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Dec. 28, 2002

Fresno State (8-5, 6-2 WAC) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5, 4-4 ACC)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PST
Site: San Jose, Calif..
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (30,456)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); 'Dog Talk at 10 a.m.; Pregame Show at noon
Play-by-play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Vince Wesson; Sidelines: Ron Shapley
TV: ESPN 2
Play-by-play: Chris Marlowe; Analysts: John Cooper Sideline: Tracy Wolfson

Up Next
The Bulldogs will play Georgia Tech in the third annual Silicon Valley Football Classic on Dec. 31 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. It marks Fresno State's fourth consecutive bowl appearance and third in a row in the SFVC. The Yellow Jackets are in a bowl for the sixth straight season and the second consecutive year on the West Coast after playing in the Seattle Bowl in 2001.

Fresno State's Recent Action
Fresno State defeated Louisiana Tech 45-13 on Dec. 5 in Ruston, La., in the regular season finale. The Bulldogs dominated both lines of scrimmage, rolling up 581 total yards of offense and shutting out the La. Tech for the final 31:17 of the game. It was Fresno State's first-ever win in the state of Louisiana.

Going Bowling...Again
With a 19-16 victory over San Jose State on Nov. 23, Fresno State earned a berth in the Silicon Valley Football Classic on Dec. 31. For the Bulldogs, it marks their fourth bowl game in a row, a first in program history. Fresno State has gone 8-8 in bowl games but have lost its last four, the last victory coming in the 1992 Freedom Bowl over USC. Fresno State has participated in the two previous Silicon Valley games, played at SJSU's Spartan Stadium.

New Faces
For the second consecutive season, Fresno State will be playing a new opponent in their bowl game. Not only have the Bulldogs never played Georgia Tech, they have never played a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference. In last year's bowl game, Fresno State played a school (Michigan State) it has never previously played before.

Fresno State's Bowl History
Fresno State is 8-8 all-time in bowl games, including victories in four in a row from 1982-89. This year, the Bulldogs will be looking for their first bowl win since 1992. Following is a list of every bowl game in Fresno State history:

Bowl                         Date             Opponent              ResultLittle All-American Bowl     Dec. 25, 1937    Arkansas State        WON 27-26Pineapple Bowl               Jan. 1, 1941     Hawai'i               WON 3-0Raisin Bowl                  Jan. 1, 1946     Drake                 LOST 13-12Mercy Bowl I                 Nov. 23, 1961    Bowling Green         WON 36-6Camellia Bowl                Dec. 14, 1968    Humboldt State        LOST 29-14Mercy Bowl II                Dec. 11, 1971    Cal State Fullerton   LOST 17-14California Bowl II           Dec. 18, 1982    Bowling Green         WON 29-28California Bowl V            Dec. 14, 1985    Bowling Green         WON 51-7California Bowl VIII         Dec. 19, 1988    Western Michigan      WON 35-30California Raisin Bowl IX    Dec. 9, 1989     Ball State            WON 27-6California Raisin Bowl XI    Dec. 14, 1991    Bowling Green         LOST 28-21Freedom Bowl IX              Dec. 29, 1992    USC                   WON 24-7Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl        Dec. 25, 1993    Colorado              LOST 41-30EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl     Dec. 18, 1999    Utah                  LOST 17-16Silicon Valley FB Classic    Dec. 31, 2000    Air Force             LOST 37-34Silicon Valley FB Classic II Dec. 31, 2001    Michigan State        LOST 44-35

Finishing With a Flourish
Fresno State has won its last three games, something that history dictates is not a coincidence. Since 1997, when Pat Hill took over, Fresno State has been one of the WAC's best teams in the latter part of the season. A perfect example of this came in 2001, when after suffering consecutive losses to Boise State and Hawai'i, the Bulldogs posted five wins in a row to end the campaign. Here is a breakdown of Fresno State's strong finishes under Hill:

Year   Started    Finished   Final Record   Note1997     2-4        4-2          6-6        First non-losing season since 19931998     1-5        4-1          5-6        Only losing season under Hill1999     4-3        4-1*         8-5        WAC co-champs; played in Las Vegas Bowl2000     3-3        4-1*         7-4        Played in Silicon Valley FB Classic2001     6-2        5-0*        11-3        Played in Silicon Valley FB Classic2002     4-5        4-0           -         Playing in fourth game in a row* Record reflects finish to regular season and does not include bowl game

