Hey All,

I have to say as an avid MGoBlog user/abuser, I often don't read many diary entries as it mostly comes across as sappy, snowflake-y emotional content or the extremely rigid, somewhat boring data-driven posts that cause me to look forward to going to the DMV. I stick to the MGoBoard that is always full of high quality, relevant information that pertains only to UM sports and rarely nothing else. I've also been around these parts since we used to have the user-created banner contest and Ronald Johnson (RoJo) spurred UM for a shot with USC. Those were the days...

 

Should've picked UM

That said, as my undergrad alma mater CSU gets set to take on UM in couple weeks, I feel compelled to share a closer look into the university, town and football program that occupied 4 of some of the best years of my life. I know we have a large contingent of folks from Colorado, so please fill in any blanks as you see fit. Photos compliments of Google Image search.

 

Welcome Rammies

Setting the stage: I attended Colorado State University from 2008-2010. Originally from West Michigan, my parents moved out to Denver in 2006 and after high school, I followed them out west as well. My first year of college was spent at UNC (NTUNC). I'm talking about University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. All I can say about that first freshman year is... not much. It's a weird cow town with little-to-no reason to get involved with any sports or athletics on campus. My roommate was a Brazilian bodybuilder and how they paired us together I'll never fucking know. He was a good kid and we actually got along great. But after the most boring year ever, I transferred to CSU in Fort Collins about 30 miles west against the foothills of the Rockies. It was the right decision needless to say.

 

If you look really close, you can see the "A" on Horsetooth that freshman paint every year. I guess that's a tradition.

The town: Situated about 1 hour north of Denver (1.5 with I-25 traffic) is the City of Fort Collins. While mostly recognized as a quintessential "College Town" and often ranked by those bullshit online publications as one of the best college towns in the country, it has almost everything a college student could desire. Great location to any outdoor recreational activity (Horsetooth Reservoir, Poudre River, Big Thompson River, Red Feather Lakes), amazing bar/brewery/venue scene (New Belgium, Odell, FCB, Equinox, The Crown, Coopersmith's, Lucky Joe's) and some hidden gem food spots (Snooze, The Rio, Silver Grill Cafe, Tap and Handle, Rainbow Cafe). Whatever lifestyle you live, you'll find 5+ options to do it and do it well. As with most places in Colorado, it has become highly desirable and finding a decent priced house there will set you back a few bucks. A good football team would really tie the room together though. 

 

Old Town

Fun facts and Reputation: Old Town Fort Collins actually inspired the design of Walt Disney's theme parks and is really the focal point of the city outside of the college area. Balloon Boy took his first flight not too far way and New Belgium's Tour de Fat had it's beginnings here. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and others had all played at CSU's old Hughes Stadium.

 

"Yipppeeeee"

During my time at CSU, many older folks who have deeper roots in Colorado than I do often said to me "Fort Collins is now what Boulder used to be". While I don't have anything personally against the Patagonia fleece vest-wearing, Chaco-crazed, Range Rover-driving folks 30 minutes south, I've come across many people of the "shit don't stink" variety in that town. Fort Collins in many ways has a laid-back culture that embraces the outdoors, a good beer and not taking yourself too seriously. You'd like it.

 

Beautiful and essentially 3 minutes from campus

The Campus: A pretty large suburban campus in the west part of the city that has a total of about ~35K students. The best way to get around is a bike but you could hoof it too if you aren't in rush. Bikes weren't allowed through campus and the bike cops were always dicks. Probably still the same. I lived on campus my first year, even though I wasn't a freshman, to make some new friends and be close to everything. I lived in Newsome Hall (now across from Canvas Stadium) which was kind of crappy and run down but in a fun, cute little college charm way. Met a lot of lifelong friends and glad I had that experience.

 

Left hand side, Bottom floor, 4 windows down. Memories.

Athletic facilities: Going to date myself here but when I attended CSU, football games were still at Hughes Stadium. Hughes was right up against Hoorsetooth Reservoir which was cool but it was about 4 miles off campus. Which meant for the student contingent wanting to roll out of bed and walk to the game, that wasn't going to happen. They had shuttles and busses along with plenty of parking but the atmosphere were muted. The stadium itself was old and not particularly intimidating. Also tail gaiting in the dusty dirt lot before games was not always the essence of aesthetics but it got the job done. I've never been to Canvas Stadium but it looks pretty awesome and is finally on campus. Moby Arena is home to M/W basketball and other indoor court based sports. Again, nothing to write home about but I hear there are renovations coming for that complex too. 

 

CSU is also a "blast-a-cannon on the sidelines after scoring a touchdown" type of team if you didn't know. It's annoying and doesn't happen often.

Lastly, the team: My wife and I moved back to Michigan about 2 years ago from Denver and I was nervous we'd never get to watch any CSU games. Thanks to late night Fox Sports, I actually was able to watch 3 games live last year before eventually falling asleep on the couch because that's what CSU Football will do to you.

Listen, CSU is a middling MWC team at best these days. Should they be? Probably not. They are in a great TV market, they likely have the best facilities in the conference and have always recruited pretty well in CA, TX and FL after the P5 guys get their share. The issue is, and has been, the coaching carousel since longtime HC Sonny Lubick left and well before my time. First year Coach Jay Norvell says all the right things, has a great pedigree and has embraced the culture of the university and past teams that haven't been felt in a long time. An air-raid offense will certainly be welcomed and help the team stretch the field and CSU returns a decent to good amount of depth on the defense, especially with their linebackers and some returning DBs. Who knows what their new identity will look like but I'm eager to get out of the shadow of Air Force, SDSU, Boise State and win some meaningful games. There's been some talk about moving up to a P5 conference with all the realignment shuffling but that won't happen unless the product on the field matches the investment that has been put behind it.

 

Remember little Dee Hart, the #1 all-purpose RB from 2010 who initially verbally committed to UM and eventually signed with Bama? That dude wound up at CSU in 2014 and did pretty damn good from what I remember. And that's the only connection I can come up with between our squads beside the 1994 Holiday Bowl. Also Urban Meyer coached here for a bit under Bruce Earle but we don't talk about that.

I'll see a lot of you in a couple Saturdays. Every fall Saturday since the mid 90's has been a passionate love affair for UM but for the first time ever in my fandom, I'll be cheering for the away team at the Big House. After that, back to the Maize and Blue. Go ahead and share some of your allegiances outside of UM and if you'd ever root for them against the Wolverines.