FORT COLLINS — As the Colorado State Rams went through spring practices adjacent to Moby Arena this week, the nearby new on-campus stadium was nearing completion.

“Every day there’s excitement because our guys see it,” CSU coach Mike Bobo said. “I believe they’re very proud of that stadium and they are continuing to talk about what we have to do before we go in there because it’s a big responsibility going into that stadium and (because of) who we represent, all the faithful of Colorado State.”

The Rams’ Saturday spring game will be in tune with the on-campus transition, taking place on the Lagoon Field between the Lory Student Center and the Student Recreation Center. The “seats” will be on the grass berm or in temporary bleachers, and the assumption is that many of those attending will make the short walk to get a close-up look at the stadium.

“This is such a transformative project — both for Ram athletics and as a showcase for the over $1 billion we’ve invested in the revitalization of our campus,” CSU president Tony Frank said Thursday. “We’re excited to experience the energy we know will fill the campus on game days and we’re looking forward to showing off a world-class facility to our fans and alumni.”

It has been a long time coming, in a sense as far back as the mid-1960s, when CSU, under the leadership of President William E.Morgan, decided to place the successor to the on-campus Colorado Field at the base of the foothills below Horsetooth Reservoir. Rebuilding on Colorado Field site, on the east side of campus along College Avenue, wasn’t an option because there wasn’t enough room, and Morgan didn’t want to take up any of the campus’ open space with a stadium.

In November 2011, Jack Graham — a former CSU quarterback who had made a fortune in the re-insurance business — was a bit peeved when he was pitched to contribute to a refurbishing of the school’s Sports Hall of Fame room at the arena. Not that he had anything against the project, but with the Rams struggling in football, he had something much more ambitious in mind.

In a visit to Frank’s office, Graham proposed leading a fund-raising drive for an on-campus facility to replace Hughes Stadium, which opened three miles from campus in 1968. That, he said, would be a true difference-maker.

Frank soon not only endorsed the idea, but fired athletic director Paul Kowalczyk and hired Graham to succeed him. Kowalczyk was a well-liked, effective plugger often willing to stay out of the spotlight. Graham dared to be audacious and along with then-football coach Jim McElwain, Graham’s first major hire, was the face of CSU sports.

More than five years later, after an often contentious approval process and a falling out between Frank and Graham that led to Graham’s firing in August 2014, the $240-million stadium is on the verge of opening. The football coaches and team will move into offices and the locker room in June, and the first football game will be Aug. 26 against Oregon State.

It’s ironic that Graham and senior associate AD John Morris have moved on. Morris did crucial work during the planning process, also served as interim AD after Graham’s departure and now is the AD at Tufts. Most important, the project never would have gotten off the ground without Frank’s leadership, diplomacy, credibility and drive. Also, current AD Joe Parker has done a strong job after being passed the torch. But Graham and Morris’ contributions shouldn’t be forgotten. Same with McElwain, because without the turnaround in his 2012-14 coaching tenure, gaining approval — which finally came in December 2014 — would have been even tougher.

It seems as if the stadium will open without a naming rights partner, but an anonymous commitment of $20 million over 30 years has secured the continuation of the Sonny Lubick Field designation as part of the stadium title. That was in the same vicinity of what CSU had in mind for both naming rights and the field title, so the school isn’t desperate to cut a deal on that front. There’s a chance the opening and good reviews might enhance the naming rights value. Also, other major sponsors — including New Belgium Brewery and Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies — have signed on.

As of Thursday, the countdown to kickoff was at 127 days.

With all due respect to those on the time-honored six-year plan, the CSU undergraduate student body also has undergone a nearly complete turnover since the hatching of the stadium idea.

“I think the students on campus are starting to get excited about it,” said quarterback Nick Stevens. “They’re all hopefully going to be coming to all the games. . . With us, we’re practicing out here and we can see the stadium coming up as we’re practicing. We can see them working on it and see it changing every day. If you take a moment and look out at practice, it’s kind of motivation to remind you what we’re working for next (season).”

And beyond.