2004-05 looks promising

The CSU football team will lose a large part of its roster after

this year with over 20 seniors ending their careers as Rams, but

the team is confident it can achieve another winning season.

“We got a good young core coming back and that is the way you

gotta look at it,” sophomore wide receiver David Anderson said.

“You gotta wish the seniors well, but there is no off-season in

football. We gotta be ready to come back and play again.”

The biggest change will come at the quarterback position where

Justin Holland will take the reigns from two-time Mountain West

Conference Offensive Player of the Year Bradlee Van Pelt.

“Holland is our quarterback next year. I am sure he is going to

be just fine,” Anderson said. “He is an All-Colorado player and an

All-American.”

The receiving core will also take a large hit with the departure

of Chris Pittman and Eric Hill.

“We are going to miss Hill, Pittman, Dexter (Wynn) and everyone

else who helped us out,” Anderson said. “It is going to be a big

transition, but I think we can do it.”

Pittman had 56 receptions for 739 yards, but Anderson, a

sophomore, had 72 receptions for 1,293 yards and emerged as the

team’s leading passing target.

Departures of graduating seniors Bryan Save, who led the team

with seven sacks and had a sack in Saturday’s Hula Bowl; Benny

Mastropaolo, who led the team with 89 tackles; and linebacker Drew

Wood, who was one of the team’s most influential leaders; will

leave a gap in the defense. Cornerback Ben Stratton and defensive

end Patrick Goodpaster will look to lead the defense in the 2004-05

season.

Cornerback and return specialist Wynn, who combined for over

1,200 yards in kick and punt returns, will also leave a big hole in

the Rams’ roster.

“Dexter is one of the greatest guys I have ever coached,” head

coach Sonny Lubick said. “He is a great football player and the

team will miss him.”

One of the biggest problems for the team this season dealt with

turnovers. CSU turned the ball over 34 times this season, which

contributed to the team’s 7-6 record and third place conference

finish.

“If we don’t turn the ball over against Utah, we beat them and

if we don’t turn the ball over against New Mexico, we beat them,”

Anderson said. “Obviously turnovers can change your whole season

and I think we have to learn from that.”

The Rams will also face one of the hardest schedules in team

history. The 2004 season will begin with a game against Colorado in

Boulder and then a trip to California to play the 2003

split-National Champions, the University of Southern California

Trojans.