Veteran leadership, experience key in 2009

Improbable, Wonderdogs, underdogs, Cinderella, unbelievable...all words that were used to describe the run that the Bulldog baseball team made through the College World Series enroute to their very first National Championship, a team that won the nation's hearts.

In 2009, there's only two words that will be important when talking about this team: Leadership and Experience. This team has the veteran leadership to drive them and the experience to know how to handle themselves against tough opponents. They know what it takes to make it back to Omaha, they know how to come together as a team, they know how to win.

The Bulldogs will have some familiar faces coming back for 2009, guys like Alan Ahmady who's already been selected as a pre-season All-American, Tommy Mendonca, Danny Muno the young freshman who started the pivotal double-play in the 9th inning and, of course, the hero of the championship game Steve Detweiler. These four guys will need to be the team leaders as the Bulldogs open their 2009 season, they'll need to teach the incoming freshman what it means to come together as a team and overcome even the greatest odds.

This was a team that wasn't even expected to make it out of the first round of the WAC Tournament, then wasn't expected to last the first weekend of the College World Series. But when it was all said and done, it was Fresno State that hoisted the National Championship trophy and it's Fresno State that will raise the National Championship banner at Beiden Field when they open the 2009 season in February.

The Bulldog will always be known as one of the best stories to ever come out of the College World Series, a team that knocked off a few of the top ranked teams twice, including North Carolina and Georgia, to prove that anything is possible. It doesn't matter if you roar into the postseason or limp into it, as long as you make the right run at the right time, a National Championship is never out of reach.

Merry Christmas

As we count down the hours to Christmas Day and as we look forward to the entrance of 2009, I wanted to pass along my well wishes to all those back in Fresno and all those Bulldog fans who are spending time with their families this holiday season. I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...here's to a very prosperous 2009.

Enjoy time with your family and friends, enjoy the holidays and enjoy doing the one thing that we all love doing this time of year....eat! Seriously though, stay safe, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the Bulldog fans out there.

We'll see you back here for 2009 as we look forward to Fresno State on the backstretch of their 2008-2009 basketball schedule and the defending National Champion baseball team will be getting ready for their 2009 season which will open the first week of February at home against Washington.

There's a lot to look forward to in 2009, and we'll be here to talk all about it.

Happy Holidays!

Pre-season rankings out

After an improbable run through the College World Series, the Fresno State Bulldogs will be ranked 16th in the Collegiate Baseball pre-season poll that were just released today.

Last season, though the Bulldogs didn't have an impressive season leading up to the WAC tournament, they made one of the best runs through Omaha that has ever been made before, hence "Underdogs to Wonderdogs."

They were the perennial underdogs, the lowest seed in the College World Series, not expected to last the weekend. Bulldog merchandise was slim pickings, but before long, Bulldog mania was running rampid through Rosenblatt Stadium, fans from all over the country were jumping on the bandwagon and becoming Fresno State fans. Even though it was a Bulldog vs. Bulldog final between Fresno State and Georgia, it was a sea of Fresno State red all throughout the stadium.

As the final out was recorded, Fresno State fans took to the streets, celebrating with passing cars and even with the firemen that road by in their firetrucks. Bulldog pride had returned to the Central Valley, the Fresno State Bulldogs are the National Champions and they will be forever remembered in the history books as one of the best stories ever in College Baseball.

So, on February 20th, make sure you get your tickets for what is sure to be the second biggest party in Fresno, after the National Championship celebration, as the Bulldogs will raise their 2008 National Championship banner at Beiden Field in front of what I'm sure will be a sold out crowd. It's been a long time coming, but this is something Fresnans will always remember, a story to tell and re-tell for years to come.

Is Iowa State after Coach Hill?

Well, the rumors have reared their ugly head again. According to internet reports, Iowa State was reportedy interested in Pat Hill for their vacant head coaching position, but Hill says those rumors are absolutely not true.

"I'm not involved in any other jobs or job searches. End of conversation, period. ... I'm just trying to keep my job in Fresno."

We've heard Coach Hill say this before, it was actually prior to him interviewing for the head coaching position at the University of Washington, a position he also said he was not interested in or had been asked about. Do you believe him this time around, or is he serious when he says he's just trying to keep his job at Fresno State.

That part of the quote actually brings up more of interesting question, doesn't it? "I'm just trying to keep my job in Fresno." Is Pat Hill in danger of losing his job as the head coach of the Bulldogs? It's just an interesting way to word what he said.

With all that being said, Hill does have a job to do. He has the job of getting his team ready for the New Mexico Bowl tomorrow afternoon against the MWC's Colorado State Rams. A game that, regardless of how little attention it might get, it still means a lot to the departing seniors on both sides, because neither wants to remember their last game as a loss. So, the Bulldogs will run practice today and then get a nice rest in before returning to the field tomorrow morning for pre-game warmups before the game officially kicks off at 11:30am PST tomorrow.

Can Fresno State come up with one more dominant performance, or will they have the letdown of playing a team that shouldn't even compare? Only time will tell...

Bulldogs and Rams to face off in New Mexico

The Fresno State Bulldogs will have a lot of their seniors playing in their final games in Bulldog uniforms, and you can bet they don't want to go out losers.

The Bulldogs arrived in Albuquerque on Wednesday and got right to work with a 2-hour practice, the teams' first practice since Sunday. They weren't allowed to practice Monday or Tuesday due to finals schedules.

Though they did get a practice in, they also had time to have a little fun as both teams faced off in a cooking and entertainment challenge. Fresno State players Chris Carter, Bobby Lepori, Joe Bernardi, Sharrod Davis, Jason Crawley, and Drew Lubinsky took part in the cooking challenge, they were judged by the owner of El Pinto Mexican Restaurant, a landmark there in Albuquerque. In the entertainment portion of the day, Crawley recruited teammate Nico Herron as they to do this rap...talk about confidence.

"Green V on my helmet for Central Valley
Takin' the trophy back to Cali
New Mexico winter means it might snow
Tommy makes it rain touchdown throws.
Defense up the middle, sick with the sacks
Special teams on the field
And we'll run one back.
Offense gets you red,
defense gives the blues.
Those C. State Rams are crazy in the head,
Cuz we're Bulldog born and Bulldog bred.
We just took finals, now here's a lesson:
Playcalls on the field, will keep you guessin'.
You sure you wanna play?
Cuz the lambs are silly.
We're the hottest things in red,
Since sweet red chile.
Goin' for five of six, Another bowl game snack.
Sorry Mountain West, It's another win for the WAC."

Though the team might be a little over confident, it might be just the thing this team needs to put together one more dominant effort to show just how strong this team is. The game is scheduled to get underway at 11:30am PST and will be televised by ESPN.

Bulldogs announce their 2009 schedule

As the defending national champions, has a nice ring to it doesn't it, prepare to not only defend their WAC crown but also make another run through Omaha the Fresno State baseball team released their schedule for the upcoming 2009 season.


The Bulldogs will open the 2009 season at home against the Washington Huskies (2/20 - 2/22), who finished in the middle of the PAC-10 in 2008, where the Bulldogs will raise their National Championship banner in front of what should be a sold out crowd at Beiden Field. They will also face the University of Oregon in Eugene (2/28 - 3/1).


The 31st annual Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic will take place March 9-14 and will feature not only the Bulldogs but also Buffalo, Portland and Cal State Bakersfield.

Young Bulldogs seem to have hit their stride

For the first time, in their still young season, it seems the Bulldogs may have found their stride.

After beating Pacific the other night on a buzzer beater, the Bulldogs used their height to their advantage as they dominated Cal State Bakersfield 66-51 in a game that wasn't even that close. The Bulldogs were led by young freshman Paul George who finished with a game high 17 points including a career high five three-pointers to go along with eight rebounds. That wasn't even their highlight, the 'Dogs had their best defensive effort of the season, holding Bakersfield to 30.6% shooting from the field for the entire game, 29.7% in the second half alone.

