Fresno State Athletics
Football Looks To Continue Remarkable Start
9/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 7, 2001
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Several years ago, Fresno State looked like a potential breather when Wisconsin had an opening in its 2001 schedule.
"I don't remember much about it," Badgers coach Barry Alvarez said. "We had an opening one weekend and vice versa."
Now, Saturday's matchup between the 19th-ranked Bulldogs and the 22nd-ranked Badgers looms as a season-defining game for both teams.
Fresno State is looking to continue its remarkable start at Camp Randall Stadium, where the Badgers (1-1) are still smarting from a 31-28 loss to Oregon. The Bulldogs (2-0), led by emerging star quarterback David Carr, have already upset Colorado and visiting Oregon State.
With Carr leading a quick-strike passing offense Sunday night, the Bulldogs pounded then-No. 10 Oregon State 44-24, propelling them into the AP rankings for the first time since 1993.
"We still don't get the respect we should," Carr said. "We've been doing a lot of good things here for two years now, but we're in the WAC, and it's tough. If it was Florida that came out and did this to Oregon State, then you'd (hear) all about it."
When coach Pat Hill took over the Bulldogs program in 1997, he set out to take his team across the country to play some of the best schools.
"It'd be a lot easier to pad the schedule and have a good record," said Hill, whose Bulldogs will play their 18th bowl team Saturday. "Everyone would be happy. But that's not the path we've chosen to take."
The Bulldogs are 28-22 since Hill's arrival in 1997 to turn around a program following three straight losing seasons.
"The reason we've become a better football program is because our kids are battle tested," Hill said. "They've been in some fights."
The Bulldogs are the favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference title, but in many ways, this game is more important for Fresno State.
"Every year, we try to play three big-name opponents, and most of them are on the road, of course," Hill said. "I thought the idea behind NCAA sports is that everybody has a chance to compete for the championship.
"In football, it is very, very difficult unless you're in one of the six BCS conferences," Hill said. "So what we decided to do was play as many BCS games as we can against the top teams. So, hopefully, if we can start winning at that level and then be successful in our conference, then hopefully we'd have a chance someday to play in a game that really means something on a national level."
Being in a lower echelon conference, "unless you go undefeated and play on the road against major college competition, I don't know if you have that opportunity," Hill said. "We cannot afford to lose because if we lose, we fall right off the radar screen."
Despite Wisconsin's loss to No. 7 Oregon, Carr and the Bulldogs could present the Badgers with their biggest tests before the Big Ten season starts.
"I was impressed when I watched them win at Colorado," Alvarez said of the Bulldogs' 24-22 victory at Boulder. "We know how difficult an environment that is."
That Badgers lost there by 38 points in 1994.
"And then to watch how they handled Oregon State, a very good team, made me more impressed," Alvarez said. "They showed they can play with anybody and play very well."
Alvarez is every bit impressed by Carr as he was with Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington.
Carr, who has completed 60 percent of his passes, threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns against Oregon State. He has 538 yards, five TDs and no interceptions so far.
"He appears to have an extremely strong arm," Alvarez said. "Obviously, he has an awareness and intelligence of the game, knows where to go with the football, has a nice supporting cast, and that doesn't hurt."
