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CU Athletics Creates Hall of Fame Legacy Wing, Restores Hall of Honor

June 27, 2022 | General, Alumni C Club

17th Athletic Hall of Fame Class To Be Revealed Tuesday

        BOULDER — The precursor of CU's Athletic Hall of Fame was the "Athletic Hall of Honor," which debuted in 1967 until it was discontinued in 1987; this recognition was presented to a person who, while attending the University of Colorado, was awarded a Varsity "C" and attained distinguished achievement in his or her chosen field.  

        There were 65 members of the original Athletic Hall of Honor, the inaugural class including the likes of Byron White and Lee Willard.  Athletic director Rick George didn't think twice when presented with the idea of restoring the honor, fully supporting its return which will now be incorporated as a wing into the department's Hall of Fame.

        Two CU football players who have made their marks in their chosen careers are the first inductees in 35 years, as Jim Hansen and Dr. Eric McCarty were selected to be the first pair to bring the honor back to life.  

        Induction into the Athletic Hall of Honor is no small accomplishment.  Designed to recognize those letter winners who went on to make their mark in their chosen profession, White, the late Supreme Court Justice, epitomizes the significance of the honor.

        Hansen's resume includes a degree in Aerospace Engineering (with a 3.941 grade point average), two awards citing his academic accomplishments (Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete and the William V. Campbell, considered the "Academic Heisman"), a Rhodes Scholarship, earned his doctorate at Oxford, and serving as a professor at M.I.T. before accepting his current position at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

        "It's a great honor to be joining Eric McCarty in the revival of CU's Athletic Hall of Honor," Hansen said. "The Hall is full of people whose stories were and are an inspiration to me, such as Eric, and including Byron White, Joe Romig, Dick Anderson and Bill Marolt.  I can only hope that my story will serve as an inspiration for others and as an example of what the CU Boulder experience can enable."

        McCarty was nothing short of euphoric when finding out; similar to the fan base's reaction back in 1983 when, as the state's top recruit, he elected to stay home and sign with CU, headlining that year's recruiting class that eventually turned the fortunes of CU's football program around.

        "This is a tremendous honor for which I am very thankful and deeply humbled," McCarty said. "I was floored and it meant so much when Rick George called me about this, especially since I have known him since my playing days as a Buff.   I am thankful for him and the current leadership we have here at CU.  The history of student-athletes at the University of Colorado is rich and deep and I am grateful to even be considered for inclusion in the Hall of Honor alongside the great names in CU history.   

        "Since my days as a kid growing up in Boulder, I have always bled black and gold and I am indebted to Coach Bill McCartney, who gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of competing as a student athlete at CU," he said.  "It was such a wonderful and memorable experience going to school at CU and playing football with my teammates on Folsom Field.   The experience at CU helped mold me and shape me and propelled me into the career I have now."  

        McCarty, a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, is in his 19th year working with the athletic department after joining the school's sports medicine team in 2003; he's also a team doctor with the Colorado Avalanche.  He has performed numerous surgeries on CU athletes (and staff members) and is one of the most respected in his business.

        "In the position I am currently in at CU, I feel very blessed to be able to give back to the University of Colorado in a role to help student athletes be healthy, to be able to compete again after injury and to mentor those that are interested in the health professions as a career," he added.  "I can't think of a better experience and career.   As the years go on, the love for CU gets stronger and the black and gold in my blood only gets thicker.  Again, I am grateful to be a part of such a great institution.  We are in good hands with Rick George and the current leadership."

        In addition, a "Legacy Wing" has been added to the Hall.  This will be 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 for this wing are non-other than CU "super fans," Peggy Coppom and the late Betty Hoover.

        Known fondly as CU's "Twins," they were born in Haxtun on the eastern Colorado plains and moved to Boulder in 1940.  They started going to home games as teenagers that decade and until Betty's death at the age of 95 in August 2020, it was estimated that they saw over 3,000 games and matches between football, men's and women's basketball and several of CU's Olympic sports.  Peggy, now 97, returned to attending games following the pandemic to keep the family tradition going strong.  

        Athletic director Rick George delivered the news to Peggy in person at her home in Boulder instead of over the phone, where they celebrated with Root Beer floats.  "It's a tremendous honor for you and Betty and we want to protect your legacy for what the two of you have meant to our athletic department for decades," he said when informing her.  She exclaimed, "Oh my gosh" and broke into tears, telling Rick that she talks to Betty every day.

        The twins are honored on campus with a plaque just off the Buff Walk on the east side of Folsom Feld, with "twin" trees that were planted on June 26, 2021 on each side framing the plaque.  There are likely more pictures of fans posing with the twins than with any other people connected to CU in history, which would include musicians, astronauts, actors and actresses, athletes and politicians.

        The twins, Hansen and McCarty will be honored along with the Athletic Hall of Fame class over the course of Oct. 27-29 (final details pending); they will also be featured in the Pearl Street Stampede parade on Friday night and will be introduced during CU's Homecoming football game against Arizona State on Saturday, Oct. 29.

ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES

Jim Hansen, Football (1989-92)

One of the most celebrated student-athletes ever at Colorado, as a senior in 1992 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship (the first at CU since Joe Romig in 1961) - the oldest and arguably most prestigious international scholarship program in the world … He also earned the ultimate scholar-athlete award in football the same year, named the recipient of the William V. Campbell Award, which is considered the "Academic Heisman," and was selected as the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – the top scholar athlete across all sports … He was a three-time, first-team Academic All-American, a two-time College Football Association Scholar-Athlete team member and a four-timer on the Academic All-Big Eight team … An Aerospace Engineering major, his grade point average was 3.941 (he earned 33 A's, six A-minuses and one B+ as he had the highest GPA in his major and the third highest in all of engineering) … On the field as a senior, he earned honorable mention All-America honors (United Press International), and was a first-team All-Big Eight selection (Associated Press) … Ahead of his senior season, he was named the winner of the Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award as the nation's top football student-athlete, in conjunction with the Playboy All-America team … He earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors as a junior … Played defensive tackle as a freshman but switched to offense prior to his sophomore year … After earming his doctorate at Oxford, he returned to the states and was a professor at M.I.T. before accepting a position at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory where he leads projects on a diverse range of topics including Horn of Africa piracy, South American drug runner interdiction, and submarine planning netting him a Department of the Navy Meritorious Civil Service Award and an Arthur S. Flemming Award recognizing exceptional federal employees … He now leads NRL's Marine Meteorology Division, helping the U.S. Navy better understand the atmosphere/ocean environment so that they can be better simulated, better predicted, and allow warfighters to make better decisions … In 2018, he became CU's first-ever recipient of the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes those student-athletes 25 years after their final year of eligibility who have gone on to great success in their careers … Born Nov. 14, 1969 in Seattle, graduating from its Tyee High School … He is married to the former Julianna Ott, and has two children in college, Kathryn (sophomore at Utah) and Jack (freshman at Oregon State).


Dr. Eric McCarty, Football (1983-87)

Dr. Eric McCarty is completing his 19th year working with the CU athletic program, having joined the sports medicine team in July 2003 … He is currently a Professor and the Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery position in the Department of Orthopedics at University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver … His academic and surgical prowess enabled him to return to his home state where he starred as both a prep and collegian … He returned to CU from Vanderbilt University, where he was an orthopedic surgeon, assistant professor and team physician for the Commodores' athletic teams for four years (1999-2003) … McCarty is the head team physician for the University of Colorado, and the medical director and head team physician for the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and was the head orthopedic team physician for the University of Denver for the past 18 years … He is a nationally and internationally recognized board-certified sports medicine trained orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist and his specialized practice involves the care of collegiate and professional athletes as well as recreational and highly competitive athletes from the community … A large part of his practice is the sports medicine care of high school athletes in the state of Colorado … He graduated in 1988 from CU with a degree in kinesiology and a 3.75 grade point average … A four-time Academic All-Big Eight team member, he was the first in school history to be honored four times … An Academic All-American his senior year, when he reached the finalist stage for the Rhodes Scholarship … On the field, he earned first-team All-Big Eight honors as a senior, when he led the Buffaloes with 148 tackles, the fourth highest total at the time in team history.   He had 237 career tackles in two years on defense, after moving over from offense where he played fullback (503 career rushing yards), and earned four letters … He earned his M.D., with honors, in 1993 from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, and did his internship and residency at Vanderbilt in orthopedic surgery between 1993 and 1998 … Shortly thereafter, he spent a year at the internationally renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he received a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery (while residing in New York, he worked with the NFL's New York Giants) … In addition to his busy clinical practice, McCarty is very active in research, teaching, and writing articles in the field of sports medicine and knee and shoulder surgery … He has been the recipient of over four dozen awards in his professional career, and has published books, chapters and over 275 research articles relating to sports medicine and shoulder and knee conditions … He also is very active in national and international sports medicine societies and has been in leadership positions in these societies … He was born November 16, 1964 in Landstuhl, West Germany and graduated from Boulder High School in 1983, where he was the state's player of the year as a senior and one of the nation's top recruits; he won the prestigious Denver Post Gold Helmet Award that same year … He is married to Miriam who he met at the Blue Gray College Football All Star game following his Senior year and is the father of four grown children, Madeleine, Eric Cleveland, Jr., Shannon and Torrance.


LEGACY WING INDUCTEES

The Twins: Peggy Coppom & Betty Hoover

Peggy Coppom and the late Betty Hoover are the most recognizable fans in CU athletic history … They are estimated to have attended over 3,000 games and matches between football, men's and women's basketball and several of the Olympic sports, and proudly boasted that they never left a game early … They first became season ticket holders in 1958 but attended events as much as 15 years earlier … Born as the Fitzgerald twins in Haxtun, Colo., they moved to Boulder in 1940 and graduated from Boulder High School in 1943 … Betty passed at the age of 95 in August 2000; Peggy turned 97 last November 19 and has been dubbed by many as "the matriarch of the Buff family" … The twins are honored on campus with a plaque just off the Buff Walk on the east side of Folsom Feld, with "twin" trees that were planted on June 26, 2021 on each side framing the plaque. There are likely more pictures of fans posing with the twins than with any other people connected to CU in history, which would include musicians, astronauts, actors and actresses, athletes and politicians.