Colorado State will be making an exciting announcement in the next couple of days, so stay tuned. No hints allowed, but it’s good news for the football program.

In addition, the athletic department has surged in its fundraising for the new artificial turf field and north endzone concession/restrooms project at Hughes Stadium. Just less than $1.5 million has been raised for the project, and that figure includes a two-for-one match offered by the Bohemian Foundation’s Pat Stryker. The athletic department needs to raise about $500,000 more to complete fundraising for the project.

The football staff has set its dates for spring ball. Practices will likely begin Tuesday March 28, depending on weather, or delayed until Saturday, April 1. The annual Green and Gold scrimmage game is slated for Saturday April 22. Lubick hopes the spring game is held either at the practice fields or at French Field, meaning he hopes the field at Hughes Stadium is undergoing construction. The preliminary thoughts of hosting one of the earlier scrimmages in Denver is now unlikely to happen, mostly due to NCAA constraints.

As everyone knows, CSU head trainer Fred Oglesby retired this year after 31 years on the job. A group of former players has organized a retirement party February 10th from 4 to 7 p.m. at CB & Potts in Fort Collins. Former Ram Kevin Sheesley is offering up a Rocky Mountain oyster buffet for the party at Potts. After the get-together, a group will take Oglesby via limousine to Manno’s at the Colindale Golf Course where the party will continue. Some former players have purchased a “Ram’ed up” golf cart as a gift. Former players or friends of Oglesby who are unable to attend the party can participate in a “roast”, which will take place during the party for Oglesby. The university’s video specialist Joe Vasos will be in the Denver area today (February 2) to record people’s best memories of Oglesby. To take part in the video, call Vasos ASAP. For those outside of the Denver or Fort Collins area, Vasos is also recording accounts over the telephone. He can be reached at 970-491-5946.

By the way, even though he may not be roaming the training room any longer, Oglesby has taken residence in an office on the third floor doing administrative work.

SportsIllustrated.com ran a recent feature listing the top 10 recruiting busts in recent years. It listed former Ram running back Marcus Houston as No. 6, saying “Rated the No. 1 player in his class, Houston began his college career with a bang, notching 100-yard performances his first two games. They would be his last. After an apparent falling out with coaches, he transferred to Colorado State but never become a star there, either.”

In a recent feature on CollegeFootballNews.com, the publication listed “Boom” and “Busts” for many of the top players heading into this year’s NFL Draft. The publication listed CSU wide receiver David Anderson as a “Boom”. It read: “Over the last three years, few receivers in the country have been more consistent or productive than Anderson, a suggestion that would have been ridiculous four years ago.

Yet, the Rams’ all-time leading receiver got few looks after high school, a snub he hasn’t forgotten.” Other “booms” of note in the article included BYU RB Curtis Brown, TCU QB Jeff Ballard, and CU tight end Joe Klopfenstein.

Anderson, along with running back Kyle Bell, safety Miles Kochevar, H-back Kory Sperry, offensive linemen Mike Brisiel and Josh Day, defensive end Jesse Nading linebacker Courtney Jones, and punter Jimmie Kaylor will be honored at the annual National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame (Colorado chapter) banquet February 13 in Denver. Anderson, Bell and Kochevar were named to the all-Colorado academic first team, while the rest were named to the second team.

As previously mentioned here, sophomore guard Tyler Smith from Northeastern Junior College (in Sterling, Colo.) is a heralded recruit who is drawing interest from several top schools around the country. He has received scholarship offers from USC, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and San Jose State, and just added UNLV and Pittsburgh to the offer list Tuesday. CSU has been recruiting Smith, although has not offered yet. Smith is said to be interested in playing for the Rams. The sophomore transfer from DePaul is originally from Baltimore where he grew up with current Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. It was Anthony who convinced Smith to attend junior college nearby so the two could be together. Smith spent last year in Anthony’s basement after he left DePaul. NJC, who is currently ranked No. 20 in the nation, is 36-5 in their last 41 games and 20-3 this season. Smith is averaging a team-leading 19 points, 4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. NJC is the school that sent Michael Harrison to CSU.

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