September 1st 2024.
The game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium started off with a bang, but not for the team you might expect. As the Colorado State Rams took the field, their coach Jay Norvell was seen sporting a 10-gallon tin foil hat. It seemed like he was taking extra precautions to ensure that Texas wouldn't steal their game plan with their comfortable 38-0 lead. In fact, Norvell even had a staff member following him around with a giant orange screen, just in case. Talk about paranoia!
As the third quarter approached, the Rams were facing a 31-point deficit and Norvell made the decision to punt on fourth-and-2 from midfield. To add to the confusion, he called a timeout right before. Now, it's understandable to play it safe when you're the underdog, especially on the road against a team like Texas. But it seemed like the Rams were playing not to engage, except for a few standout players like tailback Justin Marshall and the front seven on defense.
But it wasn't just the score that was concerning. It was the overall performance of the team. Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi seemed to be throwing off his back foot, into triple coverage, and with reckless abandon. And star wideout Tory Horton only touched the ball five times. The Rams appeared to be playing not to lose, rather than playing to win.
For the fans who have high hopes for Norvell and the team, this game was a major disappointment. And while it's important to move on and focus on the next game, there's always the fear that things could go even worse. Just look at the Rams' debut under Norvell in 2019, when they faced a Michigan team with a huge talent advantage and suffered a 51-7 loss. But that was two years ago, and the team has been completely overhauled since then. So how do you explain a 52-point loss to Texas?
It's true that the Longhorns have some serious talent, and can make even decent teams look silly and slow. But let's not forget that this was only the first game of the season, and there's still a lot of football left to be played. The Rams will not face another team as good as Texas for the rest of their schedule. So why show all your cards in the very first game? Especially in a critical season with a new athletic director and some big home games coming up.
But the bigger concern was the lack of swagger and energy from the Rams. Where was the tempo? The mojo? It seemed like CU, for all their faults, always had Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter ready to take over a game. But the Rams' star players were nowhere to be found against Texas. Even their rare moment of risk-taking, when they attempted a fake punt, felt more like an accident than a strategic move.
The defense did their best to hold off the Longhorns, but eventually the dam broke and Texas was able to score at will. And while there were a few small victories, like a fumble recovery, they were few and far between. The Rams were simply outmatched and outplayed by a superior team.
But now, Norvell has a chance to turn things around. They have two big in-state games coming up at Canvas Stadium, and it's the perfect opportunity to bounce back and prove that this game was just a fluke. The team needs to show that they're disciplined and focused, and that they can compete with the best. It's a critical season for the Rams, and they need to seize every opportunity to prove themselves.
But let's not forget the elephant in the room: the $1.8 million that Texas paid CSU for this game. It's a nice chunk of change, but was it worth it? To be humiliated on national television for three hours? The Rams were pretty upfront about their motives for scheduling this game, but at what cost? It's hard to see the silver lining in this loss, but hopefully, the Rams can learn from this experience and come back stronger in the upcoming games.
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