Colorado State University Athletics
Football Preview ? Weber State
9/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Series Update
Saturday?s game marks the first meeting ever between the teams.
At Home
Colorado State is 38-13 at home during Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons as head coach of the Rams including a 4-1 mark last season.
Ag Day Celebration
Saturday?s game is the annual Ag Day celebration to recognize the state?s agricultural industry, and the relationship enjoyed by the university with the region?s agricultural constituents.
Injury Report
DE Luke Adkins (shoulder sprain; ankle sprain; concussion); OT Michael Brisiel (ankle sprain); OC Mark Dreyer (right finger; concussion); DE Patrick Goodpaster (sprained toe); DB Adam Hayward (finger); RB Uldis Jaunarajs (hamstring); TE Clint Oldenburg (groin pull); DB Dexter Wynn (quadriceps contusion).
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.
Opening Day
Colorado State plays its first home game since the stadium was renamed following a $15.2 million gift announced last May for renovation and expansion of the facility made by Pat Stryker and the Bohemian Foundation. A season ago, the Rams set a new school record for the largest crowd for a home opener, 31,607 in a win over Louisville. The largest opening day crowds at the newly-named Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium include:
Starting Record
QB Bradlee Van Pelt has a 17-8 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 1-1 -- --
2000 Matt Newton 10-2 1st Liberty
1997 Moses Moreno 11-2 1st Holiday
1994 Anthoney Hill 10-2 1st Holiday
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.
Rams On Lists
Five Colorado State student-athletes are listed on ?watch lists? for eight individual postseason awards, including:
Walkon Wonders
Throughout Sonny Lubick?s coaching career at Colorado State the Rams have annually had numerous nonscholarship players in active roles. In 2003, nine walkon players are on various special teams. Three former walkons - K Jeff Babcock, LB Jeff Flora and DB Benny Mastropaolo - are in the starting lineup.
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 - 26 games in a row - dating back to the 2001 season and including one game in 2003. Pittman has caught at least one pass in 16 consecutive games.
Babcock Punting Debut
Jeff Babcock has punted 13 times thus far in 2003, of which 4 of which have been downed inside the opponents? 10-yard line. He notched 3 punts inside Cal?s 10-yard line in last week?s win. Averages for first-year starting punters during Sonny Lubick?s tenure include:
Year Punter No. Yds. Avg.
1999 Deone Horinek 52 2331 44.8
2003 Jeff Babcock 13 540 41.5
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
Field Goal Site
K Jeff Babcock made 3 field goals including the 32-yard game winner in the Rams win over Cal as well as a career-best 48-yarder. He 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 0
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 2 3-5 60.0 0-0 1-1 1-2 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 16 27-37 73.0 0-0 10-10 9-15 8-12 0-0 48 1
Sack Pack
Colorado State?s defense has generated 8 quarterback sacks in the first two games - four in each. The Rams had 4 sacks for 32 yards lost against Colorado in the opening game and 4 for 23 yards lost in last week?s win at Cal.
Rushing Defense
Colorado State is allowing just 76.5 yards per game. The Rams have allowed a total of 157 yards on the ground, including just 51 in the win over California, and 102 the previous week.
Pauly Plays
LB Eric Pauly had another stellar performance for the Rams in the win over California. He had 9 tackles (7 unassisted), along with 3 tackles for 13 yards lost, 2 quarterback sacks that resulted in 12 yards lost, and a pass interception. Pauly had only 2 total sacks entering the 2003 season.
Van Pelt Leads
Rams? QB Bradlee Van Pelt begins play this week as the nation?s total offense leader, averaging 396.5 yards per game. His 2-game breakdown includes:
Game Rush Pass Total
Colorado 77 339 416
California 60 317 377
Touchdown Passes
QB Bradlee Van Pelt threw 2 scoring passes in the Rams? 23-21 win at Cal, raising his season total to 5. He did not throw his fifth scoring pass in 2002 until game 11.
Van Pelt Briefs
Long Plays
WR David Anderson is establishing himself as one of the conference?s top young players. In two games, he has 11 receptions for 283 yards and 2 touchdowns, surpassing his total in 2002 as a true freshman, 8 receptions for 180 yards. Six of his receptions have been for 20 yards or more, and 4 have been longer than 30 yards.
In All 8
Colorado State has scored at least 3 points in all 8 quarters played through 2 games.
22-4 Below 300
Colorado State held Cal to just 299 total yards (52 rushing) in the 23-21 Rams? win. It marked the 26th time in Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons as head coach the Rams have held an opponent to less than 300 yards. The Rams are 22-4 (84.6 winning percentage) in those games. (see list at right)
Dreessen Long Distance
HB Joel Dreessen had an 85-yard catch-and-run play from QB Bradlee Van Pelt for a touchdown at Cal, tying for the second longest scoring pass play in school history, and longest ever by a tight end.
Tackles Tackle
NT Bryan Save and DT Lavell Mann are off to quick starts in 2003. Save had a career-most 7 tackles at Cal, including 2 for 6 yards lost. Mann, for the second game in a row, tied his career high with 5 tackles.
Dreyer Update
OC Mark Dreyer suffered a detached tendon on his right ring finger in the opening game, and after having practiced the week leading up to the game at Cal snapping left handed, continued to snap with his right hand despite the injury. He will have the injury re-examined early this week prior to the game with Weber State.
Anderson Yardage
Not only did WR David Anderson gain 141 receiving yards in the win over Cal, he replaced injured return specialist Dexter Wynn (quadriceps contusion) on kickoff and punt returns. In all, Anderson had 177 all-purpose yards in the game and scored a touchdown. His capsule included:
Game Rec. Punt Kick Total
California 141 16 20 177
Home Openers
Colorado State is 9-1 in home opening games during Sonny Lubick?s tenure. The Rams have won nine in a row, dating back to the only loss in a home opener, 21-9 to Oregon on Sept. 4, 1993, Lubick?s first game as Colorado State?s head coach.
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.
New Faces
Colorado State had a trio of new faces in the secondary in the win over Cal. SS Adam Hayward made his first career start, with Bennie Mastropaolo moving to free safety. DB Lukas Davis saw extensive duty in the secondary and had seven tackles, while CB Brandon Cathy replaced injured Dexter Wynn in the lineup and had four tackles. Hayward is a true sophomore while Davis and Cathy are redshirt freshmen. CB Ben Stratton, starting opposite Wynn, is a true sophomore who preserved the victory with a late-game interception in the win over Cal.
Next Week
Colorado State continues its four-game homestand by facing Miami of Ohio. Kickoff time is 1 p.m. There is no television coverage planned for the game. Colorado State then opens defense of its Mountain West Conference crown Sept. 27 by facing the University of Utah at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. Kickoff time is 4:30 p.m. The homestand concludes Oct. 4 with the team?s final nonconference game of the year against Fresno State University. Kickoff time is 1 p.m. at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
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
Bradlee Van Pelt, 2003 137
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 78-25 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 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:
