2022 Ram Recap - Week 4 - One Hundred and Thirty First

We had known for a while now that we would be unable to attend this past Saturday's game due to a conflict with Kenzie's softball schedule - a team that Sarah and I help coach. Ram kickoff was at 2:00 in Fort Collins. Kenzie's first pitch was at 2:30 at Hampden and Kipling. No way we were going to make it to the Fort for the second straight home game. My intention was to keep tabs on the football game through my phone and then return home to rewatch the broadcast after the fact. The video from Canvas Stadium streamed on my phone, alternating between my hand and my pocket. As the score kept creeping the wrong direction, I realized the largest flaw with my plan: I had no desire to watch a recording of the broadcast of yet another blowout loss. The Rams are down bad. 

2022 Ram Recap - Week 3 - This Ain't No New Mexico Bowl

The Year 2013

Where is Shaquil Barrett when you need him? The last time the Rams played the Cougars, it was at the 2013 New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium in Albuquerque. The Rams trailed by 15 with less than four minutes remaining in the game. A quick drive ending in a Garrett Grayson to Jordon Vaden touchdown got the Rams within eight with less than three minutes to go. Shaq Barrett caused a fumble and recovered it himself. Kapri Bibbs scored his third touchdown of the day with half a minute remaining, Donnell Alexander pushed in the 2-point conversion, and the game was tied. On the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars fumbled the ball away and the Rams recovered. The Rams ran two offensive plays, got the clock down to 0:04 and then Jared Roberts cranked a 41-yard field goal through the uprights to complete the comeback and provide me with one of the greatest Ram football memories of my lifetime. For real - just go back and watch these highlights. That Ram team was eff-you-enn fun. 

 

But that game was 9 years ago, Mike, why are you giving us an old recap?! Because it is more fun than recapping the game from this past Saturday, fine reader. 

2022 Ram Recap - Week 2 - Stuck in the Middle (Tennessee) With You

This, folks, is what we call a rebuild. 

I entered this past week with more optimism that should follow a 51-7 road loss. We were coming home against a far weaker opponent with our shiny new coach and our shiny new team in our shiny new(ish) stadium. This was the TRUE start of the Jay Norvell era. The weather knew better though as the cool and wet air moved in the night before. It was a sign. 

The Rams won the toss and elected to receive. Damn right - give the damn Fort Air Raid the damn ball in our damn home stadium. One kickoff, one long MTSU injury delay, and one CSU offensive play later, the Rams were down 7-0. Ouch. A telegraphed pass attempt from Clay Millen to Tory Horton sailed over the receivers head and into the awaiting arms of Middle Tennessee safety Tra Fluellen who had an unimpeded look at the end zone just a short 35 yards away. And that was just the start... 

2022 Ram Recap - Week 1 - Maize and Blue (Like the Sad Kind)

The house - big. The opponent - strong. The result - less than favorable. My confidence - unwaveringly strong. 

Courtesy of the Denver Post