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Aug 21, 2006 1:27 pm US/Mountain
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John Hessler Treated To CU Reunion At NFL Game
By David Plati, University of Colorado Associate AD/Sports Information (reprinted with permission)
BALTIMORE (CBS4) ―
Former University of Colorado quarterback John Hessler, just under 3 years removed from an automobile accident that nearly took his life, was reunited in Baltimore last Thursday with a couple of old teammates and his former quarterback mentor and head coach.
A National Football League preseason game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles served as the backdrop for a night that Hessler will never forget. The hometown Ravens won 20-10, rallying from an early 10-point deficit, which was only one of the many memories created for Hessler on the night.
Hessler, who turns 32 on Monday, flew from Denver to Baltimore, which was the first time since the accident that he boarded a plane by himself.
Making strides in his recovery daily, it was a big step for him. Another former teammate, Blake Anderson, the conduit between Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook on "The Catch" play at Michigan in 1994, drove Hessler to the airport.
Waiting on the other end to receive Hessler was the man who drew up that play, Rick Neuheisel, CU's head coach between 1995-98 and Hessler's quarterback coach in 1994 in the last year of Bill McCartney's 13-year run as Colorado's head man.
Neuheisel conceived the entire trip two weeks ago while trying to find a way to help in Hessler's recovery, as John admitted to him on one of their many phone calls that there are days "that are a struggle and I'm just not very motivated to do anything."
At one point early this week, Hessler called Neuheisel and said he wasn't going to come, that he didn't want to be a burden. Neuheisel wouldn't hear of it, cracked a private joke between the two and the trip was back on.
The pair have always been close, despite stories to the contrary from a television clip in a CU loss at Michigan in 1997; in that shot, it appeared Neuheisel was scolding Hessler on the sideline after an interception, pointing a finger in his chest. What actually transpired was that the coach was telling the player that he was "not Superman. You don't have an 'S' on your chest, so don't try to do everything by yourself." They often laugh about how everyone got that wrong.
The reunions came on the sidelines in the pregame warm-ups, with one planned as a surprise. Jeremy Bloom, a rookie receiver with the Eagles, sprinted over to greet Hessler when he first spotted him. Next out was Raven tackle Justin Bannan, who lockered next to Hessler as a freshman in 1997. Other former Buffs Michael Lewis and Donald Strickland said hello, as both play in the secondary for the Eagles, as well as Ravens rookie tight end Quinn Sypniewski, who had an outstanding senior season in Boulder last fall.
"This was awesome," Hessler said. "Flat-out awesome. I only cried once, and I can't even remember why.
"I don't know what to say, and people who know me know I always know what to say," he joked. "Every time I turned around there was a Buff here and then a Buff there. It was almost like being in Boulder."
The Ravens staff photographer snapped pictures. Former CU graduate assistant sports information director Patrick Gleason helped arrange a couple of impromptu interviews and coordinated photos back to Colorado. But the main event was about to come.
Eagle backup quarterback Koy Detmer spent four years along side of Hessler at CU, attending countless meetings with him as the two stood 1-2 on the depth chart heading into the 1995 season. When Detmer went down in the fourth game against Texas A&M, Hessler came in and rallied the Buffaloes to a 29-21 win over the No. 3 Aggies. He then started the next game at No. 10 Oklahoma, and after spotting the Sooners a 10-0 lead, threw a school record five touchdown passes as the Buffaloes decimated OU, 38-17. A star was born.
Detmer returned healthy the following season, and matched Hessler's effort the previous year in leading the Buffs to a 10-2 record and a resounding bowl victory over a Pac-10 Conference school: Hessler led the Buffs to a 38-6 dismantling of Oregon in the Cotton Bowl while Detmer rallied CU from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Washington, 33-21, in the Holiday Bowl. Detmer was drafted by the Eagles the next April, and is now in his 10th season with the club.
Detmer had no idea Hessler was coming; Neuheisel walked over to Detmer after he took the field and pointed in John's direction; Koy was shocked to see Hessler flashing his famous "Alfred E. Neumann" smile and trotted over to him, with the pair spending over 10 minutes talking and reminiscing prior to the kickoff.
"We almost immediately started talking about (Denver Bronco lineman) Matt Lepsis and how much money he's making," Hessler cracked.
"It was great to see him," Detmer said after the game. "It's probably been almost a year since I saw him last in Denver. I know he's battling hard. He had a tough accident, and not many people would have lived through that, so it's always great to see him. He's an inspiration to me, just to see him in what I do. To watch him out there, working hard every day, trying to get himself back. It was definitely a memorable surprise and I am glad Rick arranged it."
Even those with no direct association to Colorado stopped by to visit with Hess. Several players "chatted" him up, including Eagle starting quarterback Donovan McNabb and Raven quarterbacks Steve McNair and Kyle Boller, safety Ed Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis. Gleason relayed that Hessler was in "absolute awe."
Neuheisel said the funniest moment of the night came when Hessler and Lewis recalled the 1993 brawl at Folsom Field between the Buffaloes and the Miami Hurricanes. Hessler told Lewis, "Hey, remember the brawl? I sucker-punched you." Lewis laughed, as he didn't buy it. "He didn't believe me, but we can laugh about it now," Hessler said.
Hessler, decked out in Ravens gear, spent the game next to Neuheisel in the coaches' box, courtesy of head coach Brian Billick, whom he also met.
"I really enjoyed being with the coaches," Hessler said. "It felt good — it took me back to my coaching days at Regis (High School) for Jim Ryan. I was up in the box calling plays." He thought about calling a few Thursday, but that was one invitation that couldn't be extended for obvious reasons.
On Oct. 19, 2003, Hessler was basically left for dead off Interstate 76 in northeast Denver when struck by a hit-and-run driver from behind (the occupants of that vehicle were identified but never caught and are believed to have fled back to their native Mexico). His car crossed the median and was hit head on by a pickup truck; he suffered head and internal injuries and several broken bones. A Good Samaritan came to John's aid until paramedics arrived, holding John's head up so he could breathe. Hessler spent a month in a coma, and then six months in rehabilitation at Denver's Craig Hospital.
Though he may not always realize how many strides he has made in his recovery, those around certainly have. He can walk short distances, sometimes utilizes a walker or a wheelchair, and his memory seems to sharpen every day. Hessler might forget something just told to him, but then he'll come right back and rattle off the outcome of a play from the 1997 Iowa State game.
"I'm doing all right, I have good people looking after me, doing good things for me," Hessler said. "There are times when I get down, really, really down, and understandably so. Some days I am a train wreck. What really helps is that there are nice caring people like Rick or Coach Mac looking out for me."
Hessler stayed with Neuheisel at the Raven's team hotel Thursday night, and on Friday he was scheduled to eat with the Raven team, get a tour of the facilities and watch the game tape with the coaches before returning to Colorado.
At DIA, another former teammate, T.J. Cunningham, was waiting to bring him home to Brighton, completing the whirlwind two days, as Hessler said, with a Buff here, there and everywhere he turned.
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