FORT COLLINS — Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild knows the stakes that come with the university’s hiring of a new athletic director.
Through all of the questions about his job security, he has said he is keeping his focus on the Rams’ season finale at home against Wyoming this weekend.
“I haven’t really given it much thought,” he said Thursday when asked his opinion on the hiring of Jack Graham as CSU’s new athletic director. “My focus is getting our team ready to play on Saturday. I am going to have a chance to visit with him (today) when we drive up to the Border War ceremony. So it will be a good chance to know Jack a little bit.”
Fairchild is in his fourth season as CSU’s coach. After a 7-6 record his first year, the Rams posted back-to- back 3-9 seasons. A loss Saturday would make a third consecutive 3-9 season.
Still, the Rams will have the vast majority of their starters back next season, a year Fairchild hopes to be at the helm.
To stay on, Fairchild must convince Graham that winning is a certainty next season. He knows that whenever a new athletic director is hired, the football coach is in trouble if the program is struggling.
Asked whether he stands by the work that he and his staff have done, Fairchild said yes.
“We’ve recruited three classes,” Fairchild said. “My first year we didn’t recruit; I stayed in Buffalo. But the next three classes were pretty good. I wish it would have shown (on the field) this year, but we got nicked up a little bit. But I think we’ve got 20 starters coming back. It can be really good next year, and I hope I have the chance to see it through.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
