The Colorado State University Police Department, in collaboration with local authorities, has launched an investigation into a series of threats, including death threats, directed at Colorado State defensive back Henry Blackburn and his family.
The threats stem from an incident during Saturday’s game in which Blackburn delivered a big hit on Colorado receiver/corner Travis Hunter, knocking him out of the game and sending him to the hospital.
Buffs fans were outraged over the hit which they considered late and dirty. All of this led to personal information about Blackburn and his family being posted online, leading to threatening phone calls, text messages, and social media posts.
Update: Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter will be out 3 games due to the injury he suffered in a dirty play by Colorado State, according to Deion Sanders, via @CoachReedLive
https://t.co/1gfJ4VRx9Z https://t.co/oXGkm9mD3d pic.twitter.com/TD7pSwSYbX
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2023
Colorado State Athletic Director Joe Parker expressed deep concern for Blackburn’s safety, stating: “We’re very concerned about our player’s safety, as Henry and his family have continued to receive these threats.”
“Henry never intended to put anyone in harm’s way on the football field. It’s not what we teach or coach. We hope that the irrational vitriol directed at Henry stops immediately.”
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Colorado State DB Henry Blackburn has been receiving death threats over his late hit that sent Travis Hunter to the hospital with a lacerated liver, per @PeteThamel
Blackburn had his home address and phone number leaked on social media after the game, and he… pic.twitter.com/jHoeTRLm6v
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 18, 2023
The threats began surfacing even before Colorado’s double-overtime victory, with cellphone numbers for Blackburn and his mother being published online. Furthermore, Blackburn’s campus address and his family’s home address were also disclosed.
Blackburn’s hit on Hunter quickly went viral on social media and became a major talking point in the aftermath of the game.
Hunter, who had been one of the breakout stars of the season, briefly returned to the game following the hit but was later evaluated at a local hospital. Coach Deion Sanders confirmed that Hunter would be sidelined for multiple weeks due to the injury.
Video: Colorado's Travis Hunter finally speaks about his injury, which caused him to suffer a lacerated liver.
"Just gotta get up and fight again. Good thing the doctors stopped me cuz if there was no doctors there I'd still be out there playing."pic.twitter.com/rK8aa5J5CL https://t.co/uGQJ7nmBoI
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2023
Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell expressed his dismay at the threats during his press conference yesterday, saying: “It’s just sad that that’s the state of the world we live in. It’s a football game. Let’s not make it more than that. We don’t want anybody to get hurt. We don’t coach that kind of football.”
From Coach's Monday Press Conference
On Travis Hunter: “I hope Travis gets healthy and gets back out there. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, we don’t coach that kind of football.”
📽️ https://t.co/OHHxyjcWEu pic.twitter.com/lQoauQDz6I
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) September 18, 2023
Norvell also defended Blackburn, describing the hit on Hunter as a “bang-bang play” and emphasizing that such incidents are not a part of their coaching philosophy.
Saturday’s chippy game ratcheted the Colorado-Colorado State rivalry up to an unprecedented level. The game was filled with trash talk, big hits and big plays – all leading to the Buffaloes dramatic come-from-behind victory.
https://twitter.com/Top10CFBTalk/status/1703470964263330081
What did you think about Blackburn’s hit on Henry?