Mark Knudson’s Three Strikes Blog: Strike Three
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Is Colorado State athletics simply doomed to mediocrity?
STRIKE THREE: The kick-off of spring football normally brings with it a big chunk of optimism every year. New faces that are going to lead the team to bigger and better things and all that.
But there doesn’t seem to be much buzz around the Colorado State Rams as they get a (really early) start on spring ball, hoping to put a 3-9 season in 2018 in the rear-view mirror. Head Coach Mike Bobo has been at the helm for four years. After three consecutive 7-6 seasons that ended in disheartening bowl game losses, the Rams could only wish they’d had a chance to lose a bowl game last December. They aren’t trending up.
The question isn’t if CSU can get back to a bowl game next fall. They have the talent and the schedule to win six games and get back to the post season. The question should be can they ever get over the hump and become better than just mediocre? Can they get to the conference title game and potentially win it? Can they be a program that gets mentioned when the national pundits are talking about a possible New Year’s Six bowl teams?…or is the Potato Bowl the pinnacle for this program?
The fact that CSU can’t overcome Boise State on the gridiron isn’t as frustrating for Rams fan as the fact that they can’t seem to beat Wyoming and Air Force. Teams like Fresno State go from being also-rans to being conference title contenders in a couple of seasons. They see San Diego State becoming a program that “power five” schools don’t really want to play.
The school has done amazing things to support the football program, starting with the building of the indoor practice facility – the launch of the “Campaign for Excellence” in the fall of 2009 – and culminating with the opening of the new on-campus football stadium two seasons ago. Coach’s salaries are no longer the worst in the conference. CSU can show off and do things in a top notch manner now…off the field.
Ironically, the glory days of Sonny Lubick included lousy facilities, a crappy stadium and poor pay for the assistant coaches. And CSU won six conference titles in 15 seasons and went to nine bowl games while embracing the “underdog” role.
There are some who think CSU’s new plush facilities have made the program softer – that the Lubick edge is gone.
Then there’s Men’s Basketball, which saw some high moments under Tim Miles and Larry Eustachy, but who’s first rebuilding season under Niko Medved has been underwhelming to say the least. CSU sits at 9-16 in a topsy-turvy Mountain West conference, with virtually no hope of playing in any sort of post season tournament.
Tom Hilbert’s volleyball program remains the (green and) gold standard for excellence in the Fort. No other high profile program is close at the moment. Is that what CSU athletics is destined to remain? A stellar volleyball program, plus group of mid-level, mediocre programs? Or is there hope?
On the hope side, there IS something Rams fans (including students) can do. Show up. Go to games. Fill the seats. Show the viewing audience that there IS some passion for CSU sports. This is a “Chicken & Egg” moment. The school has done its part. The facilities, amenities…it’s all there now. What’s missing is the passion. Is that possible to manufacture…or is the mediocrity something that can never be overcome?
Wanna argue with me on Twitter? Catch me @MarkKnudson41…
