Fort Collins – Having grown up near Fort Worth, Texas, as a fan of the Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas, Caleb Hanie needed no introduction to off-the-chart college rivalries.
A bystander in the Rocky Mountain Showdown for his first two years at Colorado State, Hanie played perhaps the best game of his career against Colorado as a junior last year, hitting 14 consecutive passes and finishing 20-of-23 for 233 yards.
Hanie prefers senior status to taking his first college snap Saturday.
“It would be awesome if the first college game you play is one of the biggest rivalries in the country,” Hanie said. “You couldn’t ask for better than that. You could be hero or butt of all criticism. I would look at it as an opportunity. I would definitely be nervous.”
Hanie’s first meaningful college snap came as a freshman against San Diego State when starter Justin Holland broke his ankle. Hanie’s first start was the following week in a rivalry game against Wyoming which CSU won.
Now, he’s expected to help the Rams get off to a fast start in his last go-round.
“I grew up around the Texas-OU, Texas-Texas A&M rivalry, so I have a sense of what college rivalries are all about,” he said. “Last year I got to see the student section going crazy after the game; everyone is out on the town in Denver. It was one of the best feelings I ever had after we won.”
CSU’s victory over CU was the Rams’ season highlight.
Seven consecutive losses to end the season took him a long time to recover from emotionally in the offseason, Hanie said. He came into the fall camp with a swagger and the confidence of his teammates and coach, however.
CSU coach Sonny Lubick calls Hanie one of the pleasant surprises of camp.
“I got a feeling that Caleb has taken his play to another level,” Lubick said. “I see a new zip in him.”
Hanie said he never lacked for confidence.
“It wasn’t hard to find it after we got going again in spring football. Once you get out here with your teammates and realize how much talent we have, it’s hard not to be confident in yourself and your team. It took a little while, but I’m back to where I need to be.”
Said offensive co-coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt: “He has a little better tempo. He’s controlling the offense, getting up to the line of scrimmage. Basic little stuff.”
Hammerschmidt is happy to be going into the season with a senior starter. He doesn’t dismiss the chances of a newcomer, however.
“It can be done. We all remember how (ex-Buff) Joel Klatt came out of minor-league baseball and beat us,” Hammerschmidt said.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
