Bobby Anderson set benchmarks for running backs
Former CU football star Bobby Anderson will once again have the spotlight on him as he is inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame on Oct. 12.
The latest honor for Anderson is one of many awards he has received. In addition to being inducted into the school’s hall of fame, Anderson will also be inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame in December.
“I was blessed to play with some very talented, dedicated teammates that made all of this possible,” Anderson said. “It’s really an honor. (Athletic director) Mike Bohn called me about it, and I was thrilled.”
Many people share Anderson’s excitement.
“Bobby was a tremendous football athlete. He is easily one of the top two or three athletes in CU’s history,” said athletic department spokesman Dave Plati.
During his time on the field for CU, Anderson turned the school’s record books into his personal diary. He was the original record-setter for CU football during the late 1960s in 18 different statistical categories including the marks for career rushing yardage (2,367) and scoring (212 points).
While many of Anderson’s career records at CU fell, he still ranks in the top 10 in numerous offensive categories.
Anderson was not only a great athlete, but also possessed an attitude to compliment it.
“He was amongst that very ideal little segment of society whose attitude was just superb among all things,” said Eddie Crowder, Anderson’s former head coach. “He had a remarkable work ethic and a great sense of devotion to the team.”
Following his sophomore and junior seasons when he was an all-conference quarterback, Anderson was asked by Crowder (CQ) to make the transition to tailback following the second game of his senior season. While most players would never consider leaving a position as influential as quarterback, the hall-of-famer made the move without a whimper.
“I understood the situation at the time – our veteran running back had been injured and we had good athletes at quarterback. I knew the needs of the team and I sensed the reason for the decision, so it wasn’t a hard transition,” Anderson said. “It was what the coaches of the team needed at the time, and it worked out pretty well.”
Anderson embraced the transition and had a successful year as the Buffaloes’ tailback for the rest of his senior season. Anderson stepped right in against the University of Indiana and rushed for 171 yards and scored three touchdowns in his first game as the team’s tailback. Anderson finished that season with 954 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, while finishing 11th in the Heisman Trophy voting.
“It was one of the great experiences of my career. We did not have another running back who we thought was capable of providing victory in this level of competition, so it became obvious to put Bobby at tailback,” Crowder said. “We told him it was his decision to make and he said, ‘Coach, put me anywhere.’ His attitude was the most unselfish of anyone I ever coached.”
Anderson put the stamp on his legacy at CU when he rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the 1969 Liberty Bowl against Alabama.
“There was a lot of offense in that game. It was probably the highlight of my career,” said Anderson.
Following a six-year pro career that included stops with the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins and New England Patriots, Anderson began covering his alma-mater as a sideline reporter for 850 KOA.
“Bobby set the benchmark for sideline reporting for radio,” Plati said. “In my opinion, he is the most underrated sideline reporter in TV/radio history.”
Anderson is taking a respite from KOA after 30 years with the network to develop a tax preparation service he owns.
Anderson is also heavily involved in The Celebrity Players Tour, which he was an original member of. He regularly competes in tournaments across the country with former athletes such as John Elway, Johnny Bench and Michael Jordan.
“We have a number of tournaments every summer,” Anderson said. “Golf is my competitive outlet now.”
