Football Takes on SMU in Homecoming Game

Oct. 7, 2002

EXTRAS

Fresno State (3-3, 1-0 WAC) vs. SMU (0-6, 0-2 WAC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PDT
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (41,031)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); 'Dog Talk at 4 p.m. Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m.
Play-by-play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Vince Wesson; Sideline: Ron Shapley
TV: KFRE/Fox Sports Regional
Play-by-play: KFRE: Ralph Wood, FSR: Kevin Eschenfelder; Analyst: KFRE: Randy Rosenbloom, FSR: Dave Elmendorf

This Week
On a winning streak for the first time in 2002, Fresno State remains at home this week for a conference matchup against SMU. The homecoming game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium and will be televised locally by KFRE WB 59. Fresno State received one vote this week in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' poll.

Last Week
Fresno State built a 29-14 halftime lead and hung on late to upset No. 22 Colorado State 32-30 at Bulldog Stadium. Paul Pinegar went 20-of-28 for 184 yards and one touchdown and Rodney Davis rushed for 115 yards and a TD to help the Bulldogs to the win, their 22nd in 24 games at home. Fresno State had to withstand a late CSU rush, which saw the Rams cut the Bulldogs' lead to 32-30 with 50 seconds left. But the ensuing two-point conversion failed, and Fresno State captured its third in a row over Colorado State.

All-Time vs. SMU
Fresno State leads the all-time series 2-1, including wins in the last two contests. In the only game of the series to be played in Fresno, the Bulldogs came away victorious 14-7 in 2000. The two teams played their first ever game in 1999, when the 0-5 Mustangs stunned Fresno State 24-14 at the Cotton Bowl. Last year, the Bulldogs got past SMU 38-13.

Last Time vs. SMU
DALLAS - Nov. 10, 2001: Fresno State overcame a slow start and outscored SMU 38-3 over the last three quarters en route to a 38-13 victory at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Bulldog offense had a tough time finding their rhythm against a tough Mustang defense, but finally found their way at the end of the first half when David Carr hit Rodney Wright on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Carr threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns.

Playing the Best of the Best
Fresno State may be 3-3 at the moment, but their losses have come to opponents who are having exceptional seasons. The Bulldogs have come up short against Wisconsin (5-1), Oregon (5-0) and Oregon State (4-2). Combined, those teams have gone 14-3 this year, and both the No. 7 Ducks and 15th-ranked Badgers appear in this week's national rankings.

Looking for Another Fast WAC Start
A win Saturday against SMU would make the Bulldogs 2-0 in conference play. Fresno State, picked to finish third in the WAC preseason poll, has won its first two league contests the last two years. The Bulldogs have never started 3-0 in the WAC under Pat Hill.

Note the Start Time
Saturday's game against SMU on Saturday has been pushed back to a 7:30 p.m. start time to accommodate a Fox Sports Regional broadcast. The contest was originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. KFRE WB 59 (cable 5) will televise the game in the San Joaquin Valley.

Injury Update
Fresno State emerged from the Colorado State game with some new injuries and some banged-up players closer to being healed. The new injuries are to defensive end Ryan Smith, who could miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Smith is the second end to go down with a season-ending injury this year. Brian Morris, a projected starter entering 2002, was the other. Also suffering an injury was tight end Mark Wood, who sustained a sprained knee toward the end of the first half against CSU and is not expected to return this week against SMU. Both will be re-evaluated this week. Linebacker Sam Williams continues to rehab the right shoulder he separated against Oregon State and is listed as questionable this week. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian is also still questionable with a sprained knee that has kept him out of all but one quarter of the 2002 season.

Bulldogs vs. the BCS Conferences
Fresno State is 4-4 in its last eight games against teams from BCS Conferences. However, the Bulldogs have not had the same degree of success in 2002 as they did last year. The team has lost all three games against BCS opponents this season, including a two-point nailbiter at No. 23 Wisconsin and a four-point loss at No. 13 Oregon. Saturday's Oregon State game was the final contest against a BCS school in the regular season. Since Pat Hill has taken over at Fresno State, the Bulldogs have played 17 games against BCS opponents. Hill lost the first nine games against BCS teams, all on the road, by an average margin of 14 points. Four of those were decided by less than a touchdown and one was in overtime (at Oregon in 1997).

Close Calls
It was another hire-wire act for Fresno State last week against 22nd-ranked Colorado State, which the Bulldogs defeated 32-30. It marked the fifth time this year Fresno State has had a game decided by four points or less. In fact, recent history points out the Bulldogs' blowout loss to Oregon State on Sept. 28 was quite an anomoly. Since 1999, when the Bulldogs went 8-5 and began their run of three consecutive bowl games, Fresno State has lost 11 games by 10 points or less. On only five occasions have the Bulldogs lost by more than 10 points, the last time being the Oregon State game. Prior to the contest with the Beavers, Fresno State's two losses this season - at Wisconsin, at Oregon - came by a combined six points.

