Buffs Basketball To Honor Sox Walseth Era This Weekend
January 09, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado coach Tad Boyle has always placed a special emphasis on embracing the tradition of Buffaloes basketball.
He has welcomed Buffs alums to games and practices, has encouraged current players to learn about the history of the program, and has been an ardent supporter of an alumni team that annually plays in a national tournament.
But perhaps most importantly, Boyle has made it a practice to host a reunion every season, where all Buffs are welcome and one coach and his players from that particular era are honored.
Every one of the reunions has been special. So far, former Buffs coaches Bill Blair, Tom Apke, Tom Miller, Joe Harrington and Ricardo Patton have been honored and recognized, along with players from their years in Boulder.
But this weekend's gathering may be just a little extra special, as CU prepares to honor Russell "Sox" Walseth — still the winningest and longest-tenured men's coach in Buffs history.
"Every one of the reunions has meant a lot," Boyle said. "They are all important because they are part of the history and tradition of Colorado basketball, and every coach and player had a role in building that. But yes … there's only one name on the court at the CU Events Center."
Indeed, the Events Center floor is emblazoned with "Sox Walseth Court," honoring the man who coached the Buffs for 20 years (1956-76) and compiled a 261-245 record. Walseth won three Big Eight regular season titles in his career (1961-62, '62-63 and '68-69), took his teams to three NCAA Tournaments and was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year five times. Along the way, he coached some of the biggest names in CU history, including Ken Charlton, Jim Davis, Cliff Meely and Scott Wedman.
Walseth also coached the CU women's team from 1980-83, compiling a 77-21 record that included a perfect 43-0 record at home in his tenure.
Boyle, in his 10th season with the Buffs, is second on Colorado's all-time win list with a 201-126 record.
"He had great teams and he coached great players," Boyle said. "Sox's era was very successful — he's still the winningest coach in our history. He won three conference championships, which is something we haven't done yet. We've won a conference tournament, but back then they didn't have a conference tournament and you had to win the conference to even get to the NCAA Tournament. That's something we aspire to do."
The reunion weekend will include a chance for former players to attend practice Saturday, tour the Events Center facilities and have lunch with current players. (This will be the first reunion honoring players who never played in the Events Center; as all of Walseth's teams played in Balch Fieldhouse).
"Anytime you can have your current players meet guys from another era, it helps them get and appreciation and feel for what players before the have done," Boyle said. "These reunions are good for our current players in that respect because I want them to be aware and proud of the history of this program, and understand that they are building a part of that while they are here."
There will also be a special Saturday evening reception, and Walseth era players will be recognized at Sunday's Colorado-Utah game (4 p.m.) at the Events Center. The Buffs will wear 1960s "retro" jerseys representing the 1968-69 Buffs, the last CU men's team to win a regular season conference title.
"There are a lot of players from Sox's era that are still very big supporters of our program," Boyle said. "They have stayed close to the Buffaloes through all the other eras of coaches and players, and I think they have an appreciation for what this program is doing today."
Walseth died in 2004, but members of his family will be in attendance at the reunion.
"One of my biggest disappointments being the coach at Colorado was that I never had a chance to meet Sox before I became the coach here," Boyle said. "But I've had the opportunity to meet his wife and family. They are still season ticket holders and they are great supporters. I know they have a vested interest in the program, and that means a lot to all of us."