Colorado State University Athletics
Rams MWC Media Days Blog: Wednesday recap
7/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 28, 2010
By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Colorado State and the rest of the Mountain West coaches and player representatives concluded the conference's annual preseason publicity event Wednesday morning at the Red Rock Hotel and Casino.
While other teams brought mainly skill-position headliners, the Rams chose to bring players representative of the type of humble team they want to be, a tough, downhill-running offense and a sure-tackling, technique-sound defense.
Nose tackle Guy Miller and fullback Zac Pauga each have played in 37 consecutive games, having never missed a contest during their college careers. They are the only members of CSU's senior class to hold that distinction, and can finish their streaks at an even 50 games by helping the Rams to a bowl.
Each player will graduate in December.
The duo began their day by shooting promotional pieces for CBS College Sports, which will use the footage creatively for its studio shows. They then spent nearly an hour in interviews with sportswriters from around the conference, and concluded their trip by answering a series of questions in one-on-one video interviews for themwc.com.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Steve Fairchild began his morning taping two interviews with The Mtn., then shot promotional pieces for the same network.
While newcomers report Tuesday and returning players Aug. 4, most of the team has been on campus since June 1, taking summer classes and working in the offseason conditioning program, headed by head strength coach Greg Scanlan. Additionally, in player-led workouts, the Rams have practiced much of the summer. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from being on site during a summer practice.
On Aug. 5, the Rams kick off the NCAA-allotted 29 fall practices prior to their Rocky Mountain Showdown opener with CU Sept. 4 at Invesco Field at Mile High. James Bates and Todd Christiansen will have the call on The Mtn.'s nationally televised broadcast. Bates, a former linebacker at Florida, is the brother of Jeremy Bates, the former Gators, Denver Broncos and USC offensive coordinator now with the Seattle Seahawks. Christiansen, who made his mark with the Oakland Raiders, was a five-time Pro Bowler.
Showdown approaching: Pauga told writers Wednesday that the Rams try to keep the Showdown opener with the Buffs in healthy perspective, considering the season is a marathon and not a sprint, but he admitted the game is on the Rams' minds all offseason, from mat drills in February, through spring practice and summer conditioning.
"I can't state how important it is," said Pauga, who grew up in Lakewood, Colo., and went to Green Mountain High School. "Not only is it our first game and we need to start the season right, but it's against CU at Mile High. I don't want to build the game up too much, put too much pressure on our team, but it's an extremely important game."
Support for either freshman: The Sept. 4 opener figures to be the college career debut for either redshirt freshman Nico Ranieri or true freshman Pete Thomas. It'll mark the third straight season that a Rams quarterback is going under center opposite the CU defense in his first college start.
A fourth-year starter, Pauga has seen four CSU starting QBs in his previous three years, Caleb Hanie (2007), Billy Farris (2008), Grant Stucker (2009) and Jon Eastman (2009). And of those four, only Eastman was not a senior. A junior at the time, Eastman started just one game last year before transferring after spring practice.
Pauga, a senior that has 25 starts and hasn't missed a contest during his first three college seasons, said the dynamic of following a freshman at a natural leadership position like quarterback is different. However, he pledged to back either player.
"It is interesting," he said, "but I support Pete or Nico, whoever takes the spot, 100 percent."
Wake-up call: Pauga also said the Rams have been working harder this summer, compared to the months prior to 2009.
"There's definitely been a new mentality this year," he said. "We need to win some games. You go 3-9 and guys work a little bit harder, when things get tough.
"Hindsight is 20-20. We thought we were working hard last year, but obviously we weren't working hard enough. We've got to keep pushing."
