Colorado State decided to let go of defensive coordinator Tyson Summers amid a 56-26 loss to Oregon State on Saturday.
Head coach Jim Mora confirmed the termination after the game. The Rams now sit at 2-3 on the year after losing their Pac-12 opener.
The firing came in the first quarter, which is highly unusual in college football. Summers went from being on the Rams sideline at the opening kick to full-on disappearing with a minute to go as the Beavers went up 14-0.
Mora stripped Summers of play-calling duties and followed it up with a full-on firing. Summers’ defense was in the middle of a tough stretch.
After starting the season 2-0, Colorado State lost consecutive games. They gave up 40+ points in both defeats.
The Rams entered Saturday’s game allowing 34.3 points and 454 yards per game, surrendering 100 points over their previous two games.
Mora’s frustration with the defense was increasing. During the Week 4 59-45 loss to UTSA, television cameras caught Mora angrily confronting Summers on the sideline.
Mora then spoke publicly about simplifying the defense and eliminating explosive plays that had plagued the Rams at the start of the year.
Co-defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon took over play-calling duties, while cornerbacks coach Trent Matthews handled signaling calls to the defense.
Colorado State declined to speak on Summers’ status during the game, telling The Fort Collins Coloradoan there were “no comments about football coaching personnel at this time.”
According to Mora, McClendon will be the defensive play caller moving forward.
McClendon was the mind behind the Rams allowing the Beavers to score the remaining 42 points in this contest. Oregon State also had a whopping 652 total yards of offense, their season high.
McClendon now has a full week to reset this defense as the Rams head on the road to take on the Texas State Bobcats (2-3) next week.
