Monday Presser: Addazio Aims to Get Back to Improving

Colorado State (3-7, 2-4) at Hawaii (4-7, 1-5)
TC Ching Athletics Complex | Manoa, Hawaii
Saturday, Nov. 20, 9 p.m.

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Rams Aim to Get Back to Improving

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Steve Addazio said he doesn't need to see the outcome of the final two games of the season to know where his team is at currently, speaking in the sense of the program itself. Yet, he still alluded to this being an important game for the team's development.

At his weekly Monday press conference, he spoke about being able to grind for an entire season -- something his CSU squad has not had yet under him – and the ability to overcome obstacles in their way. Say, things like a long travel game, a rash of injuries and illness, a current losing streak and no postseason play.

For a spell, even in some of the losses, Addazio could point to tangible areas of growth. The past few games, not so much. Naturally, he'd like to see the trend change.

"I just want to grow and develop," Addazio said. "You grow and develop sometimes winning and losing. I hate to say that, but it's true. Our frustration level right now is, to me we got better each week, and you could see it; it was tangible. It wasn't always perfect, and it didn't always end in a win, but you liked where you were headed. I haven't liked the last two weeks."

Injuries have played a role in that, most notably at linebacker. A defense which was stout against the run and wasn't giving up big plays has all the sudden becomes susceptible in those two areas. The offense is still trying to find a consistent output.

Some of those things, Addazio said, he can't fix it. But he's hopeful some player return to the lineup so the Rams can get back to a steady improvement and get off the roller coaster they've been on as of late.

"For us, the momentum, which is a huge deal in football chopped our legs off a little in that two-week period, which is a pretty critical two-week period. It cost us bowl eligibility. Now you're fighting against not being bowl eligible at the end of the season and still trying to do what? Play your best ball. That's not an easy task. To the credit of our players right now, I haven't seen signs of that being an outward problem. I think they're enjoying football and enjoying getting better, enjoying the grind. Not enjoying not putting your best foot forward the last two weeks, we're not enjoying that too much."

To him, that does make this game important, because all of it should make a team irritated and motivated to get out of the slump. He said he won't define things in weeks, but a win this week would go a long way to getting back on track.

Tough at Home

When you look at Hawaii statistically, nothing urgent jumps off the pages. Then you take a look at their schedule, and one has to readjust their thinking.

Just 4-7 on the season, the Rainbow Warriors own three of those wins at home. They beat Portland State and New Mexico State in high-scoring affairs, but the one which really catches the attention is the 27-24 win over a then-ranked Fresno State team. Even one of the home losses is impressive, a 17-10 loss to No. 22 San Diego State two weeks back.

Addazio takes it back to the travel element.

"It's the obvious. It's a long, long trip for people to go out there," he said. "That's an incredible home-field advantage. ON the flip side of it, I'm imagining it's pretty tough on them to travel to away games. It's hard. It's hard on them going away, and it's hard on teams going to them. That's obvious. They play better at home."

To gives his team a chance to adjust to the time change and a long spell on a plane, the Rams will leave on Wednesday, putting in heavy work days on Tuesday and Wednesday. They'll do a non-padded day out there.

"The thought being this a nine-and-a-half hour travel. I'm not saying total, just in the plane alone," he said. "Let's get there Wednesday, let's see if we can get there at night, get a good night's sleep, shake that out a little bit and then give a couple of days to acclimate. We'll see how that works out."

The flight will not be direct, with the team stopping to refuel in California, with the possibility being some players can get off the plane and stretch their legs before the second leg.

Leaving early also will factor in to who travels. Addazio said the list of injured players isn't getting any shorter, and some of them have been game-time decisions, which becomes harder when those are being made three days earlier than normal.

Here and There

Colorado State's history at Hawaii sits at 6-7, but the Rams have won the past three trips there, which dates back to the 1996 game. … For those looking ahead, CSU is 4-4 the week after playing Hawaii on the road. Five times the trip has been the last game of the regular season. … Trey McBride needs 81 yards to become the first tight end in program history to have a 1,000-yard receiving season. He's averaging 91.9 yards per game this year.

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