Over the Hill
Under Pat Hill, the Bulldogs are 26-4 at home and 19-2 in WAC home games with wins in 16 of the last 17 home conference games. Only two WAC teams have ever won at Bulldog Stadium: San Diego State in 1997 and Boise State in 2001. Hill's .867 home winning percentage is the best in Fresno State history of coaches with more than three years experience. His conference home winning percentage of .905 is also best in school history. The Bulldogs' four home losses over the last five-plus seasons is only one defeat more than the number of home losses Fresno State suffered in 1996, the season before Hill took over as head coach.

Tough to Beat at Home
Fresno State's loss to Boise State last year snapped its 17-game home winning streak, at the time the nation's third longest. However, since Pat Hill took over, Fresno State has still won 26 of 30 games at Bulldog Stadium, including 22 of its last 24. Since Hill took over prior to the 1997 season, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined 1,076-557 for an average margin of victory of 36-19. In addition, the Bulldogs are drawing well, averaging 38,521 fans per game since 1997. Fresno State sold over 30,000 season tickets for the 2002 season, the third consecutive season the Bulldogs have surpassed the 30,000 mark. In the 2001 home opener, Fresno State established a Bulldog Stadium attendance record by attracting 42,410 for a game against Oregon State. The Bulldogs then broke and tied the attendance mark when 42,881 invaded the stadium the final five home games of the year.

Behind freshman quarterback Paul Pinegar, the Bulldogs have won their last two games.

Pinegar Continues to Impress
Paul Pinegar had another solid week in leading Fresno State past No. 22 Colorado State 32-30. The redshirt freshman went 20-of-28 with 184 yards and a touchdown and was especially sharp in the first half, in which he was 14-of-19 for 148 yards. Redshirt junior Jeff Grady entered the 2002 season as the starter, but a left hip bruise in the season opener against Wisconsin and then a right hip pointer against Oregon State have kept him on the bench. In his stead Pinegar has flourished, taking over the starting spot by throwing for 1,035 yards, eight touchdowns and only three interceptions, including none in the last two contests. The Woodland, Calif., native has started four games this year.

Depth Chart Changes
Fresno State's depth chart has seen some alterations over the past two weeks. Strong safety Bryce McGill moved to outside linebacker prior to the Rice game Sept. 28 to fill in at that injury depleted position. Replacing McGill at strong safety is redshirt freshman James Sanders, whose breakup of a two-point conversion cemented Fresno State's win over 22nd-ranked Colorado State on Friday. For the time being, McGill will remain at linebacker. Middle linebacker Marc Dailey returned to the lineup last week after missing two games with a personal emergency. Jamal Jones filled in for Dailey in his absence.

Penalty Problems
For the first four games of the season, Fresno State had its problems with penalties, something that worried head coach Pat Hill. But in the past two weeks, the Bulldogs have certainly shored things up. Against Rice and Colorado State, Fresno State has only committed eight penalties. Last week, the Bulldogs did not give their opponent a first down via penalty for the first time in 2002. This is quite a change from the season's first four weeks, when Fresno State had 34 penalties and awarded its opponents 13 first downs via infractions.

Block Party
Fresno State's special teams have thrust themselves into the nation's elite in blocking punts and kicks. Since Pat Hill took over as head coach prior to the 1997, the Bulldogs have blocked 36 punts and kicks, including a field goal last week against Colorado State, helping the Bulldogs to a 32-30 victory over the 22nd-ranked Rams. Following is a breakdown of Fresno State's kick blocking prowess since 1997:

      Blocked   Blocked        Punts   PAT & FG   Total1997      3         1        41998      2         4        61999      4         6       102000      3         5        72001      5         1        62002      0         2        2--------------------------------Totals   17*       19       36* includes instances when Fresno State tackled the punter
 before he could get kick away.

Special Plays
Fresno State's special teams have established themselves to be some of the best in the nation, and least week they put on a display worthy of the highlight reels. Here is a look at what the Bulldogs accomplished on special teams against Colorado State:

A 59-yard punt return for a touchdown by Adam Jennings.
A blocked field goal by Logan Mankins in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs' 36th blocked punt, PAT or field goal since 1997.
Two tackles inside the 20-yard line on kickoff coverage. CSU's average drive start after kickoff returns was the 20-yard line.
A 27.5 average on punt returns.
Holding Colorado State's net punt to just 27.0.

Taking the Attendance to Another Level
After showing up in record numbers in 2000, Fresno State fans got 2001 off to a rocking start when 42,410 crammed Bulldog Stadium (capacity 41,031) to watch FS defeat Oregon State 44-24 in the home opener. The fans continued to invade the stadium the rest of the year, with a record 42,881 watching each of the five remaining home games. All told, Bulldog Stadium was filled at 104.32 of capacity last year, placing FS second in the west and seventh in the nation in percent of capacity filled. For 2002, Fresno State sold more than 30,000 season tickets for the third consecutive season. Following is a breakdown of where the Bulldogs rated regionally and in the WAC in percent of stadium capacity filled last year:

On the Road Again
Entering the 2001 season, Fresno State had not been as successful as head coach Pat Hill would have liked on the road. But last year, that all changed. The Bulldogs went 6-1 away from Fresno in 2001, a program record for road wins in a season. Included in those road wins were victories over Colorado, Wisconsin and Colorado State. In its last away contest, Fresno State picked up its first road win of the season, a 31-28 white-knuckler at Rice on Sept. 28. The Bulldogs' road losses in 2002 have come to 15th-ranked Wisconsin, No. 7 Oregon and Oregon State, which are a combined 14-3 this year. Under Hill, the Bulldogs are averaging just 23.8 points per road game while piling up 35.9 per game in Bulldog Stadium.

