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The Coach’s Office
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BY KIRK BELL
Sports Coordinator
In the Western Athletic Conference the saying “Play Up” has an elevated meaning for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The scheduling philosophy of head coach Pat Hill is and will continue to be “anybody, anytime, anywhere.”
This type of scheduling has earned him the rough and tough reputation for a style of blue collar football that his team exhibits right down to his grisly mustache.
The Bulldogs were picked by the coaches to win the WAC during the preseason. After some stellar performances against nationally renowned programs – namely Rutgers (W, 24-7), former No. 10 Wisconsin (L, 13-10) and UCLA and (W, 36-31) – they have stumbled somewhat due to injuries and other hiccups through their season. Three losses to the WAC’s top teams have left the Bulldogs well short of the conference title they vowed to win early in the season.
Much like the hard-nosed style of Hill and his football philosophy, the Bulldogs don’t look for excuses. Just results.
“At this point in the game we’ve got to find ways to win with the people that are playing,” Hill said. “I’ll never back off that.”
That includes the game that was, during the preseason, supposed to be the “championship” match-up for the WAC in Boise. The Boise State Broncos outright win of the conference championship has laid that scenario to rest. But the implications are still the same.
“I think it would be a tough situation to accept the trophy and you don’t win,” BSU head coach Chris Petersen said. “It’s important to go out and play our best against a Fresno State team that will fight like we fight.”
The Bulldogs have broke even (4-4) once in the history of conference play during 2006. A loss would put them back to that mark.
“We’re going to have to play an outstanding game in Boise this Friday night,” Hill said. “We look forward to the challenge.”
Fresno State could walk away with two trophies this week. The Milk Can rivalry trophy that Broncos have kept safe is up for grabs.
A second trophy, in the form of a tarnish on the Broncos record, could make accepting the Milk Can even more sweet for the Bulldogs.
The trophy was put in place by the dairymen who have a prevalent presence in both the Boise and Fresno communities.
“The dairy farmers, on both sides of Fresno State and Boise State, have been very important to the growth of our program[s],” Petersen said. “A tremendous amount of thanks for us.”
Another road win must be in the cards for Fresno State. They are on their seventh of the season against BSU. They are 5-1 on the road this season.
The possibility of upsetting the slight chances of a Broncos BCS bust would be a bittersweet victory for a program who has set their eyes each year on becoming one of those historic teams to not only achieve, but win one of the “granddaddy” bowl games. Hill recognizes that there is some instability in the BCS process. The “loss and toss” mentality for FBS teams on the outside looking in has created a big problem for a few teams who have had a difficult time scheduling tough games against BCS opponents. Namely Boise State and Ball State.
“I feel really bad because we have some really good football teams that are not members of BCS conferences,” Hill said. “I think that’s being shown more and more all the time.”
But that will have to be a discussion for the Bulldogs next year. They will be focused on a Broncos team that has surprised many in the NCAA during what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
“If you ever wanna talk about playing for championships or winning the WAC, you’re gonna have to go through Boise,” Hill said. “.It’s a football community. They really know how to do it right up there.”
The Bulldogs meet the Broncos in Boise at Bronco Stadium at 4 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 for each team’s fifth nationally televised showdown.
Kirk Bell