At one point in the second half, Bobo called a timeout to vent at the officials. They didn’t listen. That’s what happens when you’re the coach of a Mountain West team in a game against a foe from a power five conference.
To his credit, Bobo refused to blame the officiating for the loss. “We don’t make excuses,” he said.
The refs got hankie happy. Highly questionable offensive pass interference penalties probably cost the Rams 14 points.
I think complaining about the officiating is for losers. Hey, we all make mistakes. But the Rams have legit reasons to feel as if the playing field was tilted at a 45-degree angle against them.
Bobo will ask for a formal review of the questionable calls. But, he added “They’re not going to come back and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to play the ballgame over.'”
Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay (23) kisses the Rocky Mountain Showdown trophy as its held by wide receiver Shay Fields (1) after their win over the Colorado State Rams 17-3 on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre laughs as he walks off the field with Colorado Buffaloes punter Alex Kinney (89) after their wing over the Colorado State Rams 17-3 in the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre shakes hands with Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ryan Moeller (25) on the bench late in the fourth quarter during the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Warren Jackson (9) catches a pass in front of Colorado Buffaloes Trey Udoffia (8) in the fourth quarter during the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field. Udoffia forced a fumble on the play and recovered by Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Afolabi Laguda (1) and returned for 11 yards. The Buffaloes defeated the Rams 17-3.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Warren Jackson (9) catches a pass in front of Colorado Buffaloes Trey Udoffia (8) in the fourth quarter during the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field. Udoffia forced a fumble on the play and recovered by the Buffaloes. The Buffaloes defeated the Rams 17-3.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) hurry his throw as he gets pressure from Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Leo Jackson III (52) in the fourth quarter during the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field. The Buffaloes defeated the Rams 17-3.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Drew Lewis (20) puts a big hit on Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) after his throw during the fourth quarter during the Rocky Mountain Show down on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) is sacked by Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Jacob Callier (44) during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Olabisi Johnson (81) caches a pass in front of Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Anthony Julmisse (8) during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) is sacked by Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Jacob Callier (44) during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Olabisi Johnson (81) caches a pass in front of Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Anthony Julmisse (8) during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) is brought down by Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Drew Lewis (20) and Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Leo Jackson III (52) who grabs him by the facemark during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Michael Gallup (4) stretches out for a pass but can't hang on as Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Isaiah Oliver (26) defends on the play during the second quarter agains the Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) launches a pass down field during the second quarter agains the Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez (12) looks to throw downfield agains the Colorado State Rams defense during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) hands off to Colorado State Rams running back Rashaad Boddie (28) during the second quarter agains the Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez (12) scrambles out of the pocket against the Colorado State Rams during the second quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay (23) picks up some yards on a run against the Colorado State Rams defense during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay (23) picks up some yards on a run as Colorado State Rams safety Jamal Hicks (7) moves in during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay (23) picks up some yards on a run agains the Colorado State Rams defense during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams wide receiver Michael Gallup (4) picks up a few yards after catch as Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Isaiah Oliver (26) comes in for the tackle during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (1) walks in to the end zone after catching a 31 yd touchdown pass from quarterback Steven Montez (12) during the second quarter as Colorado State Rams safety Justin Sweet (29) looks on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field.
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) barks out the call at the line of scrimmage against the Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 1, 2017 during the Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) is forced to throw an errant pass by Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Rick Gamboa (32) during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver.
Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) avoids Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Jacob Callier (44) during the first quarter on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver.
Colorado Buffaloes take a knee with the flag after introductions against the Colorado State Rams on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie heads to the trailer after running the field with the team against the Colorado State Rams on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie heads to the trailer after running the field with the team against the Colorado State Rams on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams head coach Mike Bobo and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre shake hands before their game on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado during gate Rocky Mountain Showdown at Mile High.
Graham Wadman sport his Rams hat as he tailgates prior to the Colorado Buffaloes Colorado State Rams game on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 1: Colorado Buffaloes students party on during a tailgate prior to the game against the Colorado State Rams on September 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Sports Authority Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Chris Carlson works on some sidewalk chalk art prior to the Colorado Buffaloes Colorado State Rams game on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Colorado State Rams students dance to the music during a tailgate prior to the game against the Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver at Sports Authority Field.
Nearly 74,000 spectators found their way in Sports Authority Field at Mile High. All of those fans, even the ones who started their Labor Day festivities early by pounding frosty brews in the stadium parking lot, saw the game more clearly than the officiating crew.
Now let me make this clear. I’m not accusing the refs of being biased in CU’s favor. I’m saying they were incompetent to the point that CSU fans should be entitled to a full refund for price of admission.
When Colorado State mounted the first scoring threat of the game early in the opening quarter, quarterback Nick Stevens hit teammate Bisi Johnson with a beautiful 19-yard pass that would have put the Rams first-and-goal at the 9-yard line if not for a phantom offensive pass interference penalty.
CU took a 17-3 lead to the locker room at halftime, largely because of the one-cut-and-go running of senior tailback Phillip Lindsay, who will soon be discovered by NFL scouts as a legitimate draft prospect.
In the third quarter, the Rams appeared to climb back into the game by cutting the CU advantage to seven points. Not once, but twice.
But on the same CSU possession, apparent touchdowns passes to Detrich Clark and Johnson were wiped out. The first negated score was the result of another questionable offensive pass interference ruling. Moments later, a second TD was wiped out for a block by offensive lineman Jeff Taylor that was ruled as illegal hands to the face; it seemed like a nitpick, but appeared to be the correct call.
Disgusted CSU fans littered a corner of the end zone with debris later in the second half, when the Rams were flagged for offensive pass interference for a third time. Bobo began playing football as a child. In all his years, has he ever seen pass interference called three times in a single game?
“Yeah,” Bobo replied, “this last game.”
Since this series moved to Denver in 1998, we’ve seen some wild and wacky stuff. We’ve seen overtime. And tear gas. We’ve witnessed the fire of Rams quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt, celebrating a touchdown by spiking the football off the helmet of a CU defender.
But we’ve never seen flags rain from the sky, with every questionable penalty painful reminder to Colorado State that if you’re not a member of college football’s elite, you don’t get any respect.