Injury Update
Fresno State has suffered a rash of injuries this year, but one group that seems to have been especially hard hit is the defensive line. Three of the Bulldogs' top defensive ends - Brian Morris, Clarence Denning and Ryan Smith - are all out for the rest of the year, Morris and Smith with injuries and Denning because he quit the team. Against Colorado State, star defensive end Nick Burley fractured his left thumb, but he continues to play with a cast. The line was hit one more time against Nevada when freshman Garrett McIntyre went down with a sprained MCL, which caused him to miss the SJSU game. The defense also lost Kendall Edwards, the team's top cornerback, for the year during the San Diego State game with a torn ACL.

Tough Losses, Tough Schedule
All five of Fresno State's losses this season have come to teams that spent time ranked in the Top 25 and are playing in a bowl game. The teams that have beaten Fresno State are a combined 42-19 record in 2002. The Bulldogs also have a win over No. 21 Colorado State, champion of the Mountain West Conference.

Bulldogs vs. the BCS Conferences
Fresno State is 4-4 in its last eight games against teams from BCS Conferences. However, the Bulldogs have 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. 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). Fresno State will Georgia Tech in the Silicon Valley Football Classic on Dec. 31.

Of Bulldogs and Techs
Fresno State will be playing a "Tech" school for the second game in a row and Georgia Tech will be playing Bulldogs for the second consecutive contest. Fresno State defeated Louisiana Tech 45-13 on Dec. 5 while Georgia Tech lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 51-7 on Nov. 30.

Close Calls
In the 19-16 victory over San Jose State, Fresno State continued to perform the high-wire act that has characterized the Bulldogs in 2002. The win was the eighth this year - in 12 games - that has been decided by 10 points or less. Fresno State is 5-3 in such contests. Of those eight games, six have been decided by four points or less. Since 1999, when the Bulldogs began their string of four consecutive bowl appearances, the team has suffered 18 losses, 12 coming by 10 points or less.

Pure Pinegar
As Paul Pinegar's learning process continues, Fresno State continues to pile up victories. Behind the redshirt freshman QB, the Bulldogs have won seven of their last nine, including a 45-13 victory over Louisiana Tech in the regular season finale. Against Tech, Pinegar had one of his best games, throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns, completing 18-of-27 passes. The Woodland, Calif., native has passed for 2,741 yards in 2002, passing Kevin Sweeney's 2,359, the mark that had stood as the best for a freshman QB. Since the WAC opener at Rice on Sept. 28, Pinegar has tossed 16 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. On the year, he has 20 TDs and is completing his passes at a 58 percent clip. He is the top rated freshman quarterback in the nation (131.8).

Pinegar in Step With Carr
Paul Pinegar has been solid as Fresno State's first freshman quarterback since Trent Dilfer in 1991. He has started 11 games, leading the Bulldogs to a 8-3 record, including a win over 13th-ranked Colorado State. A look at his numbers show an eerie similarity to Pinegar's predecessor at quarterback, David Carr. Here is a breakdown of the two QBs numbers through their first 11 career starts:

                     Rec    A     C    I    Pct   Yards   TD   Lg     YPGPinegar as a starter  7-3   327   185   8   .566   2,291   16   77   229.1Pinegar in 2002        -    345   196  10   .568   2,420   17   77   201.7Carr in 2000*         7-4   316   194  11   .614   2,338   17   50   212.5* Carr started every game in 2000

Davis Climbing the Charts
Rodney Davis etched his name further into the Fresno State record books last week when he ran for a career-high 221 yards vs. Louisiana Tech, the third-best total in school history. He needs just 45 yards to become Fresno State's single season rushing king. Davis finished as the WAC's second-leading rusher, averaging 110.2 yards per game. He is the third Bulldog to produce two 200-yard games in his career and the second to have two in one season. Only Ron Rivers, who had two in 1993, had done that previously. Current Tampa Bay Bucaneer running back Michael Pittman is the only other Bulldog with two 200-yard games in his career. Davis was the only WAC player this season with two 200-yard games, yet was not selected first-team All-WAC. Here is where Davis currently rests on the Bulldogs' single-season rushing list:

  Name           Games   Year   Yards  Needed to Pass1) Ron Rivers       11    1993   1,477        452) Rodney Davis     13    2002   1,433         -3) Aaron Craver     11    1989   1,313         -

Bulldogs and Bowl Games
Fresno State will be participating in its 17th bowl game and has an 8-8 all-time record in postseason classics. The Bulldogs have lost their last four bowl games, last winning the 1992 Freedom Bowl over USC 24-7.

