Welcome to the
iHonor CU Flag
at CU Athletics
remembering Sal Aunese
iHonor CU Flag
at CU Athletics
remembering Sal Aunese
iHonor CU Football Fallen:
Siasau "Sal" Aunese
Siasau "Sal" Aunese
Proud Samoan, who was a tough, confident warrior, yet humble teammate and father
Siasau "Sal" Aunese, 21, was a member of the CU Football team from 1986 to 1989
CU's Quarterback played with passion, power, agility, and a 'never stop me' attitude
Died of a rare, inoperable stomach and lung cancer on September 23, 1989
We honor and thank legendary CU Quarterback Sal Aunese for guiding and inspiring CU Football to new heights on and off the field.
Siasau "Sal" Aunese, 21, was a member of the CU Football team from 1986 to 1989
CU's Quarterback played with passion, power, agility, and a 'never stop me' attitude
Died of a rare, inoperable stomach and lung cancer on September 23, 1989
We honor and thank legendary CU Quarterback Sal Aunese for guiding and inspiring CU Football to new heights on and off the field.
[ pics from CU SID and McCartney family ]
30 years after Sal passed away ...
We have an old school RED-lettered game on the schedule - this Saturday, September 7, 2019 vs Nebraska.
So, let's remember how Sal inspired CU Football to reach new heights and motivate this year's team to do the same!
We have an old school RED-lettered game on the schedule - this Saturday, September 7, 2019 vs Nebraska.
So, let's remember how Sal inspired CU Football to reach new heights and motivate this year's team to do the same!
The final minute and a half of the 1989 CU / Nebraska broadcast on CBS is some of the best live television producing/directing/camerawork I've ever seen. I hope they won an Emmy for this. pic.twitter.com/G0KipwZzY1
— Ted (@TheGhostofMarv) September 3, 2019
Siasau "Sal" Aunese
Born May 8, 1968 in Oceanside, CA
Raised by Samoan descent parents with 6 brothers and sisters
High School All-American Quarterback at Vista HS
Led Vista HS football team to CIF section and California State Championship in 1985
Recruited to play football at University of Colorado - Boulder in 1986
Proposition 48 sidelined him from football his freshman ('86) year
As starting CU Quarterback in 1987, led team to 7-4 record
Named 'Big 8 Newcomer' for impressive 1987 season
Led CU to 1988 Freedom Bowl with 8-3 season record
Born May 8, 1968 in Oceanside, CA
Raised by Samoan descent parents with 6 brothers and sisters
High School All-American Quarterback at Vista HS
Led Vista HS football team to CIF section and California State Championship in 1985
Recruited to play football at University of Colorado - Boulder in 1986
Proposition 48 sidelined him from football his freshman ('86) year
As starting CU Quarterback in 1987, led team to 7-4 record
Named 'Big 8 Newcomer' for impressive 1987 season
Led CU to 1988 Freedom Bowl with 8-3 season record
Diagnosed with inoperable stomach and lung cancer in March 1989
Inspired CU Football team by battling to attend the 1989 Spring Game (see pic above)
Became a loving father, with Kristy McCartney, to Timothy Chase "T.C." McCartney in April 1989
Inspired CU Football team by battling to attend the 1989 Spring Game (see pic above)
Became a loving father, with Kristy McCartney, to Timothy Chase "T.C." McCartney in April 1989
Courageously fought through chemotherapy and mentored new QB, Darian Hagan, and offense leading into and during 1989 season
Spent last days in August and September doing what he loved - being with his son and teammates and motivating them to reach new heights
Became rallying, warrior cry, with "Sal" imprinted on CU Football jerseys, for CU's perfect 1989 regular season (11-0)
Spent last days in August and September doing what he loved - being with his son and teammates and motivating them to reach new heights
Became rallying, warrior cry, with "Sal" imprinted on CU Football jerseys, for CU's perfect 1989 regular season (11-0)
[ CU honors Sal after victory at Washington in 1989 ]
His lasting impression and legacy pushed CU to use its 1990 Orange Bowl (and National Champion title) loss to Notre Dame as fuel to win another Big 8 Championship in 1990 and redeem itself against Notre Dame at the 1991 Orange Bowl - attaining its first "National Champion" title in football
His lasting impression and legacy pushed CU to use its 1990 Orange Bowl (and National Champion title) loss to Notre Dame as fuel to win another Big 8 Championship in 1990 and redeem itself against Notre Dame at the 1991 Orange Bowl - attaining its first "National Champion" title in football
Inspirational Quotes about Sal
"(Sal is ) the epitome of inspiration. He lets you know you can always fight harder. He's the one who brought this team together."
- Jeff Campbell (#84), CU teammate of Sal
"(Sal is ) the epitome of inspiration. He lets you know you can always fight harder. He's the one who brought this team together."
