Year Inducted: 2025
Nominated By: Ron Padilla
Nominated as: Athlete
High School:
Attended Pueblo South High School, where he was a four-year letterwinner in track (1972-75) and a three-year letterwinner in football (1972-74).
Achievements:
High School (Football):
● Played under coaches: Bill Sabo, Gary Salimeno, and Roxy Burns.
● Remembered as one of the most formidable running backs in Colorado of that era.
● Displayed speed and toughness running the football for the Colts.
● Played against powerhouse notables players such as Terry Miller (who became his teammate in the NFL), Craig Ryder, and Blanch Hodge.
● Played under coaches: Bill Sabo, Gary Salimeno, and Roxy Burns.
● Earned multiple selections to the All-South-Central League Team and All-State Team.
● Recognized as the high School "Football Player-of-the-Year."
Achievements:
High School (Track):
● Played under coaches John Lenhart and Gene Morenz.
● Competed in the 100 and 200-yard dash, 800 Relay, and the Long Jump for the Colts.
● Still holds the Pueblo South school record in the Long Jump (1974).
College:
Recruited by the University of Colorado upon graduating from high school.
Achievements:
College (Football):
● Played under legendary Buffaloes coach Bill Mallory.
● Played running back, wide receiver, and kick returner for CU.
● Ran a kick-off return 98 yards for a touchdown against Big 8 rival Nebraska in his junior year in Lincoln, NE.
● At Folsom Field, Ballage ran back a 106-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
● Played against big-time non-conference opponents: University of Miami, Cal Berkley, and Ohio State (OSU).
● Buffaloes’ teammates included Dave Logan, Jeff Knapple, Don Hasselbeck, Tony Reed, James Mayberry, and Mike Spivey.
● Played in two Bowl Games: OSU in the Orange Bowl and the University of Texas in the Astro Bluebonnet Bowl.
Achievements:
Professional Football:
● Played for four different professional football teams in four years.
● Drafted in the 10th round, 252nd overall of the 1979 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
● Played for Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh, who moved him to defensive back, where he was coached and developed by John Ralston.
● Played one year with the Niners, which included teammates: Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, and Tony Dungy (Another Hall of Fame coach).
● Ballage was released from San Francisco and picked up by the Buffalo Bills a year later, where he was a wide receiver under head coach Chuck Knox.
● His Bills teammates included: Joe Ferguson, Joe Cribbs, and Colorado Springs Billy Mitchell HS rival, Terry Miller.
● Played one season in Buffalo before signing with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Concordes, playing with Vince Ferragamo and the legendary Billy 'White Shoes" Johnson.
● He returned to Colorado the following year, playing for the Denver Gold, a member of the United States Football League under legendary Denver Broncos coach, Red Miller.
Personal Achievements:
● Howard is a successful entrepreneur, owning a high-end auto detailing business for over 20 years and dabbling in real estate.
● Ballage is an active volunteer, coaching his grandkids’ sports activities (track and football).
Related Activities:
● An active member of the University of Colorado Alumni "C" Club.
Personal:
Howard was a Pueblo resident for 12 years before moving to Denver, where he resides with his girlfriend Michelle. He is a proud father of two grown kids, Howie Jr. and Christa. The love of his life is his three grandkids, who include a set of twins. Howard also has recognizable family members who were similarly blessed and gifted with athletic talent in football. Both his brother Pat Ballage and his nephew Kalen Ballage have played for Division I universities, Notre Dame and Arizona State University, respectively. Both went on to careers in the NFL.
