Monday Presser: One Goal, Three Parts

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Sep 27

5:30 PM

Football

vs Washington State

Oct 3

8:30 PM

Football

at San Diego State

Oct 10

7:00 PM

Football

vs Fresno State

Oct 18

5:00 PM

Football

vs Hawai'i

Oct 25

5:30 PM

Football

at Wyoming

One of the goals was to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2017, one which can still be reached. It's also one which became a lot harder to achieve after losing three consecutive games.

With a trio of contests remaining on the schedule, there is no wiggle room remaining.

"I think our mentality is we have three games left, guaranteed. Obviously, a conference championship may be out of the question, but we still want to go bowling," offensive lineman Oliver Jervis said. "We have to go out there this Saturday against San Diego State and get that first win on the board. We have to go 3-0 the next three weeks, so it's really just a week-by-week mentality and not getting caught up in the coulda-woulda-shoulda of our record. We're 3-6. We have three games left, let's finish 6-6 and go win a bowl game."

CSU coach Jay Norvell said his team will not put the cart in front of the horse. San Diego State will come to Canvas Stadium on Saturday in the same position, needing to win its final three games to become bowl eligible.

One loss will dash the dream, so getting the first win has to take priority.

"We have three games left. We can't play three games Saturday; we can play one game Saturday," Norvell said at his Monday press conference. "That's really all we're focused on. We talked about it as a team. It's a playoff game we've got to go win. That's' the way we look at it. That's the position we put ourselves in really. We did not want to be in this position.

"We knew when we saw the schedule, the third quarter (games 7-9) was going to be a tough schedule, rivalry games and we fell short. We didn't do the things we needed to do to win those game. We're going to continue to learn from those things and go back to work, but all of our energy and focus is on playing and winning this game."

Staying at Home

In a position where the team needs to win, the bonus is the next two games are home dates. Colorado State is 2-2 in Canvas Stadium.

"I think it's just great not to have to travel. Travel takes a lot out of your team when you have to go play on the road, get on the bus, get on the plane," Norvell said. "That's good for us that we don't have to do that. We had to travel twice in the third quarter, but we look forward to playing at home, we really do. To be at home back-to-back weeks to finish the season is really important."

For a team which missed three key defenders a week ago and is playing with some offensive players who are dealing with nagging issues, not going on the road adds extra time for players in the training room as well as sleeping in their own beds.

Defensive lineman Matt Thomas said the home crowd is always welcomed, but the additional recovery time is the main benefit.

"Absolutely. We're going to get a lot of time to do that stuff, and we don't have to worry about traveling as much, so get a lot of recovery in in the training room," he said. "Dudes get their bodies back and that will be a big plus."

Here and There

Norvell said San Diego State has a balanced offense. It wasn't coach-speak. The Aztecs average 144.1 yards per game rushing, 180.8 p assing. … Norvell hopes to get back Cam Bariteau and Nuer Gatkuoth on the defensive line and Chigozie Anusiem at corner this week. Avery Morrow and Tory Horton have been playing at less than 100 percent, and he's hoping they can show improvement. Nickel Ayden Hector was trying to rehab and avoid surgery, but Norvell said it looks like that won't happen.

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Chigozie Anusiem

Cam Bariteau

Nuer Gatkuoth

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Tory Horton

Oliver Jervis

Avery Morrow

Matt Thomas

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