Sonny Lubick
Encyclopedia
Louis "Sonny" Lubick is a former head football coach at Colorado State University
in Fort Collins, Colorado
. In his fourth decade as collegiate football coach, the 2007 season marked Lubick's 15th and final year at the helm of a Colorado State program that he built from virtually the ground up. The 15th head coach in school history, Lubick won over 100 games at CSU, won or shared six Western Athletic Conference
or Mountain West Conference
titles, guided the program to nine bowl game
s in his previous 13 years, and was named National Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated
in 1994.
Lubick's success has made him the most recognizable figure in the CSU and Fort Collins
community, so much so that when Pat Stryker
, head of the Bohemian Foundation, decided to donate $15.2 million toward extensive renovations of Hughes Stadium
, she did so with the stipulation that the field be named after Lubick. The stadium is as a result now known as Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
. As a result of the donation, CSU added 4,400 new seats and jumbo-tron scoreboard in 2004, new press box and suites in 2005, and new synthetic field turf in 2006.
, and a graduate from Western Montana in 1960, Lubick's coaching career began in Bozeman
as an assistant coach at Montana State
in 1970. After eight seasons with the Bobcats, Lubick was named head coach at Montana State prior to the 1978 season. Lubick's first season was wildly successful, as the Bobcats finished 8-2 overall and second place in the Division I-AA Big Sky Conference
at 4-2. The following year the Bobcats won the Big Sky with a 6-1 league record (6-4 overall).
The following two years, however, would see a decline. In 1980, Montana State plummeted from first to sixth place in the Big Sky, finishing the season 4-6 and 3-4 in league play. Despite his popularity in Bozeman, Lubick was fired after the 1981 season after the Bobcats fell to 3-7.
from 1982 to 1984. The CSU
program was, at the time, generally regarded as one of the worst programs in college football
. The Rams had been to just one bowl game in their history, and were coming off a winless 0-12 season in 1981. Though CSU wasn't overly successful in his three years, Lubick was a popular and likable figure in the Fort Collins and university community, something that would ultimately benefit him later in life.
In 1985, Lubick was hired by Stanford University
as an assistant coach, a position he would hold through the 1988 season. In 1988, Lubick joined Dennis Erickson
's coaching staff at the University of Miami
as the Hurricanes
' defensive coordinator
. While at Miami, Lubick molded a tough and physical Hurricane defense that featured the likes of Cortez Kennedy
and Russell Maryland
. Miami won two national championships in Lubick's four years as an assistant.
, that featured the school's first ever bowl game victory (32-31 over Oregon
in the 1990 Freedom Bowl
), CSU was still considered a graveyard for college football. Since 1960, the program had recorded just seven winning seasons, and in that same span the program had three winless seasons. Considering it a challenge, Lubick accepted the head coaching position at Colorado State prior to the 1993 season. Faced with a culture of losing, Lubick assembled a staff of assistants that included eventual Florida
head coach Urban Meyer
, and began aggressively recruiting and attempting to change CSU's image.
Lubick's debut in 1993 was far from spectacular. After starting 1–4 the Rams won three consecutive games to finish the season 5–6, providing hope that the program was headed in the right direction. The "right direction" would take Colorado State to heights they had never seen before in 1994. Led by a defense that featured future NFL players Sean Moran
and Brady Smith
, Colorado State flew out of the gate 6–0 heading into a key game on October 8 against the #4 Arizona Wildcats
in Tucson, Arizona
. Known for their vaunted "Desert Swarm" defense, Arizona had been picked by Sports Illustrated
and several other publications to win the National Championship, but it was CSU that took a stunning 14-6 lead. With Arizona driving to the CSU 21 in the second half, Garrett Sand forced a fumble that Moran recovered and ran back 79 yards for a touchdown. Regarded simply as "The Play" in CSU football history, the return ended up being the game winning score, as Lubick and the Rams engineered the greatest upset in the program's history 21–16. Near-rioting broke out in Fort Collins as a result of celebrations from students and fans. A victory the following week over UTEP set up a nationally televised showdown with Utah
, also undefeated, at Hughes Stadium. With extra bleachers brought in to the 30,000 seat facility, a crowd of 39,107, the largest in Hughes Stadium history, witnessed a heartbreaking 45–31 shootout loss. Despite the setback, the Rams recovered to win their final three games, including a dramatic 44–42 comeback win at Fresno State that sealed CSU's first ever outright WAC
championship (Utah lost twice more during the regular season following their win at CSU). The victory earned Colorado State their first-ever trip to the Holiday Bowl
in San Diego, California
, where the Rams lost a hard fought 24–14 affair to Michigan
. Though the season ended on a down note, the Rams 10 wins were a program record for victories in a single season. The 10-2 campaign was the start of ten straight winning seasons under Lubick, and also earned him National Coach of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated.
