Quotes From Wednesday's Bowl Game Announcement Media Conference

Dec. 1, 2004

Coaches/Administrators
Athletics Director Scott Johnson | Head coach Pat Hill

Players
DT Garrett McIntyre | TE Stephen Spach | OT Logan Mankins | QB Paul Pinegar

Athletics Director Scott Johnson
General comments about going to a bowl game
"Thank you all for coming. By now most of you already know, but I just wanted to inform you that we have accepted an invitation to the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise. I'm excited that we probably got the best matchup that we could have hoped for, and were trying for, with Virginia, and we're excited that we're going to a bowl game for the sixth straight year. I think it's a great opportunity for our university and our football program to showcase the end of what has been a very interesting football season. Granted, it started on a high note and had a little blip there in the middle of the season, but we're playing as well as anyone in the country and I think that we're getting rewarded for that. I think that this bowl offers us an opportunity to get, as Pat [Hill] likes to say, "great exposure or be exposed." It follows along the vision and tenure that we've set all along that we'll go anywhere to play anybody at any time. We haven't backed down from that, and we're going to continue with it"

"I think this is an exciting matchup between two 8-3 teams. They're going to bring their A game. I'm going to let Pat talk a little more about that. I think this was a situation we are rarely in, where we had the chance to talk to three and sometimes four bowls for nearly a week to see what was the best situation for us. We said from day one that the matchup was the most important thing that we wanted to have, and we got that. I'm sure that some of our fans are going to be disappointed that we aren't in a bowl that isn't two and a half hours drive away, but we had to look at what's best for our program in visibility, and this offers that. The response that we're getting is that people are very excited about this matchup and those that can go will go. I also think that what the MPC stepped up to do with Virginia and ourselves is going to benefit for both of our programs."

What kind of package are you putting together for the fans?
"Right now, we're looking at a charter on [Dec. 23] for the team. We'd have limited if any spots for boosters on that flight. We'll try to accommodate as many people as we can on that flight. We're contemplating taking a second plane on the 26th. We'd accommodate our band that way -- we may not take the full band -- and we'll have some seats available on that flight. We're also working, trying to get some things done with Allegiant Air, so we could perhaps help out people there. When talking to Allegiant, though, if they want to do it themselves, they can put it together and we won't be in the middle of that."

What were some of the things against the other bowls?
"Well, as I said, we were in a good situation where I was talking to all three bowls, probably straight for the last five days. One of the thought processes was that I was worried about the Las Vegas Bowl having to wait until Sunday (to set a matchup). I know Texas was getting some things out there to try and leapfrog Cal (in the BCS rankings), and if that had happened we could have been in a situation where if we had locked ourselves into the Vegas bowl early that Cal would have been out of the BCS and gone to the Holiday Bowl, and that would have put UCLA into the Vegas Bowl, knocking us out of that. I wanted to be good partners with the Silicon Valley Football Classic, as well. They've been great to us for four years, and they stepped up tremendously to us in their proposal for this bowl, and I told them that today when we turned them down. Boise just made sense. They didn't step up more than anyone else did, but when you consider all of the things that I was thinking about late into last night, I think this was the best move for us."

Scott, do you have goals, numbers-wise, as far as fans?
"No. I wouldn't want to throw out a number, because I think it's too early to read that. We're going to make it as convenient as we can, from what we can control. I know that the bowl has offered to step up and to do some things for our fans in promoting it, and I think all of those things are important. Some of it is just cost circumstances, and others, I think that those that want to go are going to find a way to go, and we're going to help them as best as we can."

I saw that ticket price will be $35 dollars. Is that something you negotiated with them?
"Yes."

I had seen that Virginia tickets were $50.
"Yeah, they had both ticket prices, and they asked us which one we wanted to sell our fans."

What was your reasoning on that?
"We just wanted to help more people go."

Head Coach Pat Hill
General comments about going to a bowl game and playing 18th-ranked Virginia
"I'd just like to add that that is the matchup that we wanted as a football team. Virginia was in the top 10 at different times at the season. I've only TV scouted them, but they're a very physical team, a big physical defense, and they can really run the ball on offense. This will be a very physical matchup; this is a good football team. For our players, going to Boise to play this game will be a new experience for them. For the seniors on this team it's their fourth straight bowl game, and the competition has been Michigan State, Georgia Tech, UCLA and Virginia. So, when you talk about a group of seniors, and a football team that has played those caliber of opponents in four straight years in bowl games, that's a real testament to their abilities."

