Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Rams notes: Football vs. Minnesota, Sept. 12
9/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 2015
A VICTORY SATURDAY WOULD…
ABOUT THE RAMS
With Saturday’s victory over Savannah State, Colorado State extended its home win streak to a school-best nine games. The streak began Nov. 9, 2013 with a victory over Nevada, and continued through the entire 2014 season (6-0) and now into 2015. Previously, the program’s best streak was eight, accomplished from 1989-91 and again across the 1999-2001 seasons.
Several firsts and records were set with Saturday’s victory over Savannah State, but perhaps the most special was the fact that it gave the program its 500th all-time victory. CSU football, which began in 1893 and earned its first win on Jan. 28 of that year, is 500-553-33 (.475) all-time. The Rams became the seventh school in the Mountain West to reach the milestone.
ONE AND COUNTING
While Saturday’s victory was the school’s 500th all-time, it was Mike Bobo’s first as a head coach. Bobo is the fifth Rams coach to win his debut, joining Julius “Hans” Wagner, Bob Davis, Jerry Wampfler and Jim McElwain.
“Any time you get a chance to play anything, I don’t care if it’s the first or the 50th or the 100th, I like to win,” Bobo said afterward. “I like to compete. I’m 41, and 36 years probably, since I was five, I’ve sat in there and listed to the head coach talk, wondering what it’s like to be a head coach, how I’d feel. But it really ain’t about me; it’s about them… Them playing together and playing for each other, and I thought they did that today.”
TAKING DOWN THE POWERFUL
CSU is one of four Group-of-Five schools with a victory over a school from a Power 5 conference in three consecutive seasons. The Rams defeated Colorado in 2012, Washington State in 2013 and both Colorado and Boston College in 2014. They will have at least two chances to improve upon that streak in 2015, beginning Saturday against Minnesota and again against Colorado on Sept. 19.
BYU holds the nation’s active record, extending its streak to 10 seasons with its win over Nebraska last Saturday, followed by CSU, Louisiana Monroe and Northern Illinois with three apiece.
Prior to CSU’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to Utah on Dec. 20, the Rams had won three consecutive games against teams from Power 5 conferences, which was tied for the for the second-longest active streak in the NCAA FBS.
THE POWER 5 AT HUGHES
Saturday will be the first time since 2007 that a school from a Power 5 conference has played at Hughes Stadium. Dating back to the venue’s opening in 1968, just 10 schools currently part of the Power 5 have played non-conference games at Hughes.
The Rams’ lone wins were over Louisville in 2002 and West Virginia in 1978. Louisville (now with the ACC) at the time was a member of Conference USA, while West Virginia (Big 12) was an independent.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
CSU lost its starting quarterback to the NFL, its leading rusher and is under a new, no-huddle system under a new head coach, but there were few hiccups Saturday as CSU poured on 598 yards of offense for 65 points in its season-opening victory.
CSU scored 47 seconds into the game, the second-fastest score to open the season in school history. The early strike was a preview for what was ahead, as CSU scored on 10 total drives. Six of the Rams’ nine touchdowns were scored in 1:00 or less, including one in eight seconds and another on defense. Overall, the Rams had the ball for just 38.8 percent of the game, despite scoring 65 points.
STRONG DEBUT
Sophomore Nick Stevens had a debut to remember Saturday, his first career start. The quarterback led CSU to scores on six of his first eight drives, jumping out to a commanding 45-7 lead at halftime. When all was said and done, his final stat line read: 20-for-28, 289 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
“I think it went well for the first game,” Stevens said. “I obviously made some mistakes and have some things to improve on for next week, but it went really well and I was happy with the performance today. I think I came in with a lot less nerves than what I thought I would have, and I think we did a good job of coming off fast and that got the nerves off everybody.”
As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Stevens backed up Garrett Grayson, appearing in five games and completing 15-of-25 passes for 136 yards.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stevens’ strong performance Saturday was recognized by the conference, being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. It marks the second consecutive season that a CSU player has earned the honor following the first week of action. In 2014, running back Dee Hart was named the offensive player of the week while kicker Jared Roberts earned special teams honors after defeating Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
SPREADING THE LOVE
The Rams spread the ball around Saturday, with 11 different players catching at least one pass. CSU began the game with three receivers lined up, and the first pass went to All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins. The junior led all players with seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, but he was hardly the only target. Senior Joe Hansley had five catches for 67 yards and a score, while senior tight end Kivon Cartwright caught three passes for 56 yards and the team’s first offensive touchdown.
Of the Rams’ six receiving touchdowns (second-most in school history), all six went to different receivers. The 11 pass catchers included six receivers, two tight ends, two running backs and one fullback. The list does not include Preseason All-Mountain West tight end Steven Walker.
