NAMES IN THE NEWS : Colorado QB’s Life May Be Film

Hollywood is interested in filming a story about Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who died of inoperable stomach cancer Sept. 23.

Beverly Hills agent Ed Hookstratten has been retained by the Aunese family to represent its dealings with movie studios interested in the life of the late athlete.

Hookstratten told the Rocky Mountain News he was negotiating with “two major (studios) and a giant independent” for a movie about Aunese. He declined to discuss how much money the story might be worth to Aunese’s family or which studios are involved.

The family, Hookstratten said, contacted him about a month ago. He called the Aunese story one of “tremendous appeal and courage.”

When he became ill in the spring of 1989, Aunese’s teammates dedicated their season to him, then finished 11-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally. The Buffaloes can win the national championship by beating Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1.