Injury Report
QB Justin Holland, ankle; LB Mike Vomhof, knee; RB Gartrell Johnson,
ankle; TE Brandon Alconcel, ankle; LB John Nichols, shoulder; S Ben
Stratton, ankle.
Bronze Boot
Colorado State and Wyoming will battle for possession of the Bronze Boot
travelling trophy again in 2004. ROTC detachments at both institutions
initiated the trophy in 1968. Since then, Wyoming holds a 19-17 edge in
Bronze Boot games.
Game Ball Journey
Friday night's game ball will journey from Laramie to Fort Collins via
the traditional ROTC run by cadets from each institution. Wyoming's
group will take turns and run the ball to the state border, to be met by
CSU cadets at noon Friday, who will carry it to Hughes Stadium. The
ball is expected to arrive at the stadium at about 6 p.m.
Series Streaks
Wyoming won last year's Border War, 35-28 in Laramie in a game that
ended in a blowing snowstorm. Prior to that defeat, the Rams had been
victorious four games in a row. Wyoming last won in Fort Collins on
Nov. 7, 1998, 27-19. The Rams then won four in a row in the series
including back-to-back wins in Fort Collins in 2000 (37-13) and 2002
(44-36).
Streaks, Part II
Colorado State has never lost back-to-back games to Wyoming since Sonny
Lubick's arrival at Colorado State in 1993. Lubick has guided the Rams
to eight victories in 11 previous games with Wyoming for possession of
the Bronze Boot. Colorado State last lost back-to-back games to Wyoming
in 1991 (35-28) in Laramie and 1992 (31-14) in Fort Collins.
Stadium Expansion
Expansion and renovation construction continues at Sonny Lubick Field at
Hughes Stadium. In the first phase of the project 4,400 permanent seats
have been installed in the north end zone, along with two new
scoreboards and a new video replay board. In the next year, the
construction will be completed with the addition of 12 luxury suites, a
renovated press box, and an expanded Rams Horn premium club seating
area.
In October
Colorado State is 37-12 (75.6 percent) in the month of October under
Sonny Lubick. The Rams were a perfect 3-0 during October of 2003 and
four times have won five games during the month.
First On Friday
Colorado State plays its first-ever Friday night game in the history of
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium when the Rams face rival Wyoming
Oct. 22. There have been 17 previous night games in the stadium's
history. CSU's record is 9-8 in home night games at the facility.
Short Weeks
Colorado State and Wyoming meet for only the second time since 1993 on a
day other than Saturday. The teams played on ESPN Nov.16,2000 in a game
televised by ESPN. Colorado State won that game, 37-13 en route to the
conference title.
Short Weeks, Part II
Colorado State has 15 times since 1993 when Sonny Lubick arrived as head
coach played a nationally-televised game on either Thursday (9-4 record)
or Friday night (0-2) respectively. The Rams are 7-0 in home Thursday
night games, 2-6 on the road.
First Friday
Colorado State has previously played two Friday night road games, losing
32-20 at Fresno State on Oct. 5, 2002 and 37-34 at New Mexico on Nov.
7, 2003.
T.V. Time
Colorado State has made more national and regional television
appearances - 104 entering Friday's game - than any other MWC program
since 1993. Friday's game will be the program's 21st on ESPN2.
Colorado State has an 11-9 record in 20 previous games shown by ESPN2
including a loss earlier this season to Minnesota.
Only Third At Night
Friday night's game marks only the second time since Sonny Lubick Field
at Hughes Stadium opened in 1968 that rivals CSU and Wyoming will play a
night game. Wyoming won the first night game between the teams at the
stadium, 27-19 on Nov. 19, 1998. Colorado State won the only other
night game at the facility, 37-13 in 2000.
Rams At Home
Colorado State is 43-17 (71.6 percent) in home games during Lubick's
tenure. The Rams are 24-5 (82 percent) in home nonconference games
since 1993. The nonconference losses have been at the hands of Oregon
(1993), Colorado (1996), Fresno State (2001), Miami of Ohio (2003), and
Minnesota (2004).
Rams At Home in 2004
Colorado State enters Friday night's game with a 1-2 home record with
three home dates remaining. Colorado State has never lost three home
games during Sonny Lubick's career as head coach. Colorado State last
loss three or more home games in 1992, finishing 2-4.
Rams On The Road
Colorado State is 42-24(63.6 percent) in 65 road games since Sonny
Lubick's arrival in 1993. The Rams are 1-2 on the road in 2004.
Offense Plus 400
Colorado State has gained 400 or more yards four times in six games in
2004, but have suffered losses in three of the contests. The Rams are
42-10 when gaining more than 400 yards under coach Sonny Lubick.
Green Returns
RB Jimmy Green, who had the most rushing yards of any runningback on the
team in 2003, has been hampered in 2004 by a nagging ankle injury.
Playing in his hometown, he shook off the affects of the injury to lead
the Rams with 51 rushing yards including the game-winning touchdown..
