Collegian Special Military Day CSU Rams Football Preview

Special Military Day Football Preview Edition Friday, September 11, 2015 Volume 124, No. 23 • collegian.com

Dalyn Dawkins Collectible Poster INSIDE |PAGE 10|

First Real Test

Rams face Minnesota in their first true challenge PAGE 3

Military History CSU has plans to honor veterans for Military Appreciation Day

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Pick ‘Em

Collegian Sports staff makes its predictions for Saturday’s game PAGE 14

Hometown Hero Colorado State tackle and local product Sam Carlson balances life on and off the gridiron

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PHOTO BY KEVIN OLSON COLLEGIAN

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS!

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Friday, September 11, 2015 • Page 2

CSU vs. Minnesota to honor veterans with Military Appreciation Day

By Emmett McCarthy @emccarthy22

Mike Bobo takes the field for his first game as CSU head coach. photo by Abbie Parr COLLEGIAN

Bobo goes for walk, doesn’t know CSU fight song

By Emmett McCarthy @emccarthy22

Mike Bobo took a walk around the Colorado State campus at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. He pictured what the on-campus football stadium will look like in two years.

Kickoff was not until 2 p.m. that day, the first-year coach had been awake since 3:50 a.m.

Bobo couldn’t go back to sleep knowing he was just hours away from his head coaching debut.

“I was a little more nervous this morning,” he admitted after the opener. “I thought I needed to eat something. I ate something, still didn’t feel good.

But, I usually feel like that.”

Bobo has been on the sideline in bigger games and for bigger moments than any the Rams will experience this season. The former University of Georgia offensive coordinator still had some jitters though heading into the opener against Savannah State, an FCS team coming off of an 0-12 season.

Despite spending years in the pressure cooker that is the SEC, this was still a new experience for Bobo. He was at a new school, in a new state, with a new team full of players he did

not recruit.

Savannah State was a cupcake, and barely an appetizing one at that. The game was sugarcoated for the Rams, but that was fine. Bobo needed to get his feet wet, as did starting quarterback Nick Stevens.

After CSU blew out the overmatched Tigers 65-13 on Ag Day, it was time for celebration.

Bobo’s first win as head coach was also No. 500 for the program. It was fitting that he got a lesson in CSU tradition afterward from right tackle – Fort Collins’ own – Sam Carlson.

“After I got finished talking, he got everyone together to sing the fight song,” Bobo said. “I didn’t know we did that in the locker room, so he helped me out there.”

“CSU’s been singing that after victories for as long as I can remember,” Carlson added. “I just wanted to make sure we kept that going. His mind is going a bunch of different ways after a game anyway. I just said, ‘Hey, we gotta sing the fight song,’ then I just started off, ‘one-two, one-two-three-four’ and off we go.”

Bobo texted Carlson the next day to thank him for it.

The first-year coach wants to bring his own style of play but does not want to mess with tradition.

He admits that he does not have all the words of the fight song down just yet though.

“We didn’t do all that in Georgia,” Bobo joked at a press conference Monday.

Bobo said it is important to take some time after a win to enjoy it. It’s a necessary part of the process in order to maintain some type of sanity as a coach in college football.

His head coaching debut was a success. But, Bobo knows that in many fans’ eyes, his real debut would come in week two.

That realization forced him to snap back to reality sooner than he normally would.

“It’s usually Sunday morning when I get up and watch the tape,” Bobo said Monday.

“The problem this time was I had seen Minnesota play on Thursday night. All I could keep thinking about Saturday night was how Minnesota had played Thursday, so the pause and celebrating didn’t last as long as usual.”

Emmett McCarthy can be reached by email at sports@ collegian.com.

In 1943 and 1944, many universities across the country chose to suspend their football programs.

The Colorado A&M Aggies – now the Colorado State Rams – was among the schools to not field teams those seasons due to World War II. But after the war, a large number of men returned to continue their education and to play football, thus reinvigorating the program. The 1948 media guide listed 18 war veterans from the Army or Army Air Corps (the Air Force had not been established), 12 from the Navy and five from the Marines, according to CSU Athletics.

CSU will recognize those currently and formerly serving in the U.S. Armed Forces with Military Appreciation Day during the CSU vs. Minnesota football game Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

Before the game, the Army ROTC Color Guard will lead the Ram Walk, an event which allows fans to welcome the team on the south side of the stadium about two hours prior to kickoff. At some point during the game, all current and former military members in attendance will be asked to stand to be recognized.

At halftime, the team will honor former CSU players Lt. Col. John Mosley and General Lewis Walt.

Mosley, a member of the elite Tuskegee Airmen, passed away in May at age 93. When he began attending CSU, still known at the time as Colorado State College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts, he was one of only nine black students at the school.