GROUND GAME
No doubt, the ball was flying through the air and receivers were making plays, but CSU also saw success on the ground Saturday. The Rams passed 36 times and ran 33, with five different backs receiving a carry. Purdue transfer Dalyn Dawkins started the game and carried the rock five times for 37 yards. Senior Jasen Oden, Jr. was next in line and led the team with 11 carries and 74 yards, including a long of 28. He also had two receptions, including a four-yard catch and score late in the second quarter.
In addition to a 25-yard reception, wide receiver Deionte Gaines had one carry, taking it 18 yards around the right side for a touchdown. Sophomore Deron Thompson had six carries for 47 yards and true freshman Izzy Matthews made his debut and did not disappoint, totaling 53 yards on six carries, including a 37-yard touchdown on the final play of the game.
All told, CSU’s rushers averaged 6.6 yards per carry, totaling 217 yards on the ground.
DEFENSIVE STATEMENT
The offense put up big numbers Saturday, but the defense was also deserving of praise, keeping Savannah State off the board until late in the second quarter, and out of the end zone on all but one drive.
Led by senior Martavius Foster’s three sacks, the Rams got to the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage six times, and recorded 16 tackles for loss overall – which leads the NCAA FBS through one week of play. Redshirt freshman Josh Watson had three of those tackles for loss, part of his team-most nine tackles on the day. Additionally, senior DeAndre Elliott had an interception and junior Kevin Davis pounced on a bad snap two plays into the game to recover a fumble and score his first collegiate touchdown. It marked the fourth time in CSU history that the team’s first score of the season came on defense or special teams.
Savannah State was limited to 183 yards of offense and 11 first downs, and through the first quarter had negative yards.
SHARING TIME AT QB
Bobo announced during his press conference last Monday that he would use backup quarterback Coleman Key during Saturday’s opener and continuously throughout the season. He reiterated that Stevens’ job was secure, but that he wanted to get Key into game action on a regular basis, noting that other positions can play special teams to get time on the field but that quarterback is different.
Key made his debut in the second quarter, and played a significant amount in the second half. The redshirt freshman showed some positives, completing 7-of-8 passes for 92 yards and his first touchdown pass, but also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
#HOLLYWOODHIGGINS
Colorado State has one of the most-decorated players in the entire country in junior Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins. In two seasons, the wide receiver has rewritten the CSU record books, holding the school’s marks for single-season yards and touchdowns in addition to career touchdowns.
His game has elevated CSU to new heights, and the nation has taken notice. In 2014, Higgins was a consensus first-team All-American – CSU’s first since 1995 and third ever – after leading the NCAA FBS with 1,750 receiving yards, 17 touchdown receptions and 18.2 yards per catch. He totaled at least 100 yards in nine consecutive games, a CSU record and a streak which led the nation.
Higgins was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award – the other two, Amari Cooper and Kevin White, were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. This summer, he was one of three players named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year. Of the Walter Camp nominees, just three others were also first-team Walter Camp All-Americans in 2014. In July, he was picked as the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, and has been named to preseason All-America first teams by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today.
GET YOUR POPCORN READY
In an effort to promote Higgins for major awards, including the Biletnikoff Award, Heisman Trophy and others, the CSU Athletics Department launched a campaign, including a website - www.HollywoodHiggins.com - and promotional popcorn. The bags of popcorn have a photo of Higgins with the text, “Hollywood performances are best enjoyed with popcorn.” The popcorn was distributed to members of the media at Mountain West Media Days in July, and will continue to be sent out throughout the season.
The Hollywood nickname was given to Higgins by his peewee coach and has taken off over the past two seasons as Higgins’ game has continued to elevate.
SETTING THE TEMPO
A cliché across sports is that a win in the season opener sets the tone for the entire season, and while last Saturday was just Game 1 of 12, it was an important first victory. Of the 60 seasons that CSU has won its opener, it has gone on to have a winning record 38 times (.633). CSU’s season-opening victory was its fourth in the past five seasons.
LOOKING FOR NUMBER 2
Just five CSU coaches have won their debut, and a win Saturday over Minnesota would make Bobo one of three to begin their career 2-0. The feat hasn’t been accomplished in nearly 70 years. Julius “Hans” Wagner did it in 1942, while Bob Davis started 2-0 in 1947.
BEGINNING THE SEASON AT HOME
Over the past 11 years, CSU has won its home opener nine times, but Saturday was just the second time during that span that the team’s home opener came during the same week as the team’s season opener. In 2006, CSU beat Weber State 30-6 on Sept. 2, setting up a 4-1 start to the year.
DEBUTS
Bobo and much of his staff weren’t the only Rams making their debuts Saturday. Six Rams made their first career starts against Savannah State, while 18 players made their collegiate debuts: Wyatt Bryan, Braxton Davis, Dalyn Dawkins, Patrick Elsenbast, John Freismuth, Colton Foster. Kyle Jacobs, Olabisi Johnson, Coleman Key, Izzy Matthews, George Maumau, Saladin McCullough II, Colby Meeks, Braylin Scott, Trey Smith, Demontrie Taylor, Tre Thomas and Darnell Thompson.
