Monday Presser: Rivalry Drums Up Emotions Immediately

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5:00 PM

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12-Days

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5:30 PM

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8:30 PM

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vs Fresno State

On Monday, Henry Blackburn was energized, even bordering on agitated.

As one would expect.

"This is the week right here. When you sign your letter of intent to play for CSU, this is the game you play for. We're all fired up," the Colorado State safety said. "Everybody knows what this game is about on this team. We're starting to get it going. It's just a Monday; got a couple of days to start turning it up, but then on Friday it's going to be go time for us."

Welcome to the Border War, the 114^th edition of the longstanding feud between the Rams and their neighbors to the north, Wyoming. It all began in 1899, and as each new wave is introduced, the flavor of the week is passed along to each incoming generation.

One of the most unique aspects of the game is the Boot run to the border, initiated in 1968 when the actual leather boot worn by Captain Dan Romero in the Vietnam War was made into the traveling trophy. ROTC members of each school will participate, with this year's running of the game ball beginning from Canvas Stadium early in morning then passed off at the border exchange site.

"Whenever two teams this close have been playing for over a hundred years there's a lot of passionate competition that goes on between the two schools," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said at his weekly press conference. "The Boot run is just really unique. I've been part of a lot of rivalries; I've never been a part of something like the Boot run. We'll start early Thursday morning; it will start here in Canvas, and I just appreciate the guys who run that up there. I know we run it uphill, and we run it a little farther than they do. Then we'll do the ceremony at the border, which is a cool thing. I got to be a part of it, and I've known (Wyoming) Coach (Craig) Bohl a long time and have a lot of respect for him. It just adds to the game. It's a special thing to be part of a game like this that has so much tradition."

Wyoming has had possession of the Boot the past two seasons, which naturally doesn't sit well with the Rams. Definitely not a homegrown product like Blackburn, but even those who are new the traditions of the game like center Jacob Gardner.

Last year was his first Border War, and the memories are still fresh.

"This year is a little bit different,' he said. "Seeing the passion that Hank and the other guys go out there and play with ... Last year, I'll never forget they won it, and they were starting to dance on our logo and stuff like that. That's just something we have to tell our team and remind them about how much this game means."

Colorado State has more Colorado players on its roster than any other team. Wyoming is second, producing a rekindling of some matchups from the prep days.

For Blackburn, there's only one side of the border now.

"We know some of those kids over there," Blackburn said. "They chose the wrong side."

Condensed Format

The team held a more traditional practice on Monday with the game being played on Friday night. Norvell called it an intense practice, even with the length of workouts being trimmed because this is a short week. The only benefit for the Rams is they were at home Saturday, while Wyoming lost at Boise State.

Contact will be held to a minimum, and those dealing with more intense bumps and bruises expected at this time of they year will have reps kept in check.

"We're going to put a high precedent on being fresh. These short weeks this time of year it's really – I mean, I trust our kids," Norvell said. "I know our kids are going to hit when they get their opportunity, so we're going to get them fresh. We're not going to keep them on the practice field too long, but we'll get the game plan in, so they really understand the details. The key is getting ready to play on Friday, that's the most important thing. They don't have to prove how tough they are on the practice field this week; we've seen that. The most important thing is getting them ready for Friday."

Here and There

The overall series favors Colorado State, 58-50-5, and it is even-up in Laramie at 26-26-4. … The last time the Rams won in Laramie was 2015. … One of Norvell's main goals when he was hired was to reverse the program's trend in November. The Rams haven't had a winning final month since 2016, when they were 3-1. Since then, the team is 4-16.

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