March 2009 Message from Alumni C Club President Frank Bernardi Dear Buffs, We are closing in our Spring game and the annual We continue to seek your support to help us in any football reunion that follows. We really appreciate the way possible. If you have any thoughts on how we support that we have received regarding our dues can better communicate with you, i.e., current increase. We hated to do it, especially in this releases on your sport or activities of the Athletic economy, but it was necessary if we are to maintain Department, let Bill hear from you. the club at the level to which we have all become As always, we welcome your input regarding all accustomed. aspects of the C Club, so get in touch with Bill This year has been one of “regrouping” in almost if you have any suggestions. every sport. The squads are very young, and are laying the groundwork for very successful seasons GO BUFFS ! next year. Bernardi Our Athletics Director Has a Few Words for All Our Members Dear Buffs, We are very excited about our everything from volunteering, attendance at games, future and the fact that we are assisting in the recruiting process to being a strong on the right track, and we advocate within your circle of influence are valuable recognize that people like you, to the program our loyal alumni, allow us to make this claim with great We encourage you to engage with our outstanding confidence. I recognize that our coaching staffs in your respective sport. I believe you department must improve our will find them to be passionate, professional and communication with our former dedicated to attracting the type of student-athlete Mike Bohn athletes. We have begun that we can all be proud of. You offer a special quarterly meetings with the C-Club leadership, and connection to the University that can assist all of our this letter is the beginning of an effort by me to programs, especially those with new coaching staffs. engage with you more effectively and with more consistency. When you are in Boulder, you are always welcome in the Dal Ward Athletic Center. Please drop by and I believe that all of our loyal C-Club members see our new improvements and say hello to our represent the strong tradition and excellence with present players and extended staff members. You will class that have been working to instill in our current be pleased with our progress. student-athletes. Your influence and legacy play an integral role in mentoring our young men and women Thank you for your continued generosity, support who represent our outstanding institution. “Your and interest in our program. Team”, the Colorado Buffaloes, are always looking GO BUFFS ! for your support and involvement. We recognize how Sincere Best Wishes, challenging it is for some of you to financially support Mike Bohn CU athletics during this difficult economy. However, In Memoriam, Eddie Crowder, 1931-2008 2 In Memoriam, Eddie Crowder, 1931-2008 Long time CU football coach and athletics director Barry Switzer, Oklahoma Football Coach (1973-1988) Eddie Crowder passed away on September 9, “I have heard many of the former Oklahoma players 2008. One of the University of Oklahoma’s all-time talk about how much Eddie was like his coach here, great football players (a QB), Eddie was the man Bud Wilkinson. His strengths were his intelligence who reestablished CU on the national stage after and his personality. And of course he was a man of the scandals of the Sonny Grandelius years and very strong character. When you spent time with the ensuing NCAA sanctions. Eddie, regardless of how many times you had been with him, you always left feeling more impressed Crowder passed peacefully with his family by his than you were before. He was just a cut above, a side at Exempla Health Center in nearby Lafayette winner.” after checking into the hospital with respiratory problems. Earlier this decade, he had beaten non- David L. Boren, University of Oklahoma President Hodgkin’s Lymphoma into remission. “Sooners everywhere are deeply saddened by the death of Eddie Crowder. He was one of my Crowder was hired on Jan. 3, 1963 as the personal heroes dating back to my childhood days Colorado’s 17th head football coach, signing a four- and became a good friend and adviser after I year contract at $15,000 per year at the time. On returned to the university as president. He was a July 1, 1965, he also assumed the duties of athletic true gentleman and worthy role model for all Sooner director, succeeding the retiring Harry Carlson.CU athletes.” was 67-49-2 in his 11 seasons as coach, 