Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in History: Rams Win Grudge Match with Louisville
9/12/2019 2:00:00 PM | Football
Sept. 14, 2002 – The 2002 season had started off with two great wins and one horrible defeat. After beating Virginia on the road and a very exciting victory over the Buffs at Invesco Field, the Rams suffered a bad loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl. They finally came home to Hughes Stadium to play the University of Louisville in a rematch of the great 2000 Liberty Bowl victory over the Cardinals that capped one of the finest seasons in school history.
At the helm was junior quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt and Rams favorite running back Cecil "The Diesel" Sapp, who had literally carried CU's defense all over Denver two weeks prior.
The Rams had revenge in their eyes after a 7-2 loss to Louisville in Kentucky during the 2001 season. They knew they were better than the Cardinals and came out to prove their worth on their own home turf. Coach Sonny Lubick, in his 10th season at the helm said in his postgame interview, "We're controlling the game, then I look up and we're behind 14-7. Then we come back to lead at the half, we get up a few points, but suddenly they're back in it. I'm thinking 'This is fun, this is how football should be.'"
Lubick's Rams truly took control -- and by the middle of the fourth quarter -- led 36-14 after Sapp ran for 134 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns. Van Pelt threw for 170 yards, and with the lead seemingly in hand, freshman quarterback Justin Holland came in to get some playing time and passed for 94 yards.
It was with eight minutes left in the game and still leading 36-14 when the bottom dropped out of the CSU defense. The Cardinals came back with a vengeance and scored almost at will. Within a few minutes of the final cannon to end the game, Louisville had scored 19 unanswered points and had the ball at their own 1-yard line.
Cardinals quarterback Dave Ragone drove his team to the CSU 26, trailing by only three points and time ticking down on the clock to end the game. On fourth-and-long, CSU's Rhett Nelson broke up Ragone's pass to halt the drive and seal the 36-33 victory for the Rams. Cardinals' head coach John L. Smith said after the game, "They're an awful good football team. Maybe we gave them too much, but tonight we're definitely not as good as they are."
The Rams would go on to one of the best seasons of the 2000s, winning the conference championship but losing in the Liberty Bowl. The 2002 season was one to remember with great offensive performances all year from Sapp and Van Pelt.
At the helm was junior quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt and Rams favorite running back Cecil "The Diesel" Sapp, who had literally carried CU's defense all over Denver two weeks prior.
The Rams had revenge in their eyes after a 7-2 loss to Louisville in Kentucky during the 2001 season. They knew they were better than the Cardinals and came out to prove their worth on their own home turf. Coach Sonny Lubick, in his 10th season at the helm said in his postgame interview, "We're controlling the game, then I look up and we're behind 14-7. Then we come back to lead at the half, we get up a few points, but suddenly they're back in it. I'm thinking 'This is fun, this is how football should be.'"
Lubick's Rams truly took control -- and by the middle of the fourth quarter -- led 36-14 after Sapp ran for 134 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns. Van Pelt threw for 170 yards, and with the lead seemingly in hand, freshman quarterback Justin Holland came in to get some playing time and passed for 94 yards.
It was with eight minutes left in the game and still leading 36-14 when the bottom dropped out of the CSU defense. The Cardinals came back with a vengeance and scored almost at will. Within a few minutes of the final cannon to end the game, Louisville had scored 19 unanswered points and had the ball at their own 1-yard line.
Cardinals quarterback Dave Ragone drove his team to the CSU 26, trailing by only three points and time ticking down on the clock to end the game. On fourth-and-long, CSU's Rhett Nelson broke up Ragone's pass to halt the drive and seal the 36-33 victory for the Rams. Cardinals' head coach John L. Smith said after the game, "They're an awful good football team. Maybe we gave them too much, but tonight we're definitely not as good as they are."
The Rams would go on to one of the best seasons of the 2000s, winning the conference championship but losing in the Liberty Bowl. The 2002 season was one to remember with great offensive performances all year from Sapp and Van Pelt.
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