Hughes finale could make or break bowl aspirations for CSU

The 2016 season may be hanging in the balance for Colorado State when they play for the final time at Hughes Stadium this weekend. A win would get the Rams to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.

Lose, however, and CSU would have to play close to a perfect game to even have a chance on the road at 9-1 San Diego State next Saturday.

Coach Mike Bobo understands the significance of this game not only for his team but also the community. It’s why he feels it’s best to not get caught up in the pageantry leading up to the game.

“The main focus for me and our football team is honoring Hughes the right way by going out the way we’re capable of playing and trying to get a win for this university,” Bobo said to the media during his Monday press conference.

That ever-elusive sixth win would likely come at the expense of New Mexico, a team that’s reeled off five straight victories. Bobo understands it will take a complete game effort to knock off the Lobos.

“They’re in the conference championship race, a very, very good football team with explosive athletes on both sides of the football,” said Bobo. “They’ve got the number one rushing offense in this conference and in the country. They have the third ranked rushing defense in this conference. They’ve got the second ranked total offense and third ranked total defense. It’s a big challenge for us this week. Coach Davie has done an excellent job with that football team, building it up the last few years, acquiring talent, guys that fit that offense that have speed.”

Bobo’s defense will be asked to take on the triple-option for the second time in as many weeks. But the Rams may have a leg up on their opponent this time around.

“What will help is we’ll have a chance to see our mistakes that we made in this past ballgame and tweak some stuff that we’re doing and how important it is for everybody to do their job, which we didn’t do to a level to be successful defensively last week,” said Bobo.

It’s one thing to correct the mistakes from the Air Force game, but it’s another thing to mentally deal with a similar style team just seven days later. Can CSU outlast the Lobos in what figures to be a grind-it-out contest from start to finish?

Said Bobo: “There’s no dodging in these games. It’s a man’s game. You’ll have to man up and put your big boy pants on for every one of these and here’s another opportunity this week against a team that’s going to say ‘Here we come defensively’ and ‘Here we come offensively.’ We’ve got to be able to answer the bell every snap, every possession for four quarters. Does that mean we’re going to win every round? No, but we’ve got to be willing to fight for 60 minutes.”

As of Monday, the Rams come in as a four-point favorite but don’t be surprised if this one is decided in the final minutes, especially considering the Lobos put up points with ease, averaging nearly 37 per game.

Bobo doesn’t have time to reflect on memories or look ahead to potential bowl practices. He’s got plenty to worry about this week as he preps for New Mexico.

But don’t think he doesn’t want to give Hughes the sendoff it deserves.

“I think the way that I can honor Hughes as a head football coach is to get this team ready to play and play for 60 minutes,” he said. “And put forth the best effort of fight and playing for each other and playing for everybody that’s ever played on that football field or anybody that’s every watched a game. That’s to me what I’m focused on.”