BOULDER, Colo. – An 8-foot bronze statue honoring former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney was unveiled Friday night at the Buffaloes‘ practice field, a donation from ex-players and a tribute to the man who led the team to its 1990 national championship. McCartney died Jan. 10 at age 84.
The statue was displayed Saturday as fans arrived for Colorado’s 42-17 home finale loss to Arizona State. A private ceremony Friday included McCartney’s family, former players, current coach Deion Sanders, and the team.
The statue’s base, made of granite, features a quote from mccartney: “Big Dreams Create the Magic That Stir Men’s Souls to Greatness.” Former linebacker Don DeLuzio spearheaded the project.
“He had a vision. He could lift you to the heights that you couldn’t lift yourself,” saeid Barry Remington, an inside linebacker who played for McCartney and was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame on Thursday.”He didn’t care if you were a walk-on, starter, four-star, one-star, he just wanted your best effort. He got the most out of everyone that he coached.”
Sanders praised the statue, stating, “Statue is un-darn-believable. I wish it was right in the center of the darn campus, I really do. But unbelievable moment with former players that were up under his coaching. This is just a splendid, wonderful moment.”
mccartney coached Colorado from 1982-94,achieving an 11-1-1 record and a national title in 1990 with a victory over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl,a championship shared with Georgia Tech. He retired early to spend more time with his wife,Lyndi,who passed away in 2013.
Following his coaching career, McCartney dedicated himself to Promise Keepers, a ministry he founded in 1990, before leaving his role as president in 2003. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
