Colorado State University Athletics

Football Preview ? San Diego State
11/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aztecs In Fort Collins
San Diego State has beaten Colorado State in the last 2 meetings of the teams at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, including a 14-7 win on Sept. 22, 2001. SDSU has won 5 of 9 games between the teams in Fort Collins.
Last Meeting
Colorado State jumped to a 35-14 halftime lead and won at San Diego State, 49-21, Nov. 16, 2002. The Rams had 533 total yards, and QB Bradlee Van Pelt threw 3 touchdown passes and rushed for 2 more. Colorado State limited SDSU to 30 rushing yards in the game, played before a crowd of 21,714.
Injury Report
OL Albert Bimper (shoulder, neck); H-Back Joel Dreessen (lower abdominal strain); LB Courtney Jones (knee tendinitis); TE Clint Oldenburg (lower abdominal strain); LB Eric Pauly (knee); DL Andre Sommersell (elbow hyperextension/triceps contusion); WR Russell Sprague (knee).
Crowd Count
Colorado State?s home attendance is on a record-setting pace. Colorado State has drawn 154,659 fans in 5 home dates, 30,932 per game. By drawing 32,686 fans for the final home date, Nov. 15 vs. San Diego State, CSU would set a new season attendance record. CSU ranks among the top 10 programs nationally in percent capacity attendance, 103.1.
In November
During Sonny Lubick?s tenure at Colorado State, the Rams are 23-7 (76.7 percent) in November including a 13-3 record on the road, 10-3 at home.
Sack Pack
Colorado State enters this week?s game with 20 quarterback sacks, two more than last season?s total.
Rams Seeking To Extend Streak
With 2 more wins in 2003, Colorado State can extend its current school-record streak of winning at least 7 games in a season 9 times in a row dating back to 1994. Colorado State would remain among 7 teams nationally with the most consecutive winning seasons (see page 4 for current list).
Conference Record
CSU has a cumulative 24-9 Mountain West Conference record, tops by any league member.
Opening Drives
Colorado State has scored on its opening drive 3 times in 10 games, including 2 games in a row. The Rams drove the field for a touchdown at Wyoming, then scored on a Jeff Babcock field goal last week. at New Mexico. In 7 other opening drives, Colorado State has punted 4 times and had 3 turnovers.
Season Victories
With 2 more victories in 2003, Colorado State would be assured of a 10th consecutive winning season, extending the current record. The list of consecutive winning seasons includes:
No. Years Coach
9 1994-2002 Sonny Lubick (current)
8 1922-29 Harry Hughes
6 1947-52 Bob Davis
4 1931-34 Harry Hughes
3 1974-76 Sarkis Arslanian
Starting Record
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has an 21-12 record as the team?s starting quarterback since taking over in the fourth game of the 2001 season.
Last Time Not Starting
This week?s game marks an anniversary of sorts. San Diego State is the last opponent in which QB Bradlee Van Pelt was not Colorado State?s quarterback. He played as a reserve in SDSU?s 14-7 win on Sept. 22, 2001, then made his 1st career start a week later at Wyoming, and has been the team?s starter every game since that point.
No Three In A Row At Home
Colorado State seeks to break a 2-game home losing streak against San Diego State in this week?s game. Colorado State has not lost 3 in a row at home to an opponent since BYU won 9 in a row in Fort Collins from 1977-95.
Right-Handed Snapper
The trials and tribulations of OC Mark Dreyer in 2003 are well documented. He suffered a right ring finger injury (his snapping hand) in the opening game that required surgery following the team?s game at Cal Sept. 6. He did not play in 2 games, and when he returned, he snapped left-handled while playing with a protective cast on his injured hand. In CSU?s 30-20 win over Air Force, Dreyer suffered a smashed left hand and had the thumbnail torn off, but he finished the game. He shed the cast last week and returned to snapping right-handed at New Mexico.
Starters, Part II
QB Bradlee Van Pelt is the fourth quarterback to start at least two seasons or more in coach Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons at the helm.
Year Quarterback Rec. Finish Bowl
2003 Bradlee Van Pelt 5-5 -- --
2000 Matt Newton 10-2 1st Liberty
1997 Moses Moreno 11-2 1st Holiday
1994 Anthoney Hill 10-2 1st Holiday
Receiving Streaks
WR Chris Pittman has caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team, while WR David Anderson has a streak of 10 games in a row catching at least one pass. H-Back Joel Dreessen had his streak snapped at 29 when he failed to catch a pass a New Mexico.
