Remembering Sal Aunese: Sal Aunese Chronology
Originally Published In
The Rocky Mountain News
September 24, 1989
By B.G. Brooks
SAL AUNESE, 5-11, 190, QB
Full name: Siasau Pepa Aunese
Born: May 8, 1968, in San Diego
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Fall 1985: Leads Vista High School in Oceanside, Calif., to 13-0 season, rushing for 1,361 yards and 13 touchdowns, passing for 750 yards and seven more touchdowns. Is named the California Interscholastic Federation co-player of the year.
Spring 1986: Aunese is ruled academically ineligible to play at the University of Colorado.
Fall 1986: Aunese is ruled academically ineligible to play under Proposition 48.
Sept. 26, 1987: Aunese sees first extensive game action, replacing injured Mark Hatcher and rushing for 185 yards, rallying the team to 26-17 win over Washington State.
Sept. 28, 1987: Head coach Bill McCartney names Aunese to replace Hatcher as starter.
Nov. 30, 1987: Aunese named the Big Eight newcomer-of-the-year.
Sept. 10, 1988: Aunese, having held onto his job as starting QB, leads the Buffs in their season opener, a 45-3 drubbing of Fresno State.
Oct. 22, 1988: CU drops 17-14 heartbreaker at Oklahoma, inspiring Aunese's 1989 goal of making the road trip to the loss avenged.
Nov. 19, 1988: Aunese plays in his last regular-season game for the Buffs, a 56-14 victory over Kansas State. He finished year with 1,401 yards in total offense, including 1,004 passing -most for a CU quarterback since 1984.
Dec. 29, 1988: Aunese takes his last snap as quarterback, before being benched in favor of Darian Hagan during the fourth quarter of the Freedom Bowl, which the Buffs go on to lose 20-17 to Brigham Young.
Early March, 1989: Aunese is diagnosed as possibly suffering pneumonia.
March 27, 1989: It's announced Aunese will miss first week of spring practice due to a persistent respiratory ailment, thought to be sarcoidosis.
March 30, 1989: Doctors reveal that Aunese is suffering inoperable stomach and lung cancer, and given a prognosis of surviving, "several months" to "several years." He begins chemotherapy treatments.
April 29, 1989: Aunese makes an appearance on the sidelines at CU's annual spring Varsity-Alumni game.
June26-29, 1989: Aunese is hospitalized for chemotherapy treatments
July 18-Aug. 4, 1989: Aunese cancels trip to his native California, and is hospitalized again, for radiation treatments.
Aug. 28-30, 1989: Aunese is hospitalized again, suffering a low fever.
Aug. 31, 1989: Aunese is named honorary team captain.
Sept. 4, 1989: Aunese attends CU's home opener, 38-7 victory over Texas, which he watches from a private booth.
Sept. 16, 1989: Aunese attends his last game at Folsom Field, watching from a private box while CU manhandles Illinois 38-7.
Sept. 17, 1989: Aunese is readmitted to the University Hospital. Fluid buildup in his lungs is hampering his breathing.
Sept. 19, 1989: Aunese receives call of encouragement from former President Reagan.
Sept. 23, 1989: Aunese's condition is downgraded from fair to serious. His condition deteriorates though the day and he dies at 9:15 p.m.