Colorado State University Athletics
Football Preview - California
9/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rams, Bears Face One Another For First Time Ever
Colorado State University and the University of California at Berkeley meet for the first time ever Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Colorado State dropped its season opener against instate rival Colorado despite gaining 585 total yards. QB Bradlee Van Pelt threw for a career-most 339 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for two others. RB Marcus Houston gained 104 yards while WR Chris Pittman (144) and David Anderson (142) passed the century mark in receiving.
Radio Crew
Veteran sportscaster Rich Bircumshaw calls the play-by-play for the second year in a row and is in his fifth year on the Colorado State Sports Network. Former Rams? all-star defensive back Erik Olson is the analyst, Brian Roth provides sideline reports and Kevin McGlue is the producer.. Bircumshaw has more than two decades of sports broadcasting experience. Olson was a four-year letterwinner for the Rams and played in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Roth is a veteran announcer who does the play-by-play for Colorado State?s nationally prominent women?s basketball teams. Bircumshaw, Roth, and McGlue host a weekday sports talk show on KIIX Radio, 1410 The Zone in Fort Collins. Radio network broadcasts are produced by Nelligan Sports Marketing.
Lubick Coaching Streak
Colorado State is in the midst of the most successful period in school football history under Sonny Lubick?s guidance, including:
Lubick Coaching Capsule
Lubick Among Leaders
Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick is one of 18 active Division IA coaches with 100 or more career victories, including:
Coach, Current School Wins
Joe Paterno, Penn State 337
Bobby Bowden, Florida State 333
Lou Holtz, South Carolina 239
Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State 178
Ken Hatfield, Rice 159
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 160
Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M 156
Fisher DeBerry, Air Force 150
Mack Brown, Texas 135
Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse 129
John Robinson, UNLV 125
Bill Snyder, Kansas State 117
John L. Smith, Michigan State 111
Sonny Lubick, Colorado State 105
Phil Fulmer, Tennessee 104
Consecutive Seasons
Sonny Lubick is among the national leaders among coaches with the most consecutive winning seasons, nine, a school record, and sixth most nationally.
Coach, School, Seasons
Bobby Bowden, Florida State, 25
Mack Brown, Texas, 13
Phil Fulmer, Tennessee, 11
Bill Snyder, Kansas State, 10
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech, 10
Sonny Lubick, Colorado State, 9
Joe Tiller, Purdue, 9
Title Winners
Rams? coach Sonny Lubick has won or shared more conference titles as an NCAA Division IA head coach than any other MWC mentor. The list includes:
Coach, School, Titles Won, Last Title
Sonny Lubick, Colorado Sate, 6, 2002
John Robinson, UNLV, 5, 1995
Fisher DeBerry, Air Force, 3, 1995
Gary Crowton, BYU, 1, 2001
Rocky Long, New Mexico, 0, --
Tom Craft, San Diego State, 0, --
Urban Meyer, Utah, 0, --
Joe Glenn, Wyoming, 0, --
Fan Appeal
Colorado State?s game with instate rival Colorado last week in Denver drew 76,219 fans, the largest crowd in state history to witness a college sporting event and second largest crowd in INVESCO Field at Mile history.
Injury Report
Player, Injury
TE Brandon Alconcel, right hand;
DB Curt Beling, right knee;
OC Mark Dreyer, right hand;
LB Jeff Flora, concussion;
RB Uldis Jaunarajs, hamstring;
DB Benny Mastropaolo, left knee;
TE Clint Oldenburg, groin;
RB Tristan Walker, left knee;
LB Micah Woods, left hand.
Sack Pack
Colorado State registered four sacks for 32 yards lost in the opening game, including one each by LB Eric Pauly and DE Luke Adkins, and two by DT Lavell Mann. Adkins and Mann had the first sacks of their CSU careers, respectively.
Receiving Combination
WR Chris Pittman (7-144-2) and WR David Anderson (4-142-1) combined to become the first duo at Colorado State since 1982 to surpass the century mark in receiving yardage in the same game. Pittman enjoyed his second career 100-yard game while Anderson had his first, reaching the plateau in the first half by catching three passes for 109 yards.
