Class reunion: Zoll, CSU’s Busch reunite

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 | 11:16 a.m.

UNLV doesn't need to look far to get a scouting report on new Colorado State quarterback D.J. Busch before Friday night's game with the Rams at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Redshirt freshman offensive tackle Jimy Zoll, who blocks on PAT and field goal teams and backs up senior Shane Wagers at strong tackle, grew up down the street from Busch in Santee, Calif., and blocked for him in high school at Santana High School. The Sultans went 11-1 their senior year and won the Grossmont North League title.

"We go way back," Zoll said. "Pop Warner. Little League baseball. You name it, we played it. We're like brothers. He is one of my best friends."

Busch, who takes over for Mountain West co-offensive player of the year Matt Newton at quarterback for the Rams (1-1), and Zoll still talk about once a week on the phone. Both of their families will make the trip from the San Diego suburb for the game on Friday.

"It's going to be fun seeing Jimy on the other side of the ball," Busch said. "We give each other a hard time about it but it's all in fun. We have a lot of friends and family making the trip to see us, so I'm really looking forward to that."

"One of the reasons I wanted to be in the Mountain West Conference was when I found out D.J. had signed with Colorado State," Zoll said. "I wanted to play against him. We've been teammates for so many years before we even got to high school. The next step is to play against him and see who wins.

"I want to see him do well but not this week," Zoll continued. "I want to go out and beat him, especially after last year and how bad a loss that was. We should have won that one."

Zoll and Busch obviously have a special bond that extends past the football field. It is a bond that was made even stronger by the events of March 5 of this year at their alma mater.

It was on that day that Charles Andrew "Andy" Williams allegedly opened fire on the Santana High School campus, killing two students and wounding 13 others.

"(D.J.) was actually home on spring break the week it happened," Zoll said. "He was one of the first people to call me and tell me that my brother (Bryan) was okay and that some of our friends were also OK."

Bryan Zoll and Busch's sister, Rebecca, were both juniors at Santana last year.

"She was in the crowd when she started hearing the shots and ran into a classroom," Busch said of his sister. "I didn't know anybody who got shot or was injured."

Still, both Zoll and Busch spent most of their spring breaks back in Santee attending memorials for the shooting victims.

"It was real hard," Zoll said. "It's something you never think will happen to you. I know when D.J. was down there he was able to help out a lot of people because a lot of people in Santee still see him as a leader and a big person in the community."

"I had a lot of close ties to the school, the faculty there and the principal," Busch said. "I think it's something we've been able to put behind and move on from."

Busch completed 7 of 14 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown in leading Colorado State to a 35-18 win over Nevada-Reno on Saturday in Fort Collins. He has been splitting time with Michigan State-transfer Bradlee Van Pelt in each of CSU's first two games but has started both contests.

"It felt good getting back on the right track on Saturday after our opening loss to Colorado," Busch said. "But now we've got two real good conference opponents coming up in UNLV and San Diego State. You definitely want to get off to a good start in conference play."

The 5-11, 245-pound Sunia needs 35 tackles to break Randy Black's school career tackle mark of 294. However, how much playing time he can earn still remains to be seen.

"The two guys ahead of him, Ryan Claridge and Adam Seward, can both play," Robinson said. "They both have good speed. But I think James can help us, especially on first down."

Backup defensive end Adrian Watson, who missed the Northwestern game with a sprained ankle, is also listed as possible. And outside linebacker LaMar Owens, who missed the contest for what Robinson said was "a violation of team rules," will also play.