Colorado State University Athletics
Memorable Moments: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Sark Arslanian Era
9/21/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
His tenure returned excitement to the program
There had been a gloomy feel in the CSU Athletic Department in February of 1973 when Sark Arslanian, Â the son of Armenian immigrants was hired to replace the controversial Jerry Wampfler as the Rams' new head football coach. Arslanian came from Weber State, where he had won two Big Sky Conference championships and amassed a 50-26-2 record.
Coach Sark, as many knew him, was just the man CSU needed after more than 15 football seasons in which there had only been two winning records. He made changes immediately, one that can still be seen on the Rams helmets -- the ram horn. While Sark had yellow helmets with a green horn, today's version is reversed with gold horns. The only reason his helmets were yellow is because that was the base color CSU had in their equipment room and there was no budget for new green helmets.
Helmets and uniforms were only one minor difference Arslanian brought to CSU in 1973. He looked to the junior colleges to bring in much-needed veteran players to begin his turnaround of CSU football. Coach Sark also hit the recruiting trail harder than all other head football coaches combined to that time. With the freshman rule eliminated, Sark could bring in a player for four years if needed, and the combination of transfers and a more balanced assistant coaching staff paved the way for legends of CSU football we know today.
In 1973, the Rams went 5-6, an impressive turnaround after a 1-10 record in Wampfler's 1972 season. According to a Collegian article, the story of the improved Rams became the second-most interesting sports story in Colorado that year.
In 1974, the Rams started to see offensive and defensive improvements with players who became program legends. Men like All-American Kevin McLain and Al "Bubba" Baker on defense along with the most prolific passing combination in the country -- Mark Driscoll to Willie Miller -- made a difference at Hughes Stadium and on the road.
Arslanian's second season also was the first time CSU ever took home the Bronze Boot since its inception in 1968. Coach Sark learned to hate the Wyoming football team in 1973, and told the freshmen, sophomores and juniors they would never lose to the Pokes again while they played at CSU. The 1974 Border War took place at Hughes Stadium on a cold and rainy day as the Rams, thanks to multiple penalties by the Cowboys, beat Wyoming 11-6 in a thrilling game.
By 1975, the "Big Green" defense started to click, and Coach Sark's recruits handed him his first winning season as the Rams' head coach. This was the beginning of the Bell era. Twin brothers Mark and Mike Bell along with another Mark Bell at the wide receiver position helped CSU not only beat Wyoming in Laramie for the first time since 1955, they brought more and more fans out to Hughes Stadium all season long. The 1976 season ended with another 6-5 record and the Bronze Boot remaining in Fort Collins for a third year in a row. CSU beat the Pokes on ABC regional television, the second televised game at Hughes Stadium. Coach Sark lived up to his promise he would beat Wyoming in three consecutive years as the Border War heated up once again.
The 1977 season would prove to be the greatest of the 1970s and the Rams would win more games than they had since 1949. The Rams opened 1977 with a five-game winning streak, beating Northern Colorado and Utah at home. A devastating loss to BYU at home in week six brought the team back to reality. They lost to Wyoming for only the second time in Coach Sark's career at CSU and a tie game to West Texas State set up the opportunity for a bowl game.
The winner of the Western Athletic Conference was guaranteed an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl and BYU came out on top of the WAC in 1977. However, since the Fiesta Bowl was played on Christmas Day, BYU turned down the bowl invitation, leaving it up to three possible schools, Arizona, Arizona State or Colorado State. The Rams had already beat Arizona in Tucson, but a must-win over Arizona State at Hughes Stadium would put them in the driver's seat. In an incredibly defensive game, the Rams beat ASU for the first time in their history. All that was needed was for ASU to lose to Arizona, but it was not meant to be, and CSU was not invited to any other bowl games, ending the year 9-2-1.
Following the 1977 season, Coach Sark had a 17-minute recruiting film made by Phil Tuckett, a producer for NFL Films and it was made with the thunderous "voice of God,", John Facenda as narrator. Titled "The Story of the Colorado State University Rams," the idea was to show players how many former Rams were in the NFL in 1977, and also to showcase the school, stadium and Coach Sark himself. Deemed by many fans today as a classic view of 1970s Rams football, it is cherished by those who played at the time.
The 1978 and 1979 Rams saw losing seasons and the legendary mid-field brawl at the Wyoming game in Hughes Stadium. Coach Sark continued to bring in junior college transfers, including Steve Fairchild, who would play a major role in the 1980 season.
The Rams played some of their best football in 1980, beating Air Force at home and in a thrilling come-from-behind win against Wyoming, also at Hughes Stadium. By the end of the year, they found themselves in second place and only needed to beat BYU in Provo, Utah to win the WAC. It was as close to a playoff game as the WAC could get in 1980, but again CSU fell short and lost by a wide margin.
With many of his top players gone in 1981, Coach Sark found himself on the wrong end of a 0-6 record halfway through the season. Athletic Director Fum McGraw had no other choice than to fire Coach Sark in the middle of the 1981 season. While his coaching record at CSU was nearly .500, the impact he had on CSU football was as if he had produced championship teams. Several of his players went on to the NFL, including Mike Bell who was the second overall pick in the 1979 draft.
