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.