CSU's most experienced players reflect on the importance of the Border War

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — “It sucks to be a CSU Ram.” The words echoed throughout Canvas Stadium as the Wyoming Cowboys jumped, hugged, and mocked their bitter rivals on their own turf back in 2018. 

Although it was just one moment in what has now become an extended losing streak full of painful memories against the school to the north, the 2018 loss was particularly bitter for a CSU team that had already blown a second half lead in the 2017 game and got their butts kicked at home by Josh Allen the year before (2016). 2019 was not much better as CSU lost by 10 and never led in the contest. 

The veteran players on the team have not forgotten those begrudging moments. In a virtual press conference on Monday morning, redshirt junior offensive tackle Barry Welsey and redshirt senior defensive tackle Toby McBride each expressed a desire to finally buck the Cowboys and take the Bronze Boot back where it belongs. 

"It sucks to be a CSU Ram" @wyo_football players celebrate on CSU's turf #mwfb pic.twitter.com/85JYVD7Sn5

— Justin Michael (@JustinTMichael) October 27, 2018

“The game itself is motivation,” Wesley said. “I was actually just telling Cam Reddy what they did my redshirt freshman season (2016), when we had the boot and they ran across the field and took it from us. Trying to describe that feeling is hard.”

Wesley continued, explaining how he cannot properly articulate just how heartbreaking it is to lose to Wyoming — especially to someone that has never been part of the rivalry. Having said that, though, Wesley also said that the transfer players, as well as the rest of the guys on the roster, all understand what’s at stake in the Border War.

Toby McBride, who played in the 2016 game as a true freshman and recorded three tackles in the blowout loss, echoed Wesley’s comments about the Wyoming game being particularly important. As a player that has battled multiple major injuries throughout his career, McBride could have justifiably walked away from the game multiple times. But as he explained on Monday, a big reason why McBride returned to the team in 2020 was the chance to finally beat a rival. In fact, it’s so important to McBride, he even asked Steve Addazio about it directly after the veteran coach was hired by CSU. 

As far as the Wyoming players mocking the Rams back in 2018, a stirn McBride said that it’s not the only time he’s seen them act that way. McBride then emphasized that he’s made it a point over the years to let guys on the team know when they are being disrespected by opponents. 

“Look over there, see it, take this feeling of defeat in and how bad that makes you feel watching (Wyoming) celebrate,” McBride said. “To have that fuel you all offseason — a lot of these guys have experienced that already — and (we need to) have that mentality of we’re not letting it happen again.” 

If the Rams are going to stop Wyoming’s winning streak before it reaches five and actually win this game on Thursday, putting last week’s disappointing showing against Fresno State behind them is obviously an important factor.

According to Steve Addazio, Barry Wesley and Toby McBride, the preparation and effort in practice have both been tremendous over the course of the last three days. As McBride eloquently explained, you cannot simply go into a rivalry game and expect to show up — it’s a mindset that you must carry with you at all times — but especially during the week leading up to the matchup. 

“It’s gotta be all week. But really it’s been all season,” McBride said. “We have a clock in our weight room that counts down the days until we kick off against Wyoming. So, this isn’t even just a one-week thing. This has been all off-season.”

Colorado State and Wyoming will kick off on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. MT at Canvas Stadium. There will not be fans allowed in the stands, however, the game will be nationally televised via CBS Sports Network. After four consecutive years of losing, the Rams appear to be hungry to flip the script and keep their all-time series lead at double-digits. We’ll see what this team can accomplish now that they have a real game under their belts.