Memorable Moments: Senior Day

The day brings out all the emotions.

For the fans who have long cheered for the players they are saying goodbye to in their final game in Fort Collins. For the coaches who have molded their careers. Even the players, as tough as they want to be on game day, will often shed a tear or two. And don't look at mom. That's a sure-fire was to begin the waterworks.

For Colorado State football, the day has also meant excitement and – more often than not – victories. In seven of the past 10 games actually played (2020 was a no-go as Utah State was a no-show), the Rams have walked off the field feeling pretty good about the day.

From 2012-17, the team reeled off six consecutive victories, the final five of those seasons capped by bowl appearances. After three tight losses on Senior Day, Colorado State regrouped with an impressive stamp to Jay Norvell's first campaign as coach.

2012 – In Jim McElwain's first season, his team jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but trailed with 3:12 remaining when New Mexico pulled ahead on a long touchdown pass. No worries. Conner Smith engineered a drive capped by Joe Hansley's second touchdown catch of the game with 1:29 on the clock, leading to a 24-20 win.

2013 – The program had become bowl eligible two weeks earlier with a win at New Mexico but came back to put an exclamation point on the regular season with a resounding victory over Air Force as Garrett Grayson threw for 395 yards and three scores, two of which went to Rashard Higgins with his 127 yards in receiving. The next game wasn't bad either – the 48-45 rally to beat Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl.

2014 – The 58-20 win over New Mexico would be McElwain's last home appearance as the Rams' coach, but it was an explosive day as the Rams scored 51 points combined in the second and third quarter. Dee Hart ran for 230 yards and five touchdowns, and Grayson threw for 389 and three scores in his final game at Hughes Stadium on his way to MW Offensive Player of the Year honors.

2015 – The game was tight most of the day as Rams moved past UNLV for the fourth win of the season, the early part of a four-game flourish to end the year and become bowl eligible in Mike Bobo's first season. In Rashard Higgins' final home game, he had 102 yards ono seven catches with three touchdowns as Nick Stevens threw for four. Dalyn Dawkins was the compliment in the run game with 151 yards.

2016 – A 49-31 win over New Mexico clinched another bowl berth for the team and featured two new explosive additions to the offense as Michael Gallup had a 65-yard scoring pass and Marvin Kinsey dashed off with a 75-yard scoring run. Most of the damage came on the ground as the Rams had a trio of 100-yard rushers – Kinsey (127), Izzy Matthews (107) and Dawkins (102). It's the only time in CSU history the Rams have had a trio rush beyond the century mark.

2017 – A big win over San Jose State helped end a three-game slide for the team, even if it didn't completely erase the heartbreak a week earlier of the overtime loss to Boise State. The first senior day at Canvas Stadium was a nice finale for Dawkins as he rushed for 138 yards and a score, while Stevens was sharp on a 26-for-32 day for 305 yards and three scores.

2018 – To the crowd, it appeared the Rams had pulled off a big upset against No. 13 Utah State on a cold day. Collin Hill hit Preston Williams for a 34-yard touchdown as time expired, but the play was negated by a flag most didn't see hit the turf. Officials ruled Williams had stepped out of bounds on his own and was the first player to touch the ball in play, resulting in a 24-23 win for the Aggies.

2019 – Colorado State was within a field goal of No. 20 Boise State at the end of the third but couldn't pull any closer. The game, however, was a glimpse of the career Trey McBride was about to have, hauling in nine catches for 101 yards on the day with a touchdown. A big snowstorm hit that week, so only a few sections of Canvas Stadium were cleared for the Thanksgiving week contest.

2020 – The pandemic played havoc with the entire season. Scheduled to play eight, the Rams only played four, and just one of those at home. Senior day would have been different without fans, but it didn't get played as Utah State never arrived.

2021 – The final score was one most would want to forget – 52-10 to Nevada – but fate has its quirks. By halftime, CSU coach Steve Addazio had become a spectator with his ejection, so he didn't see McBride streak down the sideline for a 69-yard rushing touchdown off a fake punt, which probably didn't hurt his chances in winning the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. And watching him run down the sidelines was none other than the Rams' next head coach – Jay Norvell.

2022 – The Rams were able to end Norvell's first season in style with a 17-0 win over New Mexico. It was the first shutout for the program since blanking Fresno State in 2016 and ended a four-game losing streak. Tory Horton had a touchdown catch and 131 yards receiving – a year removed from hauling in two scores – for the opposition – on senior day.

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