On the Road Again, Part 2
Fresno State will play seven road games for the second consecutive season. Fresno State racked up the most frequent flyers miles in the nation last season and has long road trips this year to Madison, Wis. (Wisconsin), Houston (Rice) and Ruston, La. (Louisiana Tech). In addition, the Bulldogs will have a long road to hoe. The team began their season Aug. 23 and plays their regular season finale Dec. 5.

Young Guns
Due to the litany of injuries the Bulldogs have suffered this year, Fresno State has been forced to dip into its pool of underclassmen. A total of 20 true and redshirt freshman have seen significant playing time in 2002, and some have put up fantastic numbers. Adam Jennings has put up big numbers receiving this year, but it was his electrifying 59-yard punt return that helped push the Bulldogs to a 32-30 victory last week. His counterpart at wide out Jermanie Jamison had three catches for 43 yards against Colorado State, giving him nine for 155 in the past two weeks. And the freshman are catching passes from another freshman, Paul Pinegar, who has assumed the starting quarterback role. Pinegar, who passed for a career-high 325 yards against Rice on Sept. 28, was 20-for-28 for 184 yards against CSU. The defense also sports freshmen Raymond Washington, Tryone Culver, Awan Diles and James Sanders, all of whom saw considerable playing time a week ago.

Berrian Blows Up
Wide receiver Bernard Berrian was simply one of the biggest offensive weapons in the nation last year. The 2001 All-American set a WAC record with 2,776 all-purpose yards and has been listed as one of the top seniors in the nation by ESPN's NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. In two games last year - Wisconsin and Nevada - Berrian had overall 300 yards in total offense. Berrian entered the season with a shot at becoming Fresno State's all-time leading receiver, but his knee injury in the Wisconsin game has forced him to miss the last four games, probably putting his quest for any records out of reach. The Winton, Calif., native is questionable for this week's game against SMU. Here is a look at where he rests on Fresno State's all-time receiving lists:

Berrian in Fresno State HistoryCareer Receptions                       Career Receiving YardageNo Name (Years)                 Rec     No Name (Years)                  Yards1. Rodney Wright (1998-01)_____ 222     1. Charlie Jones (1992-95)______ 3,3442. Brian Roberson (1993-96)____ 188     2. Rodney Wright (1998-01)______ 3,2743. Charlie Jones (1992-95)_____ 187     3. Brian Roberson (1993-96)_____ 2,9564. Charles Smith (1998-01)_____ 171     4. Henry Ellard (1979-82)_______ 2,9475. Larry Willis (1983-84)______ 142     5. Charles Smith (1998-01)______ 2,3686. Henry Ellard (1979-82)______ 138     6. Larry Willis (1983-84)_______ 2,2607. Bernard Berrian (1999-)_____ 136     7. Bernard Berrian (1999-)______ 2,181
All-Purpose BerrianWAC Record1. Bernard Berrian (2001)___________ 2,776   2. LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU (2000)__ 2,1983. Marshall Faulk, SDSU (1993)______ 2,174
NCAA All-Purpose Yardage (WR only)1. Troy Edward, La Tech (1998)__ 2,7842. Bernard Berrian (2001)_______ 2,776
2001 NCAA Leaders1. Bernard Berrian (WR)__________ 2,7762. Mewelde Moore, Tulane (RB)____ 2,2593. Levron Williams, Indiana (RB)_ 2,201

Spreading the Wealth
Even though he is operating with Bernard Berrian, quarterback Paul Pinegar has had no problem finding open receivers. Last week, he completed a pass to 10 different receivers, a season high. Four different Bulldogs caught three passes, most in the contest.

Isn't That Special
Fresno State features two of the top specialists in the nation this year in senior placekicker Asen Asparuhov and senior punter Jason Simpson. Asparuhov, a candidate for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker, established a new school single-season record for field goals with 23. He made national news after the Bulldogs defeated Colorado State last year, when he kicked a field goal at the end of regulation and another in overtime to help Fresno State defeat the Rams 25-22. The Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is 12-of-16 on field goals this year, including 3-for-4 against Colorado State on Friday. This comes off a year in which he established a new Fresno State record for scoring with 129 points. The senior is third in the nation in field goals per game at 2.00. Simpson is currently second in the WAC and 55th in the nation with a 40.5 per game punt average after finishing 18th in the country a year ago. Both players were first-team All-WAC picks last year.

