FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alex Riethmiller – 954.599.

4154
NFL Media – 8/3/16 Alex.Riethmiller@NFL.com

NFL Network Honors Three of Their Own with

Coverage of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame
Enshrinement

Coverage Highlighted by Induction of 3 NFL Network Analysts –

LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner & Terrell Davis
'Hall of Fame Saturday' Coverage Begins on Saturday, August 5 at 4:00
PM ET
2017 Enshrinement Ceremony Live at 7:00 PM ET
'Good Morning Football' Live From Canton Thursday, August 3 –
Saturday, August 5
Honoring some of the NFL's greatest legends, including three of their own analysts, NFL
Network will provide seven hours of live Pro Football Hall of Fame coverage Saturday, August
5 from Canton, Ohio beginning at 4:00 PM ET.
Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls will be highlighted by the
induction of three NFL Network analysts, LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner and Terrell
Davis. With these inductions, NFL Network doubles its number of Hall of Famers to six total
(Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin) – far surpassing the number of Hall of
Fame analysts on staff at any other network in the industry.
Tomlinson, Warner and Davis will be welcomed to the hall alongside fellow inductees Kenny
Easley, Jason Taylor, Morten Andersen and Jerry Jones during the 2017 Pro Football Hall of
Fame Enshrinement Ceremony which airs live on NFL Network at 7:00 PM ET.
Coverage will kick off on Friday, August 4 at 8:00 PM ET with Players Only: Hall of Fame. The
one-hour program features a discussion with NFL Network's six Hall of Fame analysts –
Tomlinson, Warner, Davis, Faulk, Sanders and Irvin – about their time in the NFL and what they
are most looking forward to about the Enshrinement ceremony.
On Friday at 9:00 PM ET, NFL Network will air the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold
Jacket Ceremony, followed by a look back at the most iconic career moments of 2017's Hall of
Fame Class during a special edition of Eternal Red Zone at 10:00 PM ET. At 10:30 PM ET,
Tomlinson, Warner and Davis visit training camps of their former teams in Back 2 Camp,
followed by a live edition of NFL Total Access at 11:00 PM ET.
On Saturday, August 5, coverage begins at 4:00 PM ET with Hall of Fame Saturday from
Canton, Ohio. Host Rich Eisen, Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin, Steve
Mariucci and Steve Wyche anchor the three-hour show.
Featured on the three-hour show:

• The moment Hall of Fame President David Baker knocked on the doors of LaDainian
Tomlinson, Kurt Warner and Terrell Davis to welcome them to the Hall

• Tomlinson, Warner and Davis take an introspective look back at their careers

• A live interview with the 'Cowboys Triplets' Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael
Irvin as they reflect on the legacy of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

• An in-depth look at how the football life of Jerry Jones intersected with history

• Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre shares his memories about the Packers' rookie
quarterback who was cut from the practice squad in 1994, Kurt Warner

• A debate on current players who could enter the Hall of Fame now and those that still
have work to do

• Discussion on the running back who deserves induction next

After the show, a special live edition of NFL Total Access airs recapping the 2017 Pro Football
Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.
NFL Network's Emmy-nominated morning show Good Morning Football will air live from Canton,
Ohio Thursday, August 3 – Saturday, August 5 at 7:00 AM ET, with Kay Adams, Nate
Burleson, Peter Schrager and Kyle Brandt.
Fans can watch NFL Network's Hall of Fame coverage on their smartphone through NFL Mobile
from Verizon, as well as other digital platforms through Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL
Mobile, Watch NFL Network and NFL on Windows 10 apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One
and Xbox 360 (NFL on Xbox app) and other connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV,
PlayStation 4, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV).
Digitally, VOD content of all eight enshrinements will be available, as well as a collection of the
best Hall of Fame speeches from previous years. Additionally, Around the NFL writers will
provide written pieces on each enshrinee.
Tomlinson played 11 seasons in the NFL (San Diego Chargers and New York Jets), amassing
13,684 career rushing list – fifth most in NFL history – as well as 145 rushing touchdowns and
17 receiving touchdowns. Tomlinson spent nine of his 11 seasons with the San Diego Chargers
and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2006 after setting the NFL's single-season
rushing touchdown record (28).
A two-time league MVP, Warner played 12 seasons in the NFL (St. Louis Rams, New York
Giants and Arizona Cardinals), amassing 32,344 career passing yards and 208 passing
touchdowns. In 1999, Warner led the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV over the
Tennessee Titans and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Davis played eight seasons with the Denver Broncos, amassing 7,607 career rushing yards and
60 rushing touchdowns. A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos, Davis was named
the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1998 after rushing for 2,008 yards.
2017 Pro Football Enshrinement Ceremony – Saturday, August 5 at 7:00 PM ET
At 7:00 PM ET, NFL Network provides live coverage of the 2017 Pro Football Enshrinement
Ceremony. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 presenters:
INDUCTEE PRESENTER RELATIONSHIP
Morton Andersen Sebastian Andersen Son
Terrell Davis Neil Schwartz Agent & Friend
Kenny Easley Tommy Rhodes High School Coach
Jerry Jones Gene Jones Wife
Jason Taylor Jimmy Johnson Dolphins Coach
LaDainian Tomlinson Lorenzo Neal Chargers Teammate
Kurt Warner Brenda Warner Wife

