Race down to two, for now

Democracy was in full display on campus this week, as students elected their next ASCSU president and vice president.

The process was simple. The candidates receiving the most votes won, and barring any unforeseen Penley-like fiasco, Dan Gearhart and Tim Hole will lead student government next fall. Congratulations, Dan and Tim. (Hopefully you’ll think twice about spending a ton of money for a hip-hop concert.)

The process of choosing who will lead the Rams’ offense next fall, however, is a bit more complicated.

Spring practice–the first of two official campaign seasons–is quickly nearing its end, and the race for the starting quarterback position appears still very much undecided.

One candidate, Alex Kelly, has dropped out (choosing to pursue a career in baseball instead). Another, Klay Kubiak, has been unable to campaign due to an injury. A third, T.J. Borky, has been delegated to other duties (wide receiver). And a fourth, Nico Raineri, has yet to officially enter (still in high school).

That, my friends, leaves us with just two candidates. Fitting, considering this country’s love for a two-party contest.

On one ticket is Grant Stucker, once one of the top prep prospects in the state, now a long-time backup looking to crack the starting lineup for the first time as a fifth-year senior (Billy Farris 2.0).

On the other ticket is Jon Eastman, once a missionary in Brazil, now a junior college transfer with only two years of eligibility brought to the Fort with the sole purpose competing for the starting job right away.

Credentials? Not so much a factor in this race. Eastman and Stucker have a combined 22 career passing yards at the Bowl Subdivision level. To their credit, though, Stucker did run for a touchdown in the Rams’ New Mexico Bowl victory, and Eastman did lead the Snow College Badgers to the JUCO national championship.

Platform? Eastman is noted for having a quick release, as his favorite play is one that includes two hitch routes. Stucker is noted for his athletic ability, as his favorite play is a quarterback draw.

Mud slinging between the candidates has been refreshingly non-existent. (To my knowledge, Stucker has yet to release an ad questioning Eastman’s durability, nor has Eastman ran one pondering Stucker’s potential.)

Instead, each has referred to other as a "good guy." Stucker has even put in some extra time to help Eastman pick up on the new offense.

But in the end, that mutual admiration won’t really matter.

The final, and only, say goes to The Man, second-year coach Steve Fairchild. And at times during the campaign, he’s been anything but complimentary toward the candidates, threatening them with the possibility that neither will win the position and instead the job could very well go to Raineri, who while Eastman and Stucker have been battling it out on the practice field is busy making plans for his senior prom.

But considering that understanding Fairchild’s pro-style offense is notoriously difficult, the chances of Rainari stepping onto campus next fall as a true freshman and starting against the Buffs in Boulder are remote.

Regardless of how many candidates are running, the race appears it will be decided later rather than sooner.

Last year’s quarterback battle went well into August, and Fairchild has said he expects this year’s competition to unfold very much the same way.

But the people want to know now, or at least I do. And based on a small sample of spring practice, Eastman seems to possesses not only a quick release but some leadership qualities too.

No need to fret, though, Stucker. Apparently the Collegian has a history of endorsing the wrong candidate, as it has several times recently for the ASCSU presidency.

May the best candidate win.

Men's golf: the best kept secret at CSU

The best kept secret on campus?

Hint, the team is ranked 15th in the country, won its conference championship last year and is poised to repeat this year. It has a realistic chance of securing the best season in program history and practices in a new, state-of-the-art facility that would easily make any of its competitors jealous.

Don’t know? Don’t worry. Neither does anyone else.

Introducing men’s golf: the least-talked about, most-accomplished team at CSU.

Three talented juniors–Bryce Hanstad, Dustin Morris and Riley Arp–have all played significant roles in helping the Rams to a record-tying five tournament victories this season, with Hanstad and Morris each winning individual titles.

But it’s a freshman and senior who really complete the dynamics of the team. Literally from A to Z.

Brothers Zen and Zahkai Brown may share the roof they sleep under at night and the parents who raised them, but that’s about where their similarities end.

Zen is a senior who has played in every tournament the last four years. Zahkai is a freshman who still has to fight his way into a tournament every week.

Even their golf games are different.

Zen tends to play a draw, Zahkai a cut.

Zen is even keeled, doesn’t take risks and scores pretty consistently. Almost too consistently, as, despite all his success, has yet to win an individual title.

Zahaki is more aggressive, and according to his coach, Jamie Bermel, “has to bring back the reins a little bit at times.” Still, his aggressiveness has payed off at least once in his brief career, winning an individual title back in October.

“Zen and Zahkai really couldn’t be two more different people,” Bermel said. “Zen’s really laid back. Zahkai’s pretty emotional.”