Frosh Starters
True freshman QB Caleb Hanie is expected to make his first career start
against Wyoming, replacing injured Justin Holland. Hanie joins such
notable true freshman quarterback starters as Air Force's Shaun Carney,
Tennessee's Austin Ainge and Chad Henne of Michigan.
First Frosh Since 1981
When Hanie takes his first snap as the starter Friday night against
Wyoming, he will become the first true freshman at Colorado State since
Mark Miller in 1981 to start a game for the Rams.
Injured Starter
The last time the Rams were forced to make a change at quarterback due
to injury came in 1995, when Moses Moreno and Darren Wilkinson
alternated starts most of the year. Wilkinson started the team's eighth
game of the season at Wyoming, injured a thumb and was replaced by
Moreno to started the rest of the year and led Colorado State to a
second consecutive conference title and berth in the Holiday Bowl.
Youthful Rams
Colorado State has now used six true freshmen in the lineup thus far in
2004, including WR Damon Morton, RB Gartrell Johnson, DE Matt Rupp,
H-back Kory Sperry, QB Caleb Hanie, and RB Kyle Bell. The Rams are one
of the most youthful teams in the nation with only six seniors
(excluding kicking specialists) on the depth chart.
Holland Passing
QB Justin Holland was injured in the first quarter of the Rams' win at
San Diego State and will miss the remainder of the season. Holland ends
2004 by passing for 16,22 yards and six touchdowns, completing
121-of-197 passes. He averaged 270.3 yards per game passing. Holland
three times in 2004 threw for 300 or more yards.
Five 100's
Colorado State has boasted at least one 100-yard receiving game in five
of six contests to date. WR David Anderson had his third 100-yard game
of the year and ninth of his career (third most in school history) when
he caught a career-most 12 passes for a career-best 232 yards and a
touchdown in the win over BYU. WR Dustin Osborn, a former walkon who
was awarded a scholarship last spring, caught a career-most six passes
for a career-best 122 yards including a 26-yard touchdown in the game
with Minnesota, then registered a second consecutive 100-yard receiving
game with five catches for 101 yards in the win over Montana State.
Babcock Streak
K Jeff Babcock enters Friday night's game having converted 30
consecutive point-after tries including three more in last week's win at
San Diego State. He leads Colorado State in scoring with 34 points.
NCAA Rankings Colorado State
9th in passing offense, 1st in the MWC 290.7 yards per game.
QB Justin Holland
23rd nationally, 2nd in MWC, 256.7 yards per game.
WR David Anderson
10th nationally, 2nd in MWC, 7.0 receptions per game;
4th nationally, 1st in MWC, 116.2 receiving yards per game.
37th nationally, 2nd in MWC, 128.0 yards per game.
K Jeff Babcock
39th nationally in field goals, 4th in MWC, 1.2.
MWC Record
Colorado State is 27-10 in 36 MWC games since 1999 when the conference
was formed. The Rams are 13-5 at home, 14-5 on the road in MWC action.
Opening Drives
Since Sonny Lubick's arrival at Colorado State in 1993, the Rams are
30-8 in games the Rams have scored on the opening drive of the game.
CSU is 11-23 in games the opponent has scored on the opening drive.
First Scores
Colorado State is 64-10 since 1993 when the Rams score first in a game.
The Rams are 28-35 since 1993 when the opponent scores first.
Dreessen First
H-back Joel Dreessen caught a team-best five passes for 44 yards and a
touchdown - a four-yard pass from QB Caleb Hanie - in the win at San
Diego State. It marked the first time in five games that a player other
than a wide receiver led the Rams in receptions.
More Dreessen
H-back Joel Dreessen enters this week's game with 105 career receptions
for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns. That is the second most receptions
in school history by a tight end. Keli McGregor holds the record, 153,
from 1981-84.
At A Loss
DE Terrance Carter, in the past two games, has had four tackles for 21
yards lost. Carter rallied the Rams for a 21-17 win at San Diego State
by helping force then recover a fumble that led to the game-winning
score with one minutes, 10 seconds to play.
Rushing Scores
Colorado State is now 2-0 - including the win at San Diego State - when
holding an opponent without a rushing touchdown, and 0-4 when allowing
an opponent to score via the ground game.
Turned Over
Colorado State won the turnover battle for the first time in 2004,
generating three takeaways compared to a pair of giveaways. Colorado
State converted two of the three turnovers into touchdowns. Through six
games, the Rams have generated eight turnovers resulting in 17 points
and allowed 16 takeaways for 68 points.
First Game Points
Five times in six games to date opponents have scored the first points
in a game including last week's game at San Diego State.
First Time Passing
Colorado State's 21-17 win at San Diego State marked the first time in
2004 the Rams attempted fewer than 30 passes in a game. QB Caleb Haney
(19) and injured starter Justin Holland (9) combined to attempt 28
passes. The pair completed 17 for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive Scores
LB Luke Adkins returned a first-quarter pass interception 71 yards for a
touchdown in the win at SDSU. It was the first time the Rams had scored
on defense since a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by DB Ben
Stratton against the Aztecs in Fort Collins in 2003.
