Volume 127, no 13 august 25 2017

Volume 127, No. 13 Friday, August 25, 2017

Inside The Lines

MIKE

BOBO

14 PAGE

TT

ENNE

B JAKE

10 PAGE

ARK

CH CL

DETRI

4 PAGE

NICK

S

N STEVE

18 PAGE

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Mountain West predictions Justin Michael Sports Director

Offensive Player of the Year

Josh Allen (WYO)

Defensive Player of the Year

Andrew Wingard (WYO)

Colin Barnard Sports Editor

Elliott Jerge Chief Sports Photographer

Brett Rypien (BSU)

Michael Gallup (CSU)

Logan Wilson (WYO)

David Moa (BSU)

Josh Watson (CSU)

Matt Wells (USU)

Nick Rolovich (HAW)

Mike Bobo (CSU)

Mike Bobo (CSU)

Mountain Division

CSU

BSU

CSU

BSU

West Division

SDSU

SDSU

SDSU

SDSU

Conference Champion

CSU

BSU

CSU

BSU

Coach of the Year

Michael Gallup (CSU)

Eddie Herz Sports Reporter

CSU Football team before the start of the game against the Utah State Aggies. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN Lory Student Center Box 13 Fort Collins, CO 80523 This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 6,500-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes four days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the last eight weeks of summer Collegian distribution drops to 3,500 and is published weekly. During the first four weeks of summer the Collegian does not publish.

Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@collegian.com.

EDITORIAL STAFF | 970-491-7513 Erin Douglas | Editor-in-Chief editor@collegian.com Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick | Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com Haley Candelario | News Director news@collegian.com Rachel Telljohn | News Editor news@collegian.com Allec Brust | Opinion Editor letters@collegian.com Justin Michael | Sports Director sports@collegian.com Colin Barnard | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Randi Mattox | A&C Director entertainment@collegian.com Zoë Jennings | A&C Editor entertainment@collegian.com Casey Martinez | Design Editor design@collegian.com Tony Villalobos May | Photography Director photo@collegian.com Mikaela Rodenbaugh | Digital Production Manager mrodenbaugh@collegian.com Darby Osborne | Social Media Editor socialmedia@collegian.com Seth Bodine | Copy Chief sbodine@collegian.com Josh Kloehn | Webmaster

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, August 25, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Versatile Detrich Clark settling into a defined role

By Colin Barnard @ColinBarnard_

Detrich Clark isn’t a normal football player.

The Montezuma, Ga. native has sub-4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash and lined up as a wide receiver, running back, quarterback and kick returner in his first season at Colorado State.

Despite not seeing the field on a play-by-play basis, Clark was electric with the ball in his hands.

Of players with at least 30 carries on the season, Clark led the team with 6.9 yards per carry. In just 45 touches on offense, he rushed for three touchdowns and caught another. Clark added a touchdown pass to Michael Gallup in the final game of the regular season against San Diego State and was the team’s leading returner throughout the season.

Not normal.

His versatile playmaking ability is something that the CSU football team has certainly welcomed. In addition to lining him up nearly anywhere on the field, he forces defenses to focus on his big-play potential. When he was on the field, defenders knew that the Rams wanted to call his number. Even then, Clark showed his ability to terrorize opposing defenses.

While speed comes natu-

rally to Clark, route running is the area of Clark’s game that has needed improvement. Having never played exclusively at wide receiver, routes have never been Clark’s main focus. That is until this offseason when coaches and quarterbacks encouraged the speedster to focus more on the intricacies of the wide receiver position.

“He’s got good short area quickness, he’s a very strong runner, he’s got strong hands,” head coach Mike Bobo said. “The part that we needed to improve on was the route running, where he could be an every-down player… and he’s improved on that part.”

Throughout his career with CSU, Clark has not had a defined role. Sure, he could be plugged in at multiple positions and make an impact when his number was called, but his playing time has been indefinite. Now, there is a clear role for Clark to take over, and Bobo believes he has the talent to do so.

Over last year’s second-half triumphs on offense, one of the unsung heroes was slot receiver Robert Ruiz. The team’s third-leading receiver and only punt returner from last season is gone, and Clark has worked effortlessly to fill the void.

“When we started rolling there at the end of the year,

Robert Ruiz played a lot for us and made a lot of big plays over the middle of the field in the slot position and in the return game,” Bobo said. “We need somebody to fill that void, and Detrich is the guy who’s done a nice job of doing that.”

