Orange Crush 6 -0 Is Colorado's Weather

Lyle Martin Alzado (April 3, 1949 – May 14, 1992) was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League who played 15 seasons for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders. He was drafted in the 4th round (79th overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at Yankton College.

Throughout his career, Alzaldo was famous for his intense and intimidating style of play. In 196 career games, he racked up 112.5 sacks and earned two Pro Bowl selections in 1977 and 1978. He would spend his last years in the league with the Oakland Raiders where he would win a championship in Super Bowl XVIII. Alzado died after a battle with cancer in 1992 at the age of 43.

Orange Crush Defense was the 3-4 defense of the Denver Broncos during the 1970s. It was one of the top defenses of its time with Linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, with Gradishar as a potential Hall of Famer.

Other key Crushers were defensive linemen Lyle Alzado, and Rubin Carter, linebackers Bob Swenson and Joe Rizzo, and defensive backs Billy Thompson and Louis Wright. Joe Collier was the defensive co-ordinator, defensive line coach Stan Jones (HOF '91), and head coach Red Miller.

In their Super Bowl XII season in 1977, The Crush had the NFL's number-one defense against the rush though the Broncos were 27th out of 28 teams against the pass.

The team derived their name from their orange, blue and white uniforms and a popular soft drink, Orange Crush.

The Orange Crush uniforms were replaced in 1997 by the team's current Nike/Perisco Blue uniforms.

Last time Broncos were 5 -0 was 1998

First came the hugging. Then came the four screaming fist-pumps and the always crowd-pleasing double-fist shake. Then Josh McDaniels jumped into the arms of defensive end Kenny Peterson(notes) the way a 4-year old kid dives into a pile of leaves.

Time-permitting, the Denver Broncos head coach might have ripped off his shirt Hulk Hogan-style and proclaimed he was going to Disneyland.

It was one of the rarest sights you’ll ever see in an NFL October – a Super Bowl-style celebration after a Week 5 victory. To some, McDaniels’ pure merriment after Sunday’s 20-17 overtime win over New England might have seemed a tad disrespectful. Maybe even a little amateur. But I think it’s exactly what this league needs. And the fact that it came after cameras showed Bill Belichick sour-mugging his way off the field only made it more refreshing.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels salutes the crowd after the Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-17 in overtime.

(AP Photo/Chris Schneider)

Maybe it didn’t fall perfectly into the coaches mantra of “acting like you’ve been there before,” but it was true emotion in the moment. And in a league where deception and forced composure is viral among head coaches, we should all take unbridled enthusiasm where we can get it. We need some McDaniels joy. We need some good-natured trash-talking, a la the New York Jets’ Rex Ryan. We need someone to say, “It’s OK not to do it like New England. I’m going to be me.”

And for a moment, McDaniels delivered just that, reacting in true fashion to what has been a monumental start. Not only did Sunday’s win over the Patriots push his team to a stunningly unpredictable 5-0 start, but it thrust the Broncos into the “contender” conversation. Their record is no longer propped up on the league’s also-rans. Even if you didn’t think beating Dallas last week was all that impressive, you have to respect a win over New England. Particularly when you know how Belichick feels about facing his former assistant coaches.

Now you look at Denver, and all of the offseason issues couldn’t seem more distant. Jay Cutler(notes)? He might as well be Jake Plummer(notes). In five weeks, McDaniels and the Broncos have found a way to make all the negativity dissipate. Wideout Brandon Marshall(notes) is beloved again. And Kyle Orton(notes)? His numbers through five games, factored along with the undefeated start, have to put him in the league’s top 10 quarterback conversation. Unthinkable, but true.

So McDaniels has earned the right for a little celebration. He’s deserving of some unbridled passion. But if you’d rather have a guy with a dead-fish handshake and who coaches like he’s auditing your taxes, I can think of a few places for you. In a refreshing turn, Denver isn’t it.

By Charles Robinson,

CSU-Pueblo Football Schedule

Aug 29, 2009	Eastern New Mexico	7:00 PM	W, 28-23	Boxscore Recap
Sep 5, 2009	at Northwestern Okla.	6:00 PM	L, 34-28	Boxscore Recap
Sep 12, 2009	Fort Lewis *	6:00 PM	W, 38-0	Boxscore Recap
Sep 19, 2009	at Chadron State *	12:00 PM	W, 28-17	Boxscore Recap
Sep 26, 2009	Colorado School of Mines *	2:00 PM	L, 31-7	Boxscore Recap
Oct 3, 2009	at Nebraska-Kearney *	12:00 PM		Live stats Video Audio
Oct 10, 2009	Mesa State *	6:00 PM		Live stats Video Audio
Oct 17, 2009	at New Mexico Highlands *	7:00 PM		Video Audio
Oct 24, 2009	Western State *	2:00 PM		Live stats Video Audio
	Homecoming
Oct 31, 2009	Western New Mexico *	2:00 PM		Live stats Video Audio
	Hall of Fame Game
Nov 7, 2009	at Adams State *	12:00 PM		Live stats Video Audio
Home games in red. * = Conference games. All times Mountain Standard Time

RMAC Football Standings

	RMAC	All
Nebraska-Kearney	3-0	4-1
Colorado School of Mines	3-0	3-2
Mesa State	3-0	3-2
CSU-Pueblo	2-1	3-2
Western State	2-1	2-3
Chadron State	1-2	2-3
Adams State	1-2	1-4
Western New Mexico	0-3	1-3
Fort Lewis	0-3	1-4
New Mexico Highlands	0-3	0-5

The Bell Game

Pueblo Central 29, Pueblo Centennial 20

At Dutch Clark Stadium: Pueblo Central improved to 5-0 after a hard-fought win over its bitter rival in the 109th installment of the Bell Game.

Pueblo County 26, East 20

Castle View 33, Pueblo South 0

Montrose 42, Pueblo West 21

Canon City 35, Alamosa 0