ABOUT NFL MEDIA

NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, NFL Now, NFL Mobile from
Verizon and NFL RedZone.
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive
information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and
everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans
unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs,
regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft,
NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.
For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can also be streamed live on smartphones
through NFL Mobile from Verizon, as well as other digital platforms such as TuneIn.com and
through Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL Mobile, Watch NFL Network and NFL on Windows
10 apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One and Xbox 360 (NFL on Xbox app) and other
connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV).
Watch NFL Network access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV
providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.

– NFL MEDIA –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alex Riethmiller – 954.599.4154
NFL Media – 6/12/17 Alex.Riethmiller@NFL.com

NFL NETWORK TO CARRY 16 LIVE 2017 PRESEASON

GAMES
Only Network to Show All 65 Preseason Games

First Glimpses at Three First-Round Quarterbacks in Week 1

Marshawn Lynch Faces Seattle Seahawks on August 31

Watch Live Out-of-Market Preseason Games with ‘NFL Game Pass’

NFL Network remains the only network to show the entire slate of 65 preseason games,
highlighted by 16 live games featuring 10 playoff teams from 2016.

NFL Network’s live preseason schedule kicks off Wednesday, August 9 when the Carolina
Panthers host the Houston Texans at 7:30 PM ET. Each team selected top prospects in the
2017 NFL Draft, with the Panthers using their eighth overall pick to select Christian McCaffrey
and the Texans drafting Deshaun Watson number 12 overall.

In addition to Watson, NFL Network will broadcast the debuts of two other first-round
quarterbacks. Second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears play the Denver
Broncos on Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 PM ET, while Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas
City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers at Friday, August at 10:00 PM ET.

Week 2 matchups on NFL Network include the first meeting between the Indianapolis Colts and
the Dallas Cowboys since 2014 on Saturday, August 12 at 9:00 PM ET followed by a game
between the 2016 NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:00 PM ET
on Sunday, August 20.

NFL Network will air one game during Week 3 on Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 PM ET
between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins.

Coverage of the preseason will conclude with a Week 4 double header. First the Philadelphia
Eagles will take on the New York Jets at 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 31 and then at
10:00 PM ET, Marshawn Lynch will face his former team when the Seattle Seahawks pay a
visit to Oakland to challenge the Raiders.

Focus will also be on California in Week 1 when, for the first time in 23 years, two NFL
franchises play home games in Los Angeles. On Saturday, August 12 at 9:00 PM, the Rams
will take on the Dallas Cowboys while on Sunday, August 12, the Seattle Seahawks will play
the Chargers at 8 PM ET in their first home game in Los Angeles since 1961.

Seniors Jackson, Coleman & Frazier Proud
Of Contributions To “The Rise”
OLB Timothy Coleman Jr.
If one were to walk through the halls of the Colorado football
facility, it is likely that he or she would see student-athletes in shirts
printed with the phrase “Blackout Boyz” or “Money Gang,” signi-
fying one’s position as a wide receiver or defensive back for the
Buffs.
Among the crowd another shirt can be seen, this one worn by
Buffaloes tight ends. On the back the word “irrelevants” is printed.
This is a crack at the fact that in Colorado’s offensive scheme, tight
ends are utilized more as blockers and aren’t traditionally on the
receiving end of many passes.
One man who might be spotted in the tight ends shirt is fifth-year
senior George Frazier V. Even though he displays the word “irrele-
vant” across his back, Frazier has been everything but insignificant
to the Buffaloes. In actuality, Frazier’s fiery leadership ability and
intelligence, which allow him to play at a high level on both sides
of the ball, have been critical components in the program’s recent
success.
The Monrovia, Calif., native says his first fall camp at Colorado
was “overwhelming,” as he was required to learn both the offen-
sive and defensive playbooks when coaches wanted him to play
senior feature
By Cydney Tanner, Sports Information Student Assistant
both outside linebacker and fullback.
After redshirting that freshman year, Frazier played on both sides
of the ball in 2014 before moving to the tight end/fullback spot
during his sophomore and junior years. The two-time captain is
now back on both sides of the ball, seeing significant playing time
at tight end/fullback and defensive line.
Joining him on that line are seniors Timothy Coleman Jr. and Leo
Jackson III, both of whom are significant contributors.
Coleman’s journey at CU began in a difficult way after he rup-
tured his Achilles tendon during the first months of his freshman
season.
“I think about that a lot, where I’ve come from and how much I’ve
had to go through,” Coleman said. “I’ve had two major injuries so
it is always incentive for me to keep going and show myself and
my family that no matter what happens, I’m going to try to make
the best out of it.”
After a redshirt year, the Mullen High School (Denver) product be-
came a solid and reliable force on the line. Last spring, he received
the Dan Stavely Award for most improved defensive lineman.
Coleman recorded a career-high three third down stops along
www.CUBuffs.com • 7
senior feature continued
DE Leo Jackson III
with one tackle and two pass breakups in this season’s win over
Northern Colorado.
Jackson’s journey to Colorado was a bit more untraditional. The
Atlanta native transferred from junior college (Foothill College in
California) after his freshman season. For Jackson, the goal was
always to transfer to a Division I program and make an impact.
“There’s many points in time where I could have given up and I
wouldn’t be here,” Jackson said. “It feels great because that’s the
whole point of me coming to this school. We (Colorado) were in
a rut and I felt that this was a place that I could help build at and
excel and help bring the team back to where it was.“
Through his three seasons at CU, Jackson has been among the
defensive leaders in snaps played. He recently had the game of
his career, recording three sacks in CU’s victory over Texas State.
The three sacks were the most by a Buffalo since 2010. He also
recorded a career high eight tackles earlier in the season against
Colorado State.
One common theme that runs through the stories of all three
players is that a major motivation for their coming to the University
of Colorado was to be part of the class that achieved success.
Both Frazier and Coleman are members of head coach Mike
MacIntyre’s first recruiting class and remember talks of a “rise”
even as freshmen.
“It means a lot to know that we’re the class that came in and
made that statement as a freshman class that we were going to be
the guys to bring it back,” Frazier said. “To actually do it and fulfill
that promise means everything.”
Coleman agrees, and says that even for this year’s seniors, let-
ting down those who gave so much before them is not an option.
“I don’t want to let them (last year’s seniors) down when they’re
www.CUBuffs.com • 8
TE/DE George Frazier V
watching the games every weekend, expecting us to make plays
and to keep the tradition going,” Coleman said. “That’s our motiva-
tion as seniors, to not let the dudes down who have already left.”
It is quite likely that on fall Saturdays next year, Frazier, Coleman
and Jackson will also tune in to Buff games, hopeful that the les-
sons they left will play out on the field.
If they could go back though, what advice would they give their
freshman selves? What do incoming freshmen need to do to en-
sure that the blood, sweat and tears of those who came before
them weren’t in vain?
“Get in those books more,” Coleman advised. “Go to rehab ev-
ery day, get better at your craft every day. Don’t slack off and make
sure your body is right. Do lots of yoga.”
Jackson shares a similar sentiment.
“Stay indoors and chill out,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with
staying home and watching some TV sometimes and getting some
sleep. That’s the biggest thing, get sleep.”
Frazier, the wise two-time team captain, has different advice.
“Everything that I’ve been through since I’ve been here made
me the man I am today so I wouldn’t change one thing,” he stated.
“Just keep working, put your head down and don’t look back.”
Indeed, to move ahead one must look forward and refuse dwell
on the past. But as a part of a senior class that fought through
adversity, Frazier, Jackson and Coleman must always be proud of
what they achieved, confident in what they built, and empowered
by the fact that they accomplished their goal of bringing the Buffs
back.
Forever At Folsom: Memorial Links
Buffs To 9/11 Heroes
By: Cydney Tanner, Student Assistant SID
Release: September 10, 2015

BOULDER — Ask a nyone ove r the a ge of 18 whe re the y we re on S e pt. 11, 2001, a nd the y could
proba bly give you a pla y by pla y of the mome nts le a ding up to se e ing tha t first pla ne hit World Tra de
Ce nte r 1.

