FORT COLLINS — The words, said Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild, weren’t meant to be as pointed as it seemed.
CSU junior cornerback Momo Thomas, a team leader, made it clear after the Rams’ 31-17 loss at UTEP late Saturday night that attitudes on the team needed to change.
“People have to stop pointing fingers and start going and do your assignments,” Thomas said after the loss. “I think that will help a lot.”
Fairchild said Monday he talked to Thomas about the comment, and came out with a different view of what one of the team’s best players was trying to say.
“I don’t think there is (finger pointing), to be honest with you,” Fairchild said. “I saw Momo with that quote. I think he was just alluding to that we don’t want to do like last year. We just want to stay together. Our football team has done a great job with that. In fact, Momo was in my office (on Sunday) and we were talking, and it had nothing to do with that.
“But he’s a great leader right now. He’s really worked his way into that role on our football team. I think what he was trying to say is we’re not going to point fingers, we’re going to stay together and look at ourselves, which we need to do. Obviously this is a tough time. We need to get a win.”
CSU has lost three in a row to drop to 3-4 overall, 1-1 in the Mountain West.
The good news is, CSU plays UNLV (1-5, 0-1) this week. The Rebels are struggling even more than the Rams.
Fairchild said he doesn’t think the current slide will continue to spiral out of control. Continuing on a theme he has espoused all season, he said the attitude and work ethic among his players are too solid to let it happen.
“I really have a good feel for this football team and these kids,” Fairchild said. “Like I’ve said all along, it’s been a lot of fun being around these kids. They’re good, and they’re good players. I know we’ll push through this. I really do.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