Sack Pack
Colorado State matched the team's season high with three quarterback
sacks in the win at San Diego State, including one each by DT Blake
Smith, DE Patrick Goodpaster, and DE Terrance Carter. The Rams also had
three sacks in a win over Montana State.
First Frosh Starter
True freshman H-back Kory Sperry made his first career start in the win
at San Diego State in place of injured TE Brandon Alconcel. Sperry
responded by catching three passes - his first career receptions - good
for 36 yards including a 20-yard gain.
Pick Distance
LB Luke Adkins' 71-yard interception return for a touchdown at SDSU was
the longest such return at Colorado State since 1993 when DB Ray Jackson
intercepted a pass at UTEP and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown.
WR David Anderson Update
42 receptions for 697 in 2004, of which 13 have been for 20 or more
yards, including a season-most five vs. BYU.
4th in career receiving yards, 2,170.
Anderson's 12 catches vs. BYU tie for the second most in a game in
school history, while his 232 receiving yards in that game are the
second most in a game in school history.
Three 100-yard receiving games in 2004 including a career-most 12
catches for a career-high 233 yards and a touchdown vs. BYU. He had
back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in 2004, catching 9-156 at
Colorado, and 9-137 at USC.
At least one reception in 19 consecutive games. His lowest total
receptions in a game over that span came in the final regular-season
game of 2003 at UNLV, one reception for 12 yards. He followed
performance that by catching a career-best 10 passes for 134 yards and a
touchdown against Boston College in the San Francisco Bowl.
One reception in 26 of 32 career games.
Ninth in career touchdown receptions with 12.
Nine career 100-yard receiving games, third most in school history.
First-team all-conference honors in 2003, set school records with 72
receptions for 1,272 yards.
He tied another school mark with six 100-yard games, and his nine
touchdown receptions are the second most in school history in a season.
Anderson All-Purpose
WR David Anderson ranks among the MWC leaders in all-purpose yards per
game.
After The Catch
WR David Anderson continues to gain additional yardage after each
reception, including a season-most 74 yards in the game with BYU (34 on
one reception).
By Comparison
WR David Anderson set school records with 72 receptions for 1,272 yards
in 2003.
Rushing Totals
Colorado State averages 173.4 yards per game rushing in the team's 140
games under Sonny Lubick, including 197.1 in 92 victories.
Babcock Moves Up Career List
K Jeff Babcock has been the team's starter the past three seasons.
Babcock is now third on the school's career list.
Babcock Nears Record
K Jeff Babcock enters Friday night's game with 44 career field goals,
two shy of tying Steve DeLine's school record from 1983-86. Babcock has
attempted 60 field goals, seven shy of tying Jon Poole's record set from
1980-83.
Turnstile Comparison
Colorado State has drawn 94,219 fans for three home dates including a
pair of games with more than 30,000 in attendance, 31,406 per-game
average. The Rams can match four other seasons (1994, `98, 2002, 2003)
when the team surpassed 30,000 in three games by drawing more than
30,000 for one of three remaining home dates.
Rushing Defense
Colorado State has allowed 58 individual 100-yard rushing performances
since 1993. The Rams are 31-23 in games where an opponent rusher has
gained 100 or more yards and 56-22 when an opponent does not have a
100-yard rusher.
Late-Game Success
Colorado State has a 79-4 record (95.1 %) under Sonny Lubick when the
Rams lead after three periods. The four losses include:
Sept. 7, 2002; UCLA 30, Colorado State 19; Rams lead 13-7 at end of
third quarter. (Fort Collins).
Oct. 13, 2001; Fresno State 25, Colorado State 22 (ot); Rams lead,
14-13, at end of third quarter. (Fort Collins).
Sept. 17, 1998; Air Force 30, Colorado State 27; Rams lead, 27-17 at
end of third quarter. (Colorado Springs).
Nov. 16, 1996; Wyoming 25, Colorado State 24; Rams lead, 24-13, at
end of third quarter. (Fort Collins).
At Home
Colorado State is 106-80-2 all-time record at Hughes Stadium. The Rams
are 43-17 at home (71%) during Sonny Lubick's 12-year tenure.
More At Home
Sonny Lubick has guided the Rams to 43 home wins, 40 percent of the
school's home wins since the stadium opened in 1968.
Rams' Passing Plans
The Rams are 8-19 in games where the team has attempted 35 or more
passes and 79-26 games when attempting less than 35 passes since 1993.
Century Rushers
Colorado State has had 78 100-yard rushing performances since 1993. The
Rams are 55-12 in games where a back has gained 100 or more yards, and
33-28 in games where the team has not had a back gain more than 100
yards.
Six Hall of Fame Inductees
Six former Rams will be inducted into Colorado State's Sports Hall of
Fame in a ceremony Nov. 12 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort
Collins. Former Rams are: Stanley Albert (Men's Basketball), Shelly
Borrman (Track and Field), Becky Hammon (Women's Basketball), Casey
Malone (Track and Field), Sean Moran (Football), and Dan Sniff
(Wrestling).
