Fort Collins – It might be easier to prepare against a second-year staff, but for the second straight year, Colorado State is up against the unknown at quarterback heading into the Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado.
All CSU coach Sonny Lubick needs to know is CU redshirt freshman starter Cody Hawkins is a coach’s son (well, actually the coach’s older son) and brings a perfect record from high school.
So Lubick is imagining the worst possible scenario for the Rams, recalling ex-Buff QB Joel Klatt, who engineered three straight narrow wins against CSU.
“I assume, I would guess the young guy has been around football all his life and has earned the starting position because he’s probably very sound, solid, and does not make mistakes,” Lubick said Monday at his first weekly news conference of the season.
“One of the guys who gave us the most trouble was Joel Klatt. His dad (Gary) was a great high school coach. People were saying he was a walk-on. I just knew going into the game this kid was not going to beat himself, he’s going to do what he’s supposed to. He’s going to take care of the football, and that’s what I expect of this quarterback.”
The bottom line, Lubick said, is that the Rams have to prepare for everything.
Footnotes
Only one true freshman appeared on the first official depth chart. Eric Peitz, a 6-foot-5, 240-pounder from tiny Crofton Neb., is listed as the fourth- string tight end. … The angle of former Fort Collins star safety Zach Donaldson playing against his father Jeff’s alma mater will have to wait at least a year. Donaldson looked the most promising among the true freshmen early in camp, but an injury derailed his progress. The elder Donaldson played for the Buffs from 1980-83….The first official depth chart was released with no surprises, although Lubick joked about seeing it for the first time. The only “either/or” position battle is at strongside linebacker between sophomore Sedric Patterson and redshirt freshman Ricky Brewer…. CSU still has 5,500 tickets available for the game.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
