Well-known Colorado State alumni include astronaut Scott Carpenter, Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken, Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar, actor Jason Momoa and LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin.

2. “A” marks the spot

The prominent white “A” displayed on the foothills of the Front Range is the older ongoing tradition associated with Colorado State, dating back to 1923. The “A” stands for “Aggies,” the original nickname for CSU. It is 450 feet high and 210 feet across. Each fall, freshman football players join forces with several campus organizations to give the “A” a fresh coat of paint.

3. Mascot trivia

Cam the Ram is the CSU mascot and the name reflects the history of the school. His name stands for Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, the University’s former name.

4. Bang, bang

The CSU Army ROTC mans “Comatose,” the cannon fired at football games. “Comatose” is a 1918 French 75mm field goal and has been a booming presence at games since 1920. The cannon is fired before kickoff, after touchdowns and field goals and at the end of every game.

5. Moving around

Colorado State played in the Colorado Football Association from 1893 to 1908, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1909 to 1937, the Skyline Conference from 1938 to 1961, was independent from 1962 to 1967, then the Western Athletic Conference from 1968 to 1998 and the Mountain West Conference from 1999 to 2025. This season, the Rams play in the revival of the Pac-12 Conference.