Coach Jay Norvell Gets Brutally Honest On What It Means To Become Bowl Eligible After CSU Showdown

Being trapped in a moment often means being bound by unseen constraints.

For the Colorado State football community, that pivotal moment occurred during a second-half collapse against Colorado.

The energy was at an all-time low, dragging common sense down with it. Although the current situation is still not ideal, the collective frustration from Ram fans has faded into the background, eclipsed by CSU achieving bowl eligibility.

“It’s significant,” said coach Jay Norvell, reflecting on the importance of becoming bowl eligible after the Rams’ victory over Nevada. “That’s always been a goal for us. In preparing for this game, we had bigger priorities than just this one matchup… If this team keeps up its preparation and focus, we can achieve some remarkable things.”

Through three games, CSU met expectations with a record of 2-1, which was the best possible outcome, even though 1-2 was the more likely scenario. Despite not feeling great at times, CSU was just starting to establish its offensive identity.

“The good thing is we still have a lot of season ahead of us,” Norvell mentioned after the loss to CU.

Though he was disappointed, Norvell remained confident that all of the team’s goals were still attainable, a sentiment shared by the entire squad.

The discussions after three games might suggest the season was already over, but with the anticipation of a turnaround season for CSU, there was no reason to lose hope.

The Rams had continuity and an additional year of experience for many players.

A significant part of that anticipated improvement was the offensive line, which was one of the top units in the nation last year and returned captain Jacob Gardner.

In a challenging rushing season, CSU discovered a standout in Justin Marshall, prompting Norvell to adjust the offensive strategy. Although Avery Morrow became the primary back, the foundation for a solid running game was already being laid.

“We owe it to ourselves and the fans who remain patient and supportive,” Paddy Turner said at the press conference following the CU loss. “(We play for) those who have been patient with us. We feel that deeply.”

This patience ultimately paid off.

Coaches often receive acclaim for tailoring their offense to their personnel, and while Norvell made adjustments, the praise was overshadowed by calls for CSU to increase its passing attempts.

Given the performances of Morrow and Marshall this season, it’s hard to imagine CSU reverting to the number of pass attempts from last year.

Now, CSU is bowl eligible for the first time since 2017 and controls its own fate in the quest for the Mountain West Championship, with upcoming games against Wyoming, Fresno State, and Utah State.

CSU hasn’t won a Mountain West title since 2002, which is also the last time the Rams defeated Air Force at the Academy before breaking that streak this season, adding another highlight for Norvell.

Currently, the atmosphere surrounding the team is extremely positive.

Despite the temptation of name, image, and likeness deals, Norvell has created a culture of loyalty. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Tory Horton both turned down six-figure offers to transfer in order to stay with the program.

Very few prominent players from last season left, apart from Louis Brown IV and TJ Crandall, while Justus Ross-Simmons was more of a forced departure.

When the emotions of a season are captured, important context can often be overlooked.

Considering how manageable CSU’s conference schedule has been, the start of this season should have been viewed as growing pains for a team undergoing an identity shift, something Norvell reiterated after each loss.

With young talents like Caleb Goodie, Jalen Dupree, and Fowler-Nicolosi contributing on offense, along with Gabe Kirschke, Dylan Phelps, and Nuer Gatkuoth excelling on defense, there’s plenty of reason for optimism.

The future looks bright in Fort Collins, and CSU has finally reentered the national conversation, a journey that has felt as lengthy as the roadwork on Interstate 25.

Much of the credit goes to Norvell and his staff for how they’ve built the team. While time will ultimately reveal the outcome, those early-season overreactions remind us that time moves on, and CSU is not fated to remain irrelevant.