Colorado State University Athletics
Season opener eight days away as CSU conducts mock game
8/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 29, 2009
By Stuart Buchanan
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo.- With the season opener just eight days away, the Rams went to the stadium on Saturday morning for a full game simulation practice.
The coaches had on headsets and were up in the press box, the Rams practiced more of their pregame routine, and there was even a halftime.
Head Coach Steve Fairchild was very happy with how the practice, the longest of the fall, went.
“Everything in terms of our game simulation went well,” Fairchild said. “I thought the quarterbacks did an outstanding job on the clock.”
Fairchild did not want to just touch the basics with this simulation, he wanted to practice everything.
“As of yesterday, we touched everything,” Fairchild said. “And we hit just about everything today. Punting after a safety, onside kicks, Hail Mary’s, all that stuff.”
Even with the successful practice on Saturday, Fairchild still does not believe the Rams are playing to their highest potential.
“I think we’re ready,” Fairchild said. “I like our talent level, I like the way we’re practicing. We are just not as sharp as we need to be to be a good football team right now.”
With the game at Folsom Field just around the corner, the Rams will spend the entire week focusing on CU.
Fairchild said that the majority of the reps will be given to the starters and players who will see the field the most on Sept. 6. This means that it is time to start evaluating true freshman players and see who will be redshirting.
“Larry (Lewis) and I need to sit down and visit on Ezra (Thompson), obviously Lou Greenwood, and Chris Nwoke,” Fairchild said. “I’m sure C.J. James is going to play, and I’m sure the punter is going to play.”
That punter, freshman Pete Kontodiakos, continues to impress coaches during each practice. On Saturday Kontodiakos punted the ball 63 yards with his heels on the back of the end zone during an 11-on-11 situation. Later in practice during another situational drill, Kontodiakos landed two punts inside the 20-yard line.
The Rams will not practice on Sunday but will be back out on Monday afternoon as the game week begins.
