Fresno State Athletics
Football Continues Practice During Bye Week
9/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State football team has gone through tough practices all week in preparation for its next game Sept. 21 at Oregon State.
Although the Bulldogs do not play this week, they have been busy working on aspects of their own game. Most important, however, has been the good news the team has received from the training room. Quarterback Jeff Grady, who has missed the past two games, has been cleared by team doctors and has practiced the past two days. If everything continues to proceed normally, Grady may be ready to start against the Beavers.
The redshirt junior started the season opener at No. 23 Wisconsin but suffered a deep hip bruise at the end of the first half. Although he finished that game, he was forced to watch from the sidelines as Fresno State defeated San Diego State 16-14 and fell in a heartbreaker 28-24 at No. 13 Oregon. Paul Pinegar, who started in Grady's absence, would return to backup should Grady start against Oregon State.
Bernard Berrian continues to rehabilitate his sprained knee, suffered on the final play of the first quarter against Wisconsin. He is still looking to come back against the Beavers on the 21st. If he is not cleared by doctors by then, his sights will turn to the WAC opener Sept. 28 at Rice.
Although the Bulldogs (1-2) do not play this week, their next opponent does. Oregon State (2-0) takes on UNLV on Saturday on TNT.
The upcoming schedule for the team sees them going through normal practice Thursday before taking Friday and Saturday off. Fresno State returns to a normal practice schedule Sunday night. The Bulldogs will begin to implement their Oregon State game plan early next week.
The Fresno State-Oregon State game, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m., will be televised by Fox Sports Net. Unlike the Oregon contest, the network will not cut out of the game early unless one team takes a lopsided lead.
