Colorado State University Athletics
Football Preview - UNLV
11/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rams In Las Vegas
Colorado State and UNLV meet for the 5th time in Las Vegas. Colorado State has won 3-of-4 previous meetings. The only blemish on the series is a 21-21 tie in 1979 in Las Vegas.
Last Meeting
UNLV, behind 222 yards rushing by RB Larry Croom, beat the Rams, 36-33 in the final regular-season game in 2002 in Fort Collins. QB Bradlee Van Pelt threw for 216 yards and a touchdown but was held to just 12 yards rushing on 6 carries.
Injury Report
OL Albert Bimper (shoulder, neck); H-Back Joel Dreessen (lower abdominal strain); LB Jahmal Hall (right knee); LB Courtney Jones (knee tendinitis); TE Clint Oldenburg (lower abdominal strain); LB Eric Pauly (knee); Rahsaan Sanders (right ankle); DL Andre Sommersell (elbow hyperextension/triceps contusion); WR Russell Sprague (knee).
Crowd Count
Colorado State finished 2003 by drawing 183,786 fans for 6 home dates, the 2nd highest season figure in school history. The 30,631 per-game average is the 3rd highest in history. Colorado State also ranks 11th nationally in percent capacity, 102.1 (see chart).
In November During Sonny Lubick?s tenure at Colorado State, the Rams are 24-7 (77.4 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 23 quarterback sacks, including 3 in the win over San Diego State. The 3 sacks are the most by the Rams since a win over Weber State Sept. 13. DT Bryan Save had 2 sacks in the win over SDSU, and LB Adam Lanciscero had another. Twice this season the Rams have had 4 sacks in a game (Colorado, Cal), and last week?s game marks the 2nd time this year the Rams have had 3 sacks in a game.
Rams Eligible 10th Year In A Row
Colorado State?s win over San Diego State earned the Rams bowl eligibility for the 10th season in a row. Colorado State has been to bowl games 7 times in the past 10 seasons and 4 years in a row. The Rams were eligible but did not receive an invite in 1996 (7-5) or 1998 (8-4).
Rams Seeking To Extend Streak
By winning this week?s game at UNLV, Colorado State would extend its current school-record streak of winning at least 7 games each season 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 25-9 MWC record, tops by any league member.
Anderson Receiving Yards
WR David Anderson caught 7 passes for 77 yards in the team?s 21-6 win over San Diego State. He has gained 1,148 yards receiving in 2003, the 2nd highest total in CSU history. Willie Miller holds the record, 1,193 yards in 1974. Anderson currently ranks 7th nationally in receiving yards per game, 104.3
Stratton Picks
Sophomore CB Ben Stratton recorded his 4th interception in 2003 and 5th of his career when he returned an errant SDSU pass 35 yards for the Rams? initial touchdown vs. San Diego State. Stratton ranks 3rd in the MWC in interceptions. Stratton?s scoring return was the first by a Ram since Justin Gallimore in 2000 vs. Wyoming.
Davis Makes First Start
DB Lukas Davis, a redshirt freshman, made his 1st career start against San Diego State and made 6 tackles.
Longest Runningback Run
RB Jimmy Green helped break open the win over SDSU with a 42-yard 4th quarter scoring run - the longest run of the season by a Rams? runningback. QB Bradlee Van Pelt owns the 2 longest runs of the year, a pair of 46-yard gains.
Save Sacks
DT Bryan Save is enjoying inarguably the finest season of his career. Save, in his final performance as a senior at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, made a career-most 11 tackles including 2 quarterback sacks and 3 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Save is 5th in the MWC in sacks with 5..
Last Time Without A Touchdown
Colorado State held San Diego State to a pair of field goals. It marked the 1st time since Oct. 4, 1997 in a 63-0 win over Hawaii the Rams had held an opponent without a touchdown. San Diego State?s final 6 drives of the game resulted in 5 punts and an interception.
Opening Drives
Colorado State has scored on its opening drive 3 times in 10 games. In 8 other opening drives, Colorado State has punted 5 times and had 3 turnovers.
Season Victories
With a victory over UNLV, 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 22-12 record as the team?s starting quarterback since taking over in the fourth game of the 2001 season.
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 6-5 -- --
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 24 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team, while WR David Anderson has a streak of 11 games in a row catching at least one pass.