Pittman Scores
Pittman?s two touchdowns surpasses his season total of a year ago, when he caught one scoring pass.
Most Since 2000
QB Bradlee Van Pelt?s 339 yards passing is the most in his career, and most by a Rams? quarterback since Matt Newton threw for 334 in 2000 at Air Force.
Total Offense
Van Pelt accounted for 416 yards of total offense in the game, including 339 passing and 77 rushing. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in the opening game.
Wynn Offensive
CB Dexter Wynn has earned the national reputation as one of the nation?s top defenders and return specialists. He added another bullet to his resume by appearing on offense for several plays in the opening game and carrying once from scrimmage on a wide receiver reverse.
Season Ticket Update
Colorado State athletic department officials announced late last week that the school has sold 10,625 season tickets, the third highest figure in school history. Twice before, in 1991 and 1998, the school surpassed 11,000 season tickets.
Third-Year Starters
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has a 16-8 record as the team?s starting quarterback since taking over in the fourth game of the 2001 season. The last time that the Rams had a two-year starter returning at quarterback was 1997, when Moses Moreno led Colorado State to an 11-2 record - the only 11-win season in school history - a league title and a win over Missouri in the Holiday Bowl.
Starters, Part II
Van Pelt is the fourth quarterback to start at least two seasons or more in coach Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons at the helm. The previous three had a combined 31-6 record, 3 conference titles and 3 bowl games, including:
Year, Quarterback, Rec., Finish, Bowl
2003, Bradlee Van Pelt, 0-1, --, --
2000, Matt Newton, 10-2, 1st, Liberty
1997, Moses Moreno, 11-2, 1st, Holiday
1994, Anthoney Hill, 10-2, 1st, Holiday
Second Straight
The 2003 season marks the second campaign in a row that Colorado State will have played instate rival Colorado in Denver then ventures to play a PAC-10 team on the road. A year ago the Rams played at UCLA the week following the game with Colorado.
Rams In California
Colorado State is 6-6 in 12 games played in the state of California during Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons including three Holiday Bowl games.
Receiving Streaks
Two Rams? receivers - WR Chris Pittman and H-back Joel Dreessen each caught at least one pass in all 14 games in 2002. Dreessen has the team?s longest active streak with at least one reception - 25 games in a row - dating back to the 2001 season and including one game in 2003. Pittman has caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games.
2003 Hall of Fame Banquet
Four former student-athletes who made their mark at Colorado State on the field and in the classroom comprise the 2003 Colorado State University Hall of Fame announced today by Director of Athletics Mark Driscoll. Softball pitcher Nikki Johnson, football all-star Dr. Greg Primus, four-sport letterwinner Jim Ranson, and basketball player Rich Strong comprise the 2003 class. Along with Hall of Honor Award winner Doug Max, they will be honored during the Former Athletes Association Hall of Fame Dinner Friday night, Oct. 17 at the UPHI. The banquet begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., with the dinner at 6 p.m. For banquet reservation information, call 970-491-5067. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance.
Tied Sixth
Colorado State?s 585 total offense in the opening game ties for the sixth highest single-game total in school history.
Mark Kicks
K Kevin Mark made his kicking debut against Colorado, handling six kickoffs of which only three were returned. Mark also changed jersey numbers to 6 prior to the game.
Home Opener
Following Saturday?s game at Cal, the Rams return for the home opener in 2003, facing Weber State University Sept. 13. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium and marks the first of four consecutive home games for Colorado State.
First Since 1996
K Jeff Babcock became the first Ram since Matt McDougal in 1996 to handle the team?s placement kicking and punting chores in the same game when he did both in the season opener. Babcock averaged 45.3 yards on seven punts.
Rams vs. PAC-10
Colorado State is 1-4 against PAC-10 member institutions during Sonny Lubick?s tenure. The win came in 1994 at Arizona during a season in which the Rams finished 10-2 and won the conference title then played in the Holiday Bowl.
Wynn-Fall
Colorado State?s Dexter Wynn is now a four-way threat for the Rams. His first three seasons in Fort Collins, he played cornerback and returned punts and kickoffs, twice named all-conference as a return specialist. He?s added to the list in 2003 as a wide receiver. In the opening game, Wynn touched the ball 10 times and gained 128 yards, 12.8 per touch.