At the time Mosley decided to play for the football team, every member of the Hughescoached Aggies was white.

Mosley made the varsity team as a fullback in 1940, becoming the first black football player at CSU and in the Mountain States Conference since 1905 and 1906 seasons.

After graduating in 1943, he became a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. He became one of the first black pilots to fly bombers in combat during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars before retiring from his prestigious career in 1970.

Before passing away in May, Mosley had been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2011, CSU established the Lt. Col. John Mosley Student-Athlete Mentoring Program to assist CSU student-athletes.

Walt, a graduate of Fort Collins High School, played on the offensive and defensive lines at CSU. He was a member of Harry Hughes’ last two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship teams in 1933 and 1934. He played three years of football for the Aggies and was a co-captain in 1935.

After graduating in 1936, Walt joined the U.S. Marines where he quickly rose through the ranks. He earned a Purple Heart, the Silver Star and two Navy Crosses (the second highest award in the U.S. Military after the Medal of Honor).

In 1967, Walt was featured on the cover of Life magazine before he retired in 1971. The former Ram passed away in 1989 at 76 years of age.

Mosley and Walt will be represented by their families Saturday.

The game takes place the day after the 14-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

Emmett McCarthy can be reached by email at sports@ collegian.com.

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“You’ve got a Power 5 team coming to your home stadium, playing in front of your home people. You want to play well.”

Mike Bobo football head coach

CSU football team faces first real test Saturday against Minnesota

By Geoff Huebner @Huebnermedia93

Colorado State (1-0, 0-0 MW) opened up the season with a confidence boosting 6513 win over Savannah State, but this weekend’s matchup against Minnesota (0-1, 0-0 MW) will prove to be the first formidable test for the Rams.

The game kicks off Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Military Appreciation Day at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. Minnesota comes into the game 10-3 all-time against current Mountain West teams and 2-0 against the Rams.

“Personally, it is a big game,” CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. “You’ve got a Power 5 team coming to your home stadium, playing in front of your home people. You want to play well.”

Despite recognizing the significance in Saturday’s game and how it stands out on the schedule, Bobo will not deviate

from the message he delivers to his team every week.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s Minnesota this week, and like I told the players it could be the Denver Broncos, we got to have the same plan and the same process of trying to get better everyday,” Bobo said.

He has his team focused on getting better each day, but also knows he will have to emphasize physicality and intensity if the team wants to take home a victory Saturday.

“What we’re going to have to get in our kid’s minds this week is that it truly is going to be a fight,” Bobo said. “A sixty minute fight, sixty minutes of giving it everything we’ve got, every snap.”

One player who noticed the jump in physicality and intensity in Tuesday’s practice is sophomore linebacker Kiel Robinson.

“It was intense preparing for Minnesota, probably one of the best teams we have seen on film so far,” Robinson said.

“We’re trying to have the most physical and intense practices this week just to get prepared for them.”

Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill and the Golden Gophers have a run game that Bobo knows will test the grit of his defense come Saturday.

The Rams’ defense provided plenty of reason in last week’s game to believe they can be counted on again, although it came against an outmanned Savannah State offense. CSU’s defense will have its hands full this week.

“From first quarter to the fourth quarter, I mean sometimes there were balls on the perimeter where we had nine, ten hats defensively around the football, which was good to see,” Bobo said. “… No matter who got on the field, guys were playing extremely hard and were playing together.”

Playing together, as Bobo highlighted, may be the key to the defense getting the job done.

“Everyone on defense is pretty close, when someone makes a play, it feels like you made the play, everyone gets excited for each other,” senior defensive lineman Joe Kawulok said.

The offense has its work cut out as well. Minnesota’s defense held No. 2 TCU to 23 points in a game that the Golden Gophers had an opportunity to steal in the fourth quarter.

After being named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week in his starting debut, sophomore quarterback Nick Stevens will have a much bigger challenge this week against a talented secondary and pass rush.

“Defensively, (their) secondary jumps out at me big time,” Bobo said. “... They don’t miss tackles. When they tackle they wrap up. … They’re going to attack you. They’re downhill at linebacker and even at safety.”

Stevens started the season

by completing 20 of his 28 passing attempts for 289 yards for five touchdowns, impressing his coach in the process. “(He) hit the check down a couple times, which was nice to see,” Bobo said. “The opening drive of the second half, we called a four vertical play and they did a good job of getting back, and he hit (Jasen) Oden on the check-down for 12 yards, got the drive going and we went down and scored.”

Saturday’s game presents an opportunity for Bobo and the Rams to get a win over a Power 5 team for the fourth consecutive season, and they will take all of the support they can get.

“I saw a picture today of the crowd before (last week’s) game and I thought it was awesome – all the orange – and hopefully we can fill up the whole stadium this game and not have any bleachers open,” Bobo said.

