FORT COLLINS — Most of the 17 Colorado State seniors arrived five years ago in the typical state — straddling a line between recruiting hype and freshman cluelessness. In the blink of an eye, their CSU careers are nearly complete.
“I never would have thought it would have gone by this fast,” running back Kyle Bell said of the home finale Saturday. “My first four years you watch that senior class, and in the back of your mind you think ‘That’s going to be me one day.’ ”
As his day approaches, defensive tackle Matt Rupp said: “It comes fast. It sneaks up on you.”
The fifth-year seniors in this class were recruited off CSU’s days as a Mountain West contender. Many watched practices for the 2003 San Francisco Bowl during their recruiting trips.
Since then, CSU has been to one bowl, the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, and the past two senior classes were out of bowl contention for their final introductions at Sonny Lubick Field.
The 2008 group has at least an outside shot. Wins against New Mexico on Saturday and Wyoming next week would lift the Rams to 6-6. Then, if current MWC frontrunner Utah beats BYU for the first time since 2005, advancing to a BCS bowl, a slot opens for a 6-6 team.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said this week he does not expect any bowls outside the Mountain West agreements to open up.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild has done his best to at least publicly quash any bowl chatter, preferring his “one practice at a time” mode. The players, however, know what’s out there. For the seniors, a bowl would mean leaving the program headed in the right direction.
“It’s something we really, really want,” linebacker Jeff Horinek said.
While the senior day festivities and potential for a bowl helped the Rams pick themselves back up after the 38-17 blasting at Air Force, no one is quite sure how the Lobos will come in.
This is the first time New Mexico (4-7, 2-5) has gone into a finale without a chance of a bowl since 2000.
Footnote.
The average winning margin in the past 14 games between the teams is 5.3 points.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
The Lowdown
By Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
NEW MEXICO (4-7, 2-5 MWC)
Player to watch: RB Rodney Ferguson.
The senior finishes his career with a third consecutive 1,000-yard season. He is second in MWC rushing at 101.8 yards a game and ran for 110 yards against the Rams last season.
Key for the Lobos: Shut down the passing game.
No one plays defense quite like New Mexico, and CSU struggled earlier this season against man coverage on the receivers.
CSU (4-6, 2-4)
Player to watch: LB Jeff Horinek.
In his final home game, the senior will be mixing it up often with New Mexico’s physical ground game. After leading the team in tackles last season, he’s third (65) this season but has two interceptions.
Key for the Rams: Fear the run, respect the pass.
The Lobos’ passing game has struggled since starting quarterback Donovan Porterie tore up his knee in the fourth game. However, Air Force hadn’t had much success through the air until playing CSU last week.
