CSU sports had a rough weekend.
-The best sports team on campus got upset by Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (it was on the road, very much making me question the volleyball seeding process, but oh well).
-The basketball team went ice cold down the stretch against the UNC Bears and let a 6-1 guard grab 14 rebounds. Pathetic. They better step up Wednesday against Joe Scott's Denver Pioneers, who bring in their Princeton offense, which is akin to watching paint dry, but is certainly difficult to defend.
-The girls basketball team got shellacked by CU.
In the meantime CSU football fans are still pissed (some to the point of singing) about Sonny being gone, while wondering who would get the fun job of replacing a legend.
There have been many names thrown around, including one report that CSU was interested in John L. Smith, who has been in serious negotiations with Washington State. He built up Louisville from nothing, but he went a little crazy at Michigan State.
Pauly K has been mum on the subject of whom he is looking at, but I hope he goes with someone who is an up-and-coming coach, hopefully with some connection to Colorado (examples; Brian Schnieder, Charlie Strong and Billy Gonzales as a package, Gregg Brandon, JD Brookhardt, Bobby Hauck).
I wouldn't feel that way about Smith, he just doesn't give me that vibe.
With all that said, I have no idea what Pauly K is up to. There were about 100 names mentioned before he plucked Tim Miles out of nowhere (all right, North Dakota State), and only one or two people even mentioned Miles as a possibility.
Pauly K better find himself a good one, or he will be looking for a new job soon.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thanks coach...
As you may have noticed, I changed the title and description a little to reflect the recent news.
I did it because it was cute and because I had to find a way to honor Sonny, even if it is a little corny.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to the Sonny Lubick firement (that is a combo of retirement and firing, which you can watch in it's entirety here) press conference, and I must say I could not have made the decision to force Sonny out that Pauly K made, but then I have a hard time deciding what to eat with a full refrigerator.
It didn't have to happen, and it could have been avoided.
Unfortunately neither Pauly K or Sonny read each other correctly, and we ended up with this mess.
Fortunately, Sonny is too classy, too much of a gentleman, too kind, too good, to make the situation worse, and he retired with grace.
I also got to meet with Sonny afterward, locked away in the offensive lineman meeting room, an office that didn't exist before sonny (the era I will refer to from now on as the B.S. era, because CSU football was BS then). He fielded extra questions from me and about 15 others for about another half hour after the press conference, and I couldn't help feeling like I was talking to my grandfather, yet I had only uttered about six sentences to the man before I sat there.
You could tell he wanted to vent a little about the raw deal he got, and he definitely left hints that he wasn't happy, and that it may be a while before he shares that "case of beer" with Pauly K (that they alluded to in the press conference see about three paragraphs down in here), but he still couldn't bring himself to really say anything bad about the university or anyone involved.
It is for this reason that I hope Sonny stays in Fort Collins and works with the Rams.
It doesn't even have to be in the BS position (Associate AD blah blah) that was offered to him basically as an "I Owe You" in his contract. I think he has too much pride right now to take that spot, but hopefully in the future. If I can trust my interpretation of the contract, he has at least two years to decide if he wants to do it.
He is instrumental to this campus and town, and it is highly conceivable he will outlast the next coach who comes in, whether they are successful or not. We will need Sonny when this happens, to step up in the void, perhaps to replace Pauly K if his hire fails, or to help with another transition.
Plus, his sons Matt and Marc could be a huge coup someday as a future coach at CSU, continuing the legacy.
I could only hope time heals wounds, and the Lubick legacy lives on.
I did it because it was cute and because I had to find a way to honor Sonny, even if it is a little corny.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to the Sonny Lubick firement (that is a combo of retirement and firing, which you can watch in it's entirety here) press conference, and I must say I could not have made the decision to force Sonny out that Pauly K made, but then I have a hard time deciding what to eat with a full refrigerator.
It didn't have to happen, and it could have been avoided.
Unfortunately neither Pauly K or Sonny read each other correctly, and we ended up with this mess.
Fortunately, Sonny is too classy, too much of a gentleman, too kind, too good, to make the situation worse, and he retired with grace.
I also got to meet with Sonny afterward, locked away in the offensive lineman meeting room, an office that didn't exist before sonny (the era I will refer to from now on as the B.S. era, because CSU football was BS then). He fielded extra questions from me and about 15 others for about another half hour after the press conference, and I couldn't help feeling like I was talking to my grandfather, yet I had only uttered about six sentences to the man before I sat there.
You could tell he wanted to vent a little about the raw deal he got, and he definitely left hints that he wasn't happy, and that it may be a while before he shares that "case of beer" with Pauly K (that they alluded to in the press conference see about three paragraphs down in here), but he still couldn't bring himself to really say anything bad about the university or anyone involved.
It is for this reason that I hope Sonny stays in Fort Collins and works with the Rams.
It doesn't even have to be in the BS position (Associate AD blah blah) that was offered to him basically as an "I Owe You" in his contract. I think he has too much pride right now to take that spot, but hopefully in the future. If I can trust my interpretation of the contract, he has at least two years to decide if he wants to do it.
He is instrumental to this campus and town, and it is highly conceivable he will outlast the next coach who comes in, whether they are successful or not. We will need Sonny when this happens, to step up in the void, perhaps to replace Pauly K if his hire fails, or to help with another transition.
Plus, his sons Matt and Marc could be a huge coup someday as a future coach at CSU, continuing the legacy.
I could only hope time heals wounds, and the Lubick legacy lives on.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
One Wild Week
The last week as a CSU fan has been crazy.
The basketball team won three straight and were on Top of the World, then Stanford reminded them about gravity and they came crashing down.
The volleyball team couldn't win the conference tournament title, but still ended up seeded 14th in the NCAA Tournament.
The girls cross country team finished 19th in the nation.
CSU football beat the 'Pokes from up North to finish with a two-game winning streak.
Oh, and there was some little situation with Sonny Lubick, but I haven't heard or read much about that (except when I open my eyes or ears).
Yes, even at a funeral on Thursday I had in-laws, who have never expressed one ounce of energy to me about covering CSU sports for the Collegian, and who are die hard Nebraska fans, asking me about the "big story up there."
After recovering from the shock, I did my best to fill them in on what I knew of the situation, and it turns out I know about as many facts them as I know now. Which isn't very many (but hopefully this will be explained later today).
Here is what I know: - Sonny Lubick says he still wants to coach.
- Paul Kowalczyk (who is hereby referred to as Pauly K to simplify) and Larry Penley obviously feel changes need to be made to the football staff.
- They want Sonny to take a job as s a senior associate athletic director (aka to deal with the booster and fund raise full time) and he gets to keep his salary for the next two years.
- Sonny wants to see his assistants taken care off.
- Joe Glenn should have already learned to shut his mouth (as evidenced here), so I will return the salute to him that he seems so fond of.
- And this situation has been handled poorly on both sides, as Terry Frei pointed out so well.
And then there are all the rumors, which include:
- Pauly K told Sonny that his assistants wouldn't be coming back, and Sonny said he wouldn't coach without them.
- That Sonny just wanted another year.
- That Pauly K bungled the situation and now Penley is "throwing him under the bus," as the kids say.
- That Sonny had agreed to this earlier, but now changed his mind.
- That a deal has been worked out with another coach and now Pauly K has to get rid of Sonny.
And all of this leaves me thoroughly confused:
As I have said all year, Sonny needs to get rid off many of his assistants (Steve Stanard and Dave Arnold) if he wanted another year. From the first reports I got, it seemed that Pauly K and the administration had basically done this, and Sonny said he would rather step down.
Then, I hear that Pauly K didn't offer that chance to Sonny, and has basically forced to resign or to actually fired him
This second situation is very disturbing to me. Sonny did so much for CSU that I hate to think we kicked him out, but the Rams have under preformed for five straight years (yes, Bradlee Van Pelt's 7-5 senior season should have been much better) and Sonny refused to make an significant changes to his staff.
It is hard to say that someone could ever lose their job becasue of their loyaly, but it seems to have been Sonny's downfall.
In the past few season Sonny has been too loyal to coaches, and often his staff has been too loyal to seniors, letting them play over underclassmen who could have sparked the team earlier.
It took Kyle Bell too long to see the field his sophomore year, and this year it was loyalty to Bell that delayed chances for Gartrell Johnson and Mike Myers to shine.
CSU was behind the times.
We refused to adapt to the spread offenses that were running roughshod on us.
We refused to play freshman very often, even though many schools around the nation thrive with freshman playing critical roles right now.
We couldn't afford to fall behind any more.
I wish Sonny had seen this situation coming, and I hope that he puts aside this slight from the administration and stays at the school that loves him.
When Sonny came to CSU in 1993 it was on the heels of a very controversial firing of another fairly successful and legendary coach, Earle Bruce. Sonny managed to pull the CSU community together and led the Rams to unprecedented success on the gridiron.
I hope he again can pull CSU together, by gracefully stepping down and getting behind the new coach.
CSU is forever indebted to Sonny Lubick for the pride he has brought to this campus.
