Herb Orvis, the seventh University of Colorado football player set for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, with CU Athletic Director Rick George during the recent National Signing Day for athletes in Boulder, Colorado.
David Plati
Herb Orvis, a new resident in PebbleCreek, received a call on January 8 that will change his life in the coming months. He was asked, “How’d you like the football, Herb?”
It took a couple more statements from Steve Hatchell, CEO of the National Football Foundation, and me before Orvis figured out that the January 8 callers were congratulating him because he had been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Known as one of the most prolific pass rushers in University of Colorado football history, Orvis is one of 14 players and two coaches in the Class of 2016 that will be inducted this December 8 at the famed Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
“First of all, it’s a great surprise,” Orvis said after learning of the honor. “I later learned the NFF sent me a commemorative football that was supposed to be my notification of the induction but the package was sent to my former home in Aurora, Colorado. So I never knew anything until that call.” It took a couple of days before the football caught up with Orvis.
“A run of vivid memories come back to mind—the players you get to play with, the coaches you played for, the games. They all eventually disappear into another life, but an honor like this brings it all back together—just the excitement of playing on a great team and the love of the game. This is truly an unexpected honor,” he said.
A near unanimous All-American at defensive end as a senior in 1971, earning recognition from five organizations, including AFCA/Kodak, Walter Camp and The Sporting News (he was a third-team Associated Press team member), Orvis was also honored as a Playboy Preseason All-American prior to the season. He played a significant role in helping CU to a 10-2 record and No. 3 final national ranking, both school-bests at the time. Colorado’s only losses came to top-ranked Nebraska and No. 2 Oklahoma and to this day, it is the only time that the same conference occupied the top three spots in a final poll.
Orvis was a first round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 1972 National Football League Draft; the 16th overall selection, it was the highest at the time that a CU defender had ever been selected. He went on to play in 122 NFL games with Detroit (1972-1977) and Baltimore (1978-1981). He was a second team NFC All-Conference performer at tackle for the Lions in 1975.
Orvis was inducted into CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in its Class of 2014 and was selected as a member of the All-Big Eight Decade Team for the 1970s and inducted into the Big Eight Hall of Fame in 1982. He also played in the 1972 Hula Bowl.
The year ahead includes many events for Orvis that lead to his induction into the Hall of Fame. He recently visited his alma mater on National Signing Day and was introduced to the audience by CU Athletic Director Rick George just prior to the press conference where Coach Mike MacIntyre announced those recruits who signed letters-of-intent with the Buffaloes.