Lubick's Rams followed up their breakout campaign in 1994 with a strong 1995 season. With Smith earning WAC defensive player of the year honors, and safety Greg Myers
earning All American honors for a second straight year, CSU finished the 1995 season with an 8-4 mark and a share of the WAC conference title. The Rams were once again invited to the Holiday Bowl, but this time they were downed by the Kansas State Wildcats
by a score of 51-24. In 1996, the Rams posted another winning season, finishing 7-5 and tied for second place in the WAC. However, a lack of quality wins, and losses to Colorado
, Oregon, Nebraska
, and Wyoming
would lead to CSU not earning a bowl invitation.
The 1997 season also got off to a difficult start. Colorado State blew a halftime lead against arch-rival Colorado in their second game to lose 31-21. Two weeks later, the Rams suffered a 24-0 shutout loss at home against Air Force to fall to 2-2. It would be the last game Lubick's Rams lost for the rest of the season. Led by quarterback Moses Moreno
, the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Kevin McDougal, and future Pittsburgh Steeler linebackers Joey Porter
and Clark Haggans
, Colorado State stormed through the rest of league play, with a 14-7 victory at Wyoming October 18 the closest they came to defeat. Winning their second outright WAC title, the Rams once again went to the Holiday Bowl, this time facing the Missouri Tigers
. Down three at halftime, CSU scored 21 second half points to defeat the Tigers 35-24, netting Lubick his first ever bowl victory, extending a school record nine game winning streak (the streak would be end at ten in 1998), and finishing the greatest season in school history 11-2. During this period of success, Lubick reportedly received interest and coaching offers from several other high profile programs, including Miami and USC
. But commitment to his program, and intense efforts from fans to keep the lovable coach in Fort Collins, lead to Lubick staying at CSU each time. In 1998, Lubick's Rams finished 8-4 and third in the WAC, but were not invited to a postseason bowl.
Prior to the 1999 season, eight member schools of the WAC (Air Force, Colorado State, BYU
, Utah, San Diego State, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV), upset over conference expansion that threatened to balloon travel costs and breakup long standing regional rivalries, broke away from the conference and formed a new league, the Mountain West Conference
. But 1999 would be memorable for Ram fans for another reason. Since the day they began playing football, CSU had more often than not failed to beat their in-state rivals from Boulder, the Colorado Buffaloes. Playing in a superior league with superior resources, Colorado often overshadowed Colorado State. The Rams had rarely ever beaten the Buffs, and Lubick had gone 0–3 in his first three games against them. On September 4 the game, dubbed the Rocky Mountain Showdown
, was played at a neutral site, Mile High Stadium
in Denver, Colorado
for the second straight year, and the Rams were once again considered underdogs against the ranked Buffaloes. However, behind 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns from McDougal, the Rams blew out the Buffaloes 41-14, marking the first time in 13 years that CSU had beaten their in-state rivals. The victory was seen by many as the final step in CSU's ascension to legitimacy. Victories over Wyoming and Air Force also complete the "Front Range" sweep, and the Rams finished 8–4 again, this time tying for the Mountain West title. CSU was invited to the Liberty Bowl
, but lost to Southern Mississippi 23–17.
In 2000 Lubick's Rams, led primarily by Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year Matt Newton
, defeated Colorado for the second straight season 28–24. The victory was the catalyst for a 10-2 season that included an outright Mountain West title and a 22–17 Liberty Bowl victory over Louisville
. With the graduation of several key seniors, and the preseason loss of starting running back Cecil Sapp
to injury, Lubick faced a rebuilding year in 2001. The Rams still managed a 7–5 finish and a 45–20 New Orleans Bowl
victory over North Texas
. 2001 was also notable for the emergence of quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt
. A transfer from Michigan State, Van Pelt's dual threat capability as a running and passing quarterback would make him a two-time conference player of the year. But it was his game in 2002 against Colorado that made Van Pelt a cult hero in Fort Collins. After losing to CU in 2001, Van Pelt and the Rams, bolstered by the return of Sapp, went into their Rocky Mountain Showdown heavy underdogs against a Buffalo team ranked sixth in the nation. Trailing 14–13 late in the fourth quarter, Van Pelt broke loose on a 26 yard touchdown run. As he neared the goal line, Van Pelt turned and spiked the football off of CU cornerback Roderick Sneed's helmet as he scored what would be the game winning touchdown. Following the game, Van Pelt called CU "the sorriest sixth ranked team in the nation he had ever faced". It was the second biggest upset in school history, and further added to Van Pelt's following in Fort Collins. Though the outspoken quarterback occasionally gave Lubick problems, the 2002 season would be another banner season. With Sapp setting the school single season rushing record, the Rams finished 2002 with a 10–4 record and another Mountain West Conference title.
The 2003 Ram football team was considered by many to be the best team in Lubick's tenure, if not all of CSU history, prior to the season. Though Sapp was gone, Van Pelt and many other seniors returned, and high profile Colorado-transfer Marcus Houston
was added to the mix. The Rams entered the season ranked 24th in the nation and with hopes of cracking the Bowl Championship Series
. Those hopes were quickly dashed when the Rams were upset in their opener by CU 42–35. Though CSU did make a bowl game for the fifth straight season, the Rams 7–6 finish was the start of a down period for Lubick and his program. With Van Pelt gone, CSU faced another rebuilding year in 2004. A particularly devastating loss at Folsom Field
against Colorado on September 4, in which Lubick later admitted to mismanaging CSU's final series that ended in the Rams failing in three plays from CU's one yardline to score what would have been a game winning touchdown in a 27–24 loss, led to a 4–7 finish, the worst year in Lubick's tenure.
The 2005 season started once again with another devastating loss at Colorado on September 3. Leading 21–10 after three quarters, three interceptions allowed CU to tie the game, and Mason Crosby
kicked a game-winning 47 yard field goal with five seconds left to give the Buffs a 31–28 win. This time the Rams regrouped. Behind school record setting wide receiver David Anderson
, and buoyed by the surprising emergence of thousand yard sophomore running back Kyle Bell
, CSU finished the regular season 6–5 and tied for second place in the Mountain West. However, a blowout 56–32 loss to the Naval Academy
in the Poinsettia Bowl
seemed to be another setback.
Following the 2005 season, Lubick signed a three year contract extension that would have made him CSU's coach through the 2009 season. Unfortunately, the Lubick family was dealt a difficult blow in the offseason. In February, Lubick's youngest son, Marc, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma
cancer. The younger Lubick had just finished his first season as Colorado State's wide receivers coach, a position he took over after his brother Matt left the program in 2005 after spending the previous four seasons coaching that position under his father. Marc Lubick underwent chemotherapy
and coached during the 2006 season.
The Rams entered the 2006 season with high hopes, but on and off field problems quickly beset the program. Just three days prior to the season opening game against Weber State on September 2, preseason all-conference back Kyle Bell was lost for the season with a torn ACL during a practice. A sophomore in 2005, Bell had run for over a 1,000 yards and figured to be the centerpiece in CSU's offense. The Rams defeated Weber State 30–6, but lost another starter prior to their game against the arch rival University of Colorado on September 9, this time due to scandal. Several players, including preseason All-MWC cornerback Robert Herbert, were suspended indefinitely from the program after being charged with fraud in a campus check-cashing scandal. Herbert had arguably been the team's best defender in 2005.
Despite these losses, however, the Rams started the 2006 season strong. On September 9, after three years of frustratingly close losses, the Rams defeated their in-state rival CU 14–10 at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. After dropping a 28–10 decision at Nevada the following week, CSU rebounded with a road win at Fresno State and homecoming win against UNLV to go to 4–1. Playing at in-state rival Air Force on October 12, the Rams opened up a 21–3 halftime lead and appeared to be well on their way to a fifth victory. However, the Falcons rallied for 21 unanswered points and came back to defeat CSU 24–21. The loss was the beginning of one of the worst slides in Lubick's tenure. The following week Colorado State was shutout 24–0 at Wyoming in the annual Border War series. Home losses to New Mexico and BYU followed, and the Rams ultimately never recovered. Losses to Utah, TCU, and San Diego State concluded a season ending seven game losing streak, leaving CSU 4–8 and tied for last place in the Mountain West, by far the worst year in Lubick's tenure and leading some fans and followers to question whether Lubick should be retained or released.
Lubick's 14th season got an immediate boost with the return of Bell. With their all-conference halfback in the fold, as well as the most seniors returning in Lubick's tenure, the Rams had a team that figured to rebound from the dismal 2006 season. But a difficult early schedule challenged CSU. Opening against Colorado at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, the Rams had a familiar finish against their in-state rival. Despite big games from Bell and Kory Sperry, CSU squandered an 11-point 3rd quarter lead and went into overtime. On their possession, Caleb Hanie threw an interception in the endzone. CU would win in overtime, 31–28. Following the CU loss, Colorado State faced one of its most daunting home games ever against then-10th ranked California. The Bears were heavily favored but Colorado State, playing in its home opener, was game. CSU lost a thriller 34–28, their 9th straight loss dating back to 2006. Even worse, the bizarre chain of season-ending ACL injuries to key players continued when Sperry was lost with a torn ACL during the game. It was the 3rd straight season a key player for the Rams had been lost to the injury. Losses continued to mount. Dating back to 2006, CSU lost 11 straight games before defeating UNLV at mid season. Colorado State finished the season 3–9, a new low in the Lubick tenure. The lone bright spot of the year came at the end of the season when the Rams regained the Bronze Boot with a 36–28 win over Wyoming at Hughes Stadium. It would end up being the final game in Lubick's tenure at CSU.
On November 26, 2007, just 3 days after the Wyoming win, it was announced that Lubick was being relieved of his duties as head coach. Colorado State University Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk announced that Lubick has been offered a public relations
position as senior associate athletic director, focused on fundraising and serving as a goodwill ambassador for Rams athletics. Lubick was replaced by Steve Fairchild
, a former Lubick assistant who returned after serving as offensive cooridnator for the NFL's Buffalo Bills
On February 2, 2008, the Rocky Mountain News reported that Lubick had declined the university's offer to remain in a fundraising role. The paper quoted a source as saying Lubick, 70, had talked with Florida coach Urban Meyer about joining the Gators' staff. Meyer was an assistant under Lubick in the early '90s. The job was reported to involve breaking down film and helping with recruiting. However, Lubick did not take that job, and remained in Fort Collins, working with several local businesses, and opening a restaurant (Sonny Lubick Steakhouse) in downtown Fort Collins.
Lubick is married to wife Carol Jo and has three children: daughter Michelle, and sons Matt and Marc, both of whom have been assistant coaches under their father. There is a steakhouse in Downtown Fort Collins named after Lubick — Sonny Lubick Steakhouse.
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. In his fourth decade as collegiate football coach, the 2007 season marked Lubick's 15th and final year at the helm of a Colorado State program that he built from virtually the ground up. The 15th head coach in school history, Lubick won over 100 games at CSU, won or shared six Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
or Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
titles, guided the program to nine bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s in his previous 13 years, and was named National Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1994.
Lubick's success has made him the most recognizable figure in the CSU and Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
community, so much so that when Pat Stryker
Pat Stryker
Patricia A. Stryker is the granddaughter of Homer Stryker, surgeon and founder of Stryker Corporation, a medical technology company....
, head of the Bohemian Foundation, decided to donate $15.2 million toward extensive renovations of Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference....
, she did so with the stipulation that the field be named after Lubick. The stadium is as a result now known as Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference....
. As a result of the donation, CSU added 4,400 new seats and jumbo-tron scoreboard in 2004, new press box and suites in 2005, and new synthetic field turf in 2006.
Montana State
A native of Butte, MontanaButte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, and a graduate from Western Montana in 1960, Lubick's coaching career began in Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
as an assistant coach at Montana State
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
in 1970. After eight seasons with the Bobcats, Lubick was named head coach at Montana State prior to the 1978 season. Lubick's first season was wildly successful, as the Bobcats finished 8-2 overall and second place in the Division I-AA Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
at 4-2. The following year the Bobcats won the Big Sky with a 6-1 league record (6-4 overall).
The following two years, however, would see a decline. In 1980, Montana State plummeted from first to sixth place in the Big Sky, finishing the season 4-6 and 3-4 in league play. Despite his popularity in Bozeman, Lubick was fired after the 1981 season after the Bobcats fell to 3-7.
Assistant coach
Following his dismissal from Montana State, Lubick moved on to the Division I-A ranks as an assistant coach. His first stop was in Fort Collins, Colorado as offensive coordinator for Leon FullerLeon Fuller
-References:...
from 1982 to 1984. The CSU
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
program was, at the time, generally regarded as one of the worst programs in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. The Rams had been to just one bowl game in their history, and were coming off a winless 0-12 season in 1981. Though CSU wasn't overly successful in his three years, Lubick was a popular and likable figure in the Fort Collins and university community, something that would ultimately benefit him later in life.
In 1985, Lubick was hired by Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
as an assistant coach, a position he would hold through the 1988 season. In 1988, Lubick joined Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
's coaching staff at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
as the Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
' defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. While at Miami, Lubick molded a tough and physical Hurricane defense that featured the likes of Cortez Kennedy
Cortez Kennedy
Cortez Kennedy is a former NFL defensive tackle who played his entire eleven-season career with the Seattle Seahawks.-High school and college career:...
and Russell Maryland
Russell Maryland
Russell James Maryland is a former professional American football player. He played defensive tackle for ten seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Cowboys first overall in the 1991 NFL Draft...
. Miami won two national championships in Lubick's four years as an assistant.
Colorado State
Little had changed at Colorado State since Lubick left the program in 1984. Though there was a brief period of success under Lubick's predecessor, Earle BruceEarle Bruce
Earle Bruce is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tampa , Iowa State University , Ohio State University , the University of Northern Iowa , and Colorado State University , compiling a career college football record of 154–90–2...
, that featured the school's first ever bowl game victory (32-31 over Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in the 1990 Freedom Bowl
Freedom Bowl
The Freedom Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, from 1984 to 1994. Beginning with the 1995 season, the Freedom Bowl's WAC tie-ins were merged with that of the Holiday Bowl and the game was dissolved...
), CSU was still considered a graveyard for college football. Since 1960, the program had recorded just seven winning seasons, and in that same span the program had three winless seasons. Considering it a challenge, Lubick accepted the head coaching position at Colorado State prior to the 1993 season. Faced with a culture of losing, Lubick assembled a staff of assistants that included eventual Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
head coach Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
, and began aggressively recruiting and attempting to change CSU's image.
Lubick's debut in 1993 was far from spectacular. After starting 1–4 the Rams won three consecutive games to finish the season 5–6, providing hope that the program was headed in the right direction. The "right direction" would take Colorado State to heights they had never seen before in 1994. Led by a defense that featured future NFL players Sean Moran
Sean Moran
Sean Farrell Moran was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at Colorado State University. Moran attended Overland High School.-External links:...
and Brady Smith
Brady Smith (American football)
Brady McKay Smith is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, Colorado State flew out of the gate 6–0 heading into a key game on October 8 against the #4 Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. Known for their vaunted "Desert Swarm" defense, Arizona had been picked by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and several other publications to win the National Championship, but it was CSU that took a stunning 14-6 lead. With Arizona driving to the CSU 21 in the second half, Garrett Sand forced a fumble that Moran recovered and ran back 79 yards for a touchdown. Regarded simply as "The Play" in CSU football history, the return ended up being the game winning score, as Lubick and the Rams engineered the greatest upset in the program's history 21–16. Near-rioting broke out in Fort Collins as a result of celebrations from students and fans. A victory the following week over UTEP set up a nationally televised showdown with Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, also undefeated, at Hughes Stadium. With extra bleachers brought in to the 30,000 seat facility, a crowd of 39,107, the largest in Hughes Stadium history, witnessed a heartbreaking 45–31 shootout loss. Despite the setback, the Rams recovered to win their final three games, including a dramatic 44–42 comeback win at Fresno State that sealed CSU's first ever outright WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
championship (Utah lost twice more during the regular season following their win at CSU). The victory earned Colorado State their first-ever trip to the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, where the Rams lost a hard fought 24–14 affair to Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Though the season ended on a down note, the Rams 10 wins were a program record for victories in a single season. The 10-2 campaign was the start of ten straight winning seasons under Lubick, and also earned him National Coach of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated.
