http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1550167
Tommy Deas
TideSports.com Editor
Jim McElwain knows better than anyone that scheduling a football game at the University of Alabama isn't in Colorado State's best interest in terms of his team's win-loss record, but he sees other benefits.
The former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator, in his second season as head coach of the Rams, not only agreed to schedule Alabama this weekend, he signed on to bring Colorado State back in 2015 or '17, with a $1.5 million payout to his school for each game.
"Probably some people around here might be thinking what the heck was I thinking, but at the same time it's something that I know for our organization being able to come and be a part of what I consider the mecca of college football, I think it's good for everybody involved in the organization. Just to see the pride in performance that every single person, no matter what their job is, has to do what they do, it's something we're trying to do here.
"I think it's going to be really good for a lot of different people. When (Alabama) first called about it, they needed a game. I owe the University of Alabama and Coach (Nick) Saban and that town for four unbelievable years of my life."
McElwain was UA's offensive coordinator from 2008-11, winning two national championship rings. In studying Alabama on film, he sees another juggernaut.
"Wow," he said. "I see a team that just keeps getting better. I see a team that's hitting its stride offensively with a veteran quarterback who can put a game on his shoulders.
"I go back to how they're coached and so fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball and in special teams, for me just watching them play is obviously something everybody in our profession to get everybody to play that hard with so much discipline at that tempo."
McElwain likes the idea of having Colorado State play at Alabama again to see how much his program can improve.
"We get a return trip in a couple of years and I think it will be a true measuring stick for where we're out and give us an opportunity to test ourselves against the absolute best," he said.
It didn't escape McElwain's notice that Alabama gave up 628 yards in last weekend's victory at Texas A&M, including 464 passing yards, but he credits that to reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel rather than to any obvious weaknesses in the Crimson Tide defense.
"I know people are going to say whatever the yardage deal, but that guy (Manziel) is a special palyer," McElwain said. "I don't see anybody in the country being able to do something like that and the plays he gets away with."
Colorado State is coming off a victory over Cal Poly after seeing his team blow fourth-quarter leads against Colorado and Tulsa to start out 0-2.
"You ultimately are measured in wins and losses, I get that," McElwain said. "That's the tangible part.
"What I've seen since we've gotten here is I've seen us come so far in a lot of different ways that there is some encouragement. There were points where this program has never gotten into the fourth quarter with leads, let alone have chances to win at the end. Those are things you've got to look at as stepping stones.
"Obviously my patience level, I need to step back because I do believe we're a much better football program than we were a year ago by leaps and bounds. It will show itself as the season goes forward, but there's some frustration there. What I learned from Coach Saban, this finish in the fourth quarter and the things you do to prepare for that, not to see our guys pick up the stick and finish was important."
Colorado State's offense won't be exactly what Alabama fans are used to seeing from an attack directed by McElwain, but it will be somewhat familiar.
"We've had to piece some things together based on the personnel that we have," he said. "We're quite honestly still short on explosive playmakers, which is something we have to help ourselves with in recruiting.
"There will obviously be some things that look the same, and I'm sure Coach Saban and Kirby (Smart, UA's defensive coordinator) aren't sitting there too worried."
Tommy Deas
TideSports.com Editor
Jim McElwain knows better than anyone that scheduling a football game at the University of Alabama isn't in Colorado State's best interest in terms of his team's win-loss record, but he sees other benefits.
The former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator, in his second season as head coach of the Rams, not only agreed to schedule Alabama this weekend, he signed on to bring Colorado State back in 2015 or '17, with a $1.5 million payout to his school for each game.
"Probably some people around here might be thinking what the heck was I thinking, but at the same time it's something that I know for our organization being able to come and be a part of what I consider the mecca of college football, I think it's good for everybody involved in the organization. Just to see the pride in performance that every single person, no matter what their job is, has to do what they do, it's something we're trying to do here.
"I think it's going to be really good for a lot of different people. When (Alabama) first called about it, they needed a game. I owe the University of Alabama and Coach (Nick) Saban and that town for four unbelievable years of my life."
McElwain was UA's offensive coordinator from 2008-11, winning two national championship rings. In studying Alabama on film, he sees another juggernaut.
"Wow," he said. "I see a team that just keeps getting better. I see a team that's hitting its stride offensively with a veteran quarterback who can put a game on his shoulders.
"I go back to how they're coached and so fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball and in special teams, for me just watching them play is obviously something everybody in our profession to get everybody to play that hard with so much discipline at that tempo."
McElwain likes the idea of having Colorado State play at Alabama again to see how much his program can improve.
"We get a return trip in a couple of years and I think it will be a true measuring stick for where we're out and give us an opportunity to test ourselves against the absolute best," he said.
It didn't escape McElwain's notice that Alabama gave up 628 yards in last weekend's victory at Texas A&M, including 464 passing yards, but he credits that to reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel rather than to any obvious weaknesses in the Crimson Tide defense.
"I know people are going to say whatever the yardage deal, but that guy (Manziel) is a special palyer," McElwain said. "I don't see anybody in the country being able to do something like that and the plays he gets away with."
Colorado State is coming off a victory over Cal Poly after seeing his team blow fourth-quarter leads against Colorado and Tulsa to start out 0-2.
"You ultimately are measured in wins and losses, I get that," McElwain said. "That's the tangible part.
"What I've seen since we've gotten here is I've seen us come so far in a lot of different ways that there is some encouragement. There were points where this program has never gotten into the fourth quarter with leads, let alone have chances to win at the end. Those are things you've got to look at as stepping stones.
"Obviously my patience level, I need to step back because I do believe we're a much better football program than we were a year ago by leaps and bounds. It will show itself as the season goes forward, but there's some frustration there. What I learned from Coach Saban, this finish in the fourth quarter and the things you do to prepare for that, not to see our guys pick up the stick and finish was important."
Colorado State's offense won't be exactly what Alabama fans are used to seeing from an attack directed by McElwain, but it will be somewhat familiar.
"We've had to piece some things together based on the personnel that we have," he said. "We're quite honestly still short on explosive playmakers, which is something we have to help ourselves with in recruiting.
"There will obviously be some things that look the same, and I'm sure Coach Saban and Kirby (Smart, UA's defensive coordinator) aren't sitting there too worried."
