Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Feels the Shift on First Day of Spring
3/8/2026 2:19:00 PM | Football
The Rams recognize what is needed on day one
Straight out of the gate, there were clear, immediate differences.
Not differences in the practice space or in the Powerade bottles scattered along the sidelines — but in the way the field filled. In the preceding months, Colorado State football had undergone a sweeping overhaul: staff turnover, roster reshuffling and, most noticeably, a shift in expectation. All of it arrived as part of the package deal with the Rams' new coach, Jim Mora.
Mora's resumé is long and varied, featuring stops across the NFL and Division I, but his accolades are not what resonates most with the players now under his direction.
"I have nothing but respect for the man, first and foremost," said offensive lineman Phillip Ocon. "But even if you took all that out of perspective, the way that man carries himself, the way he walks around, the way he sets an example for the team — we respect him regardless."
Ocon played eight games last season but expects a larger role in the offensive picture this year.
He can't say much about the specifics of the picture other than it has undeniably changed. And while the details remain close to the vest, the broader message is unmistakable: trust has to be earned.
"What we need to come out of spring with is an identification of who our playmakers are, who we can count on and who we can trust," Mora said. "It's determining who's dependable to the staff, who's dependable to their teammate and who has the mental toughness to do it the way we want it done. If you can't trust a guy, then you're not going to play."
The pressure is the natural next step after months of recruitment, planning and projection finally converge on the field. Only so much can be prepared in advance. The rest depends on how the team shows up — and what they show.
If early impressions mean anything, they've already identified what needs work.
"As a linebacker and as a defense, we should be more violent and put more effort on the field," said Jaseim Mitchell. "We're starting to get there, but you know — spring, fall, summer — we just have to get there together as one team."
A togetherness which begins in the quiet early mornings before sunrise, or over team meals where inside jokes start to form. A team isn't built only on the field; it's built in the moments surrounding it.
And while the roster has undergone significant change, those changes have been welcomed.
"Everyone's gelled really, really well," Ocon said. "Everyone from different backgrounds has done a great job introducing themselves, coming through and being a personable person. I don't think of a single guy in that room who doesn't work hard. Everyone works their tail off and everyone is ready to go."
The willingness to start fresh is what has stood out most to Mora.
They might not be where they want to be yet, but they want to be there.
"All these guys are interested, they're soaking it in," Mora said. "They want to be good players; they want to have a good football team. And we're never going to have a perfect practice, we're never going to play a perfect game, but we can have a perfect attitude, perfect effort, and the desire for perfect execution. And that's what excites me — because that's what these guys seem to be about."
Chasing perfection begins internally long before it ever appears externally. Because the pursuit brings pressure, but many see it as a positive force.
After all, diamonds don't form without external pressure bearing down on the molecules.
"He really puts the pressure on us to perform," Ocon said. "Colorado State wants winners and you've got to perform to play here. I really do appreciate that extra pressure him and all the coaches are putting on us. I think it's going to do great things for us in the long run."
The long run may feel distant now, but it's approaching faster than anyone wants to admit. Spring reps will turn into summer installs, summer into fall camp and fall into the moment they step onto the field with something real on the line.
That's why the message isn't complicated. It's immediate. It's urgent. There is no time for second-guessing. Start now. Lean into the standard. Become someone the team can count on.
Because when opening day crests over the hill — and it will eventually — Colorado State won't just be measuring what Mora has built. They'll be measuring who answered the call.
