Monday Presser: Rams Ready for Three-Game Homestand

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Sep 20

12-Days

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vs UTSA

Sep 27

5:30 PM

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vs Washington State

Oct 3

8:30 PM

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at San Diego State

Oct 10

7:00 PM

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vs Fresno State

Oct 18

5:00 PM

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vs Hawai'i

This doesn't happen often, so the team is going to enjoy every last part. Some aspects are just more obvious than others.

"I like the acai bowls we get before the game. Those are probably the best part," offensive lineman Drew Moss said. "For real though, it's good to have our fans. That's a big motivator, to have our fans out there and just protect the Fort."

Saturday's game with Northern Colorado (5 p.m.) begins a stretch of three consecutive home games, a run which hasn't been enjoyed by the program since 2015. It doesn't happen often, the time prior being in back-to-back seasons in 2004-05. In 2003, the team had four consecutive home dates, as well as in 1994.

Home cooking is appreciated, and it sets up a first in program history – seven home games on the season. With a bye in week five, the team won't hit the road again until the first weekend of October.

"We can really get something going with three home games in a row," defensive lineman Cam Bariteau said. "We can give the fans something to watch, and it will be fun coming home and playing three games."

When he was first hired, one of Norvell's goals was to make Canvas Stadium an advantage. It had been 2017 (not counting the covid year) when the team had a winning record at home. Last year, they went 4-2, and Norvell wants to build on that, starting with this game.

He wants momentum build going into Colorado, then when the team hosts UTEP the following week.

"It's important to play at home. It's important for your kids to get confidence from playing at home," Norvell said. "I think it's fantastic. We're very fortunate to have three straight home games and have seven games. We want to get in a rhythm of playing great here. Our kids have a lot of confidence. I think we gained a lot of confidence last year playing at Canvas. This is our first opportunity. We have a new crop of freshman who are going to be here, the band's going to be behind their bench. It will be a lot different of an atmosphere, and we're excited to see it."

Mosley Honored

A ceremony will be held during the game Saturday at the Colorado State athletic department retires the number of Lt. Col. John Mosley, his name joining three others on the ring of Canvas Stadium – Fum McGraw, Eddie Hanna and Greg Myers. Mosley's No. 14 will be retired across all sports, though student-athletes currently wearing the number (including wideout Tory Horton) can continue to wear it through the remainder of their careers.

Being a student of history, Norvell admires what Mosley did throughout his life. His athletic career, his role as student body vice president his final two years of school and his history as a pilot in a pivotal time in the country.

"I don't think any of us really can understand the times he came up in, with segregation," Norvell said. "It's tough being the first. I've had some people in my family who were the first. My dad (Merritt Norvell) was the first Black athletic director at Michigan State. I've been the first African-American coach at a couple of different schools. To be first at that time is much different than now. For him to do all the things he accomplished, he was a unique, incredibly talented individual and a leader in his own right.

"To be a pilot at that time and to represent this country the way he did, and the university, is pretty amazing."

Here and There

Norvell said the team came out of the Texas game relatively healthy, just the normal game-wear bumps and bruises. … Northern Colorado is the second year of the Ed Lamb era. The Bears were 0-11 last season and dropped their opener last weekend. CSU has never officially lost to UNC (a 1900 forfeit is stricken from the books), owning a 20-0-1 series advantage. Though the two schools are close, they don't play often. This will be just the fourth meeting in 38 years, the first since 2016.

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