Fresno State Athletics
WAC Media Day Recap: Notes And Quotes
7/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
FRESNO, Calif.- The 2006 WAC Football Media Preview concluded yesterday afternoon, with head coaches, student-athletes and media from around the league gathering in Boise, Idaho, for the two-day event.
Fresno State was picked to finish second in both the WAC Preseason media and coaches polls. The Bulldogs earned 380 points and nine first-place votes in the media poll, and collected 59 points and four first-place votes in the coaches poll.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the 2005 campaign at 8-5 overall and made their seventh consecutive trip to a bowl game, the longest active streak of any team in the western United States.
Boise State, WAC co-champions in 2005 with Nevada at 9-4 overall, was tabbed first in both polls.
Here are some other highlights from 2006 WAC Football Media Preview:
NOTES
- Fresno State was represented at the 2006 WAC Football Preview in Boise by head coach Pat Hill and senior receiver Joe Fernandez.
- The WAC media, head coaches and players participated in a golf tournament at the Falcon Crest Golf Club on Tuesday and conducted media interviews on Wednesday.
- The WAC coaches held their annual meeting on Wednesday morning.
- Approximately 65 media agenies covered the event.
- Fresno State was picked to finished second in both the WAC Coaches and WAC media poll. Fresno State received four of nine first-place votes in coaches poll and were two points behind Boise State in that poll, the closest voting in the history of the WAC coaches poll.
- The Bulldogs return to Boise on Nov. 1 to take on the Broncos in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
- While Fresno State's non-conference schedule is projected as the toughest among WAC schools, with Oregon, Washington, Colorado State and LSU, several other WAC schools are playing some quality non-conference opponents:
Boise State: Oregon State
Louisiana Tech: Nebraska, Texas A&M, Clemson
Hawaii: Alabama, Purdue, Oregon State
Idaho: Michigan State, Oregon State
San Jose State: Washington, Stanford
Utah State: Arkansas
QUOTES
- Head coach Pat Hill
"We are really looking forward to the season opener against Nevada. There's no question that the way we finished last season left a sour taste, but this is a new team, a new season and we have high expectations. We are looking forward to it. I think we are going to have a very good football team. There's a lot of speculation about the quarterback situation, but we have a competitive situation with some outstanding young players. We will be fine at quarterback."
"The WAC is a very good conference. It's a better conference than we get credit for. The WAC has some tremendous coaches. When you look around here and see Chris Ault, whos in the college hall of fame, and Dennis Erickson, who's won national championships, and Dick Tomey with all his success. We have a former NFL head coach (June Jones). There are some outstanding coaches in this league. I think Jack Bicknell has done a great job and I think Chris Peterson will do a great job. We have as good a coaches as there are."
"This is going to be an exciting year for WAC football. Obviously we have a great way to start the season with Nevada on Sept. 1. That will be a great showcase for WAC football, not only because the importance of opening the season with a league game, but having it on national television to kickoff the college football season, is very good for the WAC."
- Senior wide receiver Joe Fernandez
"This has been a great experience. We have been able to see the other players and coaches from around the WAC. Everyone is excited for the season. I know the players and coaches have been working hard this summer to get ready. I really like our team. The guys have done a great job in the weight room and working to improve. I think we have a lot to prove this year and our goal is to win the WAC. That's the one thing we haven't accomplished and we are hungry for it this year."
"We are happy to have some big games this season. Everyone is talking about the LSU game, but that's way ahead. We need to concentrate on Nevada first. We are looking forward to Oregon because we left some stuff on the field there last year and it will be good to get them in Bulldog Stadium. We played well in Washington and we are looking forward to going back there."
"The WAC will be tough this year. I think Boise State and Nevada will be very good. We are looking forward to coming back to Boise. We haven't beaten them here. We need to do that to win the WAC and I know they are looking forward to it after last year's game. They have great fans here and Boise really treated us well when we came here for the bowl game. We have fond memories of that and want to make some more this year."
Join the State - Fresno State! Get tickets online 24/7 at www.gobulldogs.com or by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office (559-278-DOGS), Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Ticket Office is located at the south entrance of the stadium off Bulldog Lane. Fresno State's 2006 home schedule- which kicks off Sept. 1 against Nevada- features opponents such as Oregon, Colorado State, Hawai'i, New Mexico State and Idaho.