Lubick's Rams followed up their breakout campaign in 1994 with a strong 1995 season. With Smith earning WAC defensive player of the year honors, and safety Greg Myers
Greg Myers (American football)
Greg Myers is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State....
earning All American honors for a second straight year, CSU finished the 1995 season with an 8-4 mark and a share of the WAC conference title. The Rams were once again invited to the Holiday Bowl, but this time they were downed by the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State University's athletic teams are called the Wildcats. The official color of the teams is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of very few schools that have only one official color; white and silver are generally used as complementary colors.Kansas State participates in...
by a score of 51-24. In 1996, the Rams posted another winning season, finishing 7-5 and tied for second place in the WAC. However, a lack of quality wins, and losses to Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
, Oregon, Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
, and Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
would lead to CSU not earning a bowl invitation.
The 1997 season also got off to a difficult start. Colorado State blew a halftime lead against arch-rival Colorado in their second game to lose 31-21. Two weeks later, the Rams suffered a 24-0 shutout loss at home against Air Force to fall to 2-2. It would be the last game Lubick's Rams lost for the rest of the season. Led by quarterback Moses Moreno
Moses Moreno
Moses Moreno was an American football quarterback. His brother, Zeke Moreno, also played in the National Football League as a middle linebacker....
, the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Kevin McDougal, and future Pittsburgh Steeler linebackers Joey Porter
Joey Porter
Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a...
and Clark Haggans
Clark Haggans
Clark Cromwell Haggans is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Colorado State stormed through the rest of league play, with a 14-7 victory at Wyoming October 18 the closest they came to defeat. Winning their second outright WAC title, the Rams once again went to the Holiday Bowl, this time facing the Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
. Down three at halftime, CSU scored 21 second half points to defeat the Tigers 35-24, netting Lubick his first ever bowl victory, extending a school record nine game winning streak (the streak would be end at ten in 1998), and finishing the greatest season in school history 11-2. During this period of success, Lubick reportedly received interest and coaching offers from several other high profile programs, including Miami and USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. But commitment to his program, and intense efforts from fans to keep the lovable coach in Fort Collins, lead to Lubick staying at CSU each time. In 1998, Lubick's Rams finished 8-4 and third in the WAC, but were not invited to a postseason bowl.
Prior to the 1999 season, eight member schools of the WAC (Air Force, Colorado State, BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
, Utah, San Diego State, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV), upset over conference expansion that threatened to balloon travel costs and breakup long standing regional rivalries, broke away from the conference and formed a new league, the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
. But 1999 would be memorable for Ram fans for another reason. Since the day they began playing football, CSU had more often than not failed to beat their in-state rivals from Boulder, the Colorado Buffaloes. Playing in a superior league with superior resources, Colorado often overshadowed Colorado State. The Rams had rarely ever beaten the Buffs, and Lubick had gone 0–3 in his first three games against them. On September 4 the game, dubbed the Rocky Mountain Showdown
Rocky Mountain Showdown
The Rocky Mountain Showdown is an an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Colorado Buffaloes football team of the University of Colorado and the Colorado State Rams football team of Colorado State University. The winner of the game receives the Centennial Cup. The series...
, was played at a neutral site, Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
for the second straight year, and the Rams were once again considered underdogs against the ranked Buffaloes. However, behind 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns from McDougal, the Rams blew out the Buffaloes 41-14, marking the first time in 13 years that CSU had beaten their in-state rivals. The victory was seen by many as the final step in CSU's ascension to legitimacy. Victories over Wyoming and Air Force also complete the "Front Range" sweep, and the Rams finished 8–4 again, this time tying for the Mountain West title. CSU was invited to the Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
, but lost to Southern Mississippi 23–17.
In 2000 Lubick's Rams, led primarily by Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year Matt Newton
Matt Newton
Matthew Collins "Matt" Newton is an American actor.-Early life:Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Matt Newton was raised in Guilford, Connecticut. He is of English descent and began performing musicals and plays at local theaters while in high school...
, defeated Colorado for the second straight season 28–24. The victory was the catalyst for a 10-2 season that included an outright Mountain West title and a 22–17 Liberty Bowl victory over Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
. With the graduation of several key seniors, and the preseason loss of starting running back Cecil Sapp
Cecil Sapp
Cecil Sapp is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Colorado State....
to injury, Lubick faced a rebuilding year in 2001. The Rams still managed a 7–5 finish and a 45–20 New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New...
victory over North Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
. 2001 was also notable for the emergence of quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt
Bradlee Van Pelt
Bradlee Van Pelt is an American football quarterback and safety who currently plays for Leicester Falcons in the United Kingdom. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and was also a member of the Houston Texans...
