FORT COLLINS — This past weekend was about capping things right for Colorado State. And, in more ways than one, for some of the football players.
As a team, they’re getting a few days off for Christmas to spend with family and friends, a break from what has been effectively a five-month grind for players and coaches alike.
But Saturday also represented a culmination for 10 players on the team, all of whom — because of the later date of the bowl game — were able to walk in graduation ceremonies on campus.
“That’s awesome. A lot of our seniors have already graduated,” CSU coach Mike Bobo said. “Six graduated in the spring, and then there’s a large number graduating this (past) weekend. The good thing is everybody is really on track to graduate next semester too.
“That’s the ultimate goal — is to get a degree. These guys were obviously on track before I got here.”
This a group of players who have accomplished a lot at Colorado State. They helped turn the program around, with the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29 against Nevada the third straight postseason game for the Rams.
Getting a degree ranks right up there, although cornerback DeAndre Elliott wasn’t about to pick a favorite. The truth is, he said, each accomplishment held a special place in his heart.
“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “It’s all good that I get to walk across the stage and my people get to come see me. I’m excited for that and because we made it to another bowl. Both of them mean so much to me.”
Just don’t ask his mother, he said. The degree wins, hands down.
Martavius Foster, Terry Jackson, Trent Matthews, Kevin Pierre-Louis and SteveO Michel had already graduated. On Saturday, Elliott, Cole Anderson, Jordan Finley, Cory James, Blake Jones, Joe Kawulok, George Maumau, Kevin O’Brien, Davon Riddick and Willie Udofia joined them. Topping them all was sixth-year senior Kivon Cartwright, who walked with a master’s degree.
CSU on Sunday closed out pre-Christmas practice, and Bobo felt the plan was playing out perfectly. The Rams covered everything before heading home for the holidays, and when they regather in Tucson on Friday, they will go through a normal Monday-style practice that day to start review.
In between, they’ll enjoy family. Elliott was ready for some home cooking, no matter what it was, but linebacker Kevin Davis put in special requests for ham and German food.
“I feel like the whole time at home, I mean, I’ll be enjoying myself, but I’ll also be staying in shape, working out those three days and also running to stay in condition,” linebacker Kiel Robinson said. “It will be fun. It’s pretty good. I’m excited to go home. I haven’t been home in six months.”
Bobo and the coaches will get a break, too, but will first meet on Monday to finalize scripts and such. The goal, he said, is for all to come back refreshed and energized. Not beaten down, but ready to get back to work and go back over what’s already been covered.
“It’s all review. That’s the plan,” he said. “If you watch too much tape, you invent too many plays … I’ve got too much on the call sheet right now, so what I’ll do in the time off is take the red pen and take some stuff out. At least we practiced it, but we have too much going into a game right now.”
