Setting the Stage: Air Force

Colorado State (4-5, 3-2) vs. Air Force (7-2, 4-1)
Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
Saturday, 5 p.m.

GAME LINKS

Patience Can Pay Off vs. Falcons

Adding a Rival to the Equation

From a coach's perspective, nothing can change. That comes from the players.

"I think they're healthy," CSU coach Mike Bobo said of rivalry games. "I think there's a different kind of juice at practice this week with a rivalry game. We haven't beaten them in three years. The preparation is the same as you go about it as coaches, and you realize it's a day-by-day, a step-by-step, you're trying to get better. You don't change what you're doing as far as a coach. You have to be consistent in how you do things."

Colorado State has not fared well against their rivals in recent years. Under Bobo, the Rams have yet to beat Colorado, and they've lost to Air Force and Wyoming the past three seasons. Bobo joked rivalry games are healthier "if you win some."

To end the skid overall, and against Air Force, the players can't get caught up in that aspect while preparing.

Besides, it's more important than just a trophy game.

"Basically we go into this game as another opportunity to play on a Saturday as a team. This is another team that is in our conference that is at the top right now," defensive lineman Ellison Hubbard said. "We're not going in as a rivalry game, but this is an important game to get us to a bowl game. They are a rival and there is a trophy on the line, but this game determines the outcome of our season."

Still, they all know a program's success is measured greatly by how it fares in these kinds of games. That's no secret.

The first chance was a misstep, but the Rams have two more to take.

"That's one of the goals we set. The first goal was beating CU; we can't go back and fix that, we didn't win that game," Bobo said. "The next one is Air Force, so we talked about that on Monday, and we talked about a lot of other things. It's one of our goals we set at the beginning of the year."

Patience is Key

Air Force is one of the nation's leaders in time of possession, which comes as no shock. A few games do, however.

One, Hawaii is the only team to win the category with the Falcons this year. Rare, but it was close. Two, the Falcons had the ball for more than 39 minutes against Fresno State, but even more outlandish was the 45-plus minutes they held it in a win over Utah State.

For three quarters, the Falcons had the ball. That's what worries coaches. Those numbers permeate into every line of thinking when it comes to the game plan.

Defensively, it takes a keen mindset. Offensively, it requires resolve. Panic has to be avoided in either instance.

"Playing against teams like this for a number of years, you realize you're not going to call everything on the sheet," Bobo said. "You have to be patient, but at the same time, you can't let something not get called that you know has got a chance, that's a really good play that you might be saving, because before you know it, the game might get away. The thing for us offensively I talked to the guys about is execution. Not getting discouraged if we have to punt. We might not touch it for eight minutes. It might go into the next quarter. We have to go out there with the right mindset the next time."

It means situational football is key. Colorado State has been good on third downs this season, and they have to excel Saturday. In the red zone, the offense has to convert chances into touchdowns, while the defense has to force field goals. Neither has been an actual strength this season.

Matching Game

If Bobo has stressed anything to his team this week, it is they have to be as up to the challenge as Air Force always is when it comes to discipline, task and ferocity.

"This is going to be a man's game," Bobo said. "You have got to get tough, you've got to get nasty, you've got to be physical. They are the ultimate not-going-to-give-you-the-game. That's how I've approached the game."

Colorado State's defense has made major gains covering the previous four contests, allowing fewer than 400 yards of total offense, the first time since 2006 they've had such a stretch against FBS competition.

Bobo has discussed they will get cut, they will go down and they'll have to get back up and pursue. Air Force's attack can wear a team down mentally, too, which the Rams know they can't allow.

The Falcons will get yards. They will have extended drives. The Rams just can't allow it to frustrate or deter them.

"We know they're going to get their yardage plays. We just have to minimize what's going to happen or what we're going to allow," defensive lineman Toby McBride said. "You just can't get into a mental game. What helps against that, especially on the defensive line, is rotating guys. You're not out there for the full drive, and although they'll have a long one, that just means we'll have time to rest on the sideline.

"We're getting ready in practice for it, what the whole mindset of it is. We just have to be tough and get through it."

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Ellison Hubbard

Toby McBride

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