Fresno State Athletics
Dogs New Mexico Bowl Bound
12/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2008
2008 New Mexico Bowl
Fresno State (7-5, 4-4 Western Athletic) vs Colorado State (6-6, 4-4 Mountain West)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008
Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. PT
Site: University Stadium (39,000); Albuquerque, N.M.
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); Dog Talk (10 a.m.) Countdown to Kickoff (11 a.m.)
Play-by-Play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Jordan Christensen; Sideline: Ralph Wood
Television: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore; Analyst: Rod Gilmore
The college football bowl season begins Saturday and the Fresno State football team is part of the action. The Bulldogs will play Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl at 11:30 a.m. PT. It's the second bowl game of the season, and the only bowl game on national television (ESPN) on Saturday afternoon.
The Dogs will travel to Albuquerque on Wednesday morning, arriving at approximately 12:15 a.m. MT. The team will hold its first practice session at the University of New Mexico Wednesday afternoon. While in New Mexico, the Bulldogs will be treated to the best in Southwestern hospitality, including a festive welcome dinner Wednesday night.
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Dogs Headed to 21st Bowl Game
Fresno State has been invited to a college bowl game for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons and will be making its 21st appearance in a postseason bowl game. The Dogs will be playing in the New Mexico Bowl for the first time in school history, facing Colorado State from the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs and Rams are no strangers to each other, having played 11 times dating back to when they were both members of the Western Athletic Conference. The game will be televised live in HD on ESPN.
About Colorado State
Under first-year head coach Steve Fairchild, Colorado State is heading to a bowl game for the first time since 2005. After replacing long-time coach Sonny Lubick, Fairchild, a former quarterback for the Rams, became the first coach in school history to lead the Rams to a bowl game in the first season. The Rams needed two wins over New Mexico and Wyoming in the final two games to become bowl eligible. The Rams own a 4-7 record in its 11 bowl game appearances. Gartrell Johnson heads a CSU offense, averaging just under 100 yards per game and has scored 10 touchdowns. The Rams are the second-rated passing team in the Mountain West Conference, averaging 247.5 yards per game. Receiver Rashaun Greer ranks No. 21 in the NCAA in receiving yards per game, 87.08.
Against the Rams
The Rams own a 6-5 lead in the all-time series that began in 1940. The two schools renewed the series in 1992 when Fresno State joined the WAC. The Rams where the benchmark program in the WAC in the mid-1990s, winning four straight games over the Dogs from 1993-97. The Bulldogs took three non-conference games from 1999-2001 and the Rams have won the last two, in 2003 and in 2006 at Bulldog Stadium, 35-23.
Last Time Against the Rams
Colorado State won the last meeting, 35-23, at Bulldog Stadium on Sept. 30, 2006. The Bulldogs held a 17-14 lead at the half, but gave up two second half touchdowns to Damon Morton, one on a punt return and another on a long touchdown pass, as the Rams scored 21 unanswered points. Several key Bulldogs played roles in that game, including receiver Chastin West (3 rec., 54 yards, 28-yard TD), quarterback Tom Brandstater (19-42-3, 205 yards, TD), tight end Bear Pascoe (2 rec., 16 yards) and punter Robert Malone (36.3 average). CSU back Gartrell Johnson had 55 yards on 24 carries in the game and scored a touchdown.
ESPN Loves the Dogs
Fresno State will make its 62nd national television appearance this decade when the Dogs play Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl on ESPN. Recently ESPN/ABC televised eight consecutive Fresno State games on its family of networks, the last four of the 2007 season and the first four games of the 2008 season. Fresno State has eight nationally televised games in 2008, including four of the last five of the season. Including the bowl game, Fresno State will have played 12 of its last 16 games on ESPN's family of networks (ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2).
Bowling in the Rockies
Fresno State is playing a bowl game in the Mountain Time Zone for the third time in its last four bowl apperances. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in bowl games played in the Rockies, winning two Humanitarian Bowl titles over No. 18 Virginia in 2004 and Georgia Tech in 2007. Those games were played at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.
About the Game
Fresno State is 11-10 all-time in games played in the 12th month and 9-8 in December bowl games ... Fresno State's outstanding senior tight end Bear Pascoe will be playing against his father's alma mater in the game. Sean Pascoe lettered as a linebacker for the Rams in 1976. CSU finished that season with a 6-5 record. For historians, Wyoming - coached by Fred Akers - was the WAC Champion and played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Christmas Day in 1976 ... Both of these programs earned their WAC first bowl appearances and wins in the Freedom Bowl. CSU beat Oregon 32-31 in the 1990 Freedom Bowl for the first of four bowl apperances in 31 year-run in the WAC. The Dogs beat USC 24-7 in the 1992 Freedom Bowl is their first season as a WAC member and are making their 11th bowl appearance in their 17th season in the league ... Fresno State is making an appearance in its 13th different bowl game. In contrast, Alabama, which is making its NCAA-record 56th bowl appearance this season, has been to 16 different bowl games ... Fresno State's 11 bowl wins ranks 31st all-time for NCAA schools, more than TCU, Texas Tech, BYU, Cal, Stanford and Maryland. Only five schools in the West have more career bowl victories: USC 30, Washington 14, UCLA 13, Arizona State 12 and Colorado 12 ... Fresno State is 11-3 in games played in the state of New Mexico, 3-3 in games played in Albuquerque, all vs. the New Mexico Lobos. Fresno State's last game at University Stadium was more than 10 years ago, Oct. 31, 1998, a 28-20 victory over New Mexico. Fresno State's last loss was on Nov. 18, 1989, 45-22, to the Lobos. That loss cost Fresno State a perfect season as the Bulldogs entered the game 10-0 and ranked No. 17 in the nation. Fresno State beat Ball State 27-6 in Cal Bowl IX to finished the 1989 season with a record of 11-1.
Join the State - Fresno State! The Bulldog football team will head to Albuquerque, N.M. to take on Colorado State in the third New Mexico Bowl. The Bulldogs are playing in a postseason bowl game for the ninth time in 10 seasons. For ticket information for the New Mexico bowl click on the tickets link at the top of this page.