63-33-2 Larry Zimmer, KOA-Radio: not including his first two seasons when he was The Voice of the Buffaloes (1971-present) rebuilding the program, with a 13-21 record against “I am saddened by the passing of Eddie Crowder. ranked teams and 3-2 mark in bowl games. In When I came to Colorado to be the play by play addition to road wins at No. 9 LSU and No. 6 Ohio announcer of the Buffaloes 37 years ago, from my State in 1971, his CU teams also ended No. 4 Penn first meeting with Eddie, we became friends. He State’s 31-game unbeaten streak in 1970, embraced me and took me into his confidence. He decimated a No. 10 Air Force team 49-19 in 1970, made football fun. But Eddie was more than a and toppled No. 2 Oklahoma in 1972 among other football coach. He could have been a professor in great performances. the English department or the History department. I enjoyed our long conversations about history and Crowder served as athletic director at Colorado for life. I enjoyed his keen sense of humor and was 20 years (1965-84), where he directed three major inspired by his commitment to God.” expansions to Folsom Field, improvements to Balch Fieldhouse, the home of the basketball Buffs since Mike Bohn, CU Athletic Director (2005-present) 1936 before he coordinated all aspects of “We have lost a tremendous leader, coach, mentor development of CU’s Coors Events/Conference and friend. His indelible imprint on CU will always Center (opened in1979), and the integration of be a cornerstone of the athletic program.” women’s athletics into the men’s department in Dan Hawkins, CU Football Coach (2006-present) 1978. “Coach Crowder has been a real blessing in my As an assistant college coach, Crowder served his life. In such a short time he became a great mentor apprenticeship under two of the game’s masters— to me. Coach was a giver of his time, his wisdom, one season (1955) at Army under Red Blaik and insight, and love. He had such a fondness for CU seven seasons (1956-62) at Oklahoma under Bud and Colorado Football, particularly all of his former Wilkinson, his college coach. players.” Bill McCartney, CU Football Coach (1982-94) Following are some tributes on Eddie’s life: “I was an assistant coach that nobody ever heard of. Eddie Crowder saw something in me and gave Keith Jackson, ABC Broadcaster (1954-2006) me a chance. When things didn’t work out right “College football has lost one of the great ones.” away, he stuck with me. I’ll always have a debt of gratitude and a special place in my heart for him.” 3 ClubClub EventsEvents Hall of Fame forget that these times were recorded on cinder tracks, not the lightening-fast surfaces that we have We honored nine great Buffs last fall. Following are today. He was, also, the indoor champ in the 60. Don brief descriptions of each honoree: represented CU and the nation in several international competitions, including the 1951 Pan Don Campbell, Track American Games. He was named one of CU’s 10 greatest athletes in the school’s first 75 years of existence in 1951. He was bidding to compete in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (he had just missed being named to the ’48 U.S. team by one place, edged out by five inches), and had won the 100-meter dash in an AAU regional, but suffered an injured tendon to end his run. Frank Clarke, Football ■ 1949 Russell Memorial Award as Region’s Top Amateur Athlete ■ 1948 All-American in the 100-yard dash ■ Seven-Time Conference Champion ■ 1951 Pan American Games ■ Awarded the Purple Heart During World War II The Sterling, Colo., native, known as the “Colorado Comet” overcame serious leg and hip injuries ■ First African American Varsity Football Player sustained in World War II to return to school and At CU have a prolific collegiate and amateur career. He was awarded the Purple Heart after taking machine gun ■ All Big 7 Conference Honorable Mention fire to his upper leg during the war. He earned the ■ Fifth Round Draft Pick by Cleveland Browns in prestigious Russell Memorial Award as the region’s 1956 top amateur athlete in 1949. He was an All-American ■ Played 11 NFL Seasons With Browns and in the 100-yard dash in 1948 and considered the top Dallas Cowboys collegiate sprinter of his day, along with being one of the top 10 in the world. One of CU’s first individual The first African-American varsity football player at outdoor champions as a member of the Big Seven Colorado (and the first to letter), joining the Buffaloes Conference, he won the 100- and 200-yard dashes in September 1954 after attending Trinidad (Colo.) in 1949.