After reactions of the team’s early-week coaching change subsided, the attention of the Colorado State football team has been focused on one thing.
The Bronze Boot.
It’s Border War week as the Rams (2-5 overall, 1-2 Mountain West Conference) travel to Wyoming on Saturday to face the Cowboys in the 117th edition of the rivalry that dates back to 1899.
While interim head coach Tyson Summers may be new to his position, he is no stranger to the rivalry. He was the team’s defensive coordinator the last time CSU won in Laramie, 26-7, in 2015.
“It was cold,” Summers said. “It was funny. If I remember correctly, the running back that we were playing that day was a guy that was either leading the country in rushing or maybe second in the country. And so, the emphasis was obviously stopping the run.
“We did that, that day. If I remember correctly, we had a couple of takeaways early. At the end of the game, I think we had a shutout going. And if I remember correctly, I was not happy that we didn’t finish it.”
Ten years later, the Rams are still chasing an elusive victory in Laramie. They lost there in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Summers hopes to break that trend at the end of a somewhat chaotic week.
However, the interim coach said the players have responded well this week after Jay Norvell was let go, and they are focused on keeping the Bronze Boot in Fort Collins. The Rams defeated the Cowboys 24-10 last season at Canvas Stadium, and the trophy has remained encased in glass at the stadium for the past year.
“I think it’s been great,” Summers said of the players’ reaction to the coaching change. “I’m the most biased person in the building, but they’ve been good. Just trying to do your progression correctly with their emotions and their processes was a big part of it. I talked to them about it the other day, just letting them have their day with coach Norvell. I thought that was really important.
“I thought they handled that really well, and I thought that was important for coach as well and being able to turn a page and get to Wyoming the next day. Not that there’s a lot of change, but just some subtle adjustments to some things that I think can help us out.”
Another change for the Rams this week is its new offensive coordinator and play caller, tight ends coach Grant Chesnut.
It was only a few weeks ago that now-former head coach Norvell surrendered those duties to associate head coach Matt Mumme. After careful consideration, Summers felt Chesnut was right for the job going forward.
“I didn’t make that decision lightly or anything like that,” Summers said. “Grant is somebody that has had a lot of experience as an offensive coordinator and play caller. He obviously understands the game well. I really like his sense of urgency in his details.”
Summers has described repeatedly this week the team is hitting a reset button with a new coach and offensive play caller.
That reset trickles down to the players as well, and Summers believes their focus is right where it needs to be ahead of Saturday’s game.
“My emphasis has been high about what we have to do to get better and hit the reset button over and over in what our habits are and what our focus needs to be,” Summers said. “But we talk about Wyoming and every group, and every team each day is about the Border War, about the Boot.”
Even though no starters from last year’s game will be on the field, the players know the importance of the task at hand.
They’ve blocked out the early-week distractions and plan on bringing the boot back Fort Collins.
“We want to keep the Boot here,” quarterback Jackson Brousseau said. “That’s first and foremost the most important thing right now is keeping the Boot here. We’re just really focused on scheming them up and getting ready to go.”
Scouting the Cowboys
Wyoming is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in Mountain West. The Cowboys are coming off a 24-21 loss to Air Force last week.
Offensively, the team is led by quarterback Kaden Anderson, who has passed for 1,480 yards and nine touchdowns. Samuel Harris leads the rushing attack with 405 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Durr leads the receivers with 331 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Brayden Johnson leads the team with 42 tackles and two interceptions. Tyce Westland and Ben Florentine each have 5.5 tackles for loss while Florentine leads the team with five sacks.
This is the 117th meeting between the two teams. The Rams lead the series 59-51-5. CSU does not recognize a forfeit victory in the 1899 contest.
CSU’s victory last season in Fort Collins snapped a three-game losing streak to Wyoming. The Cowboys have still won seven of the past nine matchups.
Injury report
There were no additions to the six players out for the year in this week’s first injury report ahead of Saturday’s games.
Players listed as out for the Border War contest include: offensive lineman Chandler Brown; defensive back Elijah Brown; defensive back Dagan Myers; wide receiver Petey Tucker; and tight end Jaxxon Warren.
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