Celebrating Black Excellence: Booker Sinks Stakes in Fort Collins

Colorado State University alumni have said time and time again Fort Collins is a town constantly changing, but has the same vibe as when they graduated so many years ago.

Former Ram football player Vincent Booker has had ties to Fort Collins for years since graduating in 1994 and now spends his time supporting CSU with the BT Green and Gold Shop located in Campus West.

"He's super genuine, give you the shirt off his back kinda guy," CSU assistant athletic director for equipment and operations Matt Lesser said. "(Athletic Director) Joe Parker likes to throw the term 'stalwart Ram' around a lot. Vincent is a great example of a stalwart Ram."

Booker was a letter-winning cornerback at CSU from 1991 to 1994. Though he spent a lot of time on the field practicing, he also found time to spend time with friends.

He never foresaw himself opening up a printing and embroidery shop, but he is happy his life led him to be part of the CSU community even after graduation.

"My first major was computer science," Booker said. "I wanted to make video games. That didn't work out, and that's something that I learned later with work and balancing your time. I spent a lot of time being a knucklehead and I didn't study, and I didn't go to labs. I had to change my major and then I switched to industrial technology and with that I wanted to do 3D modeling. When I graduated from CSU, I couldn't find a job, so I ended up working in juvenile corrections. Then I got into embroidery and screen printing, so I did that with another company from 1996 until 2012."

In 2012, Booker decided he wanted to open his own shop to make apparel for his alma mater.

With a small market and a big dream, Booker created a business plan to get his shop on its feet.

"The first three years were horrible, and I had a hard time because when I opened this, I had zero capital," Booker said. "I had nothing, ya know? I blew through my savings, I didn't have anything, I almost went under for my third year because I wasn't getting any work."

The BT Green and Gold shop prevailed despite the hardship of setting up a successful business.

Booker attributed much of his successes to life skills he acquired under coach Sonny Lubick and the CSU football program.

"I think everyone on the team respected Sonny, and he was more than a coach, he was a mentor," Booker said. "It was a great experience under Sonny. I learned a lot of good things. Work ethic, holding yourself accountable, just the way he was and the way he dealt with people."

Despite the town changing since his college days, Booker still hangs around Fort Collins. He chooses to dine with many of the local restaurants nestled in the city.

His favorites include the Rio and Jim's Wings, which is also located in Campus West near the Green and Gold shop.

"Fort Collins has changed a lot," Booker said. "As far as Old Town goes, I don't really hang out in Old Town anymore. I'm too old for that anyway, I can't keep up with those college kids."

Even with 27 years between graduation and where Booker stands today, one thing remains the same.

"I still bleed green and gold," Booker said. "I love Colorado State, I love the football. I love Colorado State. Fort Collins is still a cool town, I love Colorado and I love being here."

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