Colorado State University Athletics
Spring Drills Begin For Rams
3/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Fort Collins - Colorado State University's football team opened spring practice Wednesday with a two-hour workout in shorts and helmets in cold, windy weather.
"I was very pleased with the first practice," said Rams' coach Sonny Lubick, in his 12th year at the helm.
Lubick has more 45 letterwinners on hand - including 18 returning starters - from last year's squad.
"We did not lose many players - but the ones we did lose were good players," he said. "We should get a lot done this spring. We have a lot of players back."
One of those returnees is senior quarterback Justin Holland, who missed the last half of the year after fracturing an ankle in the team's 19-17 win at San Diego State. He missed the rest of the year after undergoing surgery. Holland threw for 1,622 yards in five-plus games, and while he'll participate in spring practices, won't be subject to live contact.
Lubick said Holland performed well Wednesday, and also praised the play of sophomore Caleb Hanie. Hanie replaced Holland in the lineup last season as as true freshman.
"Caleb looked today like he's been here a couple of years. He looks a lot better right now than at any time last year," said Lubick.
Lubick said he's hopeful the first day's work carries through the rest of the spring.
"If we could practice like we did tonight, we'd have a good spring," he said. "There's a lot of competition, especially in places like the secondary. We did see some young guys look better now than at any time last year."
Lubick said the team seems committed to reversing last year's 4-7 record, which broke a string of 10 consecutive winning campaigns.
"It was a tough season last year, no question about that," he said. "I want us to be a more physical football team than last year."
The veteran coach also said the Rams will be without cornerback Robert Herbert the rest of the spring. Herbert underwent minor surgery Wednesday to repair a stress fracture in his leg, but is expected to return to full strength by the opening of fall drills in August.
The Rams will again practice in shorts and helmets Friday afternoon, then workout Saturday in full pads beginning at 12 noon, with another practice scheduled Sunday.
Colorado State opens the season Sept. 3 at Colorado, and plays the following week at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Rams open the home season in newly-renovated Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium against the University of Nevada.
