They came young and old, from near and not so far. More than 60 former Colorado football players gathered Wednesday at the Blake Street Tavern to chat with CU athletic director Mike Bohn about his coaching search.
No, it did not become a pep rally for former coach Bill McCartney, who would like the job.
“I don’t think there is a sentiment for one particular person,” said David Clough, head of the search committee, who also attended. “There was sentiment for several.”
The players ranged from the classes of the 1950s to this past decade. One feeling they did express in unity was a connection to Colorado.
“There is a sentiment that this is a good time to have strong Buff ties,” Clough said. “But in terms of particulars, individuals, no.”
On that regard, they have some candidates, although Clough wouldn’t give particulars about the search. Besides McCartney, who hasn’t coached since retiring in 1994, Minnesota Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is a former Buffs star and has been contacted. Also, Brian Cabral is a 21-year assistant and is 2-0 as an interim coach entering CU’s game Friday at 16th-ranked Nebraska.
Clough said the exchange covered a broad spectrum of topics.
“What are the ingredients for the program to move forward and be successful?” Clough said. “What are the qualities of a new coach? They were good questions.”
They also asked what went wrong in the Dan Hawkins era.
“You hire a head coach and for one reason or another things don’t work out,” he said. “It’s not necessarily a mistake you made at the beginning because you’re not doing due diligence or not trying. It happens, not only in coaching, but in other endeavors.”
