With All-American John Elway moving on to the NFL, Paye won the starting job at quarterback as a true freshman in 1983, and also started at point guard that year for the Cardinal basketball team; he was the last NCAA Division I athlete to start in both football and basketball as a freshman.
With All-American John Elway leaving for the NFL, Paye secured the starting quarterback position as a true freshman in 1983, and also began playing at point guard that year for the Cardinal basketball team; he was the last NCAA Division I athlete to start in both football and basketball as a freshman.