Background
Sal was born in Oceanside, California, in northern San Diego County. He was raised there with his six siblings.
Sal was born in Oceanside, California, in northern San Diego County. He was raised there with his six siblings.
Aunese chose to attend the University of Colorado after heavy recruiting from Colorado assistant coach Les Miles and Colorado head coach Bill McCartney.
Aunese was from Oceanside, California in San Diego County and was of Samoan descent. He died from inoperable stomach cancer and lung cancer on September 23, 1989 at the age of 21. His playing at Vista High attracted interest from several college programs including the University of Nebraska and the University of Colorado.
Aunese"s final high school transcript and his low ACT scores caused him to fall under the 1983 Convention Proposal Number.
48, commonly referred to as Prop 48. Because of this provision, he would miss the freshman year of his college career.
Because of the Prop 48 conditions, Aunese missed his first year of eligibility with the team in 1986. He came into the 1987 season and soon took over the starting job at quarterback that same year.
In 1987, he led the Buffaloes to a 7–4 record but the team failed to reach a bowl game.
In 1988, the team finished with an 8–4 record but lost in the Freedom Bowl to Brigham Young University. During his participation in the Freedom Bowl, coaches, players, and family noticed that Aunese was not his usual self. Teammates told him he looked sluggish on the field and family members wished he would be taken out of the game.
In the months following the bowl game, Aunese experienced a multitude of different symptoms, including not participating in workouts or drills, coughing consistently, refusing food and water, and vomiting blood.
Aunese was examined in February 1989 and doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of stomach cancer which was inoperable. He was given six months to live after his initial diagnosis.
Over the course of the next several months, Aunese continued to visit Colorado games and practices, but he continued to get weaker from the cancer. He died on September 23, 1989.
Aunese"s funeral was held at Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado campus.
The auditorium was packed with over 2,000 mourners and hundreds more outside. He was buried at Eternal Hills Memorial Park located in Oceanside, California. The University of Colorado football team dedicated their season to Sal, customizing the team"s jerseys with the name "Sal" sewn into their sleeves. They ended their season 11–1, losing the Orange Bowl to the University of Notre Dame.