Pete Kontodiakos leads the conference in gross and net punting
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This week's notable storylines...
The Rams bid to answer a difficult loss to one of the nation's best teams, and build momentum as they kick off the second half of their season. CSU meets UTEP, its former rival in the WAC, for the first time since a previous trip to El Paso in 1998, when Joey Porter played for the Rams. For CSU, the game filled a 2011 schedule void created when former conference mates Utah and BYU announced they would leave the MW. The longest active starting streak on the team, Paul Madsen's 25-game stretch, is expected to end, due to injury. Madsen's void leaves the Rams with a pair of redshirt freshmen expected to start Saturday. Injuries have conspired to claim 28 combined starts this season. The Rams look to win a third straight game in an enemy stadium for the first time since 2002-03, when they strung together five wins. WR Thomas Coffman , whose diving catch Saturday was the No. 3 play of the weekend on ESPN SportsCenter, has been involved in all three of the Rams' longest plays from scrimmage this year. CSU punter Pete Kontodiakos leads the MW and ranks 26th in the country with a 43.1 gross average. He also has the Rams leading the conference in net punting, at 39.8. The junior has just two touchbacks in 34 punts. The game is available on regional TV, but outside El Paso, it's only available on pay-per-view, through the UTEP All-Access. Every CSU game is available on national or regional TV this season.
The setting...
Pay-per-view: $9.95 monthly All-Access
The Colorado State radio broadcast begins with a pregame show two hours prior to kickoff.
Viewing the game: The CSU athletic department made every effort to secure a satellite truck and make the game available to fans outside West Texas. Unfortunately, no trucks were available. So, for CSU fans, Saturday night's game (telecast regionally on cable by Time Warner El Paso) is only available on a pay-per-view basis for a $9.95 monthly subscription through the All-Access feature on UTEP's official Web site. It is not available via satellite.
Taps to show game for free: Fans are encouraged to watch Saturday's game, and every CSU game away from Fort Collins, at Taps Sports Bar and Grill. On Saturday, the restaurant will live stream the game from the Sun Bowl's MinerVision on a large screen. Plus, ClearChannel will set up speakers to pipe in the call of the CSU Radio Network.
Five non-con games: UTEP's addition gave CSU a fifth non-conference opponent for the first time since 1967, when the Rams were an independent program before both CSU and UTEP joined the WAC in 1968.
Three road games: The Rams bid to win a third consecutive game in an enemy stadium for the first time since they won five straight, from 2002-03.
Against his former team: For the third straight week, a CSU assistant coach faces the team with which he spent a signficant amount of time previously.
Injury city: The Rams are expected to start a pair of redshirt freshmen at offensive tackle this week. CSU injuries have combined to prevent 28 starts this season. And among 11 key contributors, health ailments have claimed 41 combined games.
Halfway mark: The Rams have committed to playing much-improved football over the season's second half, which begins Saturday. At the halfway mark of the 2011 season, here's a closer look at some significant statistical milestones within reach this year:
Would be most since CSU scored 327 in last bowl season, 2008
Would be highest mark since the 2005 team (44.4)
Would be highest mark since the 2001 team (40.3)
Which would: Break Joey Porter's 1998 CSU record (8)
Would be first TE to lead CSU in receiving since Keli McGregor (`84)
Spoilers: CSU serves as homecoming visitor for the second time this season Saturday, when UTEP marks the occasion against the Rams. CSU pulled off a dramatic double-overtime win at Utah State in the Aggies' homecoming game, Sept. 24.
Future "associates": CSU and UTEP, former Western Athletic Conference mates, will play the first game between Mountain West and Conference USA members since the commissioners of the respective leagues announced the formation of a football association between the organizations Oct. 14. The association is expected to create a championship game between the leagues as early as 2012.
No-penalty zone: The Rams have committed just four penalties over the last two games, including one against Boise State Saturday.
Best record against one team: Earlier this season, the Rams defeated Northern Colorado, the only opponent in the nation to whom the Rams have never lost while playing at least nine games. Top series winning percentages in CSU history:
UTEP back on schedule: CSU and UTEP finalized this game during the middle of the 2010 football season, to help the Rams fill an unexpected void created by the sudden departure of BYU from the Mountain West in August of last year.
Familiar foes: The two schools share a rich history, having met 33 times. UTEP, currently coached by Mike Price, is now a Conference USA team, but the Miners and Rams were each in the WAC from 1968-98, when CSU left for the newly formed Mountain West. The Rams, who own a 24-9 series advantage, last met UTEP in 1998. The teams first played in 1963.
UTEP-CSU series history: The first meeting between CSU and UTEP (then known as Texas Western) was on Oct. 26, 1963, a homecoming game in Fort Collins. The Rams won, 21-14, marking their first win at home in three years.
Hughes twin: The home venues for CSU and UTEP, Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium and the Sun Bowl Stadium, are relatives.
Capi still near the top: Nordly Capi , who has led the nation in sacks/game five times in seven weekends this season, has fallen to third:
3 Nordly Capi, Colorado St. DL SO 6 7 2 47 8.0 1.33
5 Frank Alexander, Oklahoma DL SR 6 6 1 40 6.5 1.08
David Niumatalolo, N.Mex. St. DL SR 6 5 1 25 5.5 0.92
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