Bulldogs and Bowl Games II
Fresno State is taking on Georgia Tech for the first time ever, marking the seventh time the Bulldogs will be playing an unfamiliar opponent in a bowl game. Fresno State is 4-2 all-time in bowl games where it has never before met its opponent. The victories came against USC, Bowling Green, Arkansas State and Ball State, and the losses to Drake and Michigan State.

Young Pups
Despite starting five freshmen on offense and another one on defense, Fresno State managed to put together an 8-5 season and fourth straight bowl appearance. In all, Fresno State had seven players selected to The Sporting News All-WAC Freshmen team, led by WAC Freshman of the Year Paul Pinegar. Also honored were receiver Jermaine Jamison, offensive guard Dartangnon Shack, offensive tackle Matt Stevenson, defensive tackle Garrett McIntyre, safety James Sanders and return specialist Adam Jennings. In all, there are 26 players on Fresno State's two-deep who are sophomore or freshmen.

Senior Salute
Fresno State's 12-member senior class is the first in school history to lead a team to four consecutive bowl games. The Bulldog seniors had a record of 34-15 over the last four teams, including a 21-2 home record.

WAC Coaching Leaders
With victories in the last four games, Pat Hill has moved into second place in winning percentage among Western Athletic Conference coaches with more than two years of experience. Hill is now 45-30 (33-14 WAC), a percentage of .600, just behind Hawai'i's June Jones (.620). Here's how the other top WAC coaches rank in career winning percentage.

Overall (years)         Record           Pct     Current School  PctJune Jones, Hawai'i____ 31-20 (3)       .608     31-20 (3)      .608Pat Hill, Fresno State_ 45-30 (5)       .600     45-30 (5)      .600Ken Hatfield, Rice_____ 160-115-4 (23)  .581     45-53-1 (9)    .460

Many Happy Returns
Fresno State's special teams have established themselves as one of the nation's best units. Not only are the Bulldogs exceptional at blocking kicks, but they are also a threat to put points on the board every time they take the field. Since Pat Hill took over in 1997, Fresno State has scored 13 touchdowns on special teams and has racked up three safeties. Below is a breakdown of the Bulldogs' special teams scoring history:

6 punt returns for TDs (last: Oct. 4, 2002, by Adam Jennings vs. Colorado State)
2 kickoff returns for TDs (last: Sept. 8, 2001, by Bernard Berrian at Wisconsin)
5 blocked punts/FGs returned for TDs (last: Oct. 25, 2002 vs. Hawai'i)
3 team safeties (last: Oct. 4, 2002, vs. Colorado State)

Thirty Means Victory
Fresno State racked up a season-high 45 points against Louisiana Tech, improving the Bulldogs' record to 5-0 in 2002 when scoring more than 30 points. The team is now 28-6 under Pat Hill when scoring 30 or more, including victories in 28 of the last 32. In 2002, Fresno State has scored 30 or more points against Louisiana Tech (45), Nevada (38), Colorado State (32), Rice (31) and SMU (31). The last time the Bulldogs scored 30-plus points and lost was during last year's SVFC, when Michigan State defeated Fresno State 44-35.

Fifteen Bulldogs Earn All-WAC Honors
Fresno State had 15 players earn All-WAC honors in 2002, including five players who were named first-team All-WAC. Here's a look:
First Team All-WAC: Kicker Asen Asparuhov, offensive tackle Joe Schey, defensive end Nick Burley, nose tackle Jason Stewart and safety Cameron Worrell.

Second Team All-WAC: Receiver Marque Davis, running back Rodney Davis, center Rodney Michael, linebacker Bryce McGill, punter Jason Simpson.

Honorable Mention All-WAC: Tight end Duncan Reid, offensive tackle Logan Mankins, Offensive guard Fitu Tu'ua, linebacker Sam Williams, safety James Sanders.

WAC Freshman of the Year: Quarterback Paul Pinegar

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 38 punts and kicks, including a block last week that lead to Fresno State's only touchdown and helped tilt the momentum the Bulldogs' direction. 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      3         3        6--------------------------------Totals   20*       20       40* includes instances when Fresno State tackled the punter
before he could get kick away.