Geoff Huebner can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

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Friday, September 11, 2015 • Page 4

CSU defense will be deciding factor in Minnesota game

By Geoff Huebner @Huebnermedia93

The Golden Gophers bring a diverse and powerful offense with them to Fort Collins this weekend.

Since head coach Jerry Kill’s tenure started with Minnesota in 2011, the Gophers have increased (or maintained) their rushing production every season. This year, the apparent tandem between senior Rodrick Williams and redshirt freshman Rodney Smith hope to help continue that trend.

Against TCU, the two combined to rush for over 120 yards on 25 total carries, including a touchdown by Smith. The power run game is not always pretty, but it can wear on a defense over the course of a game.

CSU’s defense will have their hands full against the backfield pair, but they are not the only two players that the defense has to worry about on the ground Saturday.

“They have a big quarterback that can run,” CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. “Watched their spring game on the Big 10 Network and he had a scramble and just outran everybody on their defense, so he’s big and strong and fast.”

Bobo is spot on in referring to junior quarterback Mitch Leidner. In 23 career games, the six-foot-four, 237-pound Minnesota native has rushed for 17 touchdowns to go along with 2,614 career passing yards and 15 touchdowns through the air.

Under Kill, the Gophers are 18-3 when rushing for 200-plus yards as a team, and 18-6 when they have an individual 100yard rusher. The Rams will need to key in on the run Saturday.

“At some point during that ball game Minnesota is going to line up and say we’re going to see if you can stop the run, so it will be a big test this week,” Bobo said during Monday’s press conference.

Minus the one 63-yard touchdown run Saturday against Savannah State, which came with the game already in hand, the Rams defense showed they are no joke defensively either. “(The) defensive front I thought played very well,” Bobo said. “They were attacking and playing fast and running to the football.”

Junior linebacker Kevin Davis was also happy with how the

front-seven played.

“I think (defensive line) played awesome,” Davis said. “As far as the run game, it was hard to get in on a tackle because they were making plays, and in the pass game you turn around and they’re sacking the quarterback a bunch of times.”

Davis appears to be ready for the Gophers’ physicality. The sixfoot-three, 240-pound Fountain, Colorado native is ready for the challenge mentally as well.

“It’s exciting, it’s another opportunity for us to show how good we are and we definitely respect them as a team,” Davis said.

“They played very good against TCU the other night so we are excited. We’re very good as a linebacking corp, but then again the D-line was making plays, the safety’s were down making plays too.”

Senior defensive lineman Joe Kawulok is a member of the defensive front that received high praise from Bobo and Davis.

He is zoned in on stopping the Power 5 opponent stepping into Hughes.

“I do think we’re ready, it’s just on the preparation now,” Kawulok said. “Just getting lined up, running the calls, communicating. I thought that we did a pretty good job up front last week and hopefully that will carry over into this week.”

The communication that Kawulok mentioned has been a focus all week for the defense, and will be a point of emphasis Saturday.

“The talking between linebackers to the front, from safety to linebacker, that’s part of the test and taking steps forward is going to give us confidence that were going to be able to communicate in the next game,” Bobo said.

Between a diverse run game and a quarterback that can do damage on the ground or through the air, the Rams will be tested in plenty of areas this weekend. But, that is what Bobo is looking forward to most, especially after opening the season against an FCS team.

“You’re always looking for a test, to get tested and strained, put through some adversity,” Bobo said. “… We’re going to get tested this week. It’s going to be a fight, so I’m interested to see how our guys respond. I believe we’re going to respond well.”

Geoff Huebner can be reached at Sports@collegian.com.

Martavius Foster records one of his three sacks against Savannah State. photo by Abbie Parr COLLEGIAN

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Jasen Oden Jr. stiff arms a Savannah State defender. PHOTO BY AUSTIN SIMPSON COLLEGIAN

Key Match Ups: CSU vs. Minnesota

By Keegan Pope and Geoff Huebner @ByKeeganPope @Huebnermedia93

This week’s game between Colorado State and Minnesota should be a bit more competitive – at least on paper – than the Rams’ thrashing of FCS opponent Savannah State Saturday.

Here are the match ups to watch for this weekend at Hughes Stadium.

CSU wide receivers vs.

Minnesota secondary These are the best and deepest position groups each team has, and they’ll get a chance to play best on best Saturday. Most of the hype around CSU’s receiving corps is directed at All-American Rashard Higgins, but look for Joe Hansley, Deionte Gaines and Xavier Williams to see a lot of targets. Minnesota’s secondary will counter with a veteran-laden group led by senior Briean Boddy-Calhoun, an AllBig Ten pick from a year ago. The Gophers secondary is a physical bunch, so expect to see a lot of battles at the line of scrimmage.

