Colorado State University Athletics
Extensive Practice Highlights CSU Football Preparations
12/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 10, 2005
Colorado State University's football team had its most extensive practice to date in preparation for the team's Dec. 22 Poinsettia Bowl game with Navy in San Diego.
Rams' coach Sonny Lubick put his team through a 90-minute workout Saturday on the team's practice fields south of Moby Arena.
"We got a decent practice in today," Lubick said following the workout. "After Sunday, they'll be getting ready for finals. We got some things done today."
While Lubick was pleased with his team's workout, he said there remains plenty to get done before the Rams face Navy and its wishbone offense.
"We have a lot of work to do, working against the wishbone," he said.
"It's more difficult because Navy does things different than we work on normally. It takes a little time."
Having played Air Force, a triple option team, earlier in the season, is an advantage according to Lubick.
"There is some carry-over. If it were all completely new, not playing Air Force, it would be more difficult."
Lubick said he intends to have the entire game plan implemented before the team departs for San Diego next Sunday.
"You have to have most of it in before you go. It's too difficult to get it done out there, so we need to get it in here before we go," he said.
The three-week hiatus since CSU earned bowl eligibility following a 31-27 win at UNLV has also allowed the Rams to introduce a few new wrinkles on both side of the ball.
"We have more time to put a lot of new things in," said Lubick of the changes.
Lubick's team will return to the field Sunday afternoon for a workout, then not practice again until Tuesday. Final examinations take place at CSU next week, and Tuesday offers Lubick and his staff the best chance to have the most players available.
"Tuesday is the best day. We have the fewest players taking the fewest finals," he said.
The Rams will then practice Friday and Saturday before departing for San Diego Sunday. CSU will workout twice at the bowl site - Monday and Tuesday - then stage a brief practice at Qualcomm Stadium the day before the game.
The break between the bowl game and the end of the regular season has also allowed several players to return to the field following injuries.
Defensive end Terrance Carter is back on the field after missing the final two games of the regular season due to a left knee injury. Linebacker Jahmal Hall, bothered during the year by a left knee injury, is also back on the field while center Albert Bimper is at full strength following a left hamstring injury that sidelined him for six games. Bimper played extensively at UNLV but has just now returned to full strength. Offensive tackle Mike Brisiel missed the victory over UNLV with a lower back injury suffered against San Diego State, but practiced Saturday and is expected to be in the starting lineup against Navy.
One player, backup safety Klint Kubiak, remains questionable for the game after re-injuring a left hamstring injury that kept him out of the final two regular season games.
The athletics department is continuing its ticket sales campaign for the game. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com.
CSU athletic department officials are also coordinating a plan through the Poinsettia Bowl in which fans who cannot attend the game but wish to purchase a ticket can have that admission donated to an underprivileged youth or a member of the military based in the San Diego area.
Kickoff time for the game is 7:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. MT, and it will be broadcast statewide on the Colorado State Sports Network including KCOL radio (600 AM) in Fort Collins and KNUS (710 AM) in Denver. The game will also be shown by ESPN2.