FORT COLLINS, Colo. — For the first time since Colorado State University published the findings of the independent investigation into the football program, Steve Addazio met with the local media via Microsoft Teams earlier this week.
Addazio, 61, answered questions for 30 minutes, ranging from his perspective on the investigation to what he has seen from his players in the early stages of fall camp, and even what he thinks about the recent changes to CSU’s 2020 schedule.
As Addazio explained, everything about this year has been challenging. Starting with spring ball getting shut down after only a week or so, continuing with the rollercoaster of emotions over the summer, and even now with the program back working as a full team again, the challenges continue. If it’s not trying to manage the roster through COVID-19 protocols or injuries — it’s something else — like on Wednesday morning when CSU football had to cancel practice due to poor air conditions from the Cameron Peak wildfire.
“We’ve been dealing with these types of things since we started training camp on a steady basis,” Addazio said. “That’s the world we’re in. That’s what everybody is going to be confronted with and you just have to adjust. I tell the team all the time to be ready to change and be ready to adjust — curveballs are coming.”
For a younger, more inexperienced coach, the process could be overwhelming according to Addazio — particularly with so many unique circumstances.
“Given the lack of a complete spring ball, (and) given the lack of consistency in the offseason and everything, I do think it’s a disadvantage for programs starting with new coaches because there is not any established foundation to rely on,” Addazio said. “I think that teams that have been together in one system and in one scheme know what the standard of that program is. From how you practice to how you prepare — I think that those teams are at a definite advantage.”
Having acknowledged that teams with new coaches will have an uphill climb in 2020, Addazio also made a point to recognize that the Rams are far from the only team that will be dealing with these struggles. Both of CSU’s first two opponents, New Mexico and Fresno State, have new head coaches — as does San Diego State — so change is quite prevalent around the league at the moment. Where Addazio feels his staff may have an advantage over the rest of the field is from an experience standpoint though.
“When you’ve been a head coach for a long time, this is not going to rattle you,” Addazio said. “Being a head coach, you experience all kinds of sudden change, so I rely on my experience. I would think that this could be quite unsettling to a guy in his first head coaching job. Maybe not. But I would think that it would tax you a little bit more. I’ve been around this thing a long time. And I’ve got some real veterans on my staff.”
With just about a week until the Rams are scheduled to open up the Mountain West slate against UNM at Canvas Stadium, how the Rams are able to attack the next seven days will be incredibly important.
At this point in time, it no longer matters what anyone accomplished under the previous regime. The players that step up to the task will be the guys that end up taking the field versus the Lobos in Week 1. And the players that fail to meet the standards will be watching on the sidelines. After all, Addazio said that all starting positions are still up for grabs, including the role of QB1.
“I’m a big believer that everybody on this team competes,” Addazio said. “Nobody should ever feel like they have a position locked in. I think that the most healthy thing you can do is compete every day, compete every practice, compete every week. That’s what our team is programmed to do right now.”
