Bell, Bernardi available: Fresno State safety Lorne Bell played about 20 snaps against Hawaii, is close to 100% and should see more action today, coach Pat Hill said.
Bell, who injured his knee in the Wisconsin game Sept. 12, will return to the rotation gradually, Hill said.
"I just don't think you throw him straight back in there," Hill said. "He'll be able to get more against San Jose State and, as the year progresses, he'll be back to his usual self."
Junior center Joe Bernardi is healthy, Hill said, but senior Richard Pacheco will again get the start. Bernardi started the first four games of the season but injured his shoulder in the Cincinnati game and missed the Hawaii game.
Coaches taking worse hits than Hill: The Bulldogs' head coach tried to get in on the celebration last week after a touchdown, but his congratulatory bump with receiver Devon Wylie went awry.
"I barely got off the ground," Hill said. "Maybe telephone book height. Stiff old man was down on the ground. But I recovered myself and got back up.
"I've never been knocked down like that in a game. I've been knocked down hard three times in games, but that was a fun knockdown."
It wasn't as fun for Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, who was knocked unconscious on the sideline during last week's game at Washington State when Sun Devils receiver Gerell Robinson ran into the 62-year-old coach.
Erickson, who once played quarterback under former Fresno State coach Jim Sweeney at Montana State, fell and hit his head on the ground. He said he was fine after the game.
"They knocked me colder than a cucumber," Erickson told the Associated Press.
He relinquished play- calling duties but said he never considered leaving the sideline.
Time changes: With Fresno State's games against New Mexico State and Idaho being televised on ESPNU now, the game times have changed. The New Mexico State game on Oct. 24 will start at 7:15 p.m. PT and the Idaho game on Nov. 7 will begin at 7:30 p.m. PT.
The New Mexico State game was previously scheduled for 5 p.m. and the Idaho game for 2 p.m.
Fresno State had announced this week that the Oct. 31 game vs. Utah State would be picked up by KAIL as part of the Bulldogs Sports Network schedule, but after re-evaluating, the lone remaining game on Channel 7.1 will be the Nov. 14 game at Nevada.
BY THE NUMBERS
29: Days since Fresno State played at home. The 'Dogs hosted No. 6 Boise State on Sept. 18, losing 51-34. They have since played at No. 8 Cincinnati, had a bye week and visited Hawaii.
1: Fresno State had just one penalty last week - an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Robbie Rouse after he scored a touchdown.
AUDIBLE
"College football is high stakes. It's do or die each week. It's the best reality show on TV. It's better than 'Survivor.' "
- Fresno State coach Pat Hill on the high- pressure mental challenges college football teams face each week
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'Dogs hoping to get off to a running start
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