Rams Lead Offense
Colorado State leads the Mountain West Conference in total offense (585.0 yards per game) and passing offense (339 yards per game) following the first full weekend of conference competition. The Rams also are fourth in the league in scoring offense, and third in rushing offense (246.0 yards per game).
Sack Pack
Colorado State?s four quarterback sacks in the opening game are the most by an MWC team through the first weekend of games.
Houston Fourth
Rams? RB Marcus Houston begins play this week fourth in the MWC in rushing (104.0 yards per game). Utah?s Brandon Warfield is the leader, 173.0 yards per game. QB Bradlee Van Pelt ranks seventh in the league, 77 yards per game.
Van Pelt Leads
QB Bradlee Van Pelt leads the MWC in total offense, 416.0 yards per game, and passing per game, 339.0 yards per contest.
Rams Receivers
WR Chris Pittman begins play this week second in the league with seven receptions per game, while teammate HB Joel Dreessen is eighth with five per game and WR David Anderson is tied for ninth, with four receptions per game.
Pittman Tops
WR Chris Pittman leads the MWC in receiving yards per game, following his 144-yard performance in the opening game. Teammate David Anderson is second in the league, 142.0 yards per game.
First Time Punter Second
P Jeff Babcock wasted little time in placing his name near the top of the MWC punting list. Babcock, a junior, is second in the league, averaging 45.3 yards on seven punts.
Scoring Leaders
WR Chris Pittman (tie-3rd), QB Bradlee Van Pelt (tie-3rd), and WR David Anderson (7th), all rank among the top 10 in scoring in the MWC statistics.
Pauly Leads
LB Eric Pauly led the MWC in tackles in 2001 and was again among the leaders in 2002. He leads the league in tackles following his 13-stop performance in the opener.
Adkins Top Sacks
DE Luke Adkins, who redshirted last season, leads the MWC with 1.5 sacks following the first weekend of play, while teammate DT Lavell Mann is second with one.
Goodpaster Second
DE Patrick Goodpaster, for the first two seasons in his career, played tackle. He moved to end last spring, and responded in the opening game with a career-most five tackles including three for yards lost. He?s second in the conference in that category, one of five Rams listed among the top 10. DE Luke Adkins is tied for third with two, along with teammates LB Jeff Flora, LB Eric Pauly, and DT Lavell Mann.
Rams On Lists
Five Colorado State student-athletes are listed on ?watch lists? for eight individual postseason awards, including:
Late-Game Success
Colorado State has a 71-4 record (98%) under Sonny Lubick when the Rams lead after three periods. The only 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 BYU ? 2001 - 21-174-2
Bradlee Van Pelt vs. Fresno St. ? 2001 - 14-141-1
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
Keith Lee vs. UTEP ? 1978 - 19-122-1
Mike Gimenez at New Mexico ? 1989 - 10-102-0
Quarterback Season Rushing
Colorado State QB Bradlee Van Pelt set a new school record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback. Van Pelt gained 819 rushing yards, eclipsing his own previous record, 546, set in 2001. The list of the top rushing quarterbacks since 1950 includes:
Quarterback, Year - Yds.
1. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2002 - 819
2. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2001 - 546
3. Anthoney Hill, 1993 - 433
4. Keith Lee, 1978 - 392
5. Pat Juliana, 1972 - 339
Rams? Passing Fancy
In Sonny Lubick?s career at Colorado State, the Rams are 7-14 in games where the team has attempted 35 or more passes and 77-25 games when attempting less than 35 passes.
Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 49 individual 100-yard rushing performances during Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons. The Rams are 29-17 in games where an opponent rusher has gained 100 or more yards. Colorado State is 55-21 when an opponent does not feature a 100-yard rusher.
Century Rushers
Colorado State has had 72 100-yard rushing performances in games during Sonny Lubick?s 10 seasons including seven in 2002. The Rams are 51-11 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, 1, 0-1
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, 73, 51-11
The 11 losses in games where a back surpassed 100 yards include:
