Fresno State Athletics
Countdown to Kickoff: 18 Days
8/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 14, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - There is nothing Tim Skipper loves more than looking up at the Red Wave in Bulldog Stadium. Even though his playing days are done, his influence can still be seen on the sidelines through his work coaching Fresno State running backs.
"The best part about playing was looking up to the stands and seeing all the people in red so excited for the game," Skipper said with a big smile. "I love coming to work every day and there is nothing like Bulldog football."
As the architect responsible for training a talented backfield, Skipper draws on his days as a former Fresno State middle linebacker to give explosive Bulldog running backs an inside look into the mind of a defender trying to stop offensive firepower.
Skipper earned his stripes for the Bulldogs early in his collegiate career by starting as a freshman on his way to becoming a four-year starter. He earned Freshman All-America honors, tallied the second-most tackles in school history with 418, and received the highly regarded most inspirational Bulldog award in his senior season.
He had some pretty special moments too.
Skipper was part of the Bulldogs' 1999 Western Athletic Conference championship, the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl and earned the prestigious selection as the game's most valuable defender in the 2000 Silicon Valley Classic.
But, the pure passion and energy that defined Skipper as a player, has soaked into his approach as a coach when teaching student-athletes.
"I love working with the athletes," Skipper, a 2001 honors alumnus of Fresno State, said. "It is exciting to back here working with Coach Hill and his staff."
Before rejoining the Bulldogs, Skipper worked as the secondary and defensive coordinator at both Sacramento State and Western New Mexico.
Now in his third season as Fresno State's running backs coach, Skipper has guided the development of players who have burst through countless seems and bounced off puzzled defenders as they earned respect for continuing the tradition of a smash mouth running game that helps define Pat Hill's brand of football.
"I just try to tell our running backs to keep moving up field and they need to hit their spots to avoid being taken down," Skipper said.
In addition to bringing the nation's top freshman touchdown runner, Ryan Mathews, to early success along with solid production from Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding, Skipper directed the script for future NFL players Dwayne Wright and Roshon Vercher in their final seasons.
"These guys play hard, but are also great individuals," Skipper, son of Carolina Panthers assistant head coach Jim Skipper, said. Tim's brother, Kelly, is a former Fresno State running back and now serves as the running backs coach for the Oakland Raiders.
When Tim isn't on the Fresno State sidelines barking words of advice for the Bulldogs, he loves finding down time with a controller in his hands.
"I enjoy playing video games," Skipper said. "It's fun and nice way to release."
Coming Friday: An exclusive question and answer session with Fresno State senior quarterback Tom Brandstater.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The first Big Ten team will travel to the Valley as the `Dogs take on Wisconsin in the home opener on Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN2. Be sure to reserve your seat for the Wisconsin game by purchasing a season ticket, family plan or 3-game mini plan for just $99. You can buy your official Wisconsin game day t-shirt at the Bulldog Shop for only $10 with any purchase. To purchase tickets, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page, call the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS, or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
