Catching up with Bear Pascoe: Q&A
5/14/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. - When the Clovis Rodeo came to town, April 26-29, a familiar face returned to the area in Bear Pascoe.
Pascoe, a tight end for the Fresno State football team from 2004-08 and future seven-year NFL veteran, traded in his cleats for boots in 2016 after a standout football career, transitioning to rodeoing, specifically steer wrestling.Â
The sport, however, runs in the family and should not be a surprise. Pascoe grew up competing in rodeo prior to his Bulldog years. His brother, Ryan, is now his team roping partner and his father-in-law, John W. Jones, is a Hall of Fame bulldogger and 10-time NFR qualifier.
In 2017, Pascoe ranked fifth in the 2017 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Permit steer wrestling standings, the sport's minor league system, and he hopes to reach the top stage in the near future.
On the gridiron, Pascoe started 38 games and played in 49 during his career at Fresno State. He totaled 112 receptions for 1,294 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pascoe was named a first-team All-WAC selection in 2007 and second-team All-WAC selection in 2008. Arguably his most memorable game for the Red Wave was in 2007 when the Bulldogs traveled to Texas A&M on Sept. 8 and went three overtimes in a tough 47-45 loss to the nationally-ranked Aggies. Pascoe caught seven passes for 70 yards and three touchdowns in that contest. To this day, he is the last Bulldog tight end to catch three scores in a single game.Â
Pascoe was selected in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2009 NFL Draft but made his mark in the NFL with the New York Giants. In his four years in New York, he played in 66 games for the franchise and was a member of the Super Bowl team that upset a Patriots squad that entered the game undefeated, 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI.
GoBulldogs.com caught up with Pascoe for a short Q&A while he was in town:Â
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Pascoe, a tight end for the Fresno State football team from 2004-08 and future seven-year NFL veteran, traded in his cleats for boots in 2016 after a standout football career, transitioning to rodeoing, specifically steer wrestling.Â
The sport, however, runs in the family and should not be a surprise. Pascoe grew up competing in rodeo prior to his Bulldog years. His brother, Ryan, is now his team roping partner and his father-in-law, John W. Jones, is a Hall of Fame bulldogger and 10-time NFR qualifier.
In 2017, Pascoe ranked fifth in the 2017 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Permit steer wrestling standings, the sport's minor league system, and he hopes to reach the top stage in the near future.
On the gridiron, Pascoe started 38 games and played in 49 during his career at Fresno State. He totaled 112 receptions for 1,294 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pascoe was named a first-team All-WAC selection in 2007 and second-team All-WAC selection in 2008. Arguably his most memorable game for the Red Wave was in 2007 when the Bulldogs traveled to Texas A&M on Sept. 8 and went three overtimes in a tough 47-45 loss to the nationally-ranked Aggies. Pascoe caught seven passes for 70 yards and three touchdowns in that contest. To this day, he is the last Bulldog tight end to catch three scores in a single game.Â
Pascoe was selected in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2009 NFL Draft but made his mark in the NFL with the New York Giants. In his four years in New York, he played in 66 games for the franchise and was a member of the Super Bowl team that upset a Patriots squad that entered the game undefeated, 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI.
GoBulldogs.com caught up with Pascoe for a short Q&A while he was in town:Â
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Q: Tell the Red Wave what you have been up to since retiring from the NFL.
Bear: Since retiring from football I have been rodeoing and working on my wife's family ranch in Morro Bay.
Q: In the world of professional rodeo, what type of football skills have translated into your new career?
Bear: Some of the skills that translate from football to rodeo are hand-eye coordination, good feet, and being able to use your body to move objects, haha!
Q: We assume travel on the rodeo circuit is different than the NFL days?
Bear: Oh man, travel has changed quite a bit. In the NFL world everything is planned out and organized for the players. In the rodeo world, the cowboys and cowgirls take care of everything themselves!
Q: When you think back on your Fresno State memories, do you have that one that is a favorite?
Bear: I have a lot of great memories from Fresno State and I don't know if I can pick just one. I think just having the opportunity to be a Bulldog and be part of a great tradition was the best memory.
Bear: Since retiring from football I have been rodeoing and working on my wife's family ranch in Morro Bay.
Q: In the world of professional rodeo, what type of football skills have translated into your new career?
Bear: Some of the skills that translate from football to rodeo are hand-eye coordination, good feet, and being able to use your body to move objects, haha!
Q: We assume travel on the rodeo circuit is different than the NFL days?
Bear: Oh man, travel has changed quite a bit. In the NFL world everything is planned out and organized for the players. In the rodeo world, the cowboys and cowgirls take care of everything themselves!
Q: When you think back on your Fresno State memories, do you have that one that is a favorite?
Bear: I have a lot of great memories from Fresno State and I don't know if I can pick just one. I think just having the opportunity to be a Bulldog and be part of a great tradition was the best memory.
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