FORT COLLINS – Sonny Lubick is touched by his players’ sentiment that they want to win for their coach. But he thinks those priorities are misplaced. He wants them to win for themselves and end the current 12-game losing streak.
“I’ve won more games than I thought I would ever want to win,” Lubick, who is 105-70 at Colorado State, said at his weekly news conference.
“The thing that makes it tough is the student body. Our fans, the team. I have to make sure they understand that. I’ve been here (15) years, and 12 or 13 of them have been better than I could have ever dreamt about. I just wish every class that comes through could win a ring.”
The Rams try to end the streak Saturday at home against the team that started it – Air Force. CSU led 21-3 in 2006 at halftime, but lost 24-21. Several players were injured, helping set up a 24-0 loss at Wyoming the following week. The season fell apart from there.
This is a different Air Force team to prepare for. First-year coach Troy Calhoun has diversified the Falcons’ offense. Lubick estimates AFA runs its pure option only 20 percent of the time now.
“I think both teams are similar,” he said. “I think we’re so far apart and yet so close. In other words, I don’t think one team is going to out-talent the other one 100 percent.”
Even with the continued slide, Lubick isn’t faulting the effort, noting San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell visited CSU’s locker room and told the coaches it was the best defense he had seen this season.
“I really think our players are into it,” Lubick said. “I don’t see any defection. We’ve just come up short. When you do look back, most every game we were in until the fourth quarter. Those teams were better and pulled it out.
“Winning is important. I’m not going to downplay that.”
Footnotes. Redshirt freshman running back John Mosure, who didn’t get into the game, wasn’t injured. Lubick said backup Gartrell Johnson had earned more playing time behind Kyle Bell. … The staff hopes to know today if safeties Mike Pagnotta (ankle) and or Klint Kubiak (ulcer) will be available Saturday. … Defensive end Jesse Nading suffered a hand injury against the Aztecs but is expected to play. … Lubick said he received a call recently from his good friend and former AFA coach Fisher DeBerry, who might attend the game.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