The n-Colora do he a d footba ll coa ch Ga ry Ba rn e tt wa s sitting in his office , dumbfounde d a t the

ima ge s fla shing a cros s his te le vision scre e n.

“In silence, we all (the coaches) sat there for two or three hours and everybody forgot all about
football,” Barnett said. “It didn't mean anything.”

S e nior qua rte rba ck Bobby P e sa ve nto wa s a t home in his a pa rtme nt, e xpe cting just a nothe r da y of
pre pa ra tion to ta ke on Wa shington S ta te in P ullma n tha t upcoming S a turda y.

“Coach Barnett addressed the team about the game next week,” Pesavento said. “He made sure
that we stayed together and stayed close to our teammates, our brothers.”

Acros s the country, firema n S e a n Norton wa s in Ne w York City in his fire house . FDNY Compa ny
Engine 1, La dde r 24 sits one block from Ma dison S qua re Ga rde n on 42nd S tre e t. Acros s the stre e t
in S t. Fra ncis of Assisi Church sa t Fa the r Mycha l J udge , a Fra ncisca n prie st a nd cha pla in for the
me n of E1, L24.

Upon e xpe rie ncing the impa ct of the first pla ne , Fa the r Mycha l rushe d downtown to wha t wa s soon
to be re na me d Ground Ze ro. The prie st, who wa s kne e ling before the towe rs pra ying the words
“Jesus, please end this right now,” was later declared victim number 0001 of the attacks.

No two pla ce s could ha ve se e me d a ny fa rthe r a pa rt tha t da y tha n Boulde r a nd Ma nha tta n. While the
sun continue d to shine pe rfe ctly ove r the Fla tirons, smoke , fire , dust a nd de bris shie lde d the sa me
sun from a city tha t wa s now a wa r zone .

Me re months a fte r the a tta cks, the live s of the Colora do Buffaloe s a nd the E1, L24 he roe s would
inte rse ct a nd cha nge foreve r.

AN UNLIKELY BOND

Nov. 23, 2001, is another day that is seared into the memories of many. Say the words “62 to 36” to
a ny die -ha rd Colora do or Ne bra ska fa n a nd a n inte nse re a ction is inevita ble . This pa rticula r Frida y
a fte r Tha nks giving wa s de stine d to be historic. Afte r fa lling to the Cornhuske rs nine ye a rs in a row,
the No. 14 Buffa loe s we re thirsty for reve nge a ga inst the top te a m in the country.
Ea ge r for domina tion, the Buffs produce a n ove rwhe lming victory. Running ba ck Chris Brown rushe d
for 198 ya rds a nd six touchdowns while P e sa ve nto pa s se d for 202 ya rds, not turning the ba ll ove r
once .

“It was one of the best days of my life,” recounts Pesavento. 'Football-wise , we a ccomplishe d wha t
we wa nte d to a ccomplish. It goe s down a s one of the be st ga me s in CU history. De fe a ting the be st
team in the country and that being Nebraska (was exciting).”

Ba rne tt conside rs the ga me his shining mome nt a t CU: be tte r tha n Colora do's 1989 a nd 1990
de fe a ts of Ne bra ska a nd Okla homa , be tte r tha n the Ora nge Bowl a nd e ve n be tte r tha n the Mira cle a t
Michiga n — a ll whe n he wa s a n a s sista nt unde r Bill Mc Ca rtn e y.

“For me, at CU, of all of the games I was a part of, even through Coach McCartney's career, that one
stands out,” Barnett said.

