Colorado State University Athletics
Rocky Mountain Showdown not just another game for the Rams
8/28/2018 6:51:00 PM | Football
Players express importance of winning, fan support
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Colorado State football team has plenty of reasons for motivation heading into the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado (Friday, 7:30 p.m. MT, CBS Sports Network).
Proving that they can beat the Buffaloes is one; the Rams have not won the Showdown since 2014 when running backs Dee Hart and Treyous Jarrels ran all over and through the CU defense in front of 63,363 fans at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.
The other is to demonstrate to the faithful CSU fan base, and themselves, that this team is capable of some special things this season.
"It's the next game; we always have to keep moving, keep playing, keep improving," senior center Colby Meeks said. "This one is special to our team and the university as a whole. I really want to get this going for the guys who didn't win a lot... It's a legacy thing. You want to keep it going for the guys before us, the guys after us."
The team's record in the showdown over the past three seasons is less than ideal, but the Rams have reason for optimism moving into the 2018 edition of the game. Head coach Mike Bobo illustrated this point by acknowledging the pain of defeat while reinforcing the importance of keeping the focus on the next game and opponent.
"We shouldn't be happy when we lose," Bobo said during Monday's press conference. "We want to beat CU, we want to beat our rivals. As a human being, does it bother you? Yeah it bothers you because you want to win. But I believe in what we're doing. I believe in our staff. I wish we would have more wins against CU but we don't. But guess what, we've got an opportunity Friday night and that's what we're getting ready for this week. Talking about the last three years is not going to help our football team win this game."
CSU nearly won the 2015 edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before ultimately losing 27-24 in overtime. The Rams outgained the Buffs 397-345 last year but could not convert the yardage advantage into points on the scoreboard, losing 17-3. The squad feels like either contest could have gone its way.
"It's no secret the last three years we've lost to them and a couple of them have been heartbreakers so I feel like just one or two snaps here and there could have gone a different way," junior wide receiver Brenden Fulton, a native of Greeley, said. "This year is the year where we can go out and prove ourselves... Maybe one or two of those plays go a different way and we start a legacy here."
For Fulton and the rest of the 38 natives of Colorado on the Rams' team, the Rocky Mountain Showdown has a special place in their hearts. What makes it even more special is the rush of running out onto the field in front of 70,000-plus fans, each of whom is heavily-clad in either green & gold or black & gold.
"[The fans] are incredible," Fulton said. "We run out under the CU fans and you hear all of them yelling at you... you look at the CU section and it's all of their black shirts and you turn around and it's all of our green shirts and it's always a test to see whose student section is bigger and louder. It's so cool to hear them on third down behind us, just going crazy or starting chants, making sure they're louder than their students. They definitely bring a lot of support for us, for this game—any game—but this game especially."
Meeks echoed the significance of fan support -- not just in rivalry games, but each and every contest.
"I don't know if fans really realize how important they are to us as a team," Meeks explained. "When we see them out there, we get really hyped up and really excited to play for them and show them what we can do. When there are more out there, [it's like] they really care about us, we really care about them, just working together."
Junior linebacker Max McDonald, who grew up in Fort Collins going to CSU football games, knows that the rivalry is incredibly important to CSU's fans, no matter their age.
"It's really cool because I grew up here and I know that this game is more than just a game on a Friday," McDonald said. "It lives on in the lunchrooms in all the elementary schools, all the middle schools. I know the conversations you have [there], so I'm excited for it. It's a really big deal.
For other natives, like junior defensive end Richard King, who hails from Aurora, it's an opportunity to play against some familiar names and in front of friends and family.
"There's definitely going to be more people in the stands, that I know fan-wise, and playing CU there are going to be players that I grew up playing against; It's like a hometown rivalry in a sense," King said.
