The University of Northern Colorado football program enters the 2017 campaign off the heels of back-to-back winning seasons and under the direction of seventh-year coach Earnest Collins Jr.
The Denver Post chatted with Collins about the state of his program as the Bears head into their season opener against College of Idaho at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nottingham Field in Greeley.
Q: What are the biggest challenges of being Colorado’s “other” D-I football program?
A: I don’t really look at them as difficulties. They (Colorado State and CU) can’t get them all. Once they invented the rule that FBS can only take 25 athletes at one time, that opened things up for us. There are more than 25 players out there that we can get. That’s what we pride ourselves on, finding those guys who are right on that border of going this way or that way, we get those kids. I love it. You’ve got to do more in recruiting, you’ve got to find that right group of guys to build our program and the last seven years have been good to us.
Q: What was it like seeing your former quarterback Kyle Sloter get an opportunity with the Denver Broncos?
A: That was awesome. For a kid who has his background. He was at Southern Miss, didn’t get his shot at playing quarterback. Came to UNC and didn’t beat out Jacob Knipp. He was actually starting to take reps at the wide receiver spot that week and then Jacob goes down in Play 2 of that game, Kyle comes in and explodes. It’s cool to see a kid with that story to help other players understand they should never give up. Whatever your dream is, go for it.
Q: Has UNC finally turned the corner?
A: I think so. We had our first winning season in 12 years in 2015. Came close last year to making it to the playoffs, now it’s time to make that jump. I told our kids, ‘nobody cares about winning seasons anymore; we’ve done it twice already.’ Now it’s time to take that next step to a Big Sky championship, playoff hopes and on.
Q: You guys play two Power 5 schools, Colorado and Florida, this year. What value do those games bring to UNC?
A: You can see where your program is at. You get a chance to go play the kids who are relishing the idea of playing for a national championship. Doing so lets you know where you are. And winning those games has happened before. It’s not like it’s unheard of for an FCS school to beat an FBS school. We’re looking forward to the challenge.
Q: Were those games you scheduled or were those games that were scheduled by the athletic department?
A: Obviously, I’m not going to schedule two Power 5 teams back to back. But it’s the cards that we were dealt for this year. We’re not complaining about it, we’re going to relish it.
Q: Those games are often seen as pay-out games for the smaller schools, allowing the UNCs of the world to cash nice paychecks in return for a loss. Can you let that go through your head?
A: No. As a competitor, you always believe you have a chance. Whether it’s a small chance or you know you’re going to win the game, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to compete. It’s not like we’re not going to scout or prepare for them because we think we don’t have a chance. We’re going to compete with them … Whether we win them all or not, it’s competing that’s important. For me, the key is coming out of those three games (including College of Idaho) with a healthy enough team to go win the Big Sky.
Q: For the rest of Colorado that’s not familiar with your UNC Bears, what’s your pitch for why your team is worth keeping an eye on?
A: UNC was a powerhouse when we were a Division II program. We’re trying to get back to that level, just at a higher level of football. It’s taken some time to get it rolling, but our recruiting has gotten better, our players have gotten better, our leadership has gotten better. And that’s really what it’s all about — them. Everyone tells you that you have to have good coaching, but it takes great players to make good coaches, and I think my staff has done a good job of going out and recruiting some outstanding young men on and off the field to help turn this program around.
