Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Leaving the Past Alone
10/21/2024 1:39:00 PM | Football
Rams still adding to the equation
Last week was about beating a foe for the first time in what felt like forever. The victorious result led to team captains placing the Ram-Falcon Trophy in a case in the Hall of Champions entrance to Canvas Stadium.
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Less than a half hour later, CSU football coach Jay Norvell said the past didn't matter as the narrative switches for Saturday's homecoming game with New Mexico – a team the Rams have beaten 12 successive times.
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"We don't even talk about it to be honest with you," Norvel said Monday at his weekly press conference. "We are looking at it as our opportunity. We want to be a team that doesn't look at the outcome, that doesn't look at the things surrounding the game. We just want to think about our preparation.
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"I couldn't wait to get into the meeting today and talk to our guys about where we're at and what we needed to do to continue to prepare the way we have been. It's all about what we can do, what's in front of us, our daily habits and how we practice and prepare, so we just jumped right back into that."
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Colorado State has opened Mountain West play with two consecutive victories and adding a third would be something the team has not done since 2019. The Rams haven't lost to the Lobos at home since 2006.
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None of it really matters to the team, and none of it will make a difference on the field Saturday.
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Offensive lineman Drew Moss follows the same mode of thinking. For the team, it was a step forward to win a trophy game, missing out its past eight tries. But thinking a win against New Mexico will just happen is a fool's game.
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"We really don't care. The Air Force game is over too," Moss said. "Now all we care about is the New Mexico Lobos. We don't care about any records or anything else, just winning."
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Adding Depth
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Owen Long has played all season. Tanner Morely became a starter the fourth week. Dylan Phelps has played sporadically throughout the season and Jalen Dupree didn't see action until the past two games. As the season has progressed, Norvell has had more youngsters starting to fill roles.
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For a team looking to build up depth the past couple of seasons, those are important developments.
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"It's huge. Those kids came in and really added to what we were doing," Norvell said. "Owen came in on defense and he was flying around. He took that rover spot once Jaylen (Gardner) got hurt and there was no drop off when he got in there. You guys have seen Dupree. We put him in the game, we make yards. There's no drop off when he gets in the game.
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"It's interesting, when I look at those guys off the field, they're always studying, they're always asking questions or taking notes or watching film. They're doing all the things that help them prepare to play. It's not a mystery that they play well."
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Long was one of the last players to join last year's recruiting class but has appeared in every game and posted 16 tackles. Phelps' development gives the defense four corners who can contribute, as he showed with his end-zone pick in the game.
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"I'm really excited about those young guys," Norvell said. "The contribution they make the second part of the season is going to be really important."
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Here and There
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This will be the 100th homecoming game played at Colorado State. The Rams are 52-46-1 all time and have won two of the past three. … The Rams are one of four unbeatens in the Mountain West – Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State are the others. Boise State and UNLV play this Friday in Las Vegas. … After opening with four losses, New Mexico has won three in a row, two in conference play, under first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall. … After last week's 50-45 win over Utah State, the Lobos and Aggies are both surrendering at least 43 points per game on the season.
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Less than a half hour later, CSU football coach Jay Norvell said the past didn't matter as the narrative switches for Saturday's homecoming game with New Mexico – a team the Rams have beaten 12 successive times.
Â
"We don't even talk about it to be honest with you," Norvel said Monday at his weekly press conference. "We are looking at it as our opportunity. We want to be a team that doesn't look at the outcome, that doesn't look at the things surrounding the game. We just want to think about our preparation.
Â
"I couldn't wait to get into the meeting today and talk to our guys about where we're at and what we needed to do to continue to prepare the way we have been. It's all about what we can do, what's in front of us, our daily habits and how we practice and prepare, so we just jumped right back into that."
Â
Colorado State has opened Mountain West play with two consecutive victories and adding a third would be something the team has not done since 2019. The Rams haven't lost to the Lobos at home since 2006.
Â
None of it really matters to the team, and none of it will make a difference on the field Saturday.
Â
Offensive lineman Drew Moss follows the same mode of thinking. For the team, it was a step forward to win a trophy game, missing out its past eight tries. But thinking a win against New Mexico will just happen is a fool's game.
Â
"We really don't care. The Air Force game is over too," Moss said. "Now all we care about is the New Mexico Lobos. We don't care about any records or anything else, just winning."
Â
Adding Depth
Â
Owen Long has played all season. Tanner Morely became a starter the fourth week. Dylan Phelps has played sporadically throughout the season and Jalen Dupree didn't see action until the past two games. As the season has progressed, Norvell has had more youngsters starting to fill roles.
Â
For a team looking to build up depth the past couple of seasons, those are important developments.
Â
"It's huge. Those kids came in and really added to what we were doing," Norvell said. "Owen came in on defense and he was flying around. He took that rover spot once Jaylen (Gardner) got hurt and there was no drop off when he got in there. You guys have seen Dupree. We put him in the game, we make yards. There's no drop off when he gets in the game.
Â
"It's interesting, when I look at those guys off the field, they're always studying, they're always asking questions or taking notes or watching film. They're doing all the things that help them prepare to play. It's not a mystery that they play well."
Â
Long was one of the last players to join last year's recruiting class but has appeared in every game and posted 16 tackles. Phelps' development gives the defense four corners who can contribute, as he showed with his end-zone pick in the game.
Â
"I'm really excited about those young guys," Norvell said. "The contribution they make the second part of the season is going to be really important."
Â
Here and There
Â
This will be the 100th homecoming game played at Colorado State. The Rams are 52-46-1 all time and have won two of the past three. … The Rams are one of four unbeatens in the Mountain West – Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State are the others. Boise State and UNLV play this Friday in Las Vegas. … After opening with four losses, New Mexico has won three in a row, two in conference play, under first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall. … After last week's 50-45 win over Utah State, the Lobos and Aggies are both surrendering at least 43 points per game on the season.
Players Mentioned
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