Fans might have wanted CSU to go to the Las Vegas Bowl, an easier trip that avoided holiday conflicts. The coaching staff and team couldn't be happier going to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl.

	T O P   N E W S

Playing No. 16 Southern Miss will give CSU a chance to finish in the Top 25 with a 9-3 record. It will offer the offense another test against an outstanding defense, ranked among the national leaders in several categories.

Moreover, it will be the ultimate team bonding experience. Unlike past trips to the Holiday Bowl where the California-dominated roster had local distractions, the Rams will concentrate on football and having fun together.

"Being together could be good," said running back Kevin McDougal, the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year. "There won't be as many distractions as in San Diego. It's a bowl game and there will be distractions everywhere. That's part of the bowl scene. We're out there to have fun and we're out there to win a game.

"I didn't see anything wrong when we were in San Diego with guys going home. This could help a little with the concentration part, but guys have always done a good job of when we step on practice field it's time to practice and not worry about what we're going to do that night."

For a team picked to finish fifth or sixth during a rebuilding year, the Rams exceeded all expectations, closing with a five-game winning burst. CSU coach Sonny Lubick has often said this team has been the most fun for him and he regularly thanks the media types for picking the Rams so low. Otherwise, he couldn't have won his third coach of the year honor.

No area showed as much improvement as the offensive line, which replaced the entire interior. CSU gave up the fewest sacks in the league (nine).

It was a season where everything came together at the right time. McDougal returned from an assortment of injuries just when things started to click for first-year starting quarterback Matt Newton. Despite all the injuries on defense -- including the season-ending loss of linebacker Rick Crowell (shoulder) -- , the Rams thrived. Freshmen Adam Wade and David Vickers grew into their jobs.

The pairing with Southern Miss comes down to CSU's ability to establish the running game. The Rams won't hesitate to pass and Newton goes in with the confidence of having been selected second team All-MWC.

The Personnel File

PRIME MATCHUP: Southern Miss' top player, All-American defensive end Adalius Thomas, doesn't intimidate CSU's top offensive tackle, Blane Saipaia. The Rams flip-flop left and right sides of the line depending on strong side and weak side field position, but it's safe to assume Saipaia, the 6-3, 310-pound three-year starter and all MWC pick, will line up against Thomas. The MWC was heavy in defensive ends this year and Saipaia kept all of them -- Utah's John Frank, BYU's Byron Firsch and San Diego State's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila from their usual damage. Also for the first time since late September, he's fully healed from knee and ankle woes.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: McDougal overcame an array of injuries and opponents stacking eight and nine in the box to win the MWC rushing crown with a 116.4 yard average. Lubick called him the toughest player he's ever coached. He was a surprise pick ahead of Feterik for the league offensive player of the year.

DEFENSIVEPLAYER OF THE YEAR: LB Ula Tuitele. In his only full year as a starter, he came back from a knee injury and trailed only New Mexico's Brian Urlacher in tackles. Besides dominating the middle, he had to hold the hands of freshmen on either side.

COACH UPDATE: Lubick was overjoyed to get the bowl if for no other reason than that it gives a tightly knit, spirited senior class one more chance to play. His seven-year record in Fort Collins is 57-26 with four outright or shared league titles.

STRENGTHS: The ground game, a defense that became stronger as each game progressed and an emphasis on special teams in the punting and return games.

CONCERNS: The overall quickness, particularly in the defensive secondary, to match Southern Miss. Kicker C.W. Hurst's accuracy faded down the stretch.

Noteworthy

TICKET SALES: The athletic department surprised itself selling 7,516 tickets. Only 3,000 are expected to go to the game, including a bus caravan of about 450 students. Fans had conflicts with high holiday airfares, few flights, Y2K concerns, and prior New Year's Eve commitments. Many fans bought tickets as the department got out the word that a poor ticket sale will negatively impact CSU's future bowl chances.

A Look Ahead

Here's a glance at who the Rams will have to replace in the starting lineup next season.

OFFENSE: Three. League MVP McDougal will be missed the most. Freshman Rahsaan Sanders saw plenty of action but the Rams need to complement him with more of a power back in the McDougal mold. Saipaia will also be missed.

DEFENSE: Four. Middle linebacker Ula Tuitele took over as the heart of the defense after Crowell was lost. Olson started at strong safety for four seasons and led the Rams in interceptions with six. Haggans ends a dynasty of all-conference defensive ends and leaves as the school's sack leader with 34.

SPECIAL TEAMS: One. Punter Deone Horinek became a master of pinning opponents inside their 20.