WAC Coaching Leaders
Fresno State's victory over 22nd-ranked Colorado State, coupled with losses by Hawai'i and Louisiana Tech, moved Pat Hill back into first place in winning percentage among WAC coaches with more than two years of experience. Hill is now 40-28 (28-12 WAC), a percentage of .588, just ahead of Rice's Ken Hatfield, who comes in at .582 all-time. Here's how the other top WAC coaches rank in career winning percentage.

Overall (years)         Record           Pct     Current School  PctKen Hatfield, Rice_____ 157-112-4 (23)  .582     42-50-1 (9)    .457June Jones, Hawai'i____ 24-18 (3)       .571     24-18 (3)      .571Jack Bicknell, La Tech_ 20-20 (3)       .500     20-20 (3)      .500

The Dos Palos Connection
Brothers Marque and Rodney Davis have become big parts of the Fresno State offense the past two weeks, helping the Bulldogs to two wins in a row. Marque has been especially productive the past two weeks, catching nine passes for 171 yards and one touchdown, which came when he took a quick screen and sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown against Rice on Sept. 28. Rodney, a transfer from Fresno (Calif.) City College, continued his productive play as of late with a 115-yard, one touchdown performance against Colorado State, his second 100-yard game of the season. In the last five games, he has racked up 484 yards rushing. Both Davises are from Dos Palos, Calif., and led Dos Palos High School to multiple section titles and a place among the best high school football teams in California.

Hurly Burley Man
Fresno State possesses one of the WAC's most dominating defensive players in senior end Nick Burley. The Lombardi Award candidate and 2003 Hula Bowl selectee was a first-team All-WAC selection last year after starting all 14 games, making 42 htackles, including 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He combined with former Bulldog Alan Harper (selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the New York Jets) to make up a defensive line that totaled a WAC best 49 sacks. This year, Burley has seven tackles for loss and five sacks, both team highs. In fact, his presence on the defensive line has allowed the Bulldogs to become one of the nation's most sack-happy teams. Since 2000, Fresno State has posted 112 sacks, the best number in the nation during that time.

Bulldog Sack NumbersCareer SacksNo Name                       Sacks1. Dewayne White, Louisville____ 292. Antwan Peek, Cincinnati____ 23.53. Aaron Hunt, Texas Tech_______ 224. Nick Burley, Fresno State____ 18

Ranking the Losses
Of Fresno State's last 16 losses dating back to 1999, 15 have come to teams that have either been nationally ranked, played in a bowl game or were bowl eligible. Of Fresno State's three losses last year, one came during the bowl game to Michigan State while the two others (Boise State, Hawai'i) were against bowl eligible teams. The Bulldogs' losses this year have come to No. 23 Wisconsin, No. 13 Oregon and Oregon State, which joined the rankings this week. In fact, those three teams have combined to go 13-0 thus far in 2002. Fresno State's next scheduled ranked opponent is No. 23 Colorado State on Oct. 4. The Bulldogs' only loss to a non-ranked, non-bowl team since 1999 came Oct. 14, 1999, a 24-14 defeat at the hands of SMU.

The Bodyguards
Quarterback Paul Pinegar will be more thankful than anyone Fresno State has the biggest and strongest offensive line in school history this year. At an average of 6-5 and 320 pounds, this year's line is expected to be one of the best in program history and should provide Pinegar with time to throw and Rodney Davis with holes through which to run. All five players started last season and the group has been rated the seventh-best offensive line in the nation by The Sporting News. The Bodyguards did a good job of protecting David Carr last year, allowing just 31 sacks in 542 pass attempts. They were the building blocks of the offense that shattered school records for total yards (7,022) and points scored (560/40.0 ppg). Thus far, the Bodyguards have allowed just 1.5 sacks per game.

Senior Nick Burley had eight tackles against Colorado State last week and earned a blackshit.

Blackshirts and Bad 'Dogs
Fresno State has a unique way of honoring strong defensive efforts during games. Every week after defensive coordinator Dan Brown reviews game film, he makes note of the Bulldogs players who dominated their position during the game. These players then receive plain black shirts to wear during practice the following week. Players not receiving blackshirts wear their normal practice uniform. Two Bulldogs, Nick Burley and Cameron Worrell, won blackshirts for their performances against Wisconsin. Burley also received a blackshirt last week for the San Diego State game. Jason Stewart and Nick Burley each received a blackshirt for their performance against Colorado State.

Filling Carr's Shoes
Coming out of preseason camp, the undaunting task of filling David Carr's shoes was won by redshirt junior Jeff Grady, who opened the season by going 21-of-42 with 262 yards and three touchdowns. But he suffered a deep bruise of his left hip in that game, meaning redshirt freshman Paul Pinegar had to take over in his place. Against San Diego State and Oregon, Pinegar threw for a combined 397 yards in leading the Bulldogs to a win over the Aztecs and a narrow loss to the Ducks. Grady then started against Oregon State but suffered a right hip pointer, and since Pinegar has been masterful. He has led Fresno State to wins against San Diego State, Rice and 22nd-ranked Colorado State.

