Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain Seeks Motivation from Fifth Place Projection

As a senior on the Colorado State football team, it can be difficult to find the motivation to go out and compete at two-a-days during the hot days of August. Especially since the four years you have spent on campus your football team has gone a combined 13-26. But seniors Shaq Barrett and Weston Richburg, along with Coach McElwain, see an opportunity to light some fires with the Rams being predicted to finish next to last in the Mountain Division.

Shaq Barrett feels like the team he is a part of is much better than that.

"From our past seasons I can understand how they can pick us fifth. But from inside the team, our inner workings, we feel as though we should prove ourselves and become better than fifth, at the end of the season being up top."

McElwain will take any motivation he can get to help coach this team above .500 for the first time since 2008 and hopefully reach a bowl game. Not a single player on the current roster has had that experience.

"I think in some ways, hopefully some of our guys take note and say ‘Wow, that's the perception.' Because sometimes perception becomes reality," McElwain said. "What I'm hoping our guys do is really take a little bit of a look at it and maybe put a chip on their shoulder."

More from Mountain West Connection:

• VIDEO: Air Force OL Austin Hayes, OL Michael Husar at Mountain West media days
• VIDEO: Boise State's Joe Southwick, Charles Leno discuss new look conference
• Boise State releases initial depth chart
• VIDEO: Fresno State looking to improve off of 2012 season
• Mountain West announces five football games on digital network