Special Homecoming Weekend Edition Friday, October 16, 2015 Volume 124, No. 46 • collegian.com Up to the Task Coming Home CSU’s struggling defense says it’s Former Ram Albert ready for Air Force rushing attack Bimper returns PAGE 6 home as professor, Who’s the QB? administrator Shu ing quarterbacks causing PAGE 14 & 15 trouble for CSU o ense PAGE 4 PHOTO BY ELLIOTT FOUST COLLEGIAN Go Rams! Welcome parents, family, and alumni! S SPORTS Friday, October 16, 2015 • Page 2 Sta picks: Colorado State vs. Air Force Members of the Collegian rushing attack. The key word Now Air Force comes to town, Score: 24-21 Colorado State sports sta weigh in on Colora- there was “beatable”. CSU’s and I really hate to be a Deb- do State's homecoming football last two match ups against bie Downer on all the school Prediction: The Rams game against in-state rival Air Utah State and Boise State nev- spirit of this week...but I don’t are hungry this week. They Keegan Pope Force, and oer their predictions er really felt winnable. This one see the Rams getting a W in know they need to bounce Football Re- for who will return home with does, but the Rams will need to this game either. CSU’s run de- back to maintain some mo- porter the Ram-Falcon Trophy: control the ball and avoid dumb fense has continued to struggle rale for the rest of the season. penalties. Feed Jasen Oden Jr., and now instead of focusing on Furthermore, it’s homecom- just throw it in Rashard Hig- one main running back like last ing, and Air Force was the Score: 21-17 Colorado State gins’ general direction when- week, it gets more dicult as team that upset CSU in its ever AF loads the box, don’t get Air Force uses multiple backs final regular season game Prediction: This is a defining called for holding 107 times, in its triple option oense. The last year. Desire for some moment for CSU’s season if there and the Rams should be able Rams struggled stopping the revenge will force the Rams ever was one. Though just about Emmett to notch their first conference triple-option in last year’s up- to get it together this week everyone expected a drop-o from McCarthy win. set loss to the Falcons and I see and run the ball hard into Air last season, I don’t think anyone Sports Editor that continuing on Saturday. It Force’s grill. As questionable predicted CSU being 2-4 at this seems like it’s a revolving door as CSU’s passing game has point. Another loss, at home, would situation for the CSU quarter- been lately, establishing the drop the Rams to 0-3 in confer- backs. Mike Bobo can’t make up run might let its quarter- ence and crush the confidence of his mind on who should play, as backs gain some confidence Score: 24-20 Colorado State a young team. But luckily for CSU, neither Nick Stevens nor Cole- and let loose a couple of the Falcons are beatable. The Rams Brett man Key have truly been im- times on some deep throws Prediction: Kennedy will need to find Rashard Higgins I’m scared to pick pressive these past few games. to this studly receiving corp. early and often, and they will have this game, because I'm still not CTV Sports Stevens will start, but like last Perhaps after seeing how Anchor to avoid the mistakes that have sure what to make of Air Force’s week, who knows how long he’ll much work they have cut out plagued them all year. Hughes season thus far. The fight it play. for them if they want to lead should be a near-sellout, if not gave No. 4 Michigan State was a winning oense against a completely full, so you know the impressive, and San Jose State team like Boise State, Nick atmosphere will be rocking. Last is no pushover either. Still, this Stevens and Coleman Key Score: 27-17 Air Force year Air Force ruined CSU’s hopes just isn’t the 10-win Falcons will be sharp and start paying of making a New Year’s Day Bowl, team that upset the Rams late attention to the details. One Prediction: so there has to be a little revenge on last season. Maybe the Falcons Ah yes, the Sam of them has to step up and the minds of CSU players. Expect are exactly who they’ve always homecoming game. The Rams Lounsberry understand that it’s possible a close one, but CSU will make just been: a tough but beatable old- are coming o a game last Assistant to learn quickly while still enough plays to win this one late. school football team who can week where they got absolute- Sports Editor in the learning process, and Sports Desk can be reached by give any Mountain West team ly drubbed by Boise State in why not against an in-state email at [email protected]. fits with their triple-option all three phases of the game. rival? collegian.com The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, October 16, 2015 3 Team Comparison: Colorado State vs. Air Force Offensive and Defensive Yard Comparison 411.2 409.8 165.23 20.8 2468 9 126.61 33.8 Scoring Offense Total Defense Scoring Offense 400.8 300.6 28.3 Rushing Defense 32.6 194.31 33 Scoring Defense Passing Defense Scoring Defense 28 206.51 67.7 21.6 Sacks 1.8 Sacks 3.6 Tackles for Loss 8.2 Tackles for Loss 6.8 Sacks Allowed 1.7 Sacks Allowed 0 DESIGN BY MARIAH WENZEL COLLEGIAN S SPORTS Friday, October 16, 2015 • Page 4 Coping with the quarterback situation By Emmett McCarthy and still holds the school’s sin- @emccarthy22 gle-season completion percent- age record. He knows a thing or Being a Division-I quarter- two about the position. back is no easy task. Neither is “I’ve been where we played being an NCAA head football two quarterbacks before, I’ve coach. Everything looks simpler been where we played just one,” from the couch. But the criti- Bobo said. “Nick’s got to get ready cisms are rolling in for a reason. to play and when his number’s Colorado State’s 2-4 start called he’s got to go out there and has fans pointing fingers assign- perform.” ing blame. Stevens refused to blame Maybe it’s premature – the any struggles he has had on the front half of the Rams’ schedule murky situation at quarterback. was loaded with opponents that He’s more concerned with cor- they weren’t necessarily sup- recting and limiting his own mis- posed to beat. takes. Maybe it’s just downright Bobo said he wants quarter- unfair – did anyone really think backs to do a better job antici- this team would have no trou- pating throws. Don’t even worry ble replacing the greatest passer about making those mistakes. in school history? There were But isn’t that a bit tougher when bound to be growing pains, and you know one poor decision it wouldn’t be fair to put all of the could be the end of your day? blame on the passing. “I don’t feel like I’ve had a “That’s what we all want short leash at all,” Stevens said. to talk about, but there’s a lot Despite all of the uncertain- more issues than just the quar- ty, Stevens said he has always felt terback,” CSU head coach Mike confident about his role this sea- Bobo said. son, and understands why things There is no denying it are the way they are. though: the two-quarterback “I definitely have felt like the system has been as disappoint- starter,” Stevens said. “There’s ing as it has been confusing. just been a couple of games Nick Stevens is ocially the where I wasn’t bringing it, and starter. But he’s been replaced on Coleman brought a spark that multiple occasions by Coleman we needed on oense. I’ve just COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO Key – sometimes because of per- got to work on my own consis- formance, sometimes by design. tency, and being able to move the Against Minnesota, Ste- oense down the field on every vens was benched and Key fin- drive to prevent that from hap- ished the game. A week later, pening.” Key didn’t take a single snap as Bobo said Tuesday that it Stevens played the entire game was Stevens who responded well against the University of Colo- with a solid two days of moving rado. Last week, Key checked in the oense in practice. for Stevens once again, but it was Stevens will get another op- after the starter had thrown just portunity Saturday, and no mat- one pass. ter what he does with it, Key will Bobo said it was the plan all probably get another opportuni- along for Key to enter the game ty as well. on the third drive. Stevens came Maybe this time around, back in during the third quarter it will go better for both. Boise to replace Key, who had gone State, Utah State and Minneso- 5-for-19 with two interceptions. ta are the best defenses CSU will “Your job as a quarterback is face this season, and all three to go out there and play,” Bobo games are in the history books.