Steve Fairchild will open his third season as Colorado State’s football coach with a third starting quarterback. After two seasons with one-and-done seniors at quarterback, Fairchild wants continuity at the all-important position. The Rams have two freshmen leading their QB race: Pete Thomas and Nico Ranieri.
But the biggest challenge remains turning around a program that was 7-6, including a bowl victory, in Fairchild’s first season but 3-9 last year. The Rams will enter this season with a nine-game losing streak after opening 3-0 in 2009.
Fairchild recently sat down with The Denver Post to go over a number of issues heading into the Rams’ first preseason practice Aug. 5.
Q: What did Raymond Carter, a transfer from UCLA, do to earn his place atop the depth chart at running back? Some people were surprised to see him ahead of redshirt freshman Chris Nwoke and incumbents Leonard Mason and John Mosure.
A: “That depth chart is fluid. We publish one to publish one. There’s a lot of time between now and the (Sept. 4) opener. Who- ever is playing the best will be the guys who are playing. It’s just ‘go practice well.’ “
Q: Are you looking at Raymond or maybe Nwoke to be the go-to guy at running back or are you still looking at a committee for at least the start of the season?
A: “It depends what happens in August. Injuries can happen. It’s who is playing well, is there a better third-down option? Raymond just had a few spring practices (before a minor injury). Nwoke, it’s his first time. We’ll see what happens, how they work this summer, and how they come back. I’ve said this all along: I thought we’d do a committee of Gartrell (Johnson) and Kyle Bell (in 2008). Somebody (Johnson) started playing better. The best-laid plans don’t matter.”
Q: You visited with former Brigham Young and current UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow and some other people this summer. Who else did you bring in?
A: “Norm was at BYU forever in the old WAC. We were veterans of the old conference. I brought (ex-BYU coach) Gary Crowton in from LSU. We were roommates (at CSU). Anytime we can bring someone in and we can share ideas, we will.”
Q: You can’t watch summer workouts because of NCAA rules, but what’s the word from strength and conditioning coach Greg Scanlan on how they’re going?
A: “I think they are going good. It’s a time for players to police themselves and develop their own identities as a football team because we’re not out there coaching. I think two summers ago, we had (leadership) with Gartrell and those type of guys. Last year, I’m not sure we did. Hopefully, this year we get some work done.”
Q: After all the money and priorities you are pouring into summer school for CSU players, what do you want to get out of that?
A: “There’s no question. For us to be successful we’ve got to show up that first day of practice and already be in shape and already know what we’re doing. A fully funded summer school is the way of Division I football.”
Q: Which leads us to the next question. Are the Rams fully funded?
A: “We’re getting there. (Athletic director) Paul Kowalczyk and (president) Tony Frank have done a great job of increasing our resources. We still have a ways to go to catch the top half of the conference. We just have to keep working. We have a good product, excellent location. We have a good staff.”
Q: You’re not going to say who the starting QB is yet, but will it be like the last two years when a light bulb goes on in your mind and you say, “That’s our guy”?
A: “Particularly because we’re talking about a very good chance it could be a true freshman (Pete Thomas) or a redshirt freshman (Nico Ranieri), I don’t think we know as much about these guys. (Junior) Klay Kubiak is back (from two shoulder surgeries). I want to see where he’s at. There is no starter as we speak and I wouldn’t anticipate naming one for a while. When the time is right, we’ll know.”
Q: Will you try to play both freshman QBs?
A: “Ideally we’d like to have a starting quarterback. We’re going to need both this year. You just can’t go in with one. I don’t think we can redshirt Pete Thomas. But again, it depends on how Klay Kubiak fits in.”
Q: There seems to be a lot of players leaving CSU. There’s always some turnover with injuries and guys down the depth chart, but Brandon Owens (at Northern Colorado) was a part-time starter.
A: “Guys like Jon Eastman (a senior quarterback who transferred to an NAIA school) want to play and they are not going to play here. That’s the nature of it. Guys were going past Brandon (on the depth chart).”
Q: When you sign high school players, are you telling them they have a four-year scholarship or is it for one year and you have to earn it the next year?
A: “We want guys here four or five years. Brandon could be here if he wanted. Brandon just thought he had to go somewhere else to get a chance to play. They want a chance to play and they weren’t going to play here.”
Q: In the Mountain West Conference, do you think BYU, Texas Christian and Utah will remain the big three this year, with Boise State replacing Utah in 2011?
A: “I don’t want to look past this year, but it’s definitely the big three with Utah, BYU and TCU. Those are very talented football teams. That’s what the rest of us (in the MWC) are trying to get to.”
Q: Pat Meyer has so many responsibilities — offensive coordinator, offensive line, helping with strength and conditioning and recruiting Florida. Are you grooming him to be a head coach somewhere?
A: “Pat is a very talented coach. His job description has not changed. He was basically doing that the last two years. He just happened to cycle up in recruiting. I fully anticipate when all is said and done, we’ll be strong (recruiting) in Texas and California as well as Florida.”
Q: We were all shocked to hear about Paul Kowalczyk, who recently underwent cancer surgery. Is that going to affect the operations of the CSU athletic department?
A: “He obviously has great medical care. I’m confident he will come out of this in great health. I think Paul will be back before too long.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
Third year a charm?
Going into your third season at CSU, is it reasonable for Rams fans to think they should see some improvement? Fans across the country get antsy by the third season, if not the second.
“I don’t know. I hope we keep improving. I think the last two recruiting classes are the type of classes we need to get into the upper echelon (of the Mountain West Conference). They are redshirt freshmen and true freshmen. When those classes cycle up into fourth- and fifth-year guys, that’s the true test.”
Sept. 25 against Idaho (Ag Day at Hughes Stadium), the Rams will wear special orange jerseys and fan voting will determine the pants (white, green or gold). Did you actually see the basketball uniforms that night (against Wyoming)? What is your personal preference — white, gold or green?
“I saw pictures. I don’t know. When we get them I’m going to have someone put them on to see what they look like. Until then, I’ll reserve judgment. Before I weigh in on my opinion, I’d like to see them. These aren’t retro uniforms. These are more to honor A&M (CSU’s former name). We’re not talking about changing helmets. Our goal is to pay tribute.”
Rams schedule
Sept. 4 CU at Denver Noon MTN
Sept. 11 at Nevada 8:30 p.m. ESPNU
Sept. 18 at Miami (Ohio) 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Idaho 2 p.m.
Oct. 2 TCU Noon MTN
Oct. 9 at Air Force Noon MTN
Oct. 16 UNLV Noon MTN
Oct. 23 at Utah 4 p.m. MTN
Oct. 30 New Mexico 4 p.m. MTN
Nov. 6 at San Diego State 8 p.m. MTN
Nov. 13 BYU Noon MTN
Nov. 20 at Wyoming Noon MTN
