FORT COLLINS — The phrase “must win” is being tossed around with regularity and much more ease at Colorado State this week. A bowl game remains an attainable goal for the Rams. Stopping a two-game losing streak is the fastest way to come closer to achieving it.
A victory Saturday night at Texas-El Paso is CSU’s target for getting back on track.
“There’s got to be a sense of urgency,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said. “We’re sitting at 3-3 and we’ve got six games left. We’d all like to be 4-2, but it is what it is. There’s still a lot of football left in this season.”
Fairchild put the Rams to work Sunday, which is usually a light day for the regular players. In addition to the scrimmaging the younger players on Sunday during the season, Fairchild mixed in some players who were on the field the day before during the Rams’ 63-13 loss to Boise State.
“We just felt like in certain areas we needed a little contact work,” Fairchild said. “Not necessarily guys that are redshirting but guys like (freshman) Blake Jones, for example, to play some snaps as a second tight end that doesn’t get a ton of snaps on Saturday — suit up and get a little work done on Sunday. We did have a little bit longer practice, a little bit better practice.”
Fairchild said he has been pleased with the Rams’ workmanlike attitude since the Boise State game. He acknowledged that whether it’s putting too much emphasis on one game too early in the season or letting losses sink in and fester, keeping a solid frame of mind remains important.
“You always are at the risk of if you lose too many in a row or win too many in a row,” Fairchild said. “Where’s your confidence? Where’s your momentum? That’s what we always try to say. If we drop one, let’s try to get one back.
“This is the first time we’ve dropped two in a row all season. Earlier, when we lost, we bounced right back. Hopefully, we can bounce right back now and string together a couple wins. Yeah, we need this game. There’s no question.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