Along with learning from a strong route runner in Ruiz, Clark has the privilege of playing with one of the strongest receiving corps in the Mountain West.

Senior Michael Gallup and junior Olabisi Johnson both broke out last season, and their knowledge of the position is something that Clark takes advantage of whenever he can.

“Those guys I would say at the position are a lot more seasoned than I am, so any time I can pick their brain I take that opportunity,” Clark said of Gallup and Johnson. “I learn whatever I can from them, whether it’s lining up, splits, leverage, anything. Even thinking back to the spring, I’ve progressed a lot.

There’s still some things I could work on, but I’ve progressed a lot from last season, so I’m feeling pretty confident.”

Despite the importance of speed and physicality in a receiver, no other attribute may be more important than route running. A speed receiver can only run by a defensive back so many

Detrich Clark runs a route during spring practice. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

times before a defense begins to game plan for speed. Similarly, a physical receiver is less productive if he cannot get open.

The same cannot be said about a tactical route runner.

Mastering footwork and technique allows receivers to get off the line of scrimmage, beat their defender and find open space on the field with more frequency.

Clearly, this is not a task that just

Detrich Clark ■ Height: 5’10 ■ Weight: 180 lbs.

■ Hometown:

Montezuma, GA.

comes to receivers.

Clark realized that this offseason, actively working on this part of his game that he and quarterback Nick Stevens recognized was not a strong suit.

“He’s always been fast, he’s always been somebody who we want to get the ball to,” Stevens said. “But [the coaching staff] stressed that we need to get him running better routes for us, and he’s definitely done a great job of that. He really did a good job of attacking it instead of being like ‘I don’t want to do that.’ He really worked on his craft and im-

proved in an area he wasn’t the greatest in.”

What’s even more encouraging is that Clark’s speed is not going anywhere. The same attribute that made him one of the Rams’ most explosive players last season is still the defining characteristic of his game. If his route running can catch up to the other aspects of his game, Bobo believes that Clark has clear breakout potential.

“Hopefully you’ll see improvement from him throughout this year like you saw from Gallup and Bisi last year,” Bobo said. “It won’t be that finished product early on, but if he continues to work and listen to (wide receiver) coach Whitted week in and week out, I think you can see that improvement from him at receiver.”

And if that jump happens, Clark’s versatility won’t be the only thing defenses are focusing on.

“He’s going to be more of a receiver that we can do other things with now instead of just somebody that we just do tricky stuff with,” Stevens said. “He’s definitely developed a ton and become somebody we can depend on in the passing game.

Colin Barnard can be reached by email at sports@collegian. com.

Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

E.J. Scott to miss 2017 season with knee injury

By Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

Colorado State football will be down one wide receiver this fall, as true freshman E.J. Scott will miss the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL. According to head coach Mike Bobo, the injury was suffered on a non-contact play in practice when the freshman wide receiver was participating in a scout team drill last Saturday. “(It was) a non-contact injury,” Bobo said after Tuesday’s practice. “It was before we went into the stadium Saturday.”

Bobo explained that Scott was running a route with the scout team when he injured his knee by attempting to come to a stop.

“He tore his ACL, so it’s tough for him — it’s tough for us.

The kid’s got a chance to be a really good player.”

One of the stars of fall camp, Scott quickly caught the attention of the CSU coaching staff this offseason. Bobo praised the young receiver’s ability to quickly learn the system and find ways to make plays on the

field.

“We knew he was a good player coming in,” Bobo said. “I was really surprised with how well he ran routes and the way he learned. (He is) probably one of the smartest freshman receivers that I’ve ever had in my time.”

Bobo further explained that Scott’s ability to play both the flanker and split end positions was a big reason they anticipated him seeing the field often in 2017. With Scott no longer in the mix, players like Warren Jackson, Marcus Wilson and Detrich Clark will need to step up and consistently contribute at the No. 3 wide receiver position. The third-year head coach also anticipates the tight ends and backs will help account for the production through the air.

“I feel good about (Michael) Gallup and Bisi (Johnson) but we are going to have to find some other guys to help in the passing game,” Bobo said. “We have a plan for this week but we will figure it out as we go.”

Justin Michael can be reached by email at jmichael@ collegian.com.

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Michael: Loss of Clyburn is dark spot on exciting week Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

Editor’s Note: This article was originally ran on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Colorado State football is less than twenty four hours from opening its on-campus stadium on a game day Saturday for the very first time. Students are back on campus and freshmen even participated in a pep rally event last Saturday night. The event allowed first-year students to watch part of the final practice of fall camp and was designed to pump up the students for the upcoming football season.

With so much excitement in the atmosphere, it is easy to forget that CSU football is without one of their emotional leaders for the time being. Amid the pep rally buzz Saturday night, head coach Mike Bobo confirmed that senior linebacker Deonte Clyburn will once again be sidelined with the same blood clot issue that resulted in him missing the 2016 season.

“It’s obviously a big blow for us that he’s not there,” head coach Mike Bobo said at the team’s weekly press conference Monday. “Here’s a young man that has put a lot into this university, this community and this

Colorado State’s Deonte Clyburn shows some emotion during a spring practice. Clyburn is currently sidelined with a blood clot. COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

football team because he wears his heart on his sleeve.”

On the field, Clyburn is easy to spot. Just look for the linebacker that seems to always be around the ball carrier. In 29 ca-

reer appearances, Clyburn has recorded 107 total tackles, seven of which were for a loss.

“Those guys know it,” Bobo said. “They know how much it means to him to be a part of this

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this family and this football team.

They know how much it means to play with those guys and play the sport of football. So that absence is going to be felt by them.”

Beyond his performance on the field, the loss of Clyburn is extremely disappointing for the CSU football program for a variety of reasons. None more than from a leadership standpoint.

Despite being sidelined with unfortunate circumstances, Clyburn’s dedication to the program has never wavered. Throughout the 2016 season, no matter what was happening on the field, Clyburn was the same passionate, vocal leader who broke through as a junior in 2015.

After watching their leader go through so much off the field and then battle all the way back, just to find out he will be sidelined again this season is a huge blow to morale. Clyburn’s return was one of the best stories of the offseason and it was obvious that his teammates and coaches were thrilled to have him back on the field.

That being said, if anyone could find a way to make

it through this tough situation with a smile, it would be Deonte Clyburn. After all, when the helmets come off, Clyburn’s personality really shines.

The way he speaks with intensity and passion with every statement he makes to his teammates. The way he radiates confidence, despite having battled through extreme emotional adversity. The way he carries himself on this campus, in the community and in his everyday life.

Clyburn possesses the type of leadership that cannot be taught and I fully expect him to be as involved with the program as he always has been. In fact, I would be shocked if Clyburn was not more vocal than ever this fall.

Without him in the mix for the time being, look for guys like Evan Colorito, Josh Watson and Jordan Fogal to continue asserting themselves as leaders on the field.

“Those guys have stepped up in a leadership role for us,” Bobo said.

Justin Michael can be reached by email at jmichael@ collegian.com.

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Michael Gallup’s winding road to becoming CSU’s leading wide receiver

By Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

This is a completely foreign concept to Michael Gallup, whose path to becoming a star receiver has been filled with twists and turns.

Gallup went from being indecisive on which college sport to pursue to being unsure about which football position suited him best. Not to mention, the CSU wide receiver endured a rigorous battle with academics in order to even have an opportunity to play collegiately.

Nevertheless, there have not been many CSU players in recent memory to exercise as impactful a first season as Gallup did in 2016.

“In track I ran the 4x4 and I did the 4x1 and the high jump. In baseball I played center field. In basketball most of the time point guard though because we didn’t have anyone who wanted to bring the ball up.”

MICHAEL GALLUP STARTING WIDE RECEIVER

In comparison, key offensive weapons such as Dalyn Dawkins and Olabisi Johnson didn’t make their presence known until their second seasons as Rams. While that can be situational, it goes without saying that Gallup exceeded expectations during his first season with CSU. Gallup made 76 catches for 1,272 yards last season, both of which ranked second among all Mountain West receivers.

Gallup’s 14 trips to the end zone in 2016 were also tied for first among all receivers in the conference. Gallup’s athleticism and endurance on the field were major contributors to the effective first year in Fort Collins.

“He is in great condition,” quarterback Nick Stevens said.

“He makes plays late in the fourth quarter where he should be tired and he is still running by guys.”

While it comes as no surprise that a D I football player is in excellent condition, the quantity

and variety of conditioning Gallup experienced in high school is more than most players receive.

Gallup played four sports at Monroe High School in Monroe, Ga. In addition to football, Gallup played baseball, basketball and ran track and field throughout high school.

“In track I ran the 4x4 and I did the 4x1 and the high jump,” Gallup said. “In baseball I played center field. In basketball most of the time point guard though because we didn’t have anyone who wanted to bring the ball up.”

