CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile: Pete Brock

Editor's Note: It's Hall of Fame Week for Colorado Athletics! The 11-member Class of 2018 will be inducted on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Boedecker Gym in the CU Events Center, and will be recognized at Saturday's football game against Washington State at 1:30 p.m. Our fourth CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile is All-American offensive lineman Pete Brock.

In the mid-1970s, Colorado Football had a substantial anchor to their offense and locker room in Pete Brock.

In his four-year tenure, which ended as the 12^th overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, he earned several honors. A co-captain as a senior, the versatile offensive lineman was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in 1975, a Hula Bowl All-Star, and a first-team Academic All-Big Eight member in 1974. Brock was also later recognized as a first-team member on CU's All-Century team in 1989.

Brock was the highest draft pick by a CU offensive lineman at the time - surpassed 21 years later by Chris Naeole (at No. 10). He credits his time at CU for being such a sought-after player,

"It was against great competition back in the old Big Eight," Brock said. "To succeed in front of that competition helped me to gain an NFL career."

He had a 12-year career in the NFL, 10 as a starter, all with the New England Patriots. He was honored with the 1979 Unsung Hero Award, the 1984 Jim Lee Hunt Award, the 1985 Ed Block Memorial Courage Award, and the 1986 Miller Lite NFL Lineman of the Year Award. The readers of Patriots Football Weekly also selected him to the Patriots Team of the Century.

Although Brock received many awards in both his collegiate and pro career, his greatest honor comes in 2018, as he was chosen as an inductee to the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame; an honor he doesn't take lightly.

"Clearly, to be recognized by the school that you went to as one of the best that's ever played there is pretty awe-inspiring and very humbling," Brock said. "The footballers that I've seen hang on the wall at the hall there in Boulder are some of the guys I looked up to. This is high honor for me."

For Brock, football was also about family. Stan Brock, Pete's younger brother, followed Pete's footsteps and played football at Colorado before being drafted into the NFL as the 12^thoverall pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1980. Since Pete was four years older than Stan, he never got to see his brother play live until their matchup in the pros,

"The first time I saw him live was across the sidelines, so it was kind of an odd sensation and feeling," Brock said.

The siblings lined up against each other multiple times, but Pete never lost, which is something he will never let his little brother forget. "I'm proud to announce that the Patriots were 5-0 against any team that Stan played on."

The elder Brock also will never forget one cherished moment, as an offensive lineman, catching a touchdown pass in the NFL.

In his rookie year, the Patriots weren't quite sure where to line him up, so they mixed him in everywhere. At Shea Stadium against the New York Jets, where Joe Namath lined up on the other sideline, Brock's number got the call.

"I'll never forget being in that huddle and one of the veteran offensive tackles looked at me and said, 'If you drop it, you're walking home,'" Brock said. "I blocked the linebacker and turned out like he beat me. Steve Grogan threw the ball and it looked like a full moon coming at me. It didn't look spectacular, but I caught it. It was a lot of fun. So, I'm one for one in this league."

Nicknamed "Mr. Versatility" with the Patriots, Brock played every offensive line position along with tight end, long snapper, and wing back. In 1985 Brock started at center in Super Bowl XX, where they fell to Mike Ditka and the Chicago Bears.

"On-field, I think winning the AFC Championship in 1985 against the Miami Dolphins was my most significant accomplishment," Brock said. "We had never beaten Miami. To go in there and win the AFC Championship for a shot at the Super Bowl was probably the highlight of my on the field career."

Before Brock decided to go to Colorado, he was nearly set on attending Notre Dame. When he made his recruitment trip to Boulder, he never looked back. The school fit his style and had that 'it' factor Brock was looking for. The cherry on top of the successful program at Colorado was the outdoors. Being the outdoorsman that he is couldn't turn down CU.

"I saw nothing but a lot of growth potential and wanting to be a part of an up and coming program had appeal to me," Brock said. "It's the outdoors that really sold me on it. During part of my recruiting trip I went skiing at Eldora and went fly fishing on the South Platte."

Since Brock's NFL and college days, where he majored in Environmental Biology, he has been involved in many different fields of work. As an entrepreneur, he worked for Nike, Wyatt Software, and Frontline technologies.

Staying involved with the game, Brock was the pregame and postgame analyst on New England's radio network for 20 years up until 2015. Currently, he is the President of the Patriot's alumni group and has also been involved in motivational speaking for people of all ages.

It is obvious that Colorado impacted the career of Brock and led to the immense amount of success he has experienced. On and off the field, Brock has been a leader and set an example of hard work and dedication. By getting inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame, he is getting the recognition he deserves. One of the best to ever to wear the black and gold.

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