Colorado State University Athletics
10/29/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Trio in that number reset the rushing standard
What is in a uniform number? Many players choose their numbers for superstition, some to match what they wore at other schools, but in football, uniform numbers are typically issued by position. From 1965 to 1977, three men wore the uniform number 30 who made rushing history at CSU which lasts to modern times.
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In 1965, Oscar Reed -- sometimes referred to as "Golden Shoes" -- came to Colorado State from Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he painted his shoes gold. Reed, wearing  No. 30 immediately tore up the Colorado Field turf following his one year on the freshman team and broke the school's all-time rushing record almost immediately. He was the first player to break 900 yards in a season, just missing the mark in 1966. Reed had a sense of rushing no other player at CSU had in its history to that time and his talents almost led to the Rams being invited to the Blue Bonnet Bowl in 1966.
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Reed never got to play at Hughes Stadium but proudly told the story that he was part of the construction crew as a student athlete in 1967-68. He finished his three-year career at CSU with 550 attempts, ranked seventh on today's all-time list and set the school career record for rushing at 2,581 yards in 1967. He went on to play seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and one with the Atlanta Falcons between 1968 and 1975, winning the last NFL championship game in 1969.
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In 1968, Lawrence McCutcheon arrived to play on the freshman team at CSU and from 1969 to 1971 shattered Reed's numbers by becoming the first single-season 1,000-yard rusher in school history. McCutcheon, who passed away this past weekend, brought a level of rushing not matched by Reed and did it with uniform number 30. During those three seasons, McCutcheon, known as "the Clutch" still ranks third on the all-time CSU attempts list with 649 and he ranks sixth on the all-time career rushing list with 2,917 yards.
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McCutcheon is the ultimate Ram and went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972 to 1979 with short stints in Denver, Seattle and Buffalo in 1980 and 1981. He played in five Pro-Bowls and one Super Bowl where he threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl IVX. The Clutch racked up 6,578 yards in the NFL on 1,521 attempts and remains one of the finest former CSU running backs to play in the NFL. Proving to be a great Ram, he worked for the NFL Rams for the remainder of his career, achieving the position of Director of Player Personnel from 2003 to 2016.
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The last of the great No. 30 players arrived in 1974 to play a full four seasons with CSU after the freshman rule ended. Ron Harris was the first four-year starter as running back and took advantage of the Hughes Stadium turf when he racked up 3,118 yards, still ranking fourth all time at CSU for career yards, passing McCutcheon. Harris also ranks second all-time at CSU for career attempts with 760, a feat only surpassed by the great Steve Bartalo. Harris led the Rams not only in rushing in the 1970s but also could return punts and holds the school record for the longest pass play during his 1977 senior season. Harris did not go on to the NFL despite his amazing CSU career.
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These three running backs who wore uniform No. 30 racked up a total of 8,616 yards on 1,959 attempts over 10 seasons of football. Had Reed and McCutcheon been allowed to play during their freshman seasons, imagine how many more yards these three athletes could have had.
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It is the most yards rushed at CSU by athletes wearing one number over a 10-season period of time. CSU will never be able to retire No. 30 with this many great athletes as outstanding players. Keep in mind, the great Gary Glick also wore that number for the 1953 season only. Any Ram running back who wears No. 30 has great shoes to fill, and one pair is still golden.
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In 1965, Oscar Reed -- sometimes referred to as "Golden Shoes" -- came to Colorado State from Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he painted his shoes gold. Reed, wearing  No. 30 immediately tore up the Colorado Field turf following his one year on the freshman team and broke the school's all-time rushing record almost immediately. He was the first player to break 900 yards in a season, just missing the mark in 1966. Reed had a sense of rushing no other player at CSU had in its history to that time and his talents almost led to the Rams being invited to the Blue Bonnet Bowl in 1966.
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Reed never got to play at Hughes Stadium but proudly told the story that he was part of the construction crew as a student athlete in 1967-68. He finished his three-year career at CSU with 550 attempts, ranked seventh on today's all-time list and set the school career record for rushing at 2,581 yards in 1967. He went on to play seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and one with the Atlanta Falcons between 1968 and 1975, winning the last NFL championship game in 1969.
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In 1968, Lawrence McCutcheon arrived to play on the freshman team at CSU and from 1969 to 1971 shattered Reed's numbers by becoming the first single-season 1,000-yard rusher in school history. McCutcheon, who passed away this past weekend, brought a level of rushing not matched by Reed and did it with uniform number 30. During those three seasons, McCutcheon, known as "the Clutch" still ranks third on the all-time CSU attempts list with 649 and he ranks sixth on the all-time career rushing list with 2,917 yards.
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McCutcheon is the ultimate Ram and went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972 to 1979 with short stints in Denver, Seattle and Buffalo in 1980 and 1981. He played in five Pro-Bowls and one Super Bowl where he threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl IVX. The Clutch racked up 6,578 yards in the NFL on 1,521 attempts and remains one of the finest former CSU running backs to play in the NFL. Proving to be a great Ram, he worked for the NFL Rams for the remainder of his career, achieving the position of Director of Player Personnel from 2003 to 2016.
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The last of the great No. 30 players arrived in 1974 to play a full four seasons with CSU after the freshman rule ended. Ron Harris was the first four-year starter as running back and took advantage of the Hughes Stadium turf when he racked up 3,118 yards, still ranking fourth all time at CSU for career yards, passing McCutcheon. Harris also ranks second all-time at CSU for career attempts with 760, a feat only surpassed by the great Steve Bartalo. Harris led the Rams not only in rushing in the 1970s but also could return punts and holds the school record for the longest pass play during his 1977 senior season. Harris did not go on to the NFL despite his amazing CSU career.
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These three running backs who wore uniform No. 30 racked up a total of 8,616 yards on 1,959 attempts over 10 seasons of football. Had Reed and McCutcheon been allowed to play during their freshman seasons, imagine how many more yards these three athletes could have had.
Â
It is the most yards rushed at CSU by athletes wearing one number over a 10-season period of time. CSU will never be able to retire No. 30 with this many great athletes as outstanding players. Keep in mind, the great Gary Glick also wore that number for the 1953 season only. Any Ram running back who wears No. 30 has great shoes to fill, and one pair is still golden.
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