Fresno State - A.K.A. "Quarterback University"
The Bulldogs have three quarterbacks in the NFL for the 2002 season, tying Michigan and Florida State for the most of any college. Neither Michigan nor Florida State has had a quarterback taken in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft since 1990, while Fresno State has produced two. Here are some other QB University Notes (since 1990):

Each of Pat Hill's two starting quarterbacks are in the NFL (Billy Volek and David Carr).
Fresno State is one of three schools (Washington State and Tennessee) to have a quarterback as a No. 1 NFL draft pick and another taken in the Top 10. Of those, only Fresno State's quarterbacks are both still active.
Fresno State is one of five schools (Tennessee, Washington State, Oregon and Houston) to have two quarterbacks selected among the top 10 NFL draft picks. Of those, only Oregon and Fresno State's quarterbacks are both still active.
Fresno State's Trent Dilfer is the only top 10 drafted quarterback since 1990 to win a Super Bowl.
There have been 17 quarterbacks taken in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft since 1990, and Fresno State has produced two of them.

WAC Attack
Although the Bulldogs have the most wins (27 overall, 18 WAC) among WAC teams over the last three seasons, they have just one WAC title to show for it (1999). Fresno State was predicted to win the WAC in 2001 but tied for second. This season, the Bulldogs were selected third in the WAC Media Preseason poll, trailing Boise State and Louisiana Tech in the voting. Fresno State is the only WAC team to play in bowl games in each of the last three seasons. The Bulldogs are also WAC leaders last season in NFL draft picks (4), first-team All-WAC selections (6) and Academic All-WAC selections (9). Fresno State returns more first-team All-WAC players (4) than any other team in the league.

'Dog Bones (Team)

FS is 26-4 under Pat Hill at home, including wins in 22 of the last 24 games.
FS is 19-2 in its last 21 WAC home games.
Under Pat Hill the Bulldogs are 31-5 when leading at the half, including wins in six of the last seven.
The Bulldogs have 18 sacks this year, good for first in the WAC.
Under Hill, Fresno State is 6-0 in WAC openers, with the last four openers having been played on the road.
Fresno State's 2001 victories over No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 10 Oregon State were the first time in program history it had defeated ranked opponents on back-to-back weeks.
The win over the Badgers was also the program's first over a Big Ten team.
A crowd of 78,506 watched Fresno State play Wisconsin in 2001, the largest attendance ever to witness a Bulldog victory.
FS has thrown 113 touchdowns and only 27 interceptions since the 1999 opener.
The Bulldogs have not been shutout in the last 133 home games dating back to Oct. 25, 1980, vs. Utah State (14-0). Fresno State has scored in 157 of the last 158 home games.
FS is 26-7 under Pat Hill when the Bulldogs throw more touchdown passes than their opponents.
FS is 32-6 under Pat Hill when the Fresno State has less turnovers than their opponents.
The Bulldogs allowed a school record-low 13 quarterback sacks in 1999 and just 64 over the last three seasons.
Fresno State had a 100-yard rusher against Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and Colorado State in 2001, the first time since the 1996 the Bulldogs had that happen in three consecutive games.
Fresno State has produced eight first-team All-WAC defensive players over the last three seasons.
This season marks the the second consecutive year Fresno State is playing 13 regular season games and seven road games.
The Bulldogs have led the WAC in scoring in three of the last nine years, including a nation's best 40.5 average in 1992. They averaged 40 points per game in 2001, which ranked fourth in the nation in scoring offense.
FS has produced three quarterbacks (Trent Dilfer, Billy Volek and David Carr) who set NCAA records in the last 10 years. All are in the NFL, Dilfer with the Seattle Seahawks, Volek with the Tennessee Titans and Carr with the Houston Texans.
FS has produced two first-team All-WAC punters (Jason Simpson, 2001; Jeff Roberts, 1998) and two kickers (Asen Asparuhov, 2001; Jeff Hanna, 1999) since the 1998 season.
Nearly every Fresno State starter is from California. Only kicker Asen Asparuhov, a native of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and Victor Taifane, from American Samoa, are not California natives.
Fresno State is 9-8 in its 17 national television appearances over the last three seasons, including 2-3 in 2002.
Fresno State have played in front of above-capacity crowds in three of its first four games this year (at Wisconsin, at Oregon, at Oregon State).
For the second consecutive year in 2001, Fresno State set a stadium attendance record in the home opener. Last year, 42,410 fans jammed Bulldog Stadium, surpassing the former record of 42,285, established against California in the 2000 opener. But in the last five games, the 42,881 that have attended established and tied yet another attendance record due to additional seating added to Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State has sold out 10 of the last 12 games at Bulldog Stadium with an average attendance of 41,897, 866 more than the stadium's capacity of 41,031.
Fresno State is 16-3 in its last 19 games when the starting running back scores a touchdown.
The Bulldogs are 11-4 in their last 15 games when scoring first.
Fresno State's first score in 24 of the last 28 games has been a TD.
The Hawai'i loss Oct. 26, 2001, snapped FS's five-game road winning streak. That was the team's longest since the 1988 and '89 seasons.
Fresno State's losses to Boise State and Hawai'i last year were the team's first back-to-back WAC defeats since 1998. The Bulldogs have yet to lose three conference games in a row under Pat Hill.
Fresno State won six road games last year, most in program history. The Bulldogs won their first away game of 2002 last week at Rice.
Last year, FS marked up its first 10-win season since 1991 and went to a bowl game for the third consecutive season, just the second time in program history that has happened.
Fourteen of Fresno State's 19 seniors from last season graduated, with five of the remaining players one semester from graduating. In addition, two are two semesters from receiving their degrees.
The Bulldogs' first three games this year were decided by a combined total of eight points.
Through five games, Fresno State has a total of 19 sacks, good for an average of 4.8 per contest.
Four of Fresno State's first five contests are away from home. The team does not play a home game the entire month of September.
Fresno State has been inside the opponent's 25-yard line, or "compete zone," 17 times this year, scoring 12 touchdowns and four field goals. The opponent has been inside Fresno State's compete zone 22 times, scoring 12 touchdowns, five field goals and failing five times.
The Bulldogs have turned the ball over 10 times in 2002, but only once has the opponent scored their possession following that turnover. That came against Wisconsin in the opener when Fresno State fumbled and the Badgers recovered on the 1-yard line.
Fresno State has defeated Colorado State in each of the last three meetings, all taking place since the 1999 season.
Fresno State's win at Rice was its second in a row in the state of Texas and improved the Bulldogs' overall record in the Lone Star State to 4-11-1.
The Bulldogs do not travel to play a game for five of the next six weeks.

