Every Week A Season A Journey Inside Big-Time College Football

CHAPTER 1 After Sonny Colorado State University #23 Colorado State vs. Colorado Fort Collins, Colorado August 2430 In the first preseason AP college football poll, Colorado State (CSU) is ranked and Colorado (CU) is not as they prepare to meet in the season opener on August 30th. The game will be played at Invesco Field in Denver, in front of 76,000-plus passionate fans. In recent years, CSU has made the match-up a true rivalry, winning three of the last four games, after being an afterthought for many seasons. CSU returns all-conference quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt and tight end Joel Dreessen. Colorado is unstable at the quarterback position but returns a veteran team that finished first in the Big XII North Division in 2002. Both coaching staffs know that a loss can be devastating to their team's postseason hopes, not to mention a year's worth of frustration. "And on the seventh day, he rested." Apparently, God is no football coach. It is shortly after noon on Sunday, August 24, when the Colorado State coaching staff assembles in a room on the second floor of the McGraw Building. A wipe board dominates one side of the room. By the middle of the week, it will be filled with columns labeled Run Game, Drop Back Pass, Play Action/Screensthis week's plan of attack. Above the board, in green and gold letters, is a slogan: "Communicationis the key to success." Another board lists the names of committed recruits, and next to this list are posters. One is titled "CSU Rates" and numerically lists if a recruit is 1) a great player, 2) a legitimate player, 3) a suspect or rejected player. There are similar rating charts for Grades and Recruitability. On this hot Sunday afternoon, the staff sits in the air-conditioned room, huddled around a table full of sodas and coffees. "Okay, so where do we stand with the scout teams?" asks Sonny Lubick, looking at longtime assistant coach and friend Mick Delaney. Lubick's large presence comes more from the strength of his conviction than his height. His skin is bronzed from many days in the sun and there are a few wrinkles etched into his face. He looks at his staff intently, expecting prompt and detailed responses. Delaney explains that the scout teams could use a few walk-ons to play wide receiver, running back, and safety. The NCAA limits the number of walk-ons who can practice in preseason, but once classes begin coaches can open the doors. (Of course, most of the students who walk on are quickly disillusioned or lose confidence in their own ability to play at the Division I level.) An axiom in football is, "You are only as good as your scout team." Having a disciplined, well-prepared scout team is essential in getting starters ready for opponents. Attention soon turns to the first game of the season: rival Colorado. "This is probably the most even we have ever been headed into the game in Colorado State history," Lubick states matter-of-factly, alluding to the level of talent at both schools. This is something he couldn't necessarily say in a press conference. "We should casually get that message across to the players during practice this week." Lubick reminds his coaches to watch this week for penalties, poor positioning, and turnovers. After three grueling weeks of preseason practice, it is pretty clear who the starters are, except for the punter, but all agree to give the candidates until Thursday to prove themselves. Athletic trainer Fred Oglesby walks in and hands every coach an injury report. Luckily, there is nothing major. A final issue is special teams. Co-offensive coordinator John Benton expresses concern that so manCurtis, Brian is the author of 'Every Week A Season A Journey Inside Big-Time College Football', published 2004 under ISBN 9780345470140 and ISBN 0345470141.