Before Sonny came to the Rams, a record of 3-9 with a win over Wyo and a few heartbreaking losses would have been a good season, as the following year's team might be .500.
Now, this is a terrible season.
If nothing else, thank Sonny for setting his own standards so high.
The basketball team won three straight and were on Top of the World, then Stanford reminded them about gravity and they came crashing down.
The volleyball team couldn't win the conference tournament title, but still ended up seeded 14th in the NCAA Tournament.
The girls cross country team finished 19th in the nation.
CSU football beat the 'Pokes from up North to finish with a two-game winning streak.
Oh, and there was some little situation with Sonny Lubick, but I haven't heard or read much about that (except when I open my eyes or ears).
Yes, even at a funeral on Thursday I had in-laws, who have never expressed one ounce of energy to me about covering CSU sports for the Collegian, and who are die hard Nebraska fans, asking me about the "big story up there."
After recovering from the shock, I did my best to fill them in on what I knew of the situation, and it turns out I know about as many facts them as I know now. Which isn't very many (but hopefully this will be explained later today).
Here is what I know: - Sonny Lubick says he still wants to coach.
- Paul Kowalczyk (who is hereby referred to as Pauly K to simplify) and Larry Penley obviously feel changes need to be made to the football staff.
- They want Sonny to take a job as s a senior associate athletic director (aka to deal with the booster and fund raise full time) and he gets to keep his salary for the next two years.
- Sonny wants to see his assistants taken care off.
- Joe Glenn should have already learned to shut his mouth (as evidenced here), so I will return the salute to him that he seems so fond of.
- And this situation has been handled poorly on both sides, as Terry Frei pointed out so well.
And then there are all the rumors, which include:
- Pauly K told Sonny that his assistants wouldn't be coming back, and Sonny said he wouldn't coach without them.
- That Sonny just wanted another year.
- That Pauly K bungled the situation and now Penley is "throwing him under the bus," as the kids say.
- That Sonny had agreed to this earlier, but now changed his mind.
- That a deal has been worked out with another coach and now Pauly K has to get rid of Sonny.
And all of this leaves me thoroughly confused:
As I have said all year, Sonny needs to get rid off many of his assistants (Steve Stanard and Dave Arnold) if he wanted another year. From the first reports I got, it seemed that Pauly K and the administration had basically done this, and Sonny said he would rather step down.
Then, I hear that Pauly K didn't offer that chance to Sonny, and has basically forced to resign or to actually fired him
This second situation is very disturbing to me. Sonny did so much for CSU that I hate to think we kicked him out, but the Rams have under preformed for five straight years (yes, Bradlee Van Pelt's 7-5 senior season should have been much better) and Sonny refused to make an significant changes to his staff.
It is hard to say that someone could ever lose their job becasue of their loyaly, but it seems to have been Sonny's downfall.
In the past few season Sonny has been too loyal to coaches, and often his staff has been too loyal to seniors, letting them play over underclassmen who could have sparked the team earlier.
It took Kyle Bell too long to see the field his sophomore year, and this year it was loyalty to Bell that delayed chances for Gartrell Johnson and Mike Myers to shine.
CSU was behind the times.
We refused to adapt to the spread offenses that were running roughshod on us.
We refused to play freshman very often, even though many schools around the nation thrive with freshman playing critical roles right now.
We couldn't afford to fall behind any more.
I wish Sonny had seen this situation coming, and I hope that he puts aside this slight from the administration and stays at the school that loves him.
When Sonny came to CSU in 1993 it was on the heels of a very controversial firing of another fairly successful and legendary coach, Earle Bruce. Sonny managed to pull the CSU community together and led the Rams to unprecedented success on the gridiron.
I hope he again can pull CSU together, by gracefully stepping down and getting behind the new coach.
CSU is forever indebted to Sonny Lubick for the pride he has brought to this campus.
Before Sonny came to the Rams, a record of 3-9 with a win over Wyo and a few heartbreaking losses would have been a good season, as the following year's team might be .500.
Now, this is a terrible season.
If nothing else, thank Sonny for setting his own standards so high.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Don't Stop Believing
While the football team is scared of a team who was supposed to be a guaranteed win, the basketball team is trying to get some confidence while in Alaska.
I, meanwhile, will be back eating home cooked food and without high speed internet, so I will be in the dark about the results of the Rams upcoming games untiltheir conclusions, so instead I went on a little different track with this post.
Around the nation lately I have been noticing other schools using motivational ploys (which not to be confused with gimmicks, becasue gimmicks are ploys that fail) to get fans and teams ready for games.
The Rams were in a difficult situation against Montana where Grizz officials lured 7,000 fans, most students, to the stadium by offering free pizza and t-shirts (basically like crack cocaine for college students), and gaurenteed a huge home-court advantage by allowing them to sit behind the players benches. It worked.
Georgia did this (and this), which led to a spirited, despite the stupidity of the song, moment that energized fans and the team together.
It got me to wondering why CSU struggles lately to create an electric environment for home games, besides being rather awful.
I came up with a list of ideas to spice up CSU games in general, along with a few ideas that might
- Bring back Fum's song. Oh, who am I kidding. That one is done until Paul K leaves CSU.
- Have the band play Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" at one or two points during the game. UNLV does this with "Living on a Prayer" by the immortal Bon Jovi, and it certainly would get the fans singing along. If this replaced Fum's Song at the end of the third quarter, it would be better than watching the Golden Poms dance to some horribly poppy Justin Timberlake song.
For your viewing and listening pleasure.
- More highlights from past Ram games shown on the jumbotron at Hughes or piped throug the speakers at Moby. It is sad that the recent Poudre Valley Health System TV advertisement has shown the best highlights compilation of anything I have seen at CSU. Get the crowd excited with big hits by Joey Porter and BVP runs.
- Speaking of the last point, get some video boards at Moby.
- More free t-shirts and food. For a chance at a free pizza and a t-shirt college fans will make signs, dress like idiots, and yell and scream like crazy. Don't be cheap. If it is "Tees for 3's" as the announcer always shouts, give out more than two, make it rain t-shirts. Plus, CSU was 0-10 against Montana, so you won't be giving out many this year.
- Get the games back on ESPN. I had friends last year at the CU-CSU game so excited becasue they were on ESPN, until I told them the game was broadcast on Versus, at which point they realized no one had seen them. Get the worldwide leader back in here and you gaurentee a sell out everytime they roll into town.
- Bring back the late night magic. So some fans had a problem with 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. starts. Guess what, the students hate starts before 3 p.m. We are usually dead tired before then, so we don't show up or we don't get as excited. I before have shown that the Rams are almost unbeatable in Thursday night games at Hughes, but the Rams also used to play some barnburners as the late game on ESPN's Big Monday at Moby, a position we gave up for no apparent reason.
- Give students the seats they deserve. Two years ago students voted to raise the amount we payed for athletics, in exchange for better seats at Moby. Then, it didn't happen. We gave more money last year, but we still have to sit behind the baskets while many people that sit in the seats on either sideline mise well be empty seats for the amount of noise they make. Get us more involved, and we will impact the game more.
- At halftime of the basketball games, have two teams of fans dressed appropriatley be allowed to play a quick game for about ten minutes. Preemptively encourage fans to dress like basketball players (especially mandate court appropriate shoes) and pick 10 in the Arena that are dressed up and who show up early to the game. Get a sponsor to create gold and green jerseys, and let them go at it. Gaurenteed fun, better than the paper airplane toss.
- Win.
I, meanwhile, will be back eating home cooked food and without high speed internet, so I will be in the dark about the results of the Rams upcoming games untiltheir conclusions, so instead I went on a little different track with this post.
Around the nation lately I have been noticing other schools using motivational ploys (which not to be confused with gimmicks, becasue gimmicks are ploys that fail) to get fans and teams ready for games.
The Rams were in a difficult situation against Montana where Grizz officials lured 7,000 fans, most students, to the stadium by offering free pizza and t-shirts (basically like crack cocaine for college students), and gaurenteed a huge home-court advantage by allowing them to sit behind the players benches. It worked.
Georgia did this (and this), which led to a spirited, despite the stupidity of the song, moment that energized fans and the team together.
It got me to wondering why CSU struggles lately to create an electric environment for home games, besides being rather awful.
I came up with a list of ideas to spice up CSU games in general, along with a few ideas that might
- Bring back Fum's song. Oh, who am I kidding. That one is done until Paul K leaves CSU.
- Have the band play Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" at one or two points during the game. UNLV does this with "Living on a Prayer" by the immortal Bon Jovi, and it certainly would get the fans singing along. If this replaced Fum's Song at the end of the third quarter, it would be better than watching the Golden Poms dance to some horribly poppy Justin Timberlake song.
For your viewing and listening pleasure.
- More highlights from past Ram games shown on the jumbotron at Hughes or piped throug the speakers at Moby. It is sad that the recent Poudre Valley Health System TV advertisement has shown the best highlights compilation of anything I have seen at CSU. Get the crowd excited with big hits by Joey Porter and BVP runs.
