Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Same Scenario, Different Team
8/26/2024 1:48:00 PM | Football
Rams will open without two key players
Two years ago, when Jay Norvell took over the Colorado State program, his first game was against Michigan. A team coming off a College Football Playoff berth and returning with a top-10 ranking. At the Big House.
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Flash forward to this Saturday, Norvell will lead his team onto the turf of DTR Texas Memorial Stadium against a Longhorns team coming off a College Football Playoff berth and returning with a top-five ranking.
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The two are not the same.
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"We have a completely different team, and we have different players, and we have different experiences. Players and teams are a product of their experiences, so we're excited to go play," Norvell said. "Every game there's a pathway to victory, so there are certain things we have to do against Texas that we probably wouldn't try to do against other teams. They have different personnel. We're working on that plan. I'm excited to see our kids execute that plan, and that doesn't change no matter who we're playing."
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At Michigan, the Rams fielded a team with a revamped roster, one which was rather young, especially at key spots. Most of the team had never played in such an environment in one of the iconic college stadiums.
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The Rams have 13 players still on the roster from the trip, four of whom started. Henry Blackburn was one of them, and he says this trip feels different. So does the team.
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"The biggest difference I would say is the spiritual level of this team and how close we're bonding; how close we are to God … We want to give all the glory to God this whole entire season, give the glory to Jesus Christ. We are very tight as a group right now. We're going down to a good opponent, great opener, great team, and we just feel so much closer, together as one unit. We're stronger, faster, better mentally, better physically and better spiritually."
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The players know these are experience games they'll never forget.
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They also know nothing is out of the realm of possibility, and when the college football season opens with a top-10 upset, it just drives the point home more.
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"One hundred percent. We're looking at it like game one; it's just game one for us," quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi said. "Yeah, we're playing a big team, but we're just going to execute. That's our goal, go down and execute what we know what we can do. It's just another game, and it happens to be a big opponent. But seeing an upset to start the season is awesome, and it's just a reminder anything can happen."
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Fertile Grounds
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Just about every program in the country wants to plant some recruiting roots in the state of Texas, and Colorado State is no different. With no Mountain West opponents in the state any longer, getting games there can help the cause.
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"There's no doubt. We recruit the state of Texas," Norvell said. "Texas kids love to come to Colorado and love the mountains up here and had a lot of success. We all have history as coaches. I coached there, coached at OU; I was in the Big 12 most of my career and played against the University of Texas a lot. We've recruited down there for years.
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"Our kids are excited. When you have kids who are from the state of Texas, they've been looking forward to going down there and playing their whole lives."
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There are 19 Rams from the state of Texas on the roster. The team has not played a game in the state since 2015, a trip to UTSA. Â Down the road, the Rams will get there in back-to-back years, playing at UTSA in 2026 and Sam Houston State in 2027,
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Here and There
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Norvell announced the team will be without two key players in the opener, starting defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth and tight end Jaxxon Warren. Gatkuoth started every game a year ago, while Warren was expected to share time with Vince Brown II. … The Longhorns will be the highest-rated team the Rams have played in a season opener. … DKR Texas Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 100,119, making it possible this will be the fourth time the program has played in front of 100,000 or more fans. The Rams have done so prior at Alabama (twice) and Michigan.
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Flash forward to this Saturday, Norvell will lead his team onto the turf of DTR Texas Memorial Stadium against a Longhorns team coming off a College Football Playoff berth and returning with a top-five ranking.
Â
The two are not the same.
Â
"We have a completely different team, and we have different players, and we have different experiences. Players and teams are a product of their experiences, so we're excited to go play," Norvell said. "Every game there's a pathway to victory, so there are certain things we have to do against Texas that we probably wouldn't try to do against other teams. They have different personnel. We're working on that plan. I'm excited to see our kids execute that plan, and that doesn't change no matter who we're playing."
Â
At Michigan, the Rams fielded a team with a revamped roster, one which was rather young, especially at key spots. Most of the team had never played in such an environment in one of the iconic college stadiums.
Â
The Rams have 13 players still on the roster from the trip, four of whom started. Henry Blackburn was one of them, and he says this trip feels different. So does the team.
Â
"The biggest difference I would say is the spiritual level of this team and how close we're bonding; how close we are to God … We want to give all the glory to God this whole entire season, give the glory to Jesus Christ. We are very tight as a group right now. We're going down to a good opponent, great opener, great team, and we just feel so much closer, together as one unit. We're stronger, faster, better mentally, better physically and better spiritually."
Â
The players know these are experience games they'll never forget.
Â
They also know nothing is out of the realm of possibility, and when the college football season opens with a top-10 upset, it just drives the point home more.
Â
"One hundred percent. We're looking at it like game one; it's just game one for us," quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi said. "Yeah, we're playing a big team, but we're just going to execute. That's our goal, go down and execute what we know what we can do. It's just another game, and it happens to be a big opponent. But seeing an upset to start the season is awesome, and it's just a reminder anything can happen."
Â
Fertile Grounds
Â
Just about every program in the country wants to plant some recruiting roots in the state of Texas, and Colorado State is no different. With no Mountain West opponents in the state any longer, getting games there can help the cause.
Â
"There's no doubt. We recruit the state of Texas," Norvell said. "Texas kids love to come to Colorado and love the mountains up here and had a lot of success. We all have history as coaches. I coached there, coached at OU; I was in the Big 12 most of my career and played against the University of Texas a lot. We've recruited down there for years.
Â
"Our kids are excited. When you have kids who are from the state of Texas, they've been looking forward to going down there and playing their whole lives."
Â
There are 19 Rams from the state of Texas on the roster. The team has not played a game in the state since 2015, a trip to UTSA. Â Down the road, the Rams will get there in back-to-back years, playing at UTSA in 2026 and Sam Houston State in 2027,
Â
Here and There
Â
Norvell announced the team will be without two key players in the opener, starting defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth and tight end Jaxxon Warren. Gatkuoth started every game a year ago, while Warren was expected to share time with Vince Brown II. … The Longhorns will be the highest-rated team the Rams have played in a season opener. … DKR Texas Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 100,119, making it possible this will be the fourth time the program has played in front of 100,000 or more fans. The Rams have done so prior at Alabama (twice) and Michigan.
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Players Mentioned
DB
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QB
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DL
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TE
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