Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Tim O'Hara
Rams recognize significance of Saturday
8/22/2017 5:06:00 PM | Football
CSU preparing for tough opponent in Oregon State
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State Head Coach Mike Bobo met with the media on Monday for the first game-week press conference of 2017. Bobo quickly acknowledged the significance of Saturday as not just a football game, but as something the entire campus and Fort Collins community can cherish.
"We have a big responsibility this year," Bobo stated. "We are opening a new on-campus stadium. Our fans, our community; everyone is excited. We as a football program have a big responsibility."
The team has been preparing for Aug. 26 since the end of last season. The first game at the new on-campus stadium has been center of conversation for months, and the team grasps the magnitude of the opportunity in front of them.
"That's why we've been talking about it since January," Bobo said. "We've been talking about this moment and the excitement that's going to be in the air. The expectations of this football program and this team. The magnitude of this week. It's the first week back in school with classes starting. Our first time we've had a game on campus in almost 50 years. We've talked about all these things, but we continue to talk about what we have to do to be ready."
Mostly, the Rams need to be ready for a tough first foe – Pac-12 member Oregon State. Bobo appreciates the work that Beavers head coach Gary Andersen has done in Corvallis, as the former Utah State coach enters his third season at the helm. Bobo also noted the presence of Beavers running back Ryan Nall, who ran for 951 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry last year.
"We have a very tough opponent in Oregon State," Bobo said. "Coach Andersen has done a great job there… they're very well coached. Offensively they probably have one of the biggest backfields in the country. The guy that comes to mind is [Ryan] Nall, their running back. He runs with power, he has great vision, he has balance and he has straightaway speed. It's going to be a big challenge for our defense in stopping their run."
CSU's offense thrived over the second half of the 2016 season, averaging 47.8 points and 533.8 yards per game for the final six contests. However, the squad is aware that Oregon State will certainly be on its A-game on Saturday.
"Defensively, they do a great job of playing their 3-4 defense and bringing a number of blitzes and a number of coverages behind those blitzes," Bobo said. "It's their first game of the season too so they're excited. I'm sure they're preparing just like we are and it's going to be a big challenge, and we are looking forward to that challenge on August 26th."
"We have a big responsibility this year," Bobo stated. "We are opening a new on-campus stadium. Our fans, our community; everyone is excited. We as a football program have a big responsibility."
The team has been preparing for Aug. 26 since the end of last season. The first game at the new on-campus stadium has been center of conversation for months, and the team grasps the magnitude of the opportunity in front of them.
"That's why we've been talking about it since January," Bobo said. "We've been talking about this moment and the excitement that's going to be in the air. The expectations of this football program and this team. The magnitude of this week. It's the first week back in school with classes starting. Our first time we've had a game on campus in almost 50 years. We've talked about all these things, but we continue to talk about what we have to do to be ready."
Mostly, the Rams need to be ready for a tough first foe – Pac-12 member Oregon State. Bobo appreciates the work that Beavers head coach Gary Andersen has done in Corvallis, as the former Utah State coach enters his third season at the helm. Bobo also noted the presence of Beavers running back Ryan Nall, who ran for 951 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry last year.
"We have a very tough opponent in Oregon State," Bobo said. "Coach Andersen has done a great job there… they're very well coached. Offensively they probably have one of the biggest backfields in the country. The guy that comes to mind is [Ryan] Nall, their running back. He runs with power, he has great vision, he has balance and he has straightaway speed. It's going to be a big challenge for our defense in stopping their run."
CSU's offense thrived over the second half of the 2016 season, averaging 47.8 points and 533.8 yards per game for the final six contests. However, the squad is aware that Oregon State will certainly be on its A-game on Saturday.
"Defensively, they do a great job of playing their 3-4 defense and bringing a number of blitzes and a number of coverages behind those blitzes," Bobo said. "It's their first game of the season too so they're excited. I'm sure they're preparing just like we are and it's going to be a big challenge, and we are looking forward to that challenge on August 26th."
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