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.

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?

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.

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 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...

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.

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.