Arslanian continued to coach Pee Wee and Junior High School football into his 90s and passed away on Dec. 11, 2016, at the age of 92. His coaching career at CSU remains one of the finest in school history, despite the record. He brought big-time football players to Fort Collins and fans to Hughes Stadium, making them all proud to be CSU Rams.
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Coach Sark, as many knew him, was just the man CSU needed after more than 15 football seasons in which there had only been two winning records. He made changes immediately, one that can still be seen on the Rams helmets -- the ram horn. While Sark had yellow helmets with a green horn, today's version is reversed with gold horns. The only reason his helmets were yellow is because that was the base color CSU had in their equipment room and there was no budget for new green helmets.
Helmets and uniforms were only one minor difference Arslanian brought to CSU in 1973. He looked to the junior colleges to bring in much-needed veteran players to begin his turnaround of CSU football. Coach Sark also hit the recruiting trail harder than all other head football coaches combined to that time. With the freshman rule eliminated, Sark could bring in a player for four years if needed, and the combination of transfers and a more balanced assistant coaching staff paved the way for legends of CSU football we know today.
In 1973, the Rams went 5-6, an impressive turnaround after a 1-10 record in Wampfler's 1972 season. According to a Collegian article, the story of the improved Rams became the second-most interesting sports story in Colorado that year.
In 1974, the Rams started to see offensive and defensive improvements with players who became program legends. Men like All-American Kevin McLain and Al "Bubba" Baker on defense along with the most prolific passing combination in the country -- Mark Driscoll to Willie Miller -- made a difference at Hughes Stadium and on the road.
Arslanian's second season also was the first time CSU ever took home the Bronze Boot since its inception in 1968. Coach Sark learned to hate the Wyoming football team in 1973, and told the freshmen, sophomores and juniors they would never lose to the Pokes again while they played at CSU. The 1974 Border War took place at Hughes Stadium on a cold and rainy day as the Rams, thanks to multiple penalties by the Cowboys, beat Wyoming 11-6 in a thrilling game.
By 1975, the "Big Green" defense started to click, and Coach Sark's recruits handed him his first winning season as the Rams' head coach. This was the beginning of the Bell era. Twin brothers Mark and Mike Bell along with another Mark Bell at the wide receiver position helped CSU not only beat Wyoming in Laramie for the first time since 1955, they brought more and more fans out to Hughes Stadium all season long. The 1976 season ended with another 6-5 record and the Bronze Boot remaining in Fort Collins for a third year in a row. CSU beat the Pokes on ABC regional television, the second televised game at Hughes Stadium. Coach Sark lived up to his promise he would beat Wyoming in three consecutive years as the Border War heated up once again.
The 1977 season would prove to be the greatest of the 1970s and the Rams would win more games than they had since 1949. The Rams opened 1977 with a five-game winning streak, beating Northern Colorado and Utah at home. A devastating loss to BYU at home in week six brought the team back to reality. They lost to Wyoming for only the second time in Coach Sark's career at CSU and a tie game to West Texas State set up the opportunity for a bowl game.
The winner of the Western Athletic Conference was guaranteed an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl and BYU came out on top of the WAC in 1977. However, since the Fiesta Bowl was played on Christmas Day, BYU turned down the bowl invitation, leaving it up to three possible schools, Arizona, Arizona State or Colorado State. The Rams had already beat Arizona in Tucson, but a must-win over Arizona State at Hughes Stadium would put them in the driver's seat. In an incredibly defensive game, the Rams beat ASU for the first time in their history. All that was needed was for ASU to lose to Arizona, but it was not meant to be, and CSU was not invited to any other bowl games, ending the year 9-2-1.
Following the 1977 season, Coach Sark had a 17-minute recruiting film made by Phil Tuckett, a producer for NFL Films and it was made with the thunderous "voice of God,", John Facenda as narrator. Titled "The Story of the Colorado State University Rams," the idea was to show players how many former Rams were in the NFL in 1977, and also to showcase the school, stadium and Coach Sark himself. Deemed by many fans today as a classic view of 1970s Rams football, it is cherished by those who played at the time.
The 1978 and 1979 Rams saw losing seasons and the legendary mid-field brawl at the Wyoming game in Hughes Stadium. Coach Sark continued to bring in junior college transfers, including Steve Fairchild, who would play a major role in the 1980 season.
The Rams played some of their best football in 1980, beating Air Force at home and in a thrilling come-from-behind win against Wyoming, also at Hughes Stadium. By the end of the year, they found themselves in second place and only needed to beat BYU in Provo, Utah to win the WAC. It was as close to a playoff game as the WAC could get in 1980, but again CSU fell short and lost by a wide margin.
With many of his top players gone in 1981, Coach Sark found himself on the wrong end of a 0-6 record halfway through the season. Athletic Director Fum McGraw had no other choice than to fire Coach Sark in the middle of the 1981 season. While his coaching record at CSU was nearly .500, the impact he had on CSU football was as if he had produced championship teams. Several of his players went on to the NFL, including Mike Bell who was the second overall pick in the 1979 draft.
Arslanian continued to coach Pee Wee and Junior High School football into his 90s and passed away on Dec. 11, 2016, at the age of 92. His coaching career at CSU remains one of the finest in school history, despite the record. He brought big-time football players to Fort Collins and fans to Hughes Stadium, making them all proud to be CSU Rams.
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