Is this team starting to click as a team after eight games already in the books? After having a few off games, Jr. transfer Sylvester Seay had a good turnaround, finishing the game with 15 points in just 19 minutes in the game. It's going to take guys like that to perform on a consistant basis, along with George, Sr. guard Dwight O'Neil and Freshman guard Mychal Ladd. The one thing I noticed about this team against Bakersfield is, even though Ladd (23 minutes - 2/4 - 8 points) and O'Neil (31 minutes - 4/11 - 9 points) had off nights, George and Seay were there to pick them up. It's also going to take same kind of defensive effort as well, especially if they want to compete with teams like Boise State and Nevada who were picked towards the top of the WAC in the preseason coaches poll.

In his 100th game as the Bulldogs' head coach, Steve Cleveland has a chance to really make this team his own. His recruits, his players, his record. If he can bring this young team together and mold them into a cohesive group, the WAC better watch out or they're going to be surprised by this young team.

I'm not saying that this team is going to win the WAC, I don't think they're nearly that good...yet. Give them another season or two and this could be the team to beat.

Pat Hill being 'Dogged' by fans

Are you fans done with Pat Hill?

I could just ask that one question, post it, and let the Bulldog fans run rampant with speculation and opinions on whether they think Pat Hill should return to Fresno State or have his final 2 years of his contract bought out. Are you fans really over Pat Hill?

Let's start right here...if Bulldog fans are that done with coach Hill, who do you want instead? Who do you want as the next head coach of the Fresno State Bulldogs? Who is going to lead this team to a WAC title and beyond? That's one thing I haven't heard from anyone, you want Hill gone so badly, yet I haven't heard one name thrown out there to replace Hill. Do you want an internal candidate, one that already knows this team or do you want someone from outside the program?

I read so many articles and comments about how Pat Hill can't win a WAC title...is that all they should be striving for...seriously? So, as long as they win a WAC title, go to a lesser known bowl game or maybe an average bowl game (Holiday Bowl, Poinsettia Bowl) fans would be ok with that? I don't think you can sit there and tell me fans wouldn't tire of that as well...you can try all you want, but I'm not gonna buy it. Soon, they'll be wanting more, as all fans do. They'll be saying "a WAC title isn't good enough anymore."

Pat Hill is the head coach at Fresno State for the next two years and unless his contract is bought out, that's the way it's gonna be. Now, if you have a name you want to throw out there, I'd be more than happy to listen, but I'm tired of hearing "Pat Hill has to go" but noone knows who they want in his place.

My name...and this is one a lot of NFL fans will know, a guy who currently is not coaching but is teaching at San Diego State University and could be in line to replace Chuck Long as the head football coach of the Aztecs. It's long time NFL coach Dennis Green. Don't tell me his name alone wouldn't entice recruits, especially kids coming out of high school. Maybe his name wouldn't interest Fresno State, maybe he's too expensive, but he'd be worth talking to even just to gauge his interest.

Bulldogs to face Colorado State

The opponent has been chosen.

When Fresno State made the announcement that they were going to play in the New Mexico Bowl on December 20th, the only question left to answer was who were they going to face. Well, that question was answered on Sunday....Colorado State.

The Rams are coming off a 6-6 season (4-4 in conference) under first year head coach Steve Fairchild and although it may not be the kind of year Fairchild was hoping for, he says they're headed in the right direction. "We still have a lot of work to do here at Colorado State, in all areas of our program, but this is obviously a step in the right direction, and a tremendous reward for our 17 seniors, who've worked extremely hard during their time here in Fort Collins."

It will be the 12th meeting all time for these two teams with Colorado holding a 6-5 series lead against Fresno State. The game is scheduled to kick off at 11:35am PST and will be televised by ESPN.

Bulldogs headed for New Mexico Bowl

In an announcement made yesterday, the Fresno State Bulldogs will be headed to Albuquerque, on the campus of the University of New Mexico, to play in the New Mexico Bowl on December 20th which will be the first bowl game of the bowl season.

It will be Fresno State's ninth bowl invitation in the last ten years. They are scheduled to play a team from the Mountain West Conference, a team that is scheduled to be announced on Sunday.

Ok, so it's not the bowl game that a lot of us Bulldog fans expected at the beginning of the season and no it's not a bowl game that anyone takes seriously if you win, but it's still one more game.

With Pat Hill hitting the recruiting trail, fresh off his announcement that he had pulled his name from consideration for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Washington, he's already gotten a verbal committment from David Carr's younger brother, Derek, who's a standout at Bakersfield Christian High. The one area he desperately needs to focus on is their defensive line, who really struggled in the middle of the season. If he can address that and keep the offense as strong as it has been most of the year, it should be an exciting 2009 season.

As for right now, we've got one more game to watch and one more game to root on our Bulldogs. So it's only the widely unknown New Mexico Bowl, but getting a win in that game is just as important to Pat Hill and his team as any other game during the season.

Hill tells prized recruit "I'm staying"

It looks like Pat Hill is returning as Fresno State's head coach in 2009. Hill went to visit his prized recruit, Derek Carr, yesterday evening and told him that he is returning to Fresno State and will not be the head coach at the University of Washington.

If the last name rings a bell, it should, Derek is the younger brother of former Bulldog quarterback and current NY Giants backup QB David Carr, who also played under Pat Hill. The younger Carr, a high school standout at Bakersfield Christian High, was also recruited by Washington but will stay with Hill and Fresno State.

Earlier yesterday, it was reported by the Seattle Times that Hill had told Washington to either offer him the job before the end of the day or he would would pull his name from consideration. Asked whether Hill had pulled his name as of last night, Derek Carr's father Roger said "I don't really know how. He just said he was here. He said, 'I'm here.' He said he's staying in Fresno." There was also a poll conducted by ABC 30 in Fresno and it had some interesting results.

Also asked if Derek would honor his verbal committment to Fresno State had Hill left for Washington, Roger Carr responded, "That would have been a tough decision. There were literally 72 schools that contacted us. But Derek wanted to go to Fresno State, and Pat Hill was a big part of that."

Pat Hill front runner for Washington job?

According to Tom Deinhart of Rivals.com, Pat Hill interviewed for the vacant coaching job at the University of Washington after Fresno State got trounced by Boise State 61-10 last Friday night.

With the Clemson hiring Dabo Swinney and Tennesse's latest hiring of former Oakland Raider's head coach Lane Kiffin, Pat Hill is the hot name for Washington's opening. It also helps that, apparently, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has endorsed Hill to Washington president Mark Emmert and athletic director Scott Woodward.

Washington is expected to make a quick decision on their opening so their new head coach can jump into recruiting for the 2009 season.

Is the Pat Hill era over at Fresno State and who will the Bulldogs look for as their new head coach? As the names start coming in and the rumors start flying, we'll post them here.

Fresno State @ #8 Boise LIVE blog

1ST QUARTER

Fresno State jumps out quickly on an interception returned for a touchdown by Damion Owens. Bulldogs out to a 7-0 lead.

Lead short lived as Boise drives right down the Bulldogs throat and quarterback Kellen Moore hits Jeremy Childs from 8 yards out to tie the game 7-7.

After a quick 3 and out by Fresno, Boise was driving but a couple of good defensive plays and Boise had a field goal attempt. Thanks to great special teams play from the Bulldogs, it was tipped and hit the right upright and is no good. Game still 7-7. Great defense on that drive.

Offensive line is getting manhandled by Boise State right now, Brandstater is getting little to no time to throw and they can't get the running game going. They are really missing Ryan Mathews at this point, it shows how much of an impact he makes on this offense.

Brandstater took another hard shot on a linebacker blitz and looks to be shaken up, we'll see if he's able to continue though I don't doubt that he'll be back out there. Pat Hill might get Sophomore backup Ryan Colburn up and throwing to get loose, just in case.

After a full quarter of play, the Bulldogs are hanging in there. 7-7 tie, Bulldogs will have the ball 3rd and 3 to start the 2nd quarter.

2ND QUARTER

Brandstater really looks like he's favoring his right ankle as he came off the field after an incomplete pass on 3rd down. Boise will take over on their own 9.

The Bulldogs got a good rush on 2nd and 15, but a good pass by Kellen Moore to Jeremy Childs and it's 3rd and 6

Austin Pettis with a 10 yard reception, 1st and 10 Boise State

Boise State making it look easy on this drive. After starting on their own 9 yard line, they're up to mid-field after a 23 yard reception by Ian Johnson.

