Ex-Colorado star gobsmacked by Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter number retirements: ‘Hard to stomach’

Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders might long live in Colorado football lore, but that doesn’t mean one former Buffaloes star is completely thrilled that they’re getting their numbers retired by the program.

After two seasons in Boulder, the two ex-Colorado players were recently added to the team’s list of retired jersey numbers before they were drafted by NFL teams (Jaguars and Browns, respectively.)

Former Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan, who helped lead the team to a national title in 1990, said there should have been a waiting period for the two to have their numbers retired.

“It should not be at the discretion of the athletic director and the head coach. Head coaches come. Head coaches go. ADs come, and ADs go,” Hagan, who also said he was “flabbergasted,” told USA Today on Wednesday. “We had a policy in place. Where is that policy? We need to abide by that policy.”

Hagan, a two-time member of the All-Big Eight first team and Sporting News’ 1989 College Football Player of the Year recipient before spending nearly two decades with the football team as a coach and staffer, does not have his number retired by the school.

He said he was stunned by the news that Hunter — the 2024 Heisman winner and Sanders — who set scores of school records — were going to be honored in such a way.

“We were always told there was a waiting period,” Hagan added. “There was a policy in place. It had to be voted upon. I was never told that it was at the discretion of the athletic director or the head coach. That was shocking news to me. It was hard to stomach.”

Earlier this month, ex-Colorado and NFL running back Phillip Lindsay said that though he had no issues with the duo getting honored, there are others who came before them who have not gotten the same tribute.

“These players that have pretty much led us and set a standard, they don’t even have their jerseys retired,” Lindsay said on 104.3 The Fan. “You don’t have Darian Hagan’s jersey retired, who’s No. 3. You don’t have Eric Bieniemy’s number retired, who’s No. 1. You don’t have Alfred Williams’, ‘Big Al,’ jersey retired, and they won national championships. Why all of a sudden are we starting now? Why are we skipping them?”

In the lead-up to the NFL draft, head coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father, said the only reason this number retirements were an issue with some was because of his biological connection to the now-NFL quarterback.

“We talking about Shedeur, we ain’t talking about nobody else,” Deion said, according to The Athletic. “The only reason we are having this discussion is because his last name is Sanders. That’s it. It’s been so many things accomplished at this university expeditiously. It’s been unbelievable.

“And I think we should be appreciative. It’s a new day, we’re doing things a little different.”