WELCOME BACK, KIVON
Playing for the first time in more than a year, sixth-year senior tight end Kivon Cartwright had an emotional return, catching three passes for 56 yards, including the team’s first offensive touchdown. The nine-yard touchdown in the first quarter was just his second catch since 2013, and his first touchdown since Oct. 19, 2013 at Wyoming.
Cartwright missed all but one game in 2014 with an injury and received a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA in February. Cartwright was an All-Mountain West performer in 2013 and has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List each of the past two seasons.
ORANGE IS THE NEW GREEN
Colorado State honored its Aggie heritage last Saturday, as fans and the team wore the color orange in honor of the school’s annual Ag Day celebration. Formerly the Colorado A&M Aggies (prior to 1957), CSU’s jerseys represented the school’s original colors of pumpkin and alfalfa.
Since 1981 Ag Day, hosted by CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Department of Intercollegiate Athletics along with Colorado agricultural organizations and associations, is a non-profit event with Ag Day proceeds furnishing scholarships to CSU agricultural science students. Prior to the game, Colorado agricultural growers and producers prepared Colorado’s premier outdoor barbecue from quality Colorado food products.
While donning the orange uniforms in Orange Outs, CSU is 6-0.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
While the Rams graduated two NFL Draft picks in 2014, they return a large nucleus of their record-breaking season. In total, CSU brings back 55 letterwinners from its 10-win team, including 15 starters. The Rams also return five players who registered at least three starts in 2014, and tight end Kivon Cartwright, a starter in 23 career games who was granted a sixth year of eligibility in February by the NCAA.
In total, CSU returns 82.5 percent of its receiving yardage from 2014, 40.7 percent of its rushing yardage and 34.9 percent of its touchdowns. On defense, the Rams return more than two-thirds of their tackles (67.8 percent), tackles for loss (73.7), sacks (92.1), interceptions (76.9), pass defense (69.5), forced fumbles (70.7) and fumble recoveries (83.3). They also return their punter and primary kick returner.
No team nationally has logged more career receiving yards than CSU, and only Cincinnati has more touchdown receptions. CSU’s quarterbacks will be looking for targets – wide receivers, tight ends and running backs – who have accounted for 455 career receptions (7th) for 6,268 yards (1st) and 50 touchdowns (2nd) entering 2015.
CSU returns its top four pass catchers from 2014 and 10 of the 12 players who caught at least three or more passes last season. The wide receiver corps alone has logged 350 career receptions for 4,986 yards (14.2) and 36 touchdowns.
HIGH-PRODUCTION TANDEM
Junior wide receiver Rashard Higgins (164 rec., 2,587 yds.) and senior wide receiver Joe Hansley (108 rec., 1,427 yds.) are the first tandem in CSU football history to enter a season both with at least 108 career receptions and at least 1,427 yards. The only other time in school history that another Rams duo began a season each with 100 or more receptions was in 2001 when Dallas Davis and Pete Rebstock entered the season with 105 and 103 receptions, respectively.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins has recorded a catch in all 27 collegiate contests he has played in. Just six receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games. Arizona State’s D.J. Foster leads the group with 41 games in a row.
YOUNG KID ON THE BLOCK
After 15 years as an assistant, Mike Bobo will make his head coaching debut on Saturday, and will do so at the age of 41. That makes him the 13th-youngest head coach in the NCAA FBS. Among the 18-youngest coaches, five come from the Mountain West (Boise State’s Bryan Harsin, 38; Nevada’s Brian Polian, 40; UNLV’s Tony Sanchez, 41; and Utah State’s Matt Wells, 41). PJ Fleck of Western Michigan is the FBS’s youngest coach, at 34.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
Coming off of its first 10-win season since 2002, the Colorado State football team looks to build off its 2014 success to accomplish several rare feats. A bowl-game appearance this fall would be CSU’s third in a row, which hasn’t been done since playing in five consecutive bowl games from 1999-2003 under Head Coach Sonny Lubick. Additionally, if the Rams are able to post a double-digit win total again, it would mark their first back-to-back 10-win seasons ever. All-time, 2014 was CSU’s fifth 10-win season in school history.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
After five decades playing at Hughes Stadium, the Rams will bring football back to campus beginning in 2017. The new, $220 million on-campus stadium will hold 41,000 people, and will be located on the heart of campus, at the intersection of Pitkin and Meridian (Hughes Stadium is located approximately three miles west of campus). The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium will have the ability to be used by multiple sports teams, will have an alumni center and academic space built in.
Site prep began in May, and a groundbreaking ceremony will take place prior to CSU’s game against Minnesota on Sept. 12. More information can be found at www.stadium.colostate.edu.
THURSDAY-NIGHT TV
Thursday Night Football will have to take a backseat for Rams fans. Debuting last week, fans in the region have two opportunities to get an inside glimpse of CSU football. The Rams Report is back for its second season on ROOT SPORTS, and will air every Thursday from 6:30-7 p.m. Prior to that, Todd Romero and former CSU and NFL standout Joel Dreessen will co-host STATE of the Rams on Altitude, from 6-6:30 p.m.