CSU running game vs.

Minnesota linebackers Here, the Gophers have a slight advantage because of their experience, as well as their aggressive style of play. The Big Ten is known for having strong, athletic playmakers and the Gophers’ group of linebackers isn’t any different. Colorado State will likely get Treyous Jarrells back,

but the Rams have yet to figure out their running back rotation, so you’ll likely see a good dose of Jarrells, Jasen Oden Jr. and Dalyn Dawkins.

CSU offensive line vs.

Minnesota defensive line CSU’s offense did have a banner day against Savannah State, but the Rams allowed too many hurries and hits on quarterbacks against a far inferior opponent.

Left tackle Zack Golditch is making just the second start of his young career, and CSU’s interior linemen left a lot to be desired against the Tigers, according to head coach Mike Bobo. Minnesota’s defensive front pestered Heisman candidate Trevone Boykin relentlessly last week and held the Horned Frogs’ offense to just 23 points. Expect CSU to have its hands full all day.

CSU D-line vs. Mitch Leidner Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner is a dual threat quarterback who could give the Rams defense headaches Saturday if he is able to break containment from CSU’s defensive front. Defensive starters in Martavius Foster, Justin Hansen, Terry Jackson and Joe Kawulok have the primary responsibility of keeping Leidner under control at the point of attack.

Martavius Foster vs. Josh Campion One player on the defensive line unit in particular to watch for is senior defensive end Mar-

tavius Foster. He worked hard to earn his new-found playing time as a senior and made the most of the opportunity against Savannah State, sacking the quarterback three times. Getting to the quarterback and sealing his edge on the left side won’t be as easy this week though, with Minnesota right tackle Josh Campion returning from a concussion. Campion started 39 consecutive games prior to missing this year’s opener due to injury.

Kevin Pierre-Louis vs. every Gopher in sight Leidner had better watch out when he scrambles because CSU safety Kevin Pierre-Louis knows a thing or two about hitting quarterbacks – just ask Boise State’s Grant Hedrick. The Gophers will probably look to pound the ball early and often in order to tire the defense out. However, every time they touch the ball, they will be at risk of getting KPL’d. He will have extra room to pounce against a Minnesota team that lost its best receivers from 2014. The six-foot-one, 215-pound senior from Del Rio, Texas sets the tone for the defense physically with his hard-hitting style of play. He will need to be all over the field Saturday against Minnesota to keep the Gophers tentative offensively.

Collegian Football Reporters Keegan Pope and Geoff Huebner can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

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Offense

Defense

7- Nick Stevens, QB, 6-3, 205, Sophomore

9- Martavius Foster, LDE, 6-4, 270, Senior

1- Dalyn Dawkins, RB, 5-9, 175, Sophomore

68- Justin Hansen, DT, 6-5, 305, Senior

82- Rashard Higgins, WR, 6-2, 190, Junior

93- Terry Jackson, DT, 6-1, 295, Senior

25- Joe Hansley, WR, 5-10, 180, Senior

90- Joe Kawulok, RDE, 6-6, 250, Senior

2- Deionte Gaines, WR, 5-8, 180, Sophomore

15- Kiel Robinson, SLB, 6-2, 225, Sophomore

86- Kivon Cartwright, TE, 6-4, 245, Senior

31- Cory James, MLB, 6-0, 245, Senior

71- Sam Carlson, RT, 6-4, 295, Senior

33- Kevin Davis, WLB, 6-3, 240, Junior

54- Fred Zerblis, RG, 6-3, 295, Junior

13- DeAndre Elliott, LCB, 6-1, 185, Senior

72- Kevin O’Brien, C, 6-3, 295, Senior

16- Trent Matthews, SS, 6-3, 210, Senior

77- Jake Bennett, LG, 6-3, 295, Sophomore

26- Kevin Pierre-Louis, FS, 6-1, 215, Senior

61- Zack Golditch, LT, 6-6, 290, Sophomore

24- Preston Hodges, RCB, 5-11, 200, Junior

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7- Mitch Leidner, QB, 6-4, 237, Junior

