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 lose Ramos for the year

The Fresno State defense could ill afford to lose another player to an already decimated defensive line, but they'll have to do without defensive tackle Wilson Ramos, possibly for the remainder of the 2008 season, joining offensive lineman Cole Popovich.

Ramos, a 6'4" 270 lbs Jr from Woodlands, CA who replaced defensive tackle Jon Monga (knee), suffered a high-ankle sprain and a slight stress fracture of his left leg Saturday in the Bulldogs' 45-32 win over Idaho at Bulldog Stadium.

With the injury to Ramos, it will force head coach Pat Hill to rely on younger players like true freshmen Chase McEntee and Logan Harrell, sophomore defensive tackle Mark Robert and sophomore defensive end Chris Lewis. Not to mention that the Bulldogs hope to have Jon Monga, who suffered a knee injury 3 weeks ago, back for the Utah State game a week from Saturday, which should definitely give this team a boost.

Other key injuries to this Bulldog squad that should be returning for the Utah State game are receivers Marlon Moore (ankle) and Jason Crawley (hamstring) as well as tight end Bear Pascoe (ankle). Starting safety Marvin Haynes should also be ready to go next weekend after sitting out the 2nd half of the Idaho game with back spasms.