Volume 127, No. 14 Monday, August 28, 2017
OPINION
SPORTS
STADIUM DIVIDES NEW AND OLD ALUMNI
QUARTERBACK DEBATE IS OVER
PAGE 5
PAGE 11
A&C
FLOBOTS KICK OFF STADIUM CONCERTS PAGE 12
Rams bash Beavers in stadium opener In front of the third largest crowd in CSU football history, the Rams defeated Oregon State In the first game played at the on-campus stadium Aug. 26. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN
By Justin Michael @JustinTMichael
In front of a sold out stadium of 37,583 people, the largest home crowd for a home opener in Colorado State history, the Rams kicked off the 2017 college football season and officially christened the on-campus stadium with a 58-27 victory over Oregon State. “First of all I just want to say how excited I am for this University, the Fort Collins community and our fanbase. It was an awesome day to be a Ram,” head coach Mike Bobo said. “I can’t say how proud I am of our football team ... e’ve been talking about it since the game moved. The big responsibility we had to the university, to the community
to our fanbase. How we had to be ready to put our best put forward for Ram Nation. That’s a lot of pressure.” After each team started the contest by going three and out, the game quickly turned into an offensive shootout Saturday afternoon.
CSU vs. OSU ■ Final score: CSU 58 - OSU 27 ■ Record: 1-0 ■ Next game: CSU vs. CU, Friday
Sept. 1 at 6 p.m., Sports Authority Field
The Beavers delivered the opening strike of the day. OSU
capped off an eight play, 80-yard drive with a 39-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Jake Luton to junior wide receiver Timmy Hernandez to put the Beavers up 7-0. The Rams quickly responded with a nine play, 79-yard drive of their own though. During the first scoring drive of the season, CSU displayed the versatility within their offensive unit. During the nine-play sequence, five different pass-catchers were targeted and both starting running backs were used. Throughout the opening quarter, head coach Mike Bobo attempted to push the tempo, which allowed the offense to get off to quick start. By switching back and forth between running backs Dalyn Dawkins and Izzy
Matthews, the Rams were able to keep the Beavers defense off balance and capitalize on some of the pre-game momentum. Along with Dawkins and Matthews, sophomore running back Marvin Kinsey Jr. and redshirt freshman Rashaad Boddie each saw the field in the first half as well. Kinsey is coming off an ACL injury from the 2016 season and Boddie made his CSU debut. Overall the first half was highlighted by big plays from both teams, including a 75-yard touchdown run from OSU running back Ryan Nall and a forced fumble from CSU linebacker Josh Watson. Each team turned the ball over once. Each team scored through the air and on the ground. Colorado State came out of
halftime with a slim four point lead (24-20) and quickly got the ball rolling, as senior wide receiver Detrich Clark was able to set the Rams up with great field position, taking the opening kickoff to midfield. After redshirt junior kicker Wyatt Bryan was able to secure the lead (27-20) with his second made field goal of the day, redshirt junior linebacker Tre Thomas was able to break the game open with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown. Trying to regain some momentum after the pick-six, OSU attempted to take a shot deep down the middle of the field, but Luton’s pass was intercepted by defensive back Anthony Hawkins. Following the Beavers’ see RAMS WIN on page 8 >>