Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Arrive in Honolulu Friday
12/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2014
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
HONOLULU. - The Fresno State Bulldogs arrived in Honolulu Friday evening to partake in a host of bowl events and continue its preparations to face off against the Rice Owls in the 2014 Hawai`i Bowl on Christmas Eve.
The Bulldogs practiced in Fresno early Friday morning before departing for Oahu. Upon arrival in Honolulu, Fresno State had a team security meeting with local police and received their bowl gifts.
"I'm looking forward to a great week of preparation," head coach Tim DeRuyter said. "We get a chance to take in some of the Hawaiian culture, especially for those guys that haven't been here before to experience that and then really prepare for a heck of a game against a really good Rice team that started off 0-3 just like us and has rebounded really well.
"We know it's going to be a heck of a challenge and we need to make the last three hours of this trip a lot better than we made the last three hours the last time we were here."
Riding a five-game losing streak in bowl games, including the past two that were lopsided losses, Fresno State is focused on ending the season with a win.
"We're looking forward to getting a win first and foremost," junior defensive back Charles Washington said. "It's been a long semester school-wise, football-wise with ups and downs throughout the season, we get some time to relax out here."
The majority of the team went through the Hawai`i Bowl experience two years ago in 2012 when Fresno State fell to SMU 43-10. The team knows what to expect, what worked and what didn't, and are looking forward to making this a good trip.
"Last time we were here just a couple years ago we had great hospitality, the weather is beautiful and they do a great job of taking care of us so we are very grateful to be here," DeRuyter said. "We'll get into a practice routine where our guys are comfortable. We had good week of practice this last week during finals and we are going to repeat that this week and be focused to go on Wednesday."
On Saturday, the team's first full day on the Islands, Fresno State will practice in the morning and in the evening attend the Royal Hawaiian Lu'au.
"It feels good out here, nice warm weather and lots of cool gifts so it is exciting," said first-team All-Mountain West nose guard Tyeler Davison. "Hopefully we'll go out with a win, that's the goal so we will see if we can make it happen."
Fresno State and Rice meet in the 2014 Hawai`i Bowl on Christmas Eve in a 5 p.m. game televised nationally on ESPN.
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.
