CSU report: Plenty of memories

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 18, 2008 at 10:34 p.m.

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FORT COLLINS — Steve Fairchild will try to enlighten those on his team who might not know what it means to play against Wyoming in the Border War.

Fairchild has played and been an assistant coach for the Rams in games against Wyoming, but Saturday will be his first as the CSU head coach.

He was the quarterback on the 1980 team that won 28-25 on a late drive he engineered.

"I certainly remember it," Fairchild said. "We came from behind on the last drive to beat them. You look back at this game, and there have been a lot of those type of finishes. . . .

"I know my first year here with Sonny (Lubick), we went up there and beat them soundly, and I could be mistaken, but I think they were going to the Holiday Bowl if they beat us.

"So there's just been a lot of that sort of thing going on in this game, and that's why you have to appreciate it."

But what about that 1980 comeback?

"It was a long time ago," Fairchild said. "I don't remember it vividly. I do remember Mike Camp. He was a great tight end here. He got open, so open that even I could hit him. I underthrew (the pass) a little bit, but he made a great catch to win the game."

End for Glenn?

Wyoming could be playing its last game for coach Joe Glenn, who was told the Cowboys needed to go to a bowl game this season. They won't with a 4-7 record heading into the season finale.

Fairchild expects the Cowboys to play inspired football.

"I don't know anything about rumors," he said. "I know Joe Glenn is a tremendous coach. He's won everywhere he's been and not just won but won big. I know him as a coach, I know him as a personal friend. You're not going to find a better guy or better coach than Joe Glenn.

"I know those players know that as well. And, too, they would like nothing better than to kind of spoil our outlook on things right now. There's no question they are going to play their best game this Saturday. We're going to have to match it to even be in the game."

Family affair

CSU freshman Chris Gipson, a linebacker who is redshirting this season, is a cousin of Wyoming cornerbacks Marcell and Tashaun Gipson.

The Gipson brothers at Wyoming and Chris Gipson went to Kimball High School in Dallas.

"We have to pick his brain this week," CSU offensive coordinator Greg Peterson said. "(Chris) mentioned that they were related. I said they're the best athletes in the family and he laughed.

"We've got a pretty good one in Chris. (The Gipson brothers are) good players, they're good athletes at the corner, they come up and play bump and run and they're good pass defenders. We'll have a good challenge playing the Gipson brothers."

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