Colorado State Rams

Colorado State Rams
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Name	Colorado State Rams
University	Colorado State University
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Division	NCAA Division I
Director	Joe Parker
Location	Fort Collins, Colorado
Stadium	Canvas Stadium
Arena	Moby Arena
Mascot	CAM the Ram
Nickname	Rams
Fight song	"Fight on You Colorado State Rams"

Colorado State Rams. The athletic teams representing Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, known as the Colorado State Rams, compete in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The program fields 16 varsity teams and is represented by its live mascot, CAM the Ram. With a history dating to the university's founding, the Rams have achieved significant success in sports like football, basketball, and volleyball, cultivating intense rivalries and producing numerous professional athletes and Olympians.

History

The origins of the Colorado State Rams are intertwined with the establishment of Colorado State University, then known as the Colorado Agricultural College, in 1870. The university's first organized football team took the field in 1893, adopting the "Aggies" nickname which reflected the institution's land-grant agricultural roots. The iconic ram mascot was introduced in the 1940s, with the live mascot program beginning in 1946 when the student body purchased a lamb named "Buck". The athletic identity officially transitioned from the Aggies to the Rams in 1957, coinciding with broader university changes. Key figures in the program's development include legendary football coach Harry Hughes, who led the team for over two decades, and Sonny Lubick, who revived the football program in the 1990s. The Rams were a founding member of the Mountain West Conference in 1999 after previously competing in leagues such as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference.

Athletic programs

The Rams sponsor seven men's and nine women's teams competing at the NCAA Division I level. The football program has won or shared 15 conference championships, appearing in bowl games such as the Liberty Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, and the New Mexico Bowl. The men's basketball team has made multiple appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with notable runs under coaches like Boyd Grant and Larry Eustachy. The women's volleyball program is a national powerhouse, consistently ranked and having won numerous Mountain West titles under coach Tom Hilbert. Other successful programs include women's cross country, which has produced individual national champions, and women's basketball, which has also reached the NCAA Tournament. The track and field programs have developed several Olympians, including Amy Van Dyken and Loren Ahonen.

Facilities

The primary athletic facilities are located on the main campus in Fort Collins. Canvas Stadium, a state-of-the-art 36,500-seat venue opened in 2017, serves as the home for football and replaced the historic Hughes Stadium. Moby Arena, an 8,745-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1966, hosts the men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. The arena is part of the larger Moby Complex, which includes practice facilities and administrative offices. Other key venues include the Glenn Morris Field House for track and field, the Colorado State University Tennis Complex, and the Elliott Tennis Center. The Jack Christiansen Memorial Track and the University-owned Boulder are also used for competitions and training.

Rivalries

The Rams maintain several historic and conference rivalries. The most prominent is the Rocky Mountain Showdown against the Colorado Buffaloes of the University of Colorado Boulder, a football series that dates to 1893 and is contested for the Centennial Cup. Within the Mountain West Conference, the primary rivalry is with the Wyoming Cowboys, known as the "Border War", one of the oldest and most contested rivalries in college football, with the two teams battling for the Bronze Boot. A significant basketball rivalry also exists with the New Mexico Lobos, often determining conference supremacy. Other competitive conference rivalries include those with the Air Force Falcons and the Boise State Broncos.

Notable alumni

Many former Rams have achieved prominence in professional sports and beyond. In the NFL, notable players include Joey Porter, Brady Smith, Shaquil Barrett, and Crocker's own Clark Haggans. In basketball, Jason Smith had a lengthy NBA career. The volleyball program produced Olympic gold medalist and FIVB star Tiffany Roberts. Track and field alumni include six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken, who began her athletic career at the university, and distance runner Loren Ahonen. Beyond athletics, notable alumni involved with the program include broadcaster and former player Rich Burch and former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Category:Colorado State Rams Category:Mountain West Conference