Fresno State Athletics
Exciting 2010 Home Schedule Greets Bulldogs
8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 24, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - It's what Pat Hill has been waiting for.
After 13 seasons as Fresno State's head coach, Hill welcomes a home schedule that includes seven games, two against schools from automatic BCS conferences. It's the first time in nearly 20 years the Bulldog have had that many games at home and after more than a decade of playing the "anybody, anytime, anywhere" mantra, that will finally include key match-ups at Bulldog Stadium.
What has Hill even more excited is the number of returning starters and the depth of his squad for this fall. There are eight starters returning on each side of the ball, and plenty of experience in the special teams, always a strong suit of a Hill-coached team.
The combination of a favorable home schedule and quality talent returning has the team very excited heading into this season.
"To be honest, losing the New Mexico Bowl might have been a blessing for this team," said senior center Joe Bernardi, a Riminton Award candidate. "Since we got back in January we have wanted nothing more than to get that bitter taste out of our mouths. I have seen a lot of guys working harder than ever before and the camaraderie and attitude of the guys has been outstanding. Speaking for the rest of the seniors, we want to go out with a WAC championship and we have been working like a team that has that drive. I can't wait for September 4 to get here."
Bernardi's reference to the New Mexico Bowl was a double-overtime loss to Wyoming, a game in which the Dogs held a 28-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Although the Dogs finished the 2009 season with a respectable 8-5 record, there were those missed opportunities like the New Mexico Bowl game that has left a hunger. The Dogs lost in double overtime at Wisconsin and had Big East champion Cincinnati on the ropes in Ohio before falling late. The Dogs also has opportunities against Fiesta Bowl Champion Boise State in a hard-fought loss.
While those disappointments are stinging reminders of what could have been, there were great moments that Hill and his staff will use as building blocks for the 2010 season. Fresno State's dramatic win at Illinois in the regular season finale was one of those moments, as was an impressive 42-17 win at Hawaii, a game the Dogs led 42-3 heading into the fourth quarter. Fresno State also played well in a win at upstart Idaho, a team that went on to win the Humanitarian Bowl.
Senior All-WAC linebacker Ben Jacobs and fellow All-WAC end Chris Carter will lead a Bulldog defense that expects to be vastly improved. Among the eight starters back are second-team All-WAC safety Lorne Bell, nose man Cornell Banks, cornerback Desia Dunn and senior end Chris Lewis. All of those players have experience and will be heavily counted on.
Fresno State returns five of its top six leaders in tackles, led by Jacobs who had 106 and Bell with 65.
Joining Lewis, Banks and Carter on the line will be Logan Harrell, Anthony Williams and Chase McEntee in the middle.
 Senior end Chris Carter will be one of the WAC's best defenders.  | |
Linebackers Kyle Knox and Travis Brown also return to give the Dogs playmakers in the middle of the field, along with Shawn Plummer, who has earned his spot in the team as a former walk-on with stellar specials teams play and his overall athletic ability.
Phillip Thomas, a talented young player in the program, is an experienced safety who has made big plays early in his career.
The Dogs spent the off-season developing young pass rushers and working on schemes to better handle the various running attacks the team will face in the WAC.
During fall camp, the Bulldogs faced several option packages each day similar to what they will see in the first three opponents Cincinnati, Utah State and Mississippi.
As a group, the team has improved its speed and overall strength. Cornerback Isaiah Green, a projected starter opposite Dunn, clocked an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.29 during the summer.
The Bulldog offense will be in the hands of senior quarterback Ryan Colburn. After sitting behind Tom Brandstater, now a back-up to Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts, Colburn grew into the position as the season progressed in 2009. A strong-armed left handed passer, Colburn threw 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions during the second half of last season and his perfect game (14-of-14 passes completed) against Idaho and his nearly flawless performance against Hawaii (12-of-14 passing for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns), both in hostile road environments, were two of the best quarterback performances in Bulldog history. He finished the year ranked No. 3 in the WAC and No. 20 nationally in passing efficiency. His offense also ranked in the Top 20 in scoring, total offense and rushing.
"There's no doubt that Ryan Colburn is a better quarterback than he was at this time last year," said Hill. "You could see as the season progressed, the game slowed down for him and that's so important for a quarterback. He's a great leader, patient and smart and I expect a big year from him this season."
