Setting the Stage: Wyoming

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Colorado State (3-5, 2-2) at Wyoming (4-4, 0-4)
War Memorial Stadium | Laramie, Wyo.
Saturday, Nov. 6, 1:30 p.m.

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Road Rival Games Add to Intrigue

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Rivalry game are always fun. Playing them on the road takes them to a different level.

"There's a lot of difference. Last year with no fans, it still means that much more. Last year with no fans, we didn't get home-field advantage," Barry Wesley said. "Playing there, playing here, it make that much more. It's a rival, it's the most fun game of the year.

"I'm excited. I know it's going to be a hostile environment, but also, it just adds fun to the game. The travel experience, enemy-territory experience."

On the sidelines, Wesley said a visiting crowd will ride the team. In Wyoming, where the rivalry is entering the 112^th meeting, the language is a little more colorful and creative. It is not for the faint of heart.

Some of it is even funny, and it also gets the juices flowing.

"You're sitting in the circle and you're hearing, stuff, like, '69, you suck,'" Wesley said. "It gets you in that mode of this is a big-time college football rivalry. I'm excited. I know a lot of the older guys are excited. We just have to go in, have a good day of practice, because it's Wyoming."

Because of it, Wesley said he has to temper his emotions. For him, he likes to be controlled in the game. Some emotion is good, but too much, penalties start to add up and create a negative effect.

The key, he said, is controlled aggression, because some aggression is necessary.

Establish the Run

For a team that prefers to run the ball, facing a defense which will stack the box to stop it is a particular challenge. One an offensive line likes.

Wyoming is that kind of challenge, with a stout defensive front and Butkus and Bednarik award semifinalist linebacker Chad Muma backing them up.

"It's always fun having a challenge like that and knowing it's kind of on our shoulders going into the week, how we have to prepare and how we have to be ready," Ches Jackson said. "Wyoming is definitely good. They're athletic up front. Honestly, I feel it's more about what we do than what they do. It's going to be up to us being keyed in on what we need to be keyed in on and knowing what we're working up to. I feel everything else will fall into place after that."

Colorado State did not run the ball well last week, which head coach Steve Addazio felt was part of the issue in the red zone, especially in the traditional sense. Quarterback Todd Centeio rushed for 65 yards on 10 attempts. The Rams' running backs had 23 carries for 43 yards. That's not going to cut it this week, and past results aside, the run game remains a focus each and every week for the line.

"That's every week, regardless of an outcome," Jackson said. "We're always going to be keyed into the run game. That's one of our main priorities. We want to be known as a group that moves guys off the ball and a run-team first."

Wyoming is allowing 169 yards per game on the ground and 4.2 yards per carry this season.

New Noise

Two years ago, the team has to listen to Wyoming fans chant throughout practice the entire week of the Border War. It actually grew tiresome for them, becoming background noise. This year, during breaks, the staff is playing the Wyoming fight song.

To the players, it's just as annoying, but at least it is not non-stop. It drives the message home better.

Still, it's just annoying.

"I don't really enjoy either of them," tight end Trey McBride said. "I'm getting real tired of hearing the fight song, but I'd much rather hear that. I've heard it a lot, and I'm already tired of hearing the fight song. Hopefully I'll never have to hear it again after this week. It's getting old."

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Todd Centeio

Ches Jackson

Trey McBride

Barry Wesley

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