Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Taking it to the End
11/11/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Rams have chance to collect second trophy
When Jay Norvell took the Colorado State program, he knew he was inheriting a reclamation project, so he started diagnosing the major areas of concern.
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One of the primary targets was fixing how the football team had performed at the end of the season. The numbers he was presented were not pretty, as the Rams haven't had a winning second half of a season since 2016.
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"It's very important. We've always taken great pride in finishing strong and continuing to improve at the end of the year," Norvell said. "You have two kind of teams: Teams that kind of run out of gas at the end of the year and you have teams which get stronger and get better. We've prepared all year for this month.
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"We want to be in position to be in striking distance of a championship. Now we're in striking distance, and now we've got to put our foot on the gas. We don't want to just maintain; we want to improve and be better. Everything that we've done and the way that we've practiced, the way we've set up our year goals, our monthly goals, our quarterly goals and our daily goals is to have the energy and the fortitude and the detail to really jump on the gas this time of year."
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Norvell breaks down the season in quarters – three-game segments – and each has shown improvement. After starting the season 1-2, the Rams won two of the next three, and the third quarter produced a perfect mark.
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It's part of a four-game win streak which has the team in control of its own destiny. Win the final three and they'll play for the Mountain West championship. For this crew, they are unchartered waters.
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It's a quest for which they aren't weary, but rather excited about the challenge.
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"It's crazy. We're playing Wyoming and we're bowl eligible. This is new territory for us," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "I think it's a testament to how hard this team's worked and how hard this coaching staff has worked. It's an exceptional opportunity. It's a blessing really."
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The simple goal, Norvell said, is for the team to be at its best in November. As well as the Rams are playing, he's insistent the team hasn't played it's best game yet.
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Trophy Game
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Colorado State's football team can play for up to three trophies during the regular season. With 125 years of history behind the Border War game and the addition of the Bronze Boot as the traveling trophy in 1968, make no mistake, this is the trophy game.
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A trophy the Rams have not possessed since 2020. Those emotions run strong.
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"I think they started to kick in for me as soon as the Nevada game was over. I told the guys before practice (last week) this game is so much bigger than us or even the people in this building," Wilson said. "This is a historic rivalry game. I think our guys really understand what this game means. The emotions, I don't know if I'll be able to voice those, but I'm excited for this one."
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With good reason. The last time Colorado State beat both Air Force and Wyoming in the same season was back in 2015. A resurgent season won't feel complete without beating their rivals to the north.
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As usual, the two coaches will meet at the border this week as members of each university's ROTC units run the ball from one campus to the other. This season, the ball will make a stop the night before the game at a pep rally in Old Town, then be guarded on the intramural fields overnight.
Â
This season has been string of doing things which haven't been done in some time, and this is one Norvell wants to add to the list.
Â
"That was part of our preseason goals was to beat our rivals. We were able to do it with Air Force, and now the Border War game, the Boot, it's really important," he said. "To get them both for the first time since 2015 is important. We've done some things that haven't been done here in a long time and we want to be a team that does some things that have never been done here. Our goals are high. Even last week our goals were bigger than just winning that game last week. It just continues. When you play well this time of year, every game becomes more important. We're learning to focus at that level and prepare ourselves at that level and be hungry at that level."
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Here and There
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Norvell is particularly proud the team's succeeding in the classroom this semester. He said 64 players are working with 3.0 GPAs or better, 28 of them on target for 4.0s. … If the game were played last week, Jacob Gardner nor Jack Howell would have played. The hope is both can make gains this week. … Wilson said the bye week was appreciated, but said it's a misnomer to call it a week off, noting practices were still intense. When practices were done, coaches hit the recruiting trail. … Wyoming will also be coming off a bye week.
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One of the primary targets was fixing how the football team had performed at the end of the season. The numbers he was presented were not pretty, as the Rams haven't had a winning second half of a season since 2016.
Â
"It's very important. We've always taken great pride in finishing strong and continuing to improve at the end of the year," Norvell said. "You have two kind of teams: Teams that kind of run out of gas at the end of the year and you have teams which get stronger and get better. We've prepared all year for this month.
Â
"We want to be in position to be in striking distance of a championship. Now we're in striking distance, and now we've got to put our foot on the gas. We don't want to just maintain; we want to improve and be better. Everything that we've done and the way that we've practiced, the way we've set up our year goals, our monthly goals, our quarterly goals and our daily goals is to have the energy and the fortitude and the detail to really jump on the gas this time of year."
Â
Norvell breaks down the season in quarters – three-game segments – and each has shown improvement. After starting the season 1-2, the Rams won two of the next three, and the third quarter produced a perfect mark.
Â
It's part of a four-game win streak which has the team in control of its own destiny. Win the final three and they'll play for the Mountain West championship. For this crew, they are unchartered waters.
Â
It's a quest for which they aren't weary, but rather excited about the challenge.
Â
"It's crazy. We're playing Wyoming and we're bowl eligible. This is new territory for us," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "I think it's a testament to how hard this team's worked and how hard this coaching staff has worked. It's an exceptional opportunity. It's a blessing really."
Â
The simple goal, Norvell said, is for the team to be at its best in November. As well as the Rams are playing, he's insistent the team hasn't played it's best game yet.
Â
Trophy Game
Â
Colorado State's football team can play for up to three trophies during the regular season. With 125 years of history behind the Border War game and the addition of the Bronze Boot as the traveling trophy in 1968, make no mistake, this is the trophy game.
Â
A trophy the Rams have not possessed since 2020. Those emotions run strong.
Â
"I think they started to kick in for me as soon as the Nevada game was over. I told the guys before practice (last week) this game is so much bigger than us or even the people in this building," Wilson said. "This is a historic rivalry game. I think our guys really understand what this game means. The emotions, I don't know if I'll be able to voice those, but I'm excited for this one."
Â
With good reason. The last time Colorado State beat both Air Force and Wyoming in the same season was back in 2015. A resurgent season won't feel complete without beating their rivals to the north.
Â
As usual, the two coaches will meet at the border this week as members of each university's ROTC units run the ball from one campus to the other. This season, the ball will make a stop the night before the game at a pep rally in Old Town, then be guarded on the intramural fields overnight.
Â
This season has been string of doing things which haven't been done in some time, and this is one Norvell wants to add to the list.
Â
"That was part of our preseason goals was to beat our rivals. We were able to do it with Air Force, and now the Border War game, the Boot, it's really important," he said. "To get them both for the first time since 2015 is important. We've done some things that haven't been done here in a long time and we want to be a team that does some things that have never been done here. Our goals are high. Even last week our goals were bigger than just winning that game last week. It just continues. When you play well this time of year, every game becomes more important. We're learning to focus at that level and prepare ourselves at that level and be hungry at that level."
Â
Here and There
Â
Norvell is particularly proud the team's succeeding in the classroom this semester. He said 64 players are working with 3.0 GPAs or better, 28 of them on target for 4.0s. … If the game were played last week, Jacob Gardner nor Jack Howell would have played. The hope is both can make gains this week. … Wilson said the bye week was appreciated, but said it's a misnomer to call it a week off, noting practices were still intense. When practices were done, coaches hit the recruiting trail. … Wyoming will also be coming off a bye week.
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Players Mentioned
Inside the Offensive Linemen Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Thursday, May 14
Inside The Tight End Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, May 11
Inside the Quarterback Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Friday, May 08
Inside the Nickelback Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, April 27