Amidst the ce le bra tion of the e nding of a long-te rm drought we re 13 me n sporting FDNY ha ts a nd
thick Ne w York a cce nts. A me re 73 da ys a fte r some how e sca ping the de pths of he ll with the ir live s,
the membe rs of E1, L 24 we re in Boulde r. S eve nty-thre e da ys a fte r se e ing the ir cha pla in, the ir
brothe rs a nd siste rs a nd the ir fe llow Ne w Yorke rs pe ris h be fore the ir e ye s, 13 fireme n we re in one of
the most idyllic e nvironme nts a footba ll fa n could dre a m of.

Whe n the da y wa s ove r, 13 he roe s who ne ve r signe d up for wha t the y e xpe rie nce d we re give n a
re a son to smile a ga in.

“The guys who were able to go out there (to Boulder) were able to get away from Manhattan and get
away from the pile and all of the digging,” Norton, who was a junior officer at the time, said. “We
could ge t our minds off of eve rything tha t wa s going on out he re (in Ne w York) a nd just e njoy a good
college football game.”

The inte ntion, a ccording to Ba rne tt, wa s just tha t.

“(We wanted to give the firemen) an escape, something to be positive about,” Barnett said. “For me,
it wa s ma king sure tha t the y kne w tha t we we re so ha ppy tha t the y we re he re a nd so tha nkful for
what they had done for our country.”

P e s a ve nto sugge sts tha t the ins pira tion tha t le d to the le ge nda ry CU victory came from the he roe s
from Ne w York.

“To hear them talk and see their faces, and to imagine everything that they witnessed and had to go
through, it's very hard to explain,” the quarterback said. “But it definitely lit a fire in the group of guys
tha t we re a bout to ta ke the fie ld. We wa nte d to go out the re a nd pla y for them a nd not only ge t a
victory for CU and our teammates, but for those guys who made the trip out.”

For their part, the firemen brought with them a banner that read “FDNY Loves the Buffaloes.” The
mome nt of unrave ling the ba nne r be fore the ga me a nd the a ppla use tha t e ns ue d is one tha t Norton
will neve r forge t.

“I remember they had us go out on the field and unfold this banner and do a 360 to show the entire
stadium what it said,” Norton recounts. “The applause and the sta nding ova tion tha t we got wa s
he a rtwa rming. It almost brought te a rs to my e ye s how gre a t the y ma de us fe e l. It is unlike a ny othe r
feeling I've probably ever had.”
This wa s the first insta nce tha t E1, L24 a nd CU we re a ble to support e a ch othe r. The fireme n we re
a wa rde d a n e sca pe while the pla ye rs we re give n inspira tion a s the y he a de d into the ir own ba ttle , a
Big 12 Cha mpionship ga me a ga inst Te xa s. As the te a m travelle d to Irving, whe re the y would de fe a t
the No. 3 ra nke d Longhorns, 39-37, Norton a nd his brothe rs fle w ba ck to Ne w York City whe re the y
re turne d to a ha rs h re a lity tha t wa s ine sca pa ble .

A CROSS OF STEEL

Fa st forwa rd to S e pt. 14, 2002. Thre e da ys a fte r the first a nnive rsa ry of the a tta cks, the s a me group
of me n, this time ca rting fire ma n J immy Cody, we re a t Folsom a ga in for the Buffs' ba ttle a ga inst
S outhe rn Ca lifornia . Although the outcome wa s not s o spe cta cula r — the Buffs lost 40-3 —
some thing of a gre a te r significa nce wa s ga ine d.

A major le a de r of the Ground Ze ro cle a n-up cre w a nd one of the roughe st, toughe st a nd most
re s pe cte d fireme n in Ne w York City, J immy Cody de dica te d his life to the re building of Ma nha tta n. A
humble and sensitive man with the hardest exterior, Cody used his “spare time” to weld crosses from
the ste e l tha t once ma de up the World Tra de towe rs.

Cody we lde d 344 cros s e s: 343 for e a ch of the widows a nd widowe rs of first re sponde rs kille d on
9/11 a nd one for Mike S pive y, a forme r Colora do de fe nsive ba ck a nd the te a m cha pla in. Cody he ld
on tightly to wha t tha t one da y in Boulde r the ye a r prior ha d me a nt to his brothe rs. To communica te
his tha nks, he gifte d the cros s to the Colora do footba ll te a m by wa y of S pive y. The cros s, ma de of
ste e l from World Tra de Towe r 2, would be pla ce d on a sla b of ma rble from the towe rs a nd would
a lso be displa ye d with a pie ce of gla ss from World Trade Towe r 1.

