Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Looking Forward To Opener
8/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Fort Collins, Colo. - Colorado State University is two days away from its 2003 football season opener.
The Rams, 10-4 a season ago, open the new season Saturday night by facing instate rival Colorado at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver. The game starts at 5:45 p.m.
The game has already been declared a sellout, with more than 76,000 fans expected to be in attendance. Millions more figure to tune into the game on ESPN, which will provide national coverage of the in-state battle.
Colorado State enters the game on the heels of a third Mountain West Conference title in the past four seasons, while Colorado has won two straight Big 12 Conference Northern Division titles.
The Rams will have 15 returning starters in the lineup Saturday night, including QB Bradlee Van Pelt, a first-team all-conference choice last year and the MWC's offensive player of the year. Van Pelt, a senior from Santa Barbara, Calif., threw for 2,073 yards and rushed for another 819.
Wide receiver Chris Pittman (60-807-1) and H-back Joel Dreessen (29-340-2) combined to catch 89 passes a season ago. Dreessen is listed on the preseason John Mackey and Lombardi Award watch lists.
Van Pelt will have a new starting runningback behind him in CSU's one-back set Saturday night. Gone is the MWC's top rusher, Cecil Sapp, who is now plying his trade with the Denver Broncos.
Senior Rahsaan Sanders will draw the start. He gained 311 yards and scored three times last season as Sapp's backup. Junior Marcus Houston and Tristan Walker, a freshman who earned a year of hardship eligibility last season, will also see game action.
Defensively the Rams will rely upon LB Eric Pauly and Drew Wood and CB Dexter Wynn. Pauly and Wood both ranked among the MWC leaders in tackles last season and Wynn is a two-time all-conference pick as a return specialist. He will also see duty as a wide receiver in selected situations.
K Jeff Babcock returns for his junior season after setting a school record by making 24 field goals a season ago. He figures to also handle the team's punting duties as the Rams groom freshman Jim Kaylor for the job.
Following Saturday night's game, the Rams are on the road at California Sept. 6 for a 3 p.m. (PT) game with the Bears at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.
For Colorado State ticket information, call 491-RAMS, 1-800-491-RAMS, or visit the school's official athletics website, CSURAMS.com.
