Font ResizeLife after CU football
A look at what some key players from 1990 are doing today:
RB Eric Bieniemy: Currently the running backs coach for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, Bieniemy is entering his 15th season as a coach.
TE Jon Boman: For the past 23 years, he has worked as an insurance agent in Las Vegas.
LB Chad Brown: A radio personality, Brown works as an analyst and also appears on Denver-area radio and TV shows.
CB David Gibbs: He is in a new job as the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. He is entering his 25th season as a coach, including four years (2001-04) with the Denver Broncos.
QB Darian Hagan: The starting quarterback is now the director of player development for the Buffaloes' football team. He has worked at CU the past 10 years.
PK Jim Harper: He is working as a sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department.
FB George Hemingway: For the past 20 years, Hemingway has worked with at-risk kids in Aurora.
NT Garry Howe: Living in Ankeny, Iowa, Howe is a business systems consultant for Wells Fargo.
LB Rob Hutchins: Now living in Portland, Ore., he works for the E&J Gallo Winery.
FS Tim James: He is working as a broker in Monterey, Calif.
QB Vance Joseph: Currently works as the secondary coach for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. He is entering his 17th season as a coach.
C Jay Leeuwenburg: A former nine-year NFL veteran, Leeuwenburg now teaches third grade at Colorado Academy.
CB/PR David McCloughan: He is currently working as a scout for the NFL's Oakland Raiders.
WR Mike Pritchard: He has spent the past several years in broadcasting and recently moved to his native Las Vegas to co-host a radio show and work UNLV football games.
T Ariel Solomon: He is a branch manager and senior loan officer at Premier Mortgage Group in Boulder.
LB Alfred Williams: For the past several years, he has been a sports talk host for 104.3 The Fan in Denver.
From CU to the NFL
Players from the 1990 CU football team who played in the NFL (pro position listed):
OT Tony Berti: Chargers, Seahawks
LB Greg Biekert: Raiders, Vikings
RB Eric ieniemy: Chargers, Bengals, Eagles
CB Ronnie Bradford: Broncos, Cardinals, Falcons, Vikings
LB Chad Brown: Steelers, Seahawks, Patriots
TE Christian Fauria: Seahawks, Patriots, Redskins, Panthers
CB Deon Figures: Steelers, Jaguars
OL Joe Garten: Packers
DB Eric Hamilton: Browns
NT Garry Howe: Steelers, Bengals, Colts
DB Chris Hudson: Jaguars, Bears, Falcons
WR Charles E. Johnson: Steelers, Eagles, Patriots, Bills
DB Vance Joseph: Jets, Colts
C Jay Leeuwenburg: Bears, Colts, Bengals, Redskins
DB Dave McCloughan: Colts, Packers, Seahawks
LB Kanavis McGhee: Giants, Bengals, Oilers
WR Mike Pritchard: Falcons, Broncos, Seahawks
DT Leonard Renfro: Eagles
P Tom Rouen: Broncos, Giants, Steelers, Seahawks
WR Rico Smith: Browns
OL Ariel Solomon: Steelers, Vikings
NT Joel Steed: Steelers
OT Mark Vander Poel: Colts, Cardinals
OT Derek West: Colts
WR Michael Westbrook: Redskins, Bengals
LB Alfred Williams: Bengals, 49ers, Broncos
LB Ronnie Woolfork: Chiefs
A quarter century ago, Mike Pritchard was named the most valuable player of Colorado's national championship football team.
Then, he embarked on a successful, nine-year career as a receiver in the NFL.
Today, Pritchard is long removed from his competitive days on the football field, but has remained close to the game.
"I've been doing sports talk radio now for three years and it's fun," Pritchard said.
After working as a broadcaster in the Denver area, Pritchard moved to his native Las Vegas during the spring of 2015. He co-hosts a sports talk show, "Mitch and Pritch," on weekdays. He will also be providing color commentary on broadcasts of UNLV football games, as well as the Mountain West championship game.
"I want to do so many other things and I have so many other interests, so we'll see how far I can take it," Pritchard said of his broadcasting career.
Pritchard said he didn't realize the competitive nature of the sports talk radio business, but over the years has grown to enjoy it.
"It's involved," he said. "The listeners are engaged, they ask questions, they're entertained. It's pretty exciting, actually. To be able to talk all sports is fascinating and cover all sports is fascinating, but football is my expertise."
Pritchard is one of several members of the 1990 Buffs who have gone into broadcasting. Linebackers Chad Brown and Alfred Williams and quarterback Charles Johnson have also been involved with the sports media. Brown and Williams are regularly heard on Denver's 104.3 The Fan.
Pritchard is also one of 27 players on the 1990 roster who wound up on an NFL roster at some point after their CU careers (that includes several players who redshirted in 1990). Six others played in the Canadian Football League, another in NFL Europe and another in the Arena Football League.
Like Pritchard, who caught 422 passes in his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, many of the 1990 Buffs have found success away from the field, whether it be as a husband, father or in the working world.
Tim James is a broker in northern California. Garry Howe is a business systems consultant at Wells Fargo in Ankeny, Iowa. Jon Boman has spent the past 23 years working as an insurance agent in Las Vegas. George Hemingway has spent the past 20 years working with at-risk kids in Aurora.
The list goes on, as the 1990 Buffs have found success in a variety of vocations.
For many of the former Buffs, including Pritchard, the past 25 years have brought challenges, but also many rewards.
"I'm really enjoying what I'm doing," Pritchard said.
Brian Howell: howellb@dailycamera .com, on Twitter: @BrianHowell33.