Kicked Off
K Kevin Mark, a redshirt sophomore, has kicked off 62 times, and 31 have been downed for touchbacks. The opponents? average starting field position following a Mark kickoff is the 23-yard-line.
Van Pelt First Ever
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has 5,716 career passing yards, the 7th player in school history to pass for more than 5,000 yards. He also has gained 2,094 yards rushing, the 1st player in school history to pass for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 2,000 yards.
Van Pelt Nears Top 10 Rushing List
Van Pelt enters this week?s game with 2,094 career rushing yards, 168 shy of tying former RB Leonice Brown (2,262) for 10th on the school?s top 10 list. No other quarterback ranks among the top 10 career rushers in school history.
Last Quarterback To Lead Rams In Rushing
Van Pelt leads the Rams with 729 rushing yards in 2003, and is bidding to become the first CSU quarterback since Gary Glick in 1954 to lead the team in rushing. Glick gained 458 yards rushing and thew for 811 yards that season. A year later, he was the No. 1 draft pick in the NFL selection process by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Anderson Joins Elite List
WR David Anderson joined a select list in last week?s game at New Mexico when he caught 7 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Anderson now has 54 receptions for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2003. It is the 5th 1,000-yard performance in a season at CSU (see list, page 8). Anderson has tied the school record with 5 100-yard games in 2003, and his 8 touchdown receptions tie for the 5th most in a season. Anderson is currently tied for the 10th most receptions in a season, with 54.
Rams 25-6 Under 300, 4 Times in 2003
For the 4th time in 7 games in 2003, Colorado State held an opposing offense to fewer than 300 total yards in the Rams? 58-13 win at BYU. The Cougars netted 269 yards. Colorado State is 25-6 under Sonny Lubick when holding a team below 300 total yards. (see list at right).
Van Pelt Long Plays
Rams? QB Bradlee Van Pelt has had 111 plays this season of 10 yards or longer, including a 46-yard run in each of the past 2 games. The 46-yard gains are the 2 longest rushes of the year by a CSU player. Van Pelt has 28 rushes of longer than 10 yards, and 83 pass plays covering 10 or more yards. Six times (16-Colorado; 15-Fresno State; 15-Air Force; 12-Cal; 11-Wyoming; 11-New Mexico) he has had more than 10 plays longer than 10 yards in a game.
Elite Total Offense List
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has joined an elite NCAA Division IA football records list. Van Pelt is only the 4th quarterback to threw for at least 5,000 yards and rush for more than 2,000 yards. The list includes:
Player, School Years Rushing Passing Total
Antwaan Randle-El, Indiana 1998-01 3,895 7,469 11,364
Brian Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette 1986-89 3,335 5,447 8,782
Woody Dantzler, Clemson 1998-01 2,615 5,634 8,249
Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado State 2001-03 2,094 5,716 7,806
Babcock Perfect On Road
K Jeff Babock has hit all 8 of his field goal attempts in road games in 2003, including a season-most 4 at New Mexico. Babock has made 12-of-16 in 2003, 75 percent, tying for the 3rd most proficient field goal mark in school history. He has made 36-of-48 field goals, 75 percent, in his career.
End Game At Home
Colorado State has an 8-2 record under Sonny Lubick in the team?s final home game of the season. The losses came in 2002 to UNLV (36-32 in Fort Collins) and 1998 to Wyoming (27-19).
16 Start 10
Seventeen Colorado State players - including 6 on offense, 2 kickers, and 9 on defense - have started all 10 games. The list includes: Offense-WR David Anderson, OL Jamie Amicarella, TE Matt Bartz, OL Erik Pears, WR Chris Pittman, QB Bradlee Van Pelt; Specialists-K Kevin Mark, P/K Jeff Babcock; Defense- LB Jeff Flora, DL Lavell Mann, DB Benny Mastropaolo, DL Bryan Save, DE Andre Sommersell, DB Ben Stratton, LB Drew Wood, DB Dexter Wynn.
