A native of Columbus, Ohio, he played college football as a linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983.
He suffered a knee injury in the fourth game of the 1983 season that ended his playing career.
[1][2] Growing up in the shadow of Ohio State University, Boren noted that he "was born and raised Buckeye" and hating Michigan.
[3] Not recruited by Ohio State,[3] Boren enrolled at the University of Michigan and played college football as a linebacker for head coach Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1980 to 1983.
[5] Boren started all 12 games at inside linebacker for the 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 9-3 record and outscored opponents, 355-162.
[7] As a junior, Boren again started all 12 games at inside linebacker for the 1982 Michigan team that compiled an 8-4 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship and outscored opponents, 345-204.
[7] As a senior, Boren started only four games, all at inside linebacker, for the 1983 Wolverines.
When he graduated from Michigan, he had a degree in education, but he had no desire to be a teacher or a coach.
On November 16, 2006, Boren was in Ann Arbor with his son where they both attended Schembechler's final address to the team before the Ohio State game.