FORT COLLINS — In Missoula, Mont., young Jim McElwain would stay up late to watch an NBA playoff game, shown on a tape-delayed basis. (Yes, that really was the way it was — pre-Magic, Larry and Michael.)
So the Colorado State football coach’s reflexive reaction when he thinks about Utah State quarterback Darell Garretson is typical of sports fans among his generation. They remember the referee of the same name.
“His granddaddy used to call a great game as an NBA official,” McElwain said as the Rams’ Saturday matchup with Utah State approached. “I never knew the outcome because I wanted to watch it, and Mom used to get mad at me about staying up late. But he was always the guy calling the game.”
Garretson, who died in 2008, also served as the NBA’s supervisor of officials. One son, Ron, also is an NBA official, and another, Rick, named his son after Darell. And for the second consecutive year, Garretson will be the Aggies’ quarterback against CSU — highly regarded starter Chuckie Keeton suffered a knee injury against Wake Forest in the third game of the season.
Garretson took over in that 36-24 victory, and the Aggies have been 2-1 since, losing in overtime at Arkansas State and beating Brigham Young and Air Force. The Aggies are the only team without a Mountain West loss in the Mountain Division, but only at 1-0, and CSU (5-1 overall) is 1-1 in the conference.
Yes, it all adds up to a big-game feeling, and as of Friday, CSU reported that Saturday’s attendance at 34,400-seat Hughes Stadium would be more than 30,000 and could approach a sellout.
It’s the biggest home game for CSU in several years, depending on definition of terms. It comes against the team that won the Mountain Division in 2013 under first-year coach Matt Wells, who took over after Gary Andersen went to Wisconsin. The Aggies’ run to the division title included a 13-0 win over CSU in windy conditions in Logan on Nov. 23.
“He’s built on what Gary Andersen did,” McElwain said of Wells. “He’s kept that team on the rise, and I think that’s a credit to what they’ve done as a staff.”
In Logan, Wells returned the compliments.
“I think Coach McElwain and that staff are having their year,” Wells said. “They’ve been together for three years now. This will be a heavyweight fight. It will go 12 rounds all the way to the end, and it will be a slugfest.”
Garretson is a sophomore from Chandler, Ariz. “Last year, it was a struggle,” he said of the Rams. “We pulled it out, but we didn’t play well on offense at all. We really had to lean on the run game a lot that day, especially with the wind conditions. It just wasn’t a good day overall.”
While on the Louisville staff, Wells saw CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson at the Cardinals’ camp and liked him. The circumstances are murky because of head coach Steve Kragthorpe’s firing, but Grayson was at least a fallback choice to be offered a scholarship.
“Garrett is at Colorado State because we got fired at Louisville,” Wells said. “We recruited him, had him in camp, liked him a lot and were going to get him. … In some ways, it’s good for me to see that and maybe be validated from a few years ago in my summer camp assessment. I was right about Garrett, but I’m not taking the credit, that’s all (offensive coordinator) Dave Baldwin.”
Terry Frei: Frei@denverpost.com or
When the rams run
CSU is trying to keep Dee Hart’s carries down. But Treyous Jarrells probably won’t play for the third consecutive week, so someone else — whether the hurting Jasen Oden Jr. or true freshman Deron Thompson — will need to step up. The Aggies are allowing only 103.7 yards per game on the ground and Utah State’s linebackers, brothers Zach and Nick Vigil, are 1-2 in tackles. Edge: Utah State
When the aggies run
The Aggies have used a handful of running backs. Joe Hill is their leading rusher, with only 168 yards. Edge: CSU
When the rams pass
Garrett Grayson needs 136 yards to become CSU’s all-time leading passer. The Aggies have been allowing 248.5 yards per game through the air. If CSU gets any kind of ground game at all, it will help take some of the pressure off Grayson. Edge: CSU
When the aggies pass
More of a fill-in last year, Darell Garretson has played with more self-assurance as a sophomore after again stepping in for the injured Chuckie Keeton. CSU’s veteran secondary has improved and has made some key plays, but Garretson has a big-play receiver in Hunter Sharp. Edge: Utah State
Special teams
CSU’s Hayden Hunt had a subpar game punting at Nevada and his work in this game might be more important. Jaron Bentrude is averaging only 39.5 yards per punt for the Aggies. Nick Diaz has taken over the place-kicking duties for the Aggies and is 5-for-7 on field goals. CSU’s Jared Roberts is 4-for-7 and at some point will be needed to make a huge one. Edge: CSU Terry Frei, The Denver Post
