Setting the Stage: Wyoming

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The goal was to play all four quarterbacks this season because they were all freshmen. The goal has been reached with Jackson Stratton having appeared the past two weeks.

The coaching staff wasn't looking for starter Clay Millen to get hurt, which has now happened twice this season, but they also knew it was a possibility. Him going down has facilitated some of the playing time they sought in order to give each of them a baseline to work with this spring.

"We wanted to see them in competition to evaluate them, so it's not new to them now," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said. "They'll have a whole year of experience underneath them, and there's no experience like game experience. You have to be in there playing and make mistakes to really learn from it."

Millen has played in seven games, all starts, and it appears he will be healthy enough to play in Saturday's Border War with Wyoming. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has played in three games with one start, Giles Pooler has two appearances with a start and Stratton has now seen action in two games.

Millen has not disappointed, completing 70.6 percent of his passes, hitting 113-of-160 with six touchdowns and five interceptions. His turnover rate has gone down since the first four games, showing exactly what Norvell means by gaining experience.

While it was the youngest room on the team, other freshmen have gained the same valuable playing time Norvell is positive will pay off down the road.

"I know as tough as the growing pains are, there's nothing better than to have freshmen play in meaningful games, and we've had so many freshmen that have had to play, especially on offense," Norvell said. "All the quarterbacks, and it's great Jackson got a chance to throw a touchdown pass; it's going to help his confidence. All three receivers, and Jordan Williams got his first catch last week and Keegan Holles. Those kids are all going to be better for it, Keegan Hamilton, all those guys are going to be better in the spring for it."

The Rams have 23 players designated as a true or redshirt freshman play in games this season. The group has combined to make 31 starts on offense, eight on defense.

Ready and Waiting

As a defense, the Rams know what's coming, which makes it a bit easier to prepare, both physically and mentally.

Wyoming will run the ball frequently, sitting second in the Mountain West averaging 194 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry on 348 attempts; only Air Force, Utah State and New Mexico have more rushing attempts. They like Titus Swen to be the workhorse, as he has 679 yards and is averaging 4.6 yards on his 148 attempts. Quarterback Andrew Peasley is next in line with 334 yards on 63 rushes.

"It's attack, attack, attack. Instead of fighting for our gaps, our job is to get vertical and make them change," Mukendi Wa-Kalonji said. "Don't make us change, make them change. That's our job.

"We've seen Swen's a pretty strong runner, so we're seeing that instead of taking him in the upper body, take him in the legs. He's pretty shifty as well, so instead of breaking down, run through and expect your teammates to be there and fill it up. We have to stop him instead of letting him make moves and cut and make a big play."

Knowing Wyoming will bring the game to them, Wa-Kalonji said it's easy for the defense to start working up a nasty disposition in practice and carry it through the week. Adding to it, it's Wyoming, a game he's been waiting to play.

He didn't make the trip to Laramie a year ago but watched it on TV. He also remembers the preparation put into the game and the fire which developed.

"I really wanted to be a part of it, and now I'm actually getting to play this year, and we're home, they're bringing the boot to us," he said. "I just want to after the game run to their sideline, grab the boot, kiss it and take it places."

Ram Walk

Norvell expects a healthy gathering of alumni to join the team Friday for the Ram Walk across the field, due to the opponent. He wants them to share what they've seen and felt throughout the year, and the keynote speaker will have a familiarity for this group.

"I think Jack Howell's dad is going to speak Friday to our team, which is awesome," Norvell said. "I think we'll have a good turnout this week. Those stories are important. We need to hear the stories of the Border War and the battle of the boot, those are important for all of us to hear, but especially for our players to hear it from former players who have been in the battle. Those are all part of this week."

John Howell showed up as a walk-on, playing from 1996-2000, then later enjoying a six-year NFL career and a win in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002. They all have stories to tell, some more legendary than others.

Such as when the 1978 CSU team entered the field through the student section, which led to a pre-game brawl. Norvell's not sure he's ready to follow that script.

"I've heard of that," he said. "I don't know, it's early in the week. The week's young, so you never know."

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Setting the Stage: Wyoming

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