Dogs and Cats Battle in Home Finale
11/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 18, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State welcomes Kansas State Saturday in a much-anticipated game. The Wildcats are just the second Big 12 opponent to venture into Bulldog Stadium. On the line for Fresno State is its 11th win over a BCS conference school, the most of any non-BCS schools this decade. The Cats need a win to become eligible for a postseason bowl game. Tickets for the games are available by clicking the link at the top of this page.
ESPN Loves the Bulldogs
The Fresno State vs. Kansas State contest was originally scheduled to be shown on ESPN2, but the game was switched to ESPN last week by network officials in Bristol, Conn. "We can't ask for anything better," said head coach Pat Hill. "We have a great opponent from a big-time conference playing in Bulldog Stadium on ESPN on a Saturday afternoon. That's college football. We have a great opportunity to showcase our program, university and Valley to the nation." It will be Fresno State's fifth nationally televised game this season, which includes the final three games of the season. Fresno State's season finale at New Mexico State on Nov. 30 will be on ESPN2. For Fresno State, it will be the 52nd national televised game since the 2000 season.
Senior Salute
The Fresno State senior class of 16 players will play their final home game today. This class has posted a record of 27-20 to this point with at least two games remaining. This group is 16-6 in games played at Bulldog Stadium.
2007 Bulldog Seniors
Nate Adams
Tyler Clutts
Shannon Dorsey
Will Harding
Damon Jenkins
Ahijah Lane
Chris Piligian
Marcus Riley
Trevor Shamblee
Clifton Smith
Jesus Tapia
Clint Stitser
Greg Titiriga
Charles Tolbert
Ryan Wendell
Kyle Zimmerman
Against the Wildcats
One of Fresno State's biggest wins in school history came in 2004, when the Dogs beat undefeated and No. 13-ranked Kansas State 45-21 in Manhattan, Kans., one of the worst home losses for the Wildcats in the last 20 years. The Wildcats had won the Big 12 Conference and played Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl the previous year.
Against the Big 12
The Bulldogs have not fared well against schools from the Big 12 Conference, but to their credit six of the seven games played were at Big12 venues. Kansas State is just the second Big 12 team to venture into Bulldog Stadium. Fresno State lost to Baylor 37-35 in 1997.
Baylor (0-2)
Kansas State (1-0)
Oklahoma (0-1)
Oklahoma State (0-1)
Texas Tech (0-1)
Senior Tackle
Fresno State will hold its annual "senior tackle" on Friday, Nov. 23, at 4:30 p.m. in Bulldog Stadium. The senior tackle is a ceremony that symbolizes the final practice for senior student-athletes. Each senior will speak to the crowd and teammates before taking one final hit on a padded practice dummy. The public is invited to attend.
More About the Wildcats
- The Wildcats have been to a college bowl game in 12 of the last 14 years, one of just nine NCAA Division I-A programs to do that.
- Of Big 12 teams since 1996, only Texas and Nebraska have played in more college football bowl games than Kansas State.
- The Wildcats rank fourth among Big 12 schools for most wins since. Only Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska have more.
- From 1997-2003, the Wildcats became just the second program in NCAA history to win 11 games six times in a seven-year stretch.
- Since 1996 and the birth of the Big 12, the Wildcats have won the Big 12 North four times and won the 2003 Big 12 Championship by beating No. 1 Oklahoma in the title game.
- Kansas State has averaged over 30,000 fans per game for it last 12 bowl games, including a Cotton Bowl record of 45,000 fans in 1997. Over 40,000 Wildcat fans traveled to Tempe for the 1997 Fiesta Bowl.
Hill Among WAC's Finest
As Pat Hill coaches the final home game of his 11th season at Fresno State, here's a look at what he's accomplished and how it compares to other WAC coaching legends.
Most Wins
1. LaVell Edwards, BYU (1972-98), 243
2. Frank Kush, Arizona State (1962-77), 133
3. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force (1984-98), 120
4. Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997-p), 82
Most Bowl Games
1. LaVell Edwards, BYU (1972-98), 21
2. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force (1984-98), 10
3. Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997-p), 7
4. Frank Kush, Arizona State (1962-77), 6
"Join the State - Fresno State!" -The Bulldogs return to Bulldog Stadium for their final home game of the season on Saturday, November 24 against Big 12 member Kansas State. Don't miss the seniors march down the ramp one last time in a Bulldog uniform. It's Senior Day and Fan Appreciation Day! One lucky fan will have the chance to win a 2007 BMW 328i from Weber BMW, and a second fan will putt for $10,000 at halftime! For tickets, go to the ticket page at www.gobulldogs.com, call 559-278-DOGS or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
