Rams & Buffs Players Say 'Showdown' Is More Than A Game

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - It's always good for the state when two state schools take center stage.

This Saturday the Colorado State University Rams take on the University of Colorado Buffaloes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

CU receiver Paul Richardson thought he'd be healthy enough to play this season, but he's decided to redshirt instead.

Richardson tore his left ACL in the spring but had made such good progress in his recovery that he had circled the Buffaloes' Sept. 22 game against Washington State for his possible return.

Instead, the junior said Wednesday that he had decided to take this season off "and get healthy."

Coach Jon Embree said as much as he'd love to have him back, he was relieved Richardson had decided to take things slowly.

Richardson has caught 73 passes for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons. He really burst onto the scene with an 11-catch, 284-yard, two-TD performance against Cal last fall.

As for the game, players say it's more than a game.

"My family has a long history at CSU, so we've been pretty pro-CSU our whole lives, so they've never cheered for the Buffs," CSU H-back Jake Levin said.

"They're a good team, and a few years back they actually beat us at Folsom," CU safety Ray Polk said. "So they're a great team and there's a new coaching staff; they're definitely going to be good this year. So we need to take that into account and make sure we do everything possible to beat these guys."

As of Wednesday only 17,000 tickets were sold at the CSU base for the game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

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