FORT COLLINS — There are any number of directions a football team can go in November once assured of a losing record.
Some teams stop playing hard.
Others pull the seniors and start playing for next season with younger players.
Some teams all but run out the clock in anticipation of a coaching change.
And some teams keep playing hard, which is what Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild expects.
“You play the same way (as you would with a winning record),” Fairchild said about going into the final two games with 3-7 record, 2-4 in the Mountain West. Only BYU (4-5, 3-2), still in contention for a bowl if it wins two of its last three, and Wyoming (2-8, 0-6), victimized by a brutal early schedule, remain for the Rams.
The incentive is to go out on the winning side against BYU, which is leaving the MWC, and then reclaim the Bronze Boot in the Nov. 20 finale.
Fairchild made mention of the 16 seniors who will be making their final home appearance, especially the leadership from Guy Miller, Zac Pauga and Ricky Brewer, saying, “I don’t remember having this much fun in coaching in a long time.”
While progress hasn’t been consistently evident outside the program, Fairchild insisted otherwise at his weekly Monday news conference.
“I think we’re building the right way,” he said. “You can see it going in the right direction. . . . We’re developing in some spots where we’re young. It just feels right. The effort level is tremendous. . . . I’m honored to be their coach.”
He was surprised the Rams didn’t have success running the ball (31 net yards) in San Diego. The five turnovers forced by CSU’s defense set up 10 offensive points, and linebacker Mychal Sisson returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, who had been emphasizing takeaways with little success all season, said there was nothing different in this game.
“It’s the same thing every week. We say, ‘Let’s get some turnovers,’ ” Kerr said. “Sometimes it just bounces your way.”
It was by far the defense’s best outing this season, with three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Also, the Rams held the Aztecs’ two explosive receivers — DeMarco Sampson and Vincent Brown — to a combined 63 yards.
Injury update.
Middle linebacker Alex Williams was lost to a knee injury early in the San Diego State game and probably will miss the remaining two games of his career. Brewer might move inside to get freshman Mike Orakpo on the field more at Brewer’s outside position.
For the record books.
Had CSU won, Sisson, a junior linebacker, might have earned Mountain West defensive player of the week honors. He set the CSU record for the longest fumble return for a score with an 88-yarder in the third quarter that gave the Rams a 13-10 lead. The previous long was one of the biggest plays in CSU history: Sean Moran’s 77-yard return against Arizona in 1994. In addition, Sisson had nine tackles, a sack and an interception.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
