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Colorado State Accepts New Orleans Bowl Invitation Rams begin workouts Friday.
Nov. 28, 2001 FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State University's football team on Wednesday formally accepted an invitation to the New Orleans Bowl. Coach Sonny Lubick and the school's director of athletics Jeffrey Hathaway accepted a bid to play North Texas in the first-ever New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 18 at the Louisiana Superdome (7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT-ESPN2). For the first time in school history, Colorado State is making a third consecutive bowl trip. The 2001 New Orleans Bowl against the champion of the Sun Belt Conference also marks the Rams' sixth bowl game in the past eight years, all under Lubick, and more than any other Mountain West Conference team.
"I cannot say enough about the leadership and effort of our seniors,
and the entire football team," said Lubick. "We are thrilled to have
this opportunity to play in the New Orleans Bowl. These seniors, they
taught me a lot about perseverance. I am excited for our players and
for our program."
Hathaway also praised Lubick and his staff along with the players for their work in making history happen at Colorado State. He said the bowl trip is a community-wide affair. "I cannot tell you how thrilled we are to be playing in the inaugural New Orleans Bowl. We are proud to be going to a third consecutive bowl game for the first time in school history. This is not just about our athletic program. This is a university-wide, special day in Fort Collins," Hathaway said. New Orleans Bowl committee representative Tom Burnett was on hand to make the invitation to Hathaway, Lubick, and many of the team's players. "This is a memorable day for us. We're proud of what we've put together. The teams will have a chance to play in a world-class stadium at a warm weather site," said Burnett. "New Orleans sells itself." The Rams go back to work Friday, practicing for the first time since winning the team's regular season finale, 24-17 at New Mexico, a victory that gained the team bowl eligibility. Colorado State won four of its last five games, losing only on the road to nationally ranked BYU. In fact, four of Colorado State's five losses came at the hands of teams who are currently ranked among the top 25. The Rams have workouts scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon to begin bowl preparations. The team will then practice again Dec. 9, 10, and 11. The team travel party will depart for New Orleans on Friday, Dec. 14 and headquarter at the Sheraton Canal Street. |
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