Colorado State University Athletics
More Kyle Bell!
3/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 17 - Game Time
The spring game is this Saturday, and as a player it's always fun to get to this point of the year. All of the off-season training and all of the work and sweat in spring ball that you put in as a player kind of all come together for this final culmination of the spring. The game is always a lot of fun and is a good game to watch.
It's kind of unfortunate that we aren't going to be able to split up the team into two teams this year, we just don't have the numbers at some positions to do so. But nonetheless, it's still going to be a good game, offense vs. defense. It's hard to believe that this is my last spring game here at CSU, I still feel like one of the young guys trying to prove themselves. But, I'm really looking forward to Saturday and hopefully I can look up to the stands to see a good crowd turnout, because after all, as a fan this is your last chance to get your football fix till August. Hope to see you there!
Make sure you stop in next week to see how the game went and I'll tell you what the next step for us is!
Stay Classy! GO RAMS!
April 8 - The Cowbell
"I'm standing here staring at rock legend Bruce Dickenson, and if Bruce Dickenson wants more cowbell we should probably give him more cowbell."
And we all know what line comes next...
How it all started
Man how time flies. It seems just like yesterday it was my freshman year in the dorms and I saw that SNL skit for the first time. It was with linebacker Jeff Horinek and he was the first person to really coin it for use in regards to me. I never minded it though. I actually do still get a chuckle out on the field when I look up to the scoreboard after a run and see Will Farrell and Christopher Walken proclaiming their desire for more cowbell. It was even cooler when Rams fans started making shirts.
Working my way through spring
We are already halfway through spring practice. It's actually only 15 practices in four weeks, so it usually goes by pretty fast. Everyday we are putting in a bunch of new plays and trying to learn as much of the new offence this spring as possible, that way we can get right into it in the fall. The Green and Gold Game is April 19th, so if you're getting the itch to watch some football come out to Hughes Stadium... it's a pretty good time.
Can you see summer?
Summer is in sight! To all the students out there, I hope your semester is progressing smoothly. It's hard to believe that this is pretty much my last semester for classes. I'll have one class to finish up my major next fall and I might take a scuba diving class just for the heck of it. But, with the added free time it's just more of a reason to have a great football season.
Until next time, play your cowbell loudly!
Stay classy! Go Rams!
March 14 - Pre-Spring Break Mania
Hello again! I hope all of you out there are doing well and I hope all of you students are enjoying and having a productive semester!
I know it's been a couple of weeks since you heard from me, but it always seems like I am finding things to keep me busy. I told you last time about the work that the new football staff has been putting us through, and it hasn't let up. But everyday we strive to work harder, and those mat drills I told you about have gotten somewhat easier as we get in better shape. We just finished up maxing out in the weight room and everyone has gotten a lot stronger. School work seems like it is never in short supply, especially as my final semester grows near. I also continue to do as much with my internship as I can.
Student & athlete
Staying on the topic of keeping busy, not many people know what it's like to be a student athlete. A lot of people are under the predisposition that having a full-ride athletic scholarship means student athletes have it easy. This is not the case. Despite the stereotypes, most of the student athletes here at CSU take our academics very seriously, and a lot is expected of us to stay on top of our eligibility. Another knock on us is that we don't have to get a job to pay our way through school. Again, quite contrary. While we don't have jobs per say, our sport is like a job (albeit the best job in the world). During the season we can devote as much as 30 hours a week to our sport, taking into account practice, workouts, meetings, travel and games. It's almost like a full time job.
While I contend that student athletes don't have it any easier that any other student, I'm not here to say that we have it harder either. Just being a college student is hard enough in itself, and credit must be given to anyone who decides to pursue a degree.
A little free time
But as important as school and sports is, one of the most important treasures we have is our free time. While the time demanded of a student athletes life is at such a premium, free time can be hard to come by. That means taking advantage of that time is important (at least for me).
Keenesburg, my hometown.
Besides taking the time to relax and recover from workouts, I like to get to the rec and play some basketball, hang out with my roommates, play poker, listen to music or hit up the bowling alley or play golf in the summer. One of the passions that I have developed away from athletics is music and my attempt to teach myself to play the guitar. I own a beautiful black Epiphone electric guitar and making sound come out of it is one of the coolest things in the world to me. I'm not Hendrix or Clapton yet, but I'm going to keep on practicing.
Well, I hope that everyone has a fun and safe spring break, regardless of whether you are hitting up Mexico, Vegas, or your parents house. I myself am going to take the time to relax here in Fort Collins for a couple of days and make my way back home for a few, maybe spend a little time on the tractor (as boring as it sounds, it's a little therapeutic in it's own way). As Kenny Chesney says, she thinks my tractor's sexy.
Stay classy, GO RAMS!!
March 4 - Introduction to my blog
You probably know me from those August through November Saturdays at Sony Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in which I play running back for the Rams. If you don't know me, I wear number 34 and I try to take the football from the quarterback and score touchdowns, simple as that.
Putting football aside for a bit, I am a senior at Colorado State with a major in Technical Journalism and a minor in Business. I am currently undertaking my second internship with the President's office, and as part of my work with them I suggested that I do a periodical blog. I hope to share with you
But most of all I want to share the wonderful experiences that I have had and am having at this great university, and maybe impact a few lives in the process (that may be a stretch, but I do what I can).
Getting back to the subject of that one thing that consumes most of my life (aka football), pretty much everyone was saddened by the departure of our beloved coach, Sonny Lubick, and it goes without blame that you may feel that way. Coach Lubick was and is one of the most genuine, authentically good men that you will ever meet, and a darn good football coach. For those who lucky enough to be embraced by his acquaintance, you can attest. It was however that our administration felt that a change was needed, so we wish Coach Lubick the best with everything that he decides to take on from here. Coach Lubick will always be a Ram to us!
If it's Tuesday morning, it must be time for mat drills
As for the here and now, I think that our leaders did a great job going out and hiring Coach Steve Fairchild. Since his hiring, Coach Fairchild has assembled a staff of coaches who are already working hard and expecting success. It is no more evident than in our winter workouts, where you can find us:
What are mat drills, you ask? Well, let's just say extra trash cans are brought in for a reason.
But in all seriousness, it is definitely a transition period for all of us involved, and I can say with confidence that everyone on the team is buying in to what is being expected of us. We understand that mediocrity cannot and will not be accepted, and we're out to prove that we can get back to the top of the Mountain West. I know 2007 was a rough year, but I know that the true Ram fans will be back out in full force when we're out on the field again on August 30th when we take on those guys from Boulder.
Gotta go hit the books...
As for me I must now revert my attention back to the reason I'm here in the first place...my school work. Ok, so I'll probably watch an episode or two of Family Guy first, how can you not love that show. But I am looking forward to sharing with you the adventure that is my life in the following weeks and months to come.
Stay classy...
GO RAMS!