'Dog Bones (Individual)
#35 David Adamo, 6-2, 235, Sophomore, Linebacker, Fresno, Calif. (Math)

Has two starts at outside linebacker and played very solid.
Has 25 tackles on the year, including 16 solos.
Moved to middle linebacker for the Colorado State game.
Missed the Oregon State game with a dislocated elbow but made a sooner-than-expected return to the lineup last week at Rice.

#32 Asen Asparuhov, 6-5, 215, Senior, Kicker, Plovdiv, Bulgaria (Computer Science)

Leads the WAC and ranks third in the NCAA in field goals per game (2.0).
Lou Groza Award Candidate and has been rated the sixth best kicker by The Sporting News.
Has made 43-of-59 field goal attempts (.728) during his career, including 23-of-30 (.767) last year. His 23 field goals last year set the Fresno State single season record.
Has made 12-of-16 field goal attempts in 2002 (.750), including a 4-for-4 day on Sept. 21 at Oregon State. His four misses this year have come from 55, 52, 50 and 43 yards.
Was named a semifinalist for the 2001 Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's top placekicker.
Made a career-high four field goals against Colorado State, including a 48-yarder as regulation time expired to send the game into overtime and a 41-yarder to win it in the extra stanza. The game winner was selected the No. 6 Play of the Week by ESPN's Chris Berman.
Nailed a career-long 52-yarder at Oregon State.
Set a school record in 2001 for points points by a kicker (129).
Tops in the WAC and eighth in the nation in field goals with 1.8 per game.

#20 Juan Bautista, 5-7, 185, Senior, Cornerback, Fresno, Calif. (Health Science)

Was awarded a scholarship during fall camp of 2002 and was the unanimous selection by his teammates as the special teams captian for the 2001 season.

#2 Bernard Berrian, 6-2, 190, Senior, Receiver, Winton, Calif. (Communications)

Was named to the 2002 Playboy All-America team.
Had two receptions for 54 yards and a 22-yard touchdown in the season opener vs. Wisconsin before leaving the game with the knee sprain. He has missed the last four games and is questionable for Colorado State.
No. 5-rated player for the 2003 NFL draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
Had the type of game an all-purpose wideout dreams about against Nevada in 2001. He had 166 receiving yards, 79 rushing yards on one carry, a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 49-yard kickoff return. All told, he set a school record for all-purpose yards with 357.
Finshed the season ranked first in the nation in all-purpose yardage (2,776) and second in all-purpose yards per game (199.3).
Had 300 all-purpose yards against Wisconsin in 2001, including a 96-yard kickoff return for touchdown.
Was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association in 2001.
Was 10th in the nation in punt returns at 14.2 and 28th in kickoff returns at 24.9. He returned both a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown last year.
Was named first-team All-WAC in 2001 as both a receiver and a return specialist.
Shattered the WAC record for all-purpose yardage in 2001 with 2,776 yards, the second highest total in NCAA history by a receiver.
Ranked 13th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (97.7) and 31st in the nation in receptions per game (5.85) in 2001.
Averaged 17.5 yards per game every time he touched the ball last season.
Had 1,364 receiving yards, third most in Fresno State history and 13 touchdown receptions, second most all-time.

#90 Nick Burley, 6-4, 250, Senior, Defensive End, East Palo Alto, Calif. (Child and Family Studies)

Selected to participate in the 2003 Hula Bowl.
Named to the Lombardi Award Watch List.
Had five tackles, three for loss, two sacks and a pass deflection in the season opener against Wisconsin, earning a blackshirt.
Rated the nation's 15th-best defensive end by The Sporting News.
2001 first-team All-WAC selection.
Has 19 career sacks, fifth among active college players.
Has four fumble recoveries and one interception with a 27-yard return for touchdown.
Played all last season with a cast on his left thumb, protecting a broken bone and torn ligament suffered in the final scrimmage of the 2001 fall camp.
Could have had three interceptions last season without the cast, but couldn't hold onto the ball.
The Bulldogs' defensive leader against San Diego State with nine tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. He earned a blackshirt for his performance.
Is third on the team with 36 tackles and six sacks through the first six games.

#31 Marc Dailey, 6-1, 230, Junior, Middle Linebacker, Fresno, Calif. (Criminology)

Started all 14 games at middle linebacker last season, recording 86 tackles, third most on the team.
2001 honorable mention All-WAC selection.
Had seven tackles, one sack and a tackle for a loss and forced a fumble against Wisconsin.
Has 11 tackles, two for losses and a sack on the season.
Missed the Oregon State and Rice games due to a personal emergency.

#1 Marque Davis, 6-0, 185, Junior, Receiver, Dos Palos, Calif. (Sociology)
Pronounced: Markay

Had a monster game at Rice, catching six passes for a career-high 133 yards and one touchdown.
His 23 catches and 310 receiving yards are both team bests.
Fourth on the team in 2001 with 29 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns despite missing two games with an ankle injury suffered against Colorado State.
Best game was vs. Colorado in the 2001 season opener with eight receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Has one blocked punt and on another occasion tackled the punter before he could punt the ball in 2001.
Brother Rodney is the Bulldogs' starting running back.

#22 Rodney Davis, 5-9, 210, Junior, Running Back, Dos Palos, Calif. (Undeclared)

Leads the team in rushing yards (500) and ranks third in the WAC in yards per game (83.3)
Had a career-high 125 yards vs. No. 22 Colorado State (Oct. 4, 2002).
Has nine receptions for 81 yards.
Emerging as Fresno State's top threat out of the backfield after joining the team in the fall.
Brother Marque is the Bulldogs' starting wide receiver.

#39 Kendall Edwards, 5-11, 200, Junior, Cornerback, Riverside, Calif. (Chicano and Latino Studies)

Fresno State's top cornerback who suffered a torn ACL vs. San Diego State and will miss the season.
Returning starter who earned honorable mention All-WAC honors last year despite playing in only nine games.
Had three interceptions and 27 tackles last season.
A special teams star and one of the hardest hitters on the team.

#7 Therrian Fontenot, 5-11, 180, Sophomore, Running Back, Lawndale, Calif. (Chicano and Latino Studies)

Fastest player on the team (4.3 in 40-yard dash) who can break a game open.
Had 266 yards and averaged 4.4 yards per carry last season in a limited role.
Returned to the lineup in a limited role against Oregon State, carrying the ball four times. He did catch a screen pass, which he turned into a 21-yard gain.

#15 Jeff Grady, 6-2, 200, Junior, Quarterback, Huntington Beach, Calif. (History)

Completed 21-of-42 passes for 238 yards three touchdowns and two interceptions in his first career start, which came in the opener at 23rd-ranked Wisconsin.
Suffered a bruised hip vs. Wisconsin and missed the San Diego State and Oregon games.
Returned to the starting role against Oregon State, going 15-of-36 for 191 yards, but sustained a hip pointer in his right hip midway through the game. Has missed the last two games.
Played in 10 games in his career before earning his first start vs. Wisconsin.
Honor student who will contend for academic awards.

#81 Alec Greco, 6-3, 230, Junior, Tight End, Auburn, Calif. (Entrepreneurship)

Had a career-long 50-yard reception at Oregon.
Started 12 games last season and caught 24 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
Started 24 games in his career, playing in all 30 games over the last three seasons.
Has scored seven touchdowns in his career.

#18 Adam Jennings, 5-9, 185, Redshirt Freshman, Receiver, Granite Bay, Calif. (Undeclared)

Second on the team with 21 receptions for 183 yards.
Leads the team, ranks second in the WAC and 18th in the NCAA in punt returns (15.9 per return).
Has great speed and quickness and has emerged as one of the top receiving threats on the team.
Earned the Bulldog Award after spring drills for outstanding overall performance.

#74 Logan Mankins, 6-4, 305, Sophomore, Left Tackle, Catheys Valley, Calif. (Agricultural Education)

2001 first-team Freshman All-American.
Started every game at the critical left tackle position last year as a freshman and allowed just two sacks.
Played through the Sept. 21 contest at Oregon State despite battling the flu all week.