Tricks are For Kids
The Bulldogs have thwarted seven consecutive fake field goal or fake punt attempts over the last two seasons, denying either a first down or touchdown. The last team to attempt a fake field goal on the Bulldogs was San Jose State on Nov. 23, 2001, which the Bulldogs successfully stopped. FS has stopped eight of the last nine fake attempts dating back to 1997.

Special Kicker
Fresno State features one of nation's top placekickers in Asen Asparuhov, who was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the country's best kicker. It marks the second year in a row the senior made the semifinalist list. This year, he has made 20-of-26 field goals and all 40 of his extra points. Asparuhov currently ranks 14th in the nation in field goals per game at 1.54. The Plovdiv, Bulgaria, native established a Fresno State single-season record in 2001 with 129 points and has been named first-team All-WAC for two straight years. Asparuhov is the first Bulldog in history to scored 100 or more points in consecutive seasons and he ranks 11th in WAC history with 283 points. He needs one field goal to tie New Mexico's Dave Margolis for fifth on the WAC career field goal list with 53.

Special Punter
The Bulldogs are also fortunate to possess the WAC's top punter in Jason Simpson. The senior is currently tops in the conference and 43rd in the nation with a 41.0 average. This comes a year after Simpson was 18th in the country in punting. A first-team All-WAC punter last year, 21 of his 65 kicks this year have been downed inside the 20. Simpson became just the eighth punter in WAC history to lead the league in consecutive seasons. The other seven did it at schools with elevations higher than 5,000-feet.

Hurly Burley Man
Fresno State possesses one of the WAC's most dominating defensive players in senior end Nick Burley, the WAC sack leader (11-63 yards). The Lombardi Award candidate and 2003 Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game selectee was a first-team All-WAC selection for the second straight season. In 2001, 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 16 quarterback hurries, 16 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and 10 sacks, all team highs. He was a one-man wrecking machine, destroying SJSU's offense by totaling four sacks and 11 tackles, both game highs. He was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Behind Burley, Fresno State has become one of the most sack-happy teams in the nation. Since 2000, the Bulldogs have posted 126 sacks, the second-best number in the nation during that time. He has 25 career sacks for 124 yards. His 25 sacks rank third-most in Fresno State history.

The Brothers Davis
Brothers Marque and Rodney Davis have become the key components to the Fresno State offense. Marque, a wide receiver, has caught 64 passes for 956 yards and seven touchdowns, including the Bulldogs' only score last week in a 19-16 win over San Jose State. Three of Marque's TDs have been in excess of 65 yards. Rodney, a transfer from Fresno (Calif.) City College, has paced the Fresno State rushing attack by averaging 110.2 yards per game, second-best in the WAC and 23rd in the nation. He is coming off a career-high 221 yards vs. Louisiana Tech. Rodney has 1,433 yards rushing in 2002, the second-best mark in Fresno State history.

Berrian to Redshirt
Earlier this year, Bernard Berrian announced he will be redshirting the 2002 season. The senior All-American wideout sprained his knee in the season opener at Wisconsin on Aug. 23 and hasn't played since. Coming into 2002, Berrian was tabbed as one of the top seniors in the nation by ESPN's NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. Next season, he has a shot at becoming Fresno State's all-time leading receiver. Here is a glimpse at what the Bulldogs have coming back in in Berrian in 2003:

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

Ranking the Losses
Of Fresno State's last 17 losses dating back to 1999, 16 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. Four of the Bulldogs' losses this year have come to teams that are either ranked or have been ranked at some point this year (Wisconsin, Oregon, Oregon State and Boise State). Fresno State has played six teams that made an appearance in the national polls in 2002, and all but Colorado State have been on the road. Since 1999, the Bulldogs' only loss to a non-ranked, non-bowl team came Oct. 14, 1999, a 24-14 defeat at the hands of SMU.

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.

Fresno State's three current NFL quarterbacks
David Carr, Houston Texas (No. 1 NFL Draft pick)
Trent Dilfer, Seattle Seahawks (No. 6 NFL Draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Billy Volek, Tennessee Titans (free agent signee entering his third year in the league)

Not Many Losing Streaks
With Fresno State's 31-12 victory over Tulsa last week, the Bulldogs snapped their two-game losing streak. Under head coach Pat Hill, Fresno State has still yet to lose three WAC games in a row. Last year, the Bulldogs lost back-to-back games but rebounded to win their last four in a row en route to an 11-3 overall record and a third consecutive bowl appearance.