Senior Salute
Twenty seniors will make their final home appearance during Saturday?s regionally-televised game, including:
QB Bradlee Van Pelt
WR Chris Pittman
WR David Anderson
DB Dexter Wynn
K Jeff Babcock
Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 52 individual 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 30-19 in games where an opponent rusher has gained 100 or more yards. 55-22 when an opponent does not have a 100-yard rusher.
Quarterback Season Rushing
The list of the top rushing quarterbacks since 1950 includes:
Quarterback, Year Yds.
1. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2002 819
2. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2003 729
3. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2001 546
4. Anthoney Hill, 1993 433
5. Keith Lee, 1978 392
6. Pat Juliana, 1972 339
Late-Game Success
Colorado State has a 76-4 record (96%) under Sonny Lubick when the Rams lead after three periods. The four losses include:
QB 100-Yard Rushing Games
The 100-yard rushing games by Rams? quarterbacks since 1950 include:
Quarterback, Game Year No.-Yds-TD
Bradlee Van Pelt at Wyoming 2003 20-140-1
Bradlee Van Pelt vs. Air Force 2003 17-125-2
Bradlee Van Pelt vs. Fresno St. 2003 13-154-0
Bradlee Van Pelt at Nevada 2002 13-128-1
Bradlee Van Pelt at Fresno St. 2002 9-125-1
Bradlee Van Pelt, New Mexico 2002 11-106-1
Bradlee Van Pelt at BYU 2001 21-174-2
Bradlee Van Pelt vs. Fresno St. 2001 14-141-1
Mike Gimenez at New Mexico 1989 10-102-0
Keith Lee vs. UTEP 1978 19-122-1
Rams? Passing Fancy
The Rams are 7-14 in games where the team has attempted 35 or more passes and 79-26 games when attempting less than 35 passes since 1993.
Babcock Punting Debut
The capsule of 1st-year punters during Coach Sonny Lubick?s tenure include:
Year Punter No. Yds. Avg.
1999 Deone Horinek 52 2331 44.8
2003 Jeff Babcock 37 1552 41.9
1998 Preston Loos 52 2100 40.4
1993 Mike McGee 63 2495 39.6
2000 Joey Huber 52 2035 39.1
1994 Matt McDougal 54 2108 39.0
Century Rushers
Colorado State has had 77 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 54-12 in games where a back has gained 100 or more yards, and 33-28 in games where the team has not had a back gain more than 100 yards.
Year Total Record
2003 5 2-3
2002 12 7-4
2001 6 2-2
2000 5 3-1
1999 6 6-0
1998 5 4-0
1997 10 8-1
1996 13 8-1
1995 8 6-1
1994 4 4-0
1993 3 3-0
Totals 77 54-12
At Home
Year Rec. Loss(es)
2003 3-2 Miami (Ohio); Utah
2002 4-1 UNLV
2001 3-2 San Diego St.; Fresno State
2000 5-0 --
1999 4-1 San Diego State
1998 3-1 Wyoming
1997 4-1 Air Force
1996 4-2 Colorado; Wyoming
1995 3-2 BYU; New Mexico
1994 5-1 Utah
1993 3-2 Oregon; BYU
Total 41-15
On The Road
Year Rec. Road Loss(es)
2003 2-2 Wyoming; New Mexico
2002 5-2 UCLA; Fresno State
2001 3-2 Louisville; BYU
2000 3-2 Arizona State; Air Force
1999 3-2 BYU; Fresno State
1998 5-2 Air Force; Rice
1997 5-1 Colorado
