BOULDER — Times have changed for Colorado football, the Buffs’ only Heisman Trophy winner, Rashaan Salaam (1994), said Saturday after being recognized at Folsom Field in honor of the 20-year anniversary of his award.
Salaam rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns on that 1994 team that went 11-1 and defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Of the 22 starters on that CU squad, 18 played in the NFL.
“We had a real strong leadership class that year,” Salaam said. “We had guys that put in more than 10 years in the (NFL). It was special.”
The current Buffs cannot claim that level of talent. But Salaam is optimistic that Colorado is headed in a positive direction.
“I definitely see some progress,” Salaam said. “I really believe kids are buying into what coach Mike MacIntyre is preaching. Besides last week (56-28 loss at USC), our guys have put up a fight all year.”
Salaam served as grand marshal for CU’s homecoming parade earlier Saturday. This was the program’s 100th homecoming game.
CU safety hurt. Starting sophomore safety Tedric Thompson was carted off the field and taken to a hospital after being involved in a tackle during the first overtime. MacIntyre said Thompson “was moving, but he was really scared.”
Gillam goes out. CU’s defense played most of the game without sophomore linebacker Addison Gillam, who went to the locker room before halftime with flu-like symptoms. Also, the Buffs lost backup safety Marques Mosley to a knee injury.
Footnotes. CU redshirt freshman guard Gerrad Kough (pronounced “Koh”) made his first college start in place of senior Kaiwi Crabb, who suffered a concussion a week earlier against USC. … Buffs senior running back Tony Jones became the ninth player in the school’s history to record 1,000 career rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. … The 92-yard run by UCLA’s Paul Perkins tied for the second longest in Bruins history.