- Jeff Campbell (#84), CU teammate of Sal
"When you put somebody in a tough bind and have to count on them, that's when Sal's spirit shined brightest. He was the ultimate team player. He wanted to win it for his buddies. That's what happened at Vista (High School), and it happened again at Colorado."
- Coach Les Miles, recruited Sal to CU
"You talk about a warrior! Our guys love him and hurt with him and suffer with him. His presence means a lot."
- Coach Bill McCartney, CU Football Head Coach 1982-1994
- Coach Bill McCartney, CU Football Head Coach 1982-1994
[ Sal and teammate, fellow Samoan, Oakland Salavea ]
Sources & References
[pics from CU SID and McCartney family]
CLICK HERE to review the Wikipedia page about Sal Aunese
GO HERE to see CU Buffs' 2009 article commemorating Sal
CLICK HERE to read ESPN OTL 'Full Circle' article about Sal and TC
GO HERE to examine Sal's tribute on FindAGrave.com
[pics from CU SID and McCartney family]
CLICK HERE to review the Wikipedia page about Sal Aunese
GO HERE to see CU Buffs' 2009 article commemorating Sal
CLICK HERE to read ESPN OTL 'Full Circle' article about Sal and TC
GO HERE to examine Sal's tribute on FindAGrave.com
Check out these video tributes to Sal Aunese
[ iHonor CU Flag for Sal flying with another fallen CU Alum... iHonor American Flag for CU-AFROTC '08 / USAF Capt 'Pyro' DuBois (to be presented to Coach Tucker) ]
iHonor CU Flag dedicated to quarterback, (#8) Sal Aunese, posted and flying at Flag Steward HQ before shipment [zoom-in on pics]
Proposed iHonor CU Flag design for Sal
iHonor CU Flag : Visitor Comments for Sal Aunese
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
Sal, I'm honored to have been inspired by you (with some coaxing from your neighbor - our Lord ;) to make this first ever iHonor (school) Flag - relaying your motivational story. Now, looking back at 1989 and my awestruck interactions with you while I was ushering, along with a couple other Marine NROTC buds at the Flatirons Club boxes, I'm still amazed at how upbeat and loyal you remained until the end. With your guts and lungs literally poured out while cheering on our Buffs, you never relented (and I was content to go empty your cup full of ... ;) Thanks for leading me on this path to inform and inspire folks, especially our youth, with stories about community/school champions like you.
- from Sean on 4/24/19
[ photo of Sal's iHonor CU Flag being hung and packaged for shipment- the first hand inscribed iHonor team flag and tribute page built ]
- from Sean on 4/24/19
[ photo of Sal's iHonor CU Flag being hung and packaged for shipment- the first hand inscribed iHonor team flag and tribute page built ]
Submit your note of support, inspirational memory, funny anecdote, etc. about this iHonor Flag Honoree
Fill-in form below with memories and media (optional pics, video, audio) to share with visitors to this honoree's iHonor page
Demo of iHonor Flag tribute to Sal ...
CU Athletics Staff ... We can make this flag commemoration much better by adding stories, pictures, soundbites, and more from his teammates, coaches, family, etc. ... ( especially a better voiceover than mine ;) Let's work together to make this something special for the players and fans to interact with this fall - the 30th anniversary of Sal's rise to heaven and the Buffs rise to 11 and 0 ;)
CU Athletics Staff ... We can make this flag commemoration much better by adding stories, pictures, soundbites, and more from his teammates, coaches, family, etc. ... ( especially a better voiceover than mine ;) Let's work together to make this something special for the players and fans to interact with this fall - the 30th anniversary of Sal's rise to heaven and the Buffs rise to 11 and 0 ;)
+++++++++++++
more Patriots to Honor
Other iHonor Flags to visit include:
more Patriots to Honor
Other iHonor Flags to visit include:
CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for Army SGT Joya-Mendoza of W. Hollywood, CA
CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for USMC Cpl Salazar of Las Vegas, NV
CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Army SPC Workman of Greenwood, NE
CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Army SGT Phipps of Chicago, IL
PATRIOT POPPY says, I WANT YOU to help recruit more Flag Stewards ... to be Caretakers & Heralders of the stories, lessons, & virtues woven within Our Flag. CLICK HERE to send friends a link to install the Flag Steward app.
Thanks for visiting this iHonor Flag - a service powered by the Flag Steward nonprofit project. We appreciate your support of our nonprofit programs and mission to build better (more informed, inspired, patriotic) student-citizens.
[ Copyright (c) 2018 - Flag Steward, a GivingVue nonprofit program.
GivingVue is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible, non-partisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led nonprofit based in Colorado. EIN: 46-2457373 ]