CSU Rams don’t need to be reminded of dreadful history vs. Air Force

FORT COLLINS Jacob Gardner is in his fifth season of college football and theyve all come in the Mountain West.

Hes never beaten Air Force.

But thats something Colorado States all-conference center shares with every single one of his teammates.

The Rams as a whole have lost to the Falcons seven straight times.

Theyve won only two games in the rivalry since 2005 both of them in Fort Collins.

Mark Kiszla: In his 18th football season at Air Force, has coach Troy Calhoun run out of magic? When they play in Colorado Springs Saturday night, the Rams will be searching for their first win at the academy since Halloween night 2002.

I definitely want to win this one, Gardner said.

Air Force safety Trey Taylor, front left, congratulates safety Jalen Mergerson after Mergerson broke up a pass intended for Colorado State wide receiver Dane Olson (81) in the end zone in the second half of an NCAA college football game in the snow Saturday, Oct.

28, 2023, in Fort Collins, Colo.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Theres been no better chance for CSU to bring the Ram-Falcon Trophy back to Canvas Stadium than this year.

Troy Calhoun's team sits at 1-5 and 0-3 in Mountain West play.

The Falcons only win this season came against FCS-member Merrimack College.

Injuries are mounting and Air Force has had more first-time starters (36) than any other team in the country.

Its a far cry from the program that had won 29 games across the last three seasons.

Theyre just in transition right now, on both sides of the ball, Rams coach Jay Norvell said.

Its what happens in programs, but theyre still very fundamentally sound.

They dont have a lot of penalties.

The challenge is still there.

When you play them, you have to be very sound and you have to play physical and you have to take advantage of your opportunities.

This is a CSU team built to do just that.

Air Force fans expecting an up-tempo, Air Raid offense visiting Falcon Stadium will be sorely disappointed.

Norvell has leaned on a big, experienced offensive line and has incorporated more plays from under center with plenty of naked bootleg rollouts for quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, which have been effective in playing off the teams potent rushing attack.

Everybodys pretty open-minded to making new changes and having wrinkles in our run game, Gardner said.

In terms of being prepared, I think my guys have done a great job covering guys up and getting hats on hats and just letting our running backs work.

In fact, the Rams arent far behind the Falcons in the conference in rushing offense.

Air Force is currently fifth in the Mountain West at under 200 yards per game, while CSU is sixth at just over 175 yards per game.

On the defensive side, the Falcons have allowed 30 points or more in each of their last four games, including 52 last week at New Mexico.

None of that is going to be encouraging for Ram fans, though.

Theyve seen far too many defeats, even against some not-so-great Air Force teams, to believe its going to happen until they see it with their own eyes.

The players and coaches know these games are never straightforward, either.

Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, left, reacts after throwing an incomplete pass on fourth down to turn the ball over to Air Force in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct.

28, 2023, in Fort Collins, Colo.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Whenever you play Air Force, the situations are huge, Norvell said.

Fourth downs, all the special teams situations.

They like to use tricks and onside kicks and fake kicks.

You have to be prepared for all those things.

History aside, this might be the CSU team that finally snaps the losing streak.

We understand that its a rivalry game.

We understand the opponent.

Theyre here in the Front Range with us and so, thats part of it, Norvell said.

But this is a new season.

Were a different team.

Theyre a different team.

We have to beat this team Saturday night and do the things we need to do.

The maturity of our team matters.

CSUs history vs.

Air Force All-time record: 21-39-1 Current streak: L7 Home record: 10-17 Road record: 11-22-1 Last win: 2015 (Fort Collins) Last win in Colorado Springs: 2002.

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