Today's game against the New Mexico Lobos is part of Colorado State's Legends Weekend where players and coaches from the 1990 Freedom Bowl team will be introduced prior to the 4 p.m. kick-off. That 1990 team was a special team that was lead by former Ram coach Earl Bruce, who is in the College Football Hall of Fame, provided a quick turnaround for the Colorado State program.
In his second year at Colorado State he lead the Rams to a 9-3 season with a victory over Oregon in the 1990 Freedom Bowl. Bruce's turnaround of the Rams was quick and a surprise, because the two years prior to his arrival the Ram had a combined record of 2-21, and it only took Bruce in year two at Colorado State to take them to that Freedom Bowl which was their first bowl appearance since the 1948 Raisin Bowl.
His tenure at Colorado State was short lived from 1989-1992 due to allegations that he verbally and physical abusing his players, as well as discouraging players from taking classes that would interfere with football practice. This will be Bruce's first time at Hughes Stadium since the 1992 season finale win over Miami (OH).
"I want to see that team. It's a great group of young men," Bruce said this week from his home in Ohio. "I'm going to enjoy being in the stadium."
One thing that may have gotten lost in the shuffle is that Earl Bruce was a great recruiter where his junior and seniors that he recruited went on to win back-to-back Western Athletic titles under Sonny Lubbick.