- Speaking of the last point, get some video boards at Moby.
- More free t-shirts and food. For a chance at a free pizza and a t-shirt college fans will make signs, dress like idiots, and yell and scream like crazy. Don't be cheap. If it is "Tees for 3's" as the announcer always shouts, give out more than two, make it rain t-shirts. Plus, CSU was 0-10 against Montana, so you won't be giving out many this year.
- Get the games back on ESPN. I had friends last year at the CU-CSU game so excited becasue they were on ESPN, until I told them the game was broadcast on Versus, at which point they realized no one had seen them. Get the worldwide leader back in here and you gaurentee a sell out everytime they roll into town.
- Bring back the late night magic. So some fans had a problem with 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. starts. Guess what, the students hate starts before 3 p.m. We are usually dead tired before then, so we don't show up or we don't get as excited. I before have shown that the Rams are almost unbeatable in Thursday night games at Hughes, but the Rams also used to play some barnburners as the late game on ESPN's Big Monday at Moby, a position we gave up for no apparent reason.
- Give students the seats they deserve. Two years ago students voted to raise the amount we payed for athletics, in exchange for better seats at Moby. Then, it didn't happen. We gave more money last year, but we still have to sit behind the baskets while many people that sit in the seats on either sideline mise well be empty seats for the amount of noise they make. Get us more involved, and we will impact the game more.
- At halftime of the basketball games, have two teams of fans dressed appropriatley be allowed to play a quick game for about ten minutes. Preemptively encourage fans to dress like basketball players (especially mandate court appropriate shoes) and pick 10 in the Arena that are dressed up and who show up early to the game. Get a sponsor to create gold and green jerseys, and let them go at it. Gaurenteed fun, better than the paper airplane toss.
- Win.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A rough one
It was yet another weekend of crushing defeats for the Rams, as the football team found yet another way to lose, while the Tim Miles' era got off to a rough start in Missoula.
Johnny Walker (Green Label, please) gave his all for the Rams, and they came up just short vs. New Mexico, for the second stragith year. I have never seen a football team be as adept at blowing close games at the end as CSU has for the last couple of years.
It is a talent that has bloomed from the 2003 CU-CSU game, and I have to find the coaching staff to blame, as the effort from the Rams players was spectacular for a team with nothing to play for.
I know that my tune on the Rams coaches has gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on, but will reiterate the fact that this squad needs wholesale changes, and Sonny better make them, or Pauly K should get someone who remembers what it is like to win in here to replace him.
Enough about our great effort. It has been there for much of the year, but our coaching staff is ruining it.
Compotent game management could have won about 4 more games this year, and I am sure a 5-5 record at this point would look a heck of a lot better than 1-9.
Any way you cut it, 16 losses out of the last 17 games better dictate some major changes, or I will be among the students pregaming and leaving Hughes at gametime to watch ABC's game of the week, rather than ruin my buzz.
I know that my tune on the Rams coaches has gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on, but will reiterate the fact that this squad needs wholesale changes, and Sonny better make them, or Pauly K should get someone who remembers what it is like to win in here to replace him.
Enough about our great effort. It has been there for much of the year, but our coaching staff is ruining it.
Compotent game management could have won about 4 more games this year, and I am sure a 5-5 record at this point would look a heck of a lot better than 1-9.
Any way you cut it, 16 losses out of the last 17 games better dictate some major changes, or I will be among the students pregaming and leaving Hughes at gametime to watch ABC's game of the week, rather than ruin my buzz.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
JD Brookhardt > Frank Solich
In the battle of potential, but unlikely future CSU football coaches that took place last night, former Ram J.D. Brookhardt and his Akron Zips beat ex-husker Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats 48-37.
Both have been rumoured to come to CSU if Sonny Lubick possibily retires, which seems imenent, so Wednesday night's ESPN game would be a good chance to check them out (remember when CSU played Prime Time on ESPN, or heck, played on any real TV station).
Both teams came into the game in the middle of the MAC, but national TV for these small schools ensures a good game, and it delivered for the most part.
The game was close until late in the fourth quarter before Akron pulled away, but it wasn't the win thatled me to declare Brookhardt the better coach, it was the way he coached the team.
Brookhardt has juggled two quarterbacks all season (a novel approach that CSU could never try), so he decided to look for some more leadership. He got it from his QB Chris Jacquemain, who not only passed well, but stepped up in a very rare capacity for a QB, by being a lead blocker on multiple running plays (including a block that de-cleated a Ohio defender).
Brookhardt also showed an ability to adjust midgame, as Ohio ran the ball effectively early, but was shut down the rest of the game.
The Zips also got a kick return for a TD, the type of game changing play that CSU has been lacking lately (not quite as game changing as this one earlier in the year).
Finally, when Brookhardt saw an opposing player celebrating after a hit that resulted in a personal foul, he stood up for his team and got on the referees about it, something that players love and respect.
While I don't think Brookhardt is quite up to the task of running CSU, but he certainly would liven up the Rams with a different offense and more passion than what we currently have.
Both have been rumoured to come to CSU if Sonny Lubick possibily retires, which seems imenent, so Wednesday night's ESPN game would be a good chance to check them out (remember when CSU played Prime Time on ESPN, or heck, played on any real TV station).
Both teams came into the game in the middle of the MAC, but national TV for these small schools ensures a good game, and it delivered for the most part.
The game was close until late in the fourth quarter before Akron pulled away, but it wasn't the win thatled me to declare Brookhardt the better coach, it was the way he coached the team.
Brookhardt has juggled two quarterbacks all season (a novel approach that CSU could never try), so he decided to look for some more leadership. He got it from his QB Chris Jacquemain, who not only passed well, but stepped up in a very rare capacity for a QB, by being a lead blocker on multiple running plays (including a block that de-cleated a Ohio defender).
Brookhardt also showed an ability to adjust midgame, as Ohio ran the ball effectively early, but was shut down the rest of the game.
The Zips also got a kick return for a TD, the type of game changing play that CSU has been lacking lately (not quite as game changing as this one earlier in the year).
Finally, when Brookhardt saw an opposing player celebrating after a hit that resulted in a personal foul, he stood up for his team and got on the referees about it, something that players love and respect.
While I don't think Brookhardt is quite up to the task of running CSU, but he certainly would liven up the Rams with a different offense and more passion than what we currently have.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Our basketball team is already better...
After CSU lost again in football this weekend (a game I couldn't nor cared to watch), I was all set to do another depressing blog before inspiration formed in the CSU basketball team.
In just two games (alebiet exhibition), they have already gotten more wins than the football team. Ironic, as it was just a couple of years ago the basketball team was so depressing football was discussed right on through their season.
CSU struggled with new schemes and new players early in both exhibition games, but put away Regis and destoyed Chadron State in the second half.
Though they aren't exactly signature wins, Regis also clung with Wyoming, and at least they didn't pull a Michigan State.
The Rams only return two players from last season, and but they have a lot of young talent, especially in freshman Josh Simmons and Andre McFarland.
The best thing about CSU is their coach Tim Miles, who is, right now, the polar opposite of Sonny Lubick (who I have discussed ad naseum). He is an up-and-coming coach with tons of energy and he isn't afraid to light a fire under his team. Unlike CSU's previous coach, the incompetant Dale Layer, he will have a team that improves over the course of the season, not one that stagnates.
So fans, get out to Moby and jump on the Miles Bandwagon, even if they go through some growing pains.
Because when success comes, you will want to be firmly entrenched to mock the newcomers lack of faith.
In just two games (alebiet exhibition), they have already gotten more wins than the football team. Ironic, as it was just a couple of years ago the basketball team was so depressing football was discussed right on through their season.
CSU struggled with new schemes and new players early in both exhibition games, but put away Regis and destoyed Chadron State in the second half.
Though they aren't exactly signature wins, Regis also clung with Wyoming, and at least they didn't pull a Michigan State.
The Rams only return two players from last season, and but they have a lot of young talent, especially in freshman Josh Simmons and Andre McFarland.
The best thing about CSU is their coach Tim Miles, who is, right now, the polar opposite of Sonny Lubick (who I have discussed ad naseum). He is an up-and-coming coach with tons of energy and he isn't afraid to light a fire under his team. Unlike CSU's previous coach, the incompetant Dale Layer, he will have a team that improves over the course of the season, not one that stagnates.
So fans, get out to Moby and jump on the Miles Bandwagon, even if they go through some growing pains.
Because when success comes, you will want to be firmly entrenched to mock the newcomers lack of faith.
Monday, October 29, 2007
CSU lost to Utah 27-3 on Saturday. I thought it was 20-7 for the entire weekend, as I left early from the game for the first time I can remember on Saturday.
Besides a fantastic Gartrell Johnson III (aka the Predator or Triplesticks) run for 44 yards on the first series of the game and a two nearly-completed bombs to Damon Morton from backup quarterback Billy Ferris, the Rams weren't ever in contention.
While it was a surprise to see Ferris in the game, it seemed to be a shake-up long overdue, until the news that it was only temporary, not something that would continue.
