FORT COLLINS - It's game week. Finally.

And if people think the Colorado State Rams are looking past Weber State to rival Colorado, they're mistaken, coach Sonny Lubick said.

"It's kind of a cardinal sin among coaches to look ahead. You never, ever look down the road," said the veteran coach, whose team play Division I-AA Weber State at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.

"Weber will be a challenge for us, just like Montana State should be a challenge for (CU). You have to get ready for what's in front of you."

What's in front of the Rams is an upwardly mobile Division I-AA team coached by someone familiar to CSU fans, former Utah coach Ron McBride.

McBride, a defensive coach with Kentucky after his firing by Utah in 2002, is beginning his second season at the school in Ogden, Utah. The Wildcats, who compete in the Big Sky Conference, finished 6-5 in 2005, his first season.

"Ron's a good coach, and it's good to have him back in this part of the country," Lubick said. "We've had some great football games against Ron's teams, and you know he'll have them ready to play."

SONG SILENCED: The alternative fight song popularized by CSU legend Fum McGraw has been silenced at home football games by the university.

The singalong tune - called Fum's Song - was written when CSU was Colorado A&M and its teams were called the Aggies. The whimsical ditty pokes fun at rivals such as Utah, Brigham Young and Colorado.

Last season, a video of the late McGraw leading the Rams in a locker room rendition of the song was played on the JumboTron at Hughes Stadium after the third quarter, and it was particularly popular in the student section.

But to the dismay of many CSU loyalists, officials succumbed to complaints from a small group of fans who believed the song was offensive because it calls rival teams names such as "sissy boys" and "drunkards."

"The decision came after a series of internal meetings in the athletic department," CSU associate athletic director Gary Ozzello said. "We got letters from people who thought the song didn't reflect sportsmanship values."

Ozzello said fans still can sing the song, but the video no longer will be played during games. After the announcement of the song's demise, one CSU fan posted an item on the Web site RamNation.com asking fans to sign a petition to be sent to CSU president Larry Penley.

While Lubick took the song's removal in stride, he appeared annoyed at the political correctness of it all.

"If that's the worst thing we hear in the stadium during a game, we're in pretty good shape," he said with a grin.

INJURY REPORT: Among the CSU players ruled out of Saturday's game include cornerback Brandon Cathy (left knee surgery scheduled), receiver George Hill (right knee) and offensive lineman Cole Pemberton (left knee). Listed as doubtful is offensive lineman Adrian Martinez (right knee) while linebacker Jake Pottorff (right shoulder) is questionable.

ETC.: The game will be seen on the new network The mtn., which is scheduled to begin broadcasting Friday on Comcast digital cable . . . Lubick's taped television show will air weekly at 11:15 p.m. Sundays on KUSA-Channel 9. His live weekly radio show will air from 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays from the Stonehouse Grill in Fort Collins. Fans can attend the radio show live or call 1-866-888-5449 with questions or comments for Lubick. Broadcast affiliates include KLZ-AM (560) in Denver and KCOL-AM (600) in Fort Collins, the same stations that will air CSU games . . . CSU's radio network has a new analyst for football games. Former CSU receiver Pete Rebstock will replace former Rams safety Erik Olson in the booth alongside play-by-play announcer Rich Bircumshaw . . . A crowd of 20,000 to 25,000 is expected in the 34,400-seat stadium for the opener. Ticket information: www.CSURams.com or 1-800-491-7267.

holtzr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5439