I will disagree with this. The CSU fan does not feel passionately about their team they only feel passionately about hating CU. When CSU won in 99 and Sonny Saint dropped one F-bomb after another about CU is showed me what CSU was really about. I remember the so-called "bombshell" that 80s Ram fan keep posting about on their site that was going to get CU the Death penalty...an after months Shep posts some photoshoped drawing claiming that it came from the CU coaches (all of which was quickly debunked) - some of 80s friends were pulling his chain.
In a weird way continuing the game actually hurts CSU because it prevents them from building a program with fans who are interested in football versus just interested in hating CU.
In spite of all that, I do not hate CSU, their fans or their program. I just do not enjoy the game. I tolerate the occasional game against an inferior opponent as part of a ticket package but having to go to Invesco and have a miserable experience at a game I do not enjoy is too much.
You are absolutely correct in terms of the game actually hurting CSU long term. I did my masters at CSU and work with a lot of CSU fans. For most CSU fans their football season last one game, CU. If they win they go home happy with a successful season and move on to other stuff, lose and their season is over and they move on to other stuff. The fact that even when CU is bad the Buffs still win the majority of games and when CU is good the game isn't competitive doesn't help CSU develop anything resembling a solid fan base for the rest of their games. In recent years there have been some pretty decent opponents come into Ft. Collins and the attendance for those games has been to say the least disappointing. They played a #10 Cal team and failed to draw 30k, same against a ranked TCU team and games against ranked Utah and BYU. These teams were not only quality opponents but fun teams to watch as well.
It seems as if even when CSU gets a solid turnout much of the crowd is there because of the other team, Wyoming fans, mormons turning out for BYU, Air Force fans, etc.
I have no problem with the small core of loyal CSU football fanatics who support their team throughout the season. Many may be unrealistic about how good their team and/or their conference is but this is the natural reaction of fans (including us.) The problem is that this core of fans is far to small to support a true "big-time" program and thus CSU ends up at the bottom of the MWC in football budget and it shows on the field. Even if they somehow got their pipe dream of a share of the BCS money and a share of the big TV money they would still trail significantly the rest of the conference who would also get that money.
Maybe if they had a few years without the CU game they could focus on the CSU
season being the event rather than the CU
game being the event. Get students and fans more accustomed to going out multiple weeks rather than just going to the one event. They could also replace the CU game which is a probable loss with an easier opponent which would be a more likely win. Fans have more fun at a win than a loss, regardless of who the opponent is are more likely to return for future games. The team itself also seems to have a serious letdown after the CU game, get rid of the CU game and let them build some momentum. Win some easier OOC games and they will then be in shooting distance of some bowl games. Even if they are not significant bowls they will result in a lot of positive publicity and good feelings again bringing more fans to the game.
Many CSU fans argue that the game against CU is good for college football in Colorado, I think you could make just as solid an argument that getting rid of the game would be better for college football in Colorado and especially for CSU. They would have to give up their money subsidy game the long term impact on the program would be better.