55- Theiren Cockran, LDE, 6-6, 258, Senior

35- Rod Williams Jr., RB, 5-11, 234, Senior

96- Steven Richardson, DT, 6-0, 291, Senior

41- Thomas Miles, FB, 5-11, 250, Senior

97- Scott Ekpe, DT, 6-4, 290, Junior

82- Drew Wolitarsky, WR, 6-3, 218, Junior

95- Hendrick Ekpe, RDE, 6-5, 243, Junior

1- KJ Maye, WR, 5-10, 194, Senior

12- Cody Poock, SLB, 6-2, 230, Sophomore

86- Brandon Lingen, TE, 6-5, 247, Sophomore

26- De’Vondre Campbell, MLB, 6-5, 239, Senior

79- Jonah Pirsig, RT, 6-9, 316, Junior

50- Jack Lynn, WLB, 6-3, 238, Junior

55- Connor Mayes, RG, 6-5, 328, Sophomore

31- Eric Murray, LCB, 6-0, 199, Senior

67- Brian Bobek, C, 6-2, 289, Senior

29- Briean Boddy-Calhoun, SS, 5-11, 190, Senior

63- Jon Christenson LG, 6-4, 303, Senior

11- Antonio Johnson, FS, 6-0, 206, Senior

65- Josh Campion, LT, 6-5, 307, Senior

7- Damarius Travis, RCB, 6-2, 208, Senior

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, September 11, 2015

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t c A g n i c n a l a B t a The Gre Senior tackle Sam Carlson juggles family, faith and

By Keegan Pope @ByKeeganPope

O

n Saturdays, Sam Carlson spends his time blocking, hand-fighting and grappling with 275-pound defensive linemen whose goal is to destroy anything in their path on the way to whoever is holding the ball at that time. He often leaves games bloodied, bruised and beat up after battling men his size or bigger for 60 minutes.

24 hours later, he is holding his toddleraged niece, Olivia, and performing with the band at River of Life Fellowship in Wellington, which sits about 15 miles north of the Colorado State campus. He plays a role in the youth ministry and helps his father, Rick, who also doubles as the church’s pastor.

Carlson is a different person when he straps on his pads and helmet, and that’s exactly the way he likes it.

Locally grown Growing up with three sisters had its challenges for a boy who wanted nothing more than to play sports, horse around and “do what boys do.” Early on, Carlson said his three sisters, who are all his elder, ganged up on him in any fight or disagreement. That left him to fend for himself – until he outgrew them before he reached middle school. Unsurprisingly, the teasing stopped pretty quickly after that.

“Now, they spoil me and they take really good care of me,” Carlson said with a chuckle. “When I was a kid they always used to gang up on me and beat me up, whereas when I grew up a little bit, I could take one of them out and then take the others one-on-two. There were times when I was really mad at them, but I couldn’t be more blessed to have them. They’ve taught me that family is everything. That’s something that really means a lot to us. For us, Sunday is family day and we make sure that we take time out to spend the day with each other. We

go to church, then we have family lunch and we spend the rest of the day watching football. That’s the best part of my week for sure.”

Carlson also faced the challenge of growing up as the son of a pastor in a small town of 7,000 people. Most of the town of Wellington knew who Carlson was, and he subsequently spent much of his childhood under a microscope.

“It’s something kind of similar to being on the football team here at CSU,” Carlson said of being the pastor’s son.

“You live in this fishbowl – it’s a very transparent life. People are always saying, ‘That’s the pastor’s kid, be careful what you say or do around him.’ That’s not really what you want as a kid, because you want people to be themselves around you and be who they are because you’re going to do the same. But, I honestly couldn’t ask for a better scenario growing up. I love my dad, I love what he does and I love our church. I love everything I’ve been taught and given, so I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Football first Carlson began his football career at six years old in the Wellington Recreation League’s flag division. It wasn’t until the fifth grade that he was allowed to play tackle football, where he was immediately stuck on the offensive line. Center, to be exact.

He wasn’t thrilled with being put at football’s least glamourous position, but his size and understanding of the game led his coaches to believe he was a natural fit there. On defense though, he did get to play linebacker, where he enjoyed letting his aggressive side run wild. Even though he was one of the most imposing kids in his grade, Carlson was usually the first to befriend new students, including one who would become one of best friends, Teran Mawhinney.

“I was in 6th grade when my family moved from Denver to Fort Collins, and to get to know the kids and coaches in the area better, my parents signed me up for the Poudre High School youth football

camp,” Mawhinney said. “During the famous ‘popsicle break,’ Sam walked over and introduced himself, but it wasn't until a few years later did Sam and I really become friends. From elementary school to now, Sam has been one of the most loyal, outgoing and honest men I know.”

As he continued to grow, Carlson kept his place on the offensive line during his junior high days at Wellington Middle School. He excelled in basketball as one of the few players in the district over 6-feet tall at the time.

When Carlson entered Poudre High School, just a few miles northwest of CSU’s main campus, he joined the junior

The Sam Carlson Files Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado Major: Criminal Justice Favorite Pump-Up Song: Intro to White Washed - August Burns Red Favorite Meal: Anything Mom makes or steak, mashed potatoes and green beans

varsity football team as a freshman, just one of three players to do so. At the time, he had been moved to tight end, a position he fell in love with immediately. His time there wouldn’t last long, though, as injuries on the varsity offensive line forced coaches to move him back to tackle and suit up as a reserve for the varsity team.

The next year, Carlson was tabbed as a starting tackle on a senior-laden varsity squad that entered the season with state championship aspirations.

The Impalas finished the regular season 7-2 and advanced to the state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Mullen High School 48-21.

Though he fell short of being on the first state championship football team at

Poudre since 1969, Carlson credits that experience as a big reason for his success over the following years.

“That season was one of the most memorable times I’ve had playing football,” Carlson said. “I’ll never forget just the brotherhood of that team. We were always together, and I think one of the biggest reasons we went that far is because the seniors treated us young guys as just another guy on the team. They really helped bring us young guys along and helped us out, and I have to credit some of my success today to the guys on that team.”

After the season, Carlson had a decision to make. Would he play basketball for the Impalas JV team, or take the winter off and train for football as one of the few returning starters on the varsity team?

Despite lots of pleading from Poudre basketball coach Steve Hawes, Carlson gave up basketball for a year, something he said he still regrets today.

“Sophomore year I got my first taste of varsity football and I was just like, ‘Football is it, man,’” Carlson said. “Coach Hawes was just begging me to come out for basketball, but I couldn’t do it, and I really should have. I regret that, I really do, but football has always been king in my life.”

During his three years as a starter at Poudre, Carlson didn’t miss a single game, and was named second-team All-Front Range League in 2009 and first-team AllFRL in 2010. Before the summer prior to his senior year though, Carlson only held one Division I offer – the University of Wyoming. Despite growing up as a Fort Collins resident, Carlson wasn’t a die-hard Rams fan, but he was still hoping for an offer from CSU when he attended their individual camp in July. After the camp, CSU’s coaches told him that he was the best player they had seen at the camp and were offering him a scholarship. Less than a month later, Carlson committed to thenhead coach Steve Fairchild and the Rams.

"I really liked the coaching staff," Carlson told GreenandGoldNews.com at the time. "I talked to Coach (Steve) Fairchild,

football while leading young Colorado State offensive line and he said we have a lot of potential to win championships. I shook his hand, looked him in the eye and he said, 'We are going to win championships with you.'"

Waiting around Over the next three years, Carlson would only see game action twice, as a reserve offensive lineman playing mopup duty in games against Wyoming and Nevada. His love for the game waned, and Carlson questioned whether he had made the right decision. During his redshirt sophomore season, under a coaching staff who hadn’t recruited him, he questioned if football would be in his future.

It took time and lots of prayers to reinvigorate his love for the game, according to Carlson. But when spring football opened in March 2014, Carlson had found his chance when he was listed on the two-deep depth chart heading into the first practice. Throughout the spring, Carlson worked primarily with the first- and second-team offenses at both guard and tackle positions. He was likely assured playing time, but not a starting spot when senior offensive tackle Mason Hathaway went down with an injury in the fall and was required to miss the rest of the season. All of the sudden, Carlson was thrust into the starting right tackle spot on CSU’s offensive line.

It was then, that he finally flourished.

Behind Carlson and the rest of the CSU offensive line, the Rams’ offense set numerous school records and rolled to its first 10-win season in more than a decade, while boasting a 4,000-yard passer (Garrett Grayson) and 1,200-yard rusher (Dee Hart) for the first time in school history.

Taking the lead During the offseason, Carlson invited about a dozen teammates to his family’s house five miles east of Wellington for what he refers to as “guy time.” It was one of Carlson’s first moves as a team leader, which his teammates say

was a welcome surprise for what they deem a very quiet guy.

“Sam’s just a guy,” a laughing Fred Zerblis said. “He’s a guy that you can talk to about anything. I don’t think anyone could have anything negative to say about him. He’s somebody that you want to friends forever with.

E BI ABGIAN Y B E O OLL OTR C H P AR P

When we’re on the field, I think that competitiveness comes out, but he’s not much of a trashtalker.”

Though there’s disagreement among the attendees as to who was the best shot during their rabbit hunting venture, there was no doubt that the players were happy to see Carlson take time to invite them

to his home. According to Zerblis, his feat of shooting a rabbit with a “$5 pistol” far exceeded anyone else’s skills, for what it’s worth.

Even new head coach Mike Bobo has been impressed with Carlson’s newfound leadership role, noting that he helped lead the team sing the fight song after their win over Savannah State Saturday, something Bobo didn’t know was a tradition at CSU.

“After (the game), I got finished talking and he brought everyone together for the fight song and I didn’t know we did that in locker room, so he helped me out there,” Bobo said. “He’s a kid from right down the road … but he’s playing as well as anyone we’ve ever had at the offensive line position. Every day he takes it seriously trying to get better. He’s tough, he’s athletic and he can bend.”

