Darrell Blair ('97) returned to his alma mater in fall 2012 after a media career in newspapers and management. He was thrilled to return to Colorado State University and work for a program to which he owes a tremendous debt.

Blair serves as a special instructor in the journalism department -- teaching news writing, reporting and sports writing/advanced reporting courses in addition to professional communication classes for non-Liberal Arts majors. His research interests include sports media and journalism, its effects and how broad social issues (such as race, deviance, gender) appear and are communicated via sport-specific contexts. Coverage of college football, the former Bowl Championship Series and recruiting especially intrigue him.

For nearly a decade, Blair was a professional newspaper reporter. He covered the Denver Broncos for eight seasons, including the team's victories in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII and the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. He also covered the Colorado Avalanche, the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, the 2001 NHL All-Star Game, four NHL Western Conference Finals and the retirement of Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy.

In his newspaper tenure, Blair worked as a columnist covering Denver pro sports and the Colorado State University football team, as well as writing a weekly front-page column on outdoors and recreation. As glamorous as it may seem, Blair admits he covered more than his share of high school sports and was often found chained to the sports desk late at night working as a page designer and copy editor.

In addition to The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan, Blair's work has been published by USA Today, Rocky Mountain News, Dallas Morning News, Arizona Republic, Florida Today, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Wichita Eagle, The (Grand Junction) Daily Sentinel, The Greeley Tribune, Loveland Reporter-Herald and Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin. Blair also has been a featured TV guest and participated in radio shows in both the United States and Canada.

Blair left the reporting ranks in late 2004 to join the University of Northern Colorado. Until June 2008, Blair worked as the general manager for The Mirror, the all-student run newspaper at UNC. Additionally, he taught introductory news writing courses at UNC for six semesters.

When he is not reading, writing or grading, Blair enjoys spending time outdoors and watching CSU sports, college football, the Denver Broncos and hockey. Whenever possible, Blair unmercifully antagonizes his black Labrador, Thurman.