Fresno State Athletics
Through a Bulldog's Eyes
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Day 4 - Dec 30, 2007
It's only one more day till game time.
Each morning we get a little more sleep and today's wake up was not until 9:00 a.m. Breakfast was the same as everyday: eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, and pancakes; we always know what to expect. After breakfast we met as an offense to study more Georgia Tech film. Then, more food, like I said before, you will never go hungry at a bowl game.
We had a little free time after lunch which gave me some time to hang out with my parents. They made the drive out here all the way out from my home town Wilseyville, Calif., a little town about an hour east of Stockton. Having hung out with the family, the team made our final trip to the stadium for practice. Before practice, we took our team picture; it's always fun to watch people organize 105 guys so everyone can be seen, but those taking the picture handled it like champs. With the picture taken, practice started.
This practice was at walk through tempo; just making sure everyone knows where to go on certain plays. Practice over and back to the hotel we go for more meetings. This meeting was our personnel meeting where we went over the players of Georgia Tech. After that was dinner, followed by chapel put on by Jamal Jones, who does a great job every week for us. Right after chapel was our big special teams meeting to make sure all the different special teams are all on the right page. Once the meeting we headed over to the training room to get a snack and then back to our rooms.
It's been a great experience here in Boise and all we have left is what we came here to do - win the game against Georgia Tech. Now it's time for bed and to get some rest for the game.
Day 3 - Dec. 29, 2007
This morning we finally got the chance to sleep in until 8:30. An extra hour does make a difference.
After breakfast we met as a team to start focusing on the game and blocking out all the distractions. The focus of the team is very important in the last 48 hours before the game and the coaches do a great job of making sure we are prepared and focused for the game.
The meeting came to an end and it was time for another trip to the blue turf for my final perfect Thursday practice. At every Thursday practice it is extremely important that we do not make any mistake, earning it the name "perfect Thursday."
All week I've been catching myself saying final this, final that, I can't believe it's coming to an end. It feels like a lifetime, but at the same time it doesn't feel like it's been very long at all.
With practice finished, we got back to the hotel to get ready to go to the Humanitarian Awards Dinner. We were in and out in no time. They got straight to business with serving food and presenting awards.
Clint Stitster was picked for the Humanitarian's Award for his ability to perform on the field as well as his involvement in the community. No one but Clint deserves this award; he has given a great deal back to the community and excelled in the class room. The awards dinner is over and we made it back to the hotel for an early curfew.
The 48-hour game countdown has started with a great deal of focus and a good amount of sleep.
Day 2 - Dec. 28, 2007
An early wake up jump-started another long day and breakfast is always the best way to begin a day.
After breakfast the young guys left early up to the snow, while the travel team had to stay behind for unit meeting to watch the previous practice. Once that was over, we got to join in the fun in the snow. When we made it up to the snow resort, we only had an hour, but it was definitely worth the trip. Riding down a snowy hill on an inner tube is always a fun time and even better when you don't have to walk the tube back up the hill. All you had to do was hook your tube on a pulley system and it pulled you back up the hill.
Fun aside, it was back to business and time to make one of my last walks out to practice as a Bulldog. It amazing how many practices I've gone through in the past five years and just today I had one of my last.
I could say I'll miss it, but I don't think I will just because it was not always the best time. Game day is the best day and that made all the practices worth it.
After practice we went to a great prime rib dinner put on by the Owyhee Plaza Hotel. Same place we went to for our Christmas dinner last time we were here three years ago. The food was just as good, if not better than last time.
Day 1 - Dec. 27, 2007
The final bowl trip as a senior is one to remember for a life time.
We started it with an early morning meeting at the Duncan Building to make sure we were all organized and ready to go. As I sit down in my regular seat, I realize this is my last team meeting in Bulldog facilities. It's amazing how quick things go in a matter of five years.
Once everyone was loaded on the plan it was an easy one in a half hour trip from Fresno to Boise. We arrived about noon and went straight to the amazing luxury of Boise's Double Tree Riverside. We had just enough time to check in and dump our bags, before we're off to the Angus Bowl for Beef against Georgia Tech.
We started the competition off with Georgia's offense against our defense. The defense didn't do their part for the game and the offense had to step in and make up for the defense, but it was too late. Georgia Tech won the bowl for beef. We'll let them have that bowl victory, we'll take the important bowl on Monday.
One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry during bowl week. Once we left the bowling alley we went to the beef bowl dinner; amazing food and plenty of it. After dinner we were on our own once we got back the hotel. Curfew wasn't till 1:00am so a few of us wanted to check out the night life in downtown Boise. Everything is within walking distance and has its own theme. One a.m. and it's bed check and time to say good night to the first day.
