Colorado State University Athletics
Mike Bobo speaks at annual Kickoff Luncheon
7/12/2017 5:51:00 PM | Football
Coach Bobo joins state's college football head coaches for annual media and fan gathering
Mike Bobo and his fellow state of Colorado college football head coaches took the stage Wednesday for the annual College Football Kickoff Luncheon hosted by the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. The annual gathering provides an opportunity for media and fans from around the state to talk college football as the upcoming season approaches.
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun, Colorado's Mike MacIntyre, CSU-Pueblo's John Wristen and Northern Colorado's Earnest Collins joined Bobo for the annual event, which included a question-and-answer session hosted by Air Force radio play-by-play voice Jim Arthur.
Bobo was asked about the team's early start to preseason camp, with an Aug. 26 opening game looming against Oregon State.
"It has been a short summer for our guys and a shorter summer for our coaches," Bobo said. "Summer is a time for us to get away with our families, and we did get away, but I had to shorten our coaches' vacation a little bit because in 12 days we'll hit the gas. But we're excited and looking forward to it."
The Aug. 26 season opener also will be the Rams' first game in their new on-campus stadium, a point that dominates any conversion about Colorado State football, and that was evident again Wednesday both on the luncheon panel and in the numerous media interviews.
"We're obviously excited," Bobo said. "I'm excited for Colorado State and I'm excited for the Fort Collins community. When I took the job, it was in the works to build an on-campus stadium and it was going to be an awesome thing."
The football program has moved into its new offices and the team will begin to move into its new locker room in the next week. Bobo has been impressed by what he has seen.
"Now that it is a reality, you see the structure and the facility and it is a beautiful facility," Bobo said. "It was done first class. We can't wait to get in it. Our kids are anxious. We had our first staff meeting on Monday morning in it. We've been in three days now. At the same time, our message has been all summer the responsibility we have after all that has been invested into the stadium and facility: that we earn it every day. We earn the right to go in there every day and represent Colorado State the right way."
The need to make every day count is not only tied to the Aug. 26 opener, but to the weeks beyond. The Rams follow the Oregon State game with a visit to Denver six days later to face their rival, Colorado, in the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown. Two weeks later comes a trip to Alabama. Bobo knows what challenge—and opportunity—awaits his experienced squad.
"It's obviously a big-time opportunity to open our stadium against a Pac-12 opponent with Oregon State, then get to play in the Rocky Mountain Showdown," Bobo said. "I think it is a great environment for our kids playing at Mile High Stadium where the Broncos play, and other NFL teams play, and it is half of your fan base and half of CU's fan base. There is a lot of excitement there in that game. And to play a team that was very close to playing in the playoff last year. So we have challenges, but that is what you want. You want those high expectations. We talk about them all the time. You want to be in a place where the expectations are high. We're excited about the schedule, it is a difficult task but we're looking forward to it."
 Bobo's team will face that challenge being led at the quarterback position by senior Nick Stevens, who earned that assignment after finishing last season among the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation after regaining his starting job in midseason. Bobo was pleased with the way Stevens used his time as a backup to prepare for his next opportunity, and his preparation showed when that time came.
"Sometimes those are just words and kids get into a funk, but Nick did not get into a funk," Bobo said. "He continued to work, he continued to improve and he didn't wait for his opportunity to come on game day. He took his next opportunity as the next practice and he improved. And I think he gained the respect of our football team and our coaches so when the time came and Collin (Hill) had the injury, Nick stepped right in and the guys believed in him."
The Rams report for the initial portion of preseason camp July 23. Bobo, Stevens and senior linebacker Deonte Clyburn will take part in the annual Mountain West Media Summit July 25-26 in Las Vegas, and the first full team practice is set for Friday, July 28.
To purchase season tickets, three-game mini-plans or Rocky Mountain Showdown tickets, go online to CSURams.com/tickets or call the Rams Sales Team at 800-491-RAMS (7267). Tickets also may be purchased during regular business hours at the McGraw Athletic Center Ticket Office and the Ram Zone retail outlet on College Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins (172 N. College).
