T-Wolves rejoin Colorado college fraternity

John Wristen addresses football-hungry crowd in Colorado Springs.

By JOE E. CERVI
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

COLORADO SPRINGS - Pueblo took its rightful place at the college football table in Colorado on Wednesday.

At its annual kickoff luncheon, the Colorado Springs Sports Corp introduced coaches from the University of Colorado, Colorado State and Air Force in front of more than 400 patrons at the Olympic Training Center.

It also acknowledged representatives from Northern Colorado and Colorado College.

And for the first time since 1984, it welcomed Colorado State University-Pueblo back into the fraternity.

"It's a wonderful thing they have going on in Pueblo and it's pretty impressive what they've done down there to start the program back up," Sports Corp director of communications Mike Moran said. "Pueblo's 35 to 40 miles from here and we're going to make this an annual deal with CSU-Pueblo." ThunderWolves head coach John Wristen was given equal time and billing with CU's Dan Hawkins and the Falcons' Troy Calhoun. Rams head coach Steve Fairchild was attending the graduation of one of his children, so special teams coach Larry Lewis represented CSU.

Bob Bodor, head coach at CC and one-time candidate for the ThunderWolves position, and Bears head coach Scott Downing, took turns with print and broadcast media members from up and down the Front Range.

They then addressed the crowd and talked briefly about expectations of their respective teams in 2008.

Wristen, who spoke first, imitated the now-famous Hawkins rant from 2007 when he startled the crowd by yelling, "this ain't intramurals."

The point was made, loud and clear, that the ThunderWolves are doing something no other program in the country is doing.

"We've started a program, and built a stadium, and are going to play a full schedule in a conference all in under a year," Wristen said. "We're not exactly sure what we've got and we've got just (42) days until we open camp.

"There is an excitement and a buzz on our campus and in our community and it's been great."

Calhoun was intense while Hawkins talked about his family's upcoming journey to the Amazon and Manchu Picchu.

"You have to get a lot of shots, and take a lot of pills," Hawkins said when asked how one prepares to travel to the Amazon. "You have to soak your clothes in this stuff - I'm not even sure what it is - before you go."

He said his son (and starting quarterback) Cody will take a football with him to South America.

Lewis, part of a CSU staff that replaced one headed by legendary coach Sonny Lubick, said the Rams have shown great effort and commitment in the offseason.

Downing invited the crowd to Greeley and singled out former Centennial High School standout Quincy Wofford as a key player on the Bears' defense this fall.

Bodor talked about Colorado boasting four classifications of college football, noting that the needs of many potential student-athletes will be met.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference commissioner J.R. Smith is a regular attendee of the kickoff luncheon. He said Wednesday marked the first time that an RMAC program had been invited.

Pueblo also had a strong showing as Wristen's staff and many members of Friends of Football were in attendance.