Today's game will be the last home contest for Fresno State's 13 seniors, who commemorated their careers Friday night with "senior tackle." After the walk- through before the last home game, each senior gets a chance to make a speech inside Bulldog Stadium before running between two lines of teammates and slamming down a tackle dummy.
Jon Monga's speech was the best. The defensive tackle of Polynesian descent did the Maori haka, a war chant/dance that originated in New Zealand.
On Monday, quarterback Tom Brandstater peered forward to today's game, and said his final walk into the stadium would be poignant.
"I've been here a long time and had a lot of ups and downs," he said. "The last game at Bulldog Stadium will be an interesting one. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time I'm also a little emotional about it. But it will be fun mostly."
Senior left tackle Bobby Lepori said he would miss the fans the most.
"It'll be sad because every year since I've been a freshman, every time I've walked up and down [the ramp] I'd high-five the kids and the hard-core fans," Lepori said. "I watch all these [former players] walk back and no one hangs their hands out to get a high-five. I'll miss it. I'll miss the fans. I really enjoy them here."
There are a couple of Valley players on the Aggies roster. Junior Marquell Colston, a starting running back who has been hampered by injury this season, is from Modesto and played at Modesto Junior College. Senior offensive lineman Richard Bolin (another starter who has had trouble with injuries) played at North High in Bakersfield. Fresno State defensive line coach Kerry Locklin is from Las Cruces and played for the Aggies from 1978-81.
This game will not be televised but still can be caught on the radio -- KMJ (AM 580) and in Spanish on KGST (AM 1600).
BY THE NUMBERS
1: Today's game is the final home game for Fresno State's seniors. The Bulldogs have two games after today, at San Jose State and Boise State.
4: Number of games New Mexico State has lost in a row. The Bulldogs are on a small losing streak, losing two in a row.
14: Fresno State wins against 0 losses in the series vs. New Mexico State.
144: Aggies quarterback Chase Holbrook's passing efficiency rating. That ranks second in the conference and 19th in the nation. Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater is 34th in the country with an efficiency rating of 138.6.
1,009: Receiving yards this season for Aggies WR Chris Williams. He has 65 catches.
AUDIBLE
"I imagine there will be a contest between Pat Hill and I this week over who cries the most over injuries."
-- New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme on the tough times his team and Fresno State have had staying healthy.
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GameDay: Fresno State vs. New Mexico State
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