Colorado's spring camp has wrapped up and we enter a slow period in Colorado football as the Buffs' players don't report for fall camp until August 1.
For the next few weeks, CUSportsNation.com members will be voting on the best quarterback in Colorado history. Last week, members gave their nominations, and based on the amount of nominations, we put together the seeding for "The Great 8: Best CU Quarterback of All Time Tournament." The bracket can be viewed below.
NOTES: Hagan and Stewart received the same amount of votes, Hagan was given the No. 1 seed on a coin flip ... Bobby Pesavento missed the 8 seed by one vote ... Mike Moschetti was also close to the 8 seed.
The Great 8, Round 1 Matchup: No. 1 Darian Hagan vs No. 8 John Hessler
- Quarterbacked CU to three Big Eight titles and a 20-0-1 league record
- Fifth in the 1989 Heisman Trophy balloting as a sophomore
- First and only player to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in a single season
- All-American (1989), Two-time All-Big Eight (1989, 1990)
Darian Hagan is arguably the most talented player to ever put on a CU football uniform. The multi-dimensional quarterback, who actually was also the team’s top punt return man as a senior, piloted CU to three consecutive Big Eight titles In 1989, 1990 and 1991. He led the Buffaloes to a 20-0-1 mark in conference play during that span, as well as a 30-5-2 record overall as the starter. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a sophomore, when he became the only player in CU history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in the same season.
In his career, he rushed for 2,007 yards and passed for 3,801, numbers that still rank 12th and sixth, respectively, at Colorado. An All-American in 1989 when he was the runaway choice as the Big Eight offensive player-of-the-year, Hagan was a two-time all-Big Eight selection in 1989 and 1990. He returned to CU in the mid-1990s and earned his degree, and would then work for two years as CU’s Alumni C Club director. His jersey number, 3, was previously honored in 1999.
Hessler was a member of the 1993 recruiting class and replaced an injured Koy Detmer in the third game of the '95 season, rallying CU to a 29-21 win over No. 3 Texas A&M. He started the remainder of that season and the entire 1997 campaign. He holds several passing records for the Buffs, including the first player to throw for five touchdown passes in a game, doing so in a 38-17 win at Oklahoma in 1995.
As a sophomore in 1995, Hessler had his best season as a Buff, throwing for 20 touchdowns, 2,136 yards, four yards, and nine interceptions. Colorado went 10-2 that season, finishing with a top 5 ranking and a dominating win in the Cotton Bowl against Oregon.
After that magical season, Hessler's career took a bit of a downward slide. He was benched in favor of Koy Detmer for the 1996 season but returned to the starting lineup in 1997. The Buffs went 5-6 that season, and Hessler threw for 2,478 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
Hessler's 348 passing yards at Oklahoma in 1995 is the fourth most in CU history in a single game. He is 8th in passing yards and and 8th in total offense in the all-time record book for the Buffs.
*** To vote for the winner of this round, click here ***
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(Voting will end March 31 at 9 p.m. MT and then we will vote on the Anderson-Liufau matchup)