"We're going to be tested in this one. This is going to be a really tough assignment, and those are the games that you look forward to as a coach. Those are the games you want to play. I'm excited about this opportunity, and I know our players are excited about the opportunity."

On Boise State fans coming out to cheer for Fresno State
"The one thing that we want to do is that when we go up there onto that blue turf, we get those rabid Boise fans cheering for the Bulldogs. I think that would be great to have the hometown fans from Boise State, who have a great football team, and they don't play for another three or four days after us, and it would be great to hear those Boise fans cheering for the Bulldogs."

Did Virginia think about the matchup with Fresno State in choosing this game? Is this a better matchup than going to say, Shreveport, or some of the other bowls?
"I don't think that we can really answer that. That was handled by their commissioner. They'd already played Virginia Tech, and because of their finals schedule they didn't get the bowl game that was warranted for fourth place in the ACC, which is a very strong conference. I don't really know why it ended up that way, but they chose to go to Boise. We're just glad that the matchup's there. Once again, two 8-3 teams with the first time slot after Christmas. It's a great time to go."

What's been the reaction of the team?
"I haven't had a chance to see them. I was recruiting all day yesterday, and I won't see the full team until tomorrow. But, when we had our team meeting, they liked the idea. They like to play as good of competition as they can, and we felt that Virginia was by far the strongest team available to us."

Coach, what are your thoughts on the players not being able to spend Christmas with their families?
"Well, that's the toughest part. These young men haven't had a break since the first of August when camp started, but they know that after that game on the 27th, after that game in Boise they're home until the 19th of January. They also understand that it's well worth playing an opponent of that stature. Missing Christmas at home this year, well, Virginia is missing Christmas, too. There are a lot of teams missing Christmas. It's never really affected us that way, but that's the toughest part for the players."

"They really haven't had much time off, and after finals are done, we're going to get back into it, with about six straight days of practice before we go to Boise, because it's very hard to practice at a bowl site. We'll have a chance to prepare for this game. But, [missing Christmas] is the hardest part. It's hard on the coaches' families, too. I've done it before when I was in Arizona, going to Hawaii on Christmas for the Aloha Bowl, and it's just not the same. But, we'll do as good of a job as we can to make sure that the young men have a Christmas-type day."

Talk about the layoff period. You have the team playing at such a high level, how do you keep that up through a one month layoff?
"It's hard. I just think that you need to keep up on it. We're going out on Tuesday and Thursday, seven-on-seven and conditioning, and we'll work out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then we have our big banquet Sunday Night. Hopefully you guys will get that on the airwaves, at the Convention Center. That's Sunday night."

"Then next week we'll go Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Then it's finals, and we'll come back on Friday night and really start preparing for Virginia. The coaches have some late nights ahead. The Virginia film should arrive tomorrow, and we've got to get started on that. It'll take us probably about 10 days to get everything in shape and get that package to our players, because they do play a 3-4 defense. It's similar to what we did in Cleveland, a two-gap 3-4 defense, and they run the ball very well. We really need to get started on preparations, but we won't really start working on the game plan for Virginia until the 17th."

When you look at the teams that Virginia has lost to this season, what do you think that says about you and your chances?
"I think that we're a very good football team. We slipped this year at Louisiana Tech. Everyone keeps bringing that up, and hey, we had a slump. I'll admit that. But this team has responded very well, and Fresno State football throughout the years is 22 or 23-4 in November. So this team has always finished strong. Yeah, I'd like to go back and play those games again, but like I've said many times before, it's an unforgiving game. There are a lot of teams out there that are losing in November. What we've done is we've played very well down the [stretch], and hopefully we'll continue that, because we're going to have to play at a very high level to beat this team in Boise. This is a very good football team that we're playing, but I have great confidence in our players."

