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Former Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan is among a group of Buffaloes legends expressing frustration over the school’s recent decision to retire the jersey numbers of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
Hagan, a central figure in the Buffs' 1990 national championship run, said he was “flabbergasted” by the move, according to USA TODAY Sports. Not because the players were undeserving, but because the process was rushed and lacked transparency while disregarding decades of tradition.
Hunter and Sanders had their numbers retired less than four months after playing their final game at Colorado, despite neither player having graduated yet. That’s a significant departure from the criteria former players like Hagan were told existed.
“We were always told there was a waiting period,” said Hagan. “There was a policy in place. It had to be voted upon.”
The former standard, reportedly established in the 1990s, required a player to earn a degree from the university before becoming eligible for such an honor.
Colorado now claims jersey retirements are at the discretion of the athletic director and head coach, a shift that has alarmed former players.
“It should be a policy,” Hagan added. “Head coaches come and go. ADs come and go. We need to abide by that policy.”
Hagan, who posted a 28-5-2 record as a starting quarterback and won three straight Big Eight titles from 1989-91, has long been considered one of the most deserving players for a jersey retirement. He’s not alone in his concerns.
Fellow Buffs linebacker linebacker Chad Brown added, “Of anybody who would symbolize that time and be my first choice, I’d put Darian Hagan as the No. 1 guy.”
While Shedeur Sanders set numerous passing records at CU, his teams finished with a modest 13-12 record across two seasons. Hunter, a two-way star and recent No. 2 NFL draft pick, won the Heisman Trophy in 2024 but has yet to graduate after leaving school as a junior to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. He was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick.
Hagan said his frustration isn’t personal. He also believes Sanders and Hunter deserved the honor eventually, but CU’s decision bypassed a once-respected process and diminished the legacy of past champions.
“We just threw history aside,” Hagan said. “We went with the here and now. The here and now is gonna be gone. We won a national championship, and that stuff lasts forever.”
Continue reading...
Hagan, a central figure in the Buffs' 1990 national championship run, said he was “flabbergasted” by the move, according to USA TODAY Sports. Not because the players were undeserving, but because the process was rushed and lacked transparency while disregarding decades of tradition.
Hunter and Sanders had their numbers retired less than four months after playing their final game at Colorado, despite neither player having graduated yet. That’s a significant departure from the criteria former players like Hagan were told existed.
“We were always told there was a waiting period,” said Hagan. “There was a policy in place. It had to be voted upon.”
The former standard, reportedly established in the 1990s, required a player to earn a degree from the university before becoming eligible for such an honor.
Colorado now claims jersey retirements are at the discretion of the athletic director and head coach, a shift that has alarmed former players.
“It should be a policy,” Hagan added. “Head coaches come and go. ADs come and go. We need to abide by that policy.”
Hagan, who posted a 28-5-2 record as a starting quarterback and won three straight Big Eight titles from 1989-91, has long been considered one of the most deserving players for a jersey retirement. He’s not alone in his concerns.
Fellow Buffs linebacker linebacker Chad Brown added, “Of anybody who would symbolize that time and be my first choice, I’d put Darian Hagan as the No. 1 guy.”
While Shedeur Sanders set numerous passing records at CU, his teams finished with a modest 13-12 record across two seasons. Hunter, a two-way star and recent No. 2 NFL draft pick, won the Heisman Trophy in 2024 but has yet to graduate after leaving school as a junior to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. He was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick.
Hagan said his frustration isn’t personal. He also believes Sanders and Hunter deserved the honor eventually, but CU’s decision bypassed a once-respected process and diminished the legacy of past champions.
“We just threw history aside,” Hagan said. “We went with the here and now. The here and now is gonna be gone. We won a national championship, and that stuff lasts forever.”
Continue reading...