Balancing four sports can get hectic at times, but Gallup never got overwhelmed by the amount on his plate.

“The reason he did all of these four sports was because he didn’t pressure himself,” Gallup’s high school football coach Matt Fligg said. “He was kind of nonchalant. When football was over he played basketball. When baseball was over he went to track practice. He never said ‘I’m tired, I can’t do this.’ He just took an attitude like I can do this, I’m not sweating it. He just took the right attitude in playing all of these sports.”

Although Gallup handled the workload of four high school sports effortlessly, he believes that being able to specialize in one sport in college has greatly benefited his football career.

“Doing all of those sports together and then coming out here and only doing football makes it easier to focus,” Gallup said. “I think it has helped me transition a little bit. It keeps your head focused on one thing instead of doing a bunch of things.”

Even though Gallup may have just been playing some of the other sports for fun, he excelled in all four. He earned an astonishing 16 varsity letters in high school, four from each sport.

For all of his college football success, there was a time that Gallup had aspirations to specialize in a different sport altogether.

“I always thought I was going to play basketball in college,” Gallup said. “And really, I wanted to play basketball in college actually.”

Times change. Goals change.

Twists and turns.

After his sophomore year in high school, Gallup shifted his top priority from basketball to football. Once Gallup realized he had more big-play potential and explosiveness on a football field rather than a basketball court,

basketball became a side interest as well.

“I think once he got on the basketball court after playing football he kind of got behind a little bit over time,” Fligg said.

“And he was a lot better in football than he was in basketball.”

Even then, Gallup was gunning to play a position other than wide receiver in college.

“For a while I played quarterback,” Gallup said. “We ran the triple option. Our other quarterbacks were running quarterbacks. I was the only one who had to throw the ball. I had some catches every now and then, maybe two or three each game. But, I wasn’t mainly a wide receiver for a while.”

Stanton Truitt, former North Carolina quarterback and Gallup’s high school teammate, deserves credit for the CSU wideout finding a fit at receiver.

“Michael (Gallup) and our other quarterback Stanton Truitt became really good friends,” Fligg said. “They

eventually became a 1-2 punch.

I think the friendship they had together sold him into playing wide receiver. He realized his stardom and how he could get a scholarship and how he could get his name in the paper, it was by playing wide receiver.”

Gallup’s career as a wide receiver took off from there. All of his cards were in place and he began to find his niche. Finally his path appeared to have formed into a straight line.

“He (Gallup) caught around 95 percent of our passes during his senior year,” Trigg said. “Anytime they played press coverage, we’d check off and run a fade route. People played zone at the goal line because they knew Michael would beat them and out jump them on the fade or he would cut and beat them on the post.”

Gallup’s senior season caught the attention of many D I programs. Gallup held offers from a number of schools including Kentucky, North Caro-

lina State and Missouri. Unfortunately for Gallup, his grades throughout high school created another obstacle.

“I didn’t have the best grades out of high school,” Gallup said.

“I didn’t do too well with the SAT and a lot of schools wanted that.”

Consequently, instead of inking a commitment to a major program, Gallup chose the junior college route. He spent two years playing football for Butler County Community College from 2014-2015.

While going to Butler delayed Gallup from a timely trip to the D I level, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

“Personally I think it really helped me,” Gallup said. “If I were to have went D I out of high school, I wouldn’t have lasted. I didn’t have it in my head. I had to get way more mature.”

CSU head coach Mike Bobo also believes the side trip to junior college absolutely benefited Gallup in the long run. see GALLUP on page 9 >>

Micheal Gallup takes part in drills during spring practice. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGECOLLEGIAN

Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

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>> GALLUP from page 8 “It gave him a little bit better of a sense of what to expect when he walked in the door,” Bobo said. “A high school kid has not been through a college schedule of class and football and managing your time, where a junior college guy has. They learn how to struggle and how to fight on their own a little bit more. It helps them mature a lot faster.”

Teammates see maturity in Gallup that comes across as though he has seen it all and isn’t fazed by anything: been there, done that.

“He’s (Gallup) the same as he is at practice as he is on game day,” Dawkins said. “He’s not uptight or anything. You can tell

he always is relaxed. It makes a lot of sense that he played four sports. You can never tell that he’s tired. He’s good at handling a lot.”

Gallup is a focused player who keeps his eyes on the prize: Individual goals, team goals. All for one, and one for all.

“We give advice to each other all the time,” fellow wide receiver Olabisi Johnson said.

“Specifically in our route running, if Mike (Gallup) breaks down or doesn’t use his arms or something like that, I’ll tell him.

Or he’ll give me pointers on just running by a guy, just because he has that flat out speed. I’ll run by a guy and he’ll tell me whether I’m doing it right or not.”

The exceptional chemistry between Gallup and his teammates is nothing new. This isn’t something that just started for Gallup at CSU. It began way back in high school.

“Michael was looked up to more than other player I had,” Fligg said. “It’s because he wasn’t a cocky kid. He practiced hard. He wasn’t arrogant. His best friend was a third string wide receiver that didn’t play much. The teachers loved him.

He just got along with everybody.”

CSU returns nearly all of its vital offensive weapons from a 2016 season in which the Rams had little trouble moving the ball. With his final season

in a Colorado State uniform about to commence, Gallup is poised to build off of last season.

Though improving statistically may be a goal, Gallup is more focused on the Rams getting better as a team.

Michael Gallup ■ Height:

6’2

■ Weight: 200 lbs.

■ Hometown:

Monroe, GA.

“I just need to have a good year like last year, just a nice productive year,” Gallup said.

Wide receiver Michael Gallup secures a catch during Colorado State’s spring game. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

“I want to have a healthy season and I want to have a good season. But, I don’t really need to explode. We have a lot of playmakers. I just want to win a Mountain West championship.”

“We talk a ton out there,” Stevens said. “He (Gallup) absolutely makes my job easier. It’s every quarterback’s dream to have a guy like Mike, somebody who can beat a defensive back with speed. If he gets one-onones, he is going to win.”

The shortest distance between Stevens and a completed pass is a straight line to Gallup.

No more twists and turns.

Eddie Herz can be reached by email at sports@collegian.com.

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

The 2017 CSU Rams are battle tested and ready for the spotlight

By Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

When the players come out of the tunnel Saturday, the atmosphere in the on-campus stadium will be electric. With over 36,000 fans expected to be in attendance for the inaugural contest with Oregon State and a national audience watching on TV, the most relevant event in college football this weekend is right here in Fort Collins.

That being said, The glow of the national spotlight also brings pressure to succeed. Head coach Mike Bobo has often emphasized that the stakes have been raised at CSU and that the time to win is now.

Heading into Saturday’s matchup with Oregon State, the players understand the importance of this message and believe they are up for the task. The Rams endured an up and down 2016 season, including starting the season with a 44-7 blowout loss to Colorado and ending the season with a loss to Idaho in a game with weather conditions that looked like it was being played on Madden. This is a team that features players that are battle tested.

None more than starting

center Jake Bennett. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2013, Bennett started the first three games of the 2014 season before tearing his ACL. Since his return in 2015, Bennett has started all 26 games. Having experienced the success of the 2014 season and being here through the coaching transition after Jim McElwain bolted for Florida, Bennett has been around for all the highs and lows of the last four seasons.

“You think you’re on the top of the world and then you get humbled with an injury,” Bennett said. “I’ve been fighting back the last three years and I think I’m probably the healthiest that I have ever been. So it’s just surreal that it’s actually my fifth year and I’m the old guy now.”

Now fully healthy, Bennett knows that he will serve an important role for this team as a leader. This was reflected when he was selected as a team captain.

As one of the vocal leaders of the team, Bennett knows that leading by example is crucial. “I think that is something that both Nick (Stevens) and myself have taken on this year,” Bennett said.

Bennett explained that during the team’s 2017 spring

practices, both he and No. 7 really found their voice as the true leaders of the offense. Now that the season is here, that responsibility only heightens. Especially when it comes to consistently competing at Bobo’s standards.

“That is something that we really have been working on since since coach (Bobo) came in,” Bennett said. “With the change of system, guys had to adjust. But we’ve got our leadership groups and it’s something we’ve pushed. If you get the majority of the guys to follow you, the other 10 percent of guys are either going to sink or swim.”

Throughout the offseason, Bobo emphasized two standards more than anything else. The importance of getting off to a fast start and the importance of being a mentally strong football team that can compete for four quarters.

In each of Bobo’s first two seasons, slow starts in the early portion of the season resulted in the the team falling short of their ultimate goal of winning the Mountain West championship.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Bobo explained that he believes his team is ready for the challenge of facing the highly explosive OSU offense, but ac-

knowledged that you never know until they actually go out and strap the pads on.

“You never really know how ready you are until you go out there and play and (see) what you have,” Bobo said.

While Bobo is confident in his group of guys, he knows that the Beavers are more than capable of putting points on the board and expects it to be a fight. What will ultimately be the biggest factor though is how the team responds with a counterpunch of their own.

OSU may be coming off of a 4-8 season but the Beavers won their final two games of 2016 by a combined score of 76-41. Not to mention that facing any Pac-12 opponent is a tough challenge for a Mountain West school during the first week of the season.

“I love the challenge we have,” Bobo said. “It’s going to help you when you get into those conference games. Playing these power five opponents that have a lot of depth and a lot of talent.”

Not only do the Rams have the challenge of facing a power five opponent in week one, but CSU will have to quickly rebound, as less than one week later they will square off with CU in Denver. Two weeks after,

the green and gold will travel to Tuscaloosa for a game with the Crimson Tide.

“It’s going to test us,” Bobo said. “It’s going to test us and see how we handle when things are not going great. That was one thing we did not do too great last year on the (defensive) side of the ball. When things were going good, we played pretty good. But when things weren’t going well, we could not stop the tide.”

Justin Michael can be reached by email at jmichael@ collegian.com.

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Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Bobo excited for challenge that Oregon State presents

By Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

The Colorado State football team will kick off the 2017 season against Oregon State at the new on-campus stadium in front of a sold out crowd of over 36,000 eager fans on Aug. 26. The matchup with the Beavers will mark the first time CSU has played a game on campus since 1967.

Despite ranking 83rd last season in points scored per game, Oregon State returns a lethal rushing attack that can control the game. Rams’ head coach Mike Bobo realizes that containing the Beavers’ running game will be paramount come Saturday.

“Coach Anderson has done a great job there going on his third year,” Bobo said. “Offensively they probably have one of the biggest backfields in the country when you look at their size and the strength. The guy that comes to mind is (Ryan) Nall. He runs with power, he’s got great vision, he’s got balance, and he’s got straightaway speed. It’s going to be a big challenge for our defense in stopping the run.”

Colorado State Football Head Coach Mike Bobo makes a play call during the Spring Game.

PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

The Rams allowed 27.8 points per game in 2016, the 62nd best mark in the country.

Defensively, the Rams return eight starters including linebackers Evan Colorito and Josh Watson. Despite the returning experience, the defense still has plenty to prove.

Oregon State named redshirt junior Jake Luton the starter. Luton, a 6-foot-7 quarterback who began his collegiate career at Idaho, will be the Beavers’ third opening game quarterback in the last three seasons.

Although the relative lack of experience from Luton could be

positive for the Rams, Bobo understands that Luton and Oregon State’s receivers have plenty of play-making potential. “(Luton) can throw the ball around and they’ve got adequate to really good receivers,” Bobo said. “They can make plays down the field, so they’re scary offensively, and it all starts with their running game.”

On offense, the Rams return all of their key offensive weapons from the 2016 season. Running backs Dalyn Dawkins, Izzy Matthews and Marvin Kinsey Jr. each finished within the top 20 rushers in the Mountain West.

Starting quarterback Nick Stevens will also have the luxury of finding wide receiver Michael Gallup down the field once again this season. Gallup, who was CSU’s leading receiver in 2016, led the way in the Mountain West with 14 receiving touchdowns. He also finished second in the conference in both receptions (76) and receiving yards (1,272) en route to preseason AllMW first team recognition.

As a team, CSU had the 28th best scoring offense out of 128 FBS teams in 2016 with an average of 35.3 points per game.

They will be going up against an Oregon State defense that had some troubles throughout last season. The Beavers allowed 32.6 points per game in 2016 (89th best) and return their second leading tackler, Manase Hungalu.

In the secondary, sophomore Xavier Crawford figures to be another leader on the Beavers’ defense. During his freshman season, Crawford started all 12 games and was named a freshman All-American.

“Defensively, they do a great job of playing in their 3-4 defense and bringing a number of blitzes and running a number of coverages behind those blitzes,” Bobo said. “It will be a big challenge for us offensively in communication, identifying guys and putting a hat on the right guys. Whether that’s in protection or the run game, we’ve got to be able to communicate.”

Though Oregon State won its final two games of the 2016 season, the Beavers failed to make a bowl game for the third consecutive season. Oregon State finished 4-8 and went 3-6 in Pac-12 play under head coach Gary Andersen.

