The CSU football team has accepted the invitation to participate in the New Mexico Bowl. This is their first bowl since 2005 when they played in Poinsettia Bowl. Navy took down the Rams in this bowl with a final score of 51-30. This will be Colorado State’s 12th bowl appearance. The football program made its first bowl visit in 1949 where they lost a close one (21-20) to Occidental College during the Raisin Bowl in Fresno, California.
Fum McGraw is a well-known Aggie who played in the 1949 bowl game.
In their prior 11 bowls, CSU has won four. They defeated Oregon in 1990, Missouri in 1997, Louisville in 2000 and North Texas in 2001. The Rams are hoping to end their bowl losing streak this year as they have lost their previous three bowl appearances.
Head coach Steve Fairchild has made a huge impression on the program as the team went from a losing record of 3-9 last season to a 6-6 record this year. No other head coach in CSU history has advanced to a bowl game during his first year of coaching.
CSU will be matching up against Fresno State who finished off their season with a 7-5 record. The Bulldogs have put up 4,600 yards offensively so far this season in 789 plays. Quarterback Tom Brandstater has completed 208 of his 348 pass attempts this season for 2,478 and has thrown 11 interceptions. Seyi Ajirotutu has caught for 714 yards and five touchdowns this year.
Anthony Harding has rushed for over 700 yards this season has scored 4 touchdowns, while Ryan Matthews has rushed for 603 yards but has put eight touchdowns on the board for the Bulldogs. Fresno has scored three touchdowns off of punt returns and one off of a kick return so the Rams’ special teams need to watch out for that. Kevin Goessling is 15 for 22 in field goals this year adding to a total of 86 points.
Fresno State typically starts off the game slow scoring a few various points in the first half but comes out deadly in the second part of the game. The Bulldogs have scored nearly 200 total points in second-half play this season compared to 139 in the first half. Their strongest scoring quarter is typically their third quarter, so the Rams will need to come out of the half with a fierce defense. CSU needs to be ahead at halftime, and then they will need to play tough defense and consistent offense in the second half if they want to come out of this bowl game victoriously.
These two teams have only played each other 11 times in football. Colorado State is hoping to finish off with a win like they did the last time these two teams matched up. That game was played in 2006 and ended with the Rams on top 35-23.
Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk made the Rams’ bowl announcement today. The game will be played on December 20 at University Stadium in Albuquerque. It will also be televised on ESPN at 12:30 MT.
