Fresno State Athletics
An Idaho Adventure for 'Dogs
12/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2007
BOISE, Idaho - Boise provided the Bulldogs with non-California activities during the second day of events leading up to the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.
Snow tubing, practicing in the snow and a hearty Idaho dinner highlighted the Fresno State's first full day in the City of Trees.
Winter Sports Day
After a blanket of snow covered Boise Thursday night, Fresno State took to the hills for Winter Sports Day.
The team piled onto the buses and trekked up to Boise's own Bogus Basin Ski Resort. Decked out in their Humanitarian Bowl jackets, hats, and gloves, the team began the day by jumping into tubes to race down the hill.
"The snow was amazing," said senior punter, Kyle Zimmerman. "It was one of the best tubing experiences of my life."
"It can be summed up in one word: awesome," said Bryce Harris, a freshman offensive lineman.
Senior long-snapper Greg Titiriga agreed.
"Today was awesome," he said. "And it was breathtaking to see Coach Hill take a spin down the hill."
Head Coach Pat Hill joined in on the winter-wonderland fun, jumping on to a tube and throwing up his signature double thumbs up as he flew down the hill.
Tubing wasn't the only activity for the Bulldogs at Bogus Basin. Light-hearted snowball fights broke out regularly between players and even some of the coaches got involved.
"It was fun to do something besides football with the team," said freshman wide receiver Devon Wylie. "And it was great to see the coaches outside their normal coaching environment."
"It was a great adventure for all of us," said Hill. "The guys really had a great time."
Practice in Boise
Next the Bulldogs suited up for their first practice in the cold of Boise, Idaho.
When the team took the field, facilities workers were fervently shoveling the snow off the blue turf.
The team practiced for more than two hours as they attempted to get acclimated to the cold.
"Practice was cold at the beginning, but once we stretched out and started working out, it wasn't so bad," said Harris.
For freshman Matt Faulkner the cold wasn't as bad as conditions back at home in Texas.
"The cold wasn't too bad," he said. "And it was really fun to practice in the snow and on the blue turf."
Wylie said the cold was both good and bad for practice.
"The cold gave me more energy during practice because I had to work to stay warm," said Wylie. "At the same time, it was hard to stay focused on practice because you were working so hard to stay warm."
Certified Angus Beef Bowl Dinner
The day wrapped up with the Certified Angus Beef Bowl Diner presented by Owyhee Plaza Hotel and Food Services of America.
The long buffet line was well worth the wait as each person was given a football-sized slice of prime rib, Idaho potatoes and what Clint Stitser described as "amazing" dessert.
"Tubing today was the fourth greatest time of my life," said Titiriga. "Dinner was the fifth. The prime rib was the size of my face."
Clifton Smith was speechless when asked about dinner. Smith simply kissed his fingers in air like a chef to describe dinner.
Offensive Coordinator, Jim McElwain, said he was nothing but impressed with the whole bowl experience.
"The Bowl Committee has done a fantastic job with everything," he said. "And this is one of the best pieces of prime rib I've ever eaten."
Offensive guard Chris Piligian wrapped up the evening best.
"Boise is a wonderful, friendly city," he said. "They've treated us really well. Everything has been first-class."
