Cut Traded Fired Retired

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 was a 3-year starter, 2X First Team All-SEC and still ranks near the top of the records books for the Wildcats in stolen bases. He was named an SEC Legend in 2013.

Major League Baseball scouts noticed Terry at Kentucky and he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Kansas City Royals in 1987. It took a few years for his MLB debut, but it finally came in 1990 and from there he stayed in the Bigs until retirement in 2004. Five of his 14 seasons were spent the Rockies where he became the ultimate utility player. During his career, Terry played every position except pitcher and catcher. He was Mr. Reliable.

After baseball, Terry focused on his five children with his wife DeQuita and has tried to impart the knowledge he has learned throughout his career, while also giving his kids the space to make their own decisions.


To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

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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 held the Thunderwolves’ sack record. NFL scouts were checking him out, but his name wasn’t called on draft day, nor did any teams call afterwards to invite him as a free agent. At that point, the grind began between different leagues including the Arena League and the CFL. After a few years of being cut and racking up the balance on a credit card with tryout fees and plane tickets, Chase was noticed by a Broncos scout and signed a contract with Denver.  

He suffered an injury his first season and when John Fox was fired, he figured he was done. But Gary Kubiak’s group kept him around for another season and he took the opportunity to slow down and appreciate how far he’d come.  

After football, Chase became a firefighter for the Aurora Fire Department and provides an insightful analogy between playing football and fighting fires. While he used to thrive on adrenaline running down the field on special teams, he now thrives on running into burning structures and being there for people on their worst days.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Year award and she won the first one. That same year, she won the coveted Steinmark Award and Sportswoman of the Year.    

She opted for the University of Tennessee where she could play basketball under Pat Summit and if that didn’t work out, the volleyball program was waiting for her. Her time with the Lady Vols and Coach Summit worked out just fine: 3 NCAA Final Four appearances and two National Championships. The WNBA didn’t exist when Tanya graduated from Tennessee, so she took her talents overseas where she was a 12-time All-Star in 14 years of playing professional basketball in several countries.  

When her playing career was done, the coaching bug bit her and after being an assistant at Regis, the University of Colorado and University of Denver, she got her first head coaching gig at the University of San Fransisco. It was a rough four seasons with many lessons learned, especially with recruiting and finding the right staff. When she was let go from San Fransisco in 2010, Metro State University pursued her, and she became the Roadrunner’s head coach.  Since then, Tanya has become a 3-time RMAC Coach of the Year and the Roadrunner’s winningest coach in school history.  She's also a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. 

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 includes 10 names he would eventually coach.

After graduating from CU, Brian was a 4th round draft pick. During his first few seasons, he dealt with injury, a trade and being cut. After he was released from the Packers, he thought he was done, but a higher power did not. On his drive to Boulder from Wisconsin, Brian prayed and left his future in God’s hands. When he pulled into his driveway, his wife Becky ran out to tell him the Bears had been calling. After six seasons in Chicago, and a Super Bowl championship, Brian retired and went into coaching.

Bill McCartney brought him to CU on as a Graduate Assistant and he quickly became a linebacker’s coach. Coach Cabral’s ability to connect with players was undeniable: he remained on the Buffs coaching staff through FIVE head coaches. He was also an interim head coach twice and felt he was ready to lead his alma mater. When that opportunity went elsewhere, Coach Cabral left Boulder for a few years. A few years after he returned, the CU Athletic Department reached out and created a position for him as a Character Coach. Today he works with all CU student athletes and loves being back with the Black and Gold.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 start working after high school like everyone else he knew. Instead, Woody Hayes connected with Randy and as importantly, his father and off he went to Ohio State.

His success as a Buckeye caught the eye of NFL Scouts, so much so that he was the 14th overall pick by the Broncos in 1974. Being his unassuming self, Randy didn’t know he was a first rounder or even where Colorado was, he just knew he needed to get to Denver after head coach John Ralston called him.

His 10-year NFL career in Denver was spent immersed in the Orange Crush Defense, multiple Pro-Bowls, a Super Bowl appearance, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and much more. So much more that after 35 years of retirement from the game, he was finally voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 impressive accolades. He was eventually inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Along with Mike’s great play, came some injuries, including a misdiagnosed back injury his senior season. Mike needed surgery and instead of going to the Senior Bowl and NFL combine, he went under the knife. Thankfully, the pain was gone after surgery, but a tough physical and mental road laid ahead as an undrafted free agent in the NFL.

Over the course of 5 seasons, Mike was with the Packers, NFL Europe, Rams and Texans. The grind was real, and yet he never played a down in a regular season NFL game. When his career was over, he was relieved.

Today, Mike still lives in Colorado, is an elementary school PE teacher and father to three very active teens. He continues to support the Rams and barely recognizes the guy who used to play center for CSU.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, including the Academy, but stayed with his goal and went for the grind in Colorado Springs. The days were tough between practice, marching, drills and an intense curriculum, but Ben loved it. He started 34 of 39 games as a Falcon and got noticed by NFL Scouts.

Ben was hoping to get drafted and applied for a deferment for his required active duty. He was denied and his draft stock fell. The Broncos still brought him in as an undrafted free agent and placed him on military reserve. After Ben served his 2-year commitment, he returned to the NFL and played for 11 seasons with the Broncos, Falcons and 49’ers.

These days, philanthropy is at the core of Ben’s world with his latest venture being The Hero App, which helps non-profits fulfill their needs.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Scouts. It continued after college: Garrett was invited to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine and in the 2013 Draft, Ryan was picked one round ahead of Garrett. They still jab each other about it.

Their pro careers eventually led both to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garrett was out of the league and getting his MBA as Ryan was getting a mega contract with the Bucs, being Tom Brady’s center and winning a Super Bowl. They stayed in touch and when Ryan was looking to build a house on some land in Colorado, he contacted Garrett to help with the process. Now the two are in business together with Gilk.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 with his dad’s staff at UNLV. He didn’t stick to Mike Sr.’s tree for long. His career took to him to stops with Standford (twice), Yale, Western Kentucky (twice), Boise St, Notre Dame, Utah State, Minnesota and finally the University of Colorado. He was hired to be the Offensive Coordinator for Karl Dorrell in 2022, but when Karl got fired after an 0-5 start, he became the interim head coach.

When he wasn’t retained by the new staff at CU, Mike and his family decided to grow some roots in Colorado and give coaching a break. He’s taken time to reflect and is starting to find a new passion for being on radio and TV as an analyst.

To learn more about the host Susie Wargin, visit www.SusieWargin.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 features and being our amazing producer for Broncos games. Enjoy!