Boulder – Colorado State senior safety Miles Kochevar had one of the best games of his career Saturday.
The Rams’ secondary had been a concern during preseason camp after the loss of senior safety Ben Stratton to a season-ending knee injury, but Koche- var did his best to make up for it.
Kochevar intercepted Joel Klatt to stop Colorado’s first possession at Folsom Field and later recovered a fumble and sacked Klatt for a 10-yard loss. He also pressured Klatt on other blitzes.
CU’s 31-28 victory, however, turned what could have been a career highlight into a disappointment.
“There were three or four plays I could have done better,” Kochevar said. “This one hurts a lot. Our seniors came to show we were ready to play. The defense kept us in the game.”
CSU also got a strong defensive showing from cornerback Robert Herbert, who also excelled as a kick returner.
The Rams’ much-maligned linebacking crew, which CU ran over a year ago, also showed improvement. Jahmal Hall led the group with nine tackles, including three for 20 yards in losses. Redshirt freshman Jeff Horinek played his first collegiate game and had eight tackles.
Wardrobe change for Rams
The Rams played in all-white uniforms for the first time in team history. CSU wore white pants with green stripes, replacing the team’s traditional gold or green pants.
Given the outcome, perhaps CSU will follow the fashion adage about not wearing white after Labor Day.
Van Pelt, Sapp roam sideline
The Broncos returned from their preseason game at Arizona at 3 a.m. Saturday, but a lack of sleep wasn’t going to stop former CSU stars Bradlee Van Pelt and Cecil Sapp from joining CSU players and coaches on the sideline.
Van Pelt, the Broncos’ backup quarterback who last year wore a CSU cape at the game, was vintage Van Pelt. He took a gold Colorado T-shirt, added “State” to the bottom and defaced the Buffaloes logo. He scrawled his old CSU and current Broncos number “11” on the back.
While Sapp stayed after the game to encourage the Rams, Van Pelt bolted.
Footnotes
Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, a longtime friend of coach Sonny Lubick’s, addressed the Rams at their Westminster hotel Saturday before the game. Lasorda is attending the Dodgers-Rockies series at Coors Field. Lubick and Lasorda struck up a friendship in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew forced the University of Miami football team to move its camp to the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Vero Beach, Fla. Lubick was the Miami defensive coordinator at the time and stayed in Lasorda’s condo. … CSU cornerback Darryl Williams missed much of the second half of his first start because of a concussion. … CSU running back Nnamdi Ohaeri left the game during the first half because of a lower ankle sprain. He had 16 yards on seven carries and did not return.
