Colorado State University Athletics
Football Preview ? Miami (Ohio)
9/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rams, RedHaws Matchup Features Top Offenses
Colorado State plays its second of 4 consecutive home games when the Rams play host to Miami University (Ohio) Saturday at Hughes Stadium. The game will also match 2 of the nation?s premier quarterbacks - Colorado State?s Bradlee Van Pelt and Miami?s Ben Roethlisberger. Van Pelt enters play 6th nationally in total offense by averaging 319.7 yards per game. He had plenty of offensive help last week. RB Rahsaan Sanders rushed for a career-most 123 yards and Marcus Houston added 80 more. WR Chris Pittman caught 7 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards in the RedHawks? 44-13 win at Northwestern by completing 28-of-37 passes and 3 touchdowns. He is a 6-foot, 5-inch junior from Findlay, Ohio who has completed 70 percent of his passes, 55-of-79, for 603 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season. The Rams? defense has been stingy in back-to-back wins over Cal and Weber State. The Rams allowed only 212 yards in the 31-7 win over WSU, a week after allowing 299 to Cal. Colorado State enters this week?s game 17th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 77.3 yards per game including 2 games in a row holding an opponent to under 80 yards on the ground. Colorado State also is tied for the conference?s top spot with 11 quarterback sacks through 3 games in 2003.
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.
Series Update
Saturday?s game marks the first meeting ever between the teams.
At Home
Colorado State is 39-13 at home during Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons as head coach of the Rams including a 4-1 mark last season. The Rams have a 22-3 record in home nonconference games during Lubick?s 11 seasons. The last loss in a home nonconference game came in 1996 to Colorado, 48-34.
Nonconference Streak
Colorado State enters Saturday?s game not having lost a home nonconference game since 1996, when Colorado defeated the Rams, 48-34 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
Opening Day Crowd
Colorado State drew 28,611 to last week?s home opener, the 5th highest mark in school history for the Rams? first home game of the season.
Injury Report
DE Luke Adkins (shoulder sprain; ankle sprain; concussion); OC Mark Dreyer (right finger; concussion); DB David Foley (ankle); WR Chris Pittman (lower leg strain).
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.
Starting Record
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has an 18-8 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 2-1 -- --
2000 Matt Newton 10-2 1st Liberty
1997 Moses Moreno 11-2 1st Holiday
1994 Anthoney Hill 10-2 1st Holiday
Rams On Lists
Five Colorado State student-athletes are listed on ?watch lists? for eight individual postseason awards, including:
Receiving Streaks
H-Back Joel Dreessen has the team?s longest active streak with at least one reception - 27 games in a row - dating back to the 2001 season. WR Chris Pittman has caught at least one pass in 17 consecutive games.
Sack Pack
Colorado State?s defense has generated 11 quarterback sacks in 3 games to date, tying for the MWC lead. Colorado State did not have 6 sacks until the 6th game of 2002.
Field Goal Capsule
K Jeff Babcock has made 2 or more field goals eight times in his career. A breakdown of his career field goals include:
Career Field Goal Statistics
Year GP Tot Pct. 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LFG BLK
Home 1 1-2 .500 0-0 1-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 21 --
Road 1 3-3 1.000 0-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-0 48 --
Neu. 1 0-2 00.0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-0 -- --
2003 3 4-7 .57.1 0-0 2-2 1-3 1-2 0-0 48 --
Home 5 10-13 76.9 0-0 3-3 3-3 4-7 0-0 46 0
Road 7 13-16 81.3 0-0 6-6 5-8 2-2 0-0 46 0
Neu 2 1-3 33.3 0-0 0-0 0-2 1-1 0-0 46 1
2002 14 24-32 75.0 0-0 9-9 8-13 7-10 0-0 46 1
Totals 17 28-3971.8 0-0 11-11 9-16 8-12 0-0 48 1
Total Offense
Colorado State begins play this week ranked 4th nationally in total offense, averaging 509.0 yards per game. Ther Rams are 18th in pass offense and 22nd in rushing offense.
Rushing Defense
The Rams boast the league?s top rushing defense and rank 17th nationally by allowing 77.3 yards per game on the ground. Colorado State?s two most recent opponents, Cal (51) and Weber State (79) have totaled 130 yards on the ground.
23-4
In Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons at Colorado State the Rams are 23-4 when allowing fewer than 300 total yards. Weber State gained 212, a week after Cal finished with 299.
