For the next couple weeks we will be counting down the top 15 Colorado football players since the 2005-2006 season. Of course, it’s not the most fun decade to be looking at, but I think the down period created an interesting challenge when creating this list.

As it always goes with these lists, there is not an exact formula to determine the top 15, I tried to weigh a player’s success at CU over all other factors, but of course things like NFL success and fan favorite status creeped into the decision making process.

I’m sure people will disagree with placement, or certain players being left off, but that’s part of the fun of these, so as we work down the list, let me know where you disagree!

#13 George Hypolite

Ahh “The Rabid Goldfish” number 13 on this list, but number one on the list of best nicknames of the last decade. We’ll do that list later. Just kidding, no we won’t. Wait, actually lets do it now.

5) Brett “God” Brady (Yes, yes I did just make that up.)

4) Rodney “Speedy” Stewart

3) Tyler “Gucci Ty” McCulloch

2) Spencer “The Mayor” Dinwiddie

1) George “The Rabid Goldfish” Hypolite

Hypolite, of course, earned the nickname when Cartman from South Park announced the Buffs starting lineup on ESPN, against Nebraska in 2007.

“The defensive front is led by George “The Rabid Goldfish” Hypolite,” Cartman announced. “He’s not really called that, I just made that up.”

The rest is history.

Speaking of history, let’s get back to George.

Hypolite played some in during his freshman year, but his game really came around as a sophomore. He put on 15 pounds before the season, and began to wreak havoc. That year he had 50 tackles, including 13 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, he was named honorable mention All-Big XII.

Hypolite’s junior season he played in 13 games including the Independence Bowl (remember those?), in those efforts, Hyp tallied a team best 6 sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. He was named first-team All-Big XII by the associated press and the leagues coaches. But possibly Hypolite’s greatest accolade was that he was one of 11 players in the nation named to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, an honor given to those who best served their community. Here’s what the AFCA said about George’s service when he won the award:

“George Hypolite, DT, Junior, Colorado: Volunteered at the Boulder homeless shelter and participated in a food drive and an Angel Tree project to provide gifts to children and senior citizens in need during the holiday season … In his hometown of Los Angeles, participates in Project Angel Food in which he helped prepare food for homebound AIDS and cancer patients … Volunteers in Read with the Buffs, a program in which he reads designated books to elementary students and coordinates a Q&A session with the students afterward.”

Sounds more like a giant teddy bear than a rabid goldfish.

As a senior, he was recognized again for his community service when he received the Robbie Robinson Award for community service, he also received Colorado’s team award for academic excellence, and was recognized as the best interview on the team by the media. On the field he received second-team All-Big XII honors.

The Rabid Goldfish, good player, great person.

Previous players:

#14 – Greg Henderson

#15 – David Bakhtiari