Older 1998 Colorado State Football News Items

With the first game won the Rams beat the oddsmakers in Las Vegas. The 5-point-underdog Rams took it to Michigan State on Saturday with a 23-16 win. Ryan Esslinger showed the poise of a quarterback used to starting in his first outing. Early in the game one of his passes was tipped and picked off. After a bit of a slow start Esslinger and the Rams came from behind to erase a 16-0 deficit. (August 29, 1998)

The Breakaway WAC may even have it's own name soon. Three of the top contenders - American West Conference, Great West Conference and Mountain West Conference - will be tested my marketers on the communites of the schools. The Denver Post says Coach Lubick favors Mountain West Conference. Some RamLine.com readers have written to sugges that west shouldn't be included in the name of the new conference or it won't be taken "seriously."(August 27, 1998)

Although coaches don't want to see it happen there is a real freshman practicing with the first team on the last day of two-a-day practices. When Anthony Cesario injured his wrist in Saturday's scrimmage and his backups were also out, true freshman Morgan Pears was called on to fill the hole in the offensive line. The string of injuries has coach Sonny Lubick rethinking plans for a full contact scrimmage on Wednesday according to a Denver Post story. (August 18, 1998)

The first full contact scrimmage shows a dominating defense will be one of the keys to the Rams' success. Other standouts included third-string quarterback Steve Cutlip starting 3-0 passing and throwing the only two touchdown passes of the day. See more in the Denver Post story, Rams' defense rules day. (August 16, 1998)

Sunday also brought another chance to look at former Ram standout Calvin Branch. Branch, who now sees the other side of the ball, is playing at safety for the Okland Raiders. Branch saw plenty of playing time and contributed to the Raiders 27-21 victory. Over last year's super-bowl contestant Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile the The Sporting News site picks Greg Myers as having the inside line on starting free safety job and he's locked up punt return duties for the Cincinnati Bengals. (August 17, 1998)

With fall drills underway and the season set to start in less than three weeks it's time to take a closer look at some of the Rams. The Denver Post leads the way today with a look at the rough welcome that Brian Schneider a Junior-college transfer had last spring. Get the whole story in Punter getting a kick out of second chance. On the other side of the ball, several long-time defenders have reached the ranks of Ram seniors. The Rocky Mountain News looks at Willie Taylor, Clark Haggans and Nate Kvamme in their story, Rams defenders contrast how it was, how it is. (August 11, 1998)

Hard work impresses coach Sunny Lubick as the Rams Continue Two-a-day Workouts near Moby Arena. However, concerns remain as two players were sidelined Sunday with injuries. Two of the sidelined Rams figure to be defensive starters. (August 10, 1998)

Rams Begin Two-A-Day Workouts. (August 7, 1998)

T-0 it's finally here. The start of the 1998 season for the Colorado State University RAMS. In a year that the Rams have been chosen to lead their conference and big games dominate the schedule, they will have to work all the time to meet expectations. Some big players come to meet those expectations such as Colorado native Steve Cutlip and Colorado All-State tackle Morgan Pears. The team also includes many notable veterans who will return later this week. Read more of today's news in the Denver Post Story: Frisky Rams start practice today. (August 5, 1998)

The coming WAC split may leave the conference champion out of the bowl picture this year. The situation, which reminds many of Wyoming's 10-2 finish two years ago that netted no bowl game, is described in detail in the Denver Post's League champ may have no Holiday. (August 4, 1998)

Wondering about how the coming WAC split will affect the 1998 football season? "I realize that the rivalry between the two leagues has already been established,"WAC Commissioner told Las Vegas Review-Journal Reporter Matt Jacob. See the whole story in Keeping the Peace. (July 30, 1998)

"No question (CSU is the class of the WAC),"says BYU coach LaVelle Edwards according to a Denver Post story this morning. See CSU favored to repeat for the complete story (July 29, 1998)

Colorado State University Rams picked to top conference in their last year in the WAC. (July 28, 1998)

With one month left before the 1998 season don't forget to tune to Ramline frequently for updates. The 1998 Colorado State Rams Football Schedule is now online. (July 20, 1998)

One of CSU's top recruits passed away. The Denver Post has more on 18-year-old Donte Ellsworth. See: CSU football recruit was 18 (July 8, 1998)

This June the Sporting News awarded the Rams a 19th ranking nationally. See the whole story in Rams Earn 19th Ranking in Sporting News' 1998 Football Preview . (June 5, 1998)

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