Cody's etching on the glass reads, “CU Buffs + FDNY, True Brotherhood.”

The s e re ma rka ble symbols of stre ngth, coura ge a nd pe rs e ve ra nce travele d to Boulde r, pa cke d
tightly in Cody's ca rry-on. He pre se nte d the m to the tea m before the y pla ye d US C.

S pive y's me ssa ge to the te a m tha t morning is one he vividly reme mbe rs.

“I said to the players with the firemen there that morning, 'I hope that you never have to experience
wha t the se me n ha ve expe rie nce d but s hould you e ve r fa ce tra ge dy the wa y the y did, I hope you
ha ve the coura ge a nd the he a rt a nd the fortitude to sta nd a nd pe rform with brillia nce a nd with the
selflessness that they have,'” Spivey recounted . “That was vital to me that our players, CU footba ll,
unde rstood tha t the y could do tha t, tha t the y could be more tha n just a footba ll pla ye r. The y could be
someone that represented something on a higher plane.”

The s e thre e pie ce s of history, foreve r unique to the Colora do footba ll progra m, trave le d to eve ry
ga me from tha t point in 2002 until the e nd of S pive y's te nure a s te a m cha pla in in 2007.

FROM THE DARKNESS, CHAMPIONS EMERGE

Thos e re lics we re pe rha ps no more critica l to the stre ngth of the Buffaloe s tha n through the ir 2004
a nd 2005 se a sons. A pe riod of we ll-docume nte d tumult, the young Buffs we re a t the ce nte r of a
me dia circus, with pla ye rs a bsorbing the brunt of a controve rsy tha t wa s out of the ir ha nds. But
de spite the controve rsy, the Buffs still claime d the Big 12 North cha mpionships in 2004 a nd 2005.
Through the me dia scrutiny a nd pre s sure , a consta nt s ource of inspira tion wa s the cros s.
“When an emergency situation opens and these first responders do what they do, it takes a
tre me ndous a mount of coura ge a nd fortifica tion within the he a rt a nd mind,” Spivey said when
describing what the cross represented for the team. “We wanted the players to understand that they
we re doing the sa me thing; not on the s a me level a nd not a t the sa me tra ge die s of course , but with
the sa me re spe ct for wha t the y do a nd what they represent.”

Whe n the y looke d a t tha t cros s, the pla ye rs sa w tha t stre ngth wa s pos sible . The y we re ta ught tha t
pe rse ve ra nce a nd coura ge a re obta ina ble . In the fa ce of ba ttle , whe the r it be a burning building or a
footba ll fie ld, you a re your brothe rs' ke e pe r. No bond is stronge r tha n be twe e n those who fa ce
a dve rsity toge the r.

“We're men, we don't cry,” Norton said when describing the parallels between a football team and a
firehouse. “When you lose a family member and a brother, you will cry. Who a re you going to cry to?
The brothe r sta nding to your le ft a nd the brothe r sta nding to your right. The y're going to be the one s
holding you up, just like a football team.”

A RING WELL-DESERVED

Whe n the Buffs won the Big 12 North, the y re ce ive d rings, a s is customa ry. It wa s only na tura l tha t a
significa nt pa rt of the ring be de dica te d to those who gave the Buffa loe s the ir e xtra stre ngth. On one
side of the ring wa s the e tching of a photo tha t ha d be e n ma de ; in the middle sa t the ste e l cros s with
its ma rble sta nd a nd the pie ce of gla s s. Coddling the cros s wa s two fire he lme ts, one from Engine 1
a nd one from La dde r 24. Atop the se re lics sa t fifth-ye a r se nior S a m Wilde r's footba ll he lme t. This
se a son wa s de dica te d to ove rcoming obsta cle s so it wa s only right tha t the ultima te prize , a
cha mpionship ring, be de dica te d to the he roe s tha t pe rsonify pe rse ve ra nce .

Afte r the 2004 win, Ba rne tt felt tha t it wa s critical to a wa rd the me n in Ne w York rings; the y we re a
pa rt of the te a m, a nd a lthough the y we re n't on the side line s eve ry we e k, the spirit of the fireme n wa s
with the Buffa loe s.

“As a leader and a teacher, you talk about doing the right things and then you have to actually do the
right thing,” Barnett said. “That seemed to me to be the right thing to do.”

