FORT COLLINS, Colo.— On August 30, the pressure will be on for Colorado State football as the Rams look to snap a four-game losing skid to the University of Colorado.
After not beating one of their biggest rivals in almost a half-decade, it doesn’t matter if it’s a redshirt senior like Max McDonald (linebacker) or a graduate transfer like Jalen Bates (defensive end), everyone in the locker room knows just how important the 2019 Rocky Mountain Showdown is.
Following Tuesday’s practice, Bates, who is one of the newest members of the team after transferring in from Arizona State, told reporters how he first heard about the in-state rivalry game when he was in high school and is well aware of its implication.
“I knew that this game was really big for the culture,” Bates said.
Bates explained that beyond knowing the history of the rivalry, the CU game will be personal to him on another level, though. Last season, Bates and ASU lost in Boulder, 28-21. In the Buffs victory, CU wide receiver Laviska Shenault had a monster showing as he scored all four of their touchdowns. Even with Shenault’s big day, Bates felt like the game was a missed opportunity for the Sun Devils.
“It was a heartbreaker—I cried real tears after that game so it’s personal for me, but I know it’s a lot more personal for these guys here to go out there and win that game,” Bates said.
“I’ve been working really hard to get to a point where I can make a big impact and be able to lead these guys and help these guys win that game because I know it’s so important.”
Although this time around, Bates will be playing with a different school when he squares off with Ralphie, something he acknowledged will likely be a little odd after the Buffs erased ASU’s hopes of reaching the Rose Bowl just one year ago, his drive to defeat the black and gold isn’t just fueled by the disappointment of 2018.
“I feel like their faces are ingrained in my mind, so just going out there and seeing them in a different uniform, I’m going to bring a different level of intensity—it’s going to be a different game for me,” Bates said.
Along with his personal history with the Buffaloes, though, Bates’ connection with his new teammates is fueling his fire as well.
The first-year Ram expressed how in a private team meeting, a candid McDonald told his teammates that after losing to CU all four years that he’s been on campus, winning the game this year would mean everything to him. It seems that Bates has taken this to heart and genuinely wants to win for McDonald and his new brothers.
“It almost brought tears to my eyes when he told us,” Bates said. “When he told us that I was like man we have to win this game—and I feel like we really could win this game because I played against them last year—so I know that we’re really talented on defense, really talented on offense, we can do it.”
Bates also explained that despite how the traditional narrative says that mid-majors have lesser talent, he feels players in the Mountain West are every bit as tough as the guys in the PAC-12.
In 2018, ASU lost to San Diego State by a touchdown on the road —Bates refers to this as the toughest game he had to play last season. The Sun Devils also faced Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl, losing to the Bulldogs, 31-20.
“They’re not big guys, but they’re really tough,” Bates said of Mountain West teams.
“I feel like this conference is (tougher) than the PAC-12. I’ve played against both sides a lot and I feel like this conference is not as big or not as agile maybe, but they’re really really tough.”
Bates will have an opportunity to test his hypothesis with the Rams this season, but before he’ll get to square off with teams like SDSU and Fresno State, he’ll have to deal with the likes of Steven Montez. According to Bates, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound QB is big, physical and a decent runner. But if the defensive line can create pressure and make the veteran quarterback uncomfortable, Bates feels that CSU will be able to contain him.
“We just have come as hard as we can every play and it will make a difference in the game,” Bates said.
As the Rocky Mountain Showdown gets closer and closer, anticipation for Bates’ debut will continue to grow. Now playing in a traditional pass-rusher role, Bates feels he can produce at a high level for CSU. The Ram faithful certainly hope he is right and that it makes a difference against their bitter foes on Aug. 30.
