Difficult schedule likely to make Colorado State take lumps early
The Colorado State Rams won’t be enjoying a cupcake schedule.
The Rams open against Mountain West Conference foe Hawaii on Saturday night (4:30, CBSSN), followed by a trip to the Denver Broncos’ stadium for the Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado on Friday.
The Rams then host the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sept. 8 and visit the Florida Gators on Sept. 15.
“It’s scary when you look at it, but it’s exciting,” coach Mike Bobo said. “It’s who we want to be. You want to be there, you’ve got to play good teams . ...
“We’re excited about the Rocky Mountain Showdown, we’d like to go there and play well. Then we have Arkansas coming to our campus, our city, an SEC team. I think everybody’s excited about that. To go play University of Florida, one of the top programs in the country year in and year out, our kids are excited.”
The Rams could take their lumps early but will certainly be well-tested by the time they host Illinois State before playing the rest of their conference slate.
“We’re excited about the schedule.” Bobo said. “Is it daunting? Is it challenging? Can it beat you up, as a football team? I’m a little bit nervous about that, but that was one of the key parts for us I believe trying to move that Hawaii game to Week Zero. Now we get two bye weeks during the season, which I think that’s beneficial for us.” Meyer acknowledges victim: Suspended Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has issued an apology to the ex-wife of a former assistant coach who was suspected of abusing her.
Meyer was widely criticized after a news conference Wednesday for failing to directly address Courtney Smith, who said her former husband Zach Smith had abused her and Meyer was aware of it.
Meyer said in a statement issued by the university Friday: “Let me say here and now what I should have said on Wednesday: I sincerely apologize to Courtney Smith and her children for what they have gone through.”
Meyer was suspended by the Ohio State board of trustees for three games for sticking by his wide receivers coach for years, amid the allegations and other bad behavior. Starting QBs named: Rutgers is going to have a true freshman at quarterback for the season opener for the first time in almost two decades. Coach Chris Ash announced Friday that Artur Sitkowski will start against Texas State next weekend . ... Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius, a 6foot-6 redshirt senior, will make his first career start in the Cowboys’ season opener next Thursday against Missouri State. Cornelius replaces Mason Rudolph, the longtime starter who now is with the Pittsburgh Steelers . ... Peyton Ramsey will be the starting quarterback for Indiana in the Sept. 1 opener at Florida International — but he won’t have sophomore Morgan Ellison to hand the ball off to. The Hoosiers announced Friday that Ellison has been suspended indefinitely and that linebacker Mo Burnam will be suspended for the opener. Briefly: Nebraska running back Tre Bryant, who ran for more than 100 yards in each of his two games last season, is giving up football because of chronic knee pain . ... Iowa State coach Matt Campbell suspended four freshmen indefinitely for what he described as “multiple incidents of poor choices and behavior.”