FORT COLLINS — No two members of Colorado State’s team have more sympathy for the hurricane-displaced University of Houston than starting safety Klint Kubiak and his brother, backup quarterback Klay Kubiak.
While teammates enjoyed their bye weekend watching everyone else play football, the oldest sons of Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak stayed nervously in touch with family riding out Hurricane Ike. The best news of the weekend, said the safety, was “all the trees fell away from the house.”
The not-so-good news was learning a tree crashed through an aunt’s living room and their parents were dealing with stifling humidity.
“There’s no electricity yet,” Klint Kubiak said.
CSU might have some early-arriving guests for Saturday’s game with the homeless Cougars.
Houston officials on Sunday announced tentative plans to stay in Dallas, where the team practiced at the Cowboys’ facility Monday, until Wednesday and then fly to Denver.
First-year Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said on the Conference USA teleconference that officials were assessing conditions on campus before deciding whether the team would return to Houston.
The homes and families of the coaching staff are accounted for, but Sumlin said players are concerned about their families, friends and residences.
“One of the great things about athletics is if anyone is used to bumping up against adversity, it’s coaches and athletes,” Sumlin said.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild expressed his concern on behalf of the entire athletic department, but as far as the game goes, he knows his team has a tough task at hand.
“Their situation doesn’t affect the way we will prepare,” Fairchild said. “It’s going to take our best effort to be in the football game.”
The returning Rams well remember Houston sophomore quarterback Case Keenum, who came off the bench in the second quarter and ran for the final two TDs of the night in a 38-27 Cougars win last year.
“The guy is good,” CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said after watching tape of Keenum throwing for 362 yards against Air Force on Saturday. “He’s mobile. He hurts you with his feet. They have a lot of speed on the outside.”
Footnote.
The Red Cross will be raising funds at the game for hurricane relief.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
