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10 Rocky Mountain Showdown moments that we'll never forget

kevin lytle, fort collins coloradoan
·5 min read

The Rocky Mountain Showdown is finally back.

The once annual rivalry game between the Colorado and Colorado State football teams hasn't been played since 2019 (a 2020 matchup was canceled due to COVID).

The 2023 matchup (8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16) is in Boulder. It's the first Showdown on either college's campus since the teams played in Boulder in 2009.

This will be the 92nd meeting between the two teams in a series that started 130 years ago.

Here is a look at some memorable moments in the series that CSU and CU fans love (or hate) to replay.

2017: Offensive PI

CU 17, CSU 3

It's the could have, should have been a good game. CU took a 17-3 lead by halftime. Three curious offensive pass interference calls went against CSU in the second half on either touchdowns or plays to put the Rams in the red zone.

This was about the only time CU and CSU fans agreed: The refs trashed this one.

2015: RIP, CAM

CU 27, CSU 24 (OT)

It's not a good sign if your live mascot dies the day of the rivalry game.

The day seemed doomed from the start for CSU, with word spreading by kickoff that live mascot CAM the Ram died the morning of the Showdown.

Young CAM 25 had his redshirt pulled and was put into the action.

CU’s Diego Gonzalez badly missed a would-be game-winner from 48-yards out with two seconds left in regulation. CSU started overtime with the ball, and a 27-yard attempt from Wyatt Bryan was blocked. Gonzalez then hit a 32-yard kick for the win. The Rams blew a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

2009: Rams win in Boulder

CSU 23, CU 17

The last time prior to 2023 for the Showdown on campus was in 2009, when CSU went into Boulder and stunned the Buffs.

CSU fans stormed the field and the huge hit from Elijah-Blu Smith on CU receiver Scotty McKnight will forever be remembered in Fort Collins.

2003: Epic shootout

CU 42, CSU 35

Bobby Purify scored the game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds left in the game as CU beat No. 23 CSU. Two of the best quarterbacks in school history for each program put on a show. CU’s Joel Klatt threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns, while CSU’s Bradlee Van Pelt had 339 pass yards, 77 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.

2002: The helmet spike

CSU 19, CU 14

The helmet spike. One of the most famous plays in CSU history came when legendary Rams quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt ran for a 23-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, turning and spiking the ball off the helmet of CU safety Roderick Sneed as he crossed the goal line. It was the go-ahead score as the Rams upset No. 7 CU. A viral moment before that term really existed.

CU was displeased.

“Van Pelt turned 180 degrees and backed into the end zone on the play, and then fired the ball into the face of CU safety Roderick Sneed in truly one of the most classless displays of sportsmanship the rivalry has ever seen. The officials did not see it, however, and no penalty for taunting was flagged,” read the game report on CUBuffs.com.

1999: Tear gas at Mile High

CSU 41, CU 14

The tear gas game. Arguably the ugliest moment in Rocky Mountain Showdown history. Denver police tear-gassed hundreds of fans as cups, bottles and other debris were thrown at officers and CU players exiting the field after CSU’s win.

Denver Police Department officers stand in the north end zone of Denver's Mile High Stadium as a cloud of tear gas envelopes the stadium late Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, after police used the gas to disperse fans who wanted to storm the field to celebrate Colorado State's 41-14 victory over Colorado. Fans pelted police and then Colorado players as they left the field for the locker room beneath the stands.

The postgame madness takes the headline away from a stellar performance from CSU running back Kevin McDougal, who ran for 190 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns as the Rams beat the No. 14 Buffs.

1983: Showdown returns

CU 31, CSU 3

This matchup in Boulder was the first time the teams played since 1958 after CU moved away from the series. It's been a frequent event since and annual matchup from 1995-2019.

1958: Dramatic nearly final meeting

CSU 15, CU 14

As CU moved conferences and looked to leave the series against CSU, one last game in Boulder for a long time lived up to the billing.

More than 23,000 people were at Folsom Field and CSU legend Gary Glick helped lead a late game-winning drive before CSU fans stormed the field and tore down the goal posts, according to historian John Hirn.

1912: First CSU win

CSU 21, CU 0

CSU's first win (the school was known as Colorado Agricultural College at the time) came in the 15th matchup of the series with a lopsided victory in Fort Collins.

1893: First meeting

CU 70, CSU 6

The first meeting between the schools happened on Feb. 11, 1893. A lopsided win for Colorado started the series. CU won 13 of the first 14 meetings, with a tie (1906) the lone non-win.

Other top candidates

For a series running for more than 90 years, there are plenty of "top" moments and fans will all have unique top memories.

Here are some more highlight moments from the series. What are your most memorable Showdown moments? Tweet me @Kevin_Lytle or email KevinLytle@coloradoan.com.

2004: CSU had a golden chance at the goal line to win it at the end, but was stuffed and CU won 27-24 to stun the Rams in Boulder.

2002: CSU broke up a pass from No. 7 CU near the goal line in the final minute to secure the win, which many remember from Cecil Sapp's powerful TD run.

1996: A shootout in Fort Collins ended in a 48-34 win in a memorable QB battle with high-scoring offenses.

1986: CSU is dominant in a 23-7 win on the road. It's the first win for the Rams in Boulder since 1958 after the long pause in the series and CSU had lost in both 1983 and 1985 in Boulder.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 10 Rocky Mountain Showdown moments that we'll never forget