Now in his seventh season leading the Colorado men's basketball program, Tad Boyle had the pleasure of meeting Rashaan Salaam several times over the years.
JR Payne is only in her first season as the head coach of the CU women's basketball program and never enjoyed a similar meeting, yet that hasn't stopped her from invoking the legendary running back's accomplishments on the recruiting trail.
These are just a few examples of the wide-ranging, and long-lasting, influence Salaam made within the CU athletics department. As Salaam was laid to rest on Friday following his death in an apparent suicide earlier this week, the leaders of CU's basketball programs offered their condolences and reflections on losing one of the Buffaloes' all-time greats.