FORT COLLINS — Colorado State had just wrapped up a practice and gathered together as a group at Hughes Stadium, the scene of so many ugly football crimes last season, when linebacker Mychal Sisson spoke up.
“I don’t want to go 3-9 no more!” he yelled, among other things. He meant business, and everyone knew it.
But, as the Rams get set to open their season at New Mexico on Saturday, here’s the kicker: So does everyone in the program.
The Rams are one large group of disgusted, frustrated players, eager to put last season’s 3-9 disaster in the rearview mirror and prove they are much more than an improving football team — they are a formidable one.
“We’ve been using last year’s debacle up at Wyoming and even BYU as motivation all offseason,” sophomore quarterback Pete Thomas said. “We want to be the team to turn CSU around, get it back on the map, go to a bowl game, and make everyone proud to be part of CSU and to go to CSU.”
For this group, much of that change started in the offseason. Dedication to offseason conditioning was a big problem in recent years.
This summer, the team had its best conditioning attendance since fourth- year coach Steve Fairchild took over.
On the field last fall, fatigue and adversity led to loafing and giving up on plays. And that led to games that should have at least been competitive getting out of hand — and, ultimately, to a season that spun out of control.
“We’re anxious to start a new year, new team,” Fairchild said. “We look forward to having a chance to go out on Saturday and show that we’re a much-improved football team.”
Redemption has been a constant theme in the locker room throughout the preseason, Thomas acknowledged. There hasn’t been a day during camp that avoiding last year’s pitfalls hasn’t been a topic of conversations among teammates.
“We definitely talk about it,” Thomas said. “A 3-9 (record) is not acceptable. We’re not going to stand for that. We’ve changed the whole attitude this year. There’s a lot more leadership, a lot better leadership. We’ve come together as a team.”
Getting the program turned around is a subject that turns the normally reserved Thomas into a fiery personality. As the quarterback, he understands he’s a big part of what the ultimate success of the team will be.
“I’m looking for a big season,” Thomas said. “I’m expecting a lot from myself and my teammates. Everyone has high expectations for everyone else, and I think we’re going to perform up to those levels.
“We’ve been working hard since January, just like New Mexico has. We’re tired of hitting each other, just ready to get this thing kicked off.”
Said Fairchild: “You do this for the enjoyment of the games, and you know, I think they are ready.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
