In the CU Buffs’ 43-35 victory over rival Colorado State, the main takeaways include: Shock that CSU played CU so well, that Colorado State should have gone for two in overtime, and the hit from Henry Blackburn on Travis Hunter was dirty.
A game that was incredibly physical from both Colorado and Colorado State was also punctuated by the Rams’ undisciplined play, including Blackburn’s late, dirty hit on the CU star Hunter, which sent him from the game.
Colorado Buffs WR/CB Travis Hunter suffered a lacerated liver from this late hit by Colorado State safety and captain Henry Blackburn. pic.twitter.com/XDBljbL0jn
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) September 18, 2023
But in the wake of the hit—which will sideline the two-way star Hunter for three weeks—Blackburn has received death threats from outraged college football fans.
This, from Pete Thamel, who spoke with Colorado State Athletic Director Joe Parker.
Parker said that Colorado State police has worked in concert with local authorities to look into the threats– which have included death threats – on social media against Blackburn and his family. 2/5
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 18, 2023
“We’re very concerned about our player’s safety, as Henry and his family have continued to receive these threats,” Parker told ESPN. “Henry never intended to put anyone in harm’s way on the football field… 4/5
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 18, 2023
5/5
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 18, 2023
It’s shocking and appalling that college football fans would threaten the life of a player due to a hit on the field. It’s also disgusting behavior to share a player’s and his mom’s phone number on social media, as well as their addresses, to not only facilitate the death threats but possibly attempt to carry something out as well.
During pregame, multiple CU players talked trash and interrupted the CSU Football team’s warmup at Folsom Field. One of the players talking trash was Hunter:
Travis Hunter pregame. #CUBuffs #CSURams #RockyMountainShowdown https://t.co/bbk9wJ3tYZ
— Rich (midnight blue 🌠and sunshine yellow ☀️) (@RichKurtzman) September 18, 2023
The Hunter video is posted to add contest, not excuse Blackburn’s hit. Because it was certainly late. However, head coach Jay Norvell said the Rams will not suspend Blackburn for the hit on Hunter.
“I’ve reviewed the play,” Norvell explained. “It’s a play that happens sometimes. When you throw a deep ball and have a guy playing middle safety, he’s got to react on the boundary and he’s going full speed. It was a bang-bang type of play.
“The officials looked at it and we looked at it,” CSU’s head coach continued. “It’s certainly not something we teach or coach. It happens in football sometimes. Seems to have been a lot of attention about that play, but it’s a play that happens.”
The 92nd Rocky Mountain Showdown was much more than Blackburn’s hit on Hunter, though. It was a masterpiece. Which is why ESPN is reshowing it today.
Weezy had to pull up for Colorado State-Colorado 😤
Tonight, you’ll have another chance to watch the instant classic‼️
📺 5 ET on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/tH4LihjPOG
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 18, 2023
Colorado State pushed Colorado to the brink in a double-overtime masterpiece of a Rocky Mountain Showdown, losing 43-35. Still, CSU was recognized as one of the top 10 most impressive teams this week, while star receiver Tory Horton was honored by two postseason all-star games.
Next up for the Rams (0-2) is a road game against Middle Tennessee State (1-2) at 5 p.m. MT, Saturday. The No. 19 Buffs (3-0) play at No. 10 Oregon (3-0) in Eugene with a 1:30 p.m. MT kickoff on ABC.