April 17, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Throughout his playing and coaching career, from Colorado State to the NFL and back again, Head Coach Steve Fairchild has subscribed to the philosophy that competition makes a team better.

He has raised the level of competition at practice this spring, declaring every starting job up for grabs, and now he wants to carry that internal competitiveness off the field.

On May 9, he will pit the offense vs. the defense in a spirited battle called the Rams Superstars Competition. The event, which begins at 6 p.m. and is free to the public, will be held in Moby Arena. The exciting evening, similar to American Gladiators, will conclude with fans allowed onto the floor for an autograph session.

What's more, CSU alum Reed Saunders, now the Colorado Rockies public address announcer at Coors Field, will call the action for fans at Moby Arena. Fairchild wanted the event to happen before students begin finals week, ending their spring classes.

Decked out in their uniforms, the Rams will engage in several contests, including a grueling obstacle course, a tug of war, weight-lifting competitions, a slam-dunk challenge and other unique "strongman" battles.

Individuals from each unit will be called out on the floor to demonstrate their physical abilities. Divided into one of three divisions by their position -- skill weight (wide receivers and defensive backs), middle weight (tight ends, offensive backs and linebackers) and heavy weight (linemen) -- players will compete for offseason bragging rights. Fairchild hopes the competition will become an annual event to signify the end of spring football and the beginning of summer conditioning. The Moby Arena scoreboard will track each unit's progress.

LAST BONUS PRIZE DRAWING FRIDAY: Fans can renew or purchase football season tickets into the spring, but if they want to be included in the athletic department's final April prize drawing, they must renew online at CSURams.com by 5 p.m. Friday. That's when CSU will award two tickets and a parking pass to the Air Force game in Colorado Springs Nov. 8. For more information, call the ticket office at 1-800/491-RAMS.

SPRING GAME ON RADIO: For fans unable to be at the stadium, Saturday's annual spring competition will be carried live in the Denver area on flagship station KLZ 560 AM, and in Fort Collins on KCOL 600 AM. Rich Bircumshaw and Brian Roth will go on the air at 11:30 a.m.