Those are strong words from a coach who has sent all four of his previous starting quarterbacks to the NFL, three of them (David Carr, Billy Volek and Brandstater) are still active. Waiting in the wings is sophomore Derek Carr, who has shown tremendous arm strength, accuracy and a quick release.
 Senior Ryan Colburn continues a legacy of outstanding quarterbacks at Fresno State. | |
Colburn welcomes all five starting offensive linemen back, his starting tight end, Vince Pascoe, and his No. 2 receiver from last year, Jamel Hamler. All eight of those players are used to playing together.
Andrew Jackson leads an offensive line that could be one of the nation's best. Last year, the group opened holes for NCAA rushing leader Ryan Mathews. This year, they will be blocking for a talented group of backs and receivers.
Jackson is a first-team Academic All-American, as well as an honorable mention All-American and first-team All-WAC player. In his fourth year as a starter, he's on track to be recognized as one of the best in school history.
Other honors candidates on the line are Bernardi and Kenny Wiggins, a second-team All-WAC pick in 2009 at right tackle (Colburn's blind side protector). Senior Devan Cunningham returns at left guard and junior starter Bryce Harris is a rising star after starting all 13 games in 2009.
The biggest question mark will be at running back as the Dogs look for a replacement for Mathews, the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL draft. Sophomore Robbie Rouse, Michael Harris and A.J. Ellis all shared time in the spring. Rouse is a small, quick and powerful player in the mold of Darren Sproles (San Diego Chargers), and has such explosiveness that he can be a game changer. He served as Mathews' back-up last season and averaged nearly 6 yards per carry. Look for Cal transfer Tracy Slocum to earn playing time as the season progresses.
The receiving corps was depleted with the losses of Seyi Ajirotutu, Chastin West and Marlon Moore, all of whom are on NFL rosters.
With Hamler, who caught five touchdowns and had more than 500 yards last season, senior Devon Wylie, the fastest player in Bulldog history, and redshirt sophomore Rashad Evans, Fresno State will have some explosive weapons.
A.J. Johnson had an excellent spring and J.J. Stallworth, a physical receiver who sat out last season, will be in the hunt for playing time. The development of young receivers to provide depth will be a priority for fall camp. Hill is pleased with a very talented freshman class of wide outs, led by Josh Harper, Isaiah Burse, Jalen Saunders and Victor Dean. According to Hill, all have the talent to make an immediate impact for the Dogs. Their ability to get on the field will be determined as they learn the offense and refine their game.
"I feel very good about our offensive scheme and the talent we have," said Hill. "We have to develop depth in some areas and get some young guys some reps to get them ready to play, but with the offensive line intact and good depth there, we feel like we will be able to run the ball and protect the quarterback and that's where it all starts."
The special teams unit will showcase one of the nation's premier kickers in junior Kevin Goessling. Selected first-team All-WAC as a sophomore, a year in which he only missed one field goals attempt, Goessling will again be a top candidate for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top place kicker. He enters the season with having made 15 consecutive field goals.
Long snapper Bobby Shepard is back for the third straight year and Andrew Shapiro, who handled all of the kickoff duties last season, is expected to be the team's punter, replacing All-WAC player and Jacksonville Jaguar Robert Malone.
The Dogs hope to get off to a fast start with four of the first six games at Bulldog Stadium. The Dogs open the season with two-time defending Big East Champion Cincinnati, a team that played in the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl in the last two seasons.
The only two road trips in the first six games, both difficult, happen in back-to-back weekends, Sept. 18 at Utah State and Sept. 25 at Mississippi.
After that, the Dogs play three consecutive home games against Cal Poly, Hawaii and New Mexico State.
The New Mexico State game has been designated as Centennial game and homecoming. Fresno State, which was founded in 1911, will be holding a variety of Centennial events during the year.
After the three-game home stand, the Dogs head to the road to play San Jose State and Louisiana Tech in consecutive weekends, before closing the season with three of four at home. The Dogs host Nevada on Nov. 13, play at Boise State Nov. 19, and then Idaho and Big Ten opponent Illinois to close the season.
"This is the best home schedule we've ever had," said Hill. "I'm really happy for our players and fans that we have such great schedule with seven very good home games. We are looking forward to the season."
"We Are Your Team!" The Dogs open their season in less than two weeks on September 4 against defending Big East Champion Cincinnati. Don't miss any of the Bulldog football action. Ticket packages, includes season tickets for all seven home games are available now by clicking the tickets icon at the top of the page.
