Nasty play, and don't condone it. However, the circus atmosphere and the rivalry instigated this. There were 13 or 17 (or more) penalties on Colorado State, and I think 9 on Colorado. At some point, the coaches, who are the adults in the room (the players are technically adults to) should have let cooler heads prevail and deliver a message to their team that no crap play and nastiness would be tolerated.
Some fans like the theatrics. I don't. Just play the game. Hi five your teammates when you score, do a chest bump. Mocking and taunting not a good look, IMO.
This rivalry is personal. It's common to find CU students on the
CSU campus at a party or vice versa. It gets ugly due to seeing someone you don't like 365 days of the year.
CSU (& Utah) never forgave CU for leaving the Rocky Mountain Conference for the Big 7 (Big 8/Big 12).
CSU wishes the worst on CU for that move. CU has never looked back. Also, if CU offers a local kid, then
CSU offers, chances are the offer may not be committable to CU.
I remember playing for Coach Mac, and the CU/
CSU game was the only game where any personal fouls didn't carry any punishment the following week. Coach Mac was religious, and the
CSU game was the closest I've seen him curse. As you can see, I don't like
CSU anymore than I like
State Penn or Sorrycuse.