Spring Break
Welcome to Underdog U
Nick Hubel
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Sports
Here's something that you probably haven't heard that much of this week: the Rams are going to win the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
That's right. In case you didn't believe me the first time, the CSU football team -- young, inexperienced, and slow as they are -- will walk away from Invesco field this Sunday hoisting a Centennial Cup filled with Cody Hawkins' tears.
Eleven point underdogs in Vegas, the Rams have the opportunity to officially start the Steve Fairchild Era right. Cue the cliché machine, because this is the first of many "Nobody believed in us" moments for the CSU athletic department this year.
This season the Rams are the classic underdog. A year ago, the program was in turmoil (it just didn't know it yet). Sonny Lubick hadn't been himself since 2003, and the bad hoodoo was spilling onto the field.
Injuries and the pressure involved with the whole "win or the football messiah of northern Colorado gets canned" thing deflated the team to the breaking point, translating into uninventive play calling, uninspired play and an understandably frustrated fan base.
One year later, all of that is gone. Fairchild comes into his first game without the burden of expectations over his head. The money is spent, Sonny has moved on. No reasonable fan can expect a complete turnaround of the program in one year.
But coaches' brains don't work that way. Fairchild comes from a world where he was expected at all times to make J.P. Losman into an elite quarterback or he was going to get fired. Ex-NFL guys don't take days off from intensity.
Just think about every picture you've ever seen of coach Fairchild. He always looks like he's trying to stare a hole through the camera lens. It's terrifying. Now don't get me wrong, it doesn't take much to put the fear of God into a sports reporter. We eat the buffet food that gets left out in the press box before games, but that's about as tough as we get. So it may seem exaggerated when I say he's a generally intense guy.
That's right. In case you didn't believe me the first time, the CSU football team -- young, inexperienced, and slow as they are -- will walk away from Invesco field this Sunday hoisting a Centennial Cup filled with Cody Hawkins' tears.
Eleven point underdogs in Vegas, the Rams have the opportunity to officially start the Steve Fairchild Era right. Cue the cliché machine, because this is the first of many "Nobody believed in us" moments for the CSU athletic department this year.
This season the Rams are the classic underdog. A year ago, the program was in turmoil (it just didn't know it yet). Sonny Lubick hadn't been himself since 2003, and the bad hoodoo was spilling onto the field.
Injuries and the pressure involved with the whole "win or the football messiah of northern Colorado gets canned" thing deflated the team to the breaking point, translating into uninventive play calling, uninspired play and an understandably frustrated fan base.
One year later, all of that is gone. Fairchild comes into his first game without the burden of expectations over his head. The money is spent, Sonny has moved on. No reasonable fan can expect a complete turnaround of the program in one year.
But coaches' brains don't work that way. Fairchild comes from a world where he was expected at all times to make J.P. Losman into an elite quarterback or he was going to get fired. Ex-NFL guys don't take days off from intensity.
Just think about every picture you've ever seen of coach Fairchild. He always looks like he's trying to stare a hole through the camera lens. It's terrifying. Now don't get me wrong, it doesn't take much to put the fear of God into a sports reporter. We eat the buffet food that gets left out in the press box before games, but that's about as tough as we get. So it may seem exaggerated when I say he's a generally intense guy.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 6
Craig Hawley
posted 8/30/08 @ 12:37 AM MST
I like your attitude nick , GO RAMS. I guess my nick for Cam the Ram is appropriate with the new meaner football team.
GO CAMBO! ;)
Craig Hawley / the real one lol
posted 8/31/08 @ 1:50 PM MST
I am having some friends over and will be rooting the Rams on to victory. Wish I could go to the Game , but will watch it on FSN.
I have my official ( CSU Bookstore ) Can the Ram out and ready for the game. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley / the real one lol
posted 8/31/08 @ 2:22 PM MST
We will be watching the game on FSN and rooting for the Rams. I have my official ( CSU Bookstore ) Cam the Ram ready to rumble.
I tied the green ribbon around his neck , around his head and renamed him CAMBO. (Continued…)
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