Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs to Open Spring Football Drills March 7
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 4, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Coming off one of the most historic seasons in Fresno State history, the Bulldog football squad will begin preparation for the 2005 season by opening the spring practice session on Monday, March 7.
Fresno State won the final six games of the 2004 season, including an exciting 37-34 overtime win over No. 18 Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl. In that six game stretch, Fresno State's average margin of victory was 33.8 points per game. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 22 in the final collegiate football polls.
"We are excited to start the spring," said head coach Pat Hill, who will welcomes back 45 lettermen and 17 starters from last season's squad. "We have excellent senior leadership and a lot of starters returning who have won a lot of games and been in some big-time football games. That experience will help us build our team chemistry and personality for the 2005 season."
It is expected Fresno State will begin the 2005 season ranked in the Top 25. ESPN's initial poll had the Bulldogs ranked No. 15 heading into next season.
Several key players are returning for Fresno State, including Paul Pinegar, a three-year starter at quarterback. Pinegar was named the MVP of the MPC Computers Bowl after throwing for a bowl record five touchdown passes. He enters his senior season ranked in the Fresno State record books in the top five in passing yards (6,164) and touchdown passes (54).
The Bulldog offense, which returns nine starters, ranked No. 4 in the nation last season in scoring offense averaging over 40 points per game. Leading the charge will be the rushing trio of Bryson Sumlin, Wendell Mathis and Dwayne Wright. They have combined to rush for more than 4,000 career yards and nearly 60 touchdowns for Fresno State. The Bulldogs will return four of five starting offensive linemen, led by second-team All-WAC performers Kyle Young and Dartangon Shack and guard Ryan Wendell, a 2004 Freshman All-American and WAC Co-Freshman of the Year.
On defense, Fresno State welcomes back first-team All-WAC defensive tackle Garrett McIntyre, who should be the leading candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. McIntyre has 18 career sacks and 30 tackles for losses. McIntyre is one of seven defensive starters returning to the team, that also includes cornerback Richard Marshall, a second-team All-WAC choice in 2004 and leading tackler Dwayne Andrews, a junior who earned honorable mention All-WAC honors in 2004.
The Bulldog special teams will be bolstered with the return of two-year starter Mike Lingua at punter and talented Clint Stitser, who saw limited action last season.
Fresno States 2005 schedule will once again be challenging, as the Bulldogs have road games at Oregon and two-time defending national champion USC. Fresno State's non-conference scheduled includes home games against Weber State Sept. 10 in the season opener and against defending MAC Champion Toledo, Sept. 27, at Bulldog Stadium.
The Bulldogs will also host three-time WAC champion Boise State on Nov. 12 and Louisiana Tech, one of the teams to beat Fresno State in 2004, on Dec. 3.
Fresno State will hold three scrimmages during the spring season. One of the scrimmages will be held in Visalia at Central Valley Christian High School, April 2, at noon. The spring game will be played at Bulldog Stadium on April 8 at 5 p.m.
