Sunday’s game was probably the most fun for me to watch since the days of Bradlee Van Pelt, and we have Steve Fairchild’s preparation and fresh energy, as well as Sonny Lubick in a way, to thank for that.
After a record of 17-30 in Lubick’s last four years, including a 13-game losing streak from 2006 to 2007, it became painfully clear that the program had stagnated. His recruiting classes declined in terms of overall talent, attendance dropped and local buzz about the program fell to its lowest levels in years.
When a football team lodges itself into a rut, it’s exceedingly rare for it to get out under the same leadership. Keeping an old coach ensures results akin to shoving a square peg into a round hole.
Once in a lifetime, you’ll see the round hole get worn down to let the square peg in (i.e. Clint Hurdle and the 2007 Rockies), but you just can’t count on that every year.
Thankfully, Lubick realized this, and fully cooperated in the school’s negotiations for him to step down with his dignity intact. As a result, the man is still idolized in Fort Collins.
One game into his second season at CSU, coach Fairchild can already say he did something Lubick could not: win in Boulder. The CSU community’s willingness to be patient with him has been greatly reciprocated thus far.
Kevin Hollinshead is a junior political science major. His column appears Mondays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
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