Eddie Crowder (2004) - CU Athletic Hall of Fame - University of Colorado Athletics

Eddie Crowder

Induction:
2004

CU Football Coach (1963-73)
CU Athletic Director (1965-84)
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Member
Five Bowl Appearances

He compiled a 63-49-2 record in 11 seasons as head coach (1963-73), and most importantly, returned CU to prominence following NCAA penalties in 1962 that all but crushed the program. Crowder was hired on Jan. 3, 1963 as the Colorado’s 17th head football coach at the time (signing a four-year contract at $15,000 per year). The banner year was 1971, when Colorado enjoyed its first 10-win season in its history, as the Buffs attained their highest final ranking at the time (No. 3), finishing with a Bluebonnet Bowl win over No. 15 Houston and a 10-2 record. In his 11-year coaching career, he defeated 10 peer coaches who went on to be elected to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame, posting a 16-16 record in 32 games against college football’s greatest. In his coaching days, Colorado had nine All-Americans, 33 All-Big Eight Conference performers, five Academic All-Americans and 37 National Football League draft choices, with five of his last seven teams earning bowl trips, two more than the school had in its history prior to his taking over as coach. Three of his players went on to be elected to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, brothers Dick and Bobby Anderson, as they were inducted in 1993 and 2006, respectively, and Herb Orvis (2015). In 1965, he became CU’s second-ever athletic director, holding that post for 20 years until retiring in 1984. Prominent coaching hires of Crowder’s included Bill McCartney (football), Ceal Barry (basketball) and Mark Simpson (golf), three of the most successful coaches in school history. Crowder directed three major expansions of Folsom Field to give Colorado one of the most attractive and comfortable football stadiums in the country. His efforts in the area of basketball included the “sprucing up” of Balch Fieldhouse twice, as well as the building of CU’s Coors Events/Conference Center. He also took fundraising to a never before seen level at the university, and when campus often needed dollars for projects, they turned to Crowder for help. In 1990, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and is also a member of Oklahoma’s state Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was the Football Writers Association of American Citation of Honor recipient, a prestigious award presented annually since 1964 recognizing distinguished careers in athletics and specifically contributions to football. As a collegian, he was an All-American quarterback at Oklahoma, and as coach of the Buffaloes, he defeated his alma mater four times, including a 20-14 in 1972 when the Sooners were ranked No. 2. He entered private business after leaving CU, including owning a popular restaurant, Eddie’s Mexican Café, as he remained in Boulder until he passed away from complications after a long battle with leukemia on Sept. 9, 2008 at the age of 77.