The Huntdown
Name: Rick Upchurch
Claim to Fame, Minnesota: played wide receiver for the Golden Gophers football team in 1973 and 1974, was named second team All-Big Ten both years. Is a member of the U's Sports Hall of Fame. (Documentary evidence here.) Was also one of a handful of "one of us" Gopher players in the NFL during my formative years, along with Karl Mecklenburg, Marion Barber, Jr., and roughly two dozen Fahnhorsts.
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: became a receiving and special teams beast for the "Orange Crush" Denver Broncos teams of the late '70s-early '80s. Was named to four Pro Bowls, three All-Pro teams and the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team. His 8 punt return touchdowns rank third all-time.
Where He Is Now: his personal website says that he runs the Rare Breed Sport & Leadership Foundation with his wife, Donna, and if you need a motivational speaker, Rick's your guy. Wiki says Rick and Donna live in Mesquite, Nevada, with their four children.
Glorious Randomness: was at one time allegedly engaged to Denver University student Condoleezza Rice. I'm not a fan of her post-DU activities, but would like her a little more if she was Condoleezza Upchurch, because that's a great name for a human being.
For Discussion: the Broncos need to revert to the orange jerseys and the "D with a snorting horsey" helmet. The Vikings should return to solid, purple jerseys and white pants. New England must bring back Pat Patriot. This much is obvious. Who else needs to scrap their new look? Or if you'd rather, who has improved on their old unis? And don't say Tampa Bay, because that creamsicle look was absolutely perfect.
