Football Weekly Press Notes - Week 1 vs. Weber State

Press Notes (SECTION II)
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Aug. 24, 2006

Game #1
Colorado State (0-0) vs. Weber State (0-0)
25th Annual Ag Day Celebration
Saturday, Sept. 2 * Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium

3p.m. MT/The mtn.

Coaches
Sonny Lubick (Western Montana '60)
Colorado State 13th season, 101-57
Overall 17th year; 122-76
vs. Foe 1-0

Ron McBride (San Jose State '65)
Weber State 2nd season, 6-5
Overall 14th season, 94-68
vs. Colorado State 4-6

Series Capsule
Overall Colorado State leads, 1-0
In Fort Collins 1-0
In Ogden 0-0
Last Meeting 2003 in Fort Collins
Result Colorado State 31, Weber State 7

Radio Information
Outlet Colorado State Sports Network
Flagship KCOL, 600 AM-Fort Collins*
ESPN Radio, KLZ; 560 AM-Denver
Play-by-play Rich Bircumshaw
Analyst Pete Rebstock
Sidelines Brian Roth
*See inside for complete affiliate listing.

Television Information
Outlet mtn.
Play-by-play James Bates
Analyst Todd Christensen
Sidelines Scott Kaplan

Internet
Live audio www.CSURAMS.com
Click on Yahoo.com icon for broadcast.

EXTRA POINTS
* "Green Out" game in conjunction with ASCSU; CSU fans encouraged to wear green to the game.
* Fort Collins Parks & Recreation & Miramont Human Race youth vouchers; free youth ticket with purchase of adult ticket for city flag and tackle football participants wearing team jersey. Vouchers available only through Parks & Rec and Miramont Sports Center.
* Ag Day group tickets available through event organizers.
* Group ticket plans available by calling 970-491-2063.
* Tickets to all CSU events available online at CSURAMS.com.

INJURY REPORT
WR George Hill (right knee); OG Adrian Martinez (right knee); ; LB Nathan Pauly (left shoulder); OT Cole Pemberton (left knee); LB Jake Pottorff (right shoulder); QB Grant Stucker (groin).

Injured List
Colorado State lost 73 man-games played in 2005 due to injury. The current list of missed games due to injuries includes:
*DB Brandon Cathy (left knee), current..

Home season opener first since 1997
Colorado State hopes to reverse a three-game losing streak in opening games when the Rams face Weber State Sept. 2. Colorado State's last three openers have all been against the University of Colorado. The Rams have dropped back-to-back three-point decisions in 2004 and '05 to CU in Boulder, and lost the 2003 game in Denver. Colorado State's last opening-game win came in 2002, a 35-29 win at Virginia. The Rams eventually finished 10-4 that season, won the MWC title and faced TCU in the Liberty Bowl. The past three opening-game losses have been by a total of 13 points.

Opening games at home
Colorado State's season-opener against Weber State Sept. 2 marks the first time since 1997 - a span of eight seasons - in which the Rams play their first game in Fort Collins. Colorado State is 3-1 in four season-openers played during Lubick's previous 13 seasons at home.

NEW PLAYING SURFACE
CSU's football team will have a state-of-the art synthetic playing field at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in 2006, thanks to an additional gift to the original stadium project by benefactor Pat Stryker, who made a gift of $1.2 million for the installation of a new "Field Turf" surface. In 2003, the Bohemian Foundation made a $15.2 million gift to the University to fund the renovation of the Stadium, which included the addition of more than 4,000 seats in the north end zone, two new scoreboards and a new video board, 12 new luxury suites, an expanded premium club seating area, and renovated press box.

AG DAY CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Colorado State's annual Ag Day celebration which recognizes the contributions and advances of the agricultural industry on campus, regionally, and nationally, enters its 25th year in 2006. A pregame barbecue and live entertainment highlight this year's celebration in the parking lot at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium Sept. 2 when the Rams face Weber State.

STAFF EXPERIENCE
Coach Sonny Lubick and his nine assistant coaches form an experienced staff. Lubick and his assistants have combined to coach in 57 bowl games. The group has a combined 166 years total in coaching high school, college, or professional football.

HANIE LONE STAR STATE STARTER
When QB Caleb Hanie goes under center to start the season for the Rams, he'll become the first Texan to open a season at quarterback under Rams' coach Sonny Lubick. Since 1993, the Rams have boasted a trio of Coloradans (Justin Holland, 2004, '05; Matt Newton, 1999, 2000; Ryan Eslinger (1998) and two Californians (D.J. Busch, 2001; Moses Moreno, 1995) to open the season. No Texan has been the team's opening-game starter in the past 50 seasons.

opening games
Colorado State has an 8-5 record in season openers under 14th-year coach Sonny Lubick.

opening games at home, part ii
When the Rams have opened a respective season at home during Sonny Lubick's tenure, the season has proven to be successful. Three of the four previous times CSU has opened at home under Lubick, the team has had a winning season, including an 11-2 finish in 1997. CSU finished '97 ranked 15th nationally, the highest end-of-season ranking in school history. Twice, CSU won conference titles and played in bowl games after opening the season at home. CSU has outscored its opponents, 146-65, in games at home to open the season.

