CHEYENNE, Wyo.—The stakes may be different for Colorado State and Wyoming heading into their Saturday matchup, but both coaches say the focus on this week’s Border War, the 100th in the rivalry, remains as fervent as ever.
Colorado State (5-6, 3-4 Mountain West) needs a win to remain bowl eligible in Steve Fairchild’s first season as head coach. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are looking to salvage a disappointing season with a symbolic win in what could turn out to be coach Joe Glenn’s final game at Wyoming (4-7, 1-6).
Colorado State is coming off a 20-6 win over New Mexico last weekend, the Rams’ first win in three games and one they had to have to stay in the hunt for an extra game. Wyoming’s bowl hopes were dashed last week when UNLV came from behind to beat them 22-14 at Las Vegas, ensuring the Cowboys their fourth losing season in Glenn’s six years at the school.
Despite the implications of last week’s loss, Glenn said his team practiced this week with “a lot of emotion, a lot of spirit.”
“It’s the Border War and it’s the biggest game of the year,” Glenn said Thursday. “On our goal sheet is the first goal that we set every year in capital letters—BEAT CSU. And I’m sure it’s likewise at their place.”
Fairchild, who played quarterback for the Rams from 1978-1980, said he’s brought in alumni to motivate his team in advance of the rivalry game at Laramie.
“I think that’s my job, my responsibility, to enlighten our football team, particularly our newer players, about how big a rivalry this is and how important it is to so many people out there,” said Fairchild, who would be the winningest first-year coach in Colorado State’s history if his team notches a sixth win.
Fairchild said the Rams will be focused on stopping Wyoming running backs Devin Moore and Wynell Seldon. Moore, a senior with 2,887 career rushing yards, needs 20 more to become Wyoming’s all-time career rushing leader.
“They’re going to challenge you athletically,” Fairchild said. “Not that they can’t run it up in there, they do that as well. The thing we did well, we tackled and we didn’t give up the big play last week. We’re going to need that against Wyoming this Saturday.”
Glenn said the Cowboys will start redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Stutzriem, who’s 2-1 in his three career starts. Stutzriem led Wyoming to a victory at Tennessee on Nov. 8, but last week against UNLV, he threw two fourth quarter interceptions. Turnovers have plagued the Cowboys this season.
“The guys need to know that if you’ll play like you’re taught and you play within yourself and you play within the system, good things will happen,” Glenn said. “If you make stuff up, then good things won’t happen.”
Glenn said it will be crucial for the Cowboys defense—a stalwart unit this season—to stop the Rams’ passing game, led by standout receivers Dion Morton and Rashaun Greer.
“We were in pretty good shape … last year until they threw a couple over our head,” Glenn said. “So there’s a lot of concerns but the very first one in my mind, and when I talk with our defensive coaches, is we’ve got to be able to hold up in the pass.”
Glenn wants to finish the season on a high note as speculation over his job security grows by the week. He’s 30-40 overall at Wyoming and 15-30 in conference play. He reflected on his six years during a conference call with reporters this week.
“I would have to place the people and the players that I’ve worked with and that I know around the state as probably the highlight of my past six years,” he said.
Glenn, who has two years remaining on his contract, said he and Athletics Director Tom Burman will meet after Saturday’s game.
Tim Harkins, Wyoming’s associate athletics director, said the timing of the meeting has not been set. He also denied that Burman had set a preseason mandate that Wyoming reach a bowl game.
“Tom Burman’s comment all season was that he would evaluate the season at the end of the year,” Harkins said. “His comment was he expected Wyoming to have a winning football program.”