1996 3-3 Oregon; Nebraska; Tulsa
1995 5-1 Colorado
1994 5-0 --
1993 2-4 Nebraska; Kansas; San Diego St.; Utah
Totals 41-21
Neutral Sites
Year Rec. Neutral Site Loss(es)
2003 0-1 Colorado (Denver)
2002 1-1 TCU (Liberty Bowl)
2001 1-1 Colorado (Denver)
2000 2-0 --
1999 1-1 So. Mississippi (Liberty Bowl)
1998 0-1 Colorado (Denver)
1997 2-0 --
1995 0-1 Kansas State (Holiday Bowl)
1994 0-1 Michigan (Holiday Bowl)
Totals 7-7
Before Open Dates
Year Opponent Result
2003 Air Force W 30-20
2002 Louisville W 36-33
2002 Air Force W 31-12
2001 Nevada W 35-18
1999 at BYU L 13-34
1999 at New Mexico W 36-22
1997 Air Force L 0-24
1997 Fresno State W 41-3
1995 at Air Force W 27-20
1995 Hawaii W 22-0
1994 Utah L 31-45
1993 New Mexico W 21-20
Following Open Dates
Year Opponent Result
2003 at Wyoming L 28-35
2002 at Nevada W 32-28
2002 at San Diego State W 49-21
2001 San Diego State L 7-14
1999 New Mexico State W 46-7
1999 Air Force W 41-21
1997 Hawaii W 63-0
1997 at San Diego State W 38-17
1995 BYU L 18-21
1995 at San Diego State W 24-13
1994 Wyoming W 35-24
1993 at Utah W 52-0
2003 Depth Chart
OFFENSE
November 10, 2003
Quarterback
11 Bradlee Van Pelt; 6-2, 225, Sr.-2VL, Santa Barbara, CA/Michigan State
8 Justin Holland; 6-3, 192, So.-1VL, Lakewood, CO/Bear Creek
Runningback
3 Rahsaan Sanders; 6-0, 217, Sr.-3VL, San Diego, CA/Horizon
20 Marcus Houston; 6-3, 207, Jr.-TR, Denver, CO/Thomas Jefferson
18 Jimmy Green; 5-11, 211, Jr.-JC, San Diego, CA/Mesa JC
22 Uldis Jaunarajs; 5-10, 210, So.-SQ, Lakewood, CO/Bear Creek
SE
4 David Anderson; 5-10, 187, So.-1VL, WestLake Village, CA/Thousand Oaks
7 Eric Hill; 6-1, 194, Sr.-3VL, Denver, CO/Montbello
FL
6 Chris Pittman; 6-0, 192, Sr.-2VL, Chula Vista, CA/Castle Park
85 Dustin Osborne; 6-0, 184, Fr.-RS, La Junta, CO/La Junta
H-Back (H)
81 Joel Dreesen; 6-4, 253, Jr.-2VL, Fort Morgan, Co/Fort Morgan
88 Brandon Alconcel; 6-3, 245, So.-1VL, Laguna Hills, CA/Aliso Niguel
92 Matt Bartz; 6-3, 244, So.-1VL, Concordia, KS/Concordia
Tight End (Y)
92 Matt Bartz; 6-3, 244, So.-1VL, Concordia, KS/Concordia
89 James Sondrup; 6-6, 263, Sr.-2VL, Fort Collins, CO/Fort Collins
Weak Side Tackle
63 Mike Brisiel; 6-5, 282, So.-1VL, Fayetteville, AR/Fayetteville
75 Zeke Hacker; 6-5, 295, Sr.-1VL, Shawnee Mission, KS/Butler County CC
Weak Side Guard
75 Zeke Hacker; 6-5, 295, Sr.-1VL, Shawnee Mission, KS/Butler County CC
76 Terrel Gardner; 6-6. 356, Sr.-3VL, Omaha, NE/Central
77 Albert Bimper, inj.; 6-1, 290, So.-1VL, Arlington,TX/Bowie
Center
70 Mark Dreyer; 6-4, 275, Sr.-2VL, Brighton, CO/Brighton
77 Albert Bimper, inj.; 6-1, 290, So.-1VL, Arlington, TX/Bowie
53 Jassem Redha; 6-3, 302, Fr.-RS, Chino, CA/Chino
Strong Side Guard
60 Jamie Amicarella; 6-5, 289, Sr.-1VL, Fort Collins, CO/Fort Collins
66 Josh Day; 6-4, 278, Fr.-RS, Aurora, CO/Overland
Strong Side Tackle
74 Erik Pears; 6-8, 307, Jr.-2VL, Denver, CO/Kennedy
