Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Prepare for Rival Spartans
11/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2008
Fresno State (6-4, 3-3 WAC) vs San Jose State (6-5, 4-3 WAC)
Date: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. PT
Site: Spartan Stadium (41,031); San Jose, Calif.
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); Dog Talk (5 p.m.) Countdown to Kickoff (6 p.m.)
Play-by-Play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Jordan Christensen; Sideline: Ralph Wood
ESPN Deportes (1600 AM) in Spanish
Play-by-Play: Jess Gonzalez; Analysts: Sam Sosa and Doug Kessler
Television: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Sean McDonough; Analyst: Chris Spielman: Sideline: Rob Stone
Dogs San Jose Bound
The Bulldogs head to arch-rival San Jose State for a WAC match-up. It's the final game of the regular season for the Spartans, in search of their second bowl game in three years. The Bulldogs are looking for their ninth bowl game in the last 10 seasons and have two games remaining. The game will be nationally televised, the first time this rivalry has ever been shown to a national audience, and is the only national TV game on Friday.
Complete Release in PDF Format 
About San Jose State
Under veteran head coach Dick Tomey, the Spartans are bowl eligible for the second time in three years. San Jose State's defense continues to be one of the WAC's best, allowing just 318 yards per game and 21.4 points, second only to Boise State in both categories. Quarterback Kyle Reed leads the Spartan offensive attack. He has nine touchdowns passes this season. The Spartans are a dangerous kick return team, ranking No. 19 in the NCAA at 24.2 yards per return.
Against the Spartans
Thanks to a recent 12-game winning streak against the rival Spartans, the Bulldogs own a 36-33-3 lead in the all-time series, which began in 1921. The Spartans held the series lead since the early 1950s until 2003, when the Dogs regained the advantage. Fresno State has dominated the recent games, winning 13 of the last 14 games. The only win in that time was the last meeting at Spartan Stadium, Dec. 2, 2006, a 24-14 SJSU win. Prior to that the Bulldogs had won four straight games at San Jose dating back to 1997. Fresno State won last year 30-0 at Bulldog Stadium. Pat Hill is 10-1 against the rival Spartans.
ESPN Loves the Dogs
Fresno State will make its 60th national television appearance this decade when the Dogs play at San Jose State on ESPN2. ESPN/ABC televised eight consecutive Fresno State games on its network, the last four of the 2007 season and the first four games of the 2008 season. Fresno State is scheduled for seven nationally televised games on the ESPN networks in 2008, including three of the final four this month. In all, Fresno State will have played 12 of 16 games on the ESPN's networks by the end of the 2008 season.
Best in the West This Decade
In the last seven years, Fresno State has established itself as one of the best college football programs on the West Coast. Here is a breakdown of the five schools with the most wins in the Western United States this decade (includes all Division 1-A teams in the Pacific, Mountain and Hawaiian Time Zones):
No Team, Wins
1. Boise State, 90
2. USC, 83
3. Fresno State, 73
3. Oregon, 73
5. Hawaii, 66
Bulldog Award Banquet Set
Fresno State will hold its annual awards banquet on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Fresno Convention Center downtown. For ticket information contact the Bulldog football office at (559) 278-3015.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs travel to San Jose State to take on the Spartans on Friday, November 21 at 6:30 pm. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
