Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Wraps Up Tuesday Practice
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2005
Colorado State University football coach Sonny Lubick said Tuesday there is a wide difference between his scout team running the flexbone offense and what his defense will see Thursday night when the Rams face Air Force on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. in Fort Collins.
"The speed. There is no way you can emulate it. You can't afford to get a feel of the game, or you are behind," Lubick said.
"Our scout team is doing a good job. But they run it about 70 percent speed. They (Air Force) do it at 100 percent. That's the difference. The speed of the game."
Lubick's team finished its second full day of preparations for Thursday night's Mountain West Conference opener at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. The Rams, 1-2, have faced Air Force four other times on ESPN in Fort Collins on Thursday night, and have never been beaten. In fact, Thursday's game is the school's eighth home appearance at home in prime time since Lubick arrived in 1993, and the Rams are a perfect 7-0.
But to win Thursday, Lubick said, his team must have another solid workout Wednesday.
"Usually the day before a game, we go about an hour. We need another good practice. We'll go about an hour and a half. We have a few little, different coverages, but we have to get it right."
Lubick said the speed of Air Force's option attack is just one of the things that causes teams problems.
"It's out of the realm of what you see all season long," he explained. "It's hard team to prepare for in a short week. Defensively you gear up for basically the same things all year. From one week to the next, maybe 30 percent is new. But this week, it's 100 percent."
Colorado State also received some good news on the injury front. Runningback Nnamdi Ohaeri, who sprained his ankle in the opening game and has missed the past two contests, is expected to be available Thursday night in a reserve role behind starter Kyle Bell.
Offensive guard Brandon Alconcel is questionable for Thursday night's game. He started the first two games, but suffered a dislocated right elbow at Minnesota and did not play last week. He has been fitted with a brace and returned to practice in a limited role Monday, and did the same Tuesday. Lubick, however, said he's unsure if Alconcel will play or note.
Tickets still remain for the game and are on sale by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com. Tickets are also available at all King Soopers and City Market grocery store locations throughout the state of Colorado.