Among CSU’s offensive lineman, Carlson was the only one to grade about 90 percent against Savannah State, and Bobo expects him to be anchor of CSU’s right side going forward. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of recent CSU offensive linemen Weston Richburg and Ty Sambrailo and get a shot to play at the next level, but if that career path doesn’t plan out, coaching is a passion he wants to pursue.

“That’s always been my dream,” Carlson said of playing in the NFL. “It’s every kid’s dream growing up, at least playing football, that you take this game as far as it will take you. Even if you’re only able to play for a little while, it can set you up with a lot of good opportunities. If the chance is there, I’m going to work for it and give it a shot, but if it’s not then there are other opportunities in coaching I think I’d like to take.”

With less than four months of college football left, Carlson is just enjoying the final days he has in the green and gold.

“He cares about Colorado State, he loves putting on the uniform and he takes pride in it,” Bobo said.

“When one of your guys, one of your better players who’s a senior and is from this state, becomes one of your leaders I think that’s always a good thing for your football program.”

Keegan Pope can be reached at kpope@collegian.com.

10 Friday, September 11, 2015 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

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Friday, September 11, 2015 Volume 124, No. 23 • collegian.com

Collectible Poster 2 of 8 Colorado State vs. Minnesota photo by Abbie parr COLLEGIAN

| 1 | Dalyn Dawkins | RB | Sophomore |

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, September 11, 2015

11

S

SPORTS

Friday, September 11, 2015 • Page 12

By the numbers: CSU at Hughes

2002 9

CLASSIFIEDS www.collegian.com 970-491-1683

last time the Rams beat a current member of a Power 5 conference at Hughes Stadium

consecutive CSU wins at Hughes Stadium

It took CSU just

47 seconds

to score this season

RENT wins in CSU football program history

1

500

wins in program history under head coach Mike Bobo

tackles for loss by CSU ranks first in the FBS

5

17

points by which Minnesota is favored by popular Las Vegas sports books as of Thursday

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sports

Friday, September 11, 2015 • Page 13

Colorado State takes the field at Hughes Stadium on Ag Day. photo by Abbie parrCOLLEGIAN

Elroy Masters fights off a Savannah State defender during CSU’s 65-13 win. photo by Abbie parr COLLEGIAN

Deionte Gaines breaks away from a Savannah State defender en route to the end zone.

photo by Abbie parr COLLEGIAN

Kivon Cartwright celebrates his first touchdown in over a year after sitting out 2014 with an injury. photo by Abbie parr COLLEGIAN

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sports

Friday, September 11, 2015 • Page 14

Daily Horoscope Nancy Black

Today’s Birthday

“ I doubt Minnesota is the type of team that loses to an offense and defense still working on cohesion.”

Sam lounsberry Sports editor

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Staff Picks: Colorado State vs. Minnesota The Collegian Sports Desk weighs in on what to expect in Colorado State’s match up with Minnesota and gives their score predictions:

Geoff Huebner Football Reporter

Emmett McCarthy Sports Editor

Score: 21-17 Colorado State Prediction: The Rams got more of a punching bag than a sparring partner in Savannah State. I thought TCU would wipe the floor with Minnesota, leaving the team with little confidence. But, even though they played tough against the No. 2 team in the nation, I think the Gophers might be getting too much credit for simply hanging around. This game will depend on if CSU’s defense can stop Minnesota’s power running, if CSU’s offensive line can limit the pass rush and how Nick Stevens will handle the pressure applied by the Gophers’ front-seven. CSU has enough experience in those positions and Stevens has enough poise, so I like the Rams’ chances Saturday.

Sam Lounsberry Assistant Sports Editor

Score: 28-21 Minnesota Prediction: An early-season bump in the road against a good team that CSU falls just short of beating could be good in the long run. The Rams need one more game before everyone fully gels with each other and this coaching staff. I doubt Minnesota is the type of team that loses to an offense and defense still working on cohesion. CSU will compete with Minnesota, but one bad break for the Rams tilts this in the Gophers' favor. A close loss against a tough opponent will remind these Rams what it takes against top-tier teams after pummeling Savannah State last week. Perhaps this sparks a streak similar to last year’s nine straight wins that followed a loss to Boise State in the second week of the season.

(09/11/15). This is your lucky year! Go for your dream. Personal growth (especially after 9/13) and partnership (which blossoms after 3/8) are key.

Score: 31-28 Minnesota Prediction: The Rams outmanned the Savannah State Tigers Saturday, but this week will look much different. I think Saturday’s matchup comes down to the final quarter of the game, with the Gophers eventually proving to be too much for the Rams. The defense has their hands full with a formidable Minnesota offense, and the Rams' offense faces a tall task to put up a lot of points against a team that just held TCU, one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, to just 23 points. The Rams will have to wait another week until they play CU to get a win over a Power 5 team for the fourth consecutive year.

