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We follow them on social media. We pay money to watch them play or coach. We check headlines for breaking news and rumors about them. Professional athletes and coaches are the best at what they do. They are also people. People with emotions, self-doubt, insecurities, family obligations and setbacks. They have to deal with tough times and dark moments just like we do. Hosted by Susie Wargin, a 30-year Radio & TV broadcaster and Emmy Award winning sportscaster, who sits down with some of the biggest names in Denver sports. Hall of Famers, Ring of Famers, Super Bowl winners (and losers) and many who have reinvented themselves in retirement. The conversations feature insightul upbringings, emotional and impactful stories as well as words of wisom on how to keep moving forward. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Please follow, download, rate and review. For more information visit CTFRPodcast.com. To learn more about Susie's career as a Realtor (she would love to help you!), visit SusieWargin.com. Thank you for listening!
Episodes
April 16, 2024 • 43 mins
Growing up in Indiana, Matt Mauck’s favorite sport was basketball, followed by football, then baseball. He received some scholarship offers to play basketball but committed to Michigan State for football under Nick Saban. Then came spring of his senior year: he was drafted by the Cubs, his baseball team won a state championship and he was named Mr. Baseball. Matt leaned into the diamond.
He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues a...
He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues a...
Mark as Played
April 9, 2024 • 38 mins
He grew up in New York and went to college at the University of Maryland. Billy Van Heusen was all east coast until he stepped off a plane in Denver in 1968 and saw the Front Range for the first time. His goal as an undrafted free agent became not just to make the Broncos roster, but to stay in Denver. He did both.
In 2019, Billy was named to the Broncos All-Time Top 100 Team. He played 9 seasons in Denver and was a top 10 NFL pu...
In 2019, Billy was named to the Broncos All-Time Top 100 Team. He played 9 seasons in Denver and was a top 10 NFL pu...
Mark as Played
April 2, 2024 • 38 mins
He grew up in Pennsylvania with two older brothers and played in just about every sport. Eventually football became Charlie Adam’s bread and butter – he could catch and run. Skills that served him well as a wide receiver and a return specialist. Which is why he was named All-Pennsylvania Special Teams in high school.
Charlie took a scholarship at Hofstra University where he figured he would see some action with their offense. He...
Charlie took a scholarship at Hofstra University where he figured he would see some action with their offense. He...
Mark as Played
March 27, 2024 • 48 mins
He came from a high school in Kentucky that produced a number of well-known athletes, like Steve Finley, George Wilson and Kurt Barber. Terry Shumpert thought basketball at Paducah Tilghman High School would take him to the next level, but a knee injury turned his focus to the diamond. Shump could hit, was fast around the bases and had quite the glove on defense.
He took his baseball skills to the University of Kentucky where he wa...
He took his baseball skills to the University of Kentucky where he wa...
Mark as Played
March 19, 2024 • 67 mins
He started playing football as a junior at Smoky Hill High School. He made varsity as a senior. Chase Vaughn turned some heads in that short time and received three small offers at Division II and NAIA schools. He accepted one for Adams State and was there for 2 years until CSU-Pueblo started a football program. He took a leap of faith and transferred. Good move.
In his first game, Chase had 4 ½ sacks and when he graduated, he he...
In his first game, Chase had 4 ½ sacks and when he graduated, he he...
Mark as Played
March 12, 2024 • 41 mins
In 1976 (when the Olympics were easy to watch on one over-the-air channel), Tanya Haave got inspired by a sport featuring women for the first time: basketball. Watching Team USA that year would lead her around the world.
At Evergreen High School, Tanya was a standout in both basketball and volleyball. In 1980 she was so dominate, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame created a female selection to their High School Athlete of the Yea...
At Evergreen High School, Tanya was a standout in both basketball and volleyball. In 1980 she was so dominate, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame created a female selection to their High School Athlete of the Yea...
Mark as Played
March 5, 2024 • 35 mins
Growing up in Hawaii, his dream was to play football at Notre Dame like his dad. That dream was crushed when the Irish sent him a rejection letter. Brian Cabral then turned to a school where he would spend decades of his life.
He was a stellar linebacker and team captain for the University of Colorado. Nearly 50 years after he played, Brian’s name is still on the top 20 list of the Buffs all-time tacklers. A list that also inclu...
He was a stellar linebacker and team captain for the University of Colorado. Nearly 50 years after he played, Brian’s name is still on the top 20 list of the Buffs all-time tacklers. A list that also inclu...
Mark as Played
February 27, 2024 • 45 mins
His small Ohio town didn’t offer football until the 9th grade. Because of that, Randy Gradishar fancied himself more as a basketball player because he’d spent far more time on the court than the gridiron. Thankfully college coaches didn’t feel the same way.
Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn’t afford it and he figured he would s...
Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn’t afford it and he figured he would s...
Mark as Played
February 20, 2024 • 42 mins
His heritage in Colorado dates back five generations. So, it made sense when Mike Newell graduated from Littleton High School that he wanted to stay in Colorado despite football scholarships from many other schools.
He quickly became Colorado State’s starting center and along with being part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack for two straight seasons and a Holiday Bowl win over Missouri, Mike racked up a number of imp...
He quickly became Colorado State’s starting center and along with being part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack for two straight seasons and a Holiday Bowl win over Missouri, Mike racked up a number of imp...
