The University of Colorado made an historic announcement on Monday. Before the start of the NFL careers for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, they will watch their respective numbers be retired at Folsom Field on Saturday before the annual Black and Gold spring game.
While some people cheered after hearing the news that No. 2 and No. 12 wouldn’t be used ever again by the Buffaloes, others are questioning the timing and Sanders’ overall accomplishments. One of those who was outspoken about the announcement was 9News reporter Scotty Gange.
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As a core member of the media who covers CU sports, Gange called it like he saw it and didn’t miss in his assessment. Like many fans and alumni, the timing of this retirement ceremony seems off, especially since there are only four players with their names cemented at Folsom Field. Respectfully, Rashaan Salaam had to wait 23 years with an honor that came posthumously for the Buffs’ first Heisman winner.
For Hunter and Sanders, there is no wait. They won’t take a single NFL snap before taking on the title of CU legend. Hunter earned his spot above the stands by a truly historic year in college football. We’ll likely never see a player take home top national honors on offense and defense in this generation, if ever again. But Hunter’s ‘forced plus one’ to the party is definitely Sanders, according to Gange.
“I absolutely disagree with this decision,” Gange said about CU’s dual retirement ceremony. “Hunter, as a Heisman winner, I can understand. Then again, Rashaan Salaam had to wait 23 years for his retirement. But Shedeur seems like a forced plus one here. Quarterbacking your team to a 10-7 record and ending with a blowout loss in the Alamo Bowl does not qualify you for immediate jersey retirement.”
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Gange might be onto something here. Shedeur isn’t even the greatest No. 2 in program history. That honor goes to College Football Hall-of-Famer Deon Figures, who matched Deion Sanders as a Thorpe Award winner in 1992. In fact, none of the players from Colorado’s 1990 National Championship have been retired. Seems like one of the biggest injustices for CU Football over the years by not recognizing those who’ve built the program.
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Four numbers have previously been retired in CU’s 135-year football history: No. 24 worn by quarterback/halfback Byron ‘Whizzer’ White in 1936-37 (he also wore No. 8 in 1935); No. 67 worn by guard/linebacker Joe Romig (1959-61); No. 11 worn by quarterback/tailback Bobby Anderson (1967-69); and No. 19 worn by Salaam from 1993-94 (he also wore No. 3 as a freshman in 1992).
Related: Colorado Star Shilo Sanders’ NIL Earnings Questioned After Declaring Bankruptcy
If Sanders was honored in a ceremony ten years from now, that might be an appropriate time for consideration, but not after back-to-back seasons with zero championships.
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“(Colorado) has so much history and so many legends in their 135 years,” Gange added. “Perhaps one day would be the right day to retire Shedeur’s number. But not today. I feel like the school felt like they had to do it to please the head coach (Deion Sanders) and sell some more tickets to the spring game. At least they’re not retiring Shilo’s number as well.”
Colorado’s Black and Gold spring game kicks off at Folsom Field at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
