Football on the Fringe Season Previews were ranked, then delivered in random order.
The Colorado State Rams performed the most spectacular swan dive of the season in 2009, opening with wins over Colorado and Nevada, before completely falling apart and losing their last nine games, the last two by a combined three points.
2010 opens with big question marks for the Rams- their QB position is up in the air and only four starters are back on offense in total. They are almost ridiculously stacked at RB, but only one starting lineman to get the running game started. The defense is in much better shape, with 10 players returning from the MWC’s #6 defense in 2009 (ok, sixth isn’t spectacular, but it’s better than their 0-8 conference record suggests). If 2009 had given any reason for confidence in the Rams, then one might argue that the schedule looks favorable, but there would have to be a big turnaround to capitalize on it.
Schedule
9/4/2010 vs. Colorado
9/11/2010 at Nevada
9/18/2010 at Miami (OH)
9/25/2010 Idaho
10/2/2010 TCU
10/9/2010 at Air Force
10/16/2010 UNLV
10/23/2010 at Utah
10/30/2010 New Mexico
11/6/2010 at San Diego State
11/13/2010 BYU
11/20/2010 at Wyoming
The schedule is relentless for the Rams, starting with rival Colorado on a neutral site, then trips to Reno and Ohio before their first home game. On top of the fast start, CSU has no bye weeks this year- they’ll be done before Thanksgiving but without a week off. The Miami and Idaho nonconference games will probably be the best indicators of where CSU stands before entering conference play, and a win in either game should help put 2009 away as the important games come up.
Coaching
Head coach Steve Fairchild played quarterback for the Rams in 1980, then spent seven years on the staff in the mid-to-late 1990s. He went on to be an offensive coordinator in the NFL before Colorado State called him for the top job at the end of 2007. His first season went better than his second, knocking off Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl to finish 7-6.
Rankings
The MWC media see some improvement on tap for the Rams, picked to finish 7th in the league.
Outlook
It’s hard to imagine things getting any worse for Colorado State, and I think they should bounce back a little bit. But to do that, they really must beat Miami or Idaho, and ideally both. If not, they’re probably going to arrive at midseason at 0-6. Ultimately, though, it’s a long road back and I can’t see CSU winning more than 3 or 4 games, although it should not involve a 9 game losing streak this time.
Colorado State Connections
Official Twitter Feed – Which as of right now, has BYU going independent reported as fact.
RamNation – Independent message board (must we really all be a Nation? Come on, where’s the creativity?! Owl Scoop is better than __ Nation)
Fort Collins Coloradoan – Local coverage of the Rams