Collegiate football kicks off Thursday evening for schools in the Centennial state, followed by three more games on Saturday. One would be remiss not to mention again the passing in January of longtime broadcaster and 2010 Colorado Sports Hall of Famer inductee Larry Zimmer, who covered sports in Colorado starting in 1971.

A “must read” each week is Neil Woelk’s article on cubuffs.com. A veteran journalist for over 30 years, Woelk became a contributing editor for CU in July 2015 when he replaced B. G. Brooks.  Under David Plati’s stewardship, CU became one of the first universities to hire a sportswriter to provide content for a school’s website when Brooks joined cubuffs.com in July 2009. Woelk’s latest article is “Fast Five: Keys For Buffs In Opener Against NDSU.”

Not to take a backseat to CU, but Mike Brohard’s work for CSURams.com is also a “must-read.”  With over 30 years of sportswriting experience in Centennial, Brohard has been with CSU since April 2019, when Paul Kirk hired him as an assistant director of communications and content development.  Brohard’s latest article on the Rams is “A More Mature Fowler-Nicolosi Ready for Act II.”

Although not listed as a Colorado Mesa staff member, former Grand Junction Sentinel sports editor Patti Arnold writes articles for cmumavericks.com. A Kansas alum, Arnold has been covering sports in Colorado since the 1980s, with the bulk of her time at the Sentinel. Here is her latest article featuring the running game for Colorado Mesa.

While Woelk, Brooks, Brohard, and Arnold have over a century of combined sportswriting experience in Colorado, Newby Bryce Kelly is making a name for himself in Durango.  He has produced interesting articles on Fort Lewis football, where the Skyhawks have lost their last 39 games since defeating Adams State 28-9 at home on October 5, 2019. The first article of note was about Coach Johnny Cox hiring former New Mexico standout and coach Rocky Long and former Air Academy High coach Scott Grinde. The second was his “It’s win or go home for Johnny Cox and Fort Lewis football”  article.

As for the radio talent in the booths this weekend, CU’s Mark Johnson is back for his 21st season with the Buffs and partnering with former Buff coach Gary Barnett for the ninth year (pictured to the right).  CSU’s Brian Roth is in his 18th season in the booth for the Rams and third season with former Ram linebacker Ricky Brewer doing the color.   Air Force’s Jim Arthur is the “dean” of Colorado broadcasters and is in his 23rd season of calling Falcon games.  Jesse Kurtz starts his 13th season as Arthur’s mate in the booth.

When CSU Pueblo rebooted its football program in 2008, the “Jim & Joe”  was created as the pair covers Pack football at home and on the road.  Brooks played collegiate golf at CSU Pueblo.  Cervi, who covered the program for 22 years at the Pueblo Chieftain, graduated from CSU in Fort Collins in 1988 and started his sportswriting career in Loveland.

As for Northern Colorado, the games will be aired on KMKZ (93.5 FM), featuring play-by-play announcers Jacob Govero and Fred Shaw as the color analyst.  For at least the last eight decades, UNC games were aired on KFKA (1310 AM).

Finally, CSU will receive a nearly $2-million guarantee to play in Austin on Saturday against Texas. The Rams will receive $1.5 million to open the 2025 season at Washington.