Their polarizing characteristics were first noticed by their mother, Lori, while growing up together in Denver.
“If he liked vanilla ice cream, I’d like chocolate,” Zahkai said.

While Zen was born with a putter in his hand, Zahkai initially preferred swimming and didn’t take up golf seriously until he was a freshman in high school. And up until then, like most brothers their age, they weren’t exactly best friends.

But as Zahkai’s skills on the links improved, the disliking began to wane– especially when he was good enough to give Zen a run for his money.

“Because we were such opposites, we didn’t really share interests as much growing up, especially until he got into golf. But the last year we’ve grown close,” Zen said.

Still, the competition to be the best in the family lives on.

“I try not to let him beat me, you know, because I’m the older brother,” Zen said. “But his game’s gotten really good, and either of us will win on any given day.”

And when the freshman does beat the senior, younger brother Zahkai knows his game is right.

“If I beat him, then I’d doing well,” Zahkai said.

But even so, it’s the elder who always has the last word, especially considering they live together.

Let’s just say Zen knows what the hierarchy is in the Brown residence. Because as he says, “Freshmen need to take the trash out.”

Rubbish aside, the Browns are fully embracing the rare opportunity of being brothers and teammates at the same time, even if it is for only one year.

“It’s awesome that we got to play together for one year, especially such a successful year,” Zen said.

Lubick Returns to CSU

Loss of Brewer really hurts

As if the off-season for local football fans wasn't already chaotic enough trying to keep up with the soap opera that has become the Denver Broncos, things got downright depressing on Thursday.

Ricky Brewer, who was projected as the leader of the Rams' defense next fall, was suspended by the team for the entire 2009 season.

Talk about a downer the day before spring break starts.

Brewer apologized in a statement released by the university, though it wasn't exactly clear for what. He only admitted to making "an error in judgment."

Whatever error in judgment he made, it's going to cost his team dearly. The names of the players on the list to replace Brewer are everything but familiar, even for the most diehard Ram fan.

Simply put, Brewer is the last player the Rams could afford to lose.

A case could be made for safety Klint Kubiak, or receivers Dion Morton and Rashaun Greer, but Brewer's ceiling is higher than all of those guys. And next season was supposed to be when he approached it.

Instead he'll be watching from the sideline as his teammates try to build on the marked improvement they made last year. CSU's first winning season in five years was a giant step forward, but it's hard to not think Brewer's suspension will greatly impede that momentum.

After coming to the Fort from Mullen High School in 2006, Brewer steadily evolved into a force on the defensive side of the ball the past two seasons.

Before Thursday he was well on his way to becoming the team's first all-conference defensive player since 2003.

Now, who knows?

CSU players the caliber of Brewer have missed an entire season twice recently, returning the next year with varying degrees of their former self.

Kyle Bell missed all of 2006 and was never the same player. Kory Sperry missed all of 2007 and for the most part regained his form. Granted, Bell and Sperry lost their seasons to injuries and not suspensions.

If there is a smidgen of good news buried in this debacle, it's that Brewer will still be able to practice and workout with the team. And according to one player I spoke with Thursday, that means something.

"(Brewer) brings a lot of energy, is real intense … he makes you want to work harder," the player said.

But the fact is, Brewer's contagious work ethic in the weight room and on the practice field can only do so much.

"That's why you have depth charts and you don't just have the 22 guys out there playing," the player said. "We're going to have to have some people step up."

Whether Brewer's replacement actually steps up, or simply steps in, is to be determined - as is Brewer's reputation going forward.

"I look at it not as what he did, but what he does with the situation from this point on," said Brewer's coach, Steve Fairchild.

I'm not sure exactly what it was that Brewer did to get suspended, but it probably wasn't something that would make his mother proud.

Thankfully for Brewer, he'll likely get another chance in 2010, when he would be eligible to come back and play as a senior.

Until then, Brewer said: "I'm going to do everything I can, working my tail off in the weight room and at practice, to ensure that I give Colorado State my best possible contributions in my senior year."

Sports columnist Sean Star can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

The Predator cuts down 40 time at CSU Pro Day

By Sean Star
The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Following an impressive showing at last month's NFL Scouting Combine, former CSU tight end Kory Sperry didn't participate in any officially timed workouts at CSU's annual Pro Day on Tuesday.

Instead it was Sperry's former teammate, running back Gartrell Johnson, who capitalized on the opportunity.

In front of a bevy of NFL scouts at The Edge Sports Center, Johnson successfully decreased his ever-important 40-yard dash time - accomplishing his pre-workout goal. The tailback cut his combine time of 4.77 seconds down to 4.65, according to one scout on hand.

"I feel good," Johnson said. "… It's just something that's not stressful, but it just continues to go through your head, on and on and on, where I just feel better now. It's just a load off of me."

