Former Colorado coach Crowder dies

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:01 PM BOULDER, Colorado (Ticker) -- Eddie Crowder, best known as a former University of Colorado football coach, died Tuesday night from complications of leukemia. He was 77.

Crowder posted a 67-49-2 record as the Buffaloes' coach from 1963-1973. He then served the next 11 years as the school's athletic director.

Before coaching, Crowder enjoyed a successful stint as Oklahoma's quarterback. He went 26-4-1 over his three seasons there and led the Sooners to a pair of Big Seven Conference titles (now Big 12) in 1951 and 1952.

The third-winningest coach in Colorado history, Crowder coached the Buffaloes to five bowl games during his tenure.

Crowder and the Buffaloes enjoyed a great campaign in 1973, posting a 10-2 record and finishing third in the national polls.

As an athletic director, Crowder hired Bill McCartney, the program's all-time winningest coach, in 1982.

After the department fell upon financial hardships in 1980, forcing the elimination of seven sports, Crowder vowed to stay on the job until the department was financially sound again.

The turnaround from a $1 million debt took three years to complete, and he announced his retirement in the spring of 1984.