Fort Collins – Colorado State offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt didn’t think his Friday night message was any different from past weeks. Maybe this time, it just got through.
“That guy called us every name in the book without calling those names,” center Albert Bimper said after the Rams defeated Nevada 42-21 on Saturday. “I kind of wanted to hit him in the mouth. It wasn’t clicking, but it clicked today. Sometimes I wish he could come out and play right next to me. If that’s what it takes, let him yell. He could come to my house and yell.”
Said Hammerschmidt: “What I told them is we’re all looking for the magic, the swagger. You get it through a season, not one game, not one play.”
He invoked memory of the CSU offenses of nearly a decade ago, when the Rams controlled the line of scrimmage.
CSU quarterback Justin Holland said his protection was so good, he touched the ground only twice the entire game.
Finally special
CSU special teams had taken their share of the blame for the 0-2 start. There was a distinct improvement Saturday in those units, which had contributed to 27 points scored against CSU in the first two games.
Zac Bryson, a former walk-on quarterback from Reno, Nev., converted to defensive back, picked up a blocked punt, returning it to Nevada’s 2. David Anderson and freshman Klint Kubiak combined on the block.
Unlike the first two games, CSU’s Jimmie Kaylor was able to get off every punt and had a career best 57-yarder.
Make that improved, but not perfect, special teams. George Hill, whose status was uncertain going into the game because of a midweek concussion, returned the opening kickoff to the Nevada 13 only to see the big play brought back to the CSU 40 because of a holding penalty.
CSU kicker Kevin Mark remained perfect for the season on extra points, but missed a 27-yard field goal that would have put the Rams ahead 24-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Footnotes
CSU’s 480 total yards were the Rams’ most since totaling 503 yards at Wyoming in 2003. … Besides running back Kyle Bell, guard Nick Allotta made his first start for the Rams, in place of injured Brandon Alconcel. … The crowd (29,101) was the fourth- largest opening-day attendance in CSU history.
