 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CENTERS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
 |
Colorado State Rams (2000: 10-2) Posted: Tuesday August 07, 2001 2:14 PMThe following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programSince Sonny Lubick took over the Colorado State program in 1993, the Rams have won five conference titles and played in five bowl games while becoming one of the most respected college programs in the West.Since 1994, only 10 teams in the nation have won more games than Colorado State and only one, Florida State, has won more conference titles (seven) than the Rams’ five. Lubick is already the winningest coach in school history with a .698 percentage (67-29). Besides winning Western Athletic Conference titles in 1994, ‘95 and ‘97, the Rams have two Mountain West Conference titles to their credit, tying for first in the inaugural MWC season in 1999 and winning outright last year with a 6-1 mark. They ended up with an overall 10-2 record and capped off the season by defeating Louisville, 22-17, in the Liberty Bowl. Lubick was also selected Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight year. While Lubick has had the chance to return to Miami and opportunities to go elsewhere, he has opted to stay at Colorado State, where he’s likely to end his career. After going 8-4 the previous year, the Rams were picked behind Utah and BYU by many experts before the 2000 season. But the Rams opened the season with another victory over rival Colorado, survived three early-season wins against Mountain West Conference opponents by less than a touchdown apiece and then routed San Diego State, BYU and Wyoming later in the year. They capped off the season with the comeback win over Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. Only close losses to Arizona State by three and Air Force by four prevented the Rams from having a perfect season. This year’s schedule is similar to last year’s, with games against Colorado and Nevada and a rematch against Louisville on the road on Oct. 4. The other non-league game is against Fresno State, a team that beat the Rams handily two years ago.
OffenseReplacing Matt Newton, who has led the Rams to an 18-8 record and two league championships as well as a pair of bowl berths over the last two seasons, won’t be easy. Newton passed for 2,609 yards last year and finished his career with 5,223 yards.Sophomores D.J. Busch (6-4, 203), Newton’s little-used backup last year, and Michigan State transfer Bradlee Van Pelt (6-3, 217) went into spring drills fighting for the job and when drills ended in mid-April, nothing had changed. CSU coaches called it a draw and said the issue will be decided in fall camp and, if not, they may even institute a two-quarterback system. Given the chance to play full-time, Cecil Sapp (6-1, 218) exploded for 841 yards and 10 touchdowns, which doesn’t include the 160 yards and one touchdown he rushed for in the Liberty Bowl, where he was voted the offensive MVP. Unfortunately, Sapp suffered a broken leg midway through spring drills, which was expected to sideline him until summer and could even extend into fall camp. The receiving position may turn out to be the deepest on the team with three experienced pass catchers back, along with several talented newcomers. The tight end position is also solid with a returning all-league performer. The receiving corps is led by senior Pete Rebstock (5-9, 182), who earned first-team All-MWC honors after catching 46 passes for 768 yards and six touchdowns. Then there’s Dallas Davis (5-10, 181), who led the Rams in receiving in 1999 with 51 receptions for 665 yards and three touchdowns, but had to sit out in 2000 because of an injury.
Defense and special teamsBesides quarterback, the biggest question mark on the team is the defensive tackle position, where the Rams lost Jamie Bennett, a first-team All-MWC selection and Mike Mackenzie, an honorable mention pick.Senior Lucas Smith (6-4, 280) has played every game the last three seasons without a start, but finally has the opportunity to play full time this fall. As a freshman, Smith recorded 22 tackles and a sack, but fell off to 10 tackles as a sophomore. Then last year, Smith finished with 25 tackles, including a career-best five against Arizona State. Three-time all-conference performer and 2000 MWC Defensive Player of the Year Rick Crowell is gone, drafted in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins, but two other starters return to give the Rams stability in the middle of the defense. Junior David Vickers (6-0, 208) was third on the team with 91 tackles. Junior Doug Heald (6-2, 215) started eight games last year at weak-side linebacker, made 52 tackles and came up with a key 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in a come-from-behind win over Utah. In the secondary, two starters are gone, Terrance Gibson and John Howell, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the NFL draft, but two starters return in senior cornerback Justin Gallimore (5-10, 198) and senior strong safety Aaron Sprague (6-2, 220). Junior Joey Huber (6-4, 223), a former walk-on out of Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colo., took over punting duties last year and did a commendable job. His 39.1 average wasn’t great, but good enough that he was voted honorable mention All-MWC by the league coaches.
Bottom lineFor two straight years, the Rams have knocked off in-state rival Colorado in the season opener in Denver. That’s caused some embarrassment for the Buffaloes, who feel superior playing in the prestigious Big 12 Conference, but to many folks it shows that the Rams have taken over as the best college team in the state.The Rams and Buffs meet again in this year’s opener, and if the Rams can prevail again, they could be on their way to another 10-win season. Even though they lost their quarterback and offensive coordinator along with nine starters, you can’t count the Rams out of the championship race for 2001. |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
