Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Open Spring Ball March 26
3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 25, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - - There are few times when head coach Pat Hill isn't excited about talking about his football team, but no question the excitement level surrounding the 2008 squad has him and his staff buzzing.
After an impressive win over Georgia Tech in the 2007 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, Fresno State returns 51 lettermen and 17 starters.
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The Bulldogs are looking forward to building on that success over the next four weeks in which they will hold 15 practice sessions and three scrimmages. The team will hold the annual spring scrimmage in Bulldog Stadium at 2 p.m. April 19. The public is invited to that free of charge.
"We are excited to get started," said Hill. "Spring ball is a opportunity of us to build the personality of a team that will return in the fall. We are coming off a great season of nine wins and have some great leadership returning. I'd expect this group will pick-up where last season finished and be ready to make a run. We are already looking forward to the season opener at UCLA in the Rose Bowl."
Hill and the Dogs will be begin practice on March 26 at the Bulldog football practice facility. The first scrimmage will be held April 5 at Bulldog Stadium.
Many publications are already forecasting the Bulldogs in their preseason 2008 Top 25.
Headlining the list of top returning Bulldog players are:
- Senior tight end Bear Pascoe, a first-team All-WAC selection and 2008 Mackey Award candidate
- Senior quarterback Tom Brandstater, the MVP of the 2007 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
- Sophomore linebacker Ben Jacobs, second-leading tackler in 2007 with 81
- Junior Marvin Haynes, a two year starter who had 65 tackles last season
- Junior cornerback A.J. Jefferson, a first-team All-American and the 2007 NCAA leading in kickoff return average
- Senior left tackle Bobby Lepori, who will enter his third season as a starter
- Sophomore running back Ryan Mathews, who was one of the top freshmen backs in the nation and scored 14 touchdowns
- Moses Harris, two year starter who had 62 tackles last season
- Senior left tackle Bobby Lepori will enter his third season as a starter
- Senior guard Cole Popovich, a three-yea starter
- Junior receiver Marlon Moore the team's leading receiver from 2007 with 695 yards and five touchdowns
- Senior Jon Monga ranked fourth in the WAC in sacks in 2007 with 6.5
2008 Spring Practice Schedule
Here's Fresno State's Spring Practice Schedule. Dates and times are subject to change.
March 26, Practice Facility (2:15-4:30 p.m.)
March 28, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
March 29, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
March 31, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
April 2, Practice Facility (2:15-4:30 p.m.)
April 4, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
April 5, Bulldog Stadium (2 p.m.)
April 7, Practice Facility (2:15-4:30 p.m.)
April 9, Practice Facility (2:15-4:30 p.m.)
April 11, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
April 12, Bulldog Stadium (2 p.m.)
April 14, Practice Facility (2 p.m-4:30 p.m.)
April 16, Practice Facility (2:15-4:30 p.m.)
April 19, Bulldog Stadium (2 p.m.)
April 21, Practice Facility (3:20-5:30 p.m.)
All times are Pacific and subject to change
Scrimmages in Bold
Join the State - Fresno State! Season tickets are available for the 2008 Fresno State home season, which opens with a nationally televised game against Big 10 foe Wisconsin. For more information, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page.