Neither Johnson nor Sperry had much of an idea where they might be selected at next month's NFL Draft. The two are just hoping to get their cleat in the door.

"Just any chance, all I need is one," Sperry said. "Whoever happens to hopefully take me, then I'll be happy."

While Johnson may not have the impressive workout numbers that Sperry does, he did turn heads with a record-setting performance in the nationally televised New Mexico Bowl in December, something he said helped gain him recognition at the combine.

Still, Johnson said he's not really sure which round he'll hear his name.

"Draft Day's like winning the lottery, kind of," Johnson said. "You don't know when your number's going to be called. Hopefully I can show some teams that I can really run and that I'm a real football player."

Along with Sperry and Johnson, quarterback Billy Farris, running backs Mike Myers and Kyle Bell, safety Mike Pagnotta, defensive end Tommie Hill and kicker Jason Smith also participated.

Bell notched an impressive 29 reps on the 225-pound bench press, and Hill said he was "pleased" overall with his showing.

For guys like Bell and Hill, who were not invited to the combine, Tuesday was their only chance to impress the scouts.

"After it's done, you step back and you're like 'Whoa, this is kind of a big deal,'" Hill said. "It was nerve-racking leading up to it, like every day leading up to it you get more and more nervous. As soon as the day's here, you just do what you've been trained to do."

The NFL Draft is set for April 25 and 26.

Sports writer Sean Star can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

MWC BCS proposal's chances slim to none

The Star Report
By Sean Star
The Rocky Mountain Collegian

It's the gift that keeps on giving - at least for a sports writer. A source of endless dialogue, debate and discussion.

Even President Obama has given his two cents, saying that before he was elected it was the one thing he'd change about sports.

It's the BCS. And on Wednesday, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson outlined a way to fix it, continuing his quest to bring equality to the way college football crowns its national champion.

Thompson's proposal is concise, organized and complete with notes, an appendix and tables.

If it were an assignment for class, it'd probably get an A. Best of all, it suggests what everyone outside the Rose Bowl wants: a playoff.

Problem is, the chances of it being taken seriously are slim to none.

Thompson deserves credit, though. The guy has turned the Mountain West into the biggest, baddest little brother in the NCAA, and he's taken his initiative to fix sports' biggest flaw as far as Washington.

Unfortunately, as with anything else that seems illogical on the surface, the BCS mess all boils down to money. Shocking, I know.

Under the current system, the six BCS conferences are guaranteed a piece of the cash cake every year, and they're simply reluctant to consider any system that would routinely let everyone else have a taste.

It's hard to blame them. After all, it's how the rest of the country works. The haves on one side and the have-nots on the other.But what about winning? Shouldn't that solve everything? Can't anyone become president if he or she works hard enough?

Maybe, but probably not.

When asked if prolonged success by the Mountain West will eventually help the conference's chances at annual BCS inclusion, Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk said it would, but only to a certain extent.

"... You've got a cartel here that has all the money, and they're not particularly interested in spreading that wealth around. So that does make it particularly challenging no matter how good we are on the playing field," he said.

There you have it.

Sharing is caring, unless of course you're talking about money.

Even Kowalczyk admitted he was "cautiously optimistic" about how far Thompson's proposal would go.

At the very least, we know BCS coordinator John Swofford received the proposal, according to a statement he made Wednesday.

"Some of these ideas or similar ones have been addressed before in BCS meetings," said Swofford, coordinator of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of college football's six haves. "We will make sure that the proposal has full airing by the commissioners and presidents, and we will respond to the Mountain West at the conclusion of those discussions."

Translation: "The Southeastern Conference tried the same thing last year, and we turned them down. We've already tossed your nice little proposal in the recycling bin. Those of us in charge are not about to compromise a system that guarantees us financial success regardless how our teams perform. Thanks, but no thanks."

But why does the BCS format even matter to CSU when the Rams are at least a few years away from even considering the possibility?

Because what's good for the Mountain West is good for CSU.

While CSU's New Mexico Bowl victory was great for the program's exposure and image, it wasn't exactly a huge moneymaker, bringing in $100,000. Meanwhile, Utah's participation in the BCS's Sugar Bowl netted CSU $500,000, figures according to Jeff Collier, the Athletics Department business manager.

And as everyone knows, it's hard to underestimate the impact money like that can have on a program's success.

"If the (Mountain West) Conference's schools have access to the money, that's going to help all of us build our programs and make us more competitive nationally," Kowalczyk said.

So once it tosses out Thompson's proposal, where does the BCS go from there?

Said Kowalczyk: "At some point, whether it's now -- five years from now, 10 years from now - at some point that has to change."

Sports columnist Sean Star can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

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