FORT COLLINS – Colorado State’s decidedly old-school coach Sonny Lubick isn’t much for any new-age psychobabble.
There is, however, some positive imagery he’d like his players to use as CSU battles a 12-game losing streak, the longest in school history since a 1980-82 stretch of 14.
Lubick has asked every player in the past two weeks to compile a mental file of the positives they’ve accomplished in this otherwise dismal season.
For quarterback Caleb Hanie, that would be late fourth-quarter deep strikes to Damon Morton in three of the past four games.
The only potential game-winner in the bunch was last week’s 40-yarder with 3:44 left.
“It’s good to have those any time during the game,” Hanie said. “Against Houston I hit deep balls early. It’s nice to hit those, obviously.”
Lubick has been unwavering in his support of his quarterback, but after seeing San Diego State QB Kevin O’Connell a week ago, Lubick has refrained from calling Hanie the best in the Mountain West Conference.
Hanie is not dwelling on the recent streak of long TDs or the fact he eclipsed the 5,000-yard career (5,043) mark in the 24-20 loss to San Diego State.
He’s taken every snap this season. If he maintains his 232.2-yard average over the final seven games, he would finish with 6,668 career yards, which would rank 1 yard behind Moses Moreno in third place on CSU’s career passing chart.
Hanie, a senior from Forney, Texas, isn’t concerned with his raw numbers. He and his teammates are just starved for wins.
“That’s how you’ve got to be,” he said. “You can’t keep looking in the past. I’m just looking forward to this game. We have to get something going here.”
Most of all, he refuses to think of last year’s game at Air Force when he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another just before halftime, only to get blanked in the second half. That was the first game of the current 12-game freefall.
“I’m not looking how we played in past games. It’s not going to get us a win,” Hanie said.
He promised a few wrinkles coming up this week in the running game. He has more than ample respect for Air Force’s defense, which is allowing just 18 points a game, second in the Mountain West and 20th nationally.
“We’re going to stick to our guns,” Hanie said. “We know we’re a good football team, it’s just a matter of getting a win out of all of our work.”
While Hanie has accumulated those numbers with the help of back-to-back deep veteran receiving corps, his final two years have been played behind an inexperienced offensive line.
“Hidden in the bigger picture there is improvement,” offensive line coach Darrell Funk said. “I’m still encouraged by the effort. They are playing hard, they just have to get better.”
Footnote. CSU officials have announced a “green out” for the Air Force game, asking all fans to wear green to Hughes Stadium.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
