There is also a huge difference in what we are playing for. CU does not have the history of a Nebraska, Texas, or Oklahoma but CU is still in the big scheme of things one of college footballs haves. CU has a national championship trophy, CU has conference championships in a conference that actually matters, CU gets national TV games on networks that people watch at times that people watch. CU is one of 20 winningest programs of all time, CU has multiple national award winners (Heismann, Mackey, Butkus, Thorpe, etc.) and many more nominees.
In the big picture, while we suck right now (by our standards, we have had typical seasons by long term CSU standards) we are playing for national recognition and ultimately championships. Our games against the Corn are a part of that goal since they are frequently standing in our way of our goals.
CSU on the other hand is not a school on the national picture. A few all-American's like virtually every D-1 school has over time, a few top 20 rankings in the glory years of Sonny, but better known over the years as a fixture on the Bottom Ten column and a body bag opponent for schools needing an OOC win.
For CU, the CSU game is a step onto a bigger stage, one game in a season looking for an end result. For CSU, the CU game is the season. The Rams lost their last nine games last year but for many of their fans it was a successfull year because they beat CU. I went to grad school in Ft. Collins, I work with a lot of CSU grads, I have years of experience dealing with their focus on CU. For them CU is the season, for many of their players CU is the season. For CU it is an important game but only the first important game.
What the Buffs need to figure out is that the Rams will come out gunning for them. This game gets their maximum effort, their maximum preparation, their full scope of attention. Talentwise the teams are not close. Truthfully how many CSU players would break the CU two-deep, 6-8 maybe. But emotion and preparation play a huge part in this and all games and this is where I worry. Last year CSU came out ready to play, CU didn't. End result an embarassing CSU win, we can't let that happen again. CSU expended so much into winning last years game that they should have lost the following week to a FCS level team (old D-1a) only being saved by an unforced fumble as they were setting up for a chip shot game winning FG. CU never really recovered and stunk it up the rest of the season as well.
If Hawk and the Captains do not have CU ready to go out and dominate this game this year then he should be fired on the spot. If Fairchild loses, he gave a great effort and it was to be expected since after all CU has so much more to work with. That is the difference in the programs and the significance of the game.
