Tag: Darian Hagan

Darian Hagan active in helping new-look CU Buffs staff

Now in a new role, Darian Hagan remains a crucial part of Colorado’s program

Although he’s no longer Colorado’s primary running backs coach, Darian Hagan remains active in helping the program under Deion Sanders.

Hagan, who took part in his 300th game at CU last fall, is now an executive director for community engagement and outreach and a football ambassador for the Buffs. His role as an ambassador has even included taking recruits on tours of team facilities.

New Colorado RB coach Gary “Flea” Harrell was asked about Hagan’s impact and said the he has been crucial during a major transitional period for the program (h/t Brian Howell of BuffZone).

“I think he does a good job as far as understanding the Colorado culture,” Harrell said. “He knows what it takes to win and he don’t deviate from that. He don’t accept anything less than that. So, I learn a lot from him as far as understanding what goes on here. He’s well tied in, so I want to always want to make sure he’s connected to pour that into the individuals and then we’re just continuing to grow as a staff in the running back room.”

Looking ahead to next season, Harrell and Hagan have a solid group of running backs in Deion Smith, Anthony Hankerson, Victor Venn, Dylan Edwards, walk-on Charlie Offerdahl and Kentucky transfer commit Kavosiey Smoke.

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Tony’s Take: The Colorado Buffaloes are cool again

Tony’s Take: The Buffaloes got their swagger back

Buffaloes fans who were around for the national championship-level teams of the late 1980s and early 90s have seen a dramatic shift in the past few months that should remind them of the swag that Colorado once possessed.

These fans have seen Colorado drop from a national powerhouse to a team that has gone 69-134 since 2006. As ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Kyle Bonagura wrote about earlier this month, Colorado had to bottom out in order to attract a coach like Deion Sanders to lead a turnaround the program sorely needs.

Sanders brings an unmatched level of confidence and a line of stud recruits following him to Boulder. But he also has connections with several notable figures (h/t ESPN):

“A celebrity is now coaching Colorado, and other celebrities are talking about the Buffs. Last month, Sanders hosted rapper Lil Wayne, who toured the team’s facility while cameras rolled. He marveled, “That’s the f—ing locker room?” upon seeing where the players suited up.”

This feels like a blast from the past for anyone associated with CU during those championship years, especially for someone like Darian Hagan who remembers seeing guys like Ice Cube rocking the CU colors (h/t ESPN):

“After unsuccessfully rummaging through his desk, Hagan did a Google image search. A picture of rapper and actor Ice Cube wearing a Colorado hat appeared on the screen.

“When we started dominating college football, I’ll never forget this right here,” Hagan said, smiling. “This made a whole lot of sense to me and made me understand that Colorado was special. When you see celebrities and they’re supporting a program like Colorado, that lets you know you’re being talked about.”

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Darian Hagan set for 300th game at Colorado

Saturday will mark a milestone game for Darian Hagan

Saturday’s season finale against Utah will mark the 300th game that Darian Hagan has been a part of at Colorado.

The Buffs’ 1990 national championship winning quarterback had 49 games as a player (1988-91), 35 as the Alumni C Club Director, 62 as a football staff member and this week will mark his 154th as an assistant coach (2005-10, 2016-present). Per CU Sports information, only eight other known people have played/worked in some capactity for at least 300 games.

Hagan was an integral part of Colorado’s golden era and there’s a strong argument to make that he deserves a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.

With athletic director Rick George expected to name a head coach soon, it’s unknown if Hagan will be retained on the new staff. He has, however, stayed on through a pair of head coaching changes in the past six years.

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Darian Hagan impressed by incoming freshmen backs Victor Venn and Anthony Hankerson

The ceiling is high for both Victor Venn and Anthony Hankerson

Darian Hagan, of course, has seen a lot of Colorado football. From his dominant playing career to his now second stint as running backs coach, the 1990 national champion’s words have some weight.

That’s why I was particularly intrigued when Hagan spoke very highly of his incoming freshmen backs. Hagan compared Victor Venn’s speed to Brian Calhoun and Hugh Charles and also found a few similarities between Anthony Hankerson and Eric Bieniemy.

“I’m putting a lot on him and I’m raising the bar, but he reminds me of a guy I played with from 88-91, Eric Bieniemy — the same stature, same physicality, they talk alike, they’re both alpha dogs and they’re hungry and they’re smart,” Hagan said. “They’re not going to be denied because of their stature.”

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Why isn’t Darian Hagan in the CFB Hall of Fame?

Pac-12 columnist Jon Wilner considers this notable Buff to be a CFB Hall of Fame snub

As this year’s College Football Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday, a notable name was once again missing: Darian Hagan. The former Colorado QB was the definition of a winner and helped the Buffs to the 1990 title.

Hagan, the Buffs’ current running backs coach, was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and is a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Yet somehow, the CFB hall has its doors locked to Hagan.

Pac-12 columnist Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News pointed out the ridiculousness of Hagan’s absence in a recent article listing a few notable HOF snubs from around the conference:

Our distinct sense is the Hall’s criteria (first-team All-America by a recognized selector) inherently works against the superb option quarterbacks of the 1980s and 90s who weren’t as well regarded as the pocket passers of the era. Hagan, who led the Buffaloes to their 1990 national title and was 28-5-2 as a starter, belongs in that company.

Wilner made a strong point about how option QBs sometimes struggle to put up the big career numbers that provoke a first-team All-American selection — a requirement for the hall. Hagan may be one of the most recognizable QBs in Colorado history, but he is just 11th in program history with 3,801 passing yards. And as you’d expect, Hagan is first in Colorado history with 2,271 quarterback rushing yards.

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