Monday Presser: Lubick Remains an Inspiration for Program

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – As a new coach learning about the biggest rivalry in the program, you go straight to the expert.

One would be hard pressed to find someone who knows more about the Border War and the emotions is creates than Sonny Lubick. You'd also be hard pressed to find someone who tells better stories.

"We had a special guest. We asked Coach Lubick to come in and talk to the team about the history of this rivalry and some of his experiences with it," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said Monday at his weekly press conference. "I can't thank Coach enough for just sharing that time with our team and our coaches. He's been really supportive of us and everything we've asked of him, he's been receptive."

Lubick was 11-4 against Wyoming in his tenure, winning the first three matchups. He also never lost to the Cowboys in successive seasons, and the final victory on his resume came at home against them, a 36-28 win.

Lubick recapped the first win, which was the story which stood out to running back Avery Morrow.

"How basically it was his first season, they had basically the same situations as us," Morrow said. "They were 2-6, they finished the season out 5-6 and that carried on into the next season and how everything built up from there."

That win came the final week of the 1993 campaign and was the third win in a row. In 1994, the Rams opened with seven consecutive wins, earning the program's first national ranking in a 10-2 season which finished with a trip to the Holiday Bowl.

That's exactly what the Rams would like to do this year, close out with three wins and have the feeling carry them into 2023. Lubick always had a way of inspiring his teams, a skill he still possesses after 15 years away from the sidelines.

Hearing him speak still means something to today's players.

"I think this is my second time. It's always a crazy feeling … You get the chills when he comes in there and talks about it," linebacker Dequan Jackson said. "What he's meant to this program and what he's done for this program, and those being some of the best in recent years, I always get excited whenever he comes in and I always try to make sure to go over there and shake his hand. I think it's a great thing. He's so humble. When he gets up there that he feels like it's an honor to him to be able to come up there. For us, it's the same thing."

Even for those new to the program, his appearances in front of the team mean something. They know his name because they play on his field. They also know who he is, because every so often he will pop in at practice, where he's still received like a rock star.

Now Morrow feels a bit like one, too.

"When he was talking to us, he knew my name," Morrow said. "Him being one of the greatest coaches to come out here, his name on the field, him even saying my name is a complete honor. I'm just blessed to be able to hear him speak to us and give us some wisdom."

Border Exchange

Every rivalry is special to those it involves, but from place to place – and Norvell has been involved in many as a player and a coach – the emotions are all about the same. The festivities associated with each change and make them unique. For coaches who are creatures to routine, they can shake things up.

For one week, it's perfectly OK.

For the Border War, it's the Bronze Boot trophy and the running of the game-day ball from one field to the host site with the exchange taking place at the border. This year the run will take place on Veteran's Day, giving it added significance to the ROTC cadets who will take part from both schools.

"I think it's part of this week. It's what's expected this week," Norvell said. "I think we all realize we're all part of something bigger than ourselves. It's very humbling to be able to play in this game and be a part of it and be part of that ceremony and what it means it what it's meant to so many people for over 100 years this rivalry's been played.

"I really am humbled to be part of that. I've been part of a lot of rivalry games; my days at Iowa, I was at Oklahoma for seven years and the Red River Rivalry, I was at Texas for a year and saw the other side of that. It's a special thing to be part of a game that's been going on for so long and meant so much to so many people, and then it's Veteran's Day as well, so it adds to it."

Here and There

CSU linebacker's coach Adam Pilapil becomes the latest person to see the rivalry from both sides. He was a former Wyoming linebacker … San Jose State leads the Mountain West in sacks after collecting nine against CSU last week. Wyoming is No. 2 at 2.89 per contest. … Tory Horton has the top two receiving yardage games in the conference this year, his 196 last week topping the 186 he had against Middle Tennessee State. He leads the conference with 88.6 receiving yards per games and receiving yards (797) … Jack Howell leads the MW at 11.0 tackles per game.

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