Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in CSU Football History -- Rams Welcome Air Force to WAC with 21-9 win
9/6/2017 9:39:00 AM | Football
CSU quarterback Steve Fairchild throws for 322 yards in the victory
by John Hirn
ColoradoAggies.com
September 6, 1980 – Colorado State played their its football game against Air Force in 1957, but it was not until the opening day of the 1980 football season that the Falcons joined an athletic conference. The Falcons, under head coach Ken Hatfield joined the Western Athletic Conference in the 1980 season and kicked off at Hughes Stadium before 26,017 fans on a hot afternoon.
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Rams Coach Sark Arslanian decided to use some of his famous mind games on the Falcons by making a uniform change to psych out his players and the Air Force players too. Due to the heat, Arslanian opted to have the Rams wear their road white jerseys rather than the customary heavy green home jerseys. Air Force would have to take the field at Hughes Stadium in their blue home jerseys. It was the first time in Hughes Stadium history the Rams would wear road white jerseys; the only other time came against Boise State in 2011.
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Whether it was the white jerseys or the southpaw arm of CSU quarterback Steve Fairchild, the Rams offense aired it out against the Falcons. Fairchild went 16-29 and passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns on the day. His favorite targets were Larry Jones and Alvin Lewis who combined for 205 yards. Jones was the recipient of Fairchild's first touchdown pass, a 49 yarder in the first quarter.
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The "gang green defense", coached by defensive coordinator Chester Caddas was led by CSU hall of fame inductees Kevin Sheesley, Less Browne and Kevin Call to name a few. A goal-line stand in the second quarter led to an Air Force field goal and kept the Rams in control headed to the intermission. Â
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The Rams came out in the second half with Fairchild passing to Tony Goolsby for a 38-yard touchdown play that put CSU up 14-3. The Falcons continued to try and stay in the game with a touchdown of their own, but the failed PAT left them trailing 14-9 late in the third quarter. Fairchild and the Rams offense immediately answered with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Lewis that put CSU ahead for good 21-9.
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The Rams defense held strong to keep the Falcons from scoring in the fourth quarter ending the game and opening the season in first place. The win marked the first time in Coach Sark's career at CSU that he opened the season with a win. The Rams would continue to battle for the top spot through out the entire season. A legendary Wyoming game on November 1st kept CSU in the hunt for the WAC title before the final battle in Provo that gave CSU a 5-1-1 WAC record and second place in the conference.
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ColoradoAggies.com
September 6, 1980 – Colorado State played their its football game against Air Force in 1957, but it was not until the opening day of the 1980 football season that the Falcons joined an athletic conference. The Falcons, under head coach Ken Hatfield joined the Western Athletic Conference in the 1980 season and kicked off at Hughes Stadium before 26,017 fans on a hot afternoon.
Â
Rams Coach Sark Arslanian decided to use some of his famous mind games on the Falcons by making a uniform change to psych out his players and the Air Force players too. Due to the heat, Arslanian opted to have the Rams wear their road white jerseys rather than the customary heavy green home jerseys. Air Force would have to take the field at Hughes Stadium in their blue home jerseys. It was the first time in Hughes Stadium history the Rams would wear road white jerseys; the only other time came against Boise State in 2011.
Â
Whether it was the white jerseys or the southpaw arm of CSU quarterback Steve Fairchild, the Rams offense aired it out against the Falcons. Fairchild went 16-29 and passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns on the day. His favorite targets were Larry Jones and Alvin Lewis who combined for 205 yards. Jones was the recipient of Fairchild's first touchdown pass, a 49 yarder in the first quarter.
Â
The "gang green defense", coached by defensive coordinator Chester Caddas was led by CSU hall of fame inductees Kevin Sheesley, Less Browne and Kevin Call to name a few. A goal-line stand in the second quarter led to an Air Force field goal and kept the Rams in control headed to the intermission. Â
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The Rams came out in the second half with Fairchild passing to Tony Goolsby for a 38-yard touchdown play that put CSU up 14-3. The Falcons continued to try and stay in the game with a touchdown of their own, but the failed PAT left them trailing 14-9 late in the third quarter. Fairchild and the Rams offense immediately answered with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Lewis that put CSU ahead for good 21-9.
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The Rams defense held strong to keep the Falcons from scoring in the fourth quarter ending the game and opening the season in first place. The win marked the first time in Coach Sark's career at CSU that he opened the season with a win. The Rams would continue to battle for the top spot through out the entire season. A legendary Wyoming game on November 1st kept CSU in the hunt for the WAC title before the final battle in Provo that gave CSU a 5-1-1 WAC record and second place in the conference.
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