Jim Mora Reveals Real Reason He Fired His Defensive Coordinator Mid-Game [VIDEO]
Jim Mora has spent his first season at Colorado State pushing for accountability after last year’s struggles. The veteran coach arrived from UConn determined to fix a program that finished 2-10. Yet the defense has leaked points at an alarming rate, and Saturday night forced him to explain a rare in-game staff change.
Colorado State fell 56-26 to Oregon State at Canvas Stadium, dropping to 2-3. The Rams have allowed 193 points in five games. Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson carved up the secondary for 413 yards and five touchdowns, continuing a trend that had already tested the head coach’s patience.
Mora Details The Play-Calling Change And Final Outcome
Jim Mora stripped defensive coordinator Tyson Summers of play-calling duties in the first quarter after Oregon State scored its second touchdown and led 14-0. Summers then walked off the field on his own and never returned. After the game, Mora laid out exactly what happened and made the decision permanent.
“Tyson was relieved of his play calling duties, he made the decision on his own to leave the field, and he is no longer with this football program.”
Mora stressed that he never intended to order Summers off the sideline. He only removed the play-calling responsibility. Co-defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon, who followed Mora from UConn, will take the headset and call the defense going forward. Cornerbacks coach Trent Matthews handled the signals once Summers departed.
The latest collapse came one week after a 59-45 loss to UTSA. Colorado State ranked among the nation’s worst defenses in yards and points allowed entering the Oregon State matchup, and the head coach had already spoken publicly about simplifying the scheme.
Building Frustration Leads To Permanent Staff Move
Summers served as interim head coach for the final five games of 2025 after Jay Norvell’s firing and went 0-5. Mora kept him on staff when he took the job, but the partnership never fully clicked. McClendon’s prior work with Mora at UConn made the transition smooth on the call sheet.
Mora left UConn for Colorado State late in 2025, and the early defensive issues have drawn scrutiny. The Rams now turn to McClendon to steady a unit that has surrendered more than 38 points per game.
Colorado State will open its next contest with a new voice directing the defense. Mora has made clear the change is permanent and that the unit must improve immediately.
Jim Mora Reveals Real Reason He Fired His Defensive Coordinator Mid-Game [VIDEO]
News Daily Reports
No comments: