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'Dogs' defense needs to hit someone
This is an odd topic for the first day of football practice because there aren't many hits on Day 1.
No one even wears football pants or leg pads on opening day.
All around Fresno State's first 2009 fall practice, I asked people to name some of the big defensive hits of the last three seasons. List a few of those fumble-causing, teeth-jarring hits that change football games.
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GameDay Tailgating
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.
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'Dogs ready for rumble with Boise State
Cross your fingers. The Fresno State football team is playing Boise State today.
It's a rivalry game that hasn't been much of a rivalry, with the Bulldogs losing seven of the past eight games.
But that hasn't stopped most Fresno State faithful from, well, keeping the faith as they prepare for a game that could dictate the course of the season and support for coach Pat Hill.
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'Dogs football riding high after latest victory
Confidence is high at Fresno State.
Perhaps higher than it has been in recent years, with the Bulldogs (3-3 overall, 2-1 Western Athletic Conference) securing their third blowout victory and still playing at a high level.
The latest was a 41-21 drubbing of San Jose State on Saturday.
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Bulldogs' Mathews is a national treasure
Take a look at Ryan Mathews.
A good, long look.
And appreciate him while you can.
Enter the Warzone, the pithiest 2 minutes in sports:
- Did you see where Pat Hill told folks in New Mexico that Bulldogs fans would "rent every bus in Fresno" for Saturday's bowl game?
Let's see: Take 600 fans, figure 60 fans per bus and you get a grand total of 10 buses in the city.
Of course, Hill was a sociology major.
- Congrats to Fresno's own Clifton Smith, named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie kick returner.
Known as Batman in his hometown, Smith has picked up a new nickname -- Peanut -- during his short time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Why Peanut? Said one of Smith's teammates, "He's too small to be a cashew."
Before he orally committed to Fresno State, Derek Carr was getting feelers from ... wait for it ... Boise State. Bulldogs fans just let out a collective shudder."Boise was all over him," said Rodger Carr, Derek's father. "I was like, 'Dude, you don't want to go to Boise.' Pat would've been all over me."
Did Penn State really just give 82-year-old coach Joe Paterno a three-year contract extension? No word whether God signed off on the deal.When Clovis High hired Jerry Campbell as football coach coming off a 1-9 season in Texas, then-athletic director Dave Bens said, "We're betting on the man, not the record."This week, Campbell was forced to resign after going 2-19 in two seasons.
Guess the record mattered after all.
Loved that gigantic photo in Monday's Bee that showed Steve Cleveland's head buried in his hands during a particularly ugly loss to Montana.To be fair, this year's Bulldogs basketball team has been a lot easier on the eyes. Last year, we could've printed that photo after every game.
The Bulldogs played a school last night called South Carolina-Upstate. Guess Northern South Carolina would've been too confusing.Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips suggested that Adam Jones had "18 lives" after Pacman's recent return to the team. One for each arrest.Did you see where the Sacramento Kings are retiring the jersey numbers worn by Vlade Divac and Chris Webber. What? Was Dwayne Schintzius unavailable?Can't stand those sycophants who insist "every weekend is like a playoff" in college football's regular season. Yeah, unless Texas beats Oklahoma.For no particular reason: Asen Asparuhov.Do waterfowl hunters and bird watchers even realize how much they have in common? That is, until you get to the shooting part.Great Moments in Sports Journalism, Part I:Caller (older gentleman, circa 2000): Tell me about Fresno State's new Armenian wide receiver.
Us: What Armenian wide receiver?
Caller: Bernard Berrian!
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