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Perhaps things have gotten a little too personal between rivals Colorado and Colorado State.
The Rams came into Boulder and pushed the Buffaloes to the limit on Saturday, eventually falling 43-35 in double overtime.
But all that anyone is left talking about this week is the injury state of two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter.
Hunter suffered a lacerated kidney in the first quarter of the contest after a late hit from Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn. Blackburn was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play.
“I think coach Ray is going to the hospital to check him out,” Sanders said postgame. “First thing I heard is that he would be out for a few weeks. I heard that for sure.
“But we’re gonna do what we gotta do to take care of him. So I know Travis like a book. He probably is gonna want to be out for two weeks, but we got to make sure his health is more important than this game.”
Blackburn remained in the game after the hit and caught flack after he lost Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn for a late game-tying touchdown that sent the game to overtime.
But that’s not already.
Colorado State coach Jay Norvell says that Blackburn has received death threats following the hit.
“Our university is supporting him, the police department is supporting him, because of the seriousness of the threats that have come out of this,” Norvell said according to Sean Keeler of the Denver Post. “It’s just sad. It’s sad that that’s the state of the world we live in. I mean, it’s a football game, let’s not make it more than that. We don’t want anybody to get hurt. We don’t coach that kind of football.”
He also directed well wishes Hunter’s way.
“I hope everybody’s healthy; I hope that Travis gets healthy and gets back out there,” Norvell said. “We certainly don’t want to see anybody get hurt.”
Sadly, it appears a bit too late for that. But hopefully the buzz dies down and Blackburn can get back to playing football unencumbered.