Joe Protheroe and the Mustangs welcome Colgate today. By Owen Main

Colgate is here. 

In about 90 minutes, Cal Poly and Colgate will kick-off in a week zero contest at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo.

Here are a few late things to look for:

Khaleel Jenkins

Cal Poly’s quarterback is always spotlighted. This year is no different. Jenkins, a 6’2″ junior from the San Diego area started one game as a true freshman two years ago, but he’s earned complete control as an upperclassman in 2017. 

I hate to oversimplify things, but Jenkins’ ability to control the ball and not turn it over is an easy thing for a Cal Poly fan to look at to see how successful the Mustangs’ offense will be. Jenkins has all the tools, but once the season starts it’s about making smart decisions and executing. 

Wideout blocking

Cal Poly didn’t lose a ton of yardage or receiving production from last year, but one question I have is whether wide receivers will be able to block the edge. To the extent they can, Cal Poly’s offense really opens up and makes the entire width of the field hard to defend. 

Kyle Lewis

Speaking of getting wide, Kyle Lewis’ usage will be really interesting to keep track of. Lewis wasn’t on any preseason list I saw, but he has the chance to be an explosive playmaker for Cal Poly. In his senior season, he’ll probably be used as a slotback, a wideout, and maybe a kick returner. The Mustangs have lots of depth at positions like fullback (behind All-American, Joe Protheroe), but I’m not sure they have anybody who can even approximate the danger Kyle Lewis provides. 

OK, that’s all for now. One more thing — Colgate has an All-American defensive player. Watch the game closely enough and I’m sure you’ll figure out who he is.

Follow me on twitter or instagram @fansmanship all year for updates. 

They started early. And I was busy. But finally, I made it out to Cal Poly football practice on Monday morning. And here are the things.

The long walk continues

Cal Poly is in the process of building the new Doerr Family Field. But that won’t be ready until October or November. Until then, Cal Poly football continues to practice in the Back 40, on the upper practice field. In case you didn’t know, the practice field they’ve been on for years is an artificial surface that is over a mile from their locker rooms adjacent to Mott Athletics Center. 

The new field will be right next to it, but until then, it’s a little hike from the parking lot for me. For a lot of players, it means a similar walk or riding on bicycles. I even saw a few players on mopeds rolling back to Mott Athletics Center. 

It won’t be necessary after a few weeks — at least not for every practice. For now, it gave those of us watching practice a nice walk in the morning sun. It really is beautiful out on that part of campus. I won’t miss the walk though. 

Familiar Faces

The Khaleel Jenkins Show makes its debut at Spanos Saturday, August 23rd against Colgate. By Owen Main

Cal Poly’s roster is littered with players who have experience contributing big. They are three or four deep at fullback, including preseason all-american Joe Protheroe. They have Kyle Lewis’ explosive speed on the edge. Lewis is probably the Mustang who didn’t get many preseason accolades most likely to pick up some postseason individual hardware. Redshirt freshman Chuby Danu should also be more than capable in his first year of significant playing time. 

The offensive line is led by experience senior Joey Kuperman. The defensive backfield is at least 7 or 8 deep on the depth chart with quality players. The team’s linebacking corps has experienced guys and the defensive line is anchored by SLO High grad Jack Ferguson and senior Augustino Elisaia.

JJ Koski is the most experienced receiver from last year’s team. Watching the greener players on the edge block in the run game will be a key. Carson McMurtrey and Jordan Hines were really good at that in previous years and blocking the edge effectively from the wideout position is not an easy task.

Khaleel Jenkins comes into the season with limited experience. Two years ago, Jenkins started a game at Spanos and played decently as a true freshman. He turned the ball over a few times, but also showed some explosive rushing ability and decent decision-making in the option game. 

Head coach Tim Walsh is optimistic about Jenkins’ upcoming season. 

Schedule lining up

This season’s schedule is one that, by traditional Big Sky standards, is on the lighter side. Nowhere on the schedule are Montana, Eastern Washington, or Montana State. 

Teams like Portland State, Weber State, and Nothern Arizona always play Cal Poly really tough. So does UC Davis because, you know, the horseshoe. 

The Mustangs even have a winnable game in their second weekend (technically, week 1) against an FBS team. I don’t think I have a great grasp on this team at this point, but if they can improve even a little from last year’s squad, their talent in the offensive backfield and improving defense should give them a chance to compete for a Big Sky title.

My Adidas

This was also my first look at Cal Poly’s new Adidas gear. The athletic department signed a contract with Adidas in the offseason and every team will be sporting the three-striped apparel. This seems to be a first for Cal Poly. Up until now, individual programs signed contracts with various companies. 

The new gear looked good. From an outsider’s perspective it didn’t seem too much of a departure from the past. What I am excited about is the new game uniforms for football, soccer, and volleyball in the fall. The merch trailer at Spanos already has some Adidas Cal Poly polo shirts — Green with a white collar. If you want one, it’ll run you $70. 

Strengthier?

One common refrain from players I talked with was how great shape everyone is in this year. Maybe that’s what everyone says every year. Also, maybe it’s a thing. Guys do look pretty ripped. Maybe that’s because they were practicing without pads on Monday. I dunno. 

What I do know is that little things make a difference in an ultimate team sport like football. If everyone believes they are in a little better shape, maybe they are. Everyone I’ve ever talked to about it has said amazing things about Cal Poly’s head strength and conditional coach Chris Holder and his innovative approach. Holder’s blog is fun to look at too. 

Every little edge can make a huge difference for a triple option team trying to scratch and claw for a conference title and a postseason playoff berth. Watch closely this year and maybe that’s an edge Cal Poly has. 

Photos by Owen Main. Find the whole gallery here.

Well, that Eastern Washington game was the worst. If you’re a Cal Poly fan, there were so many things that went wrong in that game that it’s kind of hard to count.

A first-quarter interception in the end zone on a drive that would have put the Mustangs ahead.

An Eastern Washington touchdown the guy caught against his shoulder pad.

Despite over 100 yards rushing in the first half, Dano Graves couldn’t stave off the Eastern Washington onslaught. By Owen Main

Too many Cal Poly punts.

At the end of the first half, a Jerek Rosales interception seemed like it could be a turning point. Cal Poly had nearly four minutes and a touchdown would have put them even going into halftime, but the drive failed.

Eastern Washington scored on their first possession of the 3rd quarter to go up two scores. Then Cal Poly fumbled and the Eagles promptly scored another touchdown to go up by 21 points. At that point, Kyle Lewis looked like he wasn’t coming back and a Cal Poly comeback didn’t really seem possible, but the Mustangs kept fighting.

Joe Protheroe scored a touchdown and Cal Poly was at the EWU 9 yard line with 7:50 to go, but couldn’t convert on fourth down. Instead of scoring and being within a touchdown, Cal Poly’s defense gave up a sixth and final touchdown to Eastern in what was the final score of the game.

Cooper Kupp is good at the football. By Owen Main

Cooper Kupp is good

Cooper Kupp is, by a lot of numbers, the best receiver in FCS history. He’s going to be in the NFL next year. He showed why, throwing two strikes on trick plays and adding the game-sealing touchdown.

Kupp is one of the most exciting players in the FCS and he put on a show with 11 catches for 154 yards.

Big opportunities

Despite the discouraging loss, Cal Poly still has a great chance to make the FCS playoffs. Wins at Weber State and at home against Northern Colorado to end the year would all but assure the team of a playoff birth. If they lose one of the two, a 7-4 record might not be enough.

To get there, the Mustangs will have the find a way to game-plan through bumps and bruises. The ongoing health of Joe Protheroe, Kyle Lewis, and Dano Graves will mean everything for the Cal Poly offense.

Joe Protheroe has had a great season, but will need help if Cal Poly wants to make it into the playoffs. By Owen Main

Not at the bottom

Weber State and Northern Colorado haven’t been in the top half of the Big Sky standings much during the last few seasons. It’s not the case this year. Weber State is 4-2 and Northern Colorado has only dropped to 3-3 recently. Neither games will be gimmes. Not by a long shot.

If the Mustangs want to make the playoffs, they’ll have to take care of business. Two more weeks. Two more games.

One big opportunity.

Photos by Owen Main – View them on photos.fansmanship.com here. 

Tonight at 6pm, #14 Cal Poly football will take on #3 Eastern Washington in what is sure to be the biggest game for the program in years.

The four headed monster of Joe Protheroe, Kyle Lewis (pictured), Kori Garcia, and Dano Graves will have to be running full cylinder to keep up with Eastern Washington’s explosive attack tonight. By Owen Main

Cal Poly has earned this particular opportunity — they beat ranked South Dakota State and Montana teams earlier in the season and took FBS team Nevada to overtime en route to their current 6-2 record and 14th ranking. Eastern Washington has been their typical dominant selves, en route to a 7-1 record. They are deserving of their #3 national ranking.

The last time these two teams met in San Luis Obispo was 2013. That year, Cal Poly ended up at 6-6 and lost to the Eagles 35-22 in a game that wasn’t even really that close. Cooper Kupp was a freshman on that team. Vernon Adams was the best quarterback in FCS that year. Cal Poly’s defense just couldn’t figure out how to stop them.

Eastern Washington was really good then. They’re really good right now too. They’re always really good.

Here’s the Lucas Clark preview from the SLO Tribune.

Return of Eti Ena

Former Cal Poly defensive line coach Eti Ena, a 2005 graduate of Eastern Washington, returned to Cheney this past offseason to coach the defensive front and defensive ends. Having been at practice with the Mustangs over the past three seasons may give the Eagles a slight scheme advantage, though the triple option — on some level — doesn’t change much. Keep a close eye  out for the battle in the trenches, what kinds of line schemes are happening, and whether Eastern Washington is able to get into Cal Poly’s backfield and interrupt Dano Graves’ rhythm handing it off and passing.

Cooper Kupp is… good. Really good.

Cooper Kupp. He’s good. By Owen Main

In case you have been under a rock, Cooper Kupp is amazing. I remember the last time he was here, as a freshman or sophomore. Vernon Adams would throw a pass and you’d look up and there was that guy again with 5-10 yards between him and the nearest defender. It was kind of a helpless feeling.

Look for Cal Poly to use well-timed pressure schemes to try to disrupt Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud. It’s probably the best chance they have to get some turnovers and get the ball back to their offense. When you’re playing the third-ranked team in the country, maybe your scheme has to include some well-placed gambits and chances.

Either way, Cal Poly fans should keep an eye on number 10 in red. He’s good.

Playoff-bound?

A win for Cal Poly would make an FCS playoff birth all but a lock. With two games remaining (at Weber State and at home vs. Northern Colorado), the Mustangs would be sitting on seven wins with three of them vs. top-10 or 15 opponents.

What if Cal Poly wins out? Well, I’d have to think that a first-round bye and home playoff game would be in order. I told you, this team has given itself an opportunity to be one of the greats in Cal Poly history. I’m not trying to put more pressure on them than is due, but the opportunity is there. Right in front of them.

The anticipation of what they’ll do with that opportunity will be fully felt in what should be a packed Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Saturday night.