Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Media Luncheon
11/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 17, 2003
On beating San Jose State
"Last week's win against San Jose State was very satisfying for myself, our team and I think a lot of the diehard Fresno State fans. Anytime we beat the Spartans I think is big. Our team is getting better every week. Right in time for what I anticipate to be as big a game as we've had in the stadium in a long time."
On the San Jose State game
"There were a lot of good things happening in that game. A lot of times you don't go out and give your players things that they're not ready to handle for reason of injury. Paul Pinegar is able to handle everything if he's 100%. I think he's right on the verge of having his best game and hopefully it comes Friday night.
On the magnitude of the Boise State game
"It's as big of a game that I've played in that stadium since I've been the head coach. I can't think one bigger, with as much on the line. Oregon State was a big one because they were preseason No. 1 by Sports Illustrated."
"They have a veteran football team and they're playing outstanding. We just looking forward to having it in Bulldog Stadium on Friday night."
"That's what you coach for and that's what you play for. I love these types of games."
On BSU quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie
"Ryan Dinwiddie is such a winner. I really admire him. He's a great player, great competitor and we're talking about a team that's 21-2 in their last two years. They know how to win. With him at the controls, I think it makes a giant impact in their game."
"He does a very good job of understanding where to go with the ball, very good at checking things at the line of scrimmage, he's the catalyst. He's the guy we have to get to. We have to get to Dinwiddie and not many people have had success doing that. We have some great challenges. The more he's on the sideline and the more we can keep him out of rhythm, the better off we are."
On the Boise State team
"They're offense gets so much attention but their defense just suffocates people. They lead the league in every category -- offensively and defensively. They're a great statistical team and they are a very good football team."
"They're dominating and pounding people. Nothing seems to slow them down. They've been on a roll for two years now. We have our hands full."
"We understand the challenge in front of us, but once again let me make it very clear -- we look forward to the game. We are really excited about this football game and I know they will be too. It's a championship in late November and you don't get that very often and you have a national TV audience. How could you ask for more here in Fresno? In my tenure it's the biggest [game we've had] at home."
"I don't see it being a high scoring game. I see two good defensive football teams here and I see two good offensive football teams. Boise State, of course, is an outstanding offensive football team; they're off the charts. I think a lot of times when you see a lot of real good football teams play, if they play good defense, the score is usually not as high as people think."
"Boise State does a great job of getting first downs. They get a lot of first downs. They're a big-play, first down team and they play second and third down when they have to very aggressively. They're a very aggressive team on first downs and they're a very complete team as far as third-down conversions. They're a team that moves the chains, and they're a ball controlling offense."
On the game plan for Boise State
"We're going to try and establish the run. We always do, it never changes. I think the mood of our offensive football team is very good when we can control the clock and control the chains."
On the mood of the team during Sunday's practice
"They're very focused. For a young team, they've learned some valuable lessons this year, which will pay huge dividends in the future. There have been a lot of lessons learned that we can recall in the future."
On what has helped with the Bulldogs' turnaround
"The loss at Hawaii is probably the thing that made the young guys understand that there is more to it than just lining up and playing. The preparation and buying into all those other things finally came out. The older guys have stepped up their game and the younger guys are now listening and following. I think we got humbled as a football team at Hawaii and I think that woke a lot of them up. We've made a very good effort to get better as a team."
On if there is a rivalry between Fresno State and Boise State
"Boise State and Hawaii are both games I think our team looks forward to. I'd say that they can both develop into very good rivals over time. I think Nevada can be that way as well. You just have to keep playing. We're in an ever-shifting time and you never know who your rivals are going to be from year to year until things stabilize.
"Because of the 2001 game, Boise State could be viewed as a rival. They came in and took something away. We were headed for a special year. That night we didn't get it done, we had opportunities to do it and give them credit, they beat us here."
On the Bulldogs' attendance
"We outdrew four teams in the Pac-10 last week -- Cal, Oregon State, Arizona and Washington State. That speaks volumes for Fresno State. We're always talking about filling the 'Dog House and we're close to filling it every game since I've been here."
On his relationship with Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins
"I like Dan. I think he does a great job. If he leaves Boise, I want to get to know him better because I'd like to ask him how he does what he does. I think that guy knows how to win."
"There's a lot more that goes into developing teams than just X's and O's. I never really sit down and talk to people we play against about what they do. I like to talk to people that have had a lot of winning teams."
