FORT COLLINS — Zack Golditch has switched sides.
No, not sides in the Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry, but sides of the Colorado State offensive line.
After starting at both left tackle and left guard for the Rams in 2015, Golditch has settled in at right tackle, which is where he will line up against Colorado Friday night. There, he will be next to the holdover starter at right guard, senior Fred Zerblis.
“It’s kind of getting used to flipping my body around,” Golditch said. “But I think it’s going pretty good so far.”
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The potential peril of playing next to Zerblis is that his wicked sense of humor can come into play at any time. Golditch is from Aurora, Zerblis from Grayson, Ga., and they’re developing a rapport.
“There’s definitely some laughter there, some jokes, he’s a funny guy,” said Golditch. “I really like it, though, because he’s experienced and he knows what to do. On certain plays, he’s a huge help, because he knows what he’s doing. So if I kind of mix up on my right and left sides, because I’m so used to the left side, he’ll help me there.”
Said Zerblis: “It’d different because he’s new. We’ve started to pull together as the right side, and I think over the last two weeks, I think we’ve been working together and trying to get all our combo blocks together and things like that.”
Golditch, from Gateway High, in the July 2012 Aurora theater shootings. Four years later, he doesn’t want that to define him, whether as a football player or anything else.
“I’m definitely trying to define myself in a different way,” Golditch said. “Coming back as an experienced member of the offensive line, I want to set my identity as not just myself, but as a part of this offense. So they’re not talking about me as an individual, but as part of an offense, as part of the 2016 CSU offense.”
CSU coach Mike Bobo said Golditch’s adaptability has been impressive.
“I really believe Zack Golditch can be a great football player,” Bobo said. “I think he can be an all-conference player in this league, I think he can play at the next level for a long time. He’s got natural bend, he’s got strength, and he’s very, very conscientious. He wants to be a good football player and he wants to be a good teammate.
“We’ve played him at left guard, left tackle, right tackle, we’ve moved him around. He’s always been open to it, he’s a total team player and he’s a tough guy.”
Golditch, the Colorado boy, was raised on this rivalry; Zerblis, who came from two time zones away, has learned about it.
“Growing up, I had like two CU jerseys,” Golditch said. “Coming from California, my parents didn’t really know all that much about the schools. . . Now that I’m up here, it’s CSU 100 percent. All day, every day. CU has definitely taken the back seat in my mind. I think it’s good to have a rivalry like this, especially in-state. It really drives the season. It really drives the competition. The reason why people come to CSU is because they don’t want to go to CU. So I think it’s healthy for the state.”
Has Zerblis developed a healthy dislike for CU?
“I didn’t really know what this rivalry game was about,” Zerblis said slowly. “Being here my redshirt year, my freshman year, so four years now, playing in the game twice. …”
He paused, then added, “Yes. I don’t want to say anything messed up. But yes. It’s definitely a rivalry game. They’re going to bring their best. We’re going to bring our best and it’s going to be a close game.”