There’s no doubt that football is huge in the state of Colorado, and one of the state’s biggest secrets on the gridiron is the Northern Colorado Bears. As an FCS program, fans can usually find cheap Northern Colorado football tickets, with bigger programs sometimes overshadowing them. However, the Bears have a history that dates back to 1893 and a championship pedigree. They have continued to rise through the ranks over the years, building the kind of tradition and fanbase that puts last-minute Northern Colorado football tickets in high demand.

Starting to Growl

The first great era of Northern Colorado football came under head coach Bob Blasi, who took over the program in 1966. In 1969, he led the Bears to an undefeated season and their first conference championship in over two decades. Between 1969 and 1980, the Bears would win six conference titles despite playing in three different conferences during that time.

Championship Time

During the 1990s, Northern Colorado became a powerhouse at the Division II level. The Bears made the Division II playoffs seven times during that decade under the guidance of head coach Joe Glenn. More importantly, Glenn led Northern Colorado to back-to-back national championships in 1996 and 1997. In his final four seasons with the Bears, Glenn coached UNC to a 47-9, winning three conference titles and two national championships, putting Northern Colorado on the football map.

The Sky is the Limit

With a pair of Division II national championships in the trophy case, Northern Colorado made a move up to the FCS level, joining the Big Sky Conference in 2006. The move was not an easy one for the Bears, who struggled mightily to find their footing at the higher level. But in 2021, one of Colorado’s most beloved figures, Ed McCaffrey, took over the program. With the former Super Bowl champion taking the reins, there is hope for a bright football future for the Bears.