Plati-'Tudes Live From CU's Hall of Fame

        Welcome to the annual Plati-'Tudes" live blog from the CU Athletic Hall of Fame induction.   I'll be updating throughout the evening with comments from all our inductees! The program begins at 7 p.m. MST.

        Mark Johnson just started the evening's ceremonies … so we are off and running …

        Riley Burke was the first guest speaker, a member of CU's women's track team, she's on the board of CU's Student-Athlete-Advisory Committee (SAAC). She gave a quick overview of SAAC and the events that they sponsor. Kimbirly Orr, the Executive Director of the Alumni C Club took the podium. She spoke about the journey all the recipients took from the time athletic director Rick George notified them in July about their impending induction, recognized those previous inducted who were present, and thanked her hard working staff and Alumni C Board members.

        Rick was next, first thanking Riley as an example of the current student-athlete and how valuable they are to the department. He thanked everyone for attending (a record crowd of 350-plus), and thanked Pasta Jay Elowsky, a Legacy Wing inductee, who bought six tables that helped make the event sellout for the first time (but told him to keep his speech to the limited time). He mentioned that he and Leon Jackson (executive director of the Buff Club) were guests of the Dolphins and were on the field Monday night at the Dolphins-Chargers game and made a point of mentioning that Ronnie Bradford flew in from his job as a special teams assistant with the Dolphins, and that he has an 11:49 p.m. redeye back to Miami tonight.

        He also spoke about the current student-athletes (360-plus) and how for over the last seven semesters, they have a better grade point average than CU's student body. And then a quick summary of how well many of CU's sports teams were doing.

Ronnie Bradford, Football (1989-92)
        He started pointing out as a special teams coach, he's "used to giving out a lot of information in a short amount of time." He's been following the current Buffaloes – "7-2 – (former Steelers coach) Chuck Noll said it best, a team first must earn how not to lose. Nothing drives a coach more crazy than pre- and post-snap penalties." He noted how the current CU team has improved.

        Then he brought up how he was brought up in a three-bedroom apartment 30 minutes from Boulder. Spoke about his family, how his older sister still game him grief for the 19-19 tie with Nebraska in 1991—the coldest game he has ever been a part of. His first CU game was the 1 988 game against Oklahoma, and he was in awe of how packed the stadium was, but he knew then that CU was the place he was going to go. We didn't have a lot growing up, but what you don't have, you don't know about. He thanked those who helped him in his career to get to where he is today.

        He talked about his blocked PAT against Notre Dame, and it is still showed as an example to teams today. How Gary Barnett climbed three flights of stairs when recruiting him. Reeled off a list of great teammates he was fortunate to play with. And then brought up that his "first interception as a pro was against Joe Montana; his first for a TD was against Dan Marino; and his first in the Super Bowl was against John Elway."

        He ended with Coach Bill McCartney's famous saying, "The pride and tradition of the Colorado Buffaloes will not be entrusted to the timid or the weak,"

Shayne Wille Culpepper, Cross Country & Track (1995-97)
        She immediately brought up that the most impactful moments in her life were within a mile or two radius of where she was tonight. Spoke about her family ties to CU, several graduates and that was the family she was born into.

        She then spoke emotionally about returning to Boulder from the east coast in the summer of 1995 and asked if she could walk-on the cross country team. "Coach (Mark) Wetmore said yes. I then ran faster than they though I would, faster than I thought I would. She fast-forwarded a few years later when she was a counselor down the road at Fairview High School, about how she worked with kids and shared her experiences at CU.

        She closed with how CU was a factor in practically every chapter of her life. "The University of Colorado is truly ingrained into the fabric of who I am, who I was, and who I will always be."

John Gregorio, Cross Country & Track (1971-73)
        "I'm up here with Super Bowl champions, Olympians, unbelievable. Were you all excited about we had a dinner without tortillas (referencing the previous Saturday's football game at Texas Tech when the field gets bombarded with tortillas."

        He gave a shout out to teammates like Brown Windle and Tim Cronin who helped him when he transferred to CU. He cited his former coaches, Don Meyers and the late Jerry Quiller, pivotal mentors in his early track career. He thanked Kimbirly Orr for bringing all together so they could relive their "Glory Days" as the Bruce Springsteen song dictated.

        "When I think of Colorado, when we'd go out and not always win. We're not always going to win, but we're going to give them everything we've got, and they know it.

Don Hasselbeck, Football (1973-76)
        "I've been away from Boulder for a long time, and I'm humbled to be a part of this. My time here it's hard to put into words. I got married when I was sophomore and we lived in student housing."

        He spoke about his family members, his football playing and coaching sons.

