Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Face Media
7/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 24, 2007
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs took the podium during the morning session of the final day of the 2007 WAC Football Media Preview in San Jose, Calif. The event attracted nearly 100 media members with student-athletes and coaches fielding questions and conducting interviews.
In addition to Fresno State coach Pat Hill, two senior Bulldogs, defensive end Tyler Clutts and center Ryan Wendell, attended the media preview.
Hill addressed the media talking about his "hungry Dogs", who are looking to rebound from a 4-8 season and missing a bowl game for the first time in seven years.
"I will say this, I'm very excited about the work ethic and personality of our team," said Hill. "They are hungry and hungry Dogs hunt best. You are a young team. We have a few senior leaders sprinkled in and we will count on those guys, guys like Tyler Clutts and Ryan Wendell, but we have had three great recruiting classes and a lot of young players who are looking forward to getting on the field and contributing."
Wendell and Clutts also spent time with media, answering questions and setting the scene for the 2007 season. The Bulldog report to fall training camp on August 5 and hold their first practice August 6. Fresno State opens the 2007 season against Sacramento State on Sept. 1 at Bulldog Stadium.
"The WAC is as good as it's ever been," said Hill. "From top to bottom the WAC is very good. The biggest difference is that most of our teams have to play such tough non-conference schedules, mostly on the road, and they get off to a slow start. We are one of those teams. We open the season at Texas A&M and Oregon. We have to win those games. That's our expectation. But the reality is that they are hard. We are 10-19 against BCS schools since I've been here, but only three of those games have been in Bulldog Stadium. Now we get Kansas State at home this year, which is great. It's a hard road to travel in this league. What Boise State and Hawaii did last year was great and they deserve all of the kudos they are getting this preseason. I voted for both of them in the Top 10 (Hill is a voter on the USA Today Coaches poll), I think they are that good. If San Jose State wins at Arizona State I think they will prove they have Top 25 talent. The WAC is a lot better than it gets credit for. Hawaii and Boise State showed that last year and I expect big things from them, San Jose State, Nevada and of course us this year."
The 2007 WAC Media Preview included more national media members this season than in previous years, including ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel.
GoBulldogs.com caught up with Clutts and Wendell at the 2007 WAC Football Media Preview:
Tyler Clutts
How was your experience in San Jose?:
""It was great. We played golf with some of the media guys and got to hang out with the players. Garrett McIntyre (former Bulldog player) came over and we hung out with him. It was a good experience. It was good to meet all of the other players here."
Ryan Wendell On New Offensive Coordinator Jim McElwain:
"I'm a big fan. I liked (Frank) Cignetti and I liked (Steve) Hagen and learned a lot from both of those guys. But I really like McElwain, he's a great teacher and brings something new to the package. It's been great working with him this spring."
On the being the only offensive lineman at WAC Media Day:
"Offensive linemen don't get much credit and as much as some of them complain about that, we like it. We don't like being in the public eye or getting much credit. We like to play football and don't worry much about the rest of the stuff."
On the WAC Football Media Preview experience:
"It's been a good time. I liked meeting the coaches and some of the guys. I got to talk to Dick Tomey and I grew up loving Desert Swarm so that was interesting. I'm looking forward to getting back to Fresno and getting back to work."
On seeing himself on a poster with Heisman candidates Ian Johnson and Colt Brennan in the Hilton Hotel lobby:
"It was kind of cool. My Mom would be excited about that, but I'm sure the o-line guys back in Fresno would give me some grief."
What will you be doing before training camp starts?:
"We are maxing in the weight room so I'll be lifting and running. We have next week off so I'll go home for a couple days and come back get ready for camp."
On the offensive line in 2007:
"We really have five starters back. Kenny (Avon) started four games last year. We've got a lot of experienced guys back and they know what to they have to do. We have a great group and should be pretty good again this year."
On the outstanding young offensive linemen:
"We have several up and coming young guys who I think will be big-time players in the future. We have guys like Joe Bernardi and (Richard) Bear Pacheco and Andrew Jackson. We have some good-looking freshmen coming in. I can't wait to see them in training camp."
Last year the offensive line was a strength of the offense with a record-low for sacks and leading Dwayne Wright, No. 6 in the NCAA in rushing. Are those things important to you?:
"Our team record showed we didn't some things so well. The most important thing is wins and losses. I'd rather be on an undefeated team than have any of those kinds of records. Ultimately we'd like to be the best offensive line in the country on an undefeated team. I don't care about anything else but going undefeated."
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - For ticket information for the 2007 season click the tickets icon at the top of the page.
