Talk about a wild ride! Colorado State’s defensive coordinator, Tyson Summers, got yanked as playcaller in the first half against Oregon State, then was outright fired after the Rams suffered a brutal 30-point loss where the Beavers dropped 56 points on them in Fort Collins. You just don’t see coaching changes happening *during* a game, but new head coach Jim Mora Jr. apparently saw enough and wasn’t willing to wait another minute.
The Sideline Shuffle That Shook the Team
Things went sideways for the Rams defense fast. Oregon State was just rolling, piling up those 56 points. Summers was officially “relieved of his playcalling duties” sometime in the first half, according to Mora Jr.’s statement on social media. It got even wilder though, with the USA Sports game broadcast, via The Coloradan, reporting that sideline reporter Dalen Cuff confirmed co-defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon was calling plays since about midway through the first quarter, and Summers was just gone from the sideline. Poof. He started the game there, signaling to the defense, then he was out. Now, McClendon is officially the new defensive coordinator.
A Defense Drowning in Points
Unfortunately for Colorado State, pulling Summers mid-game didn’t exactly turn the tide immediately. The Rams gave up 14 points in that first quarter while Summers was still calling plays for part of it, but then they allowed another 21 points in the second quarter, and *another* 21 in the second half. That’s a whopping 42 points given up *after* the change, showing just how deep these defensive issues run. It’s not just this game either. Colorado State’s defense has been among the worst in the country to start the season, ranked 129th nationally, allowing a brutal 34.3 points per game coming into this week. Giving up 56 more points to Oregon State definitely won’t help that ranking, will it? Mora Jr., in his first season after leaving UConn for Colorado State, clearly had a gut feeling he needed a fresh voice and he wasn’t messing around.
This is a drastic move, no doubt about it. You gotta wonder if Kenny McClendon can rally this defense and tighten things up, because right now, they’re in a real tough spot. The coaching staff is clearly looking for *any* kind of spark to stop the bleeding, and hopefully, they find it soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply