The CSU Rams last went to, and won, a bowl game in Steve Fairchild's first year as head coach (2008 New Mexico Bowl: 40 - 35 over Fresno State); they haven't won four games in a season since. The new head coach, Jim McElwain, seems to know why. There has been a very different approach to the laid-back practices of the Fairchild era. Coach Mac said of the new philosophy being implemented in practice: "Once again, it's changing a culture, changing an attitude and changing a mindset ... If we played a game today,I think the 7-year-old Pop Warner team would have probably beat the heck out of us." The Rams weren't as well prepared as other teams over the past 4 years, that was obvious to just about anyone on game day. Early indications are, and it is very early, that the Rams will at least be a better fundamentally prepared and more detail oriented team than they have been over the past 4 years. McElwain is trying to implement his style of practice from day one. It already appears more disciplined and focused than the previous 4 - 5 years. It will be interesting to see if the coaching changes can really change the culture and instill a desire to to perform more consistently. Many fans had been longing for a change in coaches, because those from Fairchild's staff were largely holdovers from the Sonny Lubick era and were seen to have been stuck in a rut and underperforming. Coach Mac, with his more focused style does not demean the players on the practice field (as was done before) and by recruiting size, rather than skill positions, is seemingly changing the very make-up of the team. It does seem like this will be a very different football team than last year (hallelujah!).