While the Rams return 14 starters overall and plenty of reserves from 2016, they also welcomed an incoming freshmen class that includes 12 three-star recruits. The group of freshmen is highlighted by defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard, cornerback Christian Cumber, running back Marcus McElroy and wide re-

ceiver Warren Jackson. All chose CSU despite receiving scholarship offers from power five programs.

While it is obvious that team posseses great talent this season,

how they will fare is yet to be seen.

“It’s gonna be a big challenge. We’re playing a football team that has size, that has speed, they’re well-coached.

This is their first game of the season, too. They’re excited, I’m sure they’re preparing just like we are.”

Eddie Herz can be reached by email at sports@collegian.com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, August 25, 2017

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Inside The Lines

Two-headed rushing attack leads the way Friday, August 25, 2017

Dalyn Dawkins, RB

4

Izzy Matthews, RB

13

Touchdowns in 2016

Touchdowns in 2016

Rushing Yards in 2016

Rushing Yards in 2016

952 734 5.7

Yards Per Carry Average

4.8

Yards Per Carry Average

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, August 25, 2017

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18

Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, August 25, 2017

enjoy pre-game at the LSC

L SC .CO LOSTATE . E DU/GA M E DAY

CSU Ramzone, the official store of the CSU Rams is powered by the CSU Bookstore.

Supporting your team supports the CSU team!

CSU Bookstore

fuel up game on gear up hang out team up stand out

LSC

Food Court Pick from a selection of fast food options available in the Lory Student Center’s Food Court and enjoy your meal in the East West Corridor with a view of the Sutherland Community Garden and the West Lawn.

(n.): A game day gathering of Rams on the West Lawn of the Lory Student Center, where students can expect food and beverages, games, live music, and entertainment.

Open four hours before kickoff; closes 30 min before kickoff.

West Lawn

Food Court

Sutherland Community Garden

Located on the 100 level of the LSC, the Ramskeller offers traditional pub-fare and drinks. Gather with fellow Ram fans to hang out before and during the game. Open 4 hours before kickoff; closes at ž time.

Theatre 201TH

Welcoming all in our community to enjoy tasty eats and family-friendly activities in the Sutherland Community Garden before each home football game. Open four hours before kickoff; closes 30 min before kickoff.

19

The Lines 20 Inside Friday, August 25, 2017

When the Rams are on offense...

Colorado State

When the Rams are on defense...

Colorado State

7 - Nick Stevens, QB, 6-3, 215, Senior

91 - Jakob Buys, LDE, 6-4, 280, Senior

1 - Dalyn Dawkins, RB, 5-9, 185, Senior

94 - Darnell Thompson, NT, 6-4, 280, Senior

81 - Olabisi Johnson, WR, 6-0, 195, Junior

95 - Richard King, DT, 6-4, 275, Sophomore

4 - Michael Gallup, WR, 6-1, 200, Senior

43 - Evan Colorito, BUCK, 6-4. 245, Senior

8 - Detrich Clark, WR, 5-10, 180, Senior

52 - Tre Thomas, SLB, 6-2, 215, Junior

30 - Dalton Fackrell, TE, 6-4, 240, Senior

55 - Josh Watson, MLB, 6-2, 240, Junior

61 - Zack Golditch, LT, 6-5, 295, Senior

15 - Kiel Robinson, WLB, 6-2, 230, Senior

60 - Trae Moxley, LG, 6-6, 330, Senior

10 - Kevin Nutt Jr., LCB, 5-10, 190, Senior

77 - Jake Bennett, C, 6-3, 290, Senior

11 - Jordan Fogal, FS, 5-10, 181, Senior

72 - Nicho Garcia, RG, 6-5, 285, Junior

7 - Jamal Hicks, SS, 6-1, 185, Sophomore

78 - Ben Knox, RT, 6-6, 325, Junior

14 - Anthony Hawkins, RCB, 5-10, 185, Sophomore

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, August 25, 2017

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21

Inside The Lines Friday, August 25, 2017

Rams avoid stadium distractions by focusing on championship

By Colin Barnard @ColinBarnard_

In mid-July before Colorado State football players reported for fall camp, substantial completion of their new home was completed. The stadium itself had been constructed for months, but amenities like the locker room, practice facility and weight room had yet to be revealed to fans and players alike.