Mark as Played
February 13, 2024 • 33 mins
From a very young age, Colorado native Ben Garland knew he wanted to attend the Air Force Academy. He researched what the Academy wanted in a cadet and joined countless clubs to show his dedication to service and community. He also played some impressive football at Central High School in Grand Junction. Ben lettered all four years and was first team All-State his senior season.
He had full ride offers to several schools, includi...
He had full ride offers to several schools, includi...
Mark as Played
February 6, 2024 • 45 mins
One grew up in Colorado, the other in Illinois. Two redheaded offensive lineman. Both received $2500 scholarships to play Division II football. Ryan Jensen headed south to CSU-Pueblo and Garrett Gilkey played for Chadron State. Their schools were in the RMAC and they quickly learned about one another.
The competition grew between the two, especially as Ryan and Garrett began getting noticed by national D2 publications and NFL Sc...
The competition grew between the two, especially as Ryan and Garrett began getting noticed by national D2 publications and NFL Sc...
Mark as Played
January 30, 2024 • 61 mins
Being a college football coach is all Mike Sanford has ever known. After all, his father, Mike Sanford Sr., was a college coach before Mike was even born.
Not only did Mike grow up moving from city to city with his father’s career, when he went to Boise State, he was the backup quarterback where he got used to a headset and clipboard. He didn’t mind either one, in fact he loved it.
As soon as Mike graduated, he got on as a GA w...
Not only did Mike grow up moving from city to city with his father’s career, when he went to Boise State, he was the backup quarterback where he got used to a headset and clipboard. He didn’t mind either one, in fact he loved it.
As soon as Mike graduated, he got on as a GA w...
Mark as Played
January 26, 2024 • 25 mins
SPECIAL EDITION: CTFR episodes are typically with athletes and coaches from the past. This episode contains Susie Wargin’s pregame features from the Broncos Radio Network with Broncos players from the 2023 season. Each feature has a topical theme with multiple players putting aside the X’s and O’s to have fun and shed light on their past, causes close to their heart and teammates.
Thank you to Alan Jackson for producing all of these...
Thank you to Alan Jackson for producing all of these...
Mark as Played
January 23, 2024 • 50 mins
His high school is known for having one of the best programs in the nation and producing more NCAA and NFL players than any other high school. Needless to say, there were no “off” days for Jimmy Spencer at Glades Central in Florida, which was fine because Jimmy knew he wanted to play in the NFL since he was 7.
He had his choices of colleges and was being looked at as simply an athlete. He played quarterback at Glades Central, but h...
He had his choices of colleges and was being looked at as simply an athlete. He played quarterback at Glades Central, but h...
Mark as Played
January 16, 2024 • 37 mins
He’s the only person who played high school, college and professional baseball in the state of Colorado. After graduating from Northglenn High School, a suburb north of Denver, Mark Knudson went straight up I-25 to Colorado State University where he majored in journalism and pitched for a baseball program that was dissolved a decade after Mark left for the pros.
Mark was drafted by the Astros in 1982 and credits his college ball fo...
Mark was drafted by the Astros in 1982 and credits his college ball fo...
Mark as Played
January 9, 2024 • 62 mins
He moved from Ghana to the United States when he was 7. Ebenezer Ekuban didn’t know anything about football and had no aspirations of playing the game because he was focused on academics. When his father told him he needed to do something outside of school, Ebenezer decided to try football his junior year of high school. He became a quick learner on both sides of the ball, playing tight end and defensive end and after just two year...
Mark as Played
December 19, 2023 • 47 mins
Cole Pemberton took a leap of faith when he transferred from Kansas City to Highlands Ranch to live with his dad during his high school years. That leap provided a new relationship with his father and a stellar football career as an offensive lineman at Mountain Vista High School.
Cole opted to play college football at Colorado State University for Sonny Lubick and prided himself on protecting his quarterback. He allowed just one s...
Cole opted to play college football at Colorado State University for Sonny Lubick and prided himself on protecting his quarterback. He allowed just one s...
Mark as Played
December 13, 2023 • 62 mins
When Rockies’ ownership opened their wallets in 2000 and struck mega deals with two big name pitchers, fans rejoiced. Unfortunately, Coors Field is an unforgiving ballpark for pitchers, no matter how much money they get paid.
Denny Neagle yearned to be the savior Rockies fans so desperately wanted. He’d worked his way up through the baseball ranks, starting with college ball at the University of Minnesota, getting drafted by the ...
Denny Neagle yearned to be the savior Rockies fans so desperately wanted. He’d worked his way up through the baseball ranks, starting with college ball at the University of Minnesota, getting drafted by the ...
Mark as Played
December 9, 2023 • 82 mins
The NFL Draft and Beyond: Bradlee Van Pelt thought he’d be drafted on the first day, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. BVP oozed confidence after his tie at Colorado State University and was convinced the NFL was ready for his unconventional style of playing quarterback. He waited all the way until the 7th round and the Denver Broncos took him with their second pick in that round. His NFL experience is filled with some wild stories...
Mark as Played
December 5, 2023 • 57 mins
The Early Years: When he arrived at Colorado State University, the skateboard wielding transfer quarterback from Michigan State was all the talk and a bit of a mystery. Fans called him “Sunshine” and no one could quite figure out Bradlee Van Pelt. Including Bradlee.
What Bradlee did know is he wanted to play quarterback and he stuck to his plan despite nearly everyone trying to push him to another position and never receiving any p...
What Bradlee did know is he wanted to play quarterback and he stuck to his plan despite nearly everyone trying to push him to another position and never receiving any p...
Mark as Played
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