CSU will be looking to rebound after a tough opening-week loss to Hawai'i, which saw CSU rally from a 30-point deficit to trail by just six points with over four minutes remaining before ultimately losing 43-34.Â
Tickets are still available for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at CSURams.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-491-RAMS.
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Proving that they can beat the Buffaloes is one; the Rams have not won the Showdown since 2014 when running backs Dee Hart and Treyous Jarrels ran all over and through the CU defense in front of 63,363 fans at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.
The other is to demonstrate to the faithful CSU fan base, and themselves, that this team is capable of some special things this season.
"It's the next game; we always have to keep moving, keep playing, keep improving," senior center Colby Meeks said. "This one is special to our team and the university as a whole. I really want to get this going for the guys who didn't win a lot... It's a legacy thing. You want to keep it going for the guys before us, the guys after us."
The team's record in the showdown over the past three seasons is less than ideal, but the Rams have reason for optimism moving into the 2018 edition of the game. Head coach Mike Bobo illustrated this point by acknowledging the pain of defeat while reinforcing the importance of keeping the focus on the next game and opponent.
"We shouldn't be happy when we lose," Bobo said during Monday's press conference. "We want to beat CU, we want to beat our rivals. As a human being, does it bother you? Yeah it bothers you because you want to win. But I believe in what we're doing. I believe in our staff. I wish we would have more wins against CU but we don't. But guess what, we've got an opportunity Friday night and that's what we're getting ready for this week. Talking about the last three years is not going to help our football team win this game."
CSU nearly won the 2015 edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before ultimately losing 27-24 in overtime. The Rams outgained the Buffs 397-345 last year but could not convert the yardage advantage into points on the scoreboard, losing 17-3. The squad feels like either contest could have gone its way.
"It's no secret the last three years we've lost to them and a couple of them have been heartbreakers so I feel like just one or two snaps here and there could have gone a different way," junior wide receiver Brenden Fulton, a native of Greeley, said. "This year is the year where we can go out and prove ourselves... Maybe one or two of those plays go a different way and we start a legacy here."
For Fulton and the rest of the 38 natives of Colorado on the Rams' team, the Rocky Mountain Showdown has a special place in their hearts. What makes it even more special is the rush of running out onto the field in front of 70,000-plus fans, each of whom is heavily-clad in either green & gold or black & gold.
"[The fans] are incredible," Fulton said. "We run out under the CU fans and you hear all of them yelling at you... you look at the CU section and it's all of their black shirts and you turn around and it's all of our green shirts and it's always a test to see whose student section is bigger and louder. It's so cool to hear them on third down behind us, just going crazy or starting chants, making sure they're louder than their students. They definitely bring a lot of support for us, for this game—any game—but this game especially."
Meeks echoed the significance of fan support -- not just in rivalry games, but each and every contest.
"I don't know if fans really realize how important they are to us as a team," Meeks explained. "When we see them out there, we get really hyped up and really excited to play for them and show them what we can do. When there are more out there, [it's like] they really care about us, we really care about them, just working together."
Junior linebacker Max McDonald, who grew up in Fort Collins going to CSU football games, knows that the rivalry is incredibly important to CSU's fans, no matter their age.
"It's really cool because I grew up here and I know that this game is more than just a game on a Friday," McDonald said. "It lives on in the lunchrooms in all the elementary schools, all the middle schools. I know the conversations you have [there], so I'm excited for it. It's a really big deal.
For other natives, like junior defensive end Richard King, who hails from Aurora, it's an opportunity to play against some familiar names and in front of friends and family.
"There's definitely going to be more people in the stands, that I know fan-wise, and playing CU there are going to be players that I grew up playing against; It's like a hometown rivalry in a sense," King said.
CSU will be looking to rebound after a tough opening-week loss to Hawai'i, which saw CSU rally from a 30-point deficit to trail by just six points with over four minutes remaining before ultimately losing 43-34.Â
Tickets are still available for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at CSURams.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-491-RAMS.
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Players Mentioned
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Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28