Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Press Conference
8/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 2004
Thoughts on the start of the season and another tough non-conference schedule
"In college football, there is sometimes seems to be a reverse playoff order. When you are at a BCS school, the season works as a sort of progression. Here at Fresno State, we need to peak early, and remain on top. In 2001 we had that stage set for us, and we came through with it. In 2002, we had that stage set, and we had very tough losses at Wisconsin and Oregon, games that easily could have been won. Then in last year, 2003, we had the stage set, and we didn't get off to the start that we needed to against Tennessee."
"We have the stage set again. I think that is the main thing to work for when you are a school that is trying to burst onto the national scene. You need to go out to where there is interest nationally, and then go out and get it done. I think the table has been set well for us this year with our opener at Washington. Our players understand the mission, and they also understand that there is more than just the Washington game. There is a long season that goes into that mission. Hopefully, we can get the kind of start that everyone cherishes."
On the Washington Huskies
"I think you have to understand the mindset of Washington. For all of us here that have known the Washington Huskies a long time, they have a great tradition. Washington football has a tradition of winning. Going to Seattle and winning is always a difficult prospect. I think you are dealing with a football team that has heard a lot of things about how last year wasn't a success for them, a lot like the Colorado team that we faced in 2001. What a lot of people forget about the 2001 Colorado team was that they went to a BCS game; they won the Big 12 championship. We went in there with the mindset to play a very good football team, and we went in there and won that game. That was a very good football team, though a lot of people wanted to feel differently because of the outcome."
"I think that the University of Washington is going to be a much improved football team. From a personnel standpoint, we know a lot of the players on that team. There are some good players there. I think we're going to be going into a very hostile environment, against a very well prepared football team that has a mindset of getting back to a very good tradition. It's going to be a very tough football game."
On Fresno State's mindset
"We've always got a mindset that we've got to win. This is a big game for us. We're not walking into a stadium where people are going to be relaxing. Our days of sneaking up on teams are over. When we went to Tennessee, they were ready to play. People understand that these are big games. It's going to be a full-out fight on September 5th. Both teams are going to be playing hard, the way the games supposed to be played."
On if he thinks UW coach Keith Gilbertson would have preferred to open against a different opponent
"I don't know. You'd have to ask him. I'm glad it's our opener. It's a big-time venue to play in. It's against a team that is rich in tradition. Any time we get to play the Pac-10, that's a good thing."
On if he feels Fresno State is receiving more national recognition this year than in year's past
"The goal is to become a nationally recognized football program. It's a real catch-22 when you're not a BCS school. The position we're in here at Fresno State, we are trying to play at the $100 table with the big guys. The buy-in for us is that we always have to go to their casino, so it is a little bit different. The national notoriety that Fresno State received in the preseason was that we were in the preseason top 25 for the first time while I've been here. The recognition was there last year, we just didn't hold up our end of the bargain. Of course, we had some injuries and other things, but we just didn't get it done at Tennessee, we didn't get it done at Oklahoma, and we didn't get it done in our conference."
"In basketball, you have the chance to get back in the national eye by winning your conference tournament. It doesn't work that way in football. By the end of the football season, there will only be about 10 teams left. We all start with the same goals, so at Fresno State, we can't lose focus on the thought that we have been very fortunate that people have been talking about us for the last five years, and we want to keep that."
On if he thinks Husky Stadium will be intimidating for the Bulldogs
"No. Intimidation isn't always the right word. I think awe is the more proper word. We've been to a lot of different venues, but Oklahoma [last year] was just a little bit different. I thought we were a little starry-eyed at Oklahoma. I thought that we shook it off in the second half. I was proud of how we responded. Oklahoma was just something special, and boy, that's a team we'd like to get back on the schedule. That's what big time football is all about. Our players are seeing a lot of big football venues and teams. I just wish we could get some of them here."
On the state of the Fresno State team right now
"I think we had a very good camp. They did a great job in the offseason preparing themselves. Our last day of coaching with the team was the last day of March. From that time, they're basically in the weight room and running their own practices. We came back, we had one dehydration case and we didn't have many muscle pulls. Plus, for the guys that saw camp, you saw that we had a very physical camp. It's been very combative, it's been a personality tester, and it's been very hot out there. I feel very good about where our team is, we're getting our legs back Tuesday, and I feel very good about where we are in camp."
On if the noise will be a problem at Husky Stadium
"We had one closed practice last week with noise, and we only had one jump out of about 32 plays. [The players] handled the signals really well. We'll have another one this Wednesday in the stadium like we always do. We order a sound system to come down there, and it's loud. It's really about making sure the quarterback's voice is right, making sure the signals are right, making sure the exchange is right on silent count. Executing on those plays are what makes the deep ball effective."
On [starting OLB] Manny Sanchez's chances of starting this week
"He'll play, and we'll know Wednesday if he can start. But, either way, Manny Sanchez will play. We're very fortunate to have the depth and a player the ability of a Marcus Riley. Manny Sanchez is our starting linebacker, but he hasn't suited up in 10 days. He'll be on the field though."
On if [Dos Palos product] Kenny James playing for UW is any added incentive for Fresno State
"You know we really were close [to landing him at Fresno State]. He's a first class guy, great family, and we really thought we had a shot at Kenny, and it hurt losing him, but that's not an added incentive. Our kids are excited about playing against Washington, but there's nobody looking for Kenny James when they break the huddle."
On how Fresno State's RB's compare with Washington's
"I think we compare very well. I think our tailbacks compare with anyone on the West Coast. I think that's an area we're really grown in. I think when we're at a level playing field at every position, we'll be where we want to be. I think we've made great strides the past eight years in improving the overall depth at every position."
On if the Washington game is a must-win
"They're all must-wins. Every game is a big game, but it's not the end of the world if you lose. Well, to lose to Washington or Kansas State and say that our season's over like after the Tennessee game last year, I think that's a really unfair statement to make. I mean, there's still a lot to play for in going to San Jose [for a bowl]. If in 1997, when I took this job, if I said in three years we're going to play Michigan State, Georgia Tech and UCLA, everyone would have said I was insane. There's been great movement here, and so a loss at the beginning of the year is not the end of the season. Everyone needs to understand that the high expectations here are the highest of expectations. We're not going to finish the season in the top 25 by beating three I-AA teams in Fresno. We need to play tough teams, and if we lose to those teams, we'll move on to other goals."