Van Pelt Streak 105
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has not thrown an interception in his last 105 pass attempts. Van Pelt?s most recent interception came in the 4th quarter of a win over Fresno State on Oct. 4,2003.
Kicked Off
K Kevin Mark, a redshirt sophomore, has kicked off 66 times, and 34 have been downed for touchbacks. The opponents? average starting field position following a Mark kickoff is the 21-yard-line.
Van Pelt First Ever
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has 5,872 career passing yards, the 7th player in school history to pass for more than 5,000 yards. He also has gained 2,143 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 has gained 2,143 career rushing yards, 119 shy of tying former RB Leonice Brown (2,262) for 10th on the school?s top 10 list. No quarterback in school history ranks among the top 10 career rushers.
Last Quarterback To Lead Rams
Van Pelt leads CSU with 778 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.
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 126 plays this season of 10 yards or longer, including a pair of 46-yard runs, the 2 longest rushes of the year by a CSU player. Van Pelt has 30 rushes of longer than 10 yards, and 96 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 2,143 5,872 8,015
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-50 field goals, 72 percent, in his career.
Senior Salute
Twenty-one seniors will make their final regular-season appearance during Saturday?s game, including:
OL Jamie Amicarella; Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins HS); DB Curt Beling; Highlands Ranch, Colo. (ThunderRidge HS); OC Mark Dreyer; Brighton, Colo. (Brighton HS); LB Jeff Flora; Arvada, Colo. (Arvada West HS); OL Terrell Gardner, Omaha, Neb. (Central HS); OL Zeke Hacker; Shawnee Mission, Kan. (Butler County CC); WR Eric Hill; Denver, Colo. (Montbello HS); DL Lavell Mann; Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach CC); DB Benny Mastropaolo; Placentia, Calif. (Fullerton JC); LB Eric Pauly; Conway Springs, Kan. (Conway Springs HS); WR Chris Pittman; Chula Vista, Calif. (Castle Park HS); P Tyler Powell; Yuma, Colo. (Yuma HS); RB Rahsaan Sanders; San Diego, Calif. (Horizon HS); DL Bryan Save; Santa Ana, Calif. (Valley HS); DL Andre Sommersell; Fountain Valley, Calif. (Fountain Valley HS); TE James Sondrup; Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins HS); WR Russell Sprague; Holyoke, Colo. (Holyoke HS); QB Bradlee Van Pelt; Santa Barbara, Calif. (Michigan State); LB Drew Wood; Buena Vista, Colo. (Buena Vista HS); DB Dexter Wynn; Colorado Springs, Colo. (Rampart HS); TE Jack Zadigian; Arvada, Colo. (Pomona HS).
QB Bradlee Van Pelt
WR Chris Pittman
WR David Anderson
DB Dexter Wynn
K Jeff Babcock
End Game
Colorado State has an 8-2 record in final regular-season games under Sonny Lubick. The Rams are 7-0 on the road, 1-2 at home to end the regular season.
Year Date Opponent T.V. Result Atten.
2003: N22 at UNLV* ERT/SW
2002: N30 UNLV* SW L 33-36 28,877
2001: N17 at New Mexico* None W 24-17 29,304
2000: N16 Wyoming* ESPN W 37-13 25,922
1999: N27 at UNLV* None W 35-17 16,498
1998: N14 at SMU* Fox W 32-10 21,133
1997: N22 at San Diego State* ESPN W 38-17 25,704
1996: N16 Wyoming* Fox L 24-25 33,701
1995: N25 at San Diego State* Fox W 24-13 41,603
1994: N19 at Fresno State* Fox W 44-42 37,241
1993: N20 at Wyoming* ABC W 42-21 20,692
*Conference Games.
Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 53 individual 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 31-19 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 778
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 77-4 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 43 1806 42.0
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 4-2 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 42-15
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 17, 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
inj. 2 Jahmal Hall; 6-0, 190, So.-SQ, Fort Worth, TX/Everman
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
32 Adam Lancisero; 5-8. 200, Jr.-JC Orage, CA/Fullerton JC
inj. 2 Jahmal Hall; 6-0, 190, So.-SQ, Fort Worth, TX/Everman
52 Courtney Jones; 6-1, 221, So.-1VL, Arlington, TX/Bowie
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
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
8 Lukas Davis; 6-1, 200, Fr.-RS, Aurora, CO/Eaglecrest
20 Adam Hayward; 6-1, 220, So.-1VL, Westminister, CA/Marina
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