Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick doesn't sound too convincing if he's trying to debunk the preseason projections that his Rams are the team to beat in the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific Division.
"Looking at it on paper - and you don't win any games on paper - this could be the best football team we've had since I've been there," said Lubick, who starts his fifth season at CSU.Lubick was one of the eight Pacific Division head coaches to address the press during Tuesday's 1997 WAC Football Media Preview. The Mountain Division coaches take their turn today (Wednesday), while WAC players will be on parade Thursday.
Quarterback Moses Moreno threw for nearly 3,000 yards last year, Geoff Turner was a pleasant surprise while hauling in more than 50 passes, and Damon Washington was one of two Rams who rushed for more than 1,000 yards - and did that in part with six games of 100-plus yards while sitting out two and a half games with injuries.
And the line is as experienced and talented as ever for the Rams, who look to improve on their 6-2 WAC and 7-5 overall records from 1996.
Lubick hopes that his defense - replete with nine returning starters - returns to the glory days that marked the coach's early years with CSU, where Ram-tough defense was the key. "We've fallen off there the past couple of years."
Following are the other Pacific Division teams, with their 1996 overall and conference records in parenthesis:
Air Force (6-5, 5-3)
Fisher DeBerry sounds a bit like Oakland Raiders maverick owner Al Davis when the longtime Falcons coach says his team's motto is "Just win." That comes after the Academy suffered three late-game losses by a total of seven points and a fourth loss by five points - meaning the 6-5 Falcons could easily have been 10-1.
Gone is heralded quarterback Beau Morgan, who accounted for 59 percent of AFA's offense last year. Likely to step in is younger brother Blane Morgan. And the seasoned Falcon line has returned to conventional wishbone formation, with the bigger, stronger tackles inside to help with the first-option fullback blast and the quicker guards outside to lead out the keepers, sweeps and pitches.
Fresno State (4-7, 3-5)
Pat Hill took the long-term approach in recruiting for his inaugural season with the Bulldogs, saying high school recruiting is like drafting players more for future in the NFL while JC transfers are the equivalent to quick-fix free agents. "You'd better get the right free agent," said Hill, who opted instead for two dozen prep signees, "because you're investing a lot over a short amount of time."
Much of that youth movement could show up along the inexperienced front seven on defense.
And on offense, senior tailback Michael Pittman returns after a second-best-in-the-WAC 1,132 yards rushing.
Hawaii (2-10, 1-7)
Disappointed with the Rainbows' lack of athleticism last year, second-year coach Fred vonAppen hopes an infusion of JC players helps to address immediate needs. A major concern is lack of talent and depth on both sides of the line.
VonAppen applauded his team's attitude during a trying '96 season, but says sights need to be raised higher. "We will be back in the hunt and in competition for the (WAC) title when our players expect to win."
Nevada Las Vegas (1-11, 1-7)
The player numbers are up in the second year of coach Jeff Horton's rebuilding efforts - 72 are on scholarship this season, way up from the 48 scholarship players just three seasons ago.
"We've been kicked and kicked good," said Horton, whose team was 1-11 last year. "And now it's time to kick back."
The defense - particularly the secondary - is young and inexperienced, so offensive production will be the key. Back from a sensational freshman season (3,591 aerial yards, 302.4 yards per game) is quarterback Jon Denton, the nation's top returning passer. Joining him in the backfield will be Rodrick Johnson, a JC transfer from Dixie College who gained 2,338 yards in '96 - 1,405 more than the entire UNLV team.
San Diego State (8-3, 6-2)
For the second straight time, the Aztecs are coming off a season where a one-game lapse cost them a conference or division title - that being a '96 loss to previously winless UNLV just one week after handing previously undefeated and nationally ranked Wyoming its first setback of the season. "If that's not the height of inconsistency, then I don't know what is," said coach Ted Tollner.
Two major concerns are the physical condition of the team after a tough early season (home versus Navy, at Washington, at Wisconsin, at Air Force and at Arizona) and how to mesh a returning-intact O-line with very inexperienced skill-position players.
San Jose State (3-9, 3-5)
Dave Baldwin, another newcomer coach, is pushing a "fast break on turf" offense, hoping to use receiver speed and create one-on-one opportunities in the Spartans' passing attack.
Quarterbacking SJSU will be Brian Vye, a former BYU recruit who knew the way to San Jose only after stops at LSU and Gavilan Community College. Vye threw five touchdowns in the Spartans' spring game.
Wyoming (10-2, 7-1)
First-year coach Dana Dimel, a former K-State assistant, steps into quite a position for a 34-year-old - inheriting a 10-2 team that played - and lost to - BYU in the inaugural WAC championship game. The challenge is win over fans and recruits who may be disillusioned by the Cowboys' inability to secure a bowl berth despite its glossy record.
Dimel gambled with 11 prep speeders from the Dallas area who were academic risks. But rather than end up with just five or six signees, all 11 made the grade, so to speak, and should add quickness to a team that must replace the passing duo of QB Josh Wallwork and WR Marcus Harris.
Wyoming will get a quick indication of how good it is - or how much work the Cowboys have to do - as it opens the college football season at Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic.