Fresno State Athletics
ESPN and Fans to Pick the Face of Bulldog Football
5/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 21, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Bulldogs fans can help ESPN pick the Face of the Fresno State football program.
Every football school has a Face of the Program, that iconic image you think of when talking football on campus. Here's your chance to help define who or what that is. Is it that fabled coach? A legendary player? A memorable play? A unique mascot? ESPN.com's SportsNation is taking all suggestions as you help decide the Face of the Fresno State Program.
ESPN.com started soliciting input for this distinction May 1 and will announce the winners in mid-June. The majority of who have already voiced their opinions view Jim Sweeney, Pat Hill, David Carr or Trent Dilfer as that recognizable face. It's a great debate.
With the plethora of NFL players and coaches who've been associated with the Bulldog program over the decades, many other individuals should likely be considered.
Some programs have one simple iconic figure, like Penn State's Joe Paterno or Alabama's Bear Bryant. Finding that singular icon at other schools, including Fresno State, would be more difficult.
Rutgers Game Time Change
ESPN has notified Fresno State that the game with Rutgers will be televised live at 4 p.m. ET, instead of the previously scheduled time of 4:30 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs will be taking on the Scarlet Knights for the first time at Rutgers Stadium. It will also be Fresno State's first time playing a Big East team.
What About Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Badgers will come calling on Bulldog Stadium Sept. 13. Here are some tidbits about the Badgers fans may find interesting:
- Athlon's College Football Annual has the Badgers ranked No. 12 in its 2008 preseason poll.
- David Carr's 2001 Sports Illustrated cover photograph was taken in Fresno State's win over nationally-Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin is the first Big Ten team to ever play in the Valley.
- The Badger's running backs coach John Settle was Fresno State's running backs coach for several years under Pat Hill, during which time he tutored several great backs including: Wendell Mathis, Dwayne Wright, Derrick Ward, Bryson Sumlin, Rodney Davis and Paris Gaines.
- Wisconsin has a 21-5 record in two seasons under head coach Bret Bielema.
- Over the last 15 seasons and more than 90 games, Wisconsin has drawn more than 70,000 fans for every game.
- Fresno State is 1-1 all-time against the Badgers, winning at Camp Randall Stadium 32-20 in 2001 and narrowly losing the next year, 23-21.
- Wisconsin has nine bowl wins in the last 15 years, more than any other program in the nation.
- In 2000, Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne became the NCAA's all-time rushing leader and won the Heisman Trophy.
Join the State - Fresno State! For season ticket and mini-plan ticket plans for the 2008 season, including the home opener against Big Ten powerhouse Wisconsin, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page.
