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Colorado State Football: After 3-9 season, Mike Bobo declines pay raise

By Dana Becker

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 1: Head coach Mike Bobo of the Colorado State Rams walks onto the field after the Ram's 17-3 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 1: Head coach Mike Bobo of the Colorado State Rams walks onto the field after the Ram's 17-3 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Mike Bobo believes he needed to do better in 2018. Colorado State football‘s head coach literally put his money where his mouth is, declining a pay raise.

So, following a loss to Air Force that left the Rams out of bowl contention and with just a 3-9 record, Bobo declined a $100,000 pay raise set to be added to his base salary in 2019.

To clear one thing up, that $100,000 still leaves Bobo making $1.8 million this coming year, but for a coach to turn down money offered to him by his school, it really does show the true character of Bobo.

In an interview with ESPN, Bobo explained his decision.

“This is an administration that stood behind me, and I felt like we didn’t live up to our end of the deal. I wanted to make a statement to our players that we’re in this together and you’ve got be accountable, starting with me.”

It was a very tough year for the 44-year-old former Georgia quarterback. Bobo missed time in the preseason after being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.

On the field, things didn’t get much better for the Rams, as they started the year off just 1-4 with double-digit losses to in-state rival Colorado, Florida and Illinois State. Colorado State rebounded with wins over San Jose State and New Mexico, but finished the year with five consecutive defeats, though they did play both Utah State and Air Force tough down the stretch.

Collin Hill is expected back at quarterback after throwing for 1,387 yards and seven touchdowns. The Rams will lose leading rusher Izzy Matthews, who graduates, and top receiver Preston Williams, who has declared early for the NFL Draft after catching 96 passes for 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Next. NFL Mock Draft: Projected first round after CFB season. dark

Bobo is 24-27 in his head coaching career, reaching three bowls without a victory to date. Prior to landing at Colorado State, he was the offensive coordinator from 2007-14 at Georgia after serving as quarterback coach at the school for several years prior.

The Rams went 7-6 in each of Bobo’s first three seasons, finishing as high as second in the conference twice. Colorado State opens next year with Colorado, along with non-conference games vs. Western Illinois, Arkansas and Toledo.

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