Over the last 20 years, it has been anything but paradise for the Colorado Buffaloes. The once proud program has fallen into disarray, though there is some hope for a rebound with the hiring of Deion Sanders as head coach. Nonetheless, the program has produced some fine NFL athletes from Colorado.
One of the big moves to make for coach Deion Sanders is to revamp the quarterback position. Traditionally, there have been some vital players at the helm of the offense, with these names ranking at the top of the list of the best quarterbacks in program history.
Darian Hagan (1988-1991)
Running the vaunted “I-Bone” offense of head coach Bill McCartney, Hagan helped bring the Buffs to their greatest heights. Hagan took over as the starter in the 1989 season, where he became just the sixth player in NCAA history to throw for more than 1,000 yards and run for more than 1,000 yards in the same season.
Hagan was also the starter in 1990, a banner year for the Buffs. Not only did they win their second Big Eight Conference championship, but their first (and only) National Championship. Though he did not have quite the dynamic year he had before (when he finished fifth in Heisman voting), the National Championship is something that will be remembered forever.
In 2002, Hagan was inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame. With 3,800 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards, there are many who consider him to be the best CU football player ever.
Darian is one of the best Colorado Buffaloes football players of all time.
Buff great and current RB coach Darian Hagan on what Colorado football needs the most.#GoBuffs🦬 pic.twitter.com/q42F1vJuQ2
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) October 13, 2022
Kordell Stewart (1991-1994)
Stewart, lovingly known as “Slash” throughout his career, had massive shoes to fill by taking over for Hagan in 1992. Though Stewart could not replicate the achievement of the 1990 crew, he certainly made his mark.
Stewart led the option-heavy Buffaloes to top-10 finishes in both major polls in 1992 and 1994. He was a second-team All-American as a senior, leading the Buffs to an 11-1 record and a No. 3 finish in the final rankings.
Perhaps his biggest moment came early in the 1994 campaign. He threw a 64-yard bomb to Michael Westbrook in the final seconds to upset national power Michigan in The Big House. It is a moment that will live on in CU history.
September 24, 1994: Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart (@KSlash10) throws a 70+ yard hail mary bomb that is deflected into the hands of Michael Westbrook for the game-winning TD to beat Michigan 27-26 pic.twitter.com/gMIcoEYeWy
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) September 25, 2022
Koy Detmer (1992-1996)
There was an overlap between Detmer and Stewart, providing nearly a full decade of quality quarterback play in the 1990s for Colorado. Detmer played spot duty in 1992, 1994, and 1995 before finally getting the keys to the kingdom as a senior in 1996.
Detmer had flashed potential in years prior, especially in 1995 when he threw for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns on just 95 attempts. His senior season saw him really break through, throwing for 3,156 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Buffs finished 10-2, good for second in the Big 12 North.
Detmer is part of Colorado Buffalo history as well, throwing for a school record 40 touchdowns during his time in Boulder. Though his brother Ty would get more accolades at BYU, Koy carved himself out a place in CU history.
Colorado QB Koy Detmer drops back to pass vs Washington in the 1996 #HolidayBowl #Buffaloes #CollegeFootball #90s pic.twitter.com/UvsMR7VqSV
— Retro Sports (@RetroSports411) December 30, 2016
Joel Klatt (2002-2005)
Perhaps no quarterback in CU history was as up and down as Klatt. He began as a walk-on in 2002, becoming just the fourth true freshman since 1986 to see action. But it was his 2003 season that earned him a place on this list.
As a first-time starter, Klatt, set 19 school records while tying another. He finished on the All-Big 12 team, plus won the John Mack Award as CU’s Offensive Player of the Year. Klatt went on to throw for 2,614 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first year as a starter, even throwing for 400 yards twice.
His 2004 season was a major step down, seeing him benched after a lackluster Iowa State Game. But he rebounded the following year, helping lead the Buffs to the Big 12 North title in his senior season. Unfortunately, his season (and career) was altered by a severe concussion, something that embittered him to the NCAA for years to come.
Joel Klatt
Colorado, Quarterback 2002-2005 pic.twitter.com/KjVSBMYGA1— Random College Athletes (@RandomAthletess) December 5, 2022
Sal Aunese (1987-1988)
Aunese became the precursor to Hagan and Stewart, both in terms of on-field performance and being able to lead Colorado to serious success. He missed his first year of eligibility, joining the team in 1987 and immediately became the starter, earning Big Eight Newcomer of the Year.
Unfortunately, it became a case of “what if” with Aunese. Following the Freedom Bowl in 1988, Aunese was diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. While undergoing treatment, Aunese visited practices and games, ultimately succumbing to his illness on September 23, 1989.
The 1989 season would be dedicated to him, seeing the Buffs go 11-0 in the regular season. The storybook ending fell short, however, losing to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. But that time will be remembered for the tragedy that Aunese suffered and what he may have been for Colorado if not for the disease.
We are Sal Aunese days away from Buffs Football @DeionSanders #Skobuffs pic.twitter.com/tmqmdPRcOn
— Buffalo Bob (@MileHighMatt12) August 25, 2023
Bobby Anderson (1967-1969)
Anderson became a dual-threat quarterback for the Buffaloes beginning as a sophomore. He would lead the team in both rushing and passing, leading them to 9-2 and 8-3 finishes. What’s incredible is that he shifted to running back in 1969 when the team faced injury concerns.
He managed to finish third in the conference in rushing that year, capping the year off with a bowl record 254 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1969 Liberty Bowl. That year, Anderson earned First-Team All-America status, incredible given his place at quarterback the two years prior.
Anderson was a pre-cursor for the dual-threat quarterbacks that the school would become more well known for. His ability to move to running back as a senior just showed the kind of talent that he brought to the program, helping them to contend with Nebraska and Oklahoma, two of the powers in the nation at the time. Given that his brother played defensive back from 1965-67, Colorado became Anderson U for the latter half of the 1960s, creating some memorable moments.
You can bet on Colorado Buffaloes football games for next season here.
Colorado Buffaloes football legend and Denver Bronco Bobby Anderson pic.twitter.com/fWA8nyfVQz
— Van Rouge (@VanRouge) July 13, 2020
