ALBUQUERQUE — It was early January of 2013 when a crop of future Colorado State football players arrived in Fort Collins for their official visits. The Rams had not reached a bowl game in six out of the last seven seasons, but a group of soon-to-be signed college freshmen were sold on a new era at CSU.
Defensive back was roommates with linebacker during that weekend long ago. Quarterback Nick Stevens was among those on campus, too. They all believed the same thing.
“We knew that the program was on the rise,” Schlager said, “and we knew the only way to go was up.”
At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, life comes full circle with confirmation.
CSU and Marshall meet in the New Mexico Bowl with the Rams making their fifth consecutive postseason appearance. Throughout the course of 125 years of Rams football, it is tied for the longest bowl stretch in program history, matching former head coach Sonny Lubick’s run from 1999 to 2003. And it all began here in Albuquerque in 2013, when the Rams clawed back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat , 48-45, in the New Mexico Bowl.
Among the 23 original members of CSU’s 2013 signing class, 12 remain with hopes to finish their careers with another trophy. Their postseason consistency is made more impressive by the tumultuous coaching turnover it accompanied, including two head coaching changes and more than a dozen assistants come and gone. Schlager alone has filtered through four defensive backs coaches.
“In college football, there are a lot of changes all the time and these guys have been awesome,” CSU coach said. “They’ve embraced me since day one. I said … ‘We both chose Colorado State. We’re all Rams and we’re all family.’ What we’ve been able to do, to be able handle the ups and the downs and remain a football team and remain a family is something I’m proud of.”
However, the new expectation among CSU players is no longer to just reach the postseason. The Rams followed their dramatic 2013 New Mexico Bowl with three straight bowl losses. They hope to take another step forward on Saturday.
“That win in New Mexico my freshman year was great, even though I wasn’t really a part of it, it was an awesome feeling,” offensive lineman said. “Every single year after that has been complete heartbreak, especially when I started to play more, because you put so much time and energy into it.
“To win it, would definitely be the best feeling.”
History makers
A collection of 12 CSU redshirt seniors have been on the roster for five consecutive bowl games.
Quarterback Nick Stevens (Murrieta, Calif.)
Safety Jake Schlager (McCook, Neb.)
Linebacker Deonte Clyburn (Louisville, Ky.)
Linebacker Kiel Robinson (San Marcos, Calif.)
Safety Justin Sweet (Las Vegas)
Linebacker Patrick Elsenblast (Littleton)
Linebacker Evan Colorito (Beaverton, Ore.)
Long snapper (Eaton)
Offensive lineman (Carbondale)
Offensive lineman (Lakewood)
Defensive lineman (Arvada)
Offensive lineman Zack Golditch (Aurora)