Since the coaching staff appears resigned to lose, I am going to assume they will be resigning at the end of the season. That means CSU will be needing a new coach, so I will play CSU Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk, and try to find the next head coach for CSU.
I will start with coaches at smaller schools that could be looking to move up, but keep in mind with most teams having at least three or four games remaining, a lot can change in the next few weeks to determine which coaches will be available.
The up-and-coming candidates (in no order):
JD Bookhart:
Positives: A former CSU wide receiver who learned the West Coast offense under Mike Shannahan in Denver. Also led Akron to consecutive winning seasons in first two years, including a MAC title and Motor City Bowl (sounds horrible, but that is the prize of winning the MAC) berth in 2005.
Negatives: A sub-par season last year and what looks to be another one this season (consecutive losses to Buffalo and Temple) show that while Bookhart can coach, his recruiting skills are questionable. Will only have four years experience as a head coach.
Overall: CSU doesn't have a lot of money, so he would be a cheap candidate. Can he win with his own players?
Craig Bohl:
Positives: Leads the top-ranked FCS (formerly known as Division I-AA) North Dakota State Bison, who just last weekend beat Minnesota of the Big Ten. Former top assistant at many FBS (formerly known as Division I-A) schools, including eight years as the linebackers coach for Nebraska during their glory years in the mid-1990s.
Negatives: Seems very committed to NDSU, and it is unlikely that CSU would be a huge step up for him, especially if he can keep it going at NDSU. He will definitely soon be on the radars of Big 10 schools, so why risk it to go attempt to turn around a struggling program. CSU just stole NDSU's old basketball coach Tim Miles, so I doubt they would be willing to watch us swoop in to take another.
Overall: Would be a great get for CSU, but I don't know if we could sway him from what he has going.
Bobby Hauck:
Positives: In charge of the perennial FCS title contender University of Montana. He has led the Grizz to the Big Sky Championship all four years at the school, and currently has them undefeated again. Worked under Rick Nuehiesel at CU, so familiar with what it takes to recruit to Colorado. No buyout on his contract, and CSU could triple his current contract and still not reach the current $500,000 a year Sonny (look at #76) reportedly receives.
Negatives: He worked at CU under Neuheisel, a time when CU didn't really run a tight ship, and has also recruited some troubled (or worse) players to Billings. Wyoming coach Joe Glenn was the previous coach at Montana, and he hasn't done anything spectacular for the 'Pokes. Hauck is from an almost entirely Grizz family, so it may be hard to tear him from the job.
Overall: Last year Hauck was up for some pretty big jobs (Minnesota and Stanford), but the problems in the program this summer might scare off a few teams this year. Hauck would have to show he will run a clean program at CSU, where we have seen too many problems with our athletes in the past year, but he is a proven winner and he knows the area. Convincing kids to come to Fort Collins is will be no tougher than Bozeman.
If he leads Montana to the FCS Championship, then he might work his way to a more prestigous football school than CSU.
* Stay tuned for an update soon of high level assistants (like Air Force with Troy Calhoun) and retreads (like Pete Carrol at USC) for CSU to go after.
Besides a fantastic Gartrell Johnson III (aka the Predator or Triplesticks) run for 44 yards on the first series of the game and a two nearly-completed bombs to Damon Morton from backup quarterback Billy Ferris, the Rams weren't ever in contention.
While it was a surprise to see Ferris in the game, it seemed to be a shake-up long overdue, until the news that it was only temporary, not something that would continue.
Since the coaching staff appears resigned to lose, I am going to assume they will be resigning at the end of the season. That means CSU will be needing a new coach, so I will play CSU Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk, and try to find the next head coach for CSU.
I will start with coaches at smaller schools that could be looking to move up, but keep in mind with most teams having at least three or four games remaining, a lot can change in the next few weeks to determine which coaches will be available.
The up-and-coming candidates (in no order):
JD Bookhart:
Positives: A former CSU wide receiver who learned the West Coast offense under Mike Shannahan in Denver. Also led Akron to consecutive winning seasons in first two years, including a MAC title and Motor City Bowl (sounds horrible, but that is the prize of winning the MAC) berth in 2005.
Negatives: A sub-par season last year and what looks to be another one this season (consecutive losses to Buffalo and Temple) show that while Bookhart can coach, his recruiting skills are questionable. Will only have four years experience as a head coach.
Overall: CSU doesn't have a lot of money, so he would be a cheap candidate. Can he win with his own players?
Craig Bohl:
Positives: Leads the top-ranked FCS (formerly known as Division I-AA) North Dakota State Bison, who just last weekend beat Minnesota of the Big Ten. Former top assistant at many FBS (formerly known as Division I-A) schools, including eight years as the linebackers coach for Nebraska during their glory years in the mid-1990s.
Negatives: Seems very committed to NDSU, and it is unlikely that CSU would be a huge step up for him, especially if he can keep it going at NDSU. He will definitely soon be on the radars of Big 10 schools, so why risk it to go attempt to turn around a struggling program. CSU just stole NDSU's old basketball coach Tim Miles, so I doubt they would be willing to watch us swoop in to take another.
Overall: Would be a great get for CSU, but I don't know if we could sway him from what he has going.
Bobby Hauck:
Positives: In charge of the perennial FCS title contender University of Montana. He has led the Grizz to the Big Sky Championship all four years at the school, and currently has them undefeated again. Worked under Rick Nuehiesel at CU, so familiar with what it takes to recruit to Colorado. No buyout on his contract, and CSU could triple his current contract and still not reach the current $500,000 a year Sonny (look at #76) reportedly receives.
Negatives: He worked at CU under Neuheisel, a time when CU didn't really run a tight ship, and has also recruited some troubled (or worse) players to Billings. Wyoming coach Joe Glenn was the previous coach at Montana, and he hasn't done anything spectacular for the 'Pokes. Hauck is from an almost entirely Grizz family, so it may be hard to tear him from the job.
Overall: Last year Hauck was up for some pretty big jobs (Minnesota and Stanford), but the problems in the program this summer might scare off a few teams this year. Hauck would have to show he will run a clean program at CSU, where we have seen too many problems with our athletes in the past year, but he is a proven winner and he knows the area. Convincing kids to come to Fort Collins is will be no tougher than Bozeman.
If he leads Montana to the FCS Championship, then he might work his way to a more prestigous football school than CSU.
* Stay tuned for an update soon of high level assistants (like Air Force with Troy Calhoun) and retreads (like Pete Carrol at USC) for CSU to go after.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Utah for your times
Now that we have stopped celebrating the Rams win, it is time to focus on the future.
Which is still very bleek.
CSU needed tons of breaks just to beat a horrible UNLV team, and into town comes a streaking Utah team, winners of four games in a row. The Utes won't make those same mistakes.
Quarterback Brian Johnson is a stud, and the Utes will be able to run on the Rams, just as every team has been able to for about the last four years.
The Utah defense is always tough, but for the Rams to have a shot they will have to run the ball extremely well, and limit their turnovers to zero.
Even then, I don't like the Rams' chances.
Utah 34, CSU 17.
Which is still very bleek.
CSU needed tons of breaks just to beat a horrible UNLV team, and into town comes a streaking Utah team, winners of four games in a row. The Utes won't make those same mistakes.
Quarterback Brian Johnson is a stud, and the Utes will be able to run on the Rams, just as every team has been able to for about the last four years.
The Utah defense is always tough, but for the Rams to have a shot they will have to run the ball extremely well, and limit their turnovers to zero.
Even then, I don't like the Rams' chances.
Utah 34, CSU 17.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Streak is Over
It was a great weekend for Ram fans.
Johnny Walker fired up the Rams as they pummeled the Rebels 48-23.
We won't be ranked number three in ESPN's Bottom 10 anymore.
Gartrell Johnson III was MWC Offensive Player of the Week.
Cecil Sapp scored a TD for the Broncos.
David Anderson scored for the Texans.
CU lost.
The
After 13 weeks of futility, everything seemed to go right for the Rams, especially on the field.
As I previously wrote, the Rams need more big plays on defense and special teams, something common under the great Ram teams of the 1990s, but lacking now. Well, the Rams got them in bunches.
They forced five turnovers, scored on two of them, recovered a accidental onside kick, and managed to only turn the ball over once themselves.
More importantly for the Rams was that they responded after UNLV pulled the game to within 27-17 by getting a 33 yard Damon Morton kickoff return and then a 34 yard touchdown pass to Morton on the next play.
CSU attempted to do this multiple times to put away teams like Air Force and CU during their losing streak, but they missed and blew the lead.
The key for the Rams will be keeping up the winning ways, with
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
When it rains...
CSU almost escaped without losing Saturday.
Zeus tried to get the game cancelled, throwing lightning bolts into Hughes Stadium, but even the Gods couldn't do the trick.
It was embarrassing to be a fan of CSU, so much so that at halftime I meandered over behind the Air Force bench, where I had an ongoing conversation with Air Force cornerback Carson Bird for the entire second half, when he wasn't busy catching passes from Caleb Hanie.
So what is next for the Rams?
Hopefully it is more changes to the lineup to shake things up, like starting Gartrell Johnson III, the goat for so many fans last season, who gave the Rams anemic running game energy.
Hopefully we see Billy Farris, to give a glimpse if he can carry this team next year. Or if he falters, Grant Stucker. Or Nick Neuenfeldt.
Hopefully Rashaun Greer or Brett Willis gets a chance to perform at WR, as Bird stated that CSU's small wide receivers were easy to push around, taking them completely out of their routes.
Hopefully, we see something to be good for next season.
Because this season is over.
Zeus tried to get the game cancelled, throwing lightning bolts into Hughes Stadium, but even the Gods couldn't do the trick.
It was embarrassing to be a fan of CSU, so much so that at halftime I meandered over behind the Air Force bench, where I had an ongoing conversation with Air Force cornerback Carson Bird for the entire second half, when he wasn't busy catching passes from Caleb Hanie.
So what is next for the Rams?
Hopefully it is more changes to the lineup to shake things up, like starting Gartrell Johnson III, the goat for so many fans last season, who gave the Rams anemic running game energy.
Hopefully we see Billy Farris, to give a glimpse if he can carry this team next year. Or if he falters, Grant Stucker. Or Nick Neuenfeldt.
Hopefully Rashaun Greer or Brett Willis gets a chance to perform at WR, as Bird stated that CSU's small wide receivers were easy to push around, taking them completely out of their routes.
Hopefully, we see something to be good for next season.
Because this season is over.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Bombs away on the Zoomies
CSU gets to take on those other instate rivals this weekend, the Zoomies of Air Force, who started off this lovely 12 games losing streak since for the Rams.
CSU has trouble with team that have speed that disrupts schemes on both sides of the ball. Against Air Force the Rams should be able to line up and pound the ball, setting up the play-action pass.
On defense, the Rams will have trouble containing mobile quarterback Shaun Carney and quick scat back Chad Hall, but no other Falcon on offense poses a true big play threat. The two-deep defense that the Rams so love will be a great match-up against the Falcons short-passing and semi-option offense.
I feel the game will be close, and hopefully CSU’s special teams can live up to their potential and actually make a special play.
I truly feel that the Rams are one win away from breaking out, it is just a question of will they finally get it going too late to save anyone’s job.
By winning.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Sonny should stay (if he wants to)
After a 24-20 loss to San Diego State that seems to basically assure that CSU needs to make a coaching change, many are calling for Sonny Lubick's head.
Though our year-long drought points to this, I just can't say it.
Sonny Lubick built this program up from almost nothing, and it seems like everyone at CSU is blinded by the last four years.
Yes. we have been terrible lately, but Sonny doesn't deserve to be run out of town, which is what too many people want to do.
He is the greatest coach CSU has ever known, and for all he has done at CSU, he can leave whenever he wants.
CSU is full of fickle, bandwagon-jumping fans (for evidence, see Rockies, Colorado) and there is no need to appease them, because one never will.
Ram "fans" have left games in droves twice this year when the game still hung in the balance (Cal and SDSU). You want to place blame on the players and coaches, yet so many of you can't even sit through a three hour game.
Ram "fans" often booed Justin Holland when his arm was our only weapon.
Ram "fans" refuse to look at any history and see how remarkable it is that we even have bowl aspirations every season, especially after how terrible CSU was from 1950-1990.
Ram "fans" can't be bothered to travel to crappy bowls like the Poinsettia.
While the fans have been poor, it isn't like the administration has helped Sonny any.
CSU is 8-0 in Thursday night games (Media Guide, page 12) at home, but thanks to the MTN and the new TV contract, the Rams don't host these anymore.
Forget about the electric crowds for night games, especially those on ESPN, fans will love noon kickoffs and 3:30 starts way more. And who doesn't get pumped for games on the MTN, the invisible network.
Forget about Fum's Song rallying the crowd.
Forget about fans standing in the front row, pounding signs.
Forget about creating any home-field advantage.
Nope, come to sanitized Ram Town and cheer if it suits you, but really we could care less.
As I have said before, Sonny needs to make some important and significant changes to remain coach, but he is our best shot. We can't hire a big name, and why would some young upstart want to come here to suffer in a terrible situation.
If he feels he can't do it, I am sure Sonny will resign, but until the day the he makes that decision, I want no one else besides Sonny leading my Rams.
Though our year-long drought points to this, I just can't say it.
Sonny Lubick built this program up from almost nothing, and it seems like everyone at CSU is blinded by the last four years.
Yes. we have been terrible lately, but Sonny doesn't deserve to be run out of town, which is what too many people want to do.
He is the greatest coach CSU has ever known, and for all he has done at CSU, he can leave whenever he wants.
CSU is full of fickle, bandwagon-jumping fans (for evidence, see Rockies, Colorado) and there is no need to appease them, because one never will.
Ram "fans" have left games in droves twice this year when the game still hung in the balance (Cal and SDSU). You want to place blame on the players and coaches, yet so many of you can't even sit through a three hour game.
Ram "fans" often booed Justin Holland when his arm was our only weapon.
Ram "fans" refuse to look at any history and see how remarkable it is that we even have bowl aspirations every season, especially after how terrible CSU was from 1950-1990.
Ram "fans" can't be bothered to travel to crappy bowls like the Poinsettia.
While the fans have been poor, it isn't like the administration has helped Sonny any.
CSU is 8-0 in Thursday night games (Media Guide, page 12) at home, but thanks to the MTN and the new TV contract, the Rams don't host these anymore.
Forget about the electric crowds for night games, especially those on ESPN, fans will love noon kickoffs and 3:30 starts way more. And who doesn't get pumped for games on the MTN, the invisible network.
Forget about Fum's Song rallying the crowd.
Forget about fans standing in the front row, pounding signs.
Forget about creating any home-field advantage.
Nope, come to sanitized Ram Town and cheer if it suits you, but really we could care less.
As I have said before, Sonny needs to make some important and significant changes to remain coach, but he is our best shot. We can't hire a big name, and why would some young upstart want to come here to suffer in a terrible situation.
If he feels he can't do it, I am sure Sonny will resign, but until the day the he makes that decision, I want no one else besides Sonny leading my Rams.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Why CSU isn't special anymore
Quick Preview
CSU vs. SDSU is a game that should allow the Rams a chance to win their first game in over a year. I will go out on a limb and predict a 38-16 victory as a homecoming present, as SDSU's horrible defense allows the Rams to control the ball and put up points.
CSU has been itching for a chance to play someone that they easily can beat, and I think returning home to face a team that is struggling almost as much as the Rams will be the key.
The Aztecs are so poor lately, people at the university want to disband the team. CSU has struggled, but no one is going that crazy here in
Longer analysis of CSU’s decline
It seems amazing to me that the Rams could be in a situation where they are expected to struggle with the perennial doormat Aztecs, when just five years ago when the Rams were the toast of the conference (yes, it was just 2002 when ago Bradlee “The Mulleted Warrior” Van Pelt skateboarding the Rams to a 10-3 record and a MWC title).
Prior to 2003 at CSU, Sonny was 84-38 in his career, but during the last five seasons his record has plummeted to 105-69, a 21-31 record.
Why?
In looking at the weekly football press release on csurams.com, I stumbled upon page nine, which focused on defensive stats for the Rams throughout the Sonny Lubick years. Two key stats, defensive scores (special teams included) and turnover margin, caught my eye as the main reason the Rams are down.
From 1993-2002, the Rams forced 23-plus turnovers every season, yet since then they have forced over 20 turnovers just once, in 2005 (their last bowl-eligible season). The Rams also never lost a season-long turnover battle in any season from 1993-2002, yet also 2005 is the only season since they the Rams have achieved not lost the turnover battle.
From 1993-2002 the Rams had one year in which they failed to score at least three times on defense and special teams, while since 2003 the Rams succeeded in scoring more than two defensive scores in 2004 only.
The lack of the big plays on defense and special teams, a staple during CSU’s glory years, is what I believe is the major driving factors of the Rams collapse.
The lack of touchdowns through defense and special teams has crushed the Rams, not giving them the high energy plays that change games.
On the same token, the Rams defense hasn’t forced enough turnovers in clutch situation to hold-off late-game comebacks by opponents, which have taken place in multiple games during the current losing streak.
CSU’s offense has taken much of the blame during the recent down years (especially last year), but CSU’s decline in game-changing plays on special teams and defense are more of a driving force.
Ultimately the blame goes on Sonny for the play of the Rams, but much of it really should fall heavily on the shoulders on defensive coordinator Steve Stanard, who took over as defensive coordinator in 2003, and Dave Arnold, who has coached special teams since 2004.
CSU needs to get more playmakers on the field, and they need to have coaches that can put them in position to make big plays.
I don’t think either coach, Stanard or Arnold, are doing an acceptable job.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Thank (insert religious leader) for the Rocks...
The Rockies are in the playoffs.
Hopefully that will give the Rams some hope.
If a team as terrible as the Rocks have been for roughly ten years can turn it around and make the playoffs, a team that has lost 11 straight can turn it around and make a bowl, right?
And bless San Diego for hopefully sending another sacrificial lamb.
I guess I might be getting ahead of myself, as I should talk about how the Rams played terrible against TCU, but why waste space. I called that game a CSU loss, and I might be the world's biggest homer.
Yes, CSU was unimaginative. Yes, the Rams didn't force the issue by going for it on fourth-down late in the third.
CSU has to be on ESPN's bottom 10 now, but they play SDSU next week.
And right now they are favored by 13 points.
The Aztecs must really be terrible.
So Rams, take a note from the Blake Street Boys and never give up. End the streak versus the Aztecs, and then create a new winning streak for the future.
Hopefully that will give the Rams some hope.
If a team as terrible as the Rocks have been for roughly ten years can turn it around and make the playoffs, a team that has lost 11 straight can turn it around and make a bowl, right?
And bless San Diego for hopefully sending another sacrificial lamb.
I guess I might be getting ahead of myself, as I should talk about how the Rams played terrible against TCU, but why waste space. I called that game a CSU loss, and I might be the world's biggest homer.
Yes, CSU was unimaginative. Yes, the Rams didn't force the issue by going for it on fourth-down late in the third.
CSU has to be on ESPN's bottom 10 now, but they play SDSU next week.
And right now they are favored by 13 points.
The Aztecs must really be terrible.
So Rams, take a note from the Blake Street Boys and never give up. End the streak versus the Aztecs, and then create a new winning streak for the future.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Beat the Frogs
When I started this blog, I hoped that it would provide me with many opportunities to talk about CSU football, some positive, and some negative.
I have, after three weeks of trying to find a silver-lining to escape my natural cynicism, run out of positives. It really is now or never for this year’s Rams.
If they can’t beat TCU, then they will be in line for a terrible season.
Enough talk of how a win will come.
Enough talk of trying hard.
Enough talk of how the streak doesn’t really matter because this team is different than last year’s.
It is the same. Losing games the same.
Until they prove differently.
Ten games. Basically a whole year.
CSU is truly in a must-win game. Last week was close, but this week CSU must start conference play 1-0, or they will not recover.
Preview:
When CSU is on offense: One-third of the way through the season, the Rams offense is their strong point. They have put up points and controlled the clock most of the time. Now, they face a very strong test.
TCU is tough to score on, but they are weakened by the loss of stud Tommy Blake. CSU is thrilled with his absence, as he has been instrumental to the last two TCU beat-downs of CSU.
Advantage: Rams CSU will score 20-plus points on this defense. They have the skill to do so, and if Air Force can get 17 with their anemic offense, the Rams better get more.
When TCU is on offense: TCU is stable on offense, but their key will be the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Dalton. He has struggled thus far this season, throwing costly picks and missing on some big plays. The key to TCU will be running back Aaron Brown (Brown Back, CSU section), who has been nursing an injury all year.
Meanwhile, CSU has let two redshirt freshman quarterbacks, Cody Hawkins and Case Keenum, look like all-stars. They need to force Dalton into at least three turnovers (they had chances versus the first two) if they have any shot at a victory.
Advantage: Push The Horned Frogs will move the ball, but hopefully the Rams can bend, but not break. Forcing turnovers will be the key for the Rams.
Coaching and other intangibles: TCU’s coach Gary Patterson always seems to have the Frogs ready to go, and Saturday will be no different. The problem will be the lack of experience at some key positions. Sonny Lubick and his staff have struggled lately to call a complete game, but they are getting close.
CSU also will not be shocked by the Texas heat, as this is their second game in as many weeks in the Lone Star State, and it will take place closer to evening.
Advantage: Horned Frogs Home-field advantage is huge, along with a team that knows how to finish, against one that has failed for 10 consecutive weeks.
Prediction: 28-20 Horned Frogs
Maybe if I boldly predict the Rams will lose, fortunes will reverse. It is worth a shot?
I have, after three weeks of trying to find a silver-lining to escape my natural cynicism, run out of positives. It really is now or never for this year’s Rams.
If they can’t beat TCU, then they will be in line for a terrible season.
Enough talk of how a win will come.
Enough talk of trying hard.
Enough talk of how the streak doesn’t really matter because this team is different than last year’s.
It is the same. Losing games the same.
Until they prove differently.
Ten games. Basically a whole year.
CSU is truly in a must-win game. Last week was close, but this week CSU must start conference play 1-0, or they will not recover.
Preview:
When CSU is on offense: One-third of the way through the season, the Rams offense is their strong point. They have put up points and controlled the clock most of the time. Now, they face a very strong test.
TCU is tough to score on, but they are weakened by the loss of stud Tommy Blake. CSU is thrilled with his absence, as he has been instrumental to the last two TCU beat-downs of CSU.
Advantage: Rams CSU will score 20-plus points on this defense. They have the skill to do so, and if Air Force can get 17 with their anemic offense, the Rams better get more.
When TCU is on offense: TCU is stable on offense, but their key will be the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Dalton. He has struggled thus far this season, throwing costly picks and missing on some big plays. The key to TCU will be running back Aaron Brown (Brown Back, CSU section), who has been nursing an injury all year.
Meanwhile, CSU has let two redshirt freshman quarterbacks, Cody Hawkins and Case Keenum, look like all-stars. They need to force Dalton into at least three turnovers (they had chances versus the first two) if they have any shot at a victory.
Advantage: Push The Horned Frogs will move the ball, but hopefully the Rams can bend, but not break. Forcing turnovers will be the key for the Rams.
Coaching and other intangibles: TCU’s coach Gary Patterson always seems to have the Frogs ready to go, and Saturday will be no different. The problem will be the lack of experience at some key positions. Sonny Lubick and his staff have struggled lately to call a complete game, but they are getting close.
CSU also will not be shocked by the Texas heat, as this is their second game in as many weeks in the Lone Star State, and it will take place closer to evening.
Advantage: Horned Frogs Home-field advantage is huge, along with a team that knows how to finish, against one that has failed for 10 consecutive weeks.
Prediction: 28-20 Horned Frogs
Maybe if I boldly predict the Rams will lose, fortunes will reverse. It is worth a shot?
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sonny needs to pull a Joe-Pa
CSU lost again.
I don’t even know where to begin. Even with a 14 point lead going into halftime, I knew CSU would lose. It seems like it is now a constant.
I predicted that the Rams would win in a shootout, and I was close to my projection, as the Rams trailed Houston 31-27 late, but they were driving for what could have been the game-winning score.
With the Rams at midfield, they faced a third-and-5, after Hanie just missed Damon Morton deep. So they ran Kyle Bell up the middle. He got three yards. A questionable call, but it did make the fourth-down manageable.
That brought up a fourth-and-two, with just over three minutes remaining. CSU called a timeout to talk over the strategy.
So far in the game CSU couldn’t run very well when they had to (they had converted zero third-and-short rushing attempts, and barely converted a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak), but had gained yards through the air, and Caleb Hanie, for the most part, had rushed the ball effectively when pressured.
So why not play-action fake and roll Hanie out in an attempt to take advantage of Houston’s fast, over-aggressive defense, while giving him a run-pass option? Or even spread Houston and pound Kyle Bell to the outside, hoping to get him isolated on a smaller cornerback or safety?
Or just go with a QB sneak on a fourth-and-two. That will fool ‘em. Hanie was stuffed on the obvious, unimaginative play, and then the CSU defense put up no fight in allowing another Houston touchdown.
Thankfully Florida International also lost, or else CSU would be on the worst losing streak in the nation.
During this 10-game losing streak the Rams have led four games in the second-half (Air Force and New Mexico in 2006, CU and Houston in 2007), and they have let them all get away.
Every game in the streak has seen costly turnovers, poor play calling, an overmatched defense in the second half, and a promise that things will get better soon.
But why would they?
The only way for Sonny to save his job is to go the Joe Paterno route; fire some assistants and tinker with new strategies, while hoping to bring in a couple of playmakers just off your name.
I will not call for Sonny’s head, because CSU football was horrible before Sonny. He needs to have a chance to right his legacy, but there must be some pressure for him to make drastic changes.
If he refuses to do that, then I feel that it might be time for CSU to enter the “After Sonny” era.
I don’t even know where to begin. Even with a 14 point lead going into halftime, I knew CSU would lose. It seems like it is now a constant.
I predicted that the Rams would win in a shootout, and I was close to my projection, as the Rams trailed Houston 31-27 late, but they were driving for what could have been the game-winning score.
With the Rams at midfield, they faced a third-and-5, after Hanie just missed Damon Morton deep. So they ran Kyle Bell up the middle. He got three yards. A questionable call, but it did make the fourth-down manageable.
That brought up a fourth-and-two, with just over three minutes remaining. CSU called a timeout to talk over the strategy.
So far in the game CSU couldn’t run very well when they had to (they had converted zero third-and-short rushing attempts, and barely converted a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak), but had gained yards through the air, and Caleb Hanie, for the most part, had rushed the ball effectively when pressured.
So why not play-action fake and roll Hanie out in an attempt to take advantage of Houston’s fast, over-aggressive defense, while giving him a run-pass option? Or even spread Houston and pound Kyle Bell to the outside, hoping to get him isolated on a smaller cornerback or safety?
Or just go with a QB sneak on a fourth-and-two. That will fool ‘em. Hanie was stuffed on the obvious, unimaginative play, and then the CSU defense put up no fight in allowing another Houston touchdown.
Thankfully Florida International also lost, or else CSU would be on the worst losing streak in the nation.
During this 10-game losing streak the Rams have led four games in the second-half (Air Force and New Mexico in 2006, CU and Houston in 2007), and they have let them all get away.
Every game in the streak has seen costly turnovers, poor play calling, an overmatched defense in the second half, and a promise that things will get better soon.
But why would they?
The only way for Sonny to save his job is to go the Joe Paterno route; fire some assistants and tinker with new strategies, while hoping to bring in a couple of playmakers just off your name.
I will not call for Sonny’s head, because CSU football was horrible before Sonny. He needs to have a chance to right his legacy, but there must be some pressure for him to make drastic changes.
If he refuses to do that, then I feel that it might be time for CSU to enter the “After Sonny” era.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Houston vs. CSU preview (aka Anthony Alridge is fast)
NOTE: I wrote a whole big preview of the game at 3 a.m. after coming home from a Cross Canadian Ragweed Concert, but this lovely program decided to delete it, along with my lovely videos, links, and pictures that I worked on until 4 a.m. Then, before I even realized what happened or how to correct it, the thing autosaved. Lovely.
I was barely able to refrain myself from smashing my computer, so this is going to be a very quick preview.
Houston is up this weekend for the Rams, as CSU tries to break their nine-game losing streak.
What do we know about these Cougars?
-Running back Anthony Alridge is one of the top backs in the country, and he is really fast.
-The Cougs have perhaps the most complex offense of any team CSU will face. It is a no-huddle offense, with two quarterbacks rotating, that will line up with five wide recievers one play (think Texas Tech), and go flexbone (think Navy) on the next play.
-It is hot and humid in Houston, something the Rams are not used to.
-Houston lost by 21 points to Pac-10 stud Oregon, then whooped up on hapless Tulane 34-10.
-The Houston mascot (Shasta???) got beat up by the Oregon Duck, and since CAM is way more ripped than the duck, I think he should be favored as well.
Very quick and dirty preview:
CSU can run and pass.
The Cougars can as well.
Turnovers will be the difference.
Sonny is great after byes.
It is hot and humid in Houston.
I think CSU is due.
Rams over Cougs 38-31
I was barely able to refrain myself from smashing my computer, so this is going to be a very quick preview.
Houston is up this weekend for the Rams, as CSU tries to break their nine-game losing streak.
What do we know about these Cougars?
-Running back Anthony Alridge is one of the top backs in the country, and he is really fast.
-The Cougs have perhaps the most complex offense of any team CSU will face. It is a no-huddle offense, with two quarterbacks rotating, that will line up with five wide recievers one play (think Texas Tech), and go flexbone (think Navy) on the next play.
-It is hot and humid in Houston, something the Rams are not used to.
-Houston lost by 21 points to Pac-10 stud Oregon, then whooped up on hapless Tulane 34-10.
-The Houston mascot (Shasta???) got beat up by the Oregon Duck, and since CAM is way more ripped than the duck, I think he should be favored as well.
Very quick and dirty preview:
CSU can run and pass.
The Cougars can as well.
Turnovers will be the difference.
Sonny is great after byes.
It is hot and humid in Houston.
I think CSU is due.
Rams over Cougs 38-31
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
0-2 Could Be Worse
I don’t get the continued complaining and disappointment that is coming from so many Ram fans about CSU’s two early losses.
After the last three years, CSU fans should be satisfied with an 8-4 record, a bowl game (hopefully not in New Mexico), and some proof that Sonny hasn’t lost his magic.
After the last three years, CSU fans should be satisfied with an 8-4 record, a bowl game (hopefully not in New Mexico), and some proof that Sonny hasn’t lost his magic.
CSU is in great position to accomplish this, despite the poor start.
They lost to their archrival CU, in overtime. It is a game that always comes down to the wire, and it is always a toss up.
Then, Cal-Berkley, ranked 10th in the nation comes to town, fresh of a whooping of SEC-power Tennessee, and State loses by six.
Would it have been nice for CSU to win both those games? No, it would have been amazing, and for the course of the season, it would have been relatively inconsequential (look at the early rankings of collegefootballnews.com, CSU is the best 0-2 team in country, better than 2-1 Wyoming).
Winning a Mountain West Conference title should be first the goal of every season, and CSU can still achieve that goal. So fans, don’t give up yet.
The events of college football last weekend (Air Force beating TCU, wounded Utah shocking/destroying UCLA, BYU losing a shootout to Tulsa, New Mexico beating Arizona) proved that everything anyone thought they knew about the Mountain West Conference has been flipped, and the league is up for grabs.
Two of the favorites to win the title, Utah and TCU, have in-conference losses to Air Force, who was projected to finish near the bottom of the conference. The Flacons have taken a very early, but impressive, lead in the conference race.
BYU, also a preseason frontrunner, projected to have a quality defense, just lost to Tulsa, giving up 52 points in the process.
The good news for CSU is that they are still undefeated in conference play (Yes, I am aware they are also winless). They still get to play everybody else, and that is a big advantage over TCU and Utah.
There is no team in this league that CSU can’t beat, and there is no team in the league that can’t beat CSU.
CSU has been in similar situations and come through with amazing years. It is possible they will do so again.
Last year’s collapse by the Rams after a 4-1 start should prove that you can’t but too much worth into the first few games of the year, so don’t fall into the same trap.
It is far too early to lose the gift of optimism.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
We Will Fum Again
My plan for this blog is to follow a regular pattern of recapping games played on the past Saturday every Tuesday, and previewing the next Saturday’s game on Thursday. This ensures that I put out consistent information weekly (and more importantly satisfy the requirements a certain journalism class). Unfortunately, my plan hit a snag this week, with CSU having a bye.
Therefore, I decided this was a good time to introduce my readers to Fum’s Song, the reason I named my blog “Fum Again.”
It all revolves around this little ditty (check out some great CSU highlights as well), written by one of the greatest people ever to be involved in Aggie and Ram football, Thurman "Fum" McGraw.
Fum was a legendary player back when CSU was still Colorado A&M, and an influential part of the CSU athletics sphere even after his death in 2000, as almost every athletic office of CSU is located in the McGraw Athletic Center.
In 2005, a great tradition seemed to be taking hold, as at the end of the third quarter the scoreboards at Hughes Stadium showed a clip of Fum singing his song to the team, along with the words to the song. The crowd sang along, and erupted into roars of delight. CSU has very few original traditions (example: the melody of our fight song is the exact same as our archrival CU’s), so this was a great idea that brought everyone together.
Unfortunetly, the song was ruled inappropriate to be played the next season after some complaints (never mind the fact that the students of the school voted for it to be used). More info here.
Worse, the school now immediately has the dance team perform at the end of the third quarter, pumping their music over the speakers, making it almost impossible for those who still want to sing to be able to even hear themselves. Tradition killed.
I purpose a solution to this. Since Fum’s old number was 48, I suggest that when 00:48 shows on the scoreboard of each quarter, the students’ section should start singing Fum’s Song. It might be during a play every so often, but if that is the case the fans will just have to be extra loud on the next chance.
Or our Athletic Department could step up and allow the crowd to sing Fum’s Song uninterrupted at the end of the third quarter, without interfering. If we can get it together to sing the song, then let us.
Therefore, I decided this was a good time to introduce my readers to Fum’s Song, the reason I named my blog “Fum Again.”
It all revolves around this little ditty (check out some great CSU highlights as well), written by one of the greatest people ever to be involved in Aggie and Ram football, Thurman "Fum" McGraw.
Fum was a legendary player back when CSU was still Colorado A&M, and an influential part of the CSU athletics sphere even after his death in 2000, as almost every athletic office of CSU is located in the McGraw Athletic Center.
In 2005, a great tradition seemed to be taking hold, as at the end of the third quarter the scoreboards at Hughes Stadium showed a clip of Fum singing his song to the team, along with the words to the song. The crowd sang along, and erupted into roars of delight. CSU has very few original traditions (example: the melody of our fight song is the exact same as our archrival CU’s), so this was a great idea that brought everyone together.
Unfortunetly, the song was ruled inappropriate to be played the next season after some complaints (never mind the fact that the students of the school voted for it to be used). More info here.
Worse, the school now immediately has the dance team perform at the end of the third quarter, pumping their music over the speakers, making it almost impossible for those who still want to sing to be able to even hear themselves. Tradition killed.
I purpose a solution to this. Since Fum’s old number was 48, I suggest that when 00:48 shows on the scoreboard of each quarter, the students’ section should start singing Fum’s Song. It might be during a play every so often, but if that is the case the fans will just have to be extra loud on the next chance.
Or our Athletic Department could step up and allow the crowd to sing Fum’s Song uninterrupted at the end of the third quarter, without interfering. If we can get it together to sing the song, then let us.
I'll sing you a song of college days
And tell you where to go.
Aggies where knowledge is,
and Boulder to spend your dough.
CC for your sissy boys,
Utah for your times,
DU for your ministers,
and drunkard School of Mines.
Don't send my boy to Wyoming U,
A dying mother said.
Don't send him to old Brigham Young,
I'd rather see him dead.
But send him to our Aggies,
It's better than Cornell,
Before I see him in Boulder,
I'd see my son in hell.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
There are no moral victories in football (but this almost qualifies)...
What a difference a week makes, sort of. The Rammies lost again, 34-28 to Cal, but at least this time it wasn't soul-crushing. We lost by six to the tenth best team in the country. No, that doesn't do anything to end our now nine-game losing streak, but it should give the Rams confidence heading into the remainder of their schedule.
The Rams played
Here are my pros and cons of the game:
Cons (saving the good news for last, is my motto):
- Turnovers. Three of them. One of them at the goal line. Caleb Hanie has to stop doing this, as he is a senior. It is very hard to beat bad teams when you give up the ball, and it makes an upset damn near impossible.
- Speed. We lack it on defense. DeSean Jackson is really fast, but he looked like he had just activated a Mario Kart star as he raced through our defense. Hopefully he is the only Heisman candidate that the Rams see this year.
- Play-calling. Again, it was pretty conservative in the third quarter, and the Rams didn't go deep at all until the end of the game, where it worked beautifully (on what may have been some
- Kory Sperry. Hopefully he does the Kyle Bell off-season regiment to comeback just as strong next season.
- Fans. Not even selling-out a game versus a top-ten opponent. Weak. Even more weak, leaving with the game not decided. CSU nearly made an amazing comeback, but you were too busy on a Saturday afternoon to hang around to support your team. Small time.
Pros:
- Kyle Bell, and the line. He put up over a 100 yards for the second straight week. Guess what? That is two more games over the century mark than the Rams got all last year. If CSU can keep running like this, we will have a good season.
- Special teams. They didn't let DeSean Jackson get a big return, which is a huge deal. Plus, another recovered onside kick (this one was planned). Too bad Jason Smith couldn't get that last pooch kick to fall a little shorter.
- Defense. It could have been way worse than the 34 points by
- The receiving corp. With Sperry gone, they will have to step up, and they did on Saturday. They consistently got open for Caleb Hanie, and proved they have the speed to make plays down the field. Now, we need our coaching staff to do this more often, especially off play-action fakes.
The final word: The Rams are arguably the best 0-2 team in the country (take that Mee-chigan and Notre Lame), and they definitely won't lose this week, but bye is favored to win by one (I kid).
The bye week is at a good time, as it will give the Rams a chance to heal up a little, and the prepare for a very tricky and talented
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
How to Blow a Lead Against CU (2007 Issue)
As it might be well known to anyone reading this blog, CSU lost to CU in OT this weekend 31-28 (And if you didn't know that, I honestly question why in the world you would bother reading this site). I promise you, no, I did not cry, but I came about as close as is physically possible when Kevin Eberhart booted through his third field goal on Saturday. All I could think of is how? How in the world did we blow an 11-point lead?
I have spent most of this week reading the numerous articles from Colorado newspapers and message boards (the Ramnation.com CSU Ramblings board has a great CSU forum, and the homepage has links to almost every article about the Rams), and they are filled with people trying to answer my question. I have compiled what I feel are the three main reasons CSU fans and experts have pointed to as the cause of the Rams loss, along with my reaction.
1. CSU lost because of questionable play calling.
While the Rams put up 28 points in three quarters, they put up zero in the last 25 minutes of the game. It doesn't take a genius to see how they let their lead slip away.
Most point to CSU running the ball on third-and-6 with around 2:40 seconds left in the game as the reason we lost, citing this as one example of CSU not going for the throat down the stretch.
Many claim CSU also failed to look to tight end Kory Sperry, who had eight catches for 103 yards and three scores, enough late in the game. Looking at the play-by-play of the game however, during regulation when the Rams had the ball and were trying to ice the game, they did attack. They called running plays 14 times and they had eight pass attempts. Two other attempted plays pass resulted in sacks. That is pretty good balance, something teams in the lead often do, not the ultra-conservative play calling people are making it out to be. Of those eight passes, three were thrown towards Sperry. He made one catch, and then Hanie just missed him on two more long passes. One of the throws would have gone for a 54-yard touchdown if the pass had been on target.
Those plays show a team that went for the jugular, but just missed. In fact, it shows the fact that fans judge based on their last memories of the game, but they forgot much of what happened before. Perhaps not throwing in the third-and-6 situation wasn't wise, but it wasn't a guarantee that the Rams would get the first down anyway. In a similar thrid-and-9 situation just minutes later in overtime, Caleb Hanie forced a pass into the back of the end zone that was picked. This took away a shot at a field goal for the Rams, making it so the Buffs just had to play for a field goal. Had Hanie done this at midfield with only 2:40 second remaining, it would have been just as disastrous.
But if people feel the Rams offense couldn't close the door on the Buffs...
2. Then it was the special teams that left the door wide open.
After already giving up some big returns to CU, the special teams could've crippled the CU comeback, instead they enabled it.
With just over two minutes left in the game, after the failed third-and-6 run, the Rams had a fourth down at their own 41 yard-line. If the Rams could get a net of about 35 punt yards it, and it would force CU to drive almost 70 yards for a touchdown, and about 45 yards to for a shot at make able field goal, in about 2:15.
It should have been easy for the Rams senior punter Jimmy Kaylor, he of many first or second team preseason MWC selections, but Kaylor shanked the punt. It traveled 34 yards, and was returned 43 to the CSU 34. That's a -9 net, sportsfans, pretty much putting Eberhart in field goal range.
If the Rams special teams left the door wide-open for the Buffs...
3. A lovely official from the Big XII Conference escorted them to OT.
The Rams defense held the Buffs after the special teams gaffe, setting up a fourth-and-4. Dan Hawkins had his team go for it, not trusting his kicker to make a 45-yard field goal. Cody Hawkins lofted a fade pattern toward Patrick Williams, who caught the ball, but landed out of bounds. CSU fans exploded in joy, until a little hanky littered the ground.
Pass interference on CSU cornerback Joey Rucks. Four plays later Eberhart just snuck a 22-yard field goal through the uprights to force overtime.
Yes, it is easily the worst excuse to use in sports, but a bad referee was a killer for the Rams.
CU and CSU played almost an entire game with just one pass interference call, until with 1:16 the second one was called. The call (which CSU is still unsure about) would be questionable at any moment in the game, but at this juncture of the game it was downright ridiculous. But, had CSU taken care of business earlier, they would never have left it in the hands of the refs, who never seem to get it right.
The moral to all this: CSU did a lot wrong in this game, and they lost by just three points, in overtime. The immediate future looks bleak with #10 California coming to town, but CSU looks much better than the team that tanked at the end of last season. While this loss is crushing, the Rams still have a chance to have a successful season.
Don't judge a book by it's cover.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Allow Me to Introduce Myself
I am Matthew Pucak, from the small mountain town of Carbondale, CO. You may know me by a variety of different names, most playing off the pronunciation of my last name, some more appropriate than others.
I am in my first year of being a senior, and it is likely "super-senior" won't be a strong enough term for how long I plan on staying. I got a late start at this journalism major, but I since I love sports and watch them constantly, I figured if I could get paid to watch and then write what I feel that would be a great job. Last year I was a beat-writer covering the Colorado State Men's Basketball team for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, and I plan on doing so again.
In this blog I will be giving most of my attention to covering sports, especially CSU football and men's basketball. It is very likely I will leap out of those topics to comment on anything that captures my attention. The likely targets of these other posts will be hip-hop music, beer, or things that annoy me.
You can read my previous coverage of the CSU Men's Basketball from last year by visiting The Rocky Mountain Collegian Archives. Another great site for CSU Sports information is Ramnation.com. I am a devoted reader of Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy on ESPN.com.
I am in my first year of being a senior, and it is likely "super-senior" won't be a strong enough term for how long I plan on staying. I got a late start at this journalism major, but I since I love sports and watch them constantly, I figured if I could get paid to watch and then write what I feel that would be a great job. Last year I was a beat-writer covering the Colorado State Men's Basketball team for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, and I plan on doing so again.
In this blog I will be giving most of my attention to covering sports, especially CSU football and men's basketball. It is very likely I will leap out of those topics to comment on anything that captures my attention. The likely targets of these other posts will be hip-hop music, beer, or things that annoy me.
You can read my previous coverage of the CSU Men's Basketball from last year by visiting The Rocky Mountain Collegian Archives. Another great site for CSU Sports information is Ramnation.com. I am a devoted reader of Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy on ESPN.com.
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