Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in CSU Football History -- Rams Open 1994 Season to Remember with 34-21 Victory over Falcons
9/5/2018 9:41:00 AM | Football
by John Hirn
CSU Athletics Historian
Sonny Lubick's first season as head coach in 1993 ended with a three-game win streak and his team poised for a solid 1994 season. After beating Wyoming on November 20, 1993 in Laramie, Rams safety Ray Jackson said in the post-game celebration, "Look for us to win the WAC championship next year. We will be the WAC champions, definitely!"
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In the 1994 season opener, the Rams traveled to the Air Force Academy to take on another of their local rivals in the Falcons. The 1993 Ram-Falcon game in Fort Collins was a not-so-thrilling 8-5 victory in Coach Lubick's first win as the head coach at Colorado State. For Jackson's WAC Championship prediction to come true, the Rams would need a positive result against Air Force in 1994.
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September 3, 1994 also happened to be fullback E.J. Watson's 20th birthday and he was about to have a day to remember. With several members of his family in the crowd to watch him on his birthday, Watson did not disappoint his closest fans in the stands. The junior out of San Diego, California had earned his way as the starter for the Rams in 1994 and by the time the day was over he would rush for 177 yards on 34 carries as the Rams ran all over the Falcons and won, 34-21.
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The CSU offense racked up 471 yards of total offense on the day, scoring 21 points in the first half alone. Air Force Coach Fisher DeBerry said of the Rams' offense, "We let them take the ball and ram it down our throats." The Rams needed every bit of that offensive effort, with a lack-luster defensive performance in the first half. The Rams' defense finally did wake up in the second half and held the Falcons to only 55 yards of total offense.
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While 43,979 fans at Falcon stadium watched in awe, CSU fans were treated to one of the greatest seasons in CSU football history for the remainder of 1994.
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The 1994 season was without question "Every Fan's Dream" as author John Karbula's aptly titled book stated. Karbula followed the Rams all season writing how the year progressed; he could not have picked a better year to publish a book about CSU Football. The Rams went on to win the next six games, including the legendary upset over sixth-ranked Arizona in Tucson and climbed to No. 12 in the AP polls, the highest in school history to that date.
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The Rams sat at No. 12 in the nation with a 7-0 record, before the No. 18 Utah Utes finally gave CSU their only regular season loss, a 45-31 upset before 39,107 fans at Hughes Stadium; still the largest crowd to see a CSU football game in Fort Collins. Then a near miss against Wyoming would have put the dream season to bed, if it had not been for the fake punt by Matt McDougal that rallied CSU to a win over their ancient rivals. The Rams would win out the season and claim their first WAC championship in school history.
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Ray Jackson's prediction in Laramie a year earlier had come true! The Rams finished the regular season with a 10-1 record, and headed to the Holiday Bowl ranked 10th in the nation, still the highest ranking in CSU football history.
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CSU Athletics Historian
Sonny Lubick's first season as head coach in 1993 ended with a three-game win streak and his team poised for a solid 1994 season. After beating Wyoming on November 20, 1993 in Laramie, Rams safety Ray Jackson said in the post-game celebration, "Look for us to win the WAC championship next year. We will be the WAC champions, definitely!"
Â
In the 1994 season opener, the Rams traveled to the Air Force Academy to take on another of their local rivals in the Falcons. The 1993 Ram-Falcon game in Fort Collins was a not-so-thrilling 8-5 victory in Coach Lubick's first win as the head coach at Colorado State. For Jackson's WAC Championship prediction to come true, the Rams would need a positive result against Air Force in 1994.
Â
September 3, 1994 also happened to be fullback E.J. Watson's 20th birthday and he was about to have a day to remember. With several members of his family in the crowd to watch him on his birthday, Watson did not disappoint his closest fans in the stands. The junior out of San Diego, California had earned his way as the starter for the Rams in 1994 and by the time the day was over he would rush for 177 yards on 34 carries as the Rams ran all over the Falcons and won, 34-21.
Â
The CSU offense racked up 471 yards of total offense on the day, scoring 21 points in the first half alone. Air Force Coach Fisher DeBerry said of the Rams' offense, "We let them take the ball and ram it down our throats." The Rams needed every bit of that offensive effort, with a lack-luster defensive performance in the first half. The Rams' defense finally did wake up in the second half and held the Falcons to only 55 yards of total offense.
Â
While 43,979 fans at Falcon stadium watched in awe, CSU fans were treated to one of the greatest seasons in CSU football history for the remainder of 1994.
Â
The 1994 season was without question "Every Fan's Dream" as author John Karbula's aptly titled book stated. Karbula followed the Rams all season writing how the year progressed; he could not have picked a better year to publish a book about CSU Football. The Rams went on to win the next six games, including the legendary upset over sixth-ranked Arizona in Tucson and climbed to No. 12 in the AP polls, the highest in school history to that date.
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The Rams sat at No. 12 in the nation with a 7-0 record, before the No. 18 Utah Utes finally gave CSU their only regular season loss, a 45-31 upset before 39,107 fans at Hughes Stadium; still the largest crowd to see a CSU football game in Fort Collins. Then a near miss against Wyoming would have put the dream season to bed, if it had not been for the fake punt by Matt McDougal that rallied CSU to a win over their ancient rivals. The Rams would win out the season and claim their first WAC championship in school history.
Â
Ray Jackson's prediction in Laramie a year earlier had come true! The Rams finished the regular season with a 10-1 record, and headed to the Holiday Bowl ranked 10th in the nation, still the highest ranking in CSU football history.
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