Rams At Home
Colorado State is 48-20 in home games during Lubick's tenure. The Rams are 25-5 in home nonconference games since 1993. The nonconference losses have been at the hands of Oregon (1993), Colorado (1996), Fresno State (2001), Miami of Ohio (2003), and Minnesota (2004).

2005 bowl opponents
Six opponents on Colorado State's 2006 schedule appeared in bowl games in 2005, including three of four nonconference teams, and three Mountain West Conference opponents. The list includes: Colorado (Capital One), Nevada (Hawaii), Fresno State (Liberty), BYU (Las Vegas), Utah (Emerald), and TCU (Houston).

LUBICK SECOND ON LIST
Rams' coach Sonny Lubick is in his 14th season at the helm in 2006. Only Harry Hughes, who was the school's football coach for 31 years, had a longer tenure than Lubick. Hughes was 125-93-18 during his career. Lubick has a 101-57-0 record, and has the highest winning percentage, 63.9, of any coach in school history. He has led CSU to six conference titles and nine bowl games.

Kaylor ATOP CAREER LIST
P Jimmie Kaylor enters 2006 atop the school's list for career punting average. A year ago he led the MWC and ranked fourth nationally in punting average, 45.3. Kaylor had eight punts of 50 yards or more in 2005, and three more longer than 60 yards. Kaylor had 11 of his 53 punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Special Teams Streaks
WR Johnny Walker's 75-yard punt return for the go-ahead touchdown at UNLV marked the first time since Sept. 14, 2002 the Rams had returned a punt for a score, spanning 104 punts. The Rams have since returned 193 kickoffs without a touchdown since Sept. 29, 2001 when Dexter Wynn scored on a kickoff return at Wyoming.

HOME RECORD
Colorado State has a 22-22-1 all-time record at home against the five opponents the Rams face in Fort Collins in 2006. The Rams are 11-6 at home against those opponents during Sonny Lubick's tenure.

MWC Record
Colorado State is 34-16 in 50 MWC games since 1999 when the conference was formed. The Rams are 18-7 at home, 16-9 on the road in MWC action.

EXPLOSIVES
In 2005, Colorado State had 37 rushing plays of 10 yards or more, including 24 by RB Kyle Bell (four touchdowns). The Rams also had 63 pass plays of 20 yards or longer (nine touchdowns), and 10 passing plays that covered 40 yards or more.

New Starter
Following the departure of Justin Holland as the team's quarterback, junior Caleb Hanie figures to step into the void. Hanie brings plenty of experience to the lineup. He replaced Holland in 2004 as the team's starter the final six games of the season when the former quarterback was injured. Hanie is the sixth time in Lubick's 14 seasons at the helm the Rams begin a season with a new starting quarterback.

New Starter, Part II
Five previous first-year starting quarterbacks under Coach Sonny Lubick have a combined 4-1 record in their first collegiate start, respectively.

HALL OF FAME BANQUET NOV. 3
Five new members will join Colorado State's sports hall of fame during induction ceremonies Nov. 3 at the Hilton of Fort Collins. Bryan Berryhill (track and field), Ivan Dykeman (track and field), Floyd Kerr (men's basketball), Angelo Knopf (volleyball), and Mark Mullaney form the class of 2006. The quintet will be honored at a banquet that begins at 5:30 p.m., then recognized at the Rams' football game Nov. 4 against BYU. For banquet information, call 970-491-5067.

starting streaks
CB Robert Herbert enters 2006 have started the teams last 23 games in a row covering two seasons, the longest streak on the team.

BELL ON DOAK WALKER LIST
Junior RB Kyle Bell has been named to the Doak Walker Award watch list in 2006. The award is presented annually to the nation's top runningback. Bell was a second-team all-conference performer last season after rushing for 1,288 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2005. Bell averaged 107.3 yards per game, second in the league and 22nd nationally.

Last Back-To-Back
Bell can become the first CSU back since Damon Washington in 1996 and '97 to rush for more than 1,000 in successive seasons. Only three other players, listed below, have had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in school history. Bell needs 986 yards to join the school's top 10 in career rushing. Former Rams' QB Bradlee Van Pelt is 10th with 2,274 yards.

BELL TOLLS
Bell became the first nonkicker at CSU to lead the team in scoring since Kevin McDougal in 1997. Bell scored 60 points last season, while McDougal had 84 in 1997.

RECEIVING NUMBERS
Gone from the 2006 Colorado State squad will be the school's career leader in receptions, David Anderson. Over a four-year career spanning 2002-05, Anderson caught 223 passes, the most in school history. Six roster players return with at least one career reception, and their combined receptions total is 231: Johnny Walker (78), Kory Sperry (57), Dustin Osborn (52), George Hill (17), Luke Roberts (17), and Damon Morton (10) have combined for 231 catches, eight more than Anderson had when he concluded his CSU career.

