
Colorado State University athletic director John Weber announced Tuesday that the school will honor past athletes with a new "Walk of Champions."
As reported by The Coloradan, the Walk of Champions will serve as complement to the CSU Hall of Fame and rarer jersey retirement as a means to recognize hundreds of former Rams (and Aggies prior to the name change) who excelled on the courts and fields in Fort Collins.
"The Walk of Champions is to honor and remember the incredible individuals who have competed and brought so much pride and recognition to our great university," John Weber said in a news release, as reported by The Coloradan. "While being inducted into the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame remains the ultimate recognition for those who craft extraordinary careers at Colorado State, there are many whose hard work, determination, talent and accomplishments led them to attain a special level of success and should be celebrated for their achievements."
According to Coloradan sports reporter Kevin Lytle, the inaugural list retroactively honors athletes and teams dating back to the early 1900s with more than 600 combined individuals and teams on the first list. Baseball, gymnastics and wrestling — Division I sports that are no longer sponsored at CSU — are included.
The Walk of Champions was based on the following criteria:
- Must be at least a two-time letterman
AND
- Departmental annual award winner or
- Conference individual award winner or individual event champion at conference meet (excluding relays) or
- Career record holder in a major category or
- First- or Second-Team All-American or
- Two-Time All-American which may include tiers beyond first or second team or
- Two-Time First-Team all-conference in team sports or
- Three-Time all-conference (can be a combination of first- and second-team) in team sports or
- Four-Time First-Team all-conference in individual sports or
- Six-Time all-conference (can be a combination of first and second team) in individual sports or
- At the discretion of the Director of Athletics
The inaugural class will be recognized during "Ram Good Time Weekend" at the football game on Oct. 12, when the Rams host San Jose State.