68 Jonathan Moore; 6-4, 289, Fr.-RS, Houston, TX/Clear Brook
DEFENSE
Left End
99 Patrick Goodpaster; 6-3, 280, Jr.-2VL, Harbor City, CA/Narbonne
56 Micheal Leiter; 6-2, 225, Fr.-RS, Mission Viejo, CA/Santa Margarita
Nose Tackle
95 Bryan Save; 6-2, 271, Sr.-2VL, Santa Ana, CA/Valley
93 Chris Kiffin; 6-1, 281, Jr.-1VL, Tampa, FL/Sickles
Defensive Tackle
57 Lavell Mann; 6-1, 285, Sr.-1VL, Long Beach, CA/City College
91 Jonathan Simon; 6-6, 280, Jr.-SQ, Watauga, TX/Fossil Ridge
Right End
96 Andre Sommersell; 6-3, 235, Sr.-3VL, Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley
86 Terrence Carter; 6-3, 239, So.-SQ, Topeka, KS/Topeka
98 Luke Adkins; 6-1, 234, Fr.-RS, Austin, TX/Lake Travis
Strong Side Linebacker
45 Jeff Flora; 6-2, 234, Sr.-2VL, Arvada, CO/Arvada West
2 Jahmal Hall; 6-0, 190, So.-SQ, Fort Worth, TX/Everman
32 Adam Lancisero; 5-8. 200, Jr.-JC Orage, CA/Fullerton JC
Middle Linebacker
50 Drew Wood; 6-2, 235, Sr.-3VL, Buena Vista, CO/Buena Vista
45 Jeff Flora; 6-2, 234, Sr.-2VL, Arvada, CO/Arvada West
Weak Side Linebacker
2 Jahmal Hall; 6-0, 190, So.-SQ, Fort Worth, TX/Everman
52 Courtney Jones; 6-1, 221, So.-1VL, Arlington, TX/Bowie
24 Kane Smaller; 5-11, 238, Fr.-RS, Canon City, CO/Canon City
Right Cornerback
16 Ben Stratton; 6-2, 207, So.-1VL, Cheyenne, WY/East
1 Brandon Cathy; 5-10, 173, Fr.-RS, Liberty, MO/Liberty
Left Cornerback
5 Dexter Wynn; 5-10, 175, Sr.-3VL, Colorado Springs, CO/Rampart
1 Brandon Cathy; 5-10, 173, Fr.-RS, Liberty, MO/Liberty
Strong Safety
20 Adam Hayward; 6-1, 220, So.-1VL, Westminister, CA/Marina
25 Benny Mastopaolo; 5-11, 190, Sr.-1VL, Fullerton, CA/Fullerton CC
30 Miles Kochevar; 6-1, 195, So.-SQ Fruita, Co/Fruita Monument
Free Safety
25 Benny Mastopaolo; 5-11, 190, Sr.-1VL, Fullerton, CA/Fullerton CC
8 Lukas Davis; 6-1, 200, Fr.-RS, Aurora, CO/Eaglecrest
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
14 Jeff Babcock; 5-10, 185, Jr.-2VL, Tampa, FL/Jesuit
15 Jim Kaylor; 6-2, 215, Fr.-HS, Northglenn, CO/Northglenn
PK
14 Jeff Babcock; 5-10, 185, Jr.-2VL, Tampa, FL/Jesuit
13 Kevin Mark; 6-1, 171, So.-SQ, Coral Springs, FL/Douglass
Kickoff
13 Kevin Mark; 6-1, 171, So.-SQ, Coral Springs, FL/Douglass
14 Jeff Babcock; 5-10, 185, Jr.-2VL, Tampa, FL/Jesuit
Long Snapper
51 John Treacy; 5-9, 227, Jr.-SQ, Littleton, Co/Mullen
81 Joel Dreesen; 6-4, 253, Jr.-2VL, Fort Morgan, Co/Fort Morgan
Holder
19 Joey Kearney; 6-1, 186, Fr.-RS, Highlands Ranch, CO/Highlands Ranch
4 David Anderson; 5-10, 187, Fr.-1VL, Westlake Village, CA/Thousand Oaks
Kickoff Returns
5 Dexter Wynn; 5-10, 175, Sr.-3VL, Colorado Springs, CO/Rampart
6 Chris Pittman; 6-0, 192, Sr.-2VL, Chula Vista, CA/Castle Park
4 David Anderson; 5-10, 187, So.-1VL, WestLake Village, CA/Thousand Oaks
Punt Returns
5 Dexter Wynn; 5-10, 175, Sr.-3VL, Colorado Springs, CO/Rampart
4 David Anderson; 5-10, 187, So.-1VL, WestLake Village, CA/Thousand Oaks