        "My story here started with assistant coach Les Steckel. He visited me in Ohio, when I was committed to play at Michigan, but Les said to come on out, we have it in the budget. "My dad wouldn't sign the letter of intent, but I was 18 so it didn't matter." He thanked his Buff parents – Jim and Betty Matthews – who are in their 90's now.

        "Ironically my senior year, we had played Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl, and then Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. My dad said, "See?" Then in the Hula Bowl, the Japan Bowl… Then to the pros, won a Super Bowl ring. The one thing I do know is that you can't do this alone. You have to be part of a team. And I really have Les to thank for it.

        Al Davis used to say, 'Once a Raider, always a Raider.' Well, I can say for sure, once a Buffalo, always a Buffalo."

Ben Kelly, Football (1997-99)
        Ben never was one to speak a lot about himself…
        "My time at CU, coming from Cleveland, Ohio and driving into Boulder. I got that feeling two days ago when I came back here. I loved my time here, spending time with my teammates which I hope to do more of here in the next couple of days."

Harold "Monk" Saunders, Golf/Football (1937-40)
        He passed away in 2000 at the age of 82; his son Steve Saunders accepted the honor.

        "I'm here to celebrate my father, Monk – Harold Monk. It was 87 years ago that he entered school here at CU. It's pretty special to honor a guy who played with leather helmets. Monk had quite a life, he was born in 1918 in Omaha, Nebraska—he was the state marbles champion when he was 13. He was orphaned that same year when his parents were killed in a car-train accident. He took a train out to Boulder with $25 in his pocket and got an "NIL" deal – sweeping floors.   He earned eight letters at CU—four in golf, one in basketball, three in football."

        He spoke out about his father being on CU's first football team that went to a bowl

        "His successes as CU athlete led to a lot of future things – being a teacher-coach and eventually a Big Eight official for 30 years. He was recruited to the U.S. Navy and ran a P.T. boat in the Pacific during in the entirety of World War II." He spoke about his late son Norm playing basketball for Sox Walseth, and earning three letters in golf.

        "I'm sure he and Norm are high-fiving all the Hall of Famers here tonight."

John Skajem, Skiing (1986-87)
        "Wow, what a moment, coming all the way from Norway to the beautiful country of Buffaloes. I am deeply humbled tobe indicted along with so many great individuals who represent the University in all its greatness.

        "This recognition means so much to me. It's an emotional evening, it's almost surreal, but yet so real. This has given me the opportunity to think back to my time at CU and realize that my time here was the most memorable of my life. As a 15-year old, I spent a year in Aspen. I had lots of fun, learning a little bit of English. The other skiers were talking about CU—how their dream was to so ski at CU. And that turned into my dream—how funny is life?

        "Why did I decide to leave Norway – it's a long story. My father was passing away from cancer. He said tome, before I die, I want you to get a proper education. For me, coming from simple living quarters on a farm in Norway.

        "My time in Boulder is really why I am the man I am today.   I will treasure this moment forever—thank you all for allowing me to be here tonight."

Anette Skjolden, Skiing (1991-93)
        "She started reading a saying from Norway – including the rush of endorphins after two hours of skiing.   I don't know if I would not have had what I enjoyed in skiing if I didn't have those experiences in my younger years. Much of that is from the time I had here at the University of Colorado, skiing with my teammates and coaches.

        "Boulder will always have a special place in my heart." She thanked her teammates and specifically her head coach, Richard Rokos.

Dan Stavely, Football Coach/Administrator (1958; 1963-83)
He passed away at the age of 90 in 2003. Son John Stavely, who played football at CU, accepted for him.

        "The extreme joy that has been shared by my entire family. My dad probably had about a thousand sayings, and had many nicknames in addition to his sayings. One his favorites was, 'Either be brilliant or be brief.'

        "Dad was a people-person, he always enjoyed doing things for other people. He was so happy to becoming back to Boulder in 1963, and to Colorado (he was born in Cortez). He spoke how his dad took a cattle train to Denver with $10 in his pocket where he played on the football team. His dad wore many hats, he was a coach, an academic counselor, a great recruiter." He spoke how he was a tough freshman coach, very disciplined in his approach.

        He believed in the old adage, "Strong body, strong mind, strong soul." He did everything he could with the recruits, helping them get into school, into the right majors, coordinated study halls.

        He told a funny story – "Dad has narcolepsy. He could fall asleep anywhere at any time. When he ran study hall, the players least favorite thing, if he fell asleep, some players would sneak out. If someone got caught, we all had to be back at 6 a.m. the next morning."

        "Dad never sought out any awards or accolades." He reeled off four Hall of Fames he would be inducted into before his fifth one tonight.

Rachel Wacholder Scott, Volleyball (1993-96)
        "This is an incredible night, definitely one of the greatest honors in my life. My family heard me talk about being in the CU Hall of Fame for years. When I got the call from Rick George, I thought it was a joke. I finally realized this was real. I've been writing the speech in my head ever since. I wanted to get this right—the gift of volleyball and the path it has taken me on.

