Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: John Hirn
This Week in CSU Football History -- CSU edges New Mexico in hard-fought effort in 1993
10/31/2018 2:01:00 PM | Football
by John Hirn
CSU Athletics Historian
October 30, 1993 – For the most die-hard of Rams fan it is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since Sonny Lubick took the helm at CSU to build the greatest football era in modern school history. Lubick returned to Fort Collins in 1992, 10 years after his first assistant coaching stint brought him through the Choice City during the Leon Fuller era.
Previous head coach Earle Bruce left the coffers filled with talent, but a disappointing 5-7 season in 1992 made many wonder how Lubick could put it all together. By Halloween-eve 1993, the Rams had a 2-6 record as they headed into a cold game against the New Mexico Lobos and their top-notch quarterback Stoney Case. Snow had fallen the night before and many of the Ram faithful were still upset about Bruce's firing.
The Lobos were heavy favorites over the Rams coming into the Oct. 30, 1993 game. It was Senior Day and many Rams that had helped win the first bowl game in school history played in their last game at Hughes Stadium. With 17 seniors playing to win that last home contest, several of the underclassmen found a way to fight under their new coach.
The Lobos took control in the first half with a Case touchdown pass to David Sloan and a Nathan Vail field goal that commanded a 10-0 lead. Late in the first half, CSU cornerback Andre Strode stepped in front of a Case pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to narrow the Lobos' lead to 10-7 with 3:16 to play in the half. Case shook off the interception by driving New Mexico 82 yards down the field to end the half with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Carl Winston to claim a 17-7 lead.
Rams quarterback Anthoney Hill guided his offense 80-yards with only 90 seconds left in the first half, capped off by a TD pass from Hill to E.J. Watson. The Rams headed to the locker room only trailing by three points and filled with confidence. Confidence is what CSU needed as they came out of the Hughes Stadium tunnel for the second half and it was some encouraging words by the seniors that helped them rally in the second half.
On the first drive of the second half the Lobos only mustered a field goal to put them up 20-14, and that was all the points the New Mexico team would get the remainder of the day. The Rams defense settled in and played tough football.
With just over five minutes left on the clock and the Lobos still in control of a 20-14 lead, Rams cornerback Ray Jackson intercepted Case and returned it to the UNM 20-yard line. On the next play, Anthoney Hill passed to freshman Paul Turner for the touchdown and David Napier kicked the PAT to seal the victory at 21-20.
Lubick's Rams had their third win of the 1993 campaign, but as it turned out they would not lose a game the rest of the season. After a bye-week the Rams headed to UTEP where they destroyed the Miners 52-0 in El Paso. Then came the legendary game in Laramie to end the season where CSU beat the Cowboys 41-21 in front of a national television audience on ABC. Jackson would go on to predict the 1994 WAC Championship after the Wyoming game.
After beating New Mexico on Oct. 30, the Rams would not lose another football game for nearly one year. The 10-game win streak would be the first of two during the Lubick era and remains tied for the second-longest win streak in school history. Lubick went on to win six conference championships and take the Rams to nine bowl games over the next 15 years.
CSU Athletics Historian
October 30, 1993 – For the most die-hard of Rams fan it is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since Sonny Lubick took the helm at CSU to build the greatest football era in modern school history. Lubick returned to Fort Collins in 1992, 10 years after his first assistant coaching stint brought him through the Choice City during the Leon Fuller era.
Previous head coach Earle Bruce left the coffers filled with talent, but a disappointing 5-7 season in 1992 made many wonder how Lubick could put it all together. By Halloween-eve 1993, the Rams had a 2-6 record as they headed into a cold game against the New Mexico Lobos and their top-notch quarterback Stoney Case. Snow had fallen the night before and many of the Ram faithful were still upset about Bruce's firing.
The Lobos were heavy favorites over the Rams coming into the Oct. 30, 1993 game. It was Senior Day and many Rams that had helped win the first bowl game in school history played in their last game at Hughes Stadium. With 17 seniors playing to win that last home contest, several of the underclassmen found a way to fight under their new coach.
The Lobos took control in the first half with a Case touchdown pass to David Sloan and a Nathan Vail field goal that commanded a 10-0 lead. Late in the first half, CSU cornerback Andre Strode stepped in front of a Case pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to narrow the Lobos' lead to 10-7 with 3:16 to play in the half. Case shook off the interception by driving New Mexico 82 yards down the field to end the half with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Carl Winston to claim a 17-7 lead.
Rams quarterback Anthoney Hill guided his offense 80-yards with only 90 seconds left in the first half, capped off by a TD pass from Hill to E.J. Watson. The Rams headed to the locker room only trailing by three points and filled with confidence. Confidence is what CSU needed as they came out of the Hughes Stadium tunnel for the second half and it was some encouraging words by the seniors that helped them rally in the second half.
On the first drive of the second half the Lobos only mustered a field goal to put them up 20-14, and that was all the points the New Mexico team would get the remainder of the day. The Rams defense settled in and played tough football.
With just over five minutes left on the clock and the Lobos still in control of a 20-14 lead, Rams cornerback Ray Jackson intercepted Case and returned it to the UNM 20-yard line. On the next play, Anthoney Hill passed to freshman Paul Turner for the touchdown and David Napier kicked the PAT to seal the victory at 21-20.
Lubick's Rams had their third win of the 1993 campaign, but as it turned out they would not lose a game the rest of the season. After a bye-week the Rams headed to UTEP where they destroyed the Miners 52-0 in El Paso. Then came the legendary game in Laramie to end the season where CSU beat the Cowboys 41-21 in front of a national television audience on ABC. Jackson would go on to predict the 1994 WAC Championship after the Wyoming game.
After beating New Mexico on Oct. 30, the Rams would not lose another football game for nearly one year. The 10-game win streak would be the first of two during the Lubick era and remains tied for the second-longest win streak in school history. Lubick went on to win six conference championships and take the Rams to nine bowl games over the next 15 years.
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