Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in History: Border War Win Propels Rams
11/20/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
1993 victory sets up next season's success
November 20, 1993 – Coach Sonny Lubick's first season at Colorado State was about to come to an end in Laramie against the Wyoming Cowboys in an ABC regional televised game. Back in the day before nearly every football game was televised, it was special to be on ABC Sports on a regional basis, and the 1993 Border War was expected to be a Cowboy win as Wyoming fought for the WAC Championship.
Lubick's Rams had come of age during the 1993 season despite a 4-6 record heading into the annual fight for the Bronze Boot. However, they had won the previous two games and were playing better than they had all season. Lubick was no stranger to the Border War because of his assistant coaching days at CSU in the early 1980s. An upset in Laramie would cap the first season with a much-needed win and their second traveling trophy after beating Air Force early in the year.
The Rams jumped out in front with an Anthoney Hill to Justin Shull touchdown pass on their first drive of the game. By midway though the second quarter, the Rams led 21-0 as the Wyoming fans sat shocked in their cold War Memorial Stadium seats. Hill was on fire, scoring one of the three touchdowns on an 11-yard run and passing for the other two -- Eric Olsen on the receiving end of the third touchdown.
At the half the Rams led 21-7 and a bit of overconfidence allowed the Cowboys to score on their first possession of the second half. With only a touchdown lead, the Rams offense, which would rack up 556 yards on the day, took control of the field. E.J. Watson had a 56-yard run as part of an 80-yard drive after Wyoming's touchdown, and Leonice Brown punched it in from 14 yards out for CSU's fourth TD of the day.
The CSU defense held strong and allowed Hill another opportunity to pass and run all over the frozen grass in Laramie. He capped the next drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Olsen to put the Rams ahead 34-14. Wyoming was able to punch in one more touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Watson finished the day with a 2-yard touchdown run to finish the day's scoring at 41-21 in favor of the Rams. The Bronze Boot came home to Fort Collins for the first time since the 1990 upset at Hughes Stadium and the Rams were riding high on their success.
After the game Lubick said, "Right now, I really feel that we're as good, if not better, than any team in the conference."
Wyoming coach Joe Tiller echoed Lubick's comments saying: "We knew they were an improved team coming in. They played like it today."
Possibly the most profound post-game quote came from future CSU Hall of Famer Ray Jackson when he told the Denver Post, "Look for us to win the WAC Championship next year. We will be WAC Champions, definitely."
Jackson's prediction for CSU to win the 1994 WAC championship held true as CSU carried their three game winning streak which ended the 1993 season into 1994. The Rams would wind up with a 10-game winning streak carried between the two seasons, win the WAC Championship and carry out Jackson's prediction. The 1993 Border War will go down as the moment Lubick's Rams started a football dynasty at CSU which lasted the next 10 seasons.
Lubick's Rams had come of age during the 1993 season despite a 4-6 record heading into the annual fight for the Bronze Boot. However, they had won the previous two games and were playing better than they had all season. Lubick was no stranger to the Border War because of his assistant coaching days at CSU in the early 1980s. An upset in Laramie would cap the first season with a much-needed win and their second traveling trophy after beating Air Force early in the year.
The Rams jumped out in front with an Anthoney Hill to Justin Shull touchdown pass on their first drive of the game. By midway though the second quarter, the Rams led 21-0 as the Wyoming fans sat shocked in their cold War Memorial Stadium seats. Hill was on fire, scoring one of the three touchdowns on an 11-yard run and passing for the other two -- Eric Olsen on the receiving end of the third touchdown.
At the half the Rams led 21-7 and a bit of overconfidence allowed the Cowboys to score on their first possession of the second half. With only a touchdown lead, the Rams offense, which would rack up 556 yards on the day, took control of the field. E.J. Watson had a 56-yard run as part of an 80-yard drive after Wyoming's touchdown, and Leonice Brown punched it in from 14 yards out for CSU's fourth TD of the day.
The CSU defense held strong and allowed Hill another opportunity to pass and run all over the frozen grass in Laramie. He capped the next drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Olsen to put the Rams ahead 34-14. Wyoming was able to punch in one more touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Watson finished the day with a 2-yard touchdown run to finish the day's scoring at 41-21 in favor of the Rams. The Bronze Boot came home to Fort Collins for the first time since the 1990 upset at Hughes Stadium and the Rams were riding high on their success.
After the game Lubick said, "Right now, I really feel that we're as good, if not better, than any team in the conference."
Wyoming coach Joe Tiller echoed Lubick's comments saying: "We knew they were an improved team coming in. They played like it today."
Possibly the most profound post-game quote came from future CSU Hall of Famer Ray Jackson when he told the Denver Post, "Look for us to win the WAC Championship next year. We will be WAC Champions, definitely."
Jackson's prediction for CSU to win the 1994 WAC championship held true as CSU carried their three game winning streak which ended the 1993 season into 1994. The Rams would wind up with a 10-game winning streak carried between the two seasons, win the WAC Championship and carry out Jackson's prediction. The 1993 Border War will go down as the moment Lubick's Rams started a football dynasty at CSU which lasted the next 10 seasons.
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