Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
70's Star Mike Spivey Passes Away
June 30, 2023 | Football
Ardent Supporter of the Program Succumbs After Long Illness
BOULDER — Mike Spivey, a star on the University of Colorado football team in the mid-1970s who remained involved heavily with the program after he retired from professional ball, passed away after a long illness this past Monday, June 26. He was 69.
A 1977 CU graduate with a degree in Business, he lettered four seasons for the Buffaloes from 1973 through 1976, playing both the corner and "Apache" back positions (defensive back). He started his career playing both ways on the freshman team in '73 before first dressing for varsity games later that year. He was in on 101 tackles during his collegiate career (57 solo), with five interceptions and 13 passes broken up. He had blazing 4.25 speed for his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and could bench press 350 pounds, and as a senior, he earned first-team All-Big Eight Conference honors and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.
"Mike was a great teammate, a great Buffalo and a terrific mentor to many CU students," athletic director Rick George said. "He was a tough competitor on the field and beloved in the community and a man of faith off it. He always had a great smile on his face and was ready to help the program in any way he could."
He was a member of Eddie Crowder's last recruiting class at Colorado, signing in the spring of '73; he would play under Crowder for one season and then for three years under Bill Mallory. Spivey was a member of CU's 1976 Big Eight championship team and started for the Buffaloes in the 1975 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Texas and the '77 Orange Bowl versus Ohio State. Colorado was 17-7 those two seasons, 10-4 in league play and ended each season ranked in the top 20.
The Chicago Bears selected him in the second round (43rd player overall) of the 1977 National Football League draft. He would appear in 77 NFL games over six seasons with Chicago (1977-79), Oakland (1980), New Orleans (1980-81) and Atlanta (1982). While with the Bears, he found his faith that changed his life, attending Bible study several nights a week with Chicago legend and teammate, Walter Payton.
After retiring from professional football, Mike made Colorado his home and soon entered the ministry. He would become heavily involved with his alma mater, serving as the team chaplain at both home and on the road for a period of 14 years; he also was a mentor to several CU student-athletes. Many noted that he was a phenomenal speaker and his grasp of scripture was incredible.
"He spoke to our team on numerous occasions," said former teammate Brian Cabral. "He was a fierce competitor, and Mike was just as fierce in his faith as he was as a player. I always thought it was great for him to be in front of our players to see what a godly competitor looked like."
Former Buff Jashon Sykes ('02) wrote on Twitter, "Spiv taught me a lot of life lessons. He completed his mission here on Earth. (A) great man!"
He was born March 10, 1954 in Houston, graduated from Carver High School in nearby Aldine and was recruited nationally but signed with the Buffaloes. He is survived by his wife Debra Spivey, and daughter Nicole (Chris) Drzewiecki and son Joshua (Andrea) Spivey along with their beloved puppy, Mercy.
A "Celebration of Life" service for Pastor Michael Spivey will be held Saturday, July 22 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PEPC), 9030 Miller Road, Parker, CO 80138. For those wishing to honor Mike, in lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged for "Buffs4Life," at this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/spivey.
A 1977 CU graduate with a degree in Business, he lettered four seasons for the Buffaloes from 1973 through 1976, playing both the corner and "Apache" back positions (defensive back). He started his career playing both ways on the freshman team in '73 before first dressing for varsity games later that year. He was in on 101 tackles during his collegiate career (57 solo), with five interceptions and 13 passes broken up. He had blazing 4.25 speed for his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and could bench press 350 pounds, and as a senior, he earned first-team All-Big Eight Conference honors and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.
"Mike was a great teammate, a great Buffalo and a terrific mentor to many CU students," athletic director Rick George said. "He was a tough competitor on the field and beloved in the community and a man of faith off it. He always had a great smile on his face and was ready to help the program in any way he could."
He was a member of Eddie Crowder's last recruiting class at Colorado, signing in the spring of '73; he would play under Crowder for one season and then for three years under Bill Mallory. Spivey was a member of CU's 1976 Big Eight championship team and started for the Buffaloes in the 1975 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Texas and the '77 Orange Bowl versus Ohio State. Colorado was 17-7 those two seasons, 10-4 in league play and ended each season ranked in the top 20.
The Chicago Bears selected him in the second round (43rd player overall) of the 1977 National Football League draft. He would appear in 77 NFL games over six seasons with Chicago (1977-79), Oakland (1980), New Orleans (1980-81) and Atlanta (1982). While with the Bears, he found his faith that changed his life, attending Bible study several nights a week with Chicago legend and teammate, Walter Payton.
After retiring from professional football, Mike made Colorado his home and soon entered the ministry. He would become heavily involved with his alma mater, serving as the team chaplain at both home and on the road for a period of 14 years; he also was a mentor to several CU student-athletes. Many noted that he was a phenomenal speaker and his grasp of scripture was incredible.
"He spoke to our team on numerous occasions," said former teammate Brian Cabral. "He was a fierce competitor, and Mike was just as fierce in his faith as he was as a player. I always thought it was great for him to be in front of our players to see what a godly competitor looked like."
Former Buff Jashon Sykes ('02) wrote on Twitter, "Spiv taught me a lot of life lessons. He completed his mission here on Earth. (A) great man!"
He was born March 10, 1954 in Houston, graduated from Carver High School in nearby Aldine and was recruited nationally but signed with the Buffaloes. He is survived by his wife Debra Spivey, and daughter Nicole (Chris) Drzewiecki and son Joshua (Andrea) Spivey along with their beloved puppy, Mercy.
A "Celebration of Life" service for Pastor Michael Spivey will be held Saturday, July 22 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PEPC), 9030 Miller Road, Parker, CO 80138. For those wishing to honor Mike, in lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged for "Buffs4Life," at this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/spivey.
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