Fresno State Athletics
Opponent Preview: UC Davis
8/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - After having played one another nearly every year between 1922 and 1938, two California schools - Fresno State and UC Davis - have not met on the gridiron since 1952.
UC Davis begins its 91st season of football today when the Aggies hit the field for the start of practices in preparation for the most challenging schedule in program history.
The Aggies will welcome 90 players including 51 letterwinners to camp. UC Davis finished 5-7 overall in 2008 while placing second in the Great West Conference at 2-1. This year's schedule is setting up to be the most difficult in school history, featuring games at WAC members Fresno State and Boise State (Oct. 3), and the home-opener against Montana (Sept. 12) which advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship.
"I'm excited about the fact that we have 19 seniors," said 17th-year head coach Bob Biggs. "They have been tremendous in their work ethic and the chemistry during the offseason. We're going to be very humble about what we're going to do. We're just going to focus on ourselves and try to get better each and every week."
The Aggies return solid experience on both sides of the ball including 11 players who were honored All-Great West Conference teams last season. Thirteen players received 2009 preseason accolades on All-GWC teams from Phil Steele's College Football Preview, including senior center Tommy Hernandez who was named to the publication's Preseason All-America second team.
FOOTBALL FIESTA NIGHT
This event will showcase the strong Hispanic culture and heritage in the Valley, and leads into the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This event is expected to be one of the largest Hispanic Cultural Events ever on the Fresno State campus.
Fresno State is offering special group ticket packages and "Family Plans" for the game. Growing current partnerships with Spanish Language media agencies and strong Hispanic owned businesses will provide excellent game day experiences for all fans. Those interesting in group packages can get more information by calling (559) 244-5621 or online at www.gobulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs are expanding their relations with television partner Univision and radio partner Lotus Communications to promote the event. Lotus operates radio stations La Buena 101.9 FM and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM, the Spanish home of the Bulldogs. A Hispanic band will play during Bulldog Boulevard from 3-4 p.m. on game day and the Bulldog Marching Band will play a tribute at halftime of the game.
During the game, video messages and public address promotional announcements will be in both English and Spanish.
The Fresno State Athletics Department will work with several community and campus agencies including the Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce groups and Fresno State's Chicano Alumni others to provide even greater awareness and appreciation of the Hispanic culture during the event.
PRACTICES UPDATE
The team held two practices on Tuesday, a full-contact practice in the morning and a lighter two-hour practice in the evening. The Dogs will have one practice on Wednesday afternoon from 3-5:30 p.m.
Fans are welcome to attend practice sessions through the August 15 scrimmage in Bulldog Stadium. After that date, all practice sessions will be closed. Fans are asked to remain on the hillside that surrounds the practice facility and no video cameras, including cell phones with video capacity, are permitted. Fresno State asks that fans not post video practice highlights on the internet, as it could help opponents prepare when they play the Bulldogs.
FRESNO STATE FACT: The Bulldogs and Aggies will renew a rivalry that hasn't been played in 57 years as UC Davis makes its first-ever appearance in Bulldog Stadium on Sept 5 in the season opening game. Fresno State owns 105-84-1 record against the nine California colleges that have football programs. Of those, Fresno State has won the last meeting against seven of the nine schools, including two straight over Pac-10 foes Cal and UCLA. Under Pat Hill, the Bulldogs are 15-6 against California schools.
Here is Fresno State's all-time record against California colleges. (The last year the two teams played and score of that game is in parenthesis.)
California: 2-0 (2000, W 17-3)
Cal Poly: 30-10-2 (1985, W 59-10)
Sacramento State: 2-0 (2007, W 24-3)
San Diego State: 20-26-4 (2002, W 16-14)
San Jose State: 37-33-3 (2008, W 24-10)
Stanford: 0-3, (1927, L 47-0)
UC Davis: 11-5-1 (1952, W 41-7)
UCLA: 2-6 (2008, W, 36-31)
USC 1-1 (2005, L 50-42)
"We Are Your Team" - The `Dogs will be starting their 2009 Football season off right with Football Fiesta Night on Saturday, September 5th at 7pm when the UC Davis Aggies come to town. Football Fiesta Family Pack tickets are available now. To inquire about the Football Fiesta Family Pack, contact the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-DOGS.