It was during this unveiling that fans began to see details that make this stadium what athletic director Joe Parker believes is the best in the nation. But from a player’s perspective, the unveiling meant much more. It was the first time that they got the opportunity to see what was being invested in them. Head coach Mike

Bobo described the pride that his players displayed after seeing the facilities for the first time.

“I think you saw the pride in our guys of what our university has built here, not just for our football players but for everybody,” Bobo said. “There’s a lot of pride in our football program right now because of this facility and what has been invested in this football program. At the same time, there’s responsibility and pressure, and I think that’s something that they’re embracing.”

With that pride comes the responsibility to live up to the lofty expectations surrounding CSU football. The Rams were picked to finish second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference.

Colorado State players run out of the tunnel prior to the Border Wars game against the Wyoming Cowboys. Josh Watson (55) returned as a leader on the Rams defense. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

Given the returning talent on both sides of the ball, fans believe the Rams can do even more.

“We’re incredibly blessed to be in this facility, but coach always says that a facility is not going to win us a championship.”

said. “We’re incredibly blessed to be in this facility, but coach always says that a facility is not going to win us a championship.

We still have to put that work in. I think we’ve done a really good job of that, of putting the work in and not getting caught up in all the new stuff and bells and whistles.”

In fact, it’s something that Bobo has been preaching throughout construction of the stadium.

“Like we’ve been saying since the new year, we’ve got a big responsibility this year,” Bobo said.

“Our fans, our community, everybody is excited. But we as a football program have a big responsibility.”

That responsibility finally gets underway on Saturday Aug. 26 as the Rams open the stadium against Oregon State.

Colin Barnard can be reached by email at sports@collegian.com.

MICK STEVENS STARTING QUARTERBACK

Combined with the excitement of the new stadium, lofty expectations could make it difficult for the Rams to maintain a level head. But senior wide receiver Detrich Clark understands CSU must stay grounded amid the commotion.

“I feel like there’s always expectations,” Clark said. “Of course the stadium raised the bar, but year in and year out there’s always high expectations from fans. Yes, the stadium raised the bar, but we expect ourselves to go out and win every Saturday.”

Playing in the newest stadium in the nation is not something that the Rams are taking lightly.

It’s a privilege, and quarterback Nick Stevens realizes that. But it’s also not what will get the Rams to their ultimate goal of winning a championship. That duty falls on the team.

“Remaining focused on the goal, the goal is to win a conference championship,” Stevens

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COLLEGIAN.COM Friday, August 25, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Across 1 Song one can’t perform?

5 Walk through puddles 10 Mosul’s home 14 On the water 15 Princess Toadstool’s rescuer 16 Run into, maybe 17 Online gaming tyro 18 Salem residents 20 Rudely confront espionage supervisors?

22 OPEC member 23 Guzzler 24 Holy verse 27 Letters by the shore 30 __ wave 34 Agreement on the ratio of innies to outies?

37 Quote from a goat 38 Absent 39 “O Sole __” 40 Ones meekly entering debits and credits?

45 Embezzles 46 Trike rider 47 Big name in electric cars 48 Somerhalder of “The Vampire Diaries” 50 Org. that helps you find a way 51 High praise at a carousel?

27 Great guy?

28 Chaise place 29 Fire starter 31 Common state capital features 32 Moon of Uranus 33 Parkinson’s drug 35 Rustic stop 36 “Life of Pi” director Lee 41 “Wow!” 42 Grammarian’s concern 43 Legato’s opposite, in mus.

44 Closes, as a wound 49 Like some cold symptoms 50 Pimply 51 Indicación de afecto 52 Sacred chests 53 Arizona river 54 “The Dukes of Hazzard” deputy 55 Top-shelf 56 Support staff member 57 Monopoly token replaced by a cat in 2013 58 Object to 59 Nuke

59 Pinpoints 60 Apple talker 61 Seeks 62 With no other 63 Noodle variety 64 Upscale 65 Cut with a beam 66 Await a decision Down 1 Ultimate Fighting Championship president White 2 Biennial games org.

3 Fair-hiring agcy.

4 Mediterranean salad 5 Hit hard 6 Prix de __ de Triomphe: annual horse race 7 Oft-twisted cookie 8 Leo, for one 9 Hilarious sorts 10 More than silly 11 Down-to-earth 12 Coulter and Curry 13 Liq. measures 19 Campus org. for future ensigns 21 Cousin of Dan’l?

24 Adidas alternatives 25 More than a peck 26 Old counters

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24 Friday August 25, 2017 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian