ISLETA PUEBLO, N.M.
Colorado State hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2008.
Washington State hasn’t been since 2003.
During those droughts, both programs struggled amid poor seasons and staff shake-ups that left alumni angry and players disappointed.
But now the two emerging programs are preparing to kick off the college bowl season, and both believe a bowl victory could be the lift needed to finally get their teams back into recruiting battles.
Colorado State (7-6) will meet Washington State (6-6) in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday in Albuquerque in what is expected to be a showdown of two high-flying offenses.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” said Colorado State offensive lineman Weston Richburg, a senior who has suffered through recent tough seasons. “You want to make the postseason every year in college. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that.”
During Washington State’s postseason drought, safety Deone Bucannon slowly became the NCAA’s active leader in solo tackles and joined Washington State’s all-time leaders in interceptions. But getting into a bowl game and getting a winning record was more important, he said.
“Personally, individual stats don’t really mean anything to me,” Bucannon said. “Being here is an honor and a blessing.”
The matchup brings together two second-year coaches – Rams’ head coach Jim McElwain and Cougars’ head coach Mike Leach– working to turn around their teams’ fortunes with high-octane offenses.
Washington State opened 2013 with a heartbreaking 31-24 loss to Auburn, a team that now is in the BCS title game. And Colorado State played a respectable game against Alabama in a 31-6 loss.
“I think we got a lot out of going out and playing the University of Alabama,” McElwain said. “And came away feeling ... yeah, we do belong.”
Leach said his team should have beaten Auburn and had to play four opponents who appear in the top 15 of the latest BSC standings. Despite that tough schedule, the Cougars still were able to make it to a bowl game and have a chance at a seven-win season for the first time since 2003.
But it’s not going to stop Leach from taking creative chances, something he usually does, even if it means taking advantage of Albuquerque’s high altitude.
“Yeah, the altitude,” Leach said. “We’ll try (kicking a field goal) from 75 yards or so.”
Here are five things to know when Colorado State and Washington State will play in the New Mexico Bowl:
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The Rams are the only team in the nation to boast a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,500-yard runner: Running back Kapri Bibbs leads the nation with 28 rushing touchdowns by a running back, and quarterback Garrett Grayson ranks among the country’s top 20 in yards passing (3,327).
That one-two punch even impressed Leach, who said looking over footage of the pair led him to conclude the offense doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses.
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Leach’s signature spread offense is led by junior quarterback Connor Halliday. He has tallied eight 300-yard games and four 4-touchdown games this season. He is passing up Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf in a number of categories, including career passing yards.
Halliday ranks fourth nationally in yards passing (4,189) and is tied for 13th with 28 touchdown passes.
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Cougars’ kicker Andrew Furney enters the New Mexico Bowl second in school history for career field goal percentage at .767. He kicked a 41-yard game winner against Southern California, and his career total is 46 – third-most in school history.
Leach said he will not have a problem asking Furney to kick a 50-yard-plus field goal if the game is on the line.
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Rams freshman receiver Rashard Higgins has 64 receptions in his first 13 college games. That is the sixth-most in a single season in Colorado State history. He needs only six catches to become the third Rams player to have 70 or more receptions.
Higgins tied a school freshman record with 10 catches in a game against Boise State.
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Parts of New Mexico are in for another round of winter weather this weekend, and Albuquerque is facing a 20-percent chance of snow. Forecasters said the system could bring moderate snow to the southwest and south-central mountains overnight Friday and into Saturday.
But snowstorms typically spare Albuquerque. Still, players may have to battle freezing temperatures, and that may affect the high-flying offenses of both teams.
Washington State (6-6) vs. Colorado State (7-6)
Time: noon Saturday, at Albuquerque, ESPN.
Line: Colorado State by 5.
Series Record: Teams never have met.
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Both programs are looking for their first bowl win in years after long postseason appearance droughts. Rams’ head coach Jim McElwain and Cougars’ head coach Mike Leach said a bowl victory really could boost their programs’ visibility and help with recruiting as both teams try to transform their fortunes from recent years.
McElwain is trying to establish himself after serving as Alabama’s offensive coordinator during two of the Crimson Tide’s national championships.
Leach is trying to re-establish himself after a bad breakup from Texas Tech as their head coach. The Cougars are looking for their first seven-win season since 2003.
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The Rams are the only team in the nation to boast a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,500-yard runner. The team averages 35.3 points per game and ranks 43rd nationally.
The Cougars will have Leach’s signature spread offense anchored by junior quarterback Connor Halliday.
Both team struggle with their pass defenses, so expect a lot of points on the board.
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Colorado State running back Kapri Bibbs leads the nation with 28 rushing touchdowns by a running back, and quarterback Garrett Grayson ranks among the country’s top 20 in yards passing (3,327).
Halliday ranks fourth nationally in yards passing (4,189) and is tied for 13th with 28 touchdown passes. He led an offense that nearly upset Auburn in the Cougars’ first game of the year in a heartbreaking 31-24 loss.
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In four games this season, the Rams’ offense racked up 50 or more points – a school record.
This season, the Rams have racked up the most single-season offensive yards (5,996) and the highest total offensive average per game (461.2) in school history. The Rams also broke another school record when they recorded 500-plus yards of total offense in seven games in a single season.
Halliday now owns a school-record 13 career 300-yard performances, passing the previous mark of 12 held by Alex Brink and Ryan Leaf. His 4,187 yards passing this season are the most in school history and fourth-most in Pac-12 history.
Cougars’ safety Deone Bucannon leads the Pac-12 with 109 tackles.
Associated Press
Colorado State Rams
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Dec. 20, 2008 – New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
Dec. 22, 2005 – Poinsettia Bowl: Navy 51, Colorado State 30
Dec. 31, 2003 – San Francisco Bowl: Boston College 35, Colorado State 21
Dec. 31, 2002 – Liberty Bowl: TCU 17, Colorado State 3
Dec. 18, 2001 – New Orleans Bowl: Colorado State 45, North Texas 20
Dec. 29, 2000 – Liberty Bowl: Colorado State 22, Louisville 17
Dec. 31, 1999 – Liberty Bowl: Southern Miss. 23, Colorado State 17
Dec. 29, 1997 – Holiday Bowl: Colorado State 35, Missouri 24
Dec. 29, 1995 – Holiday Bowl: Kansas State 54, Colorado State 21
Dec. 30, 1994 – Holiday Bowl: Michigan 24, Colorado State 14
Dec. 29, 1990 – Freedom Bowl: Colorado State 32, Oregon 31
Jan. 1, 1948 – Raisin Bowl: Occidental 21, Colorado State 20
Associated Press