. A transfer from Michigan State, Van Pelt's dual threat capability as a running and passing quarterback would make him a two-time conference player of the year. But it was his game in 2002 against Colorado that made Van Pelt a cult hero in Fort Collins. After losing to CU in 2001, Van Pelt and the Rams, bolstered by the return of Sapp, went into their Rocky Mountain Showdown heavy underdogs against a Buffalo team ranked sixth in the nation. Trailing 14–13 late in the fourth quarter, Van Pelt broke loose on a 26 yard touchdown run. As he neared the goal line, Van Pelt turned and spiked the football off of CU cornerback Roderick Sneed's helmet as he scored what would be the game winning touchdown. Following the game, Van Pelt called CU "the sorriest sixth ranked team in the nation he had ever faced". It was the second biggest upset in school history, and further added to Van Pelt's following in Fort Collins. Though the outspoken quarterback occasionally gave Lubick problems, the 2002 season would be another banner season. With Sapp setting the school single season rushing record, the Rams finished 2002 with a 10–4 record and another Mountain West Conference title.
The 2003 Ram football team was considered by many to be the best team in Lubick's tenure, if not all of CSU history, prior to the season. Though Sapp was gone, Van Pelt and many other seniors returned, and high profile Colorado-transfer Marcus Houston
Marcus Houston
Marcus Houston is a former American football player. He was a highly touted running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder in the early 2000s....
was added to the mix. The Rams entered the season ranked 24th in the nation and with hopes of cracking the Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
. Those hopes were quickly dashed when the Rams were upset in their opener by CU 42–35. Though CSU did make a bowl game for the fifth straight season, the Rams 7–6 finish was the start of a down period for Lubick and his program. With Van Pelt gone, CSU faced another rebuilding year in 2004. A particularly devastating loss at Folsom Field
Folsom Field
Folsom Field is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of Colorado, at Boulder, Colorado. Opened in 1924, it is the home field of the Colorado Buffaloes of the Pacific-12 Conference; until July 2011, Colorado was a member of the Big 12 Conference. The horseshoe-shaped stadium...
against Colorado on September 4, in which Lubick later admitted to mismanaging CSU's final series that ended in the Rams failing in three plays from CU's one yardline to score what would have been a game winning touchdown in a 27–24 loss, led to a 4–7 finish, the worst year in Lubick's tenure.
The 2005 season started once again with another devastating loss at Colorado on September 3. Leading 21–10 after three quarters, three interceptions allowed CU to tie the game, and Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby
Mason Walker Crosby , is a professional American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. During his playing days at the University of Colorado, Crosby was widely considered the best kicker in college football, as evidenced by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s...
kicked a game-winning 47 yard field goal with five seconds left to give the Buffs a 31–28 win. This time the Rams regrouped. Behind school record setting wide receiver David Anderson
David Anderson
David A. Anderson, is a former Canadian cabinet minister.Educated at Victoria College in Victoria, BC and the University of British Columbia, Anderson served as a foreign service officer in the Department of External Affairs between 1962 and 1968...
, and buoyed by the surprising emergence of thousand yard sophomore running back Kyle Bell
Kyle Bell
Kyle Bell is a fullback who is currently a free agent. Kyle was born in Keenesburg, Colorado on June 16, 1985. He played fullback for the Colorado State Rams from 2004-2008...
, CSU finished the regular season 6–5 and tied for second place in the Mountain West. However, a blowout 56–32 loss to the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in the Poinsettia Bowl
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that was created in 2005. The game was created by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego...
seemed to be another setback.
Following the 2005 season, Lubick signed a three year contract extension that would have made him CSU's coach through the 2009 season. Unfortunately, the Lubick family was dealt a difficult blow in the offseason. In February, Lubick's youngest son, Marc, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
A rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of cancer, specifically a sarcoma , in which the cancer cells are thought to arise from skeletal muscle progenitors. It can also be found attached to muscle tissue, wrapped around intestines, or in any anatomic location...
cancer. The younger Lubick had just finished his first season as Colorado State's wide receivers coach, a position he took over after his brother Matt left the program in 2005 after spending the previous four seasons coaching that position under his father. Marc Lubick underwent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
and coached during the 2006 season.