Rushing Totals
Colorado State averages 174.9 yards per game rushing in the team's 157 games under Sonny Lubick, including 201.4 in 101 wins and 123.9 in 56 losses.

Opening Drives
Colorado State since 1993 is 33-11 in games the Rams have scored on the opening drive of the game. CSU is 15-27 in games the opponent has scored on the opening drive.

First Scores
Colorado State is 68-14 since 1993 when the Rams score first in a game. The Rams are 32-39 since 1993 when the opponent scores first.

League Play
Colorado State has an impressive 70-28 record in 98 conference games since Sonny Lubick's arrival as head coach in 1993.

Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 69 individual 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 35-29 in games where an opponent rusher has gained 100 or more yards and 58 -23 when an opponent does not have a 100-yard rusher.

Rams' Passing Plans
The Rams are 12-30 in games where the team has attempted 35 or more passes and 89-27 games when attempting less than 35 passes since 1993.

Come-From-Behind Wins
Forty-seven of Colorado State's 100 wins under coach Sonny Lubick have come in games the Rams trailed and rallied to win.

Wire-To-Wire Wins
Fifty-four of CSU's 100 wins under Sonny Lubick have been in games where the Rams have never trailed.

League Milestones
Colorado State's 5-3 MWC record in 2005 marks the 12th time in Sonny Lubick's 13 seasons at the helm the Rams have won four or more league games. Colorado State has won five or more league games 10 times in Lubick's 13 seasons as head coach.

preseason HONORS
Four Colorado State student-athletes were named to the preaseason all-conference team in voting by selected media members, including:

* RB Kyle Bell * DE Jesse Nading * P Jimmie Kaylor * WR Johnny Walker

Late-Game Success
Colorado State has an 84-5 record (94.3 %) under Sonny Lubick when the Rams lead after three periods. The five losses include:
* Sept. 3, 2005; Colorado 31, Colorado State 28; Rams lead 21-10 at end of third quarter. (Boulder).
* Sept. 7, 2002; UCLA 30, Colorado State 19; Rams lead 13-7 at end of third quarter. (Fort Collins).
* Oct. 13, 2001; Fresno State 25, Colorado State 22 (ot); Rams lead, 14-13, at end of third quarter. (Fort Collins).
* Sept. 17, 1998; Air Force 30, Colorado State 27; Rams lead, 27-17 at end of third quarter. (Colorado Springs).
* Nov. 16, 1996; Wyoming 25, Colorado State 24; Rams lead, 24-13, at end of third quarter. (Fort Collins).

Century Rushers
Colorado State has had 84 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The Rams are 59-13 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.

Rams Vs. Ranked Teams
Colorado State 22 times has played top 25 teams during Sonny Lubick's tenure. The Rams are 10-12 in those 22 games. CSU's most recent win over a ranked team on the road was in 1998 at No. 16 Michigan State. The team's most recent victory over a top 25 team came in 2002, a 19-14 win over Colorado in Denver. The Buffaloes entered the game ranked sixth (USA TODAY). The team's win over the highest ranked opponent came in 1994, when Arizona was ranked fourth before losing to CSU, 21-16.

Family Affair
Since Sonny Lubick arrived in Fort Collins, 11 sets of brothers have competed for the Rams, including:

* Mack Craft, CB 1992-95 Jason Craft, CB 1997-98 Denver, Colo. East HS
* Justin Gallimore, CB 1999-01 Jason Gallimore, CB 1999-01 Wheat Ridge, Colo. Wheat Ridge HS
* Jeff Horinek, LB 2004-current Deone Horinek, P 1998-99 Atwood, Kan. Atwood HS
* Sean McDougal, QB 2006- Kevin McDougal, RB 1994-96 Matt McDougal, K/P 1996-99 Arvada, Colo. Arvada West HS
* Damon Morton, WR/KR 2004-current Dion Morton, DB 2005 Riverside, Calif. North HS
* Nathan Pauly, LB 2003-current Eric Pauly, LB 2000-03 Conway Springs., Kan. Conway Spgs. HS
* Morgan Pears, OL 1999-02 Erik Pears, OL 2000-04 Denver, Colo. Kennedy HS
* Brady Schneider, DB/KR 1993-96 Brian Schneider, LB 1990-93 Arvada, Colo. Pomona HS
* Aaron Sprague, DB 1998-01 Russell Sprague, WR 2000-03 Holyoke, Colo. Holyoke HS
* Ben Stratton, DB 2002-current Dane Stratton, OL 2004-current Cheyenne, Wyo. East HS
* Bob Vomhof, DE 2003-current Mike Vomhof, DE 2001-current Gillette, Wyo. Campbell Cty. HS

Rams In The Pros Since Sonny Lubick's arrival in 1993, more than 40 former Ram players have been drafted or signed as free agent with respective NFL teams. When training camps open in 2006, 17 former CSU players were listed on preseason NFL rosters.

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