'Dog Bones (Team)

FS is 29-5 under Pat Hill at home, including wins in 24 of the last 27 games.
FS is 23-3 in its last 26 WAC home games.
Under Pat Hill the Bulldogs are 35-5 when leading at the half, including wins in 10 of the last 11.
The Bulldogs have 31 sacks this year.
Fresno State has produced a 1,000 yard rusher in seven of the last nine seasons, including in 2002 as Rodney Davis reached that plateau against Tulsa. It marked the second consecutive year Fresno State has produced a 1,000-yard rusher. Davis has gone over 1,200 yards this season.
Under Hill, Fresno State is 6-0 in WAC openers, with the last four openers having been played on the road.
The Bulldogs are also 6-0 in Senior Days under Hill.
FS has thrown 126 touchdowns and only 34 interceptions since the 1999 opener.
The Bulldogs have not been shutout in the last 136 home games dating back to Oct. 25, 1980, vs. Utah State (14-0). Fresno State has scored in 160 of the last 161 home games.
FS is 29-7 under Pat Hill when the Bulldogs throw more touchdown passes than their opponents.
FS is 35-6 under Pat Hill when the Fresno State has less turnovers than their opponents.
Fresno State is +52 in turnover margin since Pat Hill became head coach, but are just +1 season.
Fresno State has produced 11 first-team All-WAC defensive players over the last four seasons.
This season marks the the second consecutive year Fresno State played 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 and 2002; 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 10-10 in its 20 national television appearances over the last three seasons, including 3-5 in 2002.
Fresno State played in front of above-capacity crowds in five of its first 10 games this year (at Wisconsin, at Oregon, at Oregon State, vs. SMU, at Boise 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 12 of the last 17 games at Bulldog Stadium with an average attendance of 41,101, which is above the stadium's capacity of 41,031.
Fresno State is 20-4 in its last 24 games when the starting running back scores a touchdown.
The Bulldogs are 15-5 in their last 20 games when scoring first.
Fresno State's first score in 27 of the last 34 games has been a TD.
Pat Hill's 45 victories as head coach of Fresno State ranks fourth all-time in program history.
Fresno State has won nine consecutive games in the month of November and has won 10 of 11 November home games under Pat Hill.
Fresno State has won nine of its 14 road games over the last two seasons.
The Bulldogs' berth in the Silicon Valley Football Classic is the program's fourth bowl game in a row. That is the longest current streak of any team in the WAC.
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.
Four of Fresno State's first five contests were away from home. The team did not play a home game the entire month of September.
Fresno State has been inside the opponent's 25-yard line, or "compete zone," 51 times this year, scoring 30 touchdowns and 16 field goals. The opponent has been inside Fresno State's compete zone 55 times, scoring 28 touchdowns, 15 field goals while failing 12 times.
The Bulldogs have turned the ball over 24 times in 2002, but on only five occasions has the opponent scored a touchdown on the possession following that turnover. Fresno State has also allowed a field goal after a turnover.
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 scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the first or second half this year for the first time against Tulsa. The Bulldogs took the opening kick and marched 65 yards on 9 plays for a touchdown.
With their victory over Colorado State, ranked this season as high as No. 13, the Bulldogs have now defeated a team ranked in the top 15 two consecutive years.
Due to injuries, Fresno State has not started the same defensive lineup in consecutive games this year.
Fresno State has been on national television in 15 of its last 27 games.

'Dog Bones (Individual)

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

Has five starts at linebacker and has been very solid on special teams.
Received a start in three of the last six contests.
Has 45 tackles on the year, 11th most on the team.
Moved to middle linebacker for the Colorado State game to fill in due to injuries.
Missed the Oregon State game with a dislocated elbow but made a sooner-than-expected return to the lineup at Rice.

