Years before his recent death, former Colorado football coach Bill McCartney had a memorable conversation with a reporter about his cruel condition.

After transforming the University of Colorado’s football team, he founded the Promise Keepers, a masculine revivalist group that drew millions of supporters.

The University of Colorado is honoring former football head coach Bill McCartney in a free memorial event that will be open to the public. McCartney was 84 when he died peacefully, his family said.