SAN ANTONIO — There are multiple ways to look at the Colorado State football team as its nonconference slate comes to a close.
The Rams are 1-2 heading into Saturday’s game against Texas-San Antonio at the Alamodome, their only win coming against an FCS team. The two losses came in overtime against teams from power five conferences.
The Rams view both losses as games they could have won but didn’t get the job done. And when first-year Rams coach Mike Bobo looks at his team, he can see progress being made. He also knows that come the end of the season, that’s not how the team will be judged.
But he, and his players, still believe this is a good CSU team.
“Who we are and what we do, we’ve got to continue to do that, then we’ll find the success that everybody defines football by,” Bobo said. “We can’t change who we are because of outside noise and what other people think we’re going to do. We’ve got a plan, I believe in that plan, we’re going to stick to that plan and we’re going to be successful; there’s not doubt in my mind. Now when is that going to happen, I can’t answer that. I hope it starts this week, but we will be successful.”
Truth is, the Rams really need a win Saturday. They soon will be playing Mountain West games, and the front of the conference schedule is a doozy. It starts on the road at Utah State against an Aggies defense that has limited CSU the past two years. Then it’s a home game against a Boise State program the Rams have never beaten. After that, it’s Air Force, which handed CSU a demoralizing loss at the end of 2014.
The importance of starting off the conference season with momentum is not lost on the Rams.
“You can’t overstate it. There’s so much importance that goes into that,” CSU quarterback Nick Stevens said. “I think we definitely need some more positives going into Mountain West play, and I think getting a win this week will definitely jump-start our conference play.”
In UTSA, the Rams face a team that is 0-3, but that record comes from facing a more daunting run of competition that what CSU has faced. The Roadrunners were competitive in their first two games — losses to Arizona, now ranked No. 16 in the nation, and to Kansas State. Last week the Roadrunners couldn’t get out of their own way, turning the ball over seven times while being steamrolled by No. 24 Oklahoma State.
Three key questions for CSU’s vs. Texas-San Antonio in San Antonio:
Will tailback Dalyn Dawkins play?
The Rams’ running game is gaining steam, but it will definitely be boosted if Dawkins (unspecified injury late in last week’s game against Colorado) plays against the Roadrunners. If not, youngsters Izzy Matthews and Deron Thompson will have to help Jasen Oden Jr. carry the load.
Can the CSU defense force turnovers?
Ball security was a common phrase for UTSA this week after turning the ball over seven times in a loss to Oklahoma State last Saturday. The Rams hope to keep that trend going.
Can the Rams avoid more overtime?
The Rams haven’t been consistent enough on offense to expect a one-week breakout, but this is a game where they should make strides. The defense continues to play well, and the Rams can’t go into overtime a third consecutive week … can they?
Mike Brohard, Loveland Reporter-Herald
Saturday’s area games
11:30 a.m.: Nicholls State at Colorado, TV: Pac-12
1 p.m.: New Mexico at Wyoming, TV: ROOT
1:30 p.m.: Weber State at Northern Colorado, TV: CET (Comcast)
5 p.m.: Colorado State at Texas-San Antonio, TV: CBSSN
