Cu and Air Force are each coming off bowl appearances, but face some rebuilding this season because of several key losses in their lineups. Colorado state, meanwhile, has a new coach and a different set of challenges.

The University of Colorado in Boulder is in its third season with Dan Hawkins as head coach. Air Force starts its second season under Troy Calhoun. Both teams played — and lost — in bowl games in 2007. Colorado State has its first new coach in 15 years — former Rams quarterback and assistant coach Steve Fairchild — who follows Sonny Lubick’s long reign in Fort Collins. As it stands, Division I-A college football remains in a state of flux in Colorado.

Here’s THE breakdown FOR each school:

Air Force Academy
The Falcons come off a 9-4 season — the best record among Front Range schools in 2007 — and a Fort Worth Bowl berth. But, Air Force lost a considerable amount of veteran leadership from that team, returning with only eight starters in 2008.
Only three offensive starters — tight end Travis Dekker, guard Nick Charles and tackle Keith Williams — return, so the Falcons are rebuilding their backfield and receiving corps. The loss of quarterback Shaun Carney and do-everything receiver-returner-ball-carrier Chad Hall — who played the Z (wide receiver) position — were big blows.

“We have a lot of players that were solid this spring,” says Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. “I think Ty Paffett will be solid at the Z for us. He’s not replacing Chad Hall, he’s succeeding him. People need to keep that in mind. We’re going to be solid at fullback with Todd Newell and our wide receivers played considerable amounts last year. Quarterback is probably the biggest question, as we’re trying to replace a four-year starter. There is no substitute for 40-something games started over four years.” The defensive line appears to be the Falcons’ strong point with three starters back — ends Ben Garland and Ryan Kemp and nose guard Jared Marvin.

“We lost a considerable amount of players at cornerback and inside linebackers,” said Calhoun. “We need to find some guys that can help us there. Besides our down linemen, we need to develop depth at every position.”

Despite an inexperienced squad, Calhoun was encouraged by spring drills.

“The key for Air Force is leadership and we developed some of it in spring drills,” Calhoun noted. “At an Academy, you have to have the guys that have the intangibles that make you win. With as young a team as we’re going to have, which is probably the youngest team the Academy has ever had, it’s a must that we develop this. We’re not there yet, but I’m encouraged about what I saw.”

The University of Colorado in Boulder is in its third season with Dan Hawkins as head coach. Air Force starts its second season under Troy Calhoun. Both teams played — and lost — in bowl games in 2007. Colorado State has its first new coach in 15 years — former Rams quarterback and assistant coach Steve Fairchild — who follows Sonny Lubick’s long reign in Fort Collins. As it stands, Division I-A college football remains in a state of flux in Colorado.

Here’s THE breakdown FOR each school:

Air Force Academy
The Falcons come off a 9-4 season — the best record among Front Range schools in 2007 — and a Fort Worth Bowl berth. But, Air Force lost a considerable amount of veteran leadership from that team, returning with only eight starters in 2008.
Only three offensive starters — tight end Travis Dekker, guard Nick Charles and tackle Keith Williams — return, so the Falcons are rebuilding their backfield and receiving corps. The loss of quarterback Shaun Carney and do-everything receiver-returner-ball-carrier Chad Hall — who played the Z (wide receiver) position — were big blows.

“We have a lot of players that were solid this spring,” says Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. “I think Ty Paffett will be solid at the Z for us. He’s not replacing Chad Hall, he’s succeeding him. People need to keep that in mind. We’re going to be solid at fullback with Todd Newell and our wide receivers played considerable amounts last year. Quarterback is probably the biggest question, as we’re trying to replace a four-year starter. There is no substitute for 40-something games started over four years.” The defensive line appears to be the Falcons’ strong point with three starters back — ends Ben Garland and Ryan Kemp and nose guard Jared Marvin.

“We lost a considerable amount of players at cornerback and inside linebackers,” said Calhoun. “We need to find some guys that can help us there. Besides our down linemen, we need to develop depth at every position.”

Despite an inexperienced squad, Calhoun was encouraged by spring drills.

“The key for Air Force is leadership and we developed some of it in spring drills,” Calhoun noted. “At an Academy, you have to have the guys that have the intangibles that make you win. With as young a team as we’re going to have, which is probably the youngest team the Academy has ever had, it’s a must that we develop this. We’re not there yet, but I’m encouraged about what I saw.”
The University of Colorado
The Buffs return 14 starters — a 15th, cornerback Ben Burney, will miss the season after knee surgery — from a 6-7 squad that lost to Alabama in the Independence Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins, the coach’s son, returns but is receiving heavy competition from senior Nick Nelson and redshirt freshman Matt Ballenger. Hawkins and coordinator Mark Helfrich are also installing a hurry-up, no-huddle offense used by many college teams, including Big 12 Conference North division rivals Missouri and Kansas, though Hawkins won’t utilize the plan full time.

