Fort Collins – Colorado State coaches insisted Wednesday that felony theft and forgery charges against three team members did not adversely affect practice or preparations for Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado.
For one of the few times during CSU coach Sonny Lubick’s 14-year career, there were no mid-week interviews permitted with players.
“You look in their eyes and they are ready to play,” Lubick said.
Backup cornerback Robert Herbert and redshirt freshmen cornerback Micah Crews and defensive lineman Brian Abata were suspended indefinitely.
Herbert, who was demoted as a starter midway through preseason camp, also lost his kickoff-return duties after fumbling the opening third-quarter kickoff last Saturday. Lubick said he did not know if an ongoing investigation had affected Herbert’s play.
“I thought about it and he was still playing fairly well,” Lubick said.
The other two players never played a down for the Rams.
It was the second straight Wednesday CSU players were jolted by unexpected news. A week ago, stellar running back Kyle Bell tore his ACL.
Offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said it didn’t appear the players in practice were impacted by the news.
Secondary coach James Ward said third-team cornerback Liddon Levine replaced Herbert on the second team, but Levine and Chase Weber will switch sides with Weber going to the left side and Levine taking over behind Darryl Williams, the top cornerback in the group.
The staff isn’t ready to take the redshirt off freshman DeAngelo Wilkinson, who had a breakout fall camp.
Injury update
Wide receiver George Hill has returned from a preseason knee injury that kept him out of the opener. With starter Dustin Osborn out with an ankle sprain, Hammerschmidt said Hill has to step up. Redshirt freshman Rashaun Greer is getting work as the fifth receiver in the rotation.
Pregame show
Although the game will be televised on OLN, FSN will carry a one-hour pregame show starting at 2 p.m. Saturday as well as a live postgame show. The pregame will include former players from both teams discussing the rivalry. Analysts include ex-Buff Jay Leeuwenburg, an FSN regular and new analyst for The mtn., and former CSU quarterback Matt Newton.
