It happens to Buffs.
Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam (Soc ex鈥95, pictured) committed suicide in 2016. CU linebacker Drew Wahlroos (A&S鈥03) took his life in 2017. In 2004, Gabe Oderberg (Comm, Hist鈥03), ended his life at 23. Bill Roe (Soc鈥95), who left CU in 1979 for the NFL, and Ray Cone (PE鈥84), also killed themselves.
CU Athletics has intensified its focus on the mental health of CU鈥檚 student athletes, adding campus resources, participating in a major multi-school study of concussion effects and fostering a support network for former football players.
鈥淥ur work is important because life is difficult at times,鈥 said Buffs sports psychologist Chris Bader. 鈥淲e serve our student athletes by providing a safe space for them to process through the trials of life鈥 to talk through their successes and concerns without judgment.鈥
In January CU added another licensed counselor, Erin Rubenking (Fin鈥10; MPsych鈥14), to help serve the nearly 375 student athletes on campus. The incidence of suicide among NCAA athletes is highest among football players, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Sports Health.
Bader and Rubenking make themselves available to all student athletes via email, text and, of course, in person.
Meanwhile, Buffs4Life, a nonprofit group of CU Athletics alumni formed in 2005, has started a campaign called 鈥淣ever Again,鈥 which reconnects former football players with each other in hopes of creating a support network. Leading the initiative are former head coach Gary Barnett and long-time CU coach and NFL alumnus Brian Cabral (搁别肠鈥79).
鈥淚 recruited both Rashaan and Drew,鈥 Cabral said. 鈥淭hese losses affected me deeply. Working with Buffs4Life after 24 years of coaching at CU allows me to help others who may be in need.鈥
CU is leading the way on a Pac-12 research initiative to study concussions in student athletes. The goal is to establish best practices and clinical infrastructure around traumatic brain injuries and treatment.
Meanwhile, research about the connection between concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) continues. The recent sale of Salaam鈥檚 Heisman trophy will help. It sold for $399,608, some of which will support CTE-related research in his name.
Photo courtesy CU Athletics聽