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

First in the WAC and 14th in the NCAA in field goals per game (1.5).
A Lou Groza Award semifinalist for the second consecutive year, and has been rated the sixth best kicker by The Sporting News.
Has made 52-of-71 field goal attempts (.732) during his career, including 23-of-30 (.767) in 2001. His 23 field goals last year set the Fresno State single season record.
Has made 20-of-26 (.769) field goal attempts in 2002.
Was named a semifinalist for the 2001 and 2002 Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's top placekicker.
Made a career-high four field goals against Colorado State in 2001, 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 on Sept. 21.
Set a school record in 2001 for points points by a kicker (129).
Has made over 83 percent (.821, 33-40) of his field goal attempts under 40 yards in his career.
Has made 13 of his last 15 field goal attempts.
Was WAC Special Teams Player of the Week in two of the last three games.
Needs one field goal to tie Dave Margolis (UNM) for fifth on the WAC career field goal list with 53.
First player in school history to have consecutive 100-point seasons.
One of six kickers in WAC history to earn first-team All-WAC in consecutive years, the first since 1993.

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

Has elected to redshirt the 2002 season after spraining his knee in the first quarter of the season opener at Wisconsin. He will return at 100 percent next year.
Was named to the 2002 Playboy All-America team.
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 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.
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 and East-West Shrine Game.
Named to the Lombardi Award Watch List prior to the season.
WAC sack leader (11-63 yards) and has 25 sacks for 124 yards in his career.
Rated the nation's 15th-best defensive end in the preseason by The Sporting News.
2001 and 2002 first-team All-WAC selection.
Had a career-high four sacks in a win over San Jose State.
Piled up a game-high 11 tackles in helping lead the Bulldogs' defense in a 19-16 win over SJSU.
Has four fumble recoveries and one interception with a 27-yard return for touchdown.
Played all of last season with a cast on his left thumb, and is having to wear one again this year due to an unrelated injury.
The Bulldogs' defensive leader against San Diego State with nine tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Is fourth on the team with 70 tackles and leads the team wirth 11 sacks despite being double-teamed, and sometimes even triple-teamed, all year.
Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week after piling up four sacks and 11 tackles against SJSU.
Leads the team with three fumble recoveries.

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

Started all 14 games at middle linebacker last season, recording 86 tackles, fourth on the team.
2001 honorable mention All-WAC selection.
Earned a blackshirt for his 15-tackle performance against SMU. He was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week for the performance.
Sixth on the Bulldogs with 68 tackles.

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

Had a career-high seven receptions for 133 yards in his last game vs. Louisiana Tech.
Fourth in the WAC and 44th in the NCAA in receptions (4.92) and 50th in the NCAA yards (73.5)
Selected second-team All-WAC
Had a monster game at Rice, catching six passes for a career-high 133 yards and one touchdown.
His 64 catches and 956 receiving yards are both team bests.
Is the only Bulldog to catch a pass in every game this year and has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games in which he's played.
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.
Has three 100-yard receiving games on the year.
Four of his touchdowns have been in excess of 65 yards, the last coming against Boise State on Oct. 18.
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)

Became just the second player in school history to surpass 1,400 yards rushing. He needs only 45 yards to become the Bulldogs' single-season rushing leader, passing Ron Rivers (1,477).
Ranks second in the WAC and 23rd in the nation in rushing yards per game (110.2).
Selected second-team All-WAC
Coming off a career-best 221 yards vs. Louisiana Tech, the third-best game by a back in FS history.
Had 201 yards and two touchdowns vs. SMU.
Joins current Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman as the only Bulldog with two 200-yard games in a season.
Caught 18 passes for 159 yards.
Named WAC Player of the Week vs. Louisiana Tech.
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.

#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.

#87 Deandre Gilbert, 6-0, 170, Junior, Receiver, Fresno, Calif. (Communications)

A big-play receiver who has caught five touchdowns this season and nine in his career.
A former walk-on who has earned a scholarship.
Has battled injuries this season but has 28 receptions for 386 yards.
Coming off a career-high 133 receiving yards against La. Tech.

#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. He has served as the backup since.
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)

Possesion receiver who 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 27 games in his career, playing in all 40 over the last three seasons.
Has scored seven touchdowns in his career.
Has 15 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns this season.

#19 Jermaine Jamison, 6-3, 190, Redshirt Freshman, Receiver, Carson, Calif. (Undeclared)

Ranks second on the team with 34 receptions for 589 yards and fourth touchdowns.
Top freshman receiver in the WAC, named fourth-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.
Led the team in receiving yards in five games, with a season-best 102 vs. Tulsa.
Scored on a 77-yard pass play in the final minutes to beat Rice 31-28.
Averaging a team-high 17.3 yards per catch, the third best total in the WAC.
Has seven catches over 30 yards this season, including four over 40 yards.