Home Stand
Colorado State is in the midst of a 4-game homestand, the longest since the team played 5 in a row at home in 1987.
Babcock Punting Debut
Jeff Babcock has punted 15 times in 2003, averaging 43.4 yards per punt including a career-best 67-yarder against Weber State. 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 15 651 43.4
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
Lost Toss
Colorado State has lost all 3 coin tosses in 2003.
Longest Yards
RB Rahsaan Sanders had a career-most 123 yards rushing in last week?s win over Weber State, his 3rd career 100-yard game. Included in his rushing totals was the longest run of his career, a 38-yarder, and his longest career touchdown run, 28 yards.
Three In A Row
Colorado State has had at least 1 100-yard receiving performance in each game thus far. WR Chris Pittman gained 111 yards and scored twice on 7 receptions against WSU, his 2nd 100-yard game of the season and 3rd of his career. WR David Anderson has 2 100-yard games to date.
Long Plays
Colorado State has had 14 pass plays of 20 yards or more in 2003, including 7 of longer than 30 yards and 3 of 40 yards or more.
Long Plays, Part II
The Rams have had 14 runs of 10 or more yards and 6 of 20 or more yards in 2003.
Shutout
Colorado State has yet to allow an opponent field goal in 3 games of the 2003 season.
23-4 Below 300
The Rams are 23-4 when holding an opponent to 300 or fewer yards total offense (see list at right).
Career Bests
The Rams boast arguably one of the nation?s top tight end tandems in Joel Dreessen and Matt Bartz. They have plenty of help. Senior TE James Sondrup and reserve Brandon Alconcel each had 2 receptions in the win over Weber State, establishing new career single-game highs for receptions in a game.
Wynn Returns
A week after leaving the Rams? win over Cal with a thigh bruise, return specialist Dexter Wynn had an impressive outing against Weber State. He returned 1 kickoff 49 yards and 4 punts for 84 yards, for a total of 133 all-purpose yards.
New Leader
With his most extensive playing stint of his career, LB Courtney Jones tied for team honors in the win over WSU with 5 tackles, along with DB Adam Hayward, who was making his 2nd consecutive start.
13th Fewest
Weber State?s 212 total yards ties for the 13th fewest yards gained by an opponent in Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons.
MWC Opener
Following this week?s nonconference game with Miami, the Rams open defense of the team?s MWC title by playing host to Utah on Sept. 27. Game time at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is 4:30 p.m.
First Since
QB Bradlee Van Pelt is the first Rams? quarterback since Matt Newton in 2000 to have 2 300-yard passing games in a season, and first Ram since Scooter Molander in 1988 with back-to-back 300-yard games.
First Since, Part II
WR David Anderson?s, 7-catch, 141-yard, 1 touchdown day at Cal came on the heels of the opening game where he caught 4 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. It marks the first time a Rams? receiver has had back-to-back 100-yard games in receiving since Pete Rebstock in 2001.
Late-Game Success
Colorado State has a 73-4 record (95%) 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
Bradlee Van Pelt, 2003 140
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 79-25 games when attempting less than 35 passes.
Top Marks
QB Bradlee Van Pelt set a school record in the team?s opening game with 416 total yards, and had the 11th best game figure, 377, against Cal. The top single-game total offense marks in school history include:
1. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2003; Colorado 416
2. Scooter Molander, 1987, Hawaii 413
3. Terry Nugent, 1983, Utah 408
4. Terry Nugent, 1983, Northern Colorado 407
5. Pat Juliana, 1972, Utah 404
6. Terry Nugent, 1982, UNLV 398
7. Anthoney Hill, 1994, New Mexico 394
8. Terry Nugent, 1982, UTEP 393
9. Steve Fairchild, 1980, Wyoming 390
10. Kelly Stouffer, 1984, Wyoming 389
11. Bradlee VanPelt, 2003; California 377
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 74 100-yard rushing performances in games during Sonny Lubick?s 10 seasons including seven in 2002. The Rams are 52-11 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 2 1-1
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 74 52-11
The 11 losses in games where a back surpassed 100 yards include:
At Home
The Rams are 39-13 at home during Sonny Lubick?s tenure. Colorado State is 11-3 under Lubick in home nonconference games since 1993.
Year Rec. Loss(es)
2003 1-0 --
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 38-13
On The Road
Year Rec. Road Loss(es)
2003 1-0 --
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 40-19
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
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
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
