Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Ready to Begin 2005 Season
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 27, 2005
Colorado State University's football squad enters the 2005 season aimed at returning to the prominence that produced eight bowl games and six conference titles over a 10 year span.
Coach Sonny Lubick, in his 13th year at the helm, has put CSU's program among the elite in the Mountain West Conference. After a subpar season in 2004, Lubick and his squad are determined to return to prominence in 2005.
Players report for practice Aug. 3, and workouts begin the following day. The team will practice once a day beginning Aug. 4. In a change from previous years, annual Media Day activities are slated after practice has begun. Media Day takes place at 10 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 9 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
Under NCAA rules adopted previously, the team won't hold two workouts in a day until Aug. 10, and alternates with single practice sessions until school begins Aug. 22.
Lubick welcomes back 18 starters from last year's squad including All-American candidate David Anderson, a senior wide receiver from Westlake Village, Calif. Anderson enters the 2005 season within reach of nearly every career pass receiving mark at Colorado State.
In three seasons, he has caught 137 passes, currently fifth on the school's career list and 54 shy of tying Greg Primus' career mark, 191.
Anderson has gained 2,413 yards receiving, fourth on the list but just 750 shy of Primus' record, 3,163. He also has 12 touchdown receptions, ninth most in school history.
Quarterback Justin Holland also returns after having missed half of last season when he was felled by a leg injury that required surgery. In five-plus games last season he threw for more than 1,600 yards and was on track for a record-setting season.
Holland figures to have plenty of protection, with starters Albert Bimper, Mike Brisiel, Josh Day, and Clint Oldenburg returning up front. Bimper, a center who has started 32 career games, and Brisiel, a tackle who has started 33 games, are both three-year starters.
H-Back Kory Sperry was fifth on the team with 15 receptions last season as a true freshman.
Lubick put an emphasis on an improved rushing game throughout the spring. In 2004, Colorado State rushed for 1,228 yards, fewest in Lubick's 12 seasons at the CSU helm.
Leading the list of returnees is senior Jimmy Green (436 yards, 3 touchdowns) and sophomore Kyle Bell (96 yards). Newcomer Nnamdi Ohaeri, a junior college transfer who formerly played at UCLA and figures to be in the chase for playing time.
Defensively, the Rams figure to be improved with eight returning starters including senior safety Ben Stratton from Cheyenne, Wyo., who was second on the team with 88 tackles a season ago.
Linebackers Courtney Jones, Jahmal Hall, and Luke Adkins were starters a year ago but each were hampered by injuries.
Defensive ends Terrance Carter and Jesse Nading were part-time starters who figure to anchor the line in 2005.
The Rams must also replace departed kicker and punter Jeff Babcock. Kevin Mark, a senior, has the inside track as the team's kicker while sophomore Jimmie Kaylor leads the list of punting candidates.
School officials also said the school's most ambitious and aggressive season and single-game ticket campaign is continuing with a goal to sell out each of the team's five home games. The Rams' home slate includes Ag Day Sept. 24 against the University of Nevada. That game will be the first in the newly-renovated stadium.
Five days later the Rams open Mountain West Conference play by hosting Air Force. Two-time defending MWC champion Utah visits Fort Collins Oct. 8 for the school's annual Homecoming & Family Weekend.
Colorado State then entertains Border War rival Wyoming Oct. 22, then closes out the home schedule Nov. 12 against San Diego State.
For ticket information, call 1-800-491-RAMS, or order tickets online, at CSURAMS.com. Tickets are also available at more than 100 King Soopers and City Market grocery store locations throughout the state.
Key Calendar Dates Aug. 3 Wednesday Players Report Aug. 4 Thursday Practice begins (4 p.m.) Aug. 9 Tuesday Media Day (10 a.m.) Aug. 11 Thursday Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce Kickoff Luncheon Hilton of Fort Collins Aug. 18 Thursday Front Range Kickoff Luncheon Denver Tech Center Marriott Aug. 22 Monday Classes begin Aug. 29 Monday Sonny Lubick News Conference C.B. & Potts Restaurant