After a holding penalty, the Bulldogs tried to come on a blitz, but was read nicely by Broncos' quarterback Kellen Moore. Moore dumps it off to Avery and it's first and goal from the Bulldogs 7 yard line. The Bulldogs need to step it up defensively because this looks way too easy for Boise State right now.

Fresno State seems to know when to play defense when it's inside the Red Zone, but I'm trying to figure out why they're not this good the rest of the time. Boise State will be forced to another field goal, the previous one was blocked but no problem on this 28-yarder. Boise takes their first lead in the game, it's 10-7 Broncos.

After a 3rd down completion from quarterback Tom Brandstater to Sr Tight End Bear Pascoe, Fresno State gets dumped behind the line for the 2nd time in a row on two rushing attempts from Lonyae Miller. The Bulldogs just can not run the ball on this Broncos' defensive line.

Screen pass from Brandstater to Anthony Harding on a 3rd and 13 and a great effort from Harding on the last few yards gets the Bulldogs a much needed 1st down.

Fresno State inside the Red Zone for the first time today. First and goal from Boise State 9 yard line. Complete pass to Adam McDowell, 6'4" 290 lbs former offensive lineman. Second and goal from the 6 yard line.

Incomplete pass from Brandstater on 3rd down, but an injury timeout will give the Bulldogs an opportunity to think about going for it on 4th down. I don't know how you can this early only down 3 points, kick the field goal and tie up the game.

The Bulldogs do kick the 21-yard field goal to tie up the game. Fresno State 10 Boise State 10...the Bulldogs playing the 8th ranked Broncos tough.

Boise State driving again and is already inside Fresno State territory to the 28 yard line, but Fresno State starting to hold tough. An incomplete pass from quarterback Kellen Moore and then a stop behind the line on 3rd down brings up another field goal try. This one from 46 yards and it's right down the middle. Boise back on top 13-7 with just over a minute left in the first half.

The Bulldogs continue to struggle on the ground, they are unable to put any dent in the Boise State defensive line. If the Bulldogs can't get their ground game going, it's gonna force Brandstater to use the pass more and it may not go the way they want.

Brandstater completion to Chastin West to the Bulldogs' 35 yard line, then hits Marlon Moore across the 40 for a first down. They will have to use their first timeout and with just 0:35 seconds to go in the half, can they get Kevin Goessling into field goal range. Let's not forget, Goessling hit a 58-yarder to win the game against Utah State a few weeks ago.

Boise State gets a sack on Brandstater and it forces Fresno State to use their 2nd timeout with 27 seconds left to play. They'll need a few big plays to get into field goal range and get a tie going into half time.

A completion from Brandstater to Chastin West, but West can't get out of bounds and the Bulldogs will have to heave the ball towards the end zone or hope they can do a quick out pattern and get out of bounds for 1 more play.

They get a great completion over the middle but there wasn't enough time to get another play off before half time. A disappointing way to end a first half not being able to get into field goal range to tie up the game, but you take a victory of staying within 3 points of the 8th ranked Boise State Broncos. Fresno State is still in the game with another half of football to play.

HALF TIME: BOISE STATE 13 FRESNO STATE 10

First half stats:

Fresno State: Tom Brandstater 15-18, 134 yards, Lonyae Miller 6 carries 15 yards

Boise State: Kellen Moore 12-18, 175 yards, 1 TD, Ian Johnson 7 carries 31 yards


3RD QUARTER

We're underway in the 2nd half, Boise State will have possession and will start from their own 30-yard-line.

Kellen Moore complete to Jeremy Childs on 3rd and 4 nets Boise State a first down. The Bulldogs need to get better coverage on Moore's favorite target.

Kellen Moore getting all sorts of time the pick the receiving he wants to throw to. The Bulldog defensive line needs to put a whole lot more pressure on him and force Moore to make a decision. He can't just be allowed to stand back and have that kind of time.

Just when I talk about the defensive line, Broncos' running back Jeremy Avery scores from 30 yards out. Boise State jumps out quickly here in the 2nd half. 20-10 Boise State.

Fresno State seems to be abandoning the run to start the 2nd half, two straight pass plays, the first an incompletion to Bear Pascoe, the 2nd a completion to Marlon Moore, but still 5 yards short of a first down.

Brandstater hits Seyi Ajirotutu gets his first catch but a yard short of the first. Fresno State is gonna go for it on fourth down, but not before they spend a timeout to discuss it.

Real quick note, I'm getting real tired of the ESPN announcers dogging Fresno State for just about every decision they've made thus far. I know you're biased, but don't make it so obvious.

A big first down by Lonyae Miller...ESPN's guy still dogging Fresno State. "A risky decision, I wouldn't have done it, what would have happened if they didn't make it." Are you serious?

Fresno State, after a big fourth down play, has two dropped passes and will have to punt.

Well, it looks like Boise State is the 2nd half team because they just got a 90 yard punt returned for a touchdown, they now take a 27-10 lead over Fresno State. This game has quickly gotten away from Fresno State.

Well, this hasn't gone the way Fresno State fans hoped it might go after only trailing by three points after one half of play. Boise State, since then, has gotten a 90 yard punt return for a touchdown, two interceptions, and has turned both of those into touchdowns. A 21-0 run by Boise State here in the 3rd quarter and there's still 5 minutes left to play and another full quarter of football after that. How much worse can this get?


Final thoughts: Well, it got uglier by a long shot. Boise State runs off 49 unanswered points in the 2nd half and shuts out Fresno State and currently leads 61-10. This was not the 2nd half that Pat Hill and his Bulldogs were hoping for and what a disappointing season end for Sr. quarterback Tom Brandstater. He came off limping after the last drive and will be replaced by Sophomore, and future Bulldog quarterback, Ryan Colburn with just over 5 minutes left to play in the game.

What can you say about this Boise State team though, give them a ton of credit, they in my opinion deserve a shot at a BCS bowl. I think they would give a big time team a lot of trouble, just like they did when they upset Oklahoma a few years ago in the Fiesta Bowl. Congrats to Chris Peterson and the 12-0 Broncos, they've had an amazing season. Here's an unbelievable stat for you, the Boise State Broncos have gone undefeated for the third time in five seasons. There isn't another team in the country that can say that! I'm a Bulldog fan, but I'm also a fan of the Western Athletic Conference, so congrats to Boise State.

Seay, George lead Bulldogs past Seattle

After a disappointing 2 points against San Diego State, Freshman guard Paul George showed what he could do when he stays out of foul trouble as he and Jr transfer Sylvester Seay led the Bulldogs to a 79-58 win over Seattle University last night.


Seay, a transfer from Arizona State, led the Bulldogs with a career high 22-points (6-of-9) while George added his 2nd career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Mychal Ladd also had a career high night as he dropped in 15 points as well as grabbing six rebounds while Sr guard Dwight O'Neil came up just short of a triple-double. O'Neil would finish the night with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.

Up next for Fresno State (2-2) will be a matchup with Pac-10 opponent Oregon State on Sunday. Tip off is scheduled for 2pm at the Save Mart Center.

Bulldogs close out the season on the "Smurf Turf"

As Fresno State winds down the 2008 season, they have one more game yet to play, and it's a fitting way to end the season if you ask me.

Friday night, Fresno State will be on the "Smurf Turf" in Boise, ID to take on 9th ranked Boise State. The Broncos of Boise State come into this game with a perfect record and have everything, including a BCS game, to lose by losing this game, which is why Fresno State should be the looser of the two teams going into the game. They know they having nothing to lose, they should be a lock for a bowl game, whatever and wherever that game happens to be so win or lose, they will have a post season.

Call Fresno State's season a disappointment if you wish, but let's look at it this way. The Bulldogs had Wisconsin and Hawaii beaten in the final seconds, but missed field goals would eventually lead to a Bulldog loss. If Goessling makes just two of the six combined field goals he missed, we're talking about Fresno State sitting at 9-2 overall and 5-2 in WAC play. So, I don't think blaming a 7-4 record on Pat Hill is exactly fair, do you?

With all the talk about San Diego State firing Chuck Long after 3 seasons and now Charlie Weis being on the hot seat at Notre Dame after four seasons, I'm sure rumors have started about Pat Hill also being on the hot seat, but isn't that the case every year?

