Colorado State University Athletics
2003 Football Season Review
1/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rams Make 5th Consecutive Bowl Appearance
Colorado State University made history during the 2003 football season by making the school?s 5th consecutive bowl game appearance. The Rams, who finished 3rd in the Mountain West Conference standings, played Boston College in the 2nd Annual Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl. Colorado State has now made a total of 8 bowl game appearances during Coach Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons at the helm, among the highest figuresin the nation. Additionally, the Rams are one of just 7 teams (see list inside) to have 10 or more consecutive winning seasons. Colorado State has won at least 7 games for 10 seasons in row under Lubick?s direction.
2004 Campaign
Colorado State will face inarguably the most difficult schedule in school history in 2004. The Rams will open the season Sept. 4 against in-state rival Colorado in Boulder. The teams have met the past 6 seasons in Denver, playing a neutral site first at Mile High Stadium, then the past 3 seasons at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Games in 2004 and ?05 will be played at Folsom Field in Boulder. Following the opening game Sept. 4, Colorado State plays the University of Southern California - the defending national champion - Sept. 4 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. It will mark the 1st time in school history that Colorado State will face a defending national champion and a team likely picked atop the national standings. The highest ranked team Colorado State has faced previously was the University of Arizona in 1994 in Tucson. The Rams beat the Wildcats, 20-16 to catapult into the national limelight en route to a 10-2 finish, league title, and Holiday Bowl berth. A week following the game at USC, the Rams return home to face the University of Minnesota at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. It will markt he 1st time in school history that a Big 10 Conference team will have played at the stadium. Minnesota enjoyed one of the finest seasons in school history by finishing with a 10-3 record including a victory over the University of Oregon in the Sun Bowl. Colorado State?s remaining home games will include dates (to be announced) with Brigham Young, New Mexico, UNLV, and Wyoming.
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).
Lubick Finalist
Rams? Coach Sonny Lubick was one of 4 finalists for the 2003 Eddie Robinson Coach of Distinction Award, named in honor of the former Grambling coach who won 408 games in 57 seasons. Criteria for the award includes a victorious coach who serves as a role model to his student-athletes and a community volunteer. Lubick has been active locally and nationally as a volunteer for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital, the United Way Fund, and Walk to D?Feet ALS. He has also headed the university?s annual Thanksgiving food drive, helped raise funds for the university library renovation, and is an annual participant in the department?s RamForce community service group which mentors local elementary and junior high school students.
Streaks Intact
Colorado State in 2003 extended several current streaks by the Rams, including:
Pauly Stars in Classroom
Though LB Pauly was been sidelined following the 5th game of season due to a right knee injury, but continued to impact the Rams? program. Pauly was named second-team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He earned first-team honors in 2002. Pauly has a double-major in Computer Information Systems and Business Management. He is a senior from Conway Springs, Kan.
More Classroom Laurels
Pauly had 2 teammates also earn academic honors. OC Mark Dreyer was named Academic All-District while LB Drew Wood earned similar honors. Dreyer is a senior from Brighton, Colo., and is majoring in Marketing while Wood, a senior from Buena Vista, Colo., is majoring in Psychology.
First 100
RB Jimmy Green made his first career 100-yard rushing game at Colorado State a memorable performance. Green, a sophomore from San Diego, carried 25 times for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Rams? 24-23 win at UNLV which clinched a berth in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl. Entering the game, Green had carried a total of 32 times for 173 yards and a score. Green then led th Rams in rushing against Boston College by gaining 74 yards on 20 carries and scoring the team?s 1st touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run.
Running Back 100
Green?s 113-yard performance against UNLV was the 3rd 100-yard game by a running back in 2003. Marcus Houston gained 104 yards in the opening game against Colorado and Rahsaan Sanders broke the century mark in the Rams? win over Weber State.
San Francisco Streak
Colorado State earned its trip to San Francisco for a school-record 5th consecutive bowl game by winning 5 of the team?s final 7 games including the last 2 of the season.
Flora-fied
LB Jeff Flora has played all 3 linebacker positions during the 2003 season. A senior from Arvada, Colo., Flora finished 4th on the team with 75 tackles and led Colorado State with 9 stops in the San Francisco Bowl.
Master P
DB Benny Mastropaolo, who has played both safety positions in 2003 and has started all 13 games, led the team in tackles with 89, including a team-most 54 unassisted tackles. Mastropaolo also made 3 interceptions on the the season, 2nd most on the team including a pick in the team?s San Francisco Bowl game with Boston College.
Good Hands
WR David Anderson stepped into the national spotlight during the Rams? San Francisco Bowl game with Boston College by catching a career-most 10 passes for 134 yards and a 40-yard touchdown. Anderson set the school record for most receptions in a season (72), most receiving yards in a season (1,282), and most 100-yard receiving games in a campaign, 6. Anderson caught 9 scoring passes in 2003, the 2nd highest figure in school history. He also currently is tied for 8th in career touchdown receptions with 10.