        "I was asked by a friend why this meant so much to me. I started to think about my life, and all the lessons I learned from being an athlete. I'm competitive and feisty." She spoke about the obstacles she overcame, and that "Hard work pays off and that work ethic matters. And can we get to a place in society where if you want to something you have to work hard to get it.

        "Boulder will always have a special place in my heart. It's naturally beauty, the starts at night, the tulips in the spring, the snow-I was a beach girl, I didn't know what snow was like. It truly was a magical time, and when I left CU, I knew it was something special."

        She ended by mentioning several players and coaches she spent time with at CU who are no longer with us.

         We then shifted to our two specialty categories, first, the two newest members of CU's Athletic Hall of Honor … The CU Athletic Hall of Honor was resurrected in 2022 after over three-decade dormancy. The distinction is presented to those, while attending the University of Colorado, who were awarded a Varsity "C" and has attained distinguished achievement in his or her chosen professional field.

The first Hall of Honor inductee was Ron Ginley (Gymnastics, 1976-80):

        "I'm very honored and appreciate very much being inducted into the Hall of Honor. It means so much to me for this honor." He thanked his family, his coaches, especially his high school coach and CU's head coach, Sid Freudenstein, who taught him many lessons and the discussions that they had about the physics of gymnastics.

        "A lot of people considered gymnastics as an individual sport, but you get a lot of support from your team. I was the only one going to nationals as a senior, so I had to work out those two weeks between the Big Eight's (yeah, I know, the Big Eight), but my teammates came in and worked out with me. That was so special to me.

        He spoke about lessons in adversity, how you come back and fight back. I've taken that lesson throughout the rest of my life.

Tom Lawrence (Basketball, 1974-76):
        "I'm truly humbled by this honor. I'm not up here for what I did at CU, it wasn't that impressive. When I grew up, I wanted to play basketball and all I wanted to do was play at CU.   I came here as a freshman and walked on to the team." He spoke about his father died that December and didn't know if he would be able to stay at CU. But the great thing was that when I came back, my teammates, coach (Sox) Walseth and his secretary, Jo Jo Christensen all were there for me."

        "What many will tell you about sports, is that you miss the locker room, because that became your family."

        He spoke about how he has been fortunate to meet over 150 Hall of Famers, from Peggy Fleming to Payton Manning. And how one common denominator with the 10 Hall of Famers tonight was perseverance.

        He closed with a poem from his favorite book, Heaven is a Playground, also with "Sports is the backbone of society, it teaches us so many things."

        The final inductees were selected for induction into the Hall of Fame's Legacy Wing. This is for individuals who have made a lasting impression or contribution for, to or around CU athletics during their lifetimes. They do not have to be former student-athletes, "Honorary C" members or even CU graduates. The inaugural inductees were CU's famous twins, Peggy Coppom and Betty Hoover.

Alan Cass, Public Address Announcer
Alan passed away on April 18, 2018 at the age of 77; those in attendance at the table in his honor probably represented 200-plus years of service at the university. Alan's wife Sue accepted the honor:

"What a tremendous honor this is. When I met and married Alan, our backgrounds were very different." She mentioned that the family is in its sixth generation in Boulder. This is a gift as a family we are profoundly honored. We thank all who have recognized Alan's decades of devotion to CU. Thank you all so much."

"Pasta" Jay Elowski, Unique Donor
He ran up to the stage like he just won an Olympic medal.

"Rick sent me texts all day—'keep it short.' This award belongs to you--coaches, staff, administration, and my supportees who help support the 'Pasta Jay Machine.' This place, because of all you in this room, makes things happen toward the greater good. It has made for the opportunity for a winning culture that exists to this day. It is we, it is us.

"When Coach Mac recruited me 35 years ago to feed the team, and then all the sports. It as infectious, it sucked me in. And nobody kicks the guy out of the room that brings the food." I saw that this was a wholesome, clean environment. A place where you can raise your kids.   What a family environment to be part of. I want to close with three points:

First point--"Did you know, the word coach, comes from the word stagecoach. Taking people where they can't take themselves. In this case, taking young student-athletes where they can't take themselves. An organization working toward the greater good.

"What a fairy tale experience working with the athletic directors, Bill Marolt and Dick Tharp, who led me through my renegade years, telling me what I could and couldn't do. I was in their offices more than anyone else."

Second point—From Lou Holtz: "Can I trust you? Will you have concern for others? Do you have my back?"

Third—"Never underestimate your value to the team," what Coach McCartney once told him when he was in the locker room pregame before a big game against Kansas.

And with that, the 19th annual Hall of Fame induction came to a close (9:09 p.m.).

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