With the players Pat Hill has recruited and brought in to learn the Bulldog system, I think they are the verge of a breakout season, a season like a lot of us Bulldog fans saw back in 2001 when David Carr led Fresno State to a Top 10 ranking and a win against a high powered Wisconsin team, on the road no less.

So now that I got sidetracked with what I was writing about, let's finish talking about this big game coming up. Do I think the Bulldogs can win a game of this magnitude against a team like Boise State? My biased answer would be yes, but the realistic side of me says absolutely not. This is a very good Boise State football team and one that could have a date with another high bowl game come January. If Fresno State can just stay with the Broncons, I'll call it a success, but somehow, I don't see that happening either.

Either way, it's been a fun season to watch and I look very much forward to seeing where Fresno State ends up playing and in which bowl game. After that, we'll hang up the cleats and we'll focus on Fresno State basketball and look forward to the 2008 College World Series Champion baseball team starting up spring drills. Let's get past winter before we start talking about spring shall we?

Experienced Aztecs too much for young Bulldogs

The Bulldogs had traveled to beautiful San Diego, CA to take on long time rival San Diego State at Cox Arena on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the more experienced Aztec team had no problem winning a 80-56 decision against the younger Bulldog squad. The largest margin of victory over Fresno State since an 80-58 victory on Feb. 19, 1977.

Aztecs' guard Kyle Spain tied a career high as he dropped in 22 points, on 6-of-12 from the field, to go along with 11 rebounds as well as hitting all 8 of his free throws to lead San Diego State. Also scoring in double figures for the Aztecs was Ryan Amoroso, who had 11.

Unfortunately for Fresno State, their young freshman Paul George was in foul trouble most of the game and was held to just 2 points, his lone basket coming in the final minutes of the game. George had been averaging 19.5 points per game as well as 7.5 rebounds per game. It didn't help the young Bulldog squad that, as a team, they finished the night shooting just 33.3% (22-60) while San Diego State finished at a balmy 51.3% (30-64). Silvester Saey, a Jr. transfer from Arizona State, led Fresno State with 13 points on 5-of-14 from the floor. Freshmen Mychal Ladd finished the night with 8 points on 3-of-12 from the field while Sr. guard Dwight O'Neil would add 12 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists but turned the ball over 6 times in the game.

Up next for Fresno State (1-2, 0-0), they will return home to close out the month of November as they welcome in Seattle University on Tuesday the 25th, that game will tip off at 7pm, then close out the month against Pac-10 opponent Oregon State on Sunday the 30th, which is a 2pm scheduled tip off.

Bulldog defense dominates in win over Spartans

In what was a must win game, the Bulldogs brought their 'A' game for the 2nd straight week as they knocked off San Jose State 24-10 on Friday night.

Defensively, Fresno State was outstanding. They had to be in the field more than I'm sure they wanted to, but they were up for the challege. They would give up the only points the Spartans would score (10) in the first half, shutting them out in the 2nd half and allowing their offense to run away with the game with three second half scores including two from running back Anthony Harding and a 49-yard punt return from Chastin West.

The team was, again, without the team's leading rushing Ryan Mathews as he is still nursing his ankle injury, but they would show just how strong the running back trio of Mathews, Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding are. Miller would carry the ball 14 times for 67 yards while Harding would have an even bigger night, carrying the ball 17 times for 99 yards and 2 scores. Jr. running back Jamaal Rashad would even get into the act as the Bulldogs' third option, finishing the night with 5 carries and 41 yards rushing.

The Bulldogs used the ground game to their advantage and it was much needed, as they got a season low 71 yards through the air from Sr. quarterback Tom Brandstater on 5-of-18 passing and an interception.

This should be an incredible confidence boost for this team as they look forward to their showdown against 9th ranked Boise State on the blue turf. With the kind of defense this team has played in recent weeks, they'll need to put up an even bigger effort against a very high powered offense.

With the win, Fresno State (7-4, 4-3) should be a lock for a post season bowl game, though we'll have to wait until probably mid-December before that is announced, but the win definitely helps their chances. Their game against Boise State will be a nationally televised game on ESPN2 on Friday afternoon. Kickoff scheduled for 3pm local time.

The Red Wave talks to Paul Loeffler

Paul Loeffler, current voice of Bulldog Baseball, gets the chance to step into the huge shoes of Bill Woodward and is very graceful when he calls Mr. Woodward the "only voice of Bulldog sports." He covers not only that but also his new book coming out, some memories about the College World Series and the performance of one Steve Detweiler.

The Red Wave: Talk about the book "Underdogs to Wonderdogs" and at what point did a book become an idea?

Paul Loeffler: The book was an absolute blast to put together. It was a pretty intense month working hard to get it done, but it was worth it. In the weeks after the Bulldogs won the championship, I received a call from a publisher I had encountered when his company put out a book on local veterans of World War II. His name is Kent Sorsky, and his company is Linden Publishing. He asked if I’d be interested in writing a book about the Diamond Dogs and their magical season, and I told him I would be, as long as Fresno State was on board with the idea. Paul Ladwig at Fresno State had already been examining the idea of a book, and when he said he wanted to team up with us, it was full speed ahead. I think we’re all really pleased with the finished product. It’s a big, coffee table-style hardcover book with a sharp full-color dust jacket. 200 photos squeezed into 168 pages, taking you from the season opener to that unforgettable dogpile and beyond. I learned a lot by going back and interviewing the coaches and players, and a lot of those behind-the-scenes stories really add to the book. Quite a few radio calls are included, and the bold red typeface for those really makes them stand out and makes the book flow. The final chapter is made up of comments from three dozen other voices, from Dr. Welty and Bob Bennett to Chris Berman and Erin Andrews. It’s a pretty wide-ranging mix, and I think it really helps put the significance of this incredible underdog story in perspective.

The Red Wave: Take me back to the WAC Tournament, at what point did it look like this team just might be able to do something?

Paul Loeffler: I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but heading to Ruston, I wasn’t convinced the Bulldogs would win the WAC Tournament. They had struggled on the road all year, had just split with the team they’d be opening against (6th place Sacramento State), and I thought the hitter’s park that Louisiana Tech has would favor Nevada or New Mexico State. One thing Mike Batesole said after that Memorial Day win over Nevada to send the Dogs back to the NCAAs stuck with me. He said “we aren’t a very good team right now… but these guys know how to win.” His whole quote is in the book, but that’s the gist of it. The biggest thing was their bullpen was starting to come around, and that would really be a difference-maker over the weeks ahead.

The Red Wave: I'm sure you saw the players as they made their way to Omaha. What was their demeanor and how awestruck were they when they arrived?

Paul Loeffler: I actually had to rely on their accounts of that process because I wasn’t there to see that moment in person. My grandfather had passed away and we had his funeral the day after the Bulldogs’ first game in Omaha. Bill Woodward was kind enough to handle that blowout win over Rice, and I made it to Omaha in time for the first battle with North Carolina. The book does cover those welcome to Omaha moments for the team, with one player commenting on how the crowd for batting practice was larger than any crowd they’d played a game in front of all year.

The Red Wave: Was there ever any comments, either from opposing fans or media about Fresno State to the extent of "what are they doing here" or "they won't last the weekend?"

Paul Loeffler: A lot of the players overheard people making comments to that end, and I can tell you that just in terms of marketing and what souvenirs were available initially, it was clear that the Bulldogs weren’t expected to stick around that long. A few days later, Fresno State items were going like hotcakes and the “neutral” Omaha fans had really started to fill up the bandwagon.

The Red Wave: Talk about the gutsy performance of Steve Detwiler. Will his performance, in the National Championship game against Georgia, go down as being one of the best of all time?

Paul Loeffler: I think it has to go down in history that way. To struggle at the plate the way he did for most of the CWS, only to come up huge with that kind of superhuman effort, was absolutely incredible. The best moment came in the post-game news conference when Detwiler tried to downplay his contributions. Brandon Burke had to pick up a box score and point out that Detwiler had driven in all six Bulldog runs. Steve’s energy really made a difference throughout the season. His performance in the final game was spectacular, but in the book I detail my favorite play of his in 2008, and it actually happened at Beiden Field, long before the Dogs even sniffed Omaha.