Initia lly, S e a n Norton wa s confus e d a t the re ce ption of his ring.

“We weren't in the game, we weren't part of the team, we didn't even to go the school so why were
we getting one?” he said.

Once the surprise wore off it be ga n to ma ke se nse a nd his gra titude wa s imme nse

“From my understanding, we gave them the morale boost they needed to do what they did,” Norton
said. “It was overwhelming for them to even think about us at that point. We spent a weekend there
but for the m to continue to think a bout us a fte r tha t ga me a nd a fte r tha t we e ke nd a nd to be stow
upon us this absolutely beautiful ring, it's heartwarming.”

THE COAT
Afte r Fa the r Mycha l's pa s sing, J immy Cody be ca me the sole owne r of the bunke r coa t tha t the y
sha re d. Tha t coa t wa s worn by Cody for months a fte r 9/11. He put out fire s a nd re cove re d bodie s
a nd cut 344 ste e l cros se s, a ll while ca rrying Fa the r Mycha l with him.

Toda y, tha t coa t ha ngs on the northe a st side of Colora do's club level a t Folsom Fie ld. Cody gifte d it
to some one within the progra m afte r he re ce ive d his cha mpionship ring; he wa s still looking for wa ys
to show his gra titude to a group of kids who a llowe d him a nd his brothe rs a little he a ling through
footba ll.

For P e sa ve nto, who s e e s the coa t e ve ry time he a tte nds a CU ga me , the e ffe ct of tha t one we e ke nd
in Novembe r 2001 is still felt.

“The fact that those guys were fighting so hard to save people's lives and try to keep a city together
tha t wa s going through he ll a nd the fa ct tha t we we re a ble to put a smile on the ir fa ce s for a fe w
hours on a Friday afternoon means the world to me,” Pesavento recounted. “They (the firemen) will
ne ve r forge t wha t the y we re doing da y in a nd da y out for the pe ople of Ne w York City a nd we will
ne ve r forge t wha t we did for those guys for those four hours tha t the y we re a ble to e sca pe the he ll
that they were living in.”

Frida y ma rks the 14th a nnive rsa ry of 9/11, a da te tha t cla ime d 2,977 live s.

S a turda y, whe n the Buffa loe s ta ke on UMa s s, thous a nds of fa ns will pa ss through the club level. Of
thos e , a fe w will stop to look a t Cody's bunke r coa t.

If those fe w ta ke tha t mome nt to look a t the coa t a nd re me mbe r 9/11, the sa crifice s ma de a nd the
significa nce of its pla ce me nt ove rlooking Folsom Field, the n its purpos e is fulfille d.

FOREVER AT FOLSOM

Although the ir individua l name s ha ve be e n forgotte n a nd only thre e of the origina l fire me n rema in a t
E1. L24, the ir spirit of pe rse ve ra nce a nd brothe rhood re ma ins within Folsom.

“The players could understand and see the values of what the firemen represented and what New
York re pre se nte d a nd tha t you ca n come out of da rk pla ce s a nd be via ble a nd strong in the fa ce of
tragedy,” Spivey said. “It did have a very impactful lifetime effect and influence on the players in the
way that they came together and learned how to perform.”

Firefighte rs a re the re to s a ve . The y run in whe n e ve rybody e lse runs out. On S e pt. 11, 2001, 343
first re sponde rs se lfle ssly sa crifice d the ir live s to save thousa nds of othe rs. The surviving membe rs
of E1, L24 a lso sa ve d some thing in the Colora do te a m. The y supporte d the te a m's dre a ms,
de monstra ting tha t pe rs e ve ra nce a nd coura ge a ga inst the most he lla cious situa tions is pos sible if
you ha ve your brothe rs.

But the unique fa ct is tha t the group of young Buffs ga ve E1, L24 s ome thing, too. Footba ll, a lthough
just a sport, sha pe s millions into the pe ople tha t the y be come be ca use of its le ss ons of toughne s s
a nd stre ngth. Like firefighting, the sport is a ba ttle tha t ca n only be won if eve ry one of your brothe rs
is de dica te d a nd sta nds by your side .

The young CU te a m gave of the ir honor a nd compa s sion a nd love .

Most importa ntly though, through Colora do footba ll, the young Buffa loe s ga ve FDNY a re a s on to
smile a ga in.