Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Getting Specific About Fixes
9/28/2026 1:35:00 PM | Football
Saturday marks 102nd Homecoming Game
The goal is broad – improve the play on defense.
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The answer for Colorado State coach Jim Mora relies on the specifics. Not just tackle or shed blocks better. Not just lineup better. The devil is in the details.
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"I believe that whatever your scheme is, the most important thing is that your players are coached on specifics so that they can play with certainty, because if they play with certainty, they can play fast, and if they play fast, they can make plays," he said Monday at his weekly press conference. "So that's always the objective, and it's a process that we're working through right now."
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Mora not only talked about a simplified approach to the game plan – not putting too much on the plate of the players – but the coaches saying exactly what they mean and how to do it. The true technique behind the request with targeted examples.
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It's what he learned from his father. It's what he learned from Steve Sidwell. And Monte Kiffin. Great defenses played with basic fundamentals and taught to finite points for the players when they ask questions.
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"An answer is not get off the block. Tackle better. An answer is make sure your hand placement is here," Mora said. "Make sure your outside foot is back. Make sure you're extending. Make sure your eyes are here. Those are the things. Or not adjusting as the game goes on is unacceptable at this level. Which means, if we've worked on something all week and it's become apparent that it's not working, you have to have mechanics in place to change it like that.
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"Not on Sunday when you watch the film. If you don't have mechanics to change it like that, then you're not doing your job as a staff. So that's why I said we have to do a better job. We can't wait to change things. It's too late. And that's not fair to our players. And then we have to be open to demanding of our players, but you have to be specific about what you're demanding of them."
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Starting Pac Play
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Mora's roots are in the Pac-12 as a player and later as a coach. This weekend marks the start of play in the rebuilt conference, a special time which is not lost on Mora.
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"I actually have given that a little thought, and it is, but that's not the thing that's most exciting to me. It's about the challenge of going out and playing a good football team and trying to play our best and help our players play their best," he said. "A coach's job is to help their players play their best. We have to support them. We have to be demanding. That doesn't mean coddle.
Â
"We have not been coddling these guys. We've been demanding, but they have to know that your job is to help them go out and perform at their best. That's what you have to do."
Â
The goal of the league is to reestablish itself as a top-flight conference in the sport. It's a process which begins this year and is also part of the long-range goals of the league's leaders. Again, Mora knows guiding Colorado State is part of that plan.
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It's just not part of his thinking at the moment. He's locked in on a season currently underway, and the impact of what transpires is a topic for a later date.
Â
"I would love to answer that question -- in the offseason, OK. Because right now my mind has to be on one thing, and not the Pac-12. I love the Pac-12. You guys all know I grew up in the Pac-12. It's been an important part of my football career but at this point -- and I don't mean this in any other way; this is the truth -- I just can't think globally like that right now. I'm just … I'm not smart enough."
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Homecoming History
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The idea of Homecoming weekend began in 1914 at Colorado State, but it wasn't until 1922 when the football game was associated as a big event as part of the weekend. Saturday's game will mark the 102nd edition of the game, with Colorado State 57-43-1 in those contests.
Â
Early on, the game was played in November, but October has become the most popular month to bring graduates and family back to campus (71 times after this weekend). This will be the 19th consecutive year the game has been played in October.
Â
Oregon State will become the 29th different team the Rams have faced on homecoming, with Utah State by far the most common opponent – 20 meetings.
Â
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The answer for Colorado State coach Jim Mora relies on the specifics. Not just tackle or shed blocks better. Not just lineup better. The devil is in the details.
Â
"I believe that whatever your scheme is, the most important thing is that your players are coached on specifics so that they can play with certainty, because if they play with certainty, they can play fast, and if they play fast, they can make plays," he said Monday at his weekly press conference. "So that's always the objective, and it's a process that we're working through right now."
Â
Mora not only talked about a simplified approach to the game plan – not putting too much on the plate of the players – but the coaches saying exactly what they mean and how to do it. The true technique behind the request with targeted examples.
Â
It's what he learned from his father. It's what he learned from Steve Sidwell. And Monte Kiffin. Great defenses played with basic fundamentals and taught to finite points for the players when they ask questions.
Â
"An answer is not get off the block. Tackle better. An answer is make sure your hand placement is here," Mora said. "Make sure your outside foot is back. Make sure you're extending. Make sure your eyes are here. Those are the things. Or not adjusting as the game goes on is unacceptable at this level. Which means, if we've worked on something all week and it's become apparent that it's not working, you have to have mechanics in place to change it like that.
Â
"Not on Sunday when you watch the film. If you don't have mechanics to change it like that, then you're not doing your job as a staff. So that's why I said we have to do a better job. We can't wait to change things. It's too late. And that's not fair to our players. And then we have to be open to demanding of our players, but you have to be specific about what you're demanding of them."
Â
Starting Pac Play
Â
Mora's roots are in the Pac-12 as a player and later as a coach. This weekend marks the start of play in the rebuilt conference, a special time which is not lost on Mora.
Â
"I actually have given that a little thought, and it is, but that's not the thing that's most exciting to me. It's about the challenge of going out and playing a good football team and trying to play our best and help our players play their best," he said. "A coach's job is to help their players play their best. We have to support them. We have to be demanding. That doesn't mean coddle.
Â
"We have not been coddling these guys. We've been demanding, but they have to know that your job is to help them go out and perform at their best. That's what you have to do."
Â
The goal of the league is to reestablish itself as a top-flight conference in the sport. It's a process which begins this year and is also part of the long-range goals of the league's leaders. Again, Mora knows guiding Colorado State is part of that plan.
Â
It's just not part of his thinking at the moment. He's locked in on a season currently underway, and the impact of what transpires is a topic for a later date.
Â
"I would love to answer that question -- in the offseason, OK. Because right now my mind has to be on one thing, and not the Pac-12. I love the Pac-12. You guys all know I grew up in the Pac-12. It's been an important part of my football career but at this point -- and I don't mean this in any other way; this is the truth -- I just can't think globally like that right now. I'm just … I'm not smart enough."
Â
Homecoming History
Â
The idea of Homecoming weekend began in 1914 at Colorado State, but it wasn't until 1922 when the football game was associated as a big event as part of the weekend. Saturday's game will mark the 102nd edition of the game, with Colorado State 57-43-1 in those contests.
Â
Early on, the game was played in November, but October has become the most popular month to bring graduates and family back to campus (71 times after this weekend). This will be the 19th consecutive year the game has been played in October.
Â
Oregon State will become the 29th different team the Rams have faced on homecoming, with Utah State by far the most common opponent – 20 meetings.
Â
Monday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 19