Sack Pack
DT Bryan Save has enjoyed a banner season in 2003. He capped his regular season with 3 quarterback sacks in the final 2 games ? 2 against San Diego State and another at UNLV. Save finished the season by making 3 tackles including 1 stop for a 5-yard loss against Boston College. He was 5th on the team and tops among defensive linemen with 59 tackles. He was also 2nd on the team with 12 tackles for 59 yards lost.
Wynn Fall
CB Dexter Wynn has long been recognized as one of the nation?s finest return specialists. Wynn in 2003 had 8 games where he gained 100 or more return yards in a game, including a season-best 156 (on 6 returns) in the team?s win at UNLV. In that game he returned a pair of punts 17 yards, and 4 kickoffs for 139 yards. He also had 100-plus return games against Colorado (8-129), Weber State (5-133), Fresno State (6-120), BYU (8-145), Wyoming (4-107) and New Mexico (5-125), and Boston College (6-152). Wynn concluded his Rams? career 2nd in punt return average, 15.2, and 3rd in kickoff return average, 27.2.
Elite Total Offense List
QB Bradlee Van Pelt 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 2,274 6,169 8,443
Dreessen Career
H-Back Joel Dreessen missed four complete games and was hobbled the entire season by a lower abdominal strain. Dreessen enjoyed the finest receiving game of his career at UNLV, when he caught a career-most 7 passes including the game-winner with under a minute to play on a 3-yard pass from backup QB Justin H olland. He then caught 5 passes for 28 yards in the San Francisco Bowl game with Boston College.
Eighth Time
Colorado State?s 23-22 come-from-behind win at UNLV marked the 8th time during Sonny Lubick?s tenure the Rams erased a 4th quarter deficit to earn a victory.
Rams All-Time
Colorado State is 4-6 all-time in 10 previous bowl games, and 3-5 in 8 bowl trips during Sonny Lubick?s 11 seasons as the team?s head coach.
Stratton Picks
Sophomore CB Ben Stratton recorded 4 interceptions in 2003 and 5 in his career when he returned an errant SDSU pass 35 yards for the Rams? initial touchdown vs. San Diego State. Stratton ranks among the MWC leaders in interceptions and was 3rd on the team wiht 79 tackles in 2003. He saw only limited action in the San Francisco Bowl against Boston College due to a hamstring strain.
Conference Record
CSU has a cumulative 26-9 MWC record, tops by any league member.
Opening Drives
Colorado State scored on its opening drive 3 times in 13 games. In 9 other opening drives, Colorado State has punted 6 times and had 4 turnovers.
Season Victories
Colorado State?s victory over UNLV the assured the Rams a 10th consecutive winning season, extending the current record. The list of consecutive winning seasons includes:
No. Years Coach
10 1994-2003 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 had an 23-12 record as the team?s starting quarterback since taking over in the fourth game of the 2001 season. He started 35 consecutive games but was not in the starting lineup for the San Francisco Bowl due to a broken right hand he suffered in the final regular season game against UNLV. He came off the bench to rush for 65 yards and a touchdown, and throw for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Van Pelt Records Recap
QB Bradlee Van Pelt concluded his career as one of the most prolific offensive performers in school history. He is the school?s career and season total offense leader, and the only quarterback in school history to rank among the top 10 career rushers. The records recap includes:
Team Records Recap
Colorado State had several noteworthy team achievements in 2003, including:
Kicked Off
K Kevin Mark, a redshirt sophomore, kicked off 75 times, and 39 have been downed for touchbacks. The opponents? average starting field position following a Mark kickoff is the 23-yard-line.
Last Quarterback
Van Pelt led CSU with 909 rushing yards in 2003, 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
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 had 138 plays in 2003 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 had 33 rushes of longer than 10 yards, and 105 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.
Babcock Perfect On Road
K Jeff Babock hit all 9 of his field goal attempts in road games in 2003, including a season-most 4 at New Mexico. Babock made 13-of-19 in 2003, and 37-51 field goals in his career.
First Start
QB Justin Holland made the 1st start of his career in the Rams? San Francisco Bowl game with Boston College. Holland, a native of Lakewood, Colo., replaced regular starter Bradlee Van Pelt, who was still recovering from a broken hand he suffered in the team?s final regular-season game at UNLV. Van Pelt had surgery two days following the game. Holland completed 8-of-12 passes for 163 yards in his 1st starting appearance for the Rams.
Four Times
Four of Colorado State?s defeats in 2003 came in games where the Rams outgained their opponents offensively, including the San Francisco Bowl when the Rams finished with 388 total yards, 27 more than the Eagles.
Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 54 individual 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 31-20 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, 2003 909
2. Bradlee Van Pelt, 2002 819
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 7-15 in games where the team has attempted 35 or more passes and 79-26 games when attempting less than 35 passes since 1993.
,b>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 50 2107 42.1
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 78 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 55-12 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 6 3-3
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 3-2 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 42-21
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
Neutral Sites
Year Rec. Neutral Site Loss(es)
2003 0-2 Colorado (Denver); Boston College (San Francisco)
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 7-8