On the MPC Bowl
"I think it's better spot than the Las Vegas Bowl, though. Everybody said that they were going to Vegas on the 23rd, but I don't know if whole bunch of people would want to be going home on the day before Christmas. I think the time slot is better in this one, it's just the distance that is an issue. San Jose, obviously, is the most convenient for our fans and that's why that one appeals to me, because I think we have great fans, and I'd love to see them get there. I don't think you can put a number on it (fans that will come to Boise). I know there'll be a lot of TVs going. There'll be a lot of restaurants going, office parties, parties at home, there'll be a lot of things going in Fresno to watch that game. I think a lot of people will prosper from the game, even though they might not be able to get there."

"And [Bronco] Stadium a lot like Bulldog Stadium -- you don't have end zone [seating]. For you guys that have been to Boise, the last two years we've played there it's been a full house. I really believe that the Boise fans will step up because they're a lot like our fans, very passionate. I think it will be a great atmosphere."

Any thoughts of having to play in snow? Doesn't happen to a Bulldog football team too often.
"Well, from a weather standpoint, this year in Boise was not exactly a beautiful game. There was hail and everything else. But the fact is that the weather isn't going to be a factor in this game. It's just going to be which team will execute the best, just like it always is."

Defensive Tackle Garrett McIntyre
What are you thoughts on playing a team like Virginia in the snow this year?
"It's a great opportunity. They play strong football over there. We get a chance to play a top 20 team. Yeah, it's gonna be cold, but that's not bad. When you're out there, you don't feel it anyway. I think it's a good opportunity."

Is there another bowl game you would have rather gone too?
"No, I like this bowl game, I like the opponent. I like the chance that we have, and it's going to help us out next year. I'm excited."

What do you know about Virginia?
"I know that they're a good team. They've lost three games, but they've all been to good teams. It's just big-time football over there."

Tight End Stephen Spach
Usually going to Boise is not a fun experience, but this could turn out to be a home game for you. Do you think the Boise fans will come out and root for Boise State?
"I like to think that they would. I think they have good support up there. Like Coach Hill said, they have avid fans and we do too, and I'd like to see them come out and support us."

Is it a big deal that you won't be home for Christmas?
"I look forward to seeing my family at home every year, but in this case, I'll make an exception."

Offensive Tackle Logan Mankins
You haven't played in the snow in a while. How does that prospect sound to you?
"That's fine. I like it when it's cold, you don't get as hot."

Does it make those other guys hurt more when you knock those other guys down?
"Yeah, those hits sting a little more when you're cold."

What do you think about the chance to take on a team like Virginia, especially with you looking at an NFL future? Does that give you a chance to prove yourself a little more?
"Yeah, It'll be a good chance for me. Those scouts want to see me against a big-time opponent, so I've just got to go out there and show those guys what I can do."

What do you know about Virginia as a team?
"Not much, personnel-wise. I know that they're a good team, but I've just got to watch the film now."

Is this what the team wanted, or would some of you guys have rather gone somewhere else?
"I think some guys wanted to go to other places, but as a team, I think everyone wanted to go here if we could play Virginia. If it was someone else, who knows."

So you're okay with missing Christmas at home?
"Yeah, that's fine with me. I came here to play big-time football. I've got lots of Christmases left."

Quarterback Paul Pinegar
You're going back to Boise. You haven't had a lot of fun the last two times you've gone back to play there. Why do you think that this time might be different?
"Well, maybe because Virginia's never played there and we've played there twice. I think that serves as a bit of a home-field advantage for us. The weather might not be what we expect it to be, but we just need to go in there and take care of business."

I imagine that you probably have a little bit of confidence the way things have gone the last five weeks?
"The main thing we need to do is to keep it going when we're out there at practice. Just staying focused on getting better, and not taking a day off when we're out there on the field. Just keep fine-tuning the details."

Is this the bowl you wanted to go to, or what was your preference?
"When he said Virginia, No. 18, that was the bowl that I wanted to go to. You come to Fresno State to play the big guns, and Virginia was the best team that was available. As soon as they signed with Boise, that was where I wanted to go. As soon as Coach Hill started talking about it."

What do you know about Virginia's football team?
"Not much, except that they play in the ACC. They've played some tough games, and they've only lost to Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech."

Fresno State Athletics

Quotes From Wednesday's Bowl Game Announcement Media Conference

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