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

Has caught 33 passes for 295 yards.
Ranks fourth in the WAC and 69th in the NCAA in punt returns (9.2 per return).
Returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown in the Bulldogs' victory over Colorado State.
Emerged as one of the team's top play-makers during spring drills, for which he earned the "Bulldog Award," presented to the player who turns in the best performance during the practices.

#74 Logan Mankins, 6-4, 305, Sophomore, Left Tackle, Catheys Valley, Calif. (Ag 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.
Has started 25 consecutive games at left tackle.
Was honorable mention All-WAC despite playing on an injured right ankle for the second half of the season.

#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 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic after blocking a punt.
Rated as the nation's 19th-best safety by The Sporting News, but has since moved to linebacker to help out at the injury-riddled position.
Selected second-team All-WAC as a linebacker.
Has 17 career sacks.
Has 69 tackles, fifth-most on the team, with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.
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.

#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 but was selected second-team All-WAC.
Selected Fresno State's most valuable offensive lineman.
Has started 50 games in his career, including 38 consecutive, the longest streak on the team.

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

Ranks third in the WAC and 32ndth in the NCAA in passing efficiency (131.6).
WAC Freshman of the Year
The top ranked freshman quarterback in the NCAA, and has thrown for more touchdowns (20) and yards (2,741) than any freshman quarterback in the country.
Fourth-team Freshman All-America selection by The Sporting News
Owns FS freshman passing yardage record (2,741) breaking the old mark of Kevin Sweeney.
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.
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.
Has three 300-yard games this year, including a career-high 371-yard performance in a loss at Boise State, in which he also threw a career-high three touchdowns.
Played five games without tossing an interception and has not thrown one in his last 69 attempts.
Has a 8-3 record as a starter, including wins in the last four games.
Completed 18-of-27 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns in his last game vs. La. Tech.

#86 Duncan Reid, 6-6, 220, Sophomore, Tight End, Glendora, Calif. (Pre-Business)

Emerged as a consistent pass catching threat.
Named honorable mention All-WAC.
Has 23 receptions for 307 yards, a 13.3 per catch average.

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

Received his first career start vs. Rice and has started each game since.
Picked hononrable mention All-WAC and third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News
One of the team's best freshmen, he is second among Bulldogs with 77 tackles.
Tied for third on the team with eight tackles for losses and has two quarterback sacks.
Picked off the first pass of his career at Oregon State and leads the team in pass breakups with nine.

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

Had started 31 consecutive games before sitting out against Boise State with a sprained left knee.
Selected first-team All-WAC
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 41.0 yards per punt, best in the conference.
Has placed 21 of his 68 punts inside the 20-yard line, including three inside the five against Hawai'i.
First-team All-WAC in 2001 who was rated as the nation's ninth-best punter in the preseason by The Sporting News.
Selected second-team All-WAC in 2002 despite leading the WAC for the second straight year
Averaged a WAC-best 43.5 yards per punt in 2001, 18th best in the NCAA
Could become the eighth punter in WAC history to lead the WAC in punting average in consecutive years, and the only one who did it at a school with an elevation lower than 5,000 feet.

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

Selected first-team All-WAC in 2002
Entering his third season as a starter and is third on the team in tackles with 73.
Honorable mention All-WAC in 2001.
He has also racked up 13 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Leads the team with 14 quarterback hurries

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

Second-team All-WAC selection in 2001 and honorable mention in 2002.
Started 27 games in his career, including 23 of the last 24.
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 has seen some playing time at cornerback.
Blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt as time expired vs. San Diego State to save a win for FS.
WAC Special Teams Player of the Week after his heroics in the San Diego State game.

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

Missed three games after an injury during the Oregon State game but returned against Boise State.
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.
Has 60 tackles, eighth-best on the team and was the team tackle leader at the time of his injury.
Had one of his best games against San Jose State, picking up 10 tackles, including two for loss.
Selected honorable mention All-WAC for the second straight year.

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

First-team All-WAC selection after a 100-tackle season.
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 and the starting spot at free safety in 2001.
A big hitter, he leads the team with forced fumbles (2)
Has five tackles for losses and one quarterback sack.
Has four career interceptions, the last coming against No. 22 Colorado State on Oct. 4.
Leads the team in tackles with 101 and in interceptions with four, tied for third most in the WAC.

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