Joel Klatt reacts to death of Bill McCartney

Bill McCartney, the legendary former head coach of Colorado who led the Buffaloes to a national championship, died on Friday. In the wake of his passing, social media was flooded by messages of remembrance toward the longtime coach who impacted many across the college football world.

Fox Sports analyst and former Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt joined the movement. He took a moment out of the Joel Klatt Show to send a touching, emotional message to someone he considered as a mentor in football and in life.

“Coach [McCartney] is a titan,” Klatt said, who was nearly choked up a couple of times from his clear emotions. “He’s a legend, and I’ll always remember — even though I didn’t play for Coach [McCartney], I felt like I played for him because he was always around, and my head coach, Gary Barnett, cut his teeth and really learned under Coach [McCartney]. I felt like I played for Coach [McCartney] because I played for someone that studied under him.

“One of the great orators that I’ve ever heard speak. A man that could almost move mountains when he wanted to with with his speeches, strong faith. [He’s an] incredible family man and a guy that meant a lot to me. Even after I was done playing, Coach [McCartney] was always around and with lend an ear. He was an incredible mentor to me and many, many others. The Colorado football family is going to struggle with this one, because Coach [McCartney] is, like I said, he’s a titan of our program.”

McCartney started his coaching career at Michigan as an assistant under Bo Schembechler from 1974-81. He then took over at Colorado in 1982 and put together a storied run with the Buffaloes until his retirement in 1994.

As head coach, McCartney amassed a 93-55-5 record in Boulder including a 58-29-4 mark in Big Eight play. Colorado was his only head coaching job as he retired at the age of 54 following the 1994 season.

Colorado went 11-1 in 1989, but reached the mountaintop in 1990. The Buffaloes went 11-1-1 that year and defeated Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to secure the only national championship in program history. McCartney was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

While Klatt never played for the legendary headman at Colorado, his message to someone he held in such high regard was one of the most touching.

“I’m going to miss him,” Klatt continued. “I already miss our conversations that we had. Like I said he was more than just a coach, but a mentor to a lot of us. And I will miss him. And Coach, I know you’re in a better place.

“So thank you for everything that you did.”