CSU football head coach Steve Fairchild addresses upcoming 2009 season

August 13th was CSU football’s media day, and head coach Steve Fairchild was open to discussing many topics, including; some 2008 games, new players for 2009, and expectations of the team for the 2009 season.

Fairchild began by confronting the question of outside expectations. “Our job is to close the gap on the elite teams in our league and the only way I know to do that is to go out and get better every time we practice. And if we’re doing that, try and play hard, smart football on Saturdays and keep improving, then I think we’re doing our job.”

This is a great way to think about the tough job that he and assistant coaches face now. Why worry about competing for a BCS Bowl game now? Instead, he has decided to concentrate on improving and competing for the Mountain West Conference first.

Next, Fairchild was asked about closing the gap on BYU, and TCU, and reminisced why the close games were lost by the Rams in 2008. “They make a few more plays and they’re not close games; we make a few more and we win them. You know, that’s what we did in the 90s.  We had some tremendous records, but we were winning a lot of close games. I don’t think there are any easy teams on the schedule; I think every game is winnable. There are a lot of good coaches and a lot of good players out there and we just have to find a way to finish those close games.”

This statement is quite telling of the second-year head coach. First, he was an assistant with CSU in the 1990s, so Fairchild has a feel for the city, the team, and the competition that faces the Rams. Second, he is very confident in his team, which will trickle down to the players that will become more confident in themselves as a team.

The highlight question of media day came when the coach was asked about the QB and RB battles that are happening in Fort Collins as this article is written.

Fairchild said, “Let’s start with quarterback. There is no timeline. What we’re looking for, a lot like last year, is someone to step up in our August camp here, and play with some consistency. We just want a guy to go out and operate, just consistently functioning well at that spot. When somebody proves they can do that, like last year Billy (Farris) eventually started to put together some good practices, then we’ll name that guy the starter.”

Currently, there are five QBs on the Rams’ roster, yet only two have any in-game experience in D1 college ball. Both Klay Kubiak and Grant Stucker played in a few contests in 2008 for CSU. Stucker, a senior, got spot-duty as a late-game reserve for Farris. In four games he completed 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards. Kubiak, a sophomore, went 19-of-37 for 254 yards no touchdowns and one interception in 2008. Kubiak seemed to have the inside track to being the starter in 2009, but that was until John Eastman, a junior, transferred to CSU in the Spring of 2009.

According to csurams.com, Eastman, “began competing immediately for the Rams’ starting QB position.” Eastman transferred from Snow Junior College, though, which could hamper his hopes of being the Rams’ starter in 2009.

On the running back front, Fairchild said, “Leonard Mason had a tremendous summer. He’s a very talented young man that will only get better and better. John Mosure has played; he had a great summer. We got Alex Square in there taking some reps, doing some things that he can do.”

Mason is similar to QB hopeful Eastman, as he has two years experience in junior college, College of the Desert to be specific, and he enrolled at CSU in Spring as well. Rivals.com ranked him the nation’s third-best JC running back last year, and he needs a spectacular preseason to grab the starting spot.

Likely, the starter at running back will be John Mosure. Mosure, the junior running back/kick returner, had a very strong 2008 season, and looks to take the place of all-conference beast Gartrell Johnson. Mosure played in all 13 games in ’08 for the Rams, running for 122 yards on 30 carries, for two touchdowns. He also snagged 16 catches for 122 yards, and returned 16 kicks for 381 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, those numbers are pretty strong for being the No. 2 option at running back, and if he does get the nod as starter this year, look for Mosure to be a solid running back for the Rams in 2009.

Also, Fairchild explained how CSU’s new indoor practice facility will improve the program. “We’ve walked through it. Aesthetically, I don’t think there is a better one in the country. It’s a fabulous facility, we are blessed to have it, and we’ll use it. It’s going to help our student-athletes on so many different fronts. Not just practicing in spring ball and two-a-days. If we are on a limited amount of time in a game week and face bad weather, we can get in there. It’ll be a tremendous asset to our offseason program, again because of the weather.”

CSU was the last team in the Mountain West not to have an indoor facility, and adding this building helps the program for sure. They have already been using the new facility and the Academic and Training Center as recruiting tools, and will likely be able to bring in better players because of them.

In all, this media day went well and the great quotes that head coach Steve Fairchild gave shed light into the current state of the Rams’ football team. Fairchild showed his true colors, explained his real expectations for 2009, and analyzed his possible starters at key positions.

If things work out and not too many players are lost to injury, look for this Rams team to be improved on last year’s New Mexico Bowl winning squad.