Colorado State University Athletics
2016 Black History Month Feature: Alex Burl
2/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 16, 2016 By John Hirn
CSU Athletic Historian
Alex Burl graduated from Denver's Manual High School in 1950 and when he was given the chance to attend college, he turned his sights on Colorado A&M. It was not because of the facilities or the hiking trails, but rather because he had watched two athletes in action that inspired him to come to Colorado A&M.
Burl, who passed away in December of 2009, was interviewed in January 2008 about his playing days at Colorado A&M. He said that he watched other African American athletes like Eddie Hanna and George Jones play football for the Aggies. Those athletes made Burl believe that he too could play a college sport thanks to the Aggies coaches that invited black athletes to play in Fort Collins.
Hanna, the legendary halfback and star of the Raisin Bowl who tragically died on the team train in 1949 inspired Burl, but it was Jones, the school's first black athlete to play and letter in basketball and track who was a mentor to the young freshman in 1950.
Alex Burl was an outstanding football player both as a defensive back and as a halfback, but it was his ability in track that made him a true CSU legend. Burl was an expert in the 100-yard dash, a sprinter who tore up the Skyline Conference in 1951 and 1952. He helped the Colorado A&M track team win the conference championship and also took home the individual championship of 1952 in the 100-yard dash.
In the spring of 1952, Burl along with teammate Gordon Riddell went to the NCAA Track and Field Championships with Coach "Doc" Taylor. Burl not only became the first black athlete from CSU to compete in an NCAA tournament, he finished 5th in the nation and became the first black athlete in any sport at CSU to win an All-American Award.
Burl's performance in 1952 qualified him for the Olympic Trials, but he just missed a spot on the roster. Burl once again led the track team in 1953 and helped them to another conference championship, but barely missed winning the individual championship.
By 1954, Burl truly excelled during his senior season and although his team just missed the conference title, he won the individual championship in the 100 and 220-yard dash. This time, new track coach Vern McHone took Burl and again Riddell to Ann Arbor, Michigan to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Burl took home two All-American Awards, including a third place finish in the 100-yard dash. In all he garnered three All-American Awards, numerous conference championships and won the Rocky Mountain AAU championships in the 100 in 1952, 1953 and 1954.
Alex Burl continued to pioneer for his alma mater after his graduation following a brief stint in the Army, he became the first black football player from CSU to play in the NFL. Burl spent two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before settling in as an accomplished educator in Denver for many years.
In 2000, Burl was inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame; just two years before his mentor George Jones. Two of his grandsons, Davis and Cameron played football for the Rams in the late 2000s carrying on his athletic legacy for CSU.
CSU fans might not remember seeing Alex Burl in action, but history shows how important his legacy is to the diversity of student-athletes 62 years after he ran his last sprint for the Aggies.
CSU Athletic Historian
Alex Burl graduated from Denver's Manual High School in 1950 and when he was given the chance to attend college, he turned his sights on Colorado A&M. It was not because of the facilities or the hiking trails, but rather because he had watched two athletes in action that inspired him to come to Colorado A&M.
Burl, who passed away in December of 2009, was interviewed in January 2008 about his playing days at Colorado A&M. He said that he watched other African American athletes like Eddie Hanna and George Jones play football for the Aggies. Those athletes made Burl believe that he too could play a college sport thanks to the Aggies coaches that invited black athletes to play in Fort Collins.
Hanna, the legendary halfback and star of the Raisin Bowl who tragically died on the team train in 1949 inspired Burl, but it was Jones, the school's first black athlete to play and letter in basketball and track who was a mentor to the young freshman in 1950.
Alex Burl was an outstanding football player both as a defensive back and as a halfback, but it was his ability in track that made him a true CSU legend. Burl was an expert in the 100-yard dash, a sprinter who tore up the Skyline Conference in 1951 and 1952. He helped the Colorado A&M track team win the conference championship and also took home the individual championship of 1952 in the 100-yard dash.
In the spring of 1952, Burl along with teammate Gordon Riddell went to the NCAA Track and Field Championships with Coach "Doc" Taylor. Burl not only became the first black athlete from CSU to compete in an NCAA tournament, he finished 5th in the nation and became the first black athlete in any sport at CSU to win an All-American Award.
Burl's performance in 1952 qualified him for the Olympic Trials, but he just missed a spot on the roster. Burl once again led the track team in 1953 and helped them to another conference championship, but barely missed winning the individual championship.
By 1954, Burl truly excelled during his senior season and although his team just missed the conference title, he won the individual championship in the 100 and 220-yard dash. This time, new track coach Vern McHone took Burl and again Riddell to Ann Arbor, Michigan to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Burl took home two All-American Awards, including a third place finish in the 100-yard dash. In all he garnered three All-American Awards, numerous conference championships and won the Rocky Mountain AAU championships in the 100 in 1952, 1953 and 1954.
Alex Burl continued to pioneer for his alma mater after his graduation following a brief stint in the Army, he became the first black football player from CSU to play in the NFL. Burl spent two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before settling in as an accomplished educator in Denver for many years.
In 2000, Burl was inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame; just two years before his mentor George Jones. Two of his grandsons, Davis and Cameron played football for the Rams in the late 2000s carrying on his athletic legacy for CSU.
CSU fans might not remember seeing Alex Burl in action, but history shows how important his legacy is to the diversity of student-athletes 62 years after he ran his last sprint for the Aggies.
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