top 25, tailback Eric Bieniemy (a junior in 1989).

Joining White, Anderson and Romig as All-Americans on the century squad were Dick Anderson (’67), Pete Brock (’75), Mark Haynes (’79), Dave Logan (’75), Herb Orvis (’71) and Bob Stransky (’57). Four players in the early years of CU football made the team, led by Walt Franklin, who played center and end between 1917 and 1921. Back Lee Willard (’21), Judge Hatfield Chilson (’25) and guard Bill McGlone (’26) round out the quartet which represents the formative seasons of CU football, when the team was known as the “Silver and Gold.” Other familiar names on the team include Hale Irwin, who starred at defensive back in the mid-1960s but gained his fame on the PGA Tour; John Stearns, another pivotal player of the 1971 team who went on to be a star catcher with the New York Mets; Dave Logan, a veteran of 10-plus NFL seasons and current sportstalk celebrity in Denver; Carroll Hardy, who played in the early 1950s and is the only man ever to pinch-hit for Ted Williams; and John Wooten, one of the first African-American players at CU who has spent several years in the scouting departments of the NFL Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Listed below are the 25 members of the University of Colorado All-Century (1890–1989) Football Team, selected by lettermen and the public over a three-month voting period.
 * Bobby Anderson, QB/TB (1967-68-69)
 * Dick Anderson, DB (1965-66-67)
 * Eric Bieniemy, TB (1987-88-89-90)
 * Cliff Branch, WR/KR (1970–71)
 * Pete Brock, OC (1973-74-75)
 * Hatfield Chilson, B (1923-24-25)
 * Boyd Dowler, QB (1956-57-58)
 * Walt Franklin, C/E (1917-19-20-21)
 * Carroll Hardy, HB (1951-52-53-54)
 * Mark Haynes, CB (1976-77-78-79)
 * Hale Irwin, DB (1964-65-66)
 * Zack Jordan, HB/P (1950-51-52)
 * William "Kayo" Lam, B (1933-34-35)
 * Dave Logan, WR (1972-73-74-75)
 * Bill McGlone, G (1923-24-25-26)
 * Herb Orvis, DE (1969-70-71)
 * Mickey Pruitt, DB (1984-85-86-87)
 * Joe Romig, OG/LB (1959-60-61)
 * John Stearns, DB/P (1970–71-72)
 * Bob Stransky, HB (1955-56-57)
 * Billy Waddy, RB (1973-74-75-76)
 * Gale Weidner, QB (1959-60-61)
 * Byron "Whizzer" White, B (1935-36-37)
 * Lee Willard, B (1918-19-20-21)
 * John Wooten, G (1956-57-58)

#24 Byron "Whizzer" White
Colorado’s first All-American and one of the greatest students in the history of the school, Byron (Whizzer) White, retired as a justice of the Supreme Court in March 1993, after serving 31 years on the nation’s high court. White made all the All-America teams after a brilliant 1937 season in which he led CU to an 8-0 record and Cotton Bowl Classic bid as he set national records with 1,121 rushing yards and 122 points. Those marks, erased nationally only after colleges went to 10- and 11-game schedules, set CU records.

White was a Phi Beta Kappa, Rhodes Scholar, two-time All-Pro halfback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions, leading graduate of the Yale Law School in 1946, decorated naval intelligence officer in World War II, leading Denver attorney, and deputy attorney general for the United States. White is a member of the NFL Hall-of-Fame, the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall-of-Fame, the GTE Academic Hall-of-Fame, and was selected to CU’s All-Century Team. In 1998, he was the first inductee into CU’s Athletic Hall-of-Fame. He died at the age of 84 on April 15, 2002.

#67 Joe Romig
Romig was a two-time All-American selection, a member of the Big Eight Hall-of-Fame and the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame. As of 2004, a senior research associate in radio physics in Boulder, Romig was the Buffs’ 1961 team captain and the United Press International Lineman of the year. Romig had no peers as a linebacker, as he ranged far and fiercely from his middle linebacker position behind a four-man line. Fast and strong, he was consistently in on most of CU’s tackles. Offensively, Romig developed into an excellent straight-ahead and pulling blocker. Like White, he was an inspirational leader gifted with extraordinary physical and mental abilities.

Romig was an excellent student, earning all A’s his last six semesters and a 3.9 grade-point average. As a Rhodes Scholar, Joe received his master’s degree in physics at Oxford University and a doctorate in physics at Colorado in 1975.

#11 Bobby Anderson
Anderson set 18 single-game, single-season and career marks during his three-season career with the Buffs along with earning All-Big Eight and All-American honors. A professional player with the Denver Broncos (the team’s No. 1 draft choice), Washington Redskins and New England Patriots, Anderson started his CU career as a quarterback but switched to tailback for the third game during his senior season (1969). In his career, he rushed for 2,729 yards and had over 5,000 yards in total offense. Anderson concluded his Colorado career with a 254-yard rushing effort in the 1969 Liberty Bowl. As of 2004, he is a Denver-area businessman, and has worked over two decades for KOA-Radio handling pre- and postgame shows as well as sideline reporting on the CU Football Network. He is a member of CU’s All-Century Team. In 1999, he received the University Medal, awarded to those who have performed outstanding service to or for the University.

National Play-of-the-Year
In 1992, Nu Skin International and CoSIDA started sponsorship of "The National Play-of-the-Year," honoring the most outstanding play annually in college football. Notre Dame won the inaugural honor in 1992, but the University of Colorado won for both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Here’s a closer look at CU’s winning plays:

1993
October 16: Colorado 27, Oklahoma 10

Lamont Warren throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson on the halfback option play. What made it special? Warren slipped on the slick artificial surface as he threw the ball, and some 40 yards later in the end zone, Johnson made the catch on the ground after he was interfered with. The play defied imagination, and is truly appreciated when looked at in slow motion.

1994
September 24: Colorado 27, Michigan 26

College football’s play of the decade, this effort also won an ESPY Award from ESPN for the play of the year for college football in 1995. As time expired, Kordell Stewart threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook, who made the catch after a Blake Anderson deflection. CU had trailed 26–14 with under four minutes remaining, and trailed by five with 15 seconds left on its own 15-yard line after stopping Michigan on defense.