Fresno State Athletics
Countdown to Kickoff: 30 Days
8/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 2, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - With the college football season less than a month away, players and coaches will be reporting to their respective campuses with enthusiasm.
For Pat Hill and the Fresno State Bulldogs, that will be Monday. The Bulldog players will report to campus for an entire day of orientation, NCAA and compliance paper work, receive medical physicals and checkout equipment.
The newcomers will have special team orientations with the coaching staff in which athletics department and team rules will be explained.
The Dogs will hit the field for the first time Tuesday, August 5, and will hold their first scrimmage just five days after that, August 10, at Bulldog Stadium at 7 p.m.. That will be the only scrimmage open to the public during fall camp.
"We are anxious to get started," said senior quarterback Tom Brandstater, who is spending his few remaining days before camp starts with his family in Turlock, Calif. "It's nice to get a little break after the summer workouts and all of the hard work we put in, but I can't wait to get into camp and get to work. We have a lot of players who are going to be fun to watch this year."
Brandstater's excitement permeates among other members of the team. The buzz in the Duncan Building (Fresno State's football facility) is at a pitch higher than ever before.
Fresno State has a lot of talent returning from the 2007 team that won nine games, and finished the season with wins over Kansas State of the Big 12 and the ACC's Georgia Tech in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. Ten starters return on offense, including explosive skilled positions players Brandstater, Marlon Moore, Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller, Chastin West, Jason Crawley and Seyi Ajirotutu. Four starters also return on the offensive line, led by seniors Bobby Lepori, Cole Popovich and Kenny Avon.
Senior tight end Bear Pascoe is one of the nation's premier players at his position and a candidate for the John Mackey Award and All-America honors.
The Dogs got some good news on Friday when they were ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. In addition, the WAC coaches and nearly all preseason college football magazines picked the Bulldogs to win the 2008 conference title. Most magazines have Fresno State ranked in the Top 25 of their national preseason polls.
"I like that we have high expectations here at Fresno State," said Hill. "Being picked to win the WAC is a tribute to this team and how hard it's worked. When we open camp next week, we are looking to build on all of the hard work we had during spring ball and this summer. It's an exciting time and we are looking forward to getting on the field with the players on Tuesday."
Hill will be a guest of NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., on his live ESPN national radio show Saturday morning at 10:30 p.m. Kiper will preview the Western Athletic Conference during the program.
Coming Sunday: A preview of Fresno State's quarterbacks.
"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. In the month of August, get 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.
