Fort Collins – The final irony of his career at Hughes Stadium did not escape CSU senior offensive tackle Clint Oldenburg.
Although it was officially recorded as a 3-yard run when he caught a lateral from backup quarterback Billy Farris for a first down, Oldenburg considered the tackle-eligible play a reception.
“I had more career catches as a tackle than as a tight end,” Oldenburg said.
He came to CSU as a tight end but outgrew the position after his first two years.
The play had been in the CSU playbook for a decade and was named “Blane screen” for former CSU offensive tackle Blane Saipaia.
With time running out on the season and no guarantee the Rams would get in the red zone, for which the play is designed, it was called at midfield.
“They renamed it ‘Oldie screen’ for me this year,” Oldenburg said.
Offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said the first time CSU used the play was against TCU in 1998, when both schools were in the Western Athletic Conference. It was ruled an illegal play, but the team kept it in the playbook and did a better job communicating it to the officials.
“The play is for inside the 15,” Hammerschmidt said.
The Rams advanced to the TCU 14 before Farris was intercepted in the end zone.
Oldenburg had been the most vocal of a quiet, small senior class that was introduced for the final time.
“Every school has its senior day,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “The seniors get together and they cry. If it would win a game, we’d do it every Saturday.”
Of course, there was no win Saturday. TCU manhandled the Rams 45-14, the worst loss of the season for a CSU team that has dropped six straight games.
“They have a lot of weapons,” Oldenburg said. “They outplayed us in every facet.”
Recruiting help?
A couple of high-school recruits waiting outside the CSU locker room weren’t turned off by the rout. Nigel Nelson, a running back from Thomas Jefferson, and David Harris, a linebacker from George Washington, said they were still interested.
“This team won’t be the same way in four years,” Harris said.
Changes
After two dropped snaps on PATs in recent weeks, Farris replaced punter Jimmie Kaylor as the holder on place kicks. Jason Smith kicked both PATs. He missed a field goal at the end of the first half, but his attempt from 56 yards was just barely wide right. Smith didn’t get another field goal opportunity. … The Rams hoped a change of uniforms would help change the losing streak. CSU wore white pants with dark jerseys for the first time, to no avail.
Footnotes
Redshirt freshman linebacker Jake Pottorff made his first career start, giving CSU 37 different starters this season. … Moral victories came and went quickly for the Rams. CSU’s 7-0, first-quarter lead represented the Rams’ first advantage since the fourth quarter of the New Mexico loss Oct. 28. … TCU hadn’t given up a first halftime touchdown since Oct. 21 against Army. The opening TD was also the first scored against TCU by the Rams in the last three outings, going back to the 2002 Liberty Bowl. … The opening TD to Kory Sperry was his fifth this season. … Safety Klint Kubiak led the Rams with 12 tackles, his fourth game in double figures.
