Remembering Sal Aunese: Buffs Recall Aunese As A Fighter
September 25, 1989
By B.G. Brooks
A hundred feet or so below him, Washington was playing Arizona. Mike Hankwitz had been assigned to watch-actually scout-the Huskies from the Arizona press box.
Hankwitz is Colorado's defensive coordinator, and Washington is CU's next opponent.
But on this cool desert night, charting a football game seemed painfully insignificant. Hankwitz's mind wandered to something Sal Aunese had told CU coach Bill McCartney last Sunday night, hours after he had been readmitted to University Hospital for the final time.
"'Mac 'said Sal told him to tell the team that he'd been up against worse," Hankwitz recalled, his voice choking with emotion. "That was Sal. He was always so positive."
FOR 5 -+ MONTHS, Aunese fought bitterly against inoperable stomach and lung cancer. But last night, the Buffs' honorary captain could fight no more. He died at University Hospital at 8:47.
"It's awfully hard to concentrate on this (football game)," said Hankwitz. "I know the sadness I feel, and I know the sadness the players feel is so much greater. (Sal) wasn't even on our side of the ball, but he was such a tremendous team player that everyone respected him.
"Players like him come along so rarely. He inspired (teammates) with his attitude and tremendous spirit. I'll always remember that about him."
At the Buffs' morning practice yesterday, McCartney told the team that Aunese's condition had worsened, and that he might not survive the weekend.
Defensive co-captain Michael Jones wasn't at the practice. He was excused to prepare for teammate Terry Johnson's wedding. Jones didn't hear McCartney's update, and even though he knew Aunses's condition had deteriorated, he was stunned by the news of Aunese's death.
"He meant a lot to us. God, it hurts, just to see him go like this . . . I just can't imagine him being gone," said Jones.
"His fight is so inspirational. We get banged up and bruised. But the stuff we get is minor. Putting his name on the jerseys isn't just a show of affection for him. We can't let him down. We have to fight like he did. The only peace I have now is knowing he's in a better place."
OFFENSIVE CO-CAPTAIN Bill Coleman called Aunese's death "a great loss" and could say no more. He choked back tears and apologized.
"We were told this morning that they didn't think he'd make it through the weekend, but . . . I really don't have anything more to say."
Hankwitz couldn't even guess at how the Buffs will react to Aunese's death when they meet Washington Saturday in Seattle.
"It's impossible to say," he said. " You think you're prepared for something like this, but when it hits . . . "
CU chancellor Jim Corbridge said: "Sal Aunese was a special young man who fought a brave battle. We're all very proud that he was one of our students."