FORT COLLINS — Safeties Klint Kubiak and Mike Pagnotta were kindred spirits in misery last season, banished to Colorado State’s sideline for practice and most of the games because of a variety of medical maladies.
Not surprisingly, they are two of the happiest players in spring ball, which wraps up Saturday at Hughes Stadium.
“It’s beautiful to be out here, not injured, be a part of it with the new staff,” Kubiak said.
Pagnotta, who missed four games and played in several others on a badly sprained ankle, said he’s just happy to be healthy again.
Kubiak, looking at his junior year for the second consecutive season, went into last season nursing a hip injury. He had 12 tackles in the first two games but all the anti-inflammatory pills he took created a nasty stomach reaction. He was hospitalized after warm-ups before the Houston game, the game that meant the most, because his father, Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak, would be in the stands.
Worst of all for Klint Kubiak, he was sentenced to a bland diet.
The only good part about his season ending minutes before the third game was that his eligibility was restored because of a medical hardship. He’s now a fourth-year junior.
He avoids Ibuprofen, but said, “I’m back on hot wings, salsa, pico de gallo.”
The two safeties have been a welcome sight for new defensive coordinator Larry Kerr.
“Those two are huge for us right now,” Kerr said. “Obviously, it was a major setback last year losing those kids.”
The new staff has fostered competition between the defense and offense during scrimmages. Instead of the traditional first team vs. second team spring game format, the scrimmage will be all about a staff scoring system.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
CSU spring game
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Saturday schedule
9 a.m. — Pancake breakfast (west concourse) and youth activities (north concourse). Free T-shirts to first 500 kids.
11 a.m. — Warm-ups and spring game.
Offense gets points for big plays, first-down conversions and touchdowns. Defense gets points for forcing turnovers, holding offensive plays to fewer than 4 yards, etc.
Immediately after the game: Fans welcome on the field to meet players and coaches.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
