Colorado State University Athletics
CSU football camp blog: Practice 7
8/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2010
Read previous blogs | 2010 football ticket information
By Zak Gilbert
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – If they believe in the old adage that defense wins championships, fans should be excited about CSU’s prospects based on Tuesday afternoon’s practice.
Continuing the theme of the day, the Rams’ defense picked up right where it left off after the morning session, and dominated the CSU offense, this time 17-2, in a 19-play red-zone scrimmage. The scrimmage, which used a coaches scoring system that awards points to the defense for big plays and holding the green-clad offense to short yardage, concluded CSU’s first day this fall with two practices.
Preseason all-conference linebacker Mychal Sisson had bookend plays to set the tone for the scrimmage on the first series, which started at the defense’s 20-yard line. Sisson broke up a Pete Thomas pass on the first play, then shed his blocker and dropped T.J. Borcky for a 7-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 5, killing the drive.
Davis Burl also sacked Thomas, and Scott Zick broke up a pass.
The most controversial play of the competition was when Klay Kubiak found a hole around right end and weaved his way 10 yards toward the goal line. As he dove for the end zone, two defenders sandwiched him and the ball came loose. Ezra Thompson, who returned an interception for a TD during the morning scrimmage, picked up the ball. Official Phil Serchia, a former CSU offensive lineman and now a manager with the staff, didn’t show any bias and ruled that Kubiak fumbled before he broke the plane. Feeling betrayed, Serchia’s former offensive teammates loudly shared their opinion from the sidelines.
Earlier in the day, Borcky made a deep reception during a thud period, and Alex Williams recovered a fumble.
Scrimmage stats: RUSHING – Kubiak 1-10, Good 1-4, Woodbury 1-4, Drake 1-3, Waters 1-3, Mosure 2-2, P.Thomas 1-(-5), Borcky 1-(-7). PASSING – Ranieri 1-for-2, 3 yards; P.Thomas 1-for-3, 7 yards; Kubiak 1-for-1, 5 yards. RECEIVING – Nwoke 1-7, Law 1-5, Good 1-3. DEFENSE – PBU: Zick, Sisson. Sack: Burl. TFL: Sisson. FR: Thompson.
Media Day: The team gets its first day without practice this fall on Wednesday, when it will take the annual team photo at Media Day. The event is open only to media. There is no public access.
The public is welcome at Meet the Rams Day at Saturday’s 12 p.m. scrimmage, at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
CSU returns to the field Thursday, with practices at 7:45 a.m. and 4 p.m., at its main on-campus facility.
Volleyball: CSU’s nationally ranked volleyball program bids for a 16th straight NCAA tournament appearance this fall, after a conference championship and an appearance in the Sweet 16 last season. The football Rams could use some of that luck, so they introduced volleyballs at Tuesday’s practices.
During the afternoon session, special teams coordinator Larry Lewis bounced the volleyballs in a two-man, punt-coverage drill that simulated pinning the opponent inside its own 2-yard line before the CSU players went into the end zone.
Guest speakers: Fairchild throughout preseason camp has a variety of speakers address the team on subjects outside football. On Monday night, he had two FBI special agents, including the lead special agent for northern and western Colorado, address the team about the on-campus and community threats to their athletic careers.
They spoke about gambling activities that exist on college campuses throughout the country, revealing that nearly all are in some way tied to organized crime. Preying on unsuspecting students, and student-athletes, these organized criminals by involving themselves with student-athletes can ruin careers and the lives of not just the athlete, but also his/her family.
The agents also warned of the dangers of activities that end up on a player’s record, and how they have a far-reaching effect on acceptance to graduate school and launching a career.
Both talked about the unique opportunity every student-athlete has regardless of on-field success, to earn a degree and compete, and to think seriously and think twice about ever jeopardizing that with even something as minor as a misdemeanor.
After a 30-minute presentation, including an undercover video, showing a gambling sting operation involving a college student, players responded with more than a dozen questions. Many of the Rams are interested in a career related to criminal justice.