#5 Bryce McGill, 5-11, 210, Junior, Linebacker, Bakersfield, Calif. (Communication and Journalism)

Led the team with eight solo tackles vs. Wisconsin, plus forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Named the Special Teams MVP of the Silicon Valley Football Classic after blocking a punt.
Rated as the nation's 19th-best safety by The Sporting News.
Has 15 career sacks, with the last one coming against Rice (Sept. 28, 2002).
Has 33 tackles, fourth-most on the team with six tackles for loss and three sacks.
Had the Bulldogs' lone sack against Oregon State. Also made eight tackles against the Beavers.
Lined up as a linebacker against Rice to stop its triple option attack. He had 13 tackles and one sack in his first experience at that position.
Is expected to remain at outside linebacker for the time being.

#72 Rodney Michael, 6-4, 305, Senior, Center, Tehachapi, Calif. (Sociology)

Named to the Outland Trophy watch list prior to the season.
Has already graduated and is working on his master's degree.
Rated as the 21st best center in the nation by The Sporting News.
Leads the offensive line that is rated as the nation's seventh-best unit byThe Sporting News.
A consensus preseason All-WAC selection.
Has started 43 games in his career, including 31 consecutive.

#13 Paul Pinegar, 6-4, 215, Redshirt Freshman, Quarterback, Woodland, Calif. (Undeclared)

Earned his first start on 24 hours notice and guided Fresno State to a 16-14 win over San Diego State on Aug. 29. He completed 21-of-35 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown, a 4-yarder to Deandre Gilbert.
Was solid again at Oregon, going 16-of-36 with 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-24 loss.
Fresno State's first freshman starting quarterback since Trent Dilfer in the 1991 season.
Ranks fourth in the WAC and 46th in the nation in passing efficiency at 132.4
Passed for a career-high 325 yards and three touchdowns in last week's conference victory at Rice. It was the best day for a freshman QB since Kevin Sweeney in 1983.

#30 Matt Rivera, 5-9, 195, Freshman, Running Back, Fresno, Calif. (undeclared)

A walk-on redshirt who earned a spot at running back through hard work and production.
Is the best blocking back on the team.
Fourth among Bulldogs with 11 receptions.

#23 James Sanders, 5-11, 190, Redshirt Freshman, Strong Safety, Porterville, Calif. (Undeclared)

Received his first career start vs. Rice.
Has racked up 38 tackles, second-best on the team. Also has one sack.
Picked off the first pass of his career at Oregon State.

#75 Joe Schey, 6-6, 330, Senior, Right Tackle, Diamond Bar, Calif. (Sociology)

Did not allow a quarterback sack all last season and has not allowed one in 22 straight games.
Has started 34 games in his career, including 30 in a row.
Named to the Verizon Academic All-District second team in 2001.
Has a 3.27 grade point average and is on track to graduate in December.
A consensus preseason All-WAC selection and rated the 18th best tackle in the nation by The Sporting News.

#48 Jason Simpson, 6-1, 195, Senior, Punter, Garden Grove, Calif. (Administration-Leisure Studies)

Averaging 40.5 yards per punt, second-best in the conference.
Has placed five of his 26 punts inside the 20-yard line.
First-team All-WAC in 2001 who is rated as the nation's ninth-best punter in the preseason by The Sporting News.
Entering his third year as the starting punter.
Averaged a WAC-best 43.5 yards per punt in 2001, 18th best in the NCAA
Placed 20 punts in 2001 inside the 20-yard line.

#91 Jason Stewart, 6-1, 285, Senior, Nose Tackle, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sociology)

Entering his third season as a starter and has 27 tackles and three sacks this season.
Honorable mention All-WAC in 2001.
One of the strongest players on the team and plays with great enthusiasm and emotion.

#67 Fitu Tu'ua, 6-5, 325, Junior, Left Guard, Oceanside, Calif. (Criminology)

Second-team All-WAC selection in 2001.
Started 20 games in his career, including 16 of the last 17.
Selected preseason All-WAC by several publications.

#29 Raymond Washington, 6-0, 191, Reshirt Freshman, Cornerback, Long Beach, Calif. (Undeclared)

With the injury to Kendall Edwards, Washington should see more time at cornerback.
Blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt as time expired vs. San Diego State to preerve a win for Fresno State.
WAC Special Teams Player of the Year after his heroics in the San Diego State game.

#40 Sam Williams, 6-5, 245, Senior, Outside Linebacker, Clayton, Calif. (Sociology)

Led the team in tackles prior to his injury.
Second-year starter who was selected defensive team captain.
Emerged late last season and earned honorable mention All-WAC honors despite only starting the last seven games.
Injured his shoulder against Oregon State and will miss at least the next two weeks.

#24 Cameron Worrell, 5-11, 205, Senior, Free Safety, Chowchilla, Calif. (undeclared)

Earned his first blackshirt after getting eight tackles, forcing a fumble, getting a tackle for a loss and a sack against Wisconsin.
A walk-on to the team who earned a scholarship in 2001 and earned the starting spot at free safety.
Had four tackles for losses and two quarterback sacks last season to go along with 31 tackles.
Has four career interceptions, the last coming against No. 22 Colorado State on Oct. 4.
Leads the team in tackles with 51, pass breakups with four and interceptions with three.

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