Keegan Pope Football Reporter

Score: 27-21 Minnesota Prediction: After the dismantling of Savannah State Saturday, CSU will take a gigantic leap in level of competition against Minnesota. The Gophers have a big, powerful running attack that starts with quarterback Mitch Leidner, who boasts 17 career rushing touchdowns. CSU’s offense will have its hands full with a Minnesota secondary who has intercepted 39 passes in the past 40 games. The team’s defenses should balance each other out, but this one will come down to special teams. Colorado State’s kicking game was abysmal last week, and the Rams will need to be able to put points on the board outside of scoring touchdowns. Look for CSU to be competitive throughout, but the Gophers will prevail in this one.

Collegian Sports Desk can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

Aries (March 21-April 19) —

9 — Expect a busy workflow today and tomorrow. Postpone nonessential tasks and financial discussions. Don’t try new tricks yet ... stick with trusted methods.

Strengthen foundations.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — 8 — Play by the rules, and practice to grow skills. Find fun games today and tomorrow. Spend time with people you love. Widen your family circle.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — 9 — Enjoy domestic pleasures over the next few days. Settle into family activities and goals. Cook up something scrumptious with simple ingredients.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — 9 — Research projects thrive today and tomorrow. Learn voraciously. Weigh pros and cons before making decisions. Save time and money by thoroughly reviewing first. Don’t let past disappointments limit you.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — 9 — Changes that are good for you may be tough for somebody else.

Begin a potentially quite profitable two-day phase.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — 8

— Your energy is rising today and tomorrow. Don’t spend it all partying, although new opportunities can arise from socializing.

There’s no hurry.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — 7 — Peace and quiet suit your mood over the next few days. Complete old projects, and indulge nostalgic retrospection. Clear space for upcoming new endeavors.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — 8 — Begin a social phase.

Group projects go well today and tomorrow. Friends are your strength. Stifle rebellious tendencies for now and work together.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — 9 — Pass up an invitation to party. The next two days bring career changes. Address ancient issues. Postpone travel. Take on more responsibility. Expect increased scrutiny.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — 8 — Today and tomorrow are great for travel. Make plans and itineraries. Consider farther into the future. Imagine how you’d like it to be. Don’t fall for a trick.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — 9 — New opportunities arise.

Go for the big prize. Changes necessitate budget revisions.

Join forces with another to get the funding. Get into a two-day planning phase. Strategize.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — 8 — Compromise is required over the next two days. A partner has a practical plan. What you get isn’t what you expected. Check for errors. Don’t overspend.

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, September 11, 2015

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Across 1 Some UPS deliveries 5 First Homeland Security secretary 10 Help badly?

14 Scott Turow title 15 “I don’t give __” 16 It may be hard to resist 17 One in una escuela primaria 18 Like two Tim Lincecum games 19 Senate garment 20 See 69-Across 23 Country song 24 __ generis 25 Word with band or toy 28 “Peace out” 29 Struggling with a choice 32 Hardly friendly looks 34 See 69-Across 36 Idaho motto word 39 Theater funding gp.

40 “... like __ not” 41 See 69-Across 46 Doctor with an island of Beast Folk 47 Idée source 48 Butcher’s units: Abbr.

51 Progressive __ 52 Gives birth to

54 Enjoy the bistro 56 See 69-Across 60 Home to many Indians 62 Indianapolis pros 63 Wrap alternative 64 Staff at sea 65 Food inspector’s concern 66 Showing wear 67 And 68 “Hamlet” prop 69 Clue for four puzzle answers Down 1 Informal chat 2 Like some dips 3 Symbolize 4 Critter that sleeps upside down 5 Went berserk 6 Screen VIP 7 “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author 8 Breakfast side 9 Speak with passion 10 Start to focus?

11 Bully 12 Frittata base 13 Leaves in a bag 21 Interim software phase 22 Digital band 26 Great Seal word

rammies Luke Meacham

brewster rockit tim rickard

27 Strategic European river of 1914 30 Former Quebec premier Lévesque 31 Arms control subj.

33 Land with “her back towards Britain, her face to the West,” in a William Drennan poem 34 Brood 35 Not fancy at all 36 Miss Megley’s charge, in a Salinger story 37 Chocolate-and-toffee bar 38 Layered dessert 42 Waimea Bay locale 43 Easy things to overlook 44 Diner’s need 45 Slowpoke’s place 48 Creator of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy 49 Flat-topped formations 50 Places 53 Seller’s supply 55 Freshen, as a drink 57 Stable diet 58 Giants manager before Bochy 59 “__ be all right” 60 Juice unit 61 ESPN reporter Paolantonio Yesterday’s solution

SUDOKU

Yesterday’s solution

15