“That’s always going to be evolving,” Hawkins said of the offensive restructuring. “It’s going to constantly evolve. We’ll see what they do this fall. It’s always like a cathedral; it’s always under construction.”

Injuries and off-field problems have caused concerns for the defense. Besides the loss of Burney, two returning starters — free safety Ryan Walters and nose tackle Brandon Nicolas — missed spring practice. CU was left shorthanded at the linebacker position when junior Jake Duren was dismissed from the team and incoming freshman Lynn Katoa was arrested on assault charges.

It’s not all bad news for the Buffs. CU landed tailback Darrell Scott, perhaps the No. 1 recruit in the nation, who will battle for a starting job this fall. Scott’s arrival has boosted CU’s hopes even though he has not taken a snap in practice. Count Hawkins among the optimistic.

“How we mesh some of the young guys will be critical,” the third-year coach said. “Who can contribute and how we can work them in will be a big part. But I think we will be all right. We have to keep building talent and depth like I always say. It’s tried and true and we’re starting to establish this.”

So, what kind of goals does a coach have after a .500 finish and a bowl loss?

“Our goal is to get better. We want to be in the hunt for the national championship every year. We want them going to school. There’s nothing unusual about that,” said Hawkins.
Colorado State University
The Rams have overcome the traumatic exit of CSU staple Sonny Lubick, who had two straight losing seasons that included a 13-game losing streak. The arrival of Steve Fairchild has stabilized the Rams program along with several familiar names on the coaching staff. Former quarterback Anthoney Hill returns as the running backs coach and Larry Kerr is back for his second stint as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

The Rams return 14 starters — eight on offense and six on defense. Two others with considerable starting experience, tight end Kory Sperry and safety Klint Kubiak, return after an injury-riddled 2007 season.

The Rams will have a one-two backfield punch in Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell. The duo will be critical since the Rams lost three starters at receiver; however, with four of the five offensive line starters from 2007 returning, there’s plenty of solid blocking ahead of Johnson and Bell.

“I feel a little bit better about that aspect of our offense, as we should, because we do have some veterans,” Fairchild says of the Rams’ running game. “The key is not one or two guys, but how that 11 can be on the field. If you get the right group of guys working as a unit, that’s what you’re looking for.”

Senior Billy Farris heads into the fall as the frontrunner for the quarterback spot after the graduation of longtime starter Caleb Hanie, but nothing is set in stone after spring practice, says Fairchild. Incoming freshman Alex Kelly, redshirt freshmen Klay Kubiak and T.J. Borcky and junior Grant Stucker could all be in the running at quarterback.

“I’m not in a hurry to name somebody the starter,” Fairchild said days before the spring game in April.

“When it feels right, I’ll know who it will be. Billy Farris is probably the frontrunner because he’s a fifth-year senior, but we have to see how it goes in fall camp and see where we are at.”

2008 College Football Schedules
Air Force
Aug. 30 - Southern Utah - Noon
Sept. 6 - Wyoming - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 - at Houston - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Utah - 2 p.m.
Oct. 4 - Navy - 2 p.m.
Oct. 11 - San Diego State - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 - UNLV - 8 p.m.
Oct. 23 - New Mexico - 6 p.m.
Nov. 1 - Army - TBA
Nov. 8 - Colorado State - 4 p.m.
Nov. 15 - Brigham Young - 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 - TCU - 1:30 p.m.

Colorado
Aug. 30 - Colorado State* - 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 - Eastern Washington - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 - West Virginia - 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 - at Florida St. - TBA
Oct. 4 - Texas - TBA
Oct. 11 - Kansas - TBA
Oct. 18 - Kansas State - TBA
Oct. 25 - Missouri - TBA
Nov. 1 - Texas A&M - TBA
Nov. 8 - Iowa State - TBA
Nov. 15 - Oklahoma State - TBA
Nov. 28 - Nebraska - TBA
*-at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver

Colorado State
Aug. 30 - Colorado* - 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 - Sacramento State - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Houston - 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 - California - TBA
Oct. 4 - UNLV - Noon
Oct. 11 - TCU - 1:30 pm.
Oct. 18 - Utah - Noon
Oct. 25 - San Diego State - 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1 - BYU - 4 p.m.
Nov. 8 - Air Force - 4 p.m.
Nov. 15 - New Mexico - Noon
Nov. 22 - Wyoming - Noon
*-at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver