Aug. 6, 2008

Quotes

Photo gallery: Behind the scenes at Football Media Day 2008

By Jeff Jacobson
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - As the Colorado State football team hosted its annual media day Wednesday, news of Kory Sperry's health lifted spirits.

After scoring a career-best three TDs against in-state rival Colorado in 2007, the senior suffered a knee injury the following week as the Rams hosted Cal at Hughes Stadium. After catching a 5-yard pass in the second quarter and attempting to spin out of a low tackle, Sperry awkwardly twisted his knee. It was later confirmed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament. He immediately petitioned for a medical hardship waiver.

Having his petition granted, Sperry would be eligible for a final season with the Rams. The harder part was recovering from a torn ACL, a feat running back Kyle Bell had endured the previous season. After undergoing successful surgery Sept. 28, Sperry has continued to rehab and strengthen his knee.

"The trainers and strength coordinators and everybody has been doing a good job getting me in (the training room) and staying in rehab pretty much every day," Sperry said to a group of reporters on the practice fields Wednesday. "It's healthy and I'm still strengthening; you can't over-strengthen anything."

When asked how he was feeling regarding his injury, Sperry commented that he was 100 percent and stronger than he was before the season-ending injury. The Colorado native has put his injury behind him and is looking forward to the Qwest Rocky Mountain Showdown Aug. 31.

"I only think about (my knee) when (the media) asks about it," Sperry said. "I just want to get out there and get that first win."

While Sperry has yet to practice in live contact, Head Coach Steve Fairchild says that fact is a precautionary measure.

"He's one of the few guys who has proven himself," commented Fairchild. "When he's healthy, he's a pretty good player. We didn't feel the need to rush any contact. Having said that, it would be foolish on our part to not put him in a live situation prior to the CU game, which we will."

Support staff: When considering the head coaching position, Fairchild made sure he would be able to hire a staff capable of coaching a championship-caliber team. When given resources to do so by Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk and university President Larry Penley, Fairchild went out and hired a staff. He said the two things he was looking for were as much experience as he could get and Colorado State ties.

Full pads: It was announced Wednesday that the first day practice in full pads will be Saturday at Hughes Stadium. This marks the first time the Rams will compete in full gear since the spring game April 19. The practice will begin at 9 a.m. and is open to the public, although stadium services will not be available.

Battles continue: With less than a month until the first game, the CSU coaching staff still has tough decisions to make. At two key positions, quarterback and running back, the Rams are in a good position with a lot of talent at both, which calls for battles for starting sports. The staff will need to decide whether Bell or Gartrell Johnson will take the start behind either Billy Farris or Grant Stucker under center.