The Rams entered the 2006 season with high hopes, but on and off field problems quickly beset the program. Just three days prior to the season opening game against Weber State on September 2, preseason all-conference back Kyle Bell was lost for the season with a torn ACL during a practice. A sophomore in 2005, Bell had run for over a 1,000 yards and figured to be the centerpiece in CSU's offense. The Rams defeated Weber State 30–6, but lost another starter prior to their game against the arch rival University of Colorado on September 9, this time due to scandal. Several players, including preseason All-MWC cornerback Robert Herbert, were suspended indefinitely from the program after being charged with fraud in a campus check-cashing scandal. Herbert had arguably been the team's best defender in 2005.
Despite these losses, however, the Rams started the 2006 season strong. On September 9, after three years of frustratingly close losses, the Rams defeated their in-state rival CU 14–10 at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. After dropping a 28–10 decision at Nevada the following week, CSU rebounded with a road win at Fresno State and homecoming win against UNLV to go to 4–1. Playing at in-state rival Air Force on October 12, the Rams opened up a 21–3 halftime lead and appeared to be well on their way to a fifth victory. However, the Falcons rallied for 21 unanswered points and came back to defeat CSU 24–21. The loss was the beginning of one of the worst slides in Lubick's tenure. The following week Colorado State was shutout 24–0 at Wyoming in the annual Border War series. Home losses to New Mexico and BYU followed, and the Rams ultimately never recovered. Losses to Utah, TCU, and San Diego State concluded a season ending seven game losing streak, leaving CSU 4–8 and tied for last place in the Mountain West, by far the worst year in Lubick's tenure and leading some fans and followers to question whether Lubick should be retained or released.
Lubick's 14th season got an immediate boost with the return of Bell. With their all-conference halfback in the fold, as well as the most seniors returning in Lubick's tenure, the Rams had a team that figured to rebound from the dismal 2006 season. But a difficult early schedule challenged CSU. Opening against Colorado at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, the Rams had a familiar finish against their in-state rival. Despite big games from Bell and Kory Sperry, CSU squandered an 11-point 3rd quarter lead and went into overtime. On their possession, Caleb Hanie threw an interception in the endzone. CU would win in overtime, 31–28. Following the CU loss, Colorado State faced one of its most daunting home games ever against then-10th ranked California. The Bears were heavily favored but Colorado State, playing in its home opener, was game. CSU lost a thriller 34–28, their 9th straight loss dating back to 2006. Even worse, the bizarre chain of season-ending ACL injuries to key players continued when Sperry was lost with a torn ACL during the game. It was the 3rd straight season a key player for the Rams had been lost to the injury. Losses continued to mount. Dating back to 2006, CSU lost 11 straight games before defeating UNLV at mid season. Colorado State finished the season 3–9, a new low in the Lubick tenure. The lone bright spot of the year came at the end of the season when the Rams regained the Bronze Boot with a 36–28 win over Wyoming at Hughes Stadium. It would end up being the final game in Lubick's tenure at CSU.
On November 26, 2007, just 3 days after the Wyoming win, it was announced that Lubick was being relieved of his duties as head coach. Colorado State University Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk announced that Lubick has been offered a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
position as senior associate athletic director, focused on fundraising and serving as a goodwill ambassador for Rams athletics. Lubick was replaced by Steve Fairchild
Steve Fairchild
-Personal life:Fairchild graduated from Colorado State University in 1980 with a degree in economics.-References:...
, a former Lubick assistant who returned after serving as offensive cooridnator for the NFL's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
On February 2, 2008, the Rocky Mountain News reported that Lubick had declined the university's offer to remain in a fundraising role. The paper quoted a source as saying Lubick, 70, had talked with Florida coach Urban Meyer about joining the Gators' staff. Meyer was an assistant under Lubick in the early '90s. The job was reported to involve breaking down film and helping with recruiting. However, Lubick did not take that job, and remained in Fort Collins, working with several local businesses, and opening a restaurant (Sonny Lubick Steakhouse) in downtown Fort Collins.
Personal life
Lubick was born to mother Francis and Doc Lubick in Butte, Montana. He grew up with older sister Elizabeth, and younger siblings Donna and Jimmy.Lubick is married to wife Carol Jo and has three children: daughter Michelle, and sons Matt and Marc, both of whom have been assistant coaches under their father. There is a steakhouse in Downtown Fort Collins named after Lubick — Sonny Lubick Steakhouse.