The Red Wave: I can't let you go without asking you about the man you're going to be taking the place of. Talk about Bill Woodward and what he has meant to Bulldog sports and talk about stepping into his shoes as the new Voice of Bulldog football and basketball as well as baseball.

Paul Loeffler: Bill is the only “Voice of the Bulldogs” many of us have ever known. He’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive. Growing up in Los Banos, I listened to Bill call games like Kevin Sweeney breaking the NCAA record, the College World Series in 1988 and 1991, and some memorable moments from the likes of Carl Ray Harris and Dave Barnett on the basketball court. After my four years at Syracuse, I came back to the Valley and got to hear him call buzzerbeaters from the likes of Courtney Alexander and Demetrius Porter, the magic of the 2001 football season, and one of my favorites, Stephen Spach’s winning TD in the MPC bowl against Virginia. Anyone who has ever worked around Bill knows that he handles himself with class, he cares about the student-athletes, and he’s committed to making his broadcasts about them and what they’re doing, not about himself. Those are all qualities that I admire and hope to mirror as I follow in his footsteps. It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen for this role, and to be trusted with the responsibility of being the eyes and ears for Bulldog fans everywhere. I’m excited about what the future holds, and am already excited about this young but athletic and energetic hoops squad that Coach Cleveland has assembled.

The Red Wave: Lastly, give the fans the release date of the book, will you be doing a book signing and if so, when and where?

Paul Loeffler: We will have some book signings, and Coach Batesole will be at some of them with me. I’m really looking forward to that. I’m a rookie in the book business, but apparently, getting a book like this turned around this quickly is extremely rare. We are expecting the books to arrive in late December. We’re hoping they are here before Christmas, but with the variables of trade winds, customs, etc. we can’t guarantee that. As soon as the books arrive, we will start to set up some book signings and get the word out ASAP. I think it would make sense to have the first signing on campus, perhaps at the Bulldog Shop, and from there we’ll schedule more, in Fresno and beyond, as long as the demand for the book remains strong. For now, you can preorder the book at http://wonderdogsbook.com/ or by calling (559)233-6633. Ordering by the end of November gets you a $5 discount of the cover price of $34.95. Since Underdogs to Wonderdogs is officially licensed, a portion of the proceeds go back to the Fresno State program, so you’re supporting the Bulldogs when you buy the book for yourself or for a friend. Don’t forget to pick up season tickets for 2009 too. The Dogs open at home on February 20 against the Washington Huskies, and I hear there’s a possibility of Governor Schwarzenegger coming to Beiden Field to throw out the first pitch. The Governator isn’t in the book, but his Conan sword does make an appearance, and you’ll get a kick out of what Mike Batesole was doing with it.

Thank you for the chance to talk about the book and the Bulldogs. It was a thrill and a privilege to be along for the wild ride, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading Underdogs to Wonderdogs as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A big thank you goes out to Paul Loeffler for doing the interview. If you want to get the book, you can go to http://www.wonderdogsbook.com/ or call (559)233-6633 to get your copy of "Underdogs to Wonderdogs."

This is arguably the biggest victory in Fresno State history and getting your copy of this book will ensure that you have the memories to cherish. It'll also give the chance for future Bulldog fans to know what this Wonderdog team did and how they overcame injuries and a slow start to the season to become the 2008 National Champions.

The Red Wave sits down with Bill Woodward

A voice that I'm sure a lot of us grew up listening to, the voice of every snap of Bulldog football, every big shot during Bulldog basketball and we even heard him call a couple of games during the magical run the baseball team made to the College World Series Championship this past June. Bill Woodward has been the man behind that voice and is retiring after 37 years behind the mic after this football season comes to a close. He will be missed by all of us that look forward to hearing his calls, especially to those of us who live too far away to make any of the home games, he always makes us feel like we're a part of The Red Wave.

I had a honor to interview him and get some insight to his memories and what he plans to do next.


The Red Wave: After 30+ years behind the mic, all the Bulldog games good and bad, all the traveling, how long do you think it'll take to sink in that this is it?

Bill Woodward: Hopefully not that long. This is a move I have been anticipating for a couple of years. I might have stepped down this past summer, but the stock market went south with a lot of my money.


The Red Wave: I'm sure people tell you that they used to enjoy listening to you growing up and now their kids are getting to enjoy your calls as well. How much does that mean to you that so many generations have listened to and enjoyed your calls of Bulldog sports?

Bill Woodward: First of all, I'm honored that they listened and hopefully liked what the heard. I know you can't please everyone, but you can try. Secondly, when players tell me they listened to me when they were little, just like their dads....then I think it's time to take my wife and go smell the roses.

The Red Wave: Take me back in time, to the 1992 Freedom Bowl against USC. How big of a win was that for this University and where do you hold that victory all-time?

Bill Woodward: Obviously it was a huge win for the program, the school and the alumni. I really enjoyed it because it was so great for Jim Sweeney. Fresno State got a lot of mileage out of it in the valley, but sadly, not a whole lot in the state. It's still a benchmark for the program, just like the near upset of the Trojans a couple of seasons ago. I rank it right up there.

The Red Wave: I know that you're not only the Voice of the Bulldogs, but you're also a fan. Talk to me about the 2008 College World Series Championship team as Bill Woodward the fan.

Bill Woodward: That was really weird. I hadn't broadcast a baseball game since the NCAA regionals in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1993, so I had been away from the program for several years. To be honest, I didn't think they would go very far in the regionals. After all, they were sent to Long Beach State and that regional not only included Long Beach, but #2 San Diego and Cal, teams that had beaten the Bulldogs. San Diego was supposed to have the best pitching in the country. I was asked to do the series because the fellow who was doing the games had a prior committment to work the national spelling bee in Washington D.C. So I was really more of a fan than a broadcaster, but I managed to muddle my way through it and was really delighted when they advanced to the Super Regional at Tempe where Arizona State seldom loses, but you know what happened. I was so pleased that they were going to Omaha and then a couple of days later, my boss called me into his office and told me to get to Omaha because the regular broadcaster, Paul Loeffler, again had a prior committment. ( I guess he didn't think they would get that far) I did the first game against Rice and then Paul got there and I was able to just watch the remainder of the series and yell for the Diamond Dogs. It was fun!

The Red Wave: You've seen so many quarterbacks in Bulldog history from Mark Barsotti to Trent Dilfer to Billy Volek to David Carr and now Tom Brandstater. Who was the best Bulldog quarterback and why?

Bill Woodward: That's tough. I'm going to surprise you. Jon Anabo....he was the quarterback, along with Beau Carter, who guilded the 1961 team to an unbeaten season and a win in the Mercy Bowl over Bowling Green. Most fans don't realize how big a deal that was, but it was huge. There have been some outgstanding quarterbacks at Fresno State, and rather than try and pick one of the current crop, I think it's more fun to just remember their accomplishments and the pride they brought to the fans.

The Red Wave: Looking to the future and looking at the talent this Bulldog football team has in the coming years, is there one player that Bulldog fans should be excited about?

Bill Woodward: The ones they should get excited about are the ones that are on the field when they go to the game. Few fans, unless they have played the game, know the sacrafices these young men have to make in order to build a good team......it is a team game and those who play it will take something away from it that will last a lifetime.

The Red Wave: All in all, when you describe your 30+ years behind the mic for Fresno State, if you had to describe it in one word, what would it be?

Bill Woodward: Satisifaction

The Red Wave: Last question and I'm honored that you took the time to answer my questions, what's next for Bill Woodward? Is there a possibility we could see a book come out sometime in the near future?

Bill Woodward: I plan to spend my time with my wife Sheila. She stayed at home while I was out running around the country callilng games for 37 years and raised out two sons and did an outstanding job. We've never been able to go to New England in the fall and see the beauty of the turning leaves, but now we can. We'll do some traveling and what ever strikes our fancy. I'm really looking forward to it. As for a book, I understand James Patterson has a new one out.

