Friday, August 7, 1998

Fort Collins.Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick welcomed back 100 players for the opening of two-a-day workouts on Friday, when the Rams opened preseason camp with annual media day activities.

Lubick, addressing reporters Friday, said this year's team, which includes 17 returning starters, will be exciting for him to be around as the head coach.

"A major strength of this team is the maturity and the attitude. I love those two things about this team,"he said. "We have 16 seniors who are not only good football players, but great leaders."

Leading the list is fullback Damon Washington, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons and begins 1998 fourth all-time in rushing at Colorado State. Teammate Nate Kvamme, a linebacker, was like Washington, a first-team All-WAC selection a year ago.

Washington and Kvamme were earlier this week selected as the WAC's Mountain Division preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.

Lubick also lauded offensive linemen Mike Newell and Anthony Cesario. Cesario was a first-team preseason All-American after earning first-team all-league honors a year ago. Newell, said Lubick, is one of the top centers in the nation.

Following photo and media opportunities at the stadium, Lubick put the players through physical testing including shuttle runs and weight lifting routines.

Colorado State begins preparations in earnest for the Aug. 29 opener at Michigan State in the second annual Black Coaches Association Classic Saturday morning with the first of two workouts. The team will workout in shells through Tuesday before putting on full gear for Wednesday's practice.

Daily two-a-day practice times are 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on the practice fields south of Moby Arena.