FORT COLLINS — Colorado State freshman kicker Ben DeLine is no stranger to the Colorado State-Colorado series. He has been to more games than he can count but had one special recollection about last year’s game.
“I would have never imagined last year when I was in the stands that I would be the starting kicker this year,” he said Tuesday after his first practice as a starter.
DeLine had competed with senior Jason Smith all spring, but when Smith broke his arm Saturday, the job fell to the true freshman.
“I hate to see it happen. Jason is a senior,” DeLine said. “It’s an opportunity for me, and he’ll be back. I have to make the best of it and have a blast.”
First up was trying to heal a family rift. Three years before he was born, his dad, Steve, kicked for CSU in a milestone upset at CU in 1986. Ben’s uncle, Dave DeLine, was the Buffs’ kicker.
“I hope my uncle is in green and gold,” the current-generation DeLine kicker said.
He grew up on a ranch near Steamboat Springs where his dad had him kicking at an early age. He was named The Denver Post’s Class 3A all-state kicker and booted a career- best 51-yarder to win a state playoff game against Palisade.
DeLine ignored the good natured teasing of his teammates as a sudden object of media attention.
“It’s all mental. I can’t make myself worry about how many people are there or how big the game is,” DeLine said. “To me, it should be just like kicking up in Steamboat. It definitely will be different, but in a good way.”
He said he knows there will be some butterflies. And if the game comes down to a kick, that is fine with him.
“Honestly, I’d love it,” DeLine said. “It’s what every kicker should dream about, going into a game like that.”
Lightning quick.
The Rams were so intent on finishing their first practice of the week that they ignored a lightning alarm after a thunderclap near the end of practice.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