Freshmen impress, but Bulldogs fall

On what was arguably the biggest college basketball event in recent history, the Fresno State Bulldogs traveled to Moraga, CA to take on St. Mary's as part of a 24-hour live ESPN telecast that started late Monday night and will continue until tonight.

Freshmen Paul George and Mychal Ladd impressed in their first nationally televised game and showed what kind of players they were going to be in the near future, but St. Mary's was just too much for Fresno State as the Gaels won a 99-85 decision on Monday night.

After the game, Bulldogs' head coach Steve Cleveland was thrilled with his teams' effort, especially with his two future stars. "All of our freshmen weren't intimidated. They played hard and gave us great minutes. They will be better as the season goes on and will be better because of this game."

Impressing the most was first year guard Paul George, who recorded his first double-double of his young career, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds and a highlight dunk that was just a sign of things to come.

Having a great night as well as Freshman Mychal Ladd, who surpassed his first game total of 10 points as he dropped in 13 for the Bulldogs. Senior point guard Dwight O'Neil fell one rebound short of a double-double as he racked up 12 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

All in all it was an impressive showing from this young Bulldog squad, they just faced a tougher faster Gaels' squad that jumped out early and didn't allow the Bulldogs to make a full comeback.

Up next for Fresno State (1-1), they will travel to San Diego, CA on Saturday to face off against the San Diego State Aztecs from Cox Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 1pm local time.

Bill Woodward to appear on The Red Wave

I was honored to get a chance to interview long time KMJ-580 AM voice, and the voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs, Bill Woodward.

I'll be posting the Q&A with him as we talk about his favorite memories, former players and the future players that Bulldog fans can look forward to.

Mr. Woodward's voice behind the mic will be missed, not only by myself as a long time Bulldog fan, but all those who grew up listening to him. That being said, Paul Loeffler not only has big shoes to fill but I believe will fill them better than any of us expect.

Never too early to look ahead

With the college football slowly winding down and college basketball just getting underway this past week, I thought we might have a little fun at looking ahead at the 2009 Fresno State football team and who you could look forward to seeing next season.

Quarterback:

Current - Tom Brandstater Status - departing Senior

Candidates:

Ryan Colburn - Colburn is 6'3" 220 lbs Sophomore from Visalia, CA (Central Valley Christian). 2008 marked the 2nd straight season that he has been the backup to Brandstater. He also saw game action in 2007 against Oregon, so he does have some playing time under his belt.



Matt Faulkner - The 6'2" 195 lbs Redshirt Freshman is getting a lot of talk as far as what his capability is as a passer. He has the strong arm of past Bulldog quarterbacks and could fit that mold in the future. Whether or not he'll win the job as a Sophomore will have to be determined during sprill drills when they begin next year.



Ebahn Feathers - The 6'1" 210 lbs Freshman from Washington Union High School is getting more talk than the previous two candidates, and for good reason. He led Washington Union to the North Sequoia League Championship, he was league MVP, 1st team All League (twice), offensive player of the year, Fresno Bee player of the year, and has over 7,800 total yards and 98 touchdowns in his high school career. This may be one of the most exciting quarterbacks Fresno State will ever see. He's got a lot to learn, but if he's a quick learner, we may see him on the field in no time.



My prediction: With Ryan Colburn already having experience in game situations, I think he is the odds on favorite to open the 2009 season as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback. If he struggles right out of the gate, I think it's going to be a close battle between Faulkner and Feathers as who takes the reigns.

Running Backs:

Current - Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller, Anthony Harding

Since all three of the aformentioned running backs should be back in Bulldog uniforms, they should hold their starting roles. I don't think we'll see a changing of the guard until probably 2010.

Tight End:

Current - Bear Pascoe Status - Departing Senior

Candidates:

David Gory - A 6'4" 235 lbs Freshmen from San Ramon, CA that lettered in football in both 2006 and 2007 at California High School. He'll have a lot of learning to do in his Sophomore year, but getting to see how departing Senior Bear Pascoe goes about his day-to-day routine might help any young player.



Ryan Skimore - Skidmore will not only enter the 2009 season as a Redshirt Sophomore but also 2nd on the depth chart behind starter Bear Pascoe. He impressed in spring scrimmages prior to the 2008 season and showed a knack for getting open. The 6'5" 240 lbs tight end was listed as the 9th best tight end according to one recruiting service during his senior year of high school, which would explain being recruited by Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State along with Fresno State.



Tapa Taumoepeau - Taumeopeau, the 6'3" 220 lbs Freshman out of Euless, TX chose to play for Fresno State because they were the only Division 1 school that recruited him. He lettered in his senior year of high school, was the offensive MVP as well as the 3rd team Writer's Association All State for the 15-1 State Champions. This guy definitely has talent, don't rule him out in his Junior year, but I think he spends next season learning from guys like Skidmore.



My prediction - With Skidmore already being 2nd on the depth chart, I don't see Gory or Taumoepeau making enough of an impact on the coaching staff to change that, so look for Ryan Skidmore to be the starting tight end for Fresno State in 2009.



In the sections to come, we'll talk about the wide receivers and talk a little bit about the departing seniors on the offensive line as well as what changes we can expect to see on the defensive side.

Bulldogs get a win in Bill Woodward's final home game

The long time voice of Bulldog football called his last home game and the Bulldogs made sure that he went out with a victory.

After 37 years, Bill Woodward has called his final home game at Bulldog Stadium and was honored, before the game, at midfield by Fresno State Athletic Director Thomas Boeh, former head football coach Jim Sweeney and current men's basketball head coach Steve Cleveland. He was given a # 37 football jersey for the number of years behind the mic, an autographed College World Series framed commemorative poster and a special plaque after the coin toss.

Bill Woodward on his time at Fresno State, "It goes by so fast. The 37 years were great. It's exciting, it's something that takes awhile to sink in, but it hasn't yet. When I started we were going up the steps at Ratcliffe Stadium and now we are at this beautiful stadium. I can remember the first game we played here when there was a rabbit running around the field petrified."

Current head football coach Pat Hill, "Bill Woodward has been synonymous with Fresno State athletics for nearly 40 years. His voice brought home so many great Bulldogs memories to fans. We are proud of Bill. He's the consummate Bulldog."

Men's basketball head coach Steve Cleveland, "The main thing about Bill is that he has so much passion for the program. He was more than a play-by-play guy or radio personality. He truly cared about the young men in our program. He cared as much as the coaches. It's been great working with Bill through the years. I've known him a long time and we have many great memories together."

As for the game, the Bulldogs made sure of two things. The first being that their long time radio voice didn't see a loss in his final home game, the second being that after defeating New Mexico State 24-17 tonight, that the Bulldogs are now bowl eligible. If they do end up getting to a bowl game, Bill Woodward will be behind the mic for one last post season game.

If you read the interview I did with Sam Wasson of bleedcrimson.net, I talked about quarterback Tom Brandstater being this teams' biggest strength. Well, he proved it tonight with two rushing touchdowns, the only two offensive touchdowns this team would score tonight. The other coming on a 25-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by safety Sharrod Davis in the 2nd quarter. Also having, arguably, his best game of the 2008 season was running back Anthony Harding. He carried the ball 23 times for 101 yards on the ground.

The biggest surprise of the game was the Bulldog defense, who shut out the Aggies for the entire 2nd half after going into halftime tied at 17-17. They also kept New Mexico State from running the ball at all, totalling negative nine yards when the night was over. I talked about Jon Monga making a difference in this game and he did just that, getting what might have been the game saving tackle on a possible game tying touchdown late in the game.

With the win, the Bulldogs (6-4, 3-3) are now bowl eligible but they still have two more tough tests coming up. Next Saturday, they'll travel to San Jose to take on the Spartans who are just coming off a lopsided loss in Reno against the Wolf Pack, so they're sure to be ready for the Bulldogs when they come to town. Then, Fresno State will close out the season on the blue turf up in Boise against the 9th ranked Broncos, a game I don't see even being close.

As for New Mexico State (3-7, 1-5), they're sure to continue their streak of 41 straight years without going to a bowl game. The Aggies will return home on Saturday to face another Bulldog squad, this one from Louisiana Tech, then they'll finish the season on the road in Logan, UT against Utah State.

Bulldogs open 2008-2009 season with victory

The Fresno State men's basketball team got their 2008-2009 season off on the right foot, getting 17 points from Jr. transfer Sylvester Seay and used a quick second half surge to defeat Sacramento State 77-65 on Friday night.

Seay transfered to Fresno State last season from Arizona State and had to site out the 2007-2008 campaign before making his debut last night. The Bulldogs also got 14 points from Freshman Paul George and 10 points from Sr. Dwight O'Neil as well as seven rebounds and a career high seven assists in the victory. The Bulldogs led by as many as 26 at one point, 71-45, before Sacramento State closed the game with a 20-6 run thanks to the hot hand of Loren Leath who finished with a game high 21 points.

Bulldogs head coach Steve Cleveland, "We played aggressively on defense tonight and this team continues to get better. This is a very unselfish team and I like how we attacked the ball."

Up next for Fresno State, they will travel to Moraga, CA on Monday to take on St. Mary's as part of ESPN's 24 hours straight of NCAA basketball coverage. That game is not slated to start until 11pm PST. The Bulldogs will then be in San Diego, CA on Saturday the 22nd to take on San Diego State at Cox Arena, that game is scheduled to get underway at 2pm PST.

As for Sacramento State and first year head coach Brian Katz, they will play three straight games on the road to close out the first month of their season. They will be in Riverside, CA to take on UC Riverside on Tuesday, to Pullman, WA on Friday the 21st against Washington State, then finish out their three-game road trip in Bakersfield, CA on Tuesday the 25th against Cal State Bakersfield before they return home on December 1st against Idaho.

Fresno State signs 3 to letters of intent during early signing period

Head Coach Steve Cleveland announced that he has signed three players to letters of intent during the early signing period for the 2009-2010 seasons.

Those three players are Greg Smith, Garrett Johnson, and Jerry Brown, Jr.

Greg Smith, currently attending Westwind Academy (Charter) in Phoenix, Ariz, is a 6'9" 240 lbs post player and is expected to log significant minutes as a freshman next year.

Head Coach Steve Cleveland on Smith: "Greg will obviously have an immediate impact in the program. He is a gifted athlete who understands the game. I love his unselfish play yet he is also capable of taking over a game offensively and defensively."

"It is such a positive thing for the program when you have a talented young man who had so many options yet he chose to come back home and help rebuild this program. Greg's work ethic and energy level will be a great asset to this team and also has the versatility to play multiple positions."

Garrett Johnson, a 6'5" 190 lbs guard from Diamond Bar, CA, is also expected to make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs next season.

Cleveland on Garrett Johnson: "Garrett is a versatile guard that can play all three positions on the perimeter. He has a great understanding of the game. He is a strong and physical player who will have an immediate impact on the program."

"Garrett is a high character student-athlete who will represent this university and community in a positive manner."

Last, but certainly not least, Jerry Brown Jr a 6'6" 195 lbs post player from San Francisco who's currently a stand out at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Cleveland on Jerry Brown Jr: "Jerry will also play multiple positions. He has the ability to beat a big off the dribble and post up smaller guards."

"Jerry's length and athleticism will be a great asset to our program defensively. Jerry is another young man who has a great work ethic on the court and in the classroom."

The Red Wave on the Aggies

UPDATE: 1:22am CST

The interview is up on their site, thanks again to Sam Wasson of bleedcrimson.com for doing the interview. If you want to read the Q&A, you can find it here.

11/13/08
I was honored to be asked by Sam Wasson, the editor of Bleed Crimson, a website covering the New Mexico State Aggies, to do an interview on Fresno State as well as their upcoming matchup with New Mexico State.

I was all to happy to oblige, so keep your eyes open for that interview and as soon as it's posted to his site, we'll go ahead and have a link available to it from here.

Thanks again to Sam Wasson and bleedcrimson.net for the request.

Bulldogs may be in a win or go home situation this Saturday

Fresno State looks towards their home finale, just under 48 hours away, as a win or go home situation when New Mexico State comes to town. If the Bulldogs are unable to get a win against the Aggies of New Mexico State on Saturday, it's likely that Pat Hill and his staff will start to look towards the 2009 season.

Fresno State did get a few pieces of good news yesterday as they learned that defensive tackle Jon Monga and the teams' leading rusher Ryan Mathews will make their return to the Bulldog lineup. Both players should be a huge boost for this Bulldog football team and especially in the situation they're in. Monga has been a big part of the defensive line and could be a much needed boost for a defense that gave up over 400 yards rushing to Nevada last Saturday. As for Mathews, he'll be a definite boost and will take the rushing load off the shoulders of Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding, who have struggled in recent weeks, especially with Miller missing the entire Louisiana Tech game with an injury. With all three seemingly at full strength, it should also take a huge load off the mind of quarterback Tom Brandstater, who has had to throw the ball more in the past two weeks because of the limited action that Miller saw and not having Ryan Mathews at all.

Say the Bulldogs do get a win this weekend, which I believe they will, they will need absolutely heroic efforts to knock off San Jose State and 9th ranked Boise State, both games will be played on the road. That's why the Bulldogs absolutely need a win on Saturday.

Have the Bulldogs had their chances to win games, absolutely they have, but this team was horrendous on defense last week against Nevada, they missed crucial field goals against Hawaii and Wisconsin that cost them both games as well as turning the ball over way too much. It's not time to look towards 2009 yet, but if they can't get a win on Saturday, it'll be time to head from Bulldog Stadium over to The Save Mart Center to support the basketball team who, though they are young and somewhat inexperienced, could surprise a lot of teams this season if this team is able to come together.

Time will tell...

Basketball opens 2008-2009 season on Friday

The Fresno State Men's Basketball team will begin their 2008-2009 campaign on Friday night as they welcome in the Hornets of Sacramento State tonight at the Save Mart Center.

This young Bulldog squad, led by Sr guard Dwight O'Neil, will try to be the surprise of this very tough and very deep Western Athletic Conference. This team boasts eight newcomers to the Bulldog roster, with six freshmen and two junior college transfers, so this team will not have a lot of experience, but may just have the talent to stay with a lot of teams, it's just gonna depend on how well this team learns how to play together.

Sacrament State comes off a 4-24 season and will be under first year head coach Brian Katz, who is coming off a 19-year junior college coaching career at both Lassen and San Joaquin Delta College. The Hornets will have four returning players, led by guard Loren Leath (13.1 PPG), as well as twelve newcomers.

Head-to-head, Fresno State has not lost to the Hornets in Fresno (24-0) and holds an overall record of 38-10 record against Sacramento State including winning the last 21 contests and 26 of the last 27. The two teams last met on December 11, 2004, the Bulldogs coming out on top 72-54.

Tonight, for the first time, you may notice something different, a different voice to Bulldog Basketball. This will mark the first time that KMJ-580AM will go on the air without the long time voice of Bill Woodward calling the game. Instead, you'll hear the newest voice of Bulldog Basketball, as well as baseball and football, Paul Loeffler as he'll take the mic opposite Randy Rosenbloom when the game tips off on Friday night. Game time is set for 7pm.

National Champions visit the White House

Almost six months after their improbable run to the National Championship, members of the Fresno State Bulldogs National Championship baseball team met with President Bush at the White House yesterday afternoon.

The President touted the Bulldogs as "a team that refused to quit," adding "I suspect some wrote you off … I thank you for your willingness to never say die, your willingness to keep fighting."

Bush is a big baseball fan, as noted by Bulldog pitcher Brandon Burke, "He's a big baseball guy, he knows how it is." Bush was the managing General Manager of the Texas Rangers from April 1989 until he decided to run for governor in 1994. He was one of those responsible for the building of, what is today, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington which broke ground on October 30, 1991.

If you want to read the full remarks made by the President, you can see them here

Bulldogs in danger of missing the postseason

Fresno State is in danger of missing the postseason for the 2nd time in three years, not playing in a bowl game in 2006 after going through a rough 4-8 season, then turning it around in 2007 with an 8-4 finish and a 40-28 victory over Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl.

The Bulldogs will need at least one win in their next three games starting this Saturday against New Mexico State, Fresno State's home finale. They'll finish up the 2008 season at San Jose State then at 9th ranked, and undefeated, Boise State, neither of which I expect Fresno to win so it's win or go home against the Aggies this weekend.

The biggest problem for Fresno State this season has not only been the horrible defense, but injuries, turnovers and missed opportunities have been this team's downfall all season long. Against Wisconsin, a 13-10 loss, kicker Kevin Goessling missed 3 FG's that would be been the difference between a 3 point loss and a Bulldog victory. A few weeks later, again at home, against Hawaii, Goessling would again miss three FG's that eventually would cost them the game, one of which came at the end of regulation that would have given Fresno State the victory. Notch a victory in both those games, and instead of currently being at 5-4 they would be sitting pretty at 7-2 going into Saturday's game against New Mexico State.

Will missing the postseason mean that Pat Hill's job is on the line? I doubt it, but the rumors will begin to swirl I can almost guarantee that. I don't believe Hill is responsible for missed FG's in crucial situations, the injuries they sustained that have really cost this team or the lack of ball control this offense has been plagued with, but Hill will always tell you that he's responsible for getting the team ready. The two injuries that have hurt this team the most were Sr. lineman Cole Popovich and Sr. defensive tackle Jon Monga, both players were lost early on in the season and it's shown how much of an affect it has had on this team.

We'll see what this team has the final three weeks of the 2008 season. Are the out of gas? Only time will tell.

Pre-Sales underway for Underdogs to Wonderdogs

For those of you who didn't read the interview with Paul Loeffler, the voice of Fresno State baseball and the future voice of Fresno State football and basketball, has a book coming out called "Underdogs to Wonderdogs: Fresno State's Road to Omaha and the College World Series Championship."

Pre-sales are underway for the book, which should hit shelves at the end of December. So get your name on the list by clicking here.

Atrocious defense leads to second straight loss

Well, how do you talk about a game like this without wanting to get extremely angry? How do you rationalize being on national television and have another team almost collect 500 rushing yards against you, at your own place?

That's exactly what happened tonight as Nevada ran up 472 yards of rushing offense, handing Fresno State their 2nd straight loss 41-28 on Friday night. It marks the sixth time in the last seven games that Fresno State has allowed 30 or more points and the second time this season they've given up 40 or more (Sept. 20th @ Toledo).

The Bulldogs would again be haunted by turnovers and it would eventually cost them the game. With the Bulldogs trailing 17-14 and looking poised and ready to take the lead back from Nevada, quarterback Tom Brandstater (14-of-23, 260 yds, 2 TD's) would find tight end Bear Pascoe over the middle, but as Pascoe tried to stretch for more yards, he would fumble the ball and Nevada would recover. The Wolf Pack would drive quickly down the field for a touchdown and stretch the lead to 24-14. Fresno State had two more drives in the final minutes, both ended with turnovers, an interception from Brandstater and a fumble, by receiver Seyi Ajirotutu at the Nevada 10 yard line with 1:57 left to play in the game, that was the nail in the coffin.

Nevada was led by running back Vai Taua who ran for a career best 263 yards and a touchdown as well as quarterback Colin Kaepernick who added 118 yards and 2 TD's on the ground. They barely needed Kaepernick's arm tonight, the same arm that baseball scouts were drooling over before he decided to give up the sport for football, going 7-for-17 for just 128 yards.

Bulldogs' head coach Pat Hill, "First off, I have to give credit to Nevada. We got beat by a good football team tonight. The time of possession was critical tonight. They had the ball nearly 38 minutes tonight and we had it 22."
"We're not the same team we were in September. We need to find a way to make this team win in November."

I know Bulldog fans are going to be all over Pat Hill after this loss, though how is that different from any other loss. I can't imagine the outcry if this team can't win at least one of their final three games (New Mexico State, San Jose State, Boise State).

Next up for the Wolf Pack of University of Nevada-Reno (5-4, 3-2), they'll return home for a very big showdown with San Jose State (6-3, 4-1) next Saturday, then play their home finale on Nov. 22nd against 9th ranked Boise State before finishing their 2008 schedule, Nov. 29th, against the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech.

As for Fresno State (5-4, 2-3), they need at least one win in their next three games in order be bowl eligible. That starts next Saturday, at Bulldog Stadium, as they'll welcome in the Aggies of New Mexico State (3-5, 1-3) for Fresno State's home finale. Their final two games, of the 2008 football season, will be at San Jose State and at 9th ranked Boise State, two games that I can't see this team winning, especially not after how they played tonight against Nevada, but stranger things have happened.

Bulldogs open exhibition schedule with a win

Well, you can call it a good start to the basketball season for Fresno State, but I for one am a little worried after Fresno State knocked off Fresno Pacific 97-88 on Tuesday night.

The reason that I'm a little concerned you ask? Should the Bulldogs be giving up 88 points to Fresno Pacific? What's going to happen when teams like Nevada and Boise State come calling? Yes, I know this is a young team and they are definitely in a rebuilding mode with a lot of young players and just one senior, but the defense needs to tighten up. They'll face off against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday afternoon at 2pm from the Save Mart Center.

The promising thing I take away from the victory is freshmen Paul George and Mychal Ladd, who led the Bulldogs in scoring. George lit up the scoreboard with a 28 point performance, on 11-of-17 shooting, as well as collecting five steals while Ladd chipped in with 21 points of his own, lone senior Dwight O'Neil added 16 points and 7 assists also for the Bulldogs.

Head coach Steve Cleveland, "I am most proud that these guys found a way to win the game by making plays. I appreciate all the fans that came out to watch and know that the support is going to continue to grow."

The attendance on the night was 8,657 at the Save Mart Center, not a bad turnout for an opening night exhibition game.

History is made, Obama elected President

I know this has nothing to do with Fresno State, but it's history in the making. Although I didn't vote for him, this is what this country's democracy is all about.

Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States of America, he only needed 270 electoral votes, he collected an astounding 333 to John McCain's 146.

This is a moment this country will never forget, a moment where the color barrier has been crossed and a new generation will begin on this day, November 4th, 2008.

Bulldogs, Fresno Pacific open exhibition schedule tomorrow night

College Basketball has returned! Well, not officially, not yet anyway. Fresno State will open the exhibition portion of their schedule as they welcome in Fresno Pacific, tomorrow night at 8pm, then they'll face off against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.

Though these won't be the toughest tests this young team will face, it'll give the fans as well as head coach Steve Cleveland and his staff an idea of how this team will perform in certain situations and against certain calibre teams.

The exhibition schedule will prepare this team for when they open the season on national television on November 17th. Fresno State will take part in a 24-hour basketball coverage being held on ESPN. That game will be at the Save Mart Center and will tip off at 11pm local time. It will be the first of two games that will get national exposure, the second of which will be on February 19th as they'll host the Hawaii Warriors at the Save Mart Center.

This is a very young team with just one senior, that being Sr guard Dwight O'Neil, but O'Neil has take the role of the leader on this team. We'll see if he makes enough of an impact on these young players to hopefully make a good showing in the Western Athletic Conference.

If you don't want Pat Hill, do you want Phillip Fulmer?

Now I know this is really far fetched and maybe I shouldn't be talking about it, but since I've heard so many people call into the post game shows after a Fresno State loss, I thought I'd throw out a well known name that will be jobless after the completion of the 2008 college football season.

That name? Soon to be former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer. He has a National Championship under his belt, could be the coach Fresno State needs to get them over the hump? Is he a name Fresno State would even be interested in or do they even have the money for him to listen to offers?

Ok, yes this is WAY far fetched, but for those of you who want Pat Hill out, let's hear who you think Fresno State should consider? Lane Kiffin, formerly of USC it out as the Oakland Raiders coach, how about another name that will come out of left field, former NFL coach Jim Fassel. Whether or not an NFL coach would come to a relative unknown, more unlikely than likely, is a matter of money..something Fresno State just doesn't have a lot of, especially to woo coaches like Fassel and Fulmer.

If Pat Hill does lose his job in the next few years, here are a few names to keep in mind, and one of these is a former Bulldog and former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl Champion. Watch for Trent Dilfer's name to possibly come up, maybe not seriously, but his name will come up.

Bottom line is, however, that it would take consecutive losing seasons for Hill to lose his job and I don't see that happening any time soon.