Mark Kiszla: DU Pioneers' fiery athletic spirit instilled by a wiry cowboy who rode hard to his final breath

On a crimson and gold afternoon that sparkled like the whimsical wink often found in Daniel L.

Ritchies knowing eyes, a powerhouse Pioneers lacrosse team took the field on a University of Denver campus that might not exist without him.

Before the ninth-ranked Pioneers faced off against Johns Hopkins in front of a loud and proud capacity crowd, the school held a moment of silent appreciation for Ritchie, the longtime school chancellor who passed away last week at age 93.

Dan Ritchie meant the world to all of us Pios.

He built this thing.

The University of Denver would probably not exist today if not for Dan Ritchie, said DU lacrosse coach Matt Brown, who has been around the school since arriving on campus as a student-athlete at the turn of this century.

After a short but sweet tribute to Ritchie, who saved the school from financial ruin and the brink of academic extinction in the late 1980s, then pushed the Pioneers to compete on the highest level of college sports, the party began.

T-shirts flew into the stands in celebration of every score by the home team.

During halftime, tasty margaritas flowed at a taco bar.

Delightfully oblivious to the scoreboard, laughing children rolled down a grassy knoll adjacent to a massive Pioneers athletic complex that bears the name of DUs late, great fairy godfather.

When something made Ritchie happy, hed offer a mischievous wink that was worth 1,000 words of praise.

I got that wink the first time I met him, when Ritchie was pleased to identify me as a troublemaker.

But will you now please join me in giving him a standing ovation, because the crown jewel that is now DU was forged by the love and persistence of Ritchie, not to mention the endless generosity of his pocketbook.

When he was named chancellor of DU back in 1989, the school was primarily known for a once-powerful hockey program skating in a drafty old barn and a student body as adept at hoisting beers in Evans Avenue watering holes as academic prowess in the classroom.

Ritchie, however, was a wiry cowboy as tough as barbed wire that always believed in riding the brand.

And he was intent on branding DU as second to none, no matter the odds, from its lecture halls to playing fields across campus.

As Brown noted: You look at Dan Ritchie.

He constantly said it: If youre going to do something, you better do it to be the best.

That was his mindset.

Dan Ritchie built this thing.

He created that standard here at the University of Denver.

During the season-opener of a DU lacrosse program that advanced all the way to the sports final four a year ago, this 13-10 loss to eighth-ranked John Hopkins was a reminder that when excellence rests on those laurels, it often gets kicked in the butt.

Although midfielder Mic Kelly scored a hat trick, the Pioneers allowed Hopkins to dominate time of possession and failed to seize control after clawing back from a slow start to claim a brief 6-5 advantage in the second quarter.

It stings, said DU attacker Cody Malawsky, who scored twice and added two assists.

But we dont want it easy.

We want to play the best.

When I asked Brown what pleased him about the performance, his first response was a snort of disapproval.

Oof, he said.

There wasnt much I liked, to be honest with you.

Lots of errors, all over the place.

And errors were not going to make excuses for.

We need to be better.

I thought there were moments when we were too casual.

They dont take losing lightly on the DU campus.

Theres a crimson and gold standard to uphold.

Inspired by the vision Ritchie had for a school without a football program, a small liberal arts college that sits next to Mustards Last Stand on University Boulevard now is a legit threat to be the most successful athletic program in Colorado during any given year.

In fact, the Pioneers indeed were No.

1 in the state during the 2023-24 sports calendar, ranking 46th nationally in the Learfield Directors Cup, which awards points for all-around sports success.

From soccer to hockey and gymnastics to lacrosse, DU wants to compete with everybody and anybody.

This was the first time since 2012 that the Pios lost their season-opener in lacrosse.

But thats the risk taken when the schedule is packed with top-ranked competition from Day One.

The Blue Jays from Baltimore have long been among the bluebloods of lacrosse.

Dan Ritchie knew you dont win all the time, Brown said.

In striving to be the best, you sometimes get your butt kicked.

But how you respond to that determines if youre a champion or not.

Know what? Somewhere, somehow, I have a sneaking suspicion the late, great Cowboy Chancellor of DU would give a wink of approval to that message.

When youre constantly reaching for the stars, you cant be afraid of falling.

Ritchie was a civic treasure, whose magic sparkled in many facets of Denver life, from business to academics and the arts to sports.

But in the end, were all gone in a blink of an eye.

His loss is huge, Brown said.

But Dan Ritchie taught us enough.

Live fearlessly and chase your dreams like theres no tomorrow..

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