Release No. 1 | Aug. 24, 2008 COLORADO STATE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS | ZAK GILBERT, DANNY MATTIE, JOHN MANUSZAK, DANIELLE MARSHALL, JOSH KRUGER 311 MCGRAW ATHLETIC CENTER | FORT COLLINS, CO 80523-0120 | TELEPHONE 970/491-5067 (FAX 970/491-1348) | CSURAMS.COM RAMS KICK OFF SEASON WITH BUFFS Game 1 Bitter rivals renew oldest series in annual Qwest Rocky Mountain Showdown This week’s notable storylines… Steve Fairchild makes his debut as a head coach, leading the Rams into a new era. The last time a CSU coach made his debut was Sept. 4, 1993, when Sonny Lubick faced Oregon in Fort Colorado Colorado State Collins. BUFFALOES RAMS In the 80th installment of their series, the Buffs and Rams renew Record: 0-0/0-0 Big 12 Record: 0-0/0-0 MWC one of the nation’s most closely contested rivalries of late. Ranking: — Ranking: — The only game — college or NFL — on the national docket Sun- ‘07 record: 6-7/4-4 ‘07 record: 3-9/2-6 day night, it will be televised to a national cable audience on Coach: Dan Hawkins Coach: Steve Fairchild Fox Sports Net. Record at CU: 8-17 Record at CSU: 0-0 CSU’s Billy Farris will become the first Rams quarterback to make a starting debut since Caleb Hanie beat Wyoming in Fort Returning leaders Returning leaders Ru: D.Sumler (335 yd) Ru: G.Johnson (957 yd) Collins, Oct. 22, 2004. Farris last started a game as a senior at Pa: C.Hawkins (3,015 yd) Pa: B.Farris (91 yd) Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge, La., (less than 13 Rec: S.McNight (47 ca) Rec: D.Morton (20 ca) miles from the LSU campus) in November of 2003. It’s the “other” major event in the state this week. After origi- nally scheduling their contest for Saturday, the two schools on The setting... April 30 opted to move the game to Sunday night. After a Date: Sunday, Aug. 31 Broncos-Packers preseason game last Friday, and Barack Kickoff: 5:40 p.m. MDT Obama’s acceptance speech this Thursday, some Invesco Field Location: Denver, Colo. personnel will have slept at the stadium several nights this Site: Invesco Field at Mile High week before the Buffs and Rams kick off Sunday. Capacity: 76,125 Series: CU leads 58-19-2 CSU football media contacts Director/Football SID — Zak Gilbert Broadcast information Telephone..................................................970/491-5067 Television — Fox Sports Net E-mail......................................zak.gilbert@colostate.edu Comcast Cable: Ch. 26 Student assistant — Jeff Jacobson DirecTV: 600 series E-mail..................................jeff.jacobson@colostate.edu DISH Network: Several channels Student assistant — Stuart Buchanan Play-by-play: Joel Meyers E-mail....................................stuart@simla.colostate.edu Color Analyst: Dave Lapham Sideline Reporter: Jim Knox Producer: Bob Steinfeld 2008 Schedule/Results Director: Phil Mollica Date Opponent Site Mtn. Time TV Series Notes A 31 vs.Colorado^ Denver, Colo. 5:30 p.m. FSN 19-58-2 Last four decided by four points/less Radio — Colorado State Sports Network S 6 Sacramento State Fort Collins, Colo. 1:30 p.m. — 0-0-0 Steve Fairchild’s home debut Flagship station: KLZ, 560-AM, Denver S 20 Houston Fort Collins, Colo. 1:30 p.m. — 0-3-0 Cougars’ first trip to Hughes since ‘73 Internet: CSURams.com (Rams All-Access) S 27 at Cal Berkeley, Calif. 4 p.m. CSNW+ 1-1-0 CSU won last Cal trip, 23-21, in ‘03 Voice of the Rams: Rich Bircumshaw O 4 UNLV* Fort Collins, Colo. Noon The Mtn. 11-4-1 Rams five-game series winning streak Color Analyst: Brian Roth O 11 TCU* Fort Collins, Colo. 1:30 p.m. CBS C 1-4-0 CSU lost four straight in series Sideline Reporter: Kevin O 18 at Utah* Salt Lake City, Utah Noon The Mtn. 22-52-2 Rams bid for first SLC win since 2002 McGlue O 25 at San Diego State* San Diego, Calif. 7:30 p.m. The Mtn. 12-15-0 SDSU has won three straight in series Engineer: Bob Greenfield N 1 BYU* Fort Collins, Colo. 4 p.m. The Mtn. 27-36-3 Rams 16-15-3 all-time in Ft.C vs. BYU N 8 at Air Force* Colo. Springs, Colo. 4 p.m. The Mtn. 19-26-1 Rams 8-3 with Fairchild against AFA FSN will air a 30-minute pregame show, begin- N 15 New Mexico* Fort Collins, Colo. Noon The Mtn. 31-23-0 Walk-off FGs decide last two games ning at 5 p.m.; the Colorado State radio broad- N 22 at Wyoming* Laramie, Wyo. Noon The Mtn. 54-40-5 Rams won Bronze Boot in 2007 finale cast begins with a pregame show two hours *—Mountain West Conference opponent; ^—Invesco Field at Mile High; + — Comcast Sports Net West prior to kickoff. 2008 Home events — Ag Day (Sept. 6), Hall of Fame & Ram Legends Weekend (Sept. 20); Spirit of America Day (Oct. 4); Homecoming & Family Weekend (Oct. 11); Band Day (Nov. 15). GameTracker: CSURams.com Colorado State Football Media Policies, Information & Services Welcome…The Colorado State athletic media rela- the Colorado State Sports Network through the In- tions office genuinely appreciates your coverage of ternet site. Fans can click on www.CSURams.com, This week’s CSU football, and looks forward to each and every time then click on the radio broadcast icon on the site’s it can welcome you to Fort Collins. Members of the of- front page for football and men’s and women’s bas- media availability... fice, including director Zak Gilbert, assistant directors ketball live radio coverage. Danny Mattie and John Manuszak, and several student Monday, Aug. 25 assistants, are available to assist you with your cover- MWC Head Coaches Teleconference 12:30 p.m. *Steve Fairchild weekly press luncheon, age. The office is happy to help you however it can. The Mountain West Conference football coaches will Hall of Fame Room (south con- course, Moby Arena); lunch begins Please feel free to contact Zak Gilbert via phone participate in a weekly media teleconference on Tues- at 12:30, Coach Fairchild at 1 p.m., (970/491-5067) or e-mail ([email protected]) day mornings. The calls are scheduled every Tuesday, and coordinators Larry Kerr (de- at any time with questions regarding the media policy. from Aug. 26-Nov. 18. The call can be heard live via fense), Greg Peterson (offense) and the MWC Web site or by calling the MWC Communi- Larry Lewis (special teams) at 1:30 Interviews… cations office for the call-in number. A replay of each Other coaches and players unavailable All interviews with any member of the football pro- teleconference also will be made available on the MWC (first day of classes) gram, including the coaching staff and student-ath- Web site. Tuesday, Aug. 26 letes, must be coordinated through the athletic Call schedule (MT) 11 a.m. Steve Fairchild available via conference media relations office. 10 a.m. Moderator opens call call) Head Coach Steve Fairchild is available either in-per- 10:02 a.m. Kyle Whittingham — Utah 3:45 p.m. Practice, Moby fields (videography only al- son or by phone, by appointment through his as- 10:12 a.m. Troy Calhoun — Air Force lowed for first few periods of prac- sistant, Linda Krier (970/491-7818). 10:22 a.m. Chuck Long — San Diego State tice – stretching and individual drills) Telephone interviews with a coach or student-ath- 10:32 a.m. Mike Sanford — UNLV Post-practice Quarterback Billy Farris available (media lete should be arranged at least 24 hours in advance 10:42 a.m. Gary Patterson – TCU strongly encouraged to interview Farris at this time as he likely won’t of the requested session, through the athletic media 10:52 a.m. Rocky Long — New Mexico be available the rest of the week) relations office. 11:02 a.m. Steve Fairchild — Colorado State All assistant coaches and players available Phone calls (cell, office or home) to any coach or 11:12 a.m. Bronco Mendenhall — BYU upon request (Fairchild unavailable) student-athlete are strictly prohibited, unless previ- 11:22 a.m. Joe Glenn — Wyoming ously arranged through the athletic media relations 11:32 a.m. MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson Wednesday, Aug. 27 office. Media should contact the athletic media rela- 3:45 p.m. Practice, Moby fields (videography only al- tions office, rather than the individual coaches Weekly satellite feed lowed for first few periods of prac- tice – stretching and individual drills) and/or student-athletes, when needing personal The Mountain West Conference will provide a weekly Post-practice Fairchild, assistant coaches and players contact information, such as phone numbers or e- satellite feed that will include team-by-team highlights available upon request mail addresses. from the previous week’s games and coach/player in- 7 p.m. Coors Light Steve Fairchild Coach’s Show, terviews. The satellite feed will run as follows: Stonehouse Grille, Fort Collins Postgame… Every Wednesday, Sept. 3-Nov. 19, from 2-2:30 All players must report immediately to the locker p.m. MT Thursday, Aug. 28 room before conducting interviews of any kind. Col- AAMC 15 – K05 – Slot A6; KU digital – 6 MHz.; D/L 3:45 p.m. Practice, Moby fields (videography only al- lowed for first few periods of prac- 2 orado State does not allow on-field interviews in the = 11785 V; Symbol rate = 3.978723; Date rate = 5.5; tice – stretching and individual drills) minutes following the final gun. FEC 3/4; Tandberg encoder MOUNTAIN WEST. Post-practice Fairchild, assistant coaches and players Head Coach Steve Fairchild will meet the media, fol- available upon request lowing his radio interview, in a designated area.