COORS LIGHT COACH’S SHOW RETURNS
The Coors Light Coach Bobo Coach’s Show will debut on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. MT at C.B. & Potts on Elizabeth Street. The show will occur every Wednesday with the exception of Oct. 21 (bye week) and Nov. 25 (moved up to Nov. 24). The show can also be heard on CSU’s flagship radio station, ESPN 105.5.
ENTIRE WEEK 2 NOTES (PDF)
THE SETTING
The Rams are 1-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons, and will play host Saturday to Minnesota of the Big Ten. It will be the first time a Power-5 school has played in Fort Collins since No. 10 California in 2007. The Golden Gophers are 0-1 after falling to No. 2 TCU last week. Kickoff is slated for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT.
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A VICTORY SATURDAY WOULD…
- Extend CSU’s school-record home win streak to 10 games. The Rams haven’t lost at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium since the 2013 season.
- Improve CSU’s record to 2-0, the first time since 2011 that the Rams would begin a season with consecutive victories.
- Make head coach Mike Bobo the third coach in CSU history to begin his career 2-0. Julius “Hans” Wagner did it in 1942 and Bob Davis accomplished the feat in 1947.
- Give the Rams a win over a Power-5 school for the fourth consecutive season, a streak which would rank second nationally.
- Be CSU’s first non-conference victory over a current member of a Power-5 conference at Hughes Stadium since defeating Louisville in 2002.
- Be the Rams’ first win over Minnesota. The Golden Gophers won the first two matchups in the series, in 2004 and 2005.
ABOUT THE RAMS
- Under first-year head coach Mike Bobo, formerly the offensive coordinator at Georgia.
- Return 17 starters from last year’s 10-win team (7 on offense, 8 on defense, 2 on special teams).
- Looking for third consecutive bowl game berth.
- Picked to finish third in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division.
- Highlighted by consensus All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who led the NCAA FBS for yards (1,750) and touchdowns (17) in 2014 and was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
- As a team, return 83 percent of its receiving yardage from 2014. The team’s pass catchers lead the NCAA FBS with more than 6,400 career yards combined.
- Began the season 1-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
- In the season opener, scored the fifth-most points in school history and won by 52 points, the largest margin of victory since 1997.
- Led by Jerry Kill, who is in his fifth season with the Golden Gophers (25-27).
- Return 15 starters from 2014, including seven on the defensive side of the ball.
- QB Mitch Leidner has started 17 career games, passing for 15 touchdowns and rushing for 17, third-most in school history.
- Five Gophers were named to preseason watch lists: Peter Mortell (Ray Guy, Wuerffel), De’Vondre Campbell (Butkus), Rodrick Williams (Earl Campbell Tyler Rose), Briean Boddy-Calhoun (Bronko Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik) and Eric Murray (Bronco Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik).
- Began the season receiving 25 votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
- Lost to No. 2/2 TCU, 23-17, in the season opener. Minnesota rushed for 144 yards and passed for 197.
- Went 8-5 in 2014, appearing in the school’s third consecutive bowl game.
- In 2014, Minnesota rushed 599 times for 2,801 yards and 32 touchdowns.
- A win Saturday would extend CSU’s school-record home win streak to 10 games. The Rams haven’t lost at home since 2013.
- .CoachBobo_CSU can become the Rams’ 3rd head coach to begin his career 2-0. He’s one of five to win his debut.
- CSU has beaten a school from a Power 5 conference in 3 consecutive seasons, tied for 2nd nationally.
- Minnesota is the first Power 5 school to play at Hughes Stadium since No. 10 Cal in 2007.
- Minnesota leads the series with CSU, 2-0, beating the Rams in 2004 in Fort Collins and 2005 in Minneapolis.
- Through Week 1, CSU had 16 tackles for loss, most in @NCAAFootball. Watson and Foster had 3 apiece.
- CSU ranks 6th in @NCAAFootball for scoring, 10th for passing offense and 15th for total offense.
- CSU, Appalachian State and San Jose State are the only 3 schools in NCAA FBS to rank in the top 15 for both total offense and total defense.
- The Rams’ win over Savannah State was the school’s 500th all-time. CSU’s first win came in January 1893.
- CSU’s season-opening win marked the fourth time in the past five years that the Rams have started the season 1-0.
- CSU’s 65 points Saturday vs. Savannah State were the 5th-most in school history and third-most at Hughes Stadium.
- CSU’s 52-point margin of victory over Savannah State was the program’s largest since beating Hawai’i 63-0 in 1997.
- CSU’s 9 touchdowns in Week 1 tied for the 3rd-most in school history, and its 6 passing touchdowns were the 2nd-most.
- The Rams finished Week 1 with 598 total yards of offense, the 14th time since the start of the 2013 season that CSU has been over 500.
- CSU scored 47 seconds into its game against Savannah State, the 2nd-fastest score to open the season in school history.
- Six of the Rams’ nine touchdowns were scored in 1:00 or less, including one in 8 seconds and another on defense.
- CSU’s rushers averaged 6.6 yards per carry, totaling 217 yards on the ground. Oden led CSU with 11 carries for 74 yards.
- 18 #CSURams made their collegiate debuts last Saturday, in addition to six players who earned their first starts.
- Kivon Cartwright’s TD vs. SSU was just his 2nd catch since 2013. The 6th-year senior has 11 career TDs.
- CSU improved to 6-0 in #OrangeOut games last week. The jerseys represent the school’s original colors of pumpkin and alfalfa.
- Six of CSU’s opponents played in a bowl game in 2014, and four began the season ranked or receiving votes in the USAT/Coaches’ top 25 poll.
- CSU’s first three contests will be played inside the state of Colorado. The last time that happened was to begin the 2009 season (3-0).
- CSU has pass catchers who have accounted for 479 career receptions for 6,606 yards (1st in NCAA FBS) and 55 touchdowns (2nd).
- #HollywoodHiggins has caught a pass in 27 consecutive games, every collegiate contest he has played in.
With Saturday’s victory over Savannah State, Colorado State extended its home win streak to a school-best nine games. The streak began Nov. 9, 2013 with a victory over Nevada, and continued through the entire 2014 season (6-0) and now into 2015. Previously, the program’s best streak was eight, accomplished from 1989-91 and again across the 1999-2001 seasons.
- CSU has won 14 of its last 16 home games dating back to 2012, the best period of success since winning 15 of 17 from 1997-2001.
- Since the inception of the Mountain West in 1999, CSU is 22-7 (.759) in non-conference games at Hughes Stadium.
- Since Oct. 19, 2013, CSU has compiled a 17-5 record overall (.773), the eighth-most wins in the NCAA FBS during that period, and the third-most among Group-of-Five schools.
- CSU won 18 games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons, tied for the second-best two-year win total in program history.
Several firsts and records were set with Saturday’s victory over Savannah State, but perhaps the most special was the fact that it gave the program its 500th all-time victory. CSU football, which began in 1893 and earned its first win on Jan. 28 of that year, is 500-553-33 (.475) all-time. The Rams became the seventh school in the Mountain West to reach the milestone.
ONE AND COUNTING
While Saturday’s victory was the school’s 500th all-time, it was Mike Bobo’s first as a head coach. Bobo is the fifth Rams coach to win his debut, joining Julius “Hans” Wagner, Bob Davis, Jerry Wampfler and Jim McElwain.
“Any time you get a chance to play anything, I don’t care if it’s the first or the 50th or the 100th, I like to win,” Bobo said afterward. “I like to compete. I’m 41, and 36 years probably, since I was five, I’ve sat in there and listed to the head coach talk, wondering what it’s like to be a head coach, how I’d feel. But it really ain’t about me; it’s about them… Them playing together and playing for each other, and I thought they did that today.”
TAKING DOWN THE POWERFUL
CSU is one of four Group-of-Five schools with a victory over a school from a Power 5 conference in three consecutive seasons. The Rams defeated Colorado in 2012, Washington State in 2013 and both Colorado and Boston College in 2014. They will have at least two chances to improve upon that streak in 2015, beginning Saturday against Minnesota and again against Colorado on Sept. 19.
BYU holds the nation’s active record, extending its streak to 10 seasons with its win over Nebraska last Saturday, followed by CSU, Louisiana Monroe and Northern Illinois with three apiece.
Prior to CSU’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to Utah on Dec. 20, the Rams had won three consecutive games against teams from Power 5 conferences, which was tied for the for the second-longest active streak in the NCAA FBS.
THE POWER 5 AT HUGHES
Saturday will be the first time since 2007 that a school from a Power 5 conference has played at Hughes Stadium. Dating back to the venue’s opening in 1968, just 10 schools currently part of the Power 5 have played non-conference games at Hughes.
The Rams’ lone wins were over Louisville in 2002 and West Virginia in 1978. Louisville (now with the ACC) at the time was a member of Conference USA, while West Virginia (Big 12) was an independent.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
CSU lost its starting quarterback to the NFL, its leading rusher and is under a new, no-huddle system under a new head coach, but there were few hiccups Saturday as CSU poured on 598 yards of offense for 65 points in its season-opening victory.
- The 65 points were the fifth-most in CSU history, including the third-most at home and the most in a season opener.
- CSU’s 52-point margin of victory was the program’s largest since beating Hawai’i 63-0 on Oct. 4, 1997. It was CSU’s 11th victory by 52-plus points all-time, including the sixth time at home.
- CSU’s nine touchdowns tied for the third-most in school history, and its six passing touchdowns were the second-most.
- The Rams finished with 598 total yards of offense, the 14th time since the start of the 2013 season that CSU has been over 500.
- CSU’s 33 first downs were tied for the third-most in a game. CSU held SSU to 11 first downs.
- CSU did not punt once during the game.
CSU scored 47 seconds into the game, the second-fastest score to open the season in school history. The early strike was a preview for what was ahead, as CSU scored on 10 total drives. Six of the Rams’ nine touchdowns were scored in 1:00 or less, including one in eight seconds and another on defense. Overall, the Rams had the ball for just 38.8 percent of the game, despite scoring 65 points.
STRONG DEBUT
Sophomore Nick Stevens had a debut to remember Saturday, his first career start. The quarterback led CSU to scores on six of his first eight drives, jumping out to a commanding 45-7 lead at halftime. When all was said and done, his final stat line read: 20-for-28, 289 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
“I think it went well for the first game,” Stevens said. “I obviously made some mistakes and have some things to improve on for next week, but it went really well and I was happy with the performance today. I think I came in with a lot less nerves than what I thought I would have, and I think we did a good job of coming off fast and that got the nerves off everybody.”
As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Stevens backed up Garrett Grayson, appearing in five games and completing 15-of-25 passes for 136 yards.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stevens’ strong performance Saturday was recognized by the conference, being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. It marks the second consecutive season that a CSU player has earned the honor following the first week of action. In 2014, running back Dee Hart was named the offensive player of the week while kicker Jared Roberts earned special teams honors after defeating Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
SPREADING THE LOVE
The Rams spread the ball around Saturday, with 11 different players catching at least one pass. CSU began the game with three receivers lined up, and the first pass went to All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins. The junior led all players with seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, but he was hardly the only target. Senior Joe Hansley had five catches for 67 yards and a score, while senior tight end Kivon Cartwright caught three passes for 56 yards and the team’s first offensive touchdown.
Of the Rams’ six receiving touchdowns (second-most in school history), all six went to different receivers. The 11 pass catchers included six receivers, two tight ends, two running backs and one fullback. The list does not include Preseason All-Mountain West tight end Steven Walker.
GROUND GAME
No doubt, the ball was flying through the air and receivers were making plays, but CSU also saw success on the ground Saturday. The Rams passed 36 times and ran 33, with five different backs receiving a carry. Purdue transfer Dalyn Dawkins started the game and carried the rock five times for 37 yards. Senior Jasen Oden, Jr. was next in line and led the team with 11 carries and 74 yards, including a long of 28. He also had two receptions, including a four-yard catch and score late in the second quarter.
In addition to a 25-yard reception, wide receiver Deionte Gaines had one carry, taking it 18 yards around the right side for a touchdown. Sophomore Deron Thompson had six carries for 47 yards and true freshman Izzy Matthews made his debut and did not disappoint, totaling 53 yards on six carries, including a 37-yard touchdown on the final play of the game.
All told, CSU’s rushers averaged 6.6 yards per carry, totaling 217 yards on the ground.
DEFENSIVE STATEMENT
The offense put up big numbers Saturday, but the defense was also deserving of praise, keeping Savannah State off the board until late in the second quarter, and out of the end zone on all but one drive.
Led by senior Martavius Foster’s three sacks, the Rams got to the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage six times, and recorded 16 tackles for loss overall – which leads the NCAA FBS through one week of play. Redshirt freshman Josh Watson had three of those tackles for loss, part of his team-most nine tackles on the day. Additionally, senior DeAndre Elliott had an interception and junior Kevin Davis pounced on a bad snap two plays into the game to recover a fumble and score his first collegiate touchdown. It marked the fourth time in CSU history that the team’s first score of the season came on defense or special teams.
Savannah State was limited to 183 yards of offense and 11 first downs, and through the first quarter had negative yards.
SHARING TIME AT QB
Bobo announced during his press conference last Monday that he would use backup quarterback Coleman Key during Saturday’s opener and continuously throughout the season. He reiterated that Stevens’ job was secure, but that he wanted to get Key into game action on a regular basis, noting that other positions can play special teams to get time on the field but that quarterback is different.
Key made his debut in the second quarter, and played a significant amount in the second half. The redshirt freshman showed some positives, completing 7-of-8 passes for 92 yards and his first touchdown pass, but also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
#HOLLYWOODHIGGINS
Colorado State has one of the most-decorated players in the entire country in junior Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins. In two seasons, the wide receiver has rewritten the CSU record books, holding the school’s marks for single-season yards and touchdowns in addition to career touchdowns.
His game has elevated CSU to new heights, and the nation has taken notice. In 2014, Higgins was a consensus first-team All-American – CSU’s first since 1995 and third ever – after leading the NCAA FBS with 1,750 receiving yards, 17 touchdown receptions and 18.2 yards per catch. He totaled at least 100 yards in nine consecutive games, a CSU record and a streak which led the nation.
Higgins was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award – the other two, Amari Cooper and Kevin White, were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. This summer, he was one of three players named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year. Of the Walter Camp nominees, just three others were also first-team Walter Camp All-Americans in 2014. In July, he was picked as the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, and has been named to preseason All-America first teams by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today.
GET YOUR POPCORN READY
In an effort to promote Higgins for major awards, including the Biletnikoff Award, Heisman Trophy and others, the CSU Athletics Department launched a campaign, including a website - www.HollywoodHiggins.com - and promotional popcorn. The bags of popcorn have a photo of Higgins with the text, “Hollywood performances are best enjoyed with popcorn.” The popcorn was distributed to members of the media at Mountain West Media Days in July, and will continue to be sent out throughout the season.
The Hollywood nickname was given to Higgins by his peewee coach and has taken off over the past two seasons as Higgins’ game has continued to elevate.
SETTING THE TEMPO
A cliché across sports is that a win in the season opener sets the tone for the entire season, and while last Saturday was just Game 1 of 12, it was an important first victory. Of the 60 seasons that CSU has won its opener, it has gone on to have a winning record 38 times (.633). CSU’s season-opening victory was its fourth in the past five seasons.
LOOKING FOR NUMBER 2
Just five CSU coaches have won their debut, and a win Saturday over Minnesota would make Bobo one of three to begin their career 2-0. The feat hasn’t been accomplished in nearly 70 years. Julius “Hans” Wagner did it in 1942, while Bob Davis started 2-0 in 1947.
BEGINNING THE SEASON AT HOME
Over the past 11 years, CSU has won its home opener nine times, but Saturday was just the second time during that span that the team’s home opener came during the same week as the team’s season opener. In 2006, CSU beat Weber State 30-6 on Sept. 2, setting up a 4-1 start to the year.
DEBUTS
Bobo and much of his staff weren’t the only Rams making their debuts Saturday. Six Rams made their first career starts against Savannah State, while 18 players made their collegiate debuts: Wyatt Bryan, Braxton Davis, Dalyn Dawkins, Patrick Elsenbast, John Freismuth, Colton Foster. Kyle Jacobs, Olabisi Johnson, Coleman Key, Izzy Matthews, George Maumau, Saladin McCullough II, Colby Meeks, Braylin Scott, Trey Smith, Demontrie Taylor, Tre Thomas and Darnell Thompson.
WELCOME BACK, KIVON
Playing for the first time in more than a year, sixth-year senior tight end Kivon Cartwright had an emotional return, catching three passes for 56 yards, including the team’s first offensive touchdown. The nine-yard touchdown in the first quarter was just his second catch since 2013, and his first touchdown since Oct. 19, 2013 at Wyoming.
Cartwright missed all but one game in 2014 with an injury and received a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA in February. Cartwright was an All-Mountain West performer in 2013 and has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List each of the past two seasons.
ORANGE IS THE NEW GREEN
Colorado State honored its Aggie heritage last Saturday, as fans and the team wore the color orange in honor of the school’s annual Ag Day celebration. Formerly the Colorado A&M Aggies (prior to 1957), CSU’s jerseys represented the school’s original colors of pumpkin and alfalfa.
Since 1981 Ag Day, hosted by CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Department of Intercollegiate Athletics along with Colorado agricultural organizations and associations, is a non-profit event with Ag Day proceeds furnishing scholarships to CSU agricultural science students. Prior to the game, Colorado agricultural growers and producers prepared Colorado’s premier outdoor barbecue from quality Colorado food products.
While donning the orange uniforms in Orange Outs, CSU is 6-0.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
While the Rams graduated two NFL Draft picks in 2014, they return a large nucleus of their record-breaking season. In total, CSU brings back 55 letterwinners from its 10-win team, including 15 starters. The Rams also return five players who registered at least three starts in 2014, and tight end Kivon Cartwright, a starter in 23 career games who was granted a sixth year of eligibility in February by the NCAA.
In total, CSU returns 82.5 percent of its receiving yardage from 2014, 40.7 percent of its rushing yardage and 34.9 percent of its touchdowns. On defense, the Rams return more than two-thirds of their tackles (67.8 percent), tackles for loss (73.7), sacks (92.1), interceptions (76.9), pass defense (69.5), forced fumbles (70.7) and fumble recoveries (83.3). They also return their punter and primary kick returner.
- Offensive returning starters: OL Sam Carlson, WR Joe Hansley, WR Rashard Higgins, OL Kevin O’Brien, TE Nolan Peralta, TE Steven Walker, OL Fred Zerblis
- Defensive returning starters: DL Justin Hansen, DB Preston Hodges, DL Terry Jackson, Jr., LB Cory James, DL Joe Kawulok, DB Trent Matthews, DB Kevin Pierre-Louis, DB Tyree Simmons
- Special teams returning starters: P Hayden Hunt, LS Trent Sieg
No team nationally has logged more career receiving yards than CSU, and only Cincinnati has more touchdown receptions. CSU’s quarterbacks will be looking for targets – wide receivers, tight ends and running backs – who have accounted for 455 career receptions (7th) for 6,268 yards (1st) and 50 touchdowns (2nd) entering 2015.
CSU returns its top four pass catchers from 2014 and 10 of the 12 players who caught at least three or more passes last season. The wide receiver corps alone has logged 350 career receptions for 4,986 yards (14.2) and 36 touchdowns.
HIGH-PRODUCTION TANDEM
Junior wide receiver Rashard Higgins (164 rec., 2,587 yds.) and senior wide receiver Joe Hansley (108 rec., 1,427 yds.) are the first tandem in CSU football history to enter a season both with at least 108 career receptions and at least 1,427 yards. The only other time in school history that another Rams duo began a season each with 100 or more receptions was in 2001 when Dallas Davis and Pete Rebstock entered the season with 105 and 103 receptions, respectively.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins has recorded a catch in all 27 collegiate contests he has played in. Just six receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games. Arizona State’s D.J. Foster leads the group with 41 games in a row.
YOUNG KID ON THE BLOCK
After 15 years as an assistant, Mike Bobo will make his head coaching debut on Saturday, and will do so at the age of 41. That makes him the 13th-youngest head coach in the NCAA FBS. Among the 18-youngest coaches, five come from the Mountain West (Boise State’s Bryan Harsin, 38; Nevada’s Brian Polian, 40; UNLV’s Tony Sanchez, 41; and Utah State’s Matt Wells, 41). PJ Fleck of Western Michigan is the FBS’s youngest coach, at 34.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
Coming off of its first 10-win season since 2002, the Colorado State football team looks to build off its 2014 success to accomplish several rare feats. A bowl-game appearance this fall would be CSU’s third in a row, which hasn’t been done since playing in five consecutive bowl games from 1999-2003 under Head Coach Sonny Lubick. Additionally, if the Rams are able to post a double-digit win total again, it would mark their first back-to-back 10-win seasons ever. All-time, 2014 was CSU’s fifth 10-win season in school history.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
- For the first time since 2011, CSU will not open the season with the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado. The Sept. 19 (Week 3) matchup is the latest in the series since the two foes met Oct. 1, 1988. Since the turn of the century, the Rams and Buffs have played later than Week 1 just three times (2002, 06, 11), with CSU going 2-1 in those contests.
- CSU will face a Power 5 opponent in back-to-back weeks (Minnesota on Sept. 12 and Colorado on Sept. 19) for the first time since 2007, when CSU faced CU before hosting No. 10 California.
- The Rams won’t travel outside of the state of Colorado until Sept. 26, when the Rams take on UTSA in San Antonio, Texas. The last time CSU opened the season with three games in the Centennial State was 2009, with the Rams opening the season 3-0 against CU, Weber State and Nevada.
- CSU will play six opponents, including five Mountain West foes, which participated in 2014 bowl games. Air Force beat Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise State beat Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl and Utah State defeated UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl. Fresno State lost to Rice in the Hawai’i Bowl, Minnesota fell to Missouri in the Citrus Bowl and San Diego State lost to Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.
- In the third year of the Mountain West’s 12-team, two-division format, the Rams are members of the Mountain Division and will not play West Division foes Hawai’i, Nevada and San José State. However, CSU will renew series against Fresno State, UNLV and San Diego State. The Rams have not played these three teams since 2012. SDSU holds a 19-13 advantage in the series, while the Rams are 14-6-1 over UNLV and hold a 7-6 record against Fresno State.
After five decades playing at Hughes Stadium, the Rams will bring football back to campus beginning in 2017. The new, $220 million on-campus stadium will hold 41,000 people, and will be located on the heart of campus, at the intersection of Pitkin and Meridian (Hughes Stadium is located approximately three miles west of campus). The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium will have the ability to be used by multiple sports teams, will have an alumni center and academic space built in.
Site prep began in May, and a groundbreaking ceremony will take place prior to CSU’s game against Minnesota on Sept. 12. More information can be found at www.stadium.colostate.edu.
THURSDAY-NIGHT TV
Thursday Night Football will have to take a backseat for Rams fans. Debuting last week, fans in the region have two opportunities to get an inside glimpse of CSU football. The Rams Report is back for its second season on ROOT SPORTS, and will air every Thursday from 6:30-7 p.m. Prior to that, Todd Romero and former CSU and NFL standout Joel Dreessen will co-host STATE of the Rams on Altitude, from 6-6:30 p.m.
COORS LIGHT COACH’S SHOW RETURNS
The Coors Light Coach Bobo Coach’s Show will debut on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. MT at C.B. & Potts on Elizabeth Street. The show will occur every Wednesday with the exception of Oct. 21 (bye week) and Nov. 25 (moved up to Nov. 24). The show can also be heard on CSU’s flagship radio station, ESPN 105.5.
Players Mentioned
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Inside The Tight End Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, May 11
Inside the Quarterback